BRIGHTON - Southwestern Community Unit School District #9 and the Illinois State Board of Education recently recognized a local teacher for her work. Tiffany Hanslow, a first-grade teacher at Brighton North Primary School, received the Those Who Excel Award of Special Recognition. This award honors educators across Illinois who go above and beyond to support their students. Hanslow expressed her gratitude for the honor. “The only word I can think of is, I’m just very humbled,”
BETHALTO - Future healthcare workers at Civic Memorial High School were celebrated with a special signing ceremony. On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 16 senior students at Civic Memorial were recognized as they committed to careers in healthcare. Teacher Angie Parish, who oversees the immersive Medical Careers classes at CM, expressed her pride in the students and the growing program. “This is why we put in the work that we do,” Parish said. “It’s why I do the sleepless
ALTON - Alton Middle School was recently named a Capturing Kids’ Hearts Showcase School, which is a major accomplishment for the Alton Community Unit School District #11. Principal Dr. Brian Saenz explained that the middle school has subscribed to the Capturing Kids’ Hearts program for many years. This model encourages staff members to empower and build relationships with their students. To be named a Showcase School demonstrates the school’s commitment to this mission.
The first Earth Day wasn’t started by a big environmental group. It was powered by ordinary people—students, teachers, union members, faith groups, and neighbors—showing up in parks, schools, and city streets because the air and water had become impossible to ignore. Earth Day matters because it turned environmental concern into a public, shared project. It helped move pollution from being “just the way things are” to being a problem that citizens could name, measure,
On April 22, 1970, millions of people in the United States took part in the first Earth Day, turning local worries about smog, polluted rivers, pesticides, and vanishing wildlife into a nationwide public event. It mattered then because it showed, in a very visible way, that environmental problems were not isolated complaints but shared, everyday concerns that crossed political and social lines. It still matters today because it helped shape how modern societies talk about the environment: as
WOOD RIVER — The Wood River Police Department responded early Wednesday morning to the 400 block of Walcott Street for what was reported as a possible hostage situation. According to Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells, four people were inside the home when a male began causing a disturbance involving a possible weapon. “One of the people inside the house was able to escape and call for help,” Wells said. When officers arrived, the suspect and two other people remained
GODFREY – After years of discussion, Godfrey trustees have finally approved an updated ordinance tightening the village’s regulations on liquor licenses and video gaming. Village Board members voted 5-1 to approve an ordinance amending Chapter 6 of the Village Code regarding alcoholic beverages and gaming at their April 21, 2026 meeting. Under the updated ordinance, all businesses seeking a video gaming license must first obtain a Class A liquor license, which carries an annual
GLEN CARBON - Bella Redenius continues to build momentum in the middle- and distance events, most recently winning the 1,600 meters at the East Alton-Wood River Quad Meet, where the Father McGivney Catholic junior ran 6:03.1 to take first place. She has also recorded a personal best well under 6 minutes for the 1,600 early in the track and field season for the Griffins. “I felt good, I was happy with my time, 6:03 for the 1,600 meters at the East Alton-Wood River Quad," she said, as
HARDIN - Calhoun School District No. 40 has opened an investigation into a Calhoun Middle School teacher after an issue involving the employee was recently brought to the district’s attention, Superintendent Lori Young said. “There was an issue brought recently to the Calhoun School District No. 40's attention on an employee, then we started the investigation process as soon as the concern was brought to our attention,” Superintendent Young said. Young said the teacher ha
ST. LOUIS –Three people have been accused of defrauding a cruise ship company out of more than $2 million. Thomas Markwell, 53, and Nathan Boyd, 50, were indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in October with seven counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Joanna Dettman, 50, of St. Louis was indicted on the wire fraud charges. Markwell, originally from near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, appeared in court Friday. A motion seeking to have Markwell held in jail
WOOD RIVER - Gina Truax, a senior at East Alton-Wood River High School, is being recognized for track and field after a record-setting career, and she said she hopes to “finish off strong and get a state qualifying time” as her high school career continues. Truax, who recently competed at a meet in Wood River, said hurdles remain central to her identity as an athlete and as a person. “The hurdles are still my favorite event," she said. "Hurdle races definitely define who
COLLINSVILLE – On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Collinsville High School social studies students were honored with an opportunity to meet Tony Foulds and hear his personal story of lifelong gratitude for a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) air crew that spared his life during World War II. Foulds, 90, was visiting St. Louis this week from England. The journey involved his first airplane flight and his first time in the U.S. His trip is the culmination of 82 years of gratitude and paying
ALTON - Community members can check out local resources and speak with expert panelists at an upcoming Mental Health Awareness Educational Workshop. From 3–5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Alton Square Mall outside of Hayner Library, community resources will gather to share information about their work. Attendees can learn about local mental health and crisis services and join an interactive Q&A discussion with three mental health professionals. “One of the most important
ALTON — Alton High School freshman Leah Hubbard has opened the 2026 track and field season with a series of personal-best performances, including an athlete-of-the-meet honor at the Granite City Freshman-Sophomore Invite. Hubbard was named the Granite City Freshman-Sophomore Invite Top Track Athlete after winning the 100 meters in 13.04 seconds, a personal best. She also placed second in the 200 meters (27.09) and second in the 400 meters (1:00.70) at the meet. Leah is an Auto Butler Female
SPRINGFIELD – With construction across the state in bloom this spring, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, Illinois Tollway, industry partners, labor, local agencies and frontline construction workers today teamed up for National Work Zone Awareness Week to remind the public that “Safe Actions Save Lives.” “At IDOT, we are doing more than ever this year to fix and modernize roads and bridges. Please remember to remain alert for work
SPRINGFIELD – Reservations for campsites and shelters at Illinois state parks and historic sites will transition to an updated platform beginning May 1, offering park users a more user-friendly system for making reservations and securing permits. Users will continue to use exploremoreil.com – the customer service platform of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources – to make campsite and shelter reservations, but they will notice an improved interface. To accommodate
ALTON - Sacred Spaces of CARE will offer a free situational awareness training for people who want to learn basic self-defense techniques. From 10–11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026, community members can come to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for the training, hosted by Sacred Spaces in partnership with the Alton Police Department. Participants will learn more about situational awareness and navigating crisis situations while protecting their own safety. “We’re jus
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 22 states secured a federal court order blocking an unlawful attempt by the Trump administration to threaten health care providers who treat youth with gender dysphoria. A federal district court issued a written opinion and judgment, granting the plaintiff states’ summary judgment motion. “This is another sharp reminder to the Trump administration that Illinois and our partner states will not stop fighting
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced the recipients of $31.8 million in loans through Round III of the Cannabis Social Equity Loan Program. Through the program, 95 qualified, licensed social equity businesses across all license types – craft growers, dispensaries, infusers, and transporters – are receiving Direct Forgivable Loans (DFL) financed by the State of Illinois. Recipients were determined
CHICAGO — Attorney General Kwame Raoul today recognized National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by highlighting the work of his office’s Violence Prevention and Crime Victim Services Division and the services available for victims . Since taking office, Raoul has strengthened the Violence Prevention and Crime Victim Services Division by expanding access to crime victim services and implementing a trauma-informed, more victim-centric approach to assisting survivors and families.
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