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ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Cristian M. Stevens on Thursday sentenced the former police chief and city administrator of Velda City, Missouri to 27 months in prison for stealing $307,100 in city funds. Judge Stevens also ordered Daniel Paulino, 52, to repay $248,929 to the city, as some of the money was recovered. Paulino was appointed to the city administrator position in 2021. He was police chief until the department was dissolved in 2024, earning a salary of approximately $95,000

ALTON - The Alton Police Department assisted the U.S. Marshals Service this morning in the 2900 block of Fernwood Avenue in Alton during a fugitive apprehension that ended with an 18-year-old Wood River man taken into custody on an active warrant, police said. The individual was identified as Peyton A. Maddox. Alton Police said he was taken into custody on an active warrant, No. 26CF963, according to the information provided. Alton Police confirmed the assistance took place this morning in the

You haven’t eaten for several hours and you’re starving, consumed with ravenous thoughts about what you’re going to eat next. Or you just finished a hearty meal, and you’re already making your way to the refrigerator or cupboard to see what you can munch on. In either case, you could be experiencing food noise. “Food noise is an intrusive, compulsive, constant thoughts about food that's getting in your way,” says Nicole O’Neill, a dietitian with OSF HealthCare

EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Police Department is investigating a burglary at a sports memorabilia shop after officers responding to an early-morning alarm discovered the front door open, and the owner later confirmed merchandise was missing. Around 2:45 a.m. Thursday, April 23, 2026, Edwardsville Police officers received a door alarm notification for GoodSports Sports Cards & Memorabilia at 2110 Troy Road, Suite F, according to Edwardsville Police Chief Michael Fillback. Police arrived,

EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Arts Center is set to move into a historic building in downtown Edwardsville with the city’s approval of a 30-year lease. A lease agreement between the city and the Edwardsville Arts Center was unanimously approved by the City Council on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 for the property at 246 N. Main St. Edwardsville Arts Center Executive Director Beth Browne thanked City Council members for their support shortly after the vote. “Being located o

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Thursday sentenced the woman who fraudulently obtained $2.3 million in funds intended to feed hungry Missouri children to 41 months in prison. Judge Sippel also ordered Cymone McClellan, 33, of St. Louis, to forfeit the vehicles and real estate that she spent meal money to buy and pay back the rest of the money that she obtained. McClellan operated a nonprofit, Sister of Lavender Rose (S.O.L.R.), that submitted false and fraudulent

ALTON - Soulcial Kitchen will once again host a monthly Block Party for Good with free groceries, hot meals and health screenings. From 2–4 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2026, community members can receive groceries from the St. Louis Area Foodbank, meals from Big Meechie Food Truck, and basic health services from the OSF HealthCare Community Outreach Teams. All food and services will be available at Soulcial Square next to The Salvation Army while supplies last. “We just want

EDWARDSVILLE - A Madison County judge sentenced 46-year-old Gary Johnson of East St. Louis to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Thursday, April 23, 2026, for the 2025 murder of Portia Rowland in Collinsville. Associate Judge Neil Schroeder handed down the sentence after finding Johnson guilty in a bench trial on March 9, 2026. Prosecutors said Johnson shot Rowland outside her home on Jan. 21, 2025, in a residential Collinsville neighborhood. Court evidence showed Johnson

ALTON — The Alton Police Department is investigating a shooting after officers responded to a 911 call at about 8:41 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in the 2200 block of Locust Street, authorities said. The Alton Police Department said it received a call reporting that a person had been shot. Officers responded to the area and secured the scene, police said. Around the same time, a local hospital notified authorities that it had received a victim suffering from a gunshot wound, police

CASEYVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that eastbound Interstate 64 will be reduced to one lane between Illinois 157 and Illinois 159 in St. Clair County for pavement work. The lane closures will occur during the following weekends, weather permitting: April 24-27 Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, April 24, eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane. Two lanes will be open by 7 a.m. Monday, April 27. May 1-4 Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday,

EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County’s law enforcement agencies, in cooperation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, will operate a drop-off site for Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25, in Edwardsville. Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas A. Haine, Sheriff Jeff Connor, Coroner Nick Novacich and Emergency Management Agency Director Fred Patterson will be operating the drop-off site in coordination with the DEA. The drop-off site, open from 10 a.m. t

ALTON - Alton High School will add girls flag football as a sport starting the fall of 2026, a move Athletic Director Christopher Kusnerick said could expand opportunities for students who have not participated in a fall sport. The program will compete in the Southwestern Conference, with Edwardsville, Mascoutah, East St. Louis, Belleville East, and Belleville West listed as conference opponents. The sport will be played in a 7-on-7 format, with the team expected to play about 12 games. Kusnerick

CHICAGO — Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that the lawsuits his office has filed challenging unlawful overreach by the federal government have protected approximately $8.6 billion for Illinois and critical programs and services that support individuals, families and organizations across the state. Since January 2025, the Attorney General’s office has filed 63 lawsuits challenging illegal actions by the Trump administration. Of all of the cases that have received

WOOD RIVER – Wood River officials approved the second phase of a plan to install solar panels for all city buildings this week, with a $6 million project planned at two water treatment plants. On April 20, 2026 , City Council members unanimously approved a resolution approving an agreement for Phase 2 of the Solar Panel Project under a previous contract with GRP Wegman to install solar panels at the city’s Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant. According to the

ALTON – Two men accused of making inappropriate physical contact with juvenile victims face felony charges in separate but similar cases. Michael S. Lenglet, 45, of Troy, Ill., and Raymond L. Dunningan, 57, listed as homeless out of Alton, face one count each of aggravated battery, both Class 3 felonies. Dunnigan was charged on April 15, 2026, while Lenglet was charged two days later on April 17. Both cases stem from separate incidents that allegedly occurred on April 13, 2026. Lenglet

CENTRALIA – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 8 Special Agents arrested 21-year-old Shavonte D. Samuels of Centralia, IL following a deadly shooting in Centralia. On April 19, 2026, the Centralia Police Department requested ISP’s assistance with a shooting investigation in the 900 block of Kell Street. Four total victims were transported to an area hospital with gunshot wounds. One of the victims, 19-year-old Stephen McCary III, was later pronounced

SWANSEA - Swansea Police officers arrested a 70-year-old registered sex offender after investigating reports that pornographic material was distributed to juveniles near Kinsella Avenue and Caseyville Avenue, police said. Billie D. Tadlock of Swansea was taken into custody on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, and later charged following a review by the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office. Swansea Police said officers responded on April 10, 2026, to the area of Kinsella Avenue and Caseyvill

ALTON - Alton Middle School students will take a historical tour of Alton. The Alton Community Unit School District #11 has partnered with Alton Odyssey Tours so students can take “The Abolitionists of Alton” tour. Students will engage with reenactors and learn more about each historical site in the city. “History is very abstract for them,” explained social studies teacher Nicole McKinney. “I try to think of every way that it can relate to them. I think them

A single book can change what a whole society thinks is normal. That sounds dramatic until you notice how often it happens in small ways. A novel makes a phrase catch on. A memoir shifts how people talk about mental health. A children’s series turns a generation into lifelong readers. Books don’t just reflect culture like a mirror. They also push it, bend it, and sometimes remake it. Books are “portable culture” Culture is more than art and holidays. It’s the

WOOD RIVER – Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Oiler of the Month” program at EAWR High School. A Senior student is selected each month by members of EAWR faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The Seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000 “Oiler of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. April has two winners: Hailey Handler & Adyson Bunt. Hailey is a Senior at