BETHALTO/EDWARDSVILLE - A Bethalto woman was sentenced Monday, June 29, 2026, to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a minor boy, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced in Edwardsville. Amy L. Bryant, 44, admitted to having a sexual relationship with the boy between Oct. 1, 2023, and April 15, 2025, according to the announcement. The boy was 14 when the relationship began and was an acquaintance of Bryant’s family. In addition to the prison
ALTON - Bluff City Grill will host its beloved July 3 party with great views of the Alton fireworks. From 4–11 p.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026, community members are invited to Bluff City Grill to enjoy food and drink specials, live music, a bags tournament and a top-notch view of the fireworks at 9 p.m. Manager Jimmy McGibany can’t wait to welcome the community out for an unforgettable holiday at an Alton staple. “It’s basically a big family atmosphere as far as
ALTON - Recent Marquette Catholic graduate Cameron Golike, an “all-around athlete deluxe” for the Explorers, closed out his strong high school athletic career with a successful outdoor track and field season that included top finishes in the 100 and 200 meters, relay contributions and praise from his coach for his leadership and work ethic. This was Cameron's first year out for track and field, and despite his inexperience, he shined and grew as the season wore on. Golike, a Tucker’s
ALTON - Due to extreme heat, the Rockin’ With Robert concert planned for June 30, 2026, has been rescheduled. The Upper Alton Association hosts a Rockin’ With Robert concert series every summer at the Robert Wadlow statue in Upper Alton. Rising temperatures have led to a few cancellations this season. “The weather isn’t our friend this year!” said the Upper Alton Association in a Facebook post. Debbie Frakes with the Upper Alton Association noted that the
ALTON — Under head coach Alyssa Maher and assistant coaches Amy Strobel, Doug Dey, and Brooke Webber, the Alton Redbirds girls softball team showed improvement in 2026, finishing with nine wins and returning a roster heavy with underclassmen. With only three seniors listed on the roster and many freshmen and sophomores, Alton appears positioned to bring back much of its team. The provided team information also described the future of Redbirds softball as bright. The Redbirds’
BETHALTO — Keely Windsor, a 2026 graduate of Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto, has been named a Tom Lane State Farm Female Athlete of the Month after finishing high school with a 4.270 GPA, helping the Eagles girls basketball team to a 23-8 record in the 2025-2026 season, and earning admission to Illinois College in Jacksonville, where she plans to study elementary education and play women’s basketball. Windsor, the daughter of Kenny and Helen Windsor of Bethalto, said she
EDWARDSVILLE - Austin Mullins, 22, of Alton, was sentenced to 32 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the July 2023 fatal shooting of Jacob “Jake” Wall, 23, of Wood River, in Madison County Circuit Court in Edwardsville. Judge Kyle Napp handed down the sentence after Mullins admitted to fatally shooting Wall during a party on July 24, 2023, in Wood River, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office. Mullins was 19 at the time of the shooting.
Warmer weather means people flocking to lakes and rivers in droves to enjoy some fishing or time on the boat. But something as simple as the wrong type of footwear can lead to an injury that ruins your day and maybe even your life. In 2023, the United States Coast Guard reported 3,844 instances of something going wrong on a boat and 564 boating deaths. The numbers were down from 2022 and don’t capture what’s happening on every waterway in America. But they’re still worth
SPRINGFIELD – With prolonged heat and humidity forecast across Illinois this week, state officials are urging residents to take precautions to stay safe and to check on family, friends, and neighbors who may be vulnerable. According to the National Weather Service, heat indices in many areas of the state are expected to exceed 100°F for several consecutive days, with some locations projected to reach 105–110°F. “An extreme heat wave is bringing the hottest temperatures
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. Slaughter : “Today’s Supreme Court ruling further consolidated Donald Trump’s power by allowing him to throw out commissioners of independent federal agencies. These agencies are supposed to stop corporations from deceiving their customers, keep lead out of our kids’ toys, and enforce our labor laws. There is not a single worker or parent i
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul led fellow attorneys general in opposing two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposals to weaken or rescind important regulations on coal ash, a toxic waste that is left over after burning coal at power plants. Coal ash, also referred to as coal combustion residuals, contains dangerous chemicals, including lead, arsenic and mercury, which can leach into groundwater near ash ponds or flow into nearby surface water when ash ponds overflow
BLOOMINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Cook, in which the Supreme Court ruled that Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, can remain in her position while her challenge to President Trump’s efforts to fire her moves forward: “President Trump’s politically motivated criminal
ALTON - Two Alton sisters, Koran Mason-El and Kamren Mason-El, are making history in their family as first-generation college graduates who are pursuing law degrees together at Saint Louis University School of Law. Koran, a rising third-year law student, and Kamren, who will enter the law school in fall 2026, are both graduates of Alton High School. The sisters said the moment is especially meaningful as they continue their education while representing their family and community. “Koran
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Watson v. RNC : “Donald Trump is using every weapon in his arsenal to attack our free and fair elections. The Supreme Court ruled against him today on an asinine attempt to throw out a law that ensures mail ballots get counted, but his assault is not over. We cannot look away while the most corrupt president in history attempts to rewrite our election laws to serve
BLOOMINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after today’s Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Slaughter that allows the President to fire members of independent agencies without cause: “The Supreme Court just overturned well-established precedent to greenlight Donald Trump’s threats to independent federal agencies. “Now, this President can fire whomever he
ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE/BELLEVILLE — Local and Illinois officials have urged residents in Madison County, St. Clair County and across the state to take precautions as heat indices are expected to top 100 degrees from June 28 through July 3, with many people likely to spend time outdoors ahead of July 4, 2026, celebrations. Heat indices across the region are predicted to top 100 degrees and soar to nearly 110 degrees in many area locations this week. The National Weather Service in St. Louis
RIVERBEND - As summer heats up this week with a heatwave coming in, there are places to stay cool and safe throughout the community. Heat can be dangerous, especially for older adults or younger children. Here are a few spots where you can go and enjoy the air conditioning as temperatures climb. ALTON Alton Square Mall Where: 200 Alton Square Hours: MTWRFS 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 12–6 p.m. Hayner Public Library District - Alton Square Mall Where: 132 Alton Square
SPRINGFIELD - Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 1700 into law Friday, June 26, 2026, creating a technical trailer bill for Illinois’ Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act after the measure passed the General Assembly on May 31, 2026, as lawmakers moved to clarify implementation of the state’s broader energy law. The law, known as HB1700, is tied to the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, or CRGA, a $13 billion omnibus energy law signed in January 2026
CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker and lieutenant governor candidate Christian Mitchell walked in the Chicago Pride Parade to celebrate Illinois’ LGBTQ+ community. They greeted attendees and joined in the festivities alongside Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community. “As we celebrate Pride Month, I am honored to stand with Illinois’ LGBTQ+ community, as we work together to ensure Illinois remains a state where everyone is welcomed and protected. I’m thrilled to be back at
SPRINGFIELD – With peak roadside mowing season underway, the Illinois Department of Transportation is reminding the public to slow down, proceed with caution and pay extra attention when encountering equipment and personnel. In keeping with the recent practice of timing operations to preserve and promote pollinator habitat, the heaviest mowing period will continue until Aug. 15, 2026. “You’ll see our mowing crews throughout the entire state so please remember to give them roo
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