ALTON – The City of Alton is excited to announce the second phase of community engagement for its new 20-year Comprehensive Plan — an important milestone following the first round of workshops and outreach held in October 2025. This next phase will reconnect with residents, business owners, and stakeholders to confirm that the draft direction of the plan reflects community priorities and to gather additional feedback before recommendations are finalized. The Comprehensive Plan will
ALTON – A convicted felon from Alton has been charged with possessing a stun gun resembling an iPhone while he was being booked into jail. 45-year-old Joshua J. Butkovich of Alton was charged on April 1, 2026 with a Class 3 felony count of felon in possession of a weapon. Butkovich was allegedly in possession of a “stun gun designed to look like an iPhone” on Oct. 9, 2025, according to charging documents. His possession of the weapon was illegal as a felon previously convicted
ST. LOUIS - A new AAA survey highlights a growing concern among U.S. drivers: headlight glare after dark. AAA found that six in 10 drivers say glare is a problem, and nearly three-quarters of those affected believe it has worsened over the past decade, raising concerns about safety, headlight regulations, and modern lighting standards. “Headlight glare has become a major source of frustration and concern for millions of drivers,” said Greg Brannon, director of automotive engineering
ALTON - The Alton Police Department will assign officers throughout all operating hours at the Luehrs’ Ideal Rides Alton First Responders Springfest, scheduled for April 10 through April 19, 2026, at the Alton Amphitheater. Alton Police also announced on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, that it will enforce a parental escort policy on Fridays and Saturdays as part of its public safety measures. The annual event is intended to bring “families, residents, and visitors together for a week
BELLEVILLE - The National Weather Service has declared an elevated fire danger for a large portion of St. Clair County on Wednesday afternoon, April 8, 2026, citing gusty south winds and low relative humidity that could contribute to erratic fire behavior, according to the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency. The St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency urged residents to “avoid outdoor burning" under these circumstances. “The combination of gusty south winds and low
WOOD RIVER - A special Made By Moms Vendor Fair will provide a space for people to shop mom-owned businesses. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at Rustic Roots Event Space in Wood River, Samara Helton with Kory’s Konfections will host the Made By Moms Vendor Fair. This vendor fair features a space for kids to play while their parents browse businesses owned by local women. Helton hopes the event is a fun chance for mothers to connect. “I participate in a lot of
GIRARD – Illinois State Police special agents recently arrested a man from Girard, Ill. on felony charges of possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material. James M. Barnard, 48, of the 200 block of N. Harrison St. in Girard, Ill., was charged on April 2, 2026, with possession of child sexual abuse material depicting a child under the age of 13 and dissemination of child sexual abuse material, both Class X felonies. The investigation began after special agents with the Illinois State
Sunlight can lift your mood even when nothing else in your day has changed. The to-do list is the same. The inbox is still full. Yet a few minutes in bright sun can make your body feel more awake, your mind a little clearer, and your energy easier to access. That “charged up” feeling is not just imagination. It’s a mix of biology, brain chemistry, and learned associations that humans have built over a long time. The quick spark: light tells your brain to wake up Your body
April 8 is closely tied to one of the most consequential turning points of the 20th century: the start of the Battle of Königsberg in 1945, a major Soviet assault near the end of World War II. After months of grinding advances across Eastern Europe, Soviet forces moved to capture Königsberg, a heavily fortified German city on the Baltic Sea. At the time, the battle mattered because it helped break the last strong defensive lines in the region and accelerated the collapse of Nazi Germany.
St. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — St. Louis County Police have identified a 20-year-old man who died after a double shooting near the intersection of North Hanley Road and Chorman Avenue, as detectives continue to investigate with no suspects in custody. The deceased was identified as Cardiar Brown, 20, of the 2800 block of Old Hanley Road in St. Louis, police said Tuesday. The shooting happened about 2:30 p.m. Monday, April 6, 2026, in the 2800 block of North Hanley Road near Chorman Avenue. Officer
TUESDAY, APRIL 7 PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS SCOREBOARD BASEBALL Belleville East 12, East St. Louis 0 Collinsville 7, Belleville West 2 Edwardsville 9, Alton 2 Freeburg 13, Columbia 8 Highland 7, Breese Mater Dei Catholic 6 Roxana 23, East Alton-Wood River 0 Marquette Catholic 8, Belleville Althoff Catholic 1 Southwestern 13, White Hall North Greene 2 Breese Central 15, Salem 1 Maryville Christian 13, Metro-East Lutheran 0 Valmeyer 15, Lebanon 0 Jersey 15, Hillsboro 0 BOYS VOLLEYBAL
EDWARDSVILLE – This week’s Edwardsville City Council meeting marked a ceremonious evening for Edwardsville first responders. Cole Schrage was officially sworn in as the city’s newest Fire Lieutenant on April 7, 2026. City Clerk Michelle Boyer administered his Oath of Office. At the same meeting, Edwardsville Police Officer Wesley Nolden and EMT/Paramedic Chris Hartsoe were presented with VFW Public Servant Awards. VFW Post 1299 Quartermaster Larry Miller highlighted the
ALTON - The Old Bakery Beer Company will host the 15th annual Riverbend Earth Day Festival complete with vendors, a plant sale, live music, drink specials and more. From 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, community members can stop by OBB for a day of Earth Day-themed fun. Lauren with OBB explained that the event is “a celebration” and a chance to engage with local organizations and vendors, with a focus on sustainability and environmentalism. “It’s
ALTON - The Running Redbirds program at North Elementary School encourages students to read 26 books, complete 26 good deeds, and run 26.2 miles over 26 weeks. On April 4, 2026, the students finished this year’s program with the 1.2-mile GO! St. Louis race in Forest Park. Jason Chapman, a fifth grade teacher who oversees the Running Redbirds, is proud of his students for their commitment and noted he has seen several former students go on to become runners because of the Running Redbirds
TROY, IL. - Madison County authorities said the Illinois Secretary of State Bomb Squad will conduct controlled detonations on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, as investigators continue looking into a fatal house fire and reported explosion on W. Kirsch Road in Troy, Illinois. The controlled detonations will involve “several devices” and will be carried out throughout the day at two separate locations southeast of Troy, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Th
SPRINGFIELD, MO. - Edwardsville High School’s color guard won its second consecutive championship Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the Mid-Continent Color Guard Association Championships in Springfield, Mo., with its scholastic A team taking the title and the AA team posting its highest score to date. The competition this past weekend drew nearly 60 groups across two high schools, keeping Edwardsville’s teams moving from warm-ups to performances while supporting one another, according t
ALTON – An effort to subject the Alton mayor’s appointees to one-year term limits and yearly City Council approval has been delayed for three years. Committee of the Whole members voted 5-2 this week to postpone a resolution calling for an ordinance to limit the terms of appointed officials to no more than one year without City Council approval. Alton Mayor David Goins quickly voiced his disapproval of the measure when it came up for a vote. “I absolutely disagree with
ALTON - A powerful dove release ceremony is planned for grieving mothers. At 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at Killion Park, the group MOTHERS Unique will come together to read the names of their kids, pray, and release doves in honor of their loved ones. The community is invited to attend, and any mother who has lost a child can pay $50 to read their child’s name and release a dove. Proceeds from the fundraiser go to MOTHERS Unique and their work to support grieving mothers. “When
GODFREY - Residents at Beverly Farm in Godfrey were visited by the Easter Bunny as members of the Godfrey Women’s Club distributed 86 Easter baskets filled with treats, candy, and a Beanie Baby, in a community project now in its 13th or 14th year. The bunny was played by Godfrey Women’s Club member Susan Marshall, according to information provided by the club. Residents “were very happy to see the Easter Bunny,” and the visit “brought many smiles and laughter.”
CHICAGO — Open enrollment has ended, but uninsured Illinoisans can still enroll in a health insurance plan through the state’s new Tax Time Easy Enrollment program. The program provides a pathway to coverage for residents as part of the annual tax filing process. With the deadline to file taxes approaching on April 15, Get Covered Illinois is encouraging filers to take advantage of this new program. When completing their IL-1040, residents seeking coverage should check the Health
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