EDWARDSVILLE – Local authorities have charged three individuals in separate but similar felony cases of possession of stolen vehicles. Scott H. Butler, 30, of Shipman, was charged in two separate felony cases of motor vehicle offenses filed on Dec. 16, 2025. Butler was charged in the first case with a Class 2 felony count of offenses related to motor vehicles after allegedly knowingly possessing a stolen 2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX1000 motorcycle bearing an Illinois registration number on
ALTON – A St. Louis man faces a felony charge after driving in Alton with a fake “PRIVATE” license plate while his driver’s license had been revoked. 43-year-old Howard A. Penn of St. Louis was charged with a Class 2 felony for possession of a stolen title/certificate/license plate and a Class A misdemeanor for driving while his license had been revoked or suspended on Dec. 22, 2025. Penn is accused of knowingly possessing a forged or counterfeit license plate and operating
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS — Police are investigating a shooting early Friday morning, Dec. 26, 2025, at The VIP Club, a nightclub located on the 4700 block of Bond Avenue in Cahokia Heights. Law enforcement agencies from Cahokia Heights, Fairmont City, Sauget, and the Illinois State Police responded to the incident. The Illinois State Police Forensic Services is assisting with the investigation, according to a statement released Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. At least one person may have been shot inside
HAZELWOOD, Mo. - Tony’s Donuts & Cafe’s Hazelwood location suffered significant interior damage from a fire on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2025 , prompting the business to temporarily close the affected site while continuing operations at its Maryland Heights location. The fire broke out at the Hazelwood shop, located at 6045 Howdershell Road, according to officials from the Robertson and Hazelwood fire departments, who responded to reports of a commercial structure fire
Friday starts off mostly sunny and warm with temperatures around 43 in the morning. By afternoon, highs will reach a comfortable 64. Winds pick up from the WNW at 10 to 20 mph gusts. As evening falls, expect partly cloudy skies with areas of late-night fog and temperatures dropping to 43 overnight with a chilly feels like near 38. Saturday begins with some morning fog, then it turns partly sunny with highs around 61 and lows at 58. Winds come from the southeast at 10 to 22 mph gusts. Showers appea
SPRINGFIELD - Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has announced that it recently achieved national reaccreditation through the Council on Accreditation (C.O.A.) during its centennial year celebration. This accomplishment signifies that Catholic Charities has successfully implemented best practice standards in the field of human services. C.O.A. evaluated all aspects of Catholic Charities’ programs, services, management, and administration. Since 1925, Catholic
SPRINGFIELD – This holiday season, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and more than 200 law enforcement agencies are joining forces for the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. The effort reminds the public that law enforcement will adopt a zero-tolerance approach, focusing not only impaired drivers but also seat belt violations, speeding, distracted driving and other traffic offenses. From rural routes and small-town streets to
ILLINOIS – Attorney General Kwame Raoul co-led a coalition of attorneys general opposing the Trump administration’s efforts to gut data reporting and recordkeeping requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of widely used toxic chemicals that do not naturally break down in the environment, more commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals.” In a comment letter sent to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, the attorneys
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a federal judge ruled the U.S. Department of Education acted unlawfully by abruptly discontinuing grants to fund extra mental health professionals in K-12 schools. The decision came after Raoul and a coalition of 16 attorneys general filed a lawsuit in July arguing the department violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) when it told grantees in April that it would discontinue the mental health grants program because they
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE - Team Scott has selected 20 community leaders from the St. Louis metropolitan region to join its 2027 Class of Honorary Commanders. The Honorary Commander program provides a two-year, in-depth orientation to the missions, programs, and assets of Scott Air Force Base. It aims to educate and increase community leaders' knowledge and understanding of the military and the installation. The program matches each honorary commander with a military counterpart to build one-on-one
SPRINGFIELD – December has arrived with its usual charm, weather, and holiday zeal. Now is the time for gatherings, celebrations, meals and conversations, and a reminder to plan ahead throughout the winter season. December is recognized as “National Impaired Driving Prevention Month,” an awareness campaign for the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. During the holiday season, alcohol consumption often increases which can quickly lead
HAZELWOOD, Mo. — A fire on Christmas night caused significant damage to Tony’s Donut and Cafe, a popular local business. The Robertson and Hazelwood fire departments responded to reports of a commercial structure fire at 6045 Howdershell Road on December, 25, 2025. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke coming from the building. A ladder truck was deployed to access the roof, and crews cut a hole to ventilate the structure. The interior of the shop sustained smoke and
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Trump Administration quietly implemented a policy banning the VA from providing abortion care to Veterans and their families—including in cases of rape, incest or to protect the health of the mother—despite widespread opposition from advocates and the Veteran community: “Our Veterans risked their lives to safeguard our freedoms. And yet a man who has never
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a multistate coalition of 20 attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to ensure the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cannot issue a declaration that baselessly and unlawfully threatens health care professionals who provide medically necessary gender-affirming health care to young people. The secretary’s declaration falsely claims that certain forms of gender-affirming care are “unsafe
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul won his lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from unlawfully reallocating federal homeland security funding away from states based on their compliance with the administration’s political agenda. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island granted a motion for summary judgment brought by Attorney General Raoul and a coalition of 11 other attorneys general and the governor of Pennsylvania. “I’m pleased with the court’
WOOD RIVER - A local ministry has partnered with a Wood River art gallery to expand its offerings. A Place of Grace, which operates as a combined small business and ministry, will collaborate with Von Dell Gallery and Studios to offer spiritual pastoral care, reiki, one-on-one coaching, and art therapy. A Place of Grace founder, Pastor Julie Gvillo, clarified that she is not a therapist, but she has over 20 years of experience in pastoral care and wants to help people work through their challenges
Letter To The Editor: Some days, no one honks, but here is a bible for your trouble. Leading a meaningful life is difficult. Often, you're defined by what others consider meaningful. A few years ago, I unknowingly tapped into something worthwhile, and like most things I stumble upon, I tried to bully my way to an outcome that is most favorable to me. Some days it works, others it does not, but what I did not see coming was the ability to recognize how beautiful we all are. I see it every
HARDIN - A woman who has made a gigantic impact on the Calhoun County area, worked her last shift on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, as a full-time member of the sheriff's office team before retirement. Tammy Betts, a longtime Lead Dispatcher and Administrative Coordinator with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, ended her 18-year career on Christmas Eve. Tammy marked the end of a remarkable 18-year career dedicated to public safety and community service. Betts began her tenure with the sheriff’s
ALTON - On this Christmas Day, Alton Firefighters Local 1255 members will likely reflect for a moment on how much their turkey giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at the Crisis Food Center means to families in the city in need. The Local 1255 provided funds for the annual event, and the Crisis Food Center donated sides for the families. The effort is led by Alton Fire Department Battalion Chief Derrick Richardson. The Alton firefighters are true Difference Makers in their community. The
DOW — A home in the 17000 block of Little Piasa Road was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived Tuesday evening, Dec. 23, 2025, officials said. Members of the QEM, Brighton Fire, Jerseyville Fire, and Godfrey Fire Protection departments responded to the serious blaze. The homeowner was not inside the residence at the time and was unharmed. Fire officials described the home as “a total loss.” The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Due to a
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