SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that lanes that have been closed for construction will reopen, where possible, for the long Thanksgiving weekend to minimize travel disruption. Non-emergency closures will be suspended from 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. The following lane closures will remain in place during the holiday weekend. The public can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through these areas. Drivers
COLLINSVILLE — Ameren Illinois employees turned generosity into action this Thanksgiving season, collecting and delivering over 20,000 pounds of food to local pantries across the state. This marks the fourth consecutive year of the company’s employee-led food drive, and participation continues to grow with 4,000 more pounds raised than last year. Through friendly competition, 42 Ameren Illinois operating locations worked together to stock shelves for families in need. “Helping
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Acting Director James Jennings announced the issuance of a health advisory for the PFAS 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTS), in accordance with Illinois groundwater regulations. Health advisories are issued when there is detection of a chemical substance(s) harmful to human health for which no numeric groundwater standard(s) exists, and resampling confirms the presence in a community water supply well. “Through Illinois
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 25 attorneys general and the city of New York, issued a letter to Shopify Inc. (Shopify), urging the company to take stronger action against merchants that use its services to sell illegal tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes. Shopify’s current policies prohibit merchants from using its services for unlawful activities; however, merchants continue to use the platform’s services to
JERSEYVILLE – Members of the Jersey Community Unit School District (CUSD) 100 Board of Education voted 4-3 last Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 to approve a tax levy increase of 7.06%. School Board members Pam Heitzig, Darcy Graham, Brad Hagen, and Peggy Perdun voted in favor of the increased levy, while Jeff Goetten, Judy Rowling, and Jacob Warford voted against it. Ahead of last week’s School Board meeting, Jersey CUSD 100 released a “ Notice of Proposed Property Tax Increase ”
ROXANA - The Roxana boys' cross country team placed second in the regional with 69 points, and that qualified the team for the Trenton-Wesclin Sectional. The Shells' scoring was led in the regional by Anthony Hardin, second (15:38.49), then came Noah Crump, eighth (16:35.89), Easton Johnston, 13th (16:40.11), Peyton Pride, 26th (17:16.88), Rylan Busby, 28th (17:22.83), Joshua Ervin, 40th (17:57.01), and Jordin Akileh, 45th (18:22.98). The Shells boys' cross country team members are Midwest Member
JERSEYVILLE - The Downtown Country Christmas Festival returns to Jerseyville with a day of free holiday fun. From 1–5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in City Center Park in downtown Jerseyville, community members can enjoy several free activities, including games, inflatables, visits with Santa, an ugly sweater contest and more. The evening will conclude with a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and a parade. “Especially this year, when things seem a little tight, what a grea
ALTON — The 32nd annual Community Tree Lighting at Lincoln-Douglas Square was once again a rousing success on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, featuring the arrival of Santa Claus, caroling, cookies, hot cocoa, and speeches. The event culminated at 6:45 p.m. Friday when Mayor David Goins hit the switch that illuminated the holiday tree. Organizers aim to bring the community together, foster holiday spirit, and collect donations for The Salvation Army, which launched its Kettle campaign during
PIKE COUNTY — One person was killed and two others injured after a small plane crashed Sunday night, Nov. 23, 2025, in a field north of Interstate 72, west of Exit 35, according to the Pike County Sheriff’s Department. The department was notified of the possible crash at 9:39 p.m. on Nov. 23. Upon arrival, a deputy located a passenger along the interstate. Emergency personnel then located the downed aircraft nearby. The plane was carrying four people — one pilot and thre
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Authorities have identified the man fatally shot by airport police officers during an early morning incident at St. Louis Lambert International Airport on Nov. 21, 2025. The deceased has been named as 31-year-old Darius Kennedy of Peoria, according to a statement from the St. Louis County Police Department released Monday. The shooting occurred at approximately 1:05 a.m. in Terminal 1 when officers conducting routine security checks encountered Kennedy armed with
ALTON – Alton officials are set to consider delaying the effective date of their city-wide elimination of late night liquor licenses on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. A resolution appears on Monday’s Committee of the Whole agenda which would allow businesses to keep their late night liquor licenses until April 1, 2026. If approved, the item would go next to the Alton City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025 for final approval. The City Council meeting was moved from its usual Wednesday
HARDIN — The Calhoun football Warriors 2025 team concluded their season with a 12-1 record, falling narrowly to Brown County 14-13 in the IHSA Class 1A playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. The Warriors remained competitive until the final seconds of the game, demonstrating strong effort from both players and the coaching staff. Throughout the season, the team received robust support from the Warriors cheer squad, which played a significant role in creating an energized atmosphere at
ST. CLAIR COUNTY — Courtney Branon, a 35-year-old woman from Collinsville, died Tuesday morning in a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 64 in O’Fallon, authorities said. The fatal collision occurred around 8 a.m., Nov. 18, 2025. Branon was driving a Ford Bronco when she was involved in a crash with two tractor-trailers and a utility work truck, according to the St. Clair County Coroner’s Office and Illinois State Police. Branon’s death has left her children without thei
Big bookworm, reporting for duty. I enjoy reading as much as I enjoy surfing the internet and writing for fun. As such, I grew up in libraries around the Riverbend region. And recently, I’ve rediscovered my love for these spaces, their resources, and the people who make them great spots to chill. Let me back up. As the child of voracious readers, I spent a lot of time in the local library when I was very young. My parents would take me to the free events, the storytimes, the annual Summer
What if the Thanksgiving holiday we celebrate today was shaped by centuries of evolving customs rather than a single historic feast? The story of Thanksgiving in the U.S. is a fascinating tapestry of cultural influences, historical events, and regional practices that have transformed it from a simple harvest celebration into a national holiday symbolizing gratitude, community, and reflection. Origins of Thanksgiving: More Than One Story Contrary to popular belief, Thanksgiving does not originate
What if the secret to a memorable Thanksgiving wasn’t just the turkey or the stuffing, but the pie that concludes the feast? Consider this: according to a 2023 survey by the American Pie Council, 89% of Americans say pie is the essential dessert for holiday celebrations. Yet, many struggle to perfect that elusive flaky crust or the ideal filling consistency. Baking the perfect Thanksgiving pie is an art and a science, blending technique, timing, and quality ingredients to create something
Did you know that the average American household spends nearly 12 hours preparing food during the holiday season? This intense period of cooking can quickly overwhelm even the most seasoned home chefs if their kitchens are not adequately prepared. Setting up your kitchen thoughtfully before the rush can make holiday cooking more efficient, enjoyable, and less stressful. Assessing Your Kitchen Space and Equipment Before diving into recipes and shopping lists, take stock of your kitchen’s
November 24 has been a day marked by pivotal events across the globe, spanning centuries and touching on politics, science, culture, and more. In 1859, the publication of Charles Darwin’s 'On the Origin of Species' sparked widespread debate and fundamentally altered scientific and religious perspectives on evolution and natural history. It quickly became a focal point for discussions that continue to this day about the origin and development of life on Earth. In the realm of politics
Expect a mostly cloudy day with some showers mainly early on in. High temperatures will reach around 55 degrees with a low near 49 overnight. Winds will be out of the south-southeast at about 9 to 15 mph, making it feel a bit chilly. Morning hours bring some light drizzle and dense fog that could reduce visibility to a quarter mile or less, creating potentially hazardous driving conditions until 9 a.m. After mid-morning, showers will taper off but clouds will linger throughout the day. Expect
HAZELWOOD, Mo. — Clifton Miller, 85, who has dementia, went missing from his home on Georgetown Drive in Hazelwood, Mo., on November 1, 2025. Miller, a black male standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds, has white and gray hair and is balding. He was last seen possibly wearing a suit coat, a light blue t-shirt, and black Stacey Adams dress shoes. Missouri Valley Search and Rescue, along with volunteers, conducted a search in the Hazelwood area on Saturday, but did not fin
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