CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton joined legislative leaders and members of the General Assembly to sign the FY27 state budget package. The $55.9 billion balanced General Funds budget continues seven years of fiscal progress while prioritizing affordability for working families through housing support, food assistance, tax relief measures, and investments in education and healthcare — all without raising taxes on working people. “I’m
BELLEVILLE — As many Indigenous and Pacific Island languages face declining use among younger generations, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is helping preserve one of the world's oldest living Polynesian languages through one of the few university-based Samoan language courses offered in the United States. Samoan 101, taught by educator and social media language advocate Viliamu (William) Fanene, entered its second week this Tuesday at SIUE's Belleville campus. The course brings
JERSEYVILLE — Eighth-grade students in the Summer STEM class at Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 recently completed a sustainable energy unit by designing and building windmill models from recycled and repurposed materials, applying lessons on renewable energy and environmental protection through a hands-on project. The project focused on wind energy as students demonstrated their understanding of the topic through model building. Jersey Community School District
ELSAH – Owner Julie Connoyer recently announced the upcoming closure of her Elsah business “Peace Works – a Market with a Mission.” After nearly six years with “Peace of Quiche — a Cafe with a Cause” in Grafton and over seven years at Peace Works in Elsah, Julie is moving on. There are several reasons for her decision, including the current tariffs on imported fair trade goods. “The tariff impact on some of our poorest countries has hurt my missio
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - The Cahokia Heights Fire Department has added Janiya as its new digital media intern, according to comments attributed to Cahokia Heights Police Chief Dr. Thomas L. Trice, who said she will help document the department’s growth and keep the community informed and engaged. Trice, who was appointed to lead the consolidated police department in May 2025, said Janiya joins the department with “an impressive educational background,” including a bachelor’s
EAST ALTON — The Riverbend East Rotary Club Foundation recently presented a $15,000 check to East Alton Parks District Director Gabby Stalcup and Mayor Darren Carlton for the purchase and installation of an electronic signboard at the Keasler Recreation Center. The presentation took place in East Alton, where the donation was used to support the signboard project at the recreation center. The foundation also said it will identify and fund community projects over the next two years in
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - The Cahokia Heights Police Department and Cahokia Heights Fire Department joined volunteers, including the Cahokia High School football team, in Operation Fresh Start in Cahokia Heights, Ill., this past week, according to Police Chief Dr. Thomas L. Trice. Trice said he wanted to thank the Cahokia High School football team for its "support and assistance" in Operation Fresh Start. "The team held a group huddle prior to hitting the streets and then provided great
ALTON - Stephens Planning and Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, P.C. will host a free dinner seminar that covers estate planning and taxes. At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at The Wedge in Alton, community members can learn more about how to prepare their estates. Curtis Stephens and Mark Goldenberg will lead the seminar and answer questions so people can get their affairs in order before a tragedy strikes. “This event is for people if they care about protecting their family, the
WOOD RIVER – Wood River Fire Chief Wade Stahlhut was recently honored for his 21 years of service with the department as he prepares for retirement. Mayor Tom Stalcup presented the fire chief with with a plaque and Certificate of Recognition for his retirement at the June 15, 2026 City Council meeting, adding he leaves behind a well-trained department to protect the city. “Your integrity, leadership, and commitment will leave a lasting impact on the city, the Fire Department,
ALTON/BRIGHTON - A Brighton-area man was killed late Sunday night, June 14, 2026, in a fiery crash in Alton after his truck left the roadway, struck a parked vehicle, and then a tree, according to the Madison County coroner. Madison County Coroner Nicholas P. Novacich on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, identified the man as Damon E. Bornes, 37, of Brighton. The crash occurred at about 11:22 p.m. Sunday, June 14, 2026, in the 2200 block of State Street in Alton, authorities said. Evidence at the scene
EDWARDSVILLE - The 98th annual Illinois FFA State Convention took place last week, and Edwardsville High School’s chapter of the National FFA Organization was among those in attendance. Founded in 1928, the National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is “the premier youth organization preparing members for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture,” according to the organization’s website. The national
ALTON - America's 250th birthday celebration is coming to Alton with a three-day festival aptly named "250 on the Mississippi" starting Wednesday, July 1, and culminating with a spectacular fireworks show on Friday, July 3. Taking place across downtown Alton, the community-wide event will commemorate the nation's semiquincentennial with three days of free entertainment, activities, history, and patriotic festivities along the Mississippi River. Events include a donut eating contest, presentation
ST LOUIS COUNTY - A St. Louis County judge sentenced Ballwin resident Yahya Maly, 29, to 291 years in prison Tuesday morning after he was convicted of raping seven women he met on dating apps, according to court proceedings in St. Louis County. Maly was convicted in April on 17 of 21 counts against him. The convictions included four counts of first-degree rape or attempted rape, eight counts of second-degree rape and five counts of first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy. He was acquitted of
GODFREY - A Godfrey teenager and former Alton High School cheerleader has earned a spot on Top Gun All Stars’ Senior Large Coed Level 6 team in Miami, a move that will take him to Florida as he completes his senior year online and pursues all-star cheerleading at one of the sport’s most prominent programs. Landon Davis, who spent two years as a varsity coed cheerleader at Alton High School and received the All-Conference Athlete Award in 2025, was selected for the Top Gun All Stars
GRANITE CITY – Granite City High School Principal Tim McChristian announced that 647 students earned Honor Roll accolades for the Spring semester of the 2025-26 school year. Students who obtained a grade point average of 5.0 or higher during the second semester earned high honors, while students with a 4.2-4.999 GPA with no D earned was named to the honor roll. All GPAs are based on the current semester GPA (not cumulative). To view the complete list of honorees, click HERE ! For more
EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department announced a Fourth of July traffic safety campaign focused on impaired and unbuckled drivers. Enforcement takes place between June 19 and July 6, 2026, covering the summer weekends leading up to and after Independence Day. "We're asking for your cooperation. If you are driving, don't drink or use impairing substances. Our officers will be working to prevent impaired driving and ensure all occupants are buckled up," said Lt. Matt Senci.
CHICAGO – June is National Homeownership Month, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the state’s leading financier of affordable housing developments and homebuyer down payment assistance, is reminding residents about the tools and resources available to achieve the dream of homeownership in Illinois. “Many aspiring buyers worry the opportunity to own a home is out of reach, but that's simply not the case,” said IHDA Executive Director Kristin Faust.
SPRINGFIELD – Morrison-Rockwood State Park in Whiteside County will be closed to the public June 23-24, 2026 while staff apply aquatic herbicide treatment at Carlton Lake. The treatment will focus on eliminating invasive vegetation and will improve water recreation for anglers, boaters and kayakers. Removing invasive species will improve fish habitat and increase lake access for bank fishing. Public access to the park will be restricted during this time, and camping will not be available.
Durbin Reflects On 14th Anniversary Of DACA, Calls On Congress To Finally Provide A Pathway To Citizenship For Dreamers In 2010, Durbin sent a bipartisan letter asking then-President Obama to stop the deportation of Dreamers—fourteen years ago today, President Obama responded by announcing the DACA program. WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream
WASHINGTON – After the Trump Administration announced a preliminary deal to end the conflict between the U.S. and Iran, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted holes in the framework in a speech on the Senate floor, including those that fail to address critical issues related to Iran’s nuclear program and Iran’s support for terrorist proxies. Durbin said, “While I am glad that we might be seeing an end to the hostilities, I am deeply concerned
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