GRAFTON - Runners will take to rarely used trails at Pere Marquette State Park early Saturday, May 16, 2026, as the inaugural Piasa Trail Races bring endurance events to Grafton's river bluffs. The Piasa Trail Races are scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at Pere Marquette State Park, with races beginning as early as 6 a.m. and concluding at 2 p.m., according to Lev Smolianski, the park’s natural resource coordinator. The event will run through the park’s trail system, with the start an
ROXANA – A Roxana resident allegedly found in possession of thousands of files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has been detained given the “vile and depraved threat” he poses to local children. Jordan S. King, 32, of Roxana, was charged on May 11, 2026 with 11 counts of child sexual abuse material, each Class 2 felonies. From March 1 to May 7, 2026, King allegedly knowingly possessed several video files depicting child pornography and adults sexually abusing
CHICAGO — Governor Pritzker announced that 1,500 new Illinois homebuyers have been offered $18 million in downpayment assistance through the newly created IHDAccess Home (Access Home) program – representing a 52 percent increase in the number of people served by all other IHDA loan programs compared to April 2025. This progress took place just nine weeks after the program was launched, which speaks to the need among first-time homebuyers as well as the effectiveness of th
A physician and artificial intelligence expert is telling health care leaders at Peoria, Illinois-based OSF HealthCare that AI is rapidly reshaping medicine and could dramatically improve early disease detection, patient care and diagnostic speed in the coming years. Harvey Castro, MD, known professionally as “Dr. GPT,” highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in health care during an OSF Innovation Showcase at Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center , emphasizing
ALTON - Alton High School’s Class of 2026 is prepared for their graduation this weekend. The commencement ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026 and can be livestreamed here . On Thursday, May 14, 2026, graduating seniors stopped by the high school to pick up their caps and gowns. They could also register to vote. It was a busy, bittersweet day for the seniors and the high school staff members who were assisting. Students were eager to receive their caps
GODFREY - Widman Construction, working as a subcontractor for Brighton Water, is wrapping up a water main upgrade project on North Humbert Road and Straube Lane in Godfrey as of Friday, May 15, 2026, and will move next into the Tremont subdivision, where partial road and lane closures are expected during weekday work hours. The Village of Godfrey said Widman Construction updated officials on its progress on the ongoing water main “upgrade” project on North Humbert and Straube Lane.
SPRINGFIELD - Civic Memorial High School’s track and field team is sending several athletes to the state meet after a slate of qualifying performances led by a sectional title in the pole vault. The CM girls sectional competitors are Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Female Athletes Of The Month. Kaylee Shields was the sectional champion in the pole vault with a mark of 3.27 meters, and she is among Civic Memorial’s state qualifiers. Also qualifying for state were CM's Allie
SPRINGFIELD — Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100’s girls track and field team earned multiple medals and qualified two events for the IHSA state meet following the IHSA Sectional Meet at Springfield Southeast on Thursday, May 14, 2026, with Jersey finishing 12th overall with 28.5 points. Jersey's Morgan Allen qualified for state in the high jump with a mark of 1.54 meters. The 4x200 relay team of Madisyn Burch, Amelia Jumper, Allen, and Belle Peuterbaugh
GRAFTON - It’s a busy weekend in Grafton as the first phase of the National Memorial of Military Ascent is completed. Starting on Friday, May 15, 2026, crews were on the bluff preparing to install the 500-pound bronze statues that will be featured in the memorial. Mayor Mike Morrow, a veteran, said they will work throughout the weekend with the hope of having all 12 statues installed by Sunday night, May 17, 2026. “Everybody, when they see something, they go, ‘Oh, it’s
JERSEYVILLE – Several Jerseyville and Jersey County residents have signed up for a new city/county recycling program expected to grow with the possibility of additional recycling locations. County Board Chairman Mark Wagner said several out-of-town residents have opted into the “Full Service” and “Recycling Only” options since the city and county’s new trash and recycling program started on May 1, 2026. Under the new program, out-of-town residents are given
GRANITE CITY — After 17 years of marriage with no honeymoon, Cynthia of Granite City says a $1 million Illinois Lottery scratch-off win could finally send her and her husband to one of the "most romantic places in the world" - France. Cynthia became the latest Illinois Lottery millionaire after winning a $1 million top prize on a $10 Money Match scratch-off ticket purchased at Curly’s Corner Market in Granite City, the Illinois Lottery said Friday, May 15, 2026. The ticket was
GRAFTON – A Grafton man accused of attacking his local police chief faces a felony in Jersey County. Nicholas L. Hutchens, 41, of Grafton, was charged on May 6, 2026 with one count of aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony. Hutchens allegedly knowingly committed a battery by striking Grafton Police Chief Dave Womack, knowing Womack to be a peace officer engaged in his official duties, on May 2, 2026. Hutchens was ultimately ordered released from custody pending trial. His first court appearanc
Memorial Day didn’t start as a long weekend for barbecues—it started as people walking into cemeteries with flowers, trying to make sense of loss on a scale the country had never seen. The holiday’s roots are tied to grief, local tradition, and a national debate over how to remember the dead. Understanding where Memorial Day came from changes how you hear its familiar phrases, see its rituals, and even notice the quiet moments tucked inside a busy weekend. A nation learning
On May 15, 1940, the first McDonald’s restaurant opened in San Bernardino, California, started by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald. At the time, it was a local business built around a simple idea: serve a small menu quickly, consistently, and at a price ordinary families could afford. That approach mattered because it helped shape a new model of food service that spread far beyond one city. It still matters today because the “fast, standardized, scalable” system pioneered
BETHALTO - A woman was taken into custody after a crash involving a Bethalto Police officer around 1 a.m. Friday, May 15, 2026, on Erwin Plegge Boulevard in Bethalto, authorities said. The officer was injured and taken to a hospital, then later released, law enforcement officials said. Police said the patrol car sustained moderate damage, while the woman’s vehicle had minor damage. Officials did not provide additional details about the circumstances of the crash or the woman’s identity
ALTON – An Alton resident facing his fourth domestic battery charge in Madison County has been released from custody. Helois M. Foster, 40, of Alton, was charged on May 5, 2026 with a Class 3 felony count of domestic battery, his fourth or subsequent such offense. Foster is accused of knowingly making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature against a household or family member without legal justification on April 8, 2026. Charging documents note Foster had previously been
EDWARDSVILLE — State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) is inviting students across the 56th Senate District to participate in her district-wide art contest celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States of America. The contest is open to students in 1st through 8th grade and encourages young artists to showcase their creativity while reflecting on what makes America and their communities special. “This contest is a fun way for students to share their creativity and celebrat
LITCHFIELD - Julie Tieman is the first to tell you she is not a perfect mom. But after raising three kids and preparing to foster teenagers, her community agrees she is more than worthy of the Super Mom title. Tieman, a Litchfield resident, is competing in the Colossal Super Mom contest to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network . As voting continues, Tieman hopes to hold her own in the competition. But she is mostly proud of the kids she has raised, the opportunity she has
GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College announced the winners of the 21st Annual Student Art Exhibition. This year’s exhibit, which comprised 52 original pieces, brought together a curated selection of students’ artwork from the college’s Fine Art and Graphic Design programs. Fine Art Program Coordinator Angela Hung was pleased with the quality of work in this year’s exhibit, which was featured in the Hatheway Gallery in April. “The exhibition
BROOKLYN, Ill. — Illinois State Police arrested 46-year-old Demario A. Ursery of East St. Louis on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in connection with the death of a 37-year-old woman found during a welfare check at an apartment in Brooklyn, authorities said. Ursery was arrested by Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6 special agents and charged with first-degree murder, a Class M felony, police said in a release dated May 14, 2026. The investigation began May 12, 2026,
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