CHICAGO — An Illinois Lottery player is waking up a billionaire after winning the $1.04 billion Powerball® jackpot in last night’s drawing — this is the second-largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois. The winning ticket was purchased at Hy-Vee Gas, located at 310 N. 36th St. in Quincy, Illinois. The jackpot winner matched all six winning numbers — 4, 26, 66, 67, 69, and Powerball 9 — to secure the top prize in the August 12, 2026, Powerball drawing. In
ALTON - The Alton Amphitheater is gearing up for its annual Food Truck Festival. From 4–8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, the community can stop by the amphitheater to feast on food from 20 area food trucks. Admission is free, and everyone is invited to enjoy an afternoon of food and fun. This year’s theme is centered around the 100th anniversary of Route 66, with a few extras meant to honor the Mother Road. While the Food Truck Festival is an annual favorite, Amphitheater
EAST ALTON — Firefighters responded to the 200 block of East Main Street Thursday morning after a detached garage caught fire. The call came in shortly before 7 a.m. Smoke from the fire could be seen from several blocks away. When firefighters arrived, homeowners alerted them that several motorcycles and gasoline were inside the garage. Firefighters entered the garage and located the fire behind a man door. Crews quickly deployed a hose line and were able to bring the fire under control.
A sunset lasts only minutes, yet people will stop traffic, miss a train, or stand in silence just to watch one. That reaction is oddly powerful for something so ordinary. The sun sets every day. It asks nothing from us. It does not solve problems or change deadlines. And still, people chase it from rooftops, beaches, parking lots, airplane windows, and city streets. We take photos, write poems, plan dates around it, and call it magical even when we have seen thousands of them before. So why
On August 13, one of the most far-reaching events in global history took place in 1961, when East German authorities began building the Berlin Wall. Barbed wire and concrete quickly cut through streets, neighborhoods, and even families in Berlin, turning the city into the clearest symbol of the Cold War divide between East and West. At the time, the wall was meant to stop the large flow of people leaving East Germany for the West. Its impact was immediate and deeply personal, but it also mattered
A team at OSF HealthCare is developing an artificial intelligence-powered tool designed to improve how physicians measure and monitor the aorta, a breakthrough that could help doctors detect dangerous aneurysms earlier and make more informed decisions about when surgery is needed. The project, led by pediatric cardiologist Mathew Bramlet, MD, at OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois , combines expertise from OSF HealthCare, Jump Simulation and Education Center, the University of Illinoi
When faced with one of life’s most challenging moments, being admitted into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), families need the most well-equipped medical team to take care of the littlest of babies. “It’s terrifying,” says Jawad Javed, MD, professor of Clinical Pediatrics with University of Illinois College of Medicine-Peoria (UICOMP) and the Division Head/Medical Director of Neonatology with OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois. Nearly 800 babies
EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Municipal Band invites the community to a one-of-a-kind musical celebration on Thursday, August 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Cleaon Etzkorn Bandstand in City Park. Titled "Herd It on the Bandstand, the evening’s program pays tribute to one of the city's most recognized locals: the famous rooftop landmark, Herbie the Cow. Perched high above Main Street, Herbie has been keeping watch over the city for years. This week, the band turns the spotlight back on him with
GODFREY – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced the closure of Pierce Lane between Illinois 3 and Cook Street and westbound West Delmar at Illinois 3 beginning Monday, Aug. 17, weather permitting, for road reconstruction. Pierce Lane will be closed between Illinois 3 and Cook Street. The newly constructed Cook Street will provide access between Illinois 3 and Pierce Lane. Westbound West Delmar will be closed at Illinois 3, and motorists will not be able to access
ALTON – Alton City Council members this week unanimously rejected one of the first applications submitted under the city’s festival and event microgrant program . Alderwoman Martha Pfister said at the council’s Aug. 12, 2026 meeting that “unfortunately,” this year’s St. Mary’s Oktoberfest at St. Mary’s Catholic Church is not eligible for one of these grants, since the event’s primary function is to raise funds. “Fundraisers”
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois State Fair officials unveiled the 2026 Butter Cow in the Dairy Building today. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66, this year's butter sculpture invites fairgoers to "Take a Spin on Route 66," highlighting the historic Mother Road. While the iconic Butter Cow remains the centerpiece of the display, this year's companion sculpture features a woman and her dog heading out on a Route 66 adventure aboard a classic scooter
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - Kids and families can enjoy a golf tournament and back-to-school bash complete with free school supplies, giveaways and more. On Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, What’s the Formula Mentoring Academy (WTFMA) will start their golf tournament with registration at 8 a.m. and the tournament from 9–11 a.m., followed by the giveaways and fun from 12–4 p.m., at 5802 Lake Dr. in Cahokia Heights. WTFMA founder Ernest Moss and mentor Michael Sims Jr. can’t wait to giv
EDWARDSVILLE — A Madison County jury found an Alton man guilty of harassment of a witness Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, for directing relatives to make Facebook posts intended to influence a potential witness in his upcoming attempted murder trial, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced. Steven Foster Jr., 39, was convicted after the jury deliberated for about an hour. Earlier this year, while in the Madison County Jail awaiting trial on three counts of attempted murder,
EDWARDSVILLE – Agriculture helped grow Madison County into the thriving community it is today. To honor our local farmers who continue to cultivate this legacy, Edwardsville Children’s Museum (ECM) is excited to announce that its newest exhibit, Little Sprouts Farm , an interactive farm-themed playspace, is ready to take root. At Little Sprouts Farm , kids can engage in hands-on, imaginative play. Mini-farmers will have the chance to “milk” a cow,
JERSEYVILLE - The Jersey County Business Association, with the help of member businesses, provided new district employees with a “welcome bag” at the school district’s new employee orientation Wednesday, August 12th. The bags were filled with school supplies, treats, and more to help teachers and staff during their first days on the job. Local businesses were quick to offer support and generous donations for the bags as soon as the request came out. For over twelve years,
ALTON/GRANITE CITY – Two local men accused of leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car before crashing and fleeing the scene on foot face felony charges in two connected cases. Jared M. Heil, 25, of Alton, and Rodriquez T. Harris, 32, of Granite City, were each charged in Madison County with Class 2 felony counts of offenses related to motor vehicles. Harris also faces a Class 4 felony count of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer. Heil and Harris were bot
COLLINSVILLE — Deputy Clerk Kelley Wilke, a full-time member of the Collinsville Police Department staff since 2017, is remembered for her dedication to the department and community, with memorial services scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Collinsville. The Collinsville Police Department said it was “deeply saddened” to share that it had lost a member of its full-time staff. “Kelley’s outgoing personality and desire to help others made her an integral
WOOD RIVER - The OSF HealthCare community came together to celebrate the blessing of a new primary care facility in Wood River . On Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, Wood River officials and OSF leaders welcomed community members to a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony of the new facility, located at 1853 Vaughn Road in Wood River. Attendees could tour the clinic and learn more about the new primary care options in town. “There’s a need for it within our community,” said
EDWARDSVILLE – A local man accused of intimidating and assaulting an employee in Edwardsville while on pretrial release faces additional charges in Madison County. Timothy J. Chesus, 51, listed as homeless out of Wood River, was charged on Aug. 5, 2026 with a Class 3 felony count of intimidation and a Class A misdemeanor count of aggravated assault. Chesus allegedly threatened to inflict physical harm on an employee of MOD Pizza in Edwardsville while brandishing a knife on June 14, 2026.
ST. LOUIS — A 2-year-old girl reported missing Wednesday morning, Aug. 12, 2026, from her home in the city’s Dutchtown neighborhood was found safe about 1:30 p.m., the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said. Police said officers responded just before 8 a.m. to the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue after the child’s mother reported waking up to find the front door open and the girl gone. The child was later found safe in the 3700 block of Michigan Avenue in the Gravois
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