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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi today announced $12 million in grants for projects that will help boost the health and safety of children by making walking, biking, and rolling to school safer and more accessible, boosting quality of life throughout the state. The popular Safe Routes to School program is funding 68 proposals by local governments and schools that range from improving neighborhood infrastructure to supporting community educational

EDWARDSVILLE — State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) is pleased to announce a new round of Traveling Office Hours taking place throughout May, providing residents with additional opportunities to connect with her office and receive assistance with state services. “These Traveling Office Hours are an important way for my team to stay connected with the communities we serve,” said Senator Harriss. “Whether you need help navigating a state agency or simply want to

MADISON – The Illinois Department of Transportation is continuing multiple coordinated improvements along the Interstate 55/70 corridor in St. Clair County to improve safety, mobility and road conditions. Beginning Monday, May 18, lane closures will be in place at the following locations to allow for pavement and structure repairs. Eastbound I-55/70 Between Exchange Avenue and Black Lane, traffic will be reduced to: Two lanes during peak hours (approximately 4 p.m. to 6 p.m

GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney Catholic High School announced that senior Zoe Oller has received the prestigious Edwardsville Neighbors Young Philanthropist Scholarship, a $2,500 award honoring graduating seniors for service and leadership. Father McGivney officials said the annual award recognizes students who “show a passion for giving back and making a positive impact in their communities through service and leadership.” “We are proud of Zoe for representing the Griffin community

SPRINGFIELD, IL. - Prom is an exciting milestone for high school seniors. As students celebrate the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, the focus should be on staying safe, planning ahead, and making responsible choices even when faced with peer pressure. The Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) recognizes the importance of these moments and encourages families to prioritize safety, so the memories of prom remain positive. The Serious Risks of Underage Drinking: Risks of

Forgetting a loved one’s birthday rarely hurts because of the missed cake. It hurts because the day was supposed to say, “I see you, and you matter to me,” and it didn’t happen. That reaction points to something bigger than calendars and parties. Humans mark special days for loved ones because we need reliable ways to show care, create shared meaning, and hold relationships steady in a busy life. A date acts like a small anchor. It gives love a place to land. Special

The first time you watch a family move a couch up a narrow staircase, you see something strange: people who argue about everything suddenly become a single, coordinated team. Someone steadies the bottom. Someone shouts directions. Someone takes the hit when the couch scrapes the wall. They may not even like each other in that moment, but they keep going—because it’s family. Humans celebrate family for the same reason we keep showing up for it. Family is one of the strongest ways

Gratitude doesn’t just reflect happiness—it can create it, even when nothing else changes. Think about the last time you got stuck in traffic, spilled coffee, or opened your inbox to bad news. Now imagine a different moment: a friend texts, “I’m proud of you,” or a stranger holds the door when your hands are full. The events are small, but your mood can swing fast. Gratitude works in that same “small but powerful” space. It shifts what your mind chooses

On May 11, 1997, a computer program called Deep Blue defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov in a match that many people saw as a turning point for technology. Chess had long been treated as a test of human planning and creativity, so the idea that a machine could outplay the best human in the world felt symbolic, not just technical. At the time, it raised practical questions about what computers might soon be able to do beyond games. Looking back, it still matters because it marked a public

GLEN CARBON - Mira Ahlvers has taken the next step in her soccer career, signing with Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois, to continue playing at the college level. Ahlvers said she is “just super excited to play at the next level and to continue to play because of my love of the sport.” She said she chose Lincoln Land in part because “I really liked the coaches at Lincoln Land and the environment seems super good.” Ahlvers said her major will be

On May 10, 1869, the United States completed the First Transcontinental Railroad when the “Golden Spike” was driven at Promontory Summit, Utah. This was not simply a celebratory moment; it linked the country’s rail networks into a continuous line from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Travel times and shipping costs dropped sharply, which accelerated migration, commerce, and industrial growth. The railroad also had painful consequences, including the displacement of Indigenous communities

GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is pleased to celebrate the outstanding volunteers who earned awards at our annual Recognition of Excellence ceremony. These volunteers exemplify our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. President’s Award The President’s Award recognizes the efforts of a service unit team whose exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience surpassed

BETHALTO - Suzie Moore is passionate about helping her students learn. Moore teaches English language arts at Trimpe Middle School in the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she is reflecting on the ways she tries to go above and beyond for students. “It is so amazing to know that I am making a difference in so many lives, no matter how small,” she said. “It is incredibly special when a past student reaches out with memories of ou

GODFREY — Lewis and Clark Community College’s Fire Science program, in partnership with the Illinois Regional Office of Education 40 (ROE 40), hosted “Burn ‘n’ Learn: Firefighting and STEM” recently at the college’s Bethalto Education Center, offering area educators a hands-on professional development experience connecting classroom concepts to real-world applications. Led by Fire Science Program Coordinator Ed Burnley and instructor Tanner Sweetman,

GRANITE CITY – A local sex offender faces his second charge in two weeks of failing to register with the Granite City Police Department. Jamel C. Jimmerson, 38, listed as homeless out of Madison, Ill., was charged on May 8, 2026 with his latest offense of unlawful failure to register as a sex offender, a Class 2 felony. As a sex offender who lacks a fixed address, Jimmerson allegedly failed to report in person on a weekly basis to the Granite City Police Chief on May 7, 2026, as required

GODFREY - Vitality Women’s Clinic works with individuals experiencing unplanned pregnancies. Their nurse manager, Amy Runyan, shared her story of faith and adoption. Vitality is a pro-life, faith-based clinic that provides free STI and pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and additional resources for pregnant people and new parents. They do not refer for or perform abortions. Runyan emphasized that “compassion” leads the mission, and she is proud of the work they do. “I

ST. LOUIS –Two illegal immigrants from Honduras were indicted Wednesday and accused of hiring at least 10 other illegal aliens. Oscar Ruiz-Oliva, 41, and Jorge Manuel Oliva-Paguada, 37, were each indicted on one count of knowingly and intentionally engaging in a pattern of hiring unauthorized aliens, knowingly hiring at least ten unauthorized aliens in a 12-month period and illegal re-entry into the United States after being deported. Ruiz-Oliva was deported in 2009 near Phoenix

EDWARDSVILLE - Nathan Novsek works to make PE fun for all students. Novsek teaches PE to third through fifth grade students at Worden and Woodland Elementary Schools in the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7. This Teacher Appreciation Week, he’s remembering why he decided to pursue education and his goals for every class he teaches. “I have a positive impact on kids’ lives and prepare them for their futures,” he said. “I had some incredibly influential

In May 1926, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students in the public schools participated in a music memory contest as part of Alton’s Music Week observance. A component of the music instruction program was to sing or listen to well-known compositions by the masters, and to study composers’ lives. For the music memory contest, parts of compositions were sung or played, and the students wrote the title of the number, the composer, and his musical nationality on specially prepare

GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is pleased to announce that seven girls were named Outstanding Graduating Girl Scouts at the annual Recognition of Excellence ceremony on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Outstanding Graduating Girl Scouts are awarded a scholarship for demonstrating their extraordinary leadership in the Girl Scout Movement, in school, and in their communities. Along with sharing their achievements and contributions, girls who apply for the scholarship submit a