SPRINGFIELD – Illinois will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps on Monday, November 10, with a ceremonial cake-cutting and program. The annual birthday cutting ceremony, steeped in history and tradition, honors the sacrifices and achievements of Marines. “We look forward to honoring Marines across Illinois with the traditional cake-cutting ceremony commemorating the 250th anniversary of its founding,” said Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Director
SWANSEA — To kick off the giving season, State Senator Christopher Belt and State Representative Jay Hoffman are collecting canned goods ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. “Let’s come together to address the pressing need for food in our community,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Every little bit helps. Giving back is a small way we can all make a big difference in our community.” Residents are encouraged to drop off cans of green beans, gravy and cranberry
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — Mayor Mark Kupsky presented a $5,000 donation to the Fairview Heights Area Food Pantry on Thursday morning, Nov. 6, 2025, to support families facing increased food insecurity amid the ongoing government shutdown and cuts to SNAP benefits. The donation aims to help the pantry maintain adequate supplies during a period of heightened demand. “With more families relying on local food assistance due to the ongoing government shutdown and reductions to SNAP benefits,
EAST ST. LOUIS - Cynthia Roller, a seventh and eighth-grade English language arts teacher at Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence in East St. Louis School District 189, has been named an honoree for Emerson’s 2025 Excellence in Teaching Awards. The recognition highlights her dedication and commitment to student learning. The announcement was made by the East St. Louis School District, which praised Roller for her passion and educational excellence. “Ms. Roller is a shining exampl
ALTON - Riverbend residents might notice activity at the Grand Theatre over the next few days as construction crews work to stabilize the building after spring storms. On Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, crews were busy at the theater fixing the roof following storms earlier this year. Located at 230 Market Street in Downtown Alton, the Grand Theatre is owned by AltonWorks and is known for its impressive history. The Grand Theatre opened on Dec. 4, 1920, and at one time was the largest theatre in
MADISON COUNTY — A Madison County jury has awarded $27.5 million to a 21-year-old motorcycle accident victim injured in a July 4, 2023, collision in Highland. The jury returned a unanimous verdict this week after a four-day trial before Judge Patrick King, finding the pickup truck driver 100 percent at fault for the crash at the intersection of Route 160 and Broadway in Highland. Attorneys Mary Simon and Tim Cronin of Simon Law represented the plaintiff. According to the trial, the pickup
GODFREY – A $10,000 gift from the Village of Godfrey will support the ongoing upkeep of the Monticello Sculpture Gardens at Lewis and Clark Community College. Trustees unanimously voted during Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting to approve a $10,000 donation to the Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation for continued maintenance at the gardens – a task Development Director Debby Edelman with Lewis and Clark said is more intensive than most might expect. “Maintaining
ALTON — A vehicle crashed into a building under renovation on the 2500 block of College Avenue late Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, causing structural damage but no injuries, authorities said. At 9:56 p.m. Nov. 6, emergency crews from the Alton Fire Department and Alton Police Department responded to the scene after a car jumped the curb and struck the building, Alton Battalion Chief Derrick Richardson said. The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody by Alton Police. The building, located
ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School invites the community to come out to their fall play. At 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, you can catch “Alice in Wonderland” at Marquette in Alton. Madison Foreman, music and theater teacher, expressed her excitement to share the show with the community and her pride in her students for their hard work. “I wanted to do a more classic story that everyone would know. But it has a modern twist with it,”
EDWARDSVILLE - Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski stopped by the Glen-Ed Pantry in Edwardsville to hear from local leaders about food insecurity amid cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). On Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, Budzinski met with Jane Ahasay, Executive Director of Glen-Ed Pantry ; Michelle Babb with the Overnight Warming Locations ; Rachael Craddick, Fund Development Director of Riverbend Family Ministries ; Ann Crane, Executive Director of Community Hope
Did you know that practicing gratitude regularly can increase your overall happiness by up to 25%? This compelling statistic, supported by numerous psychological studies, highlights the transformative power of acknowledging the positive aspects of life. But how can one cultivate such a habit effectively and sustainably? One practical method is through maintaining a gratitude journal, particularly over a focused period like the month of November. This article explores how to create and maintain
November 7th is a date that resonates with transformative moments in world history. 1917: The Bolshevik Revolution – A Turning Point in Global Politics Arguably the most impactful event on November 7th is the Bolshevik Revolution, also known as the October Revolution (due to Russia’s use of the Julian calendar at the time). In 1917, the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, successfully overthrew the Provisional Government in Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg), marking the beginning
Friday will be a mostly sunny day with a brisk breeze in the morning. Expect a high near 70 with a low around 40. Winds will gust up to 25 mph from the west-northwest. It will feel pleasant during the day but chilly in the early morning and overnight hours. Rain chances remain at zero. The day starts with a cool, breezy morning under partly cloudy skies. By afternoon, the sun breaks through, warming things up comfortably before the evening brings intermittent clouds. Overnight, skies will be partly
ALTON — The Alton Fire Department and Alton Police Department responded Thursday night, Nov. 6, 2025, to a vehicle that struck a building on the 2500 block of Main Street. At 9:56 p.m., emergency crews arrived to find a car that had jumped the curb and collided with the building, creating a hole in the structure. The building was vacant and was being remodeled by its owner at the time of the incident, Alton Battalion Chief Derrick Richardson said. No injuries were reported as a result
MARYVILLE, Ill. — Construction is set to begin in early November on the Firemen’s Park Entertainment Pavilion, a project nearly five years in the making aimed at enhancing community spaces in Maryville. The Village of Maryville announced that a groundbreaking ceremony will take place at Firemen’s Park on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 3 p.m. The pavilion will serve as a focal point for community events, concerts and gatherings, providing a new venue for entertainment and recreation.
ALTON – Two local men face felony charges after allegedly burglarizing an Ameren facility in Alton and stealing copper wire from the site. Bradley W. Crane, 48, of Brighton, and Michael A. Pierce, 26, of Alton, were both charged on Oct. 28, 2025 with one count each of burglary (both Class 2 felonies) and theft (both Class 3 felonies). The two allegedly knowingly and without authority entered a building at 700 Oakwood Road in Alton which was property of Ameren Illinois Utilities
SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Director James Jennings today announced a Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the purchase and installation of new Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) EV charging stations (Level 3) and alternating current (Level 2) charging stations to be located at publicly accessible locations in Illinois. This first-come, first-served opportunity is being made available
WOOD RIVER – Wood River City Council members on Monday voted 3-2 to approve an alternative option to keep funding downtown redevelopment projects with a transfer of up to $1 million in city funds. After much discussion and debate, councilmen narrowly passed an ordinance allowing the transfer of up to $1 million from the city’s Capital Improvement and Development Fund and the Non-Home Rule Sales Tax Fund into its TIF #3 District Fund to continue funding Tax Increment Financing
TROY - Chris Coyne, a Community Service Officer with the Troy Police Department, presented a Heroin and Prescription Drug Awareness program to students in the Triad School District this week at the Success Center at Silvercreek. The Troy Police program aimed to educate students about the dangers of drug misuse and its effects on individuals, families, and the community. Coyne’s presentation is part of an ongoing effort by the Troy Police Department to promote awareness, prevention, and
GLEN CARBON - Ben Sink, who is a senior pitcher and outfielder for the Father McGivney Catholic High School baseball team, signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Illinois-Springfield to play baseball in 2027 in a ceremony held at the Griffins Den, the school's student lounge, on Oct. 29, 2025. Sink had a successful junior season in 2025, hitting .344 with two home runs and 37 RBIs, and also had a great season on the mound, going 6-0 in eight appearances as a pitcher, starting
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