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On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel in Tel Aviv, following the end of the British Mandate for Palestine. The announcement came after decades of growing Jewish immigration, rising conflict between Jewish and Arab communities, and international debate over how the land should be governed after World War II. It mattered immediately because it reshaped political authority in the eastern Mediterranean overnight and triggered a regional war within hours

ALTON — Alton Police responded to a report of gunfire at the Alton Acres Housing Complex at 4:38 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, 2026, and determined that shots had been fired, though no injured people were found at the scene, Police Chief Jarrett Ford said. “Preliminary investigation has revealed the individuals involved are acquainted, and there is no information to suggest this was a random act of violence,” Ford said. “The incident appears isolated, and there is no ongoing,

ALTON – Plans to install planters along a section of Broadway in downtown Alton are now moving forward after being delayed late last month. Alton City Council members unanimously approved a previously postponed resolution to consider an ordinance authorizing $11,814 in Food and Beverage Tax funds to purchase Earth Planter containers for Broadway in downtown Alton. With the council’s approval, 25 planters are set to be placed along Broadway from Ridge Street to Market Street

ALTON - Illinois American Water will begin repairs Thursday on a section of Alton’s wastewater distribution system, work that will require closing part of the westbound lanes of IL-67 Landmarks Boulevard between Henry Street and George Street, the company said Wednesday. The repair work involves a 36-inch pipe, according to Illinois American Water. The lane closure is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 14. During the closure, motorists will be routed north on Henry Street

ST. LOUIS — Authorities in St. Louis are working to recover a body found Wednesday, May 13, 2026, along the Mississippi River in the Carondelet neighborhood near East Soper Street and South Broadway. Authorities said the St. Louis Fire Department’s Marine Rescue Task Force will retrieve the body and transport it to the St. Louis Medical Examiner’s Office. Missouri Valley Search and Rescue team members conducted a similar search in that area throughout the day on Tuesday, May

EDWARDSVILLE - Closing arguments in the jury trial of Tara Anderson, who is charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses in the shooting death of Phillip Armstrong, are scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Circuit Judge Amy Maher’s third-floor courtroom at the Madison County Criminal Justice Center. The Madison County State's Attorney's Office confirmed on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, that closing arguments will occur on Thursday morning. Anderson, the defendant in case

ROXANA - Roxana dominated the Cahokia Conference Meet Mississippi Division on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, accumulating 157 points to Freeburg's 147 points at Roxana High School. It had been 57 years since the Shells' last conference title in boys track and field. The Shells were members of the Midwest Conference the last time they won it, Athletic Director Mark Briggs said on Wednesday. Salem was third with 112 points, Columbia fourth with 66 points, Breese Central with 61 points and East Alton-Wood

JERSEYVILLE – After more than a year of debate, Jersey County Board members approved a $364,000 bid to build a new evidence storage facility for the Sheriff’s Department. The board’s 7-5 approval of the proposal from Jun Construction comes just under a month after their previous rejection of the same bid at their last meeting . A Solution Over A Year In The Making Sheriff Nick Manns first notified board members of a leak on the current evidence facility roof on April 22

ALTON - Kennedy Lacey of Alton High School, Lucille Cassenti of Alton High School, and Samuel Caughran of Alton High School were honored as Students of the month for April 2026 at a regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey at the Gentelin’s on Broadway Restaurant. Kennedy Lacey is a senior at Alton High School with a 4.16 GPA and consistent placement on the Academic High Honor Roll. As a dual-enrolled student at Lewis & Clark Community College and Saint Louis University,

ALTON — Heaven Everage has been selected as the 2026 Student of the Year by the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey. She received a $6,000 scholarship on Monday, May 11, 2026, during the club’s Scholarship Awards Dinner in Alton. Alton High School Assistant Principal Mike Brey introduced Everage at the dinner, where she accepted the scholarship and received a plaque commemorating the award. Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club President Donna Bemis presented the plaque recognizing Everage as Student

GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College welcomed its new Vice President of Finance and Operations last month, as it prepared to wind down the academic year. Area-native Jonathan Lasinski, a 2002 graduate of Alton High School, started in the role on April 20, training with outgoing Vice President Mary Schulte prior to her retirement, April 30. “I'm excited to move back closer to my mother and younger brother's family and to serve in the community I grew up in,”

ALTON - The Alton High School Junior ROTC will share information about how to respectfully fly and retire a U.S. flag at an upcoming event. At 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Alton High School, students will explain how to take care of the flag. They will also accept flags that are no longer in use and properly dispose of them. Lexi, a JROTC member, shared that the event is a great way to learn more about the American flag and how to care for it. “This event will be about flying

GLEN CARBON - Lt. Ned Miller, a 27-year veteran of the Glen Carbon Police Department, will retire June 23, 2026, after serving in roles that included patrol officer, detective, patrol sergeant, and, for the past seven years, lieutenant, village officials said. Miller joined the department in June 1999 shortly after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Truman State University. Over his career, he served the Village of Glen Carbon in multiple capacities an

CHICAGO – This week, Governor JB Pritzker welcomed the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) site selection committee to Chicago. Chicago has been named one of five cities under consideration to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention. The committee’s consideration reflects Chicago’s reputation as a premier destination for hosting large-scale events, as well as the success of the 2024 DNC, which generated $371 million for Chicago’s economy and safely

EDWARDSVILLE – The City of Edwardsville will take a weeklong trek through history this summer to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Thanks to the collaboration of community groups, Edwardsville’s America 250 celebration will feature a fun and patriotic series of musical performances; a movie; historical reenactors; an all-ages parade in City Park; creative, thought-provoking activities; a gigantic community-decorated cake and, of course, a fantastic Fourth

GLEN CARBON - Marquette Catholic's girls track and field squad tallied 98 points and placed third in the recent Gateway Conference Meet. The girls are now primed for the IHSA Sectional Meet at Springfield Southeast on Thursday, May 14, 2026. The Marquette Catholic track and field girls are Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Female Athletes of the Month. Eliza Boatman was a star of the day for the Explorers with a first place in the 100-meter hurdles (17.16), the 300 hurdles (50.90), and the lon

SPRINGFIELD — Environmental advocates, faith leaders, and community members from across Illinois gathered at the Illinois State Capitol today to demand immediate action from the Governor and Illinois lawmakers on the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513). “Illinois is at a turning point, and right now, we are heading in the wrong direction,” said Illinois Environmental Council Executive Director Jen Walling. “In just the last three months, Illinois communities have approved thousands

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) called on his colleagues to pass his American Cures Act , legislation that restores the United States’ commitment to breakthrough scientific and biomedical research. Yesterday, Durbin reintroduced the legislation, which would create mandatory funds to provide steady, predictable funding for breakthrough research at America’s top research agencies, allowing the U.S. to remain

CHICAGO – In its ongoing effort to strengthen the state’s health care workforce, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) today announced the addition of two new license types onto its modernized licensing platform, CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment). This update marks the completion of Phase 3.4 in the system’s implementation. The latest added license types expand the range of health care professionals who can apply and

GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College students, faculty and community members gathered online and in-person Tuesday, May 6, for a dynamic panel discussion on how artificial intelligence is reshaping learning, teaching and the modern workplace. Faculty and student panelists spoke candidly, sharing both enthusiasm and caution about AI’s growing influence in daily life. Former Student Trustee Jim Eck, who helped organize the event, commended the students and faculty who made