SPRINGFIELD - Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias highlighted landmark auto insurance reform legislation that would, for the first time, give Illinois regulators the authority to review and challenge excessive insurance rate increases while strengthening oversight of insurance companies and delivering long-overdue transparency, accountability and consumer protections for Illinois drivers. Senate Bill 714, which is awaiting the Governor’s signature, is the culmination of a four-year
EDWARDSVILLE - Liang Cheng, PhD, is the next dean of the SIUE School of Engineering. His tenure begins Wednesday, Aug. 19. Cheng will also serve as a professor of computer science, with a courtesy appointment in electrical and computer engineering. Cheng joins SIUE from the University of Toledo, where he serves as department chair and professor of electrical engineering and computer science. His academic and research experience includes cyber-physical systems, artificial intelligence, interdisciplinary
ALTON/EAST ALTON/GRANITE CITY - The world’s largest steam locomotive, Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014, passed through Alton at 2:34 p.m. Saturday, July 18, 2026, on its way to St. Louis, where it is scheduled to be on display Sunday, July 19, 2026, at Union Station with free public viewing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The locomotive also rolled through Godfrey, East Alton, Piasa, Granite City and other area communities, drawing crowds of railfans. Big Boy No. 4014 is traveling as
On July 18, one of the most consequential events in global history took place in 64 CE, when the Great Fire of Rome began. The blaze spread through much of the city for days, destroying homes, markets, temples, and public buildings in the center of the Roman Empire. At the time, the fire mattered because Rome was not just a capital city but the political, economic, and cultural heart of a vast state. Its destruction disrupted daily life, weakened confidence in the emperor Nero, and led to major
EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Regional Office of Education has recognized 11 students as the first recipients of the Alma Irene Aitch Scholarship, a new $1,000 award for Madison County students, during a recent ceremony in Madison County, Illinois. Announced July 17, 2026, the scholarship recipients were selected from more than 50 applicants based on applications detailing their high school careers and future plans. The scholarship is open to Madison County high school seniors who plan
MADISON COUNTY - Motorists traveling west on Interstate 270 in Madison County will face lane closures this weekend as the Illinois Department of Transportation begins road construction between Illinois 3 and the Mississippi River. The department announced today that westbound I-270 traffic will be reduced to one lane beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, July 18, weather permitting. All westbound lanes are expected to reopen by 6 p.m. Sunday, July 19. The closures will affect the stretch of westbound
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Certificate of Innocence Act (HB 3663), an important stride in criminal justice reform and accountability to those who are wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. HB 3663 amends the Court of Claims Act, which allows those who have been unjustly incarcerated to bring a claim for time served in prison and receive financial compensation from the State. As part of Governor Pritzker’s FY27 Budget, HB 3663 increases the maximum award
EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will hold a memorial service honoring pianist Ruth Slenczynska Kerr at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, in the Dunham Hall Theater at Katherine Dunham Hall, 50 Hairpin Drive, Edwardsville, Illinois. The service will feature recorded performances, interview excerpts and photos of Slenczynska Kerr, along with comments from speakers including Leonard Slatkin, former St. Louis and Detroit Symphony Orchestra conductor laureate and current music
GODFREY - Vitality Women’s Clinic reminds community members to make sure their car seats are correctly installed. Jackie Duty, executive director of Vitality, noted that it’s important to the organization to ensure caregivers have access to resources and education. This includes how to know when your child’s car seat is unsafe. Duty and Skye Bellarmine with the National Child Passenger Safety organization shared more about their focus on ensuring child passenger safety. “Ninety-f
EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Sheriff’s Office announced six days ago that Abbie Hernandez, the daughter of Capt. T.J. Hernandez, has been selected to receive the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association Peacekeepers Scholarship, a $3,000 award for dependents of active-duty and retired law enforcement and military personnel pursuing higher education. The sheriff’s office said Abbie Hernandez was chosen for the prestigious scholarship, which it described as
EAST ST. LOUIS - A Granite City man was sentenced in federal court in East St. Louis to 175 months in prison after admitting he transported a minor across state lines in April 2022 and sexually assaulted the victim, according to court documents. Jeremy Wallace, 39, formerly of Granite City, pleaded guilty in June 2026 to one count of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Following his prison term, he will serve five years of supervised release. According to court
ALTON — Alton Police have identified a man killed in a shooting and the suspect in an hourslong standoff that began early Thursday, July 16, 2026, at a home in the 600 block of Leonard Street, where investigators say Derek A. Scroggins, 48, of Piasa, unlawfully entered the residence and shot John W. Booth, 44, of Granite City. Officers were dispatched at about 12:38 a.m. Thursday, July 16, 2026, after a report of shots fired inside the home, according to the Alton Police Department. Whe
ALTON - The Alton Powerboat Nationals have officially begun. As of 3 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026, the test and tune sessions were underway on the Mississippi River at Riverfront Park. These sessions are free to attend, though the races themselves are ticketed throughout the weekend. Managing Director Tim Seebold expressed his excitement for the Alton Powerboat Nationals as the fun began on Friday. “We want everybody to come out. It’s family fun,” he said. “The
GRAFTON — Grafton Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church is holding a community fish fry fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at 20165 State Highway 3 as it works to raise money for a new youth center, Pastor Tom Foster said. The fundraiser supports the church’s effort to build the youth center next to its current building, which Foster said was built in 2022 as the growing congregation sought space for Sunday school, youth groups and youth activities. He said groundbreaking
ST. LOUIS - A 28-year-old St. Louis man was found fatally shot inside a residence in the College Hill neighborhood on July 12, 2026, and homicide detectives later arrested a 26-year-old St. Louis man in the case, according to an update released Friday, July 17, 2026. Police said officers were called at about 10 p.m. July 12, 2026, to a shooting in the 2000 block of Obear. When officers arrived, they found the victim, later identified as Jobori Bell of St. Louis City, shot inside the residence.
ST. LOUIS - A 36-year-old man died after a shooting Thursday afternoon, July 16, 2026, in the 4100 block of North Grand, where St. Louis District 4 officers responded around 1:45 p.m., police said. Officers arrived July 16 and found the man shot, barely conscious and barely breathing, according to the information released Friday. EMS took him to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Homicide detectives were requested and assumed the investigation. Anyone with information
ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Police said a 19-year-old man died and another 19-year-old was critically injured after a shooting in the Lindenwood Park neighborhood early July 16, and a 39-year-old man has been charged in the case. St. Louis District 2 officers were called just before 4:30 a.m. Thursday, July 16, 2026, after two adult males with gunshot wounds were dropped off at an area hospital, according to an update released July 17, 2026. The vehicle that dropped them off fled, police said. A preliminary
BETHALTO - 1st MidAmerica Credit Union has been named to the Forbes list of America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions 2026. This prestigious recognition is presented in partnership with Statista, a leading global provider of market data and industry rankings. The award highlights credit unions that excel in delivering trusted, high-quality financial services and strong member experiences at the local level. "This recognition reflects our purpose of building lasting relationships as
SHILOH - Shiloh Police said two East St. Louis residents were charged Thursday, July 16, 2026, in connection with an attempted armed robbery at a Commerce Bank in Shiloh earlier this week. The warrants, issued July 16 by the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office, charge Jahvaris L. Reese, 39, and Ieasha L. White, 31, both of the 1300 block of 44th Street in East St. Louis, with financial institution robbery and attempted robbery, according to a news release from the Shiloh
JERSEYVILLE — Abe Kribs is a graduated senior outfielder at Jersey Community High School who helped the Panthers to a 22-14 baseball season under Head Baseball Coach Darren Perdun. Kribs, one of Jersey’s leading hitters this season, had a .320 batting average late in the season and 29 RBIs. He was described as a key clutch player for the Panthers. Kribs is a Sparklight Male Athlete Of The Month for the Panthers. “I’m very happy with the team,” he said. “It
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