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EDWARDSVILLE - Closing arguments in the jury trial of Tara Anderson, who is charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses in the shooting death of Phillip Armstrong, are scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Circuit Judge Amy Maher’s third-floor courtroom at the Madison County Criminal Justice Center. The Madison County State's Attorney's Office confirmed on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, that closing arguments will occur on Thursday morning. Anderson, the defendant in case

ROXANA - Roxana dominated the Cahokia Conference Meet Mississippi Division on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, accumulating 157 points to Freeburg's 147 points at Roxana High School. It had been 57 years since the Shells' last conference title in boys track and field. The Shells were members of the Midwest Conference the last time they won it, Athletic Director Mark Briggs said on Wednesday. Salem was third with 112 points, Columbia fourth with 66 points, Breese Central with 61 points and East Alton-Wood

JERSEYVILLE – After more than a year of debate, Jersey County Board members approved a $364,000 bid to build a new evidence storage facility for the Sheriff’s Department. The board’s 7-5 approval of the proposal from Jun Construction comes just under a month after their previous rejection of the same bid at their last meeting . A Solution Over A Year In The Making Sheriff Nick Manns first notified board members of a leak on the current evidence facility roof on April 22

ALTON - Kennedy Lacey of Alton High School, Lucille Cassenti of Alton High School, and Samuel Caughran of Alton High School were honored as Students of the month for April 2026 at a regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey at the Gentelin’s on Broadway Restaurant. Kennedy Lacey is a senior at Alton High School with a 4.16 GPA and consistent placement on the Academic High Honor Roll. As a dual-enrolled student at Lewis & Clark Community College and Saint Louis University,

ALTON — Heaven Everage has been selected as the 2026 Student of the Year by the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey. She received a $6,000 scholarship on Monday, May 11, 2026, during the club’s Scholarship Awards Dinner in Alton. Alton High School Assistant Principal Mike Brey introduced Everage at the dinner, where she accepted the scholarship and received a plaque commemorating the award. Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club President Donna Bemis presented the plaque recognizing Everage as Student

GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College welcomed its new Vice President of Finance and Operations last month, as it prepared to wind down the academic year. Area-native Jonathan Lasinski, a 2002 graduate of Alton High School, started in the role on April 20, training with outgoing Vice President Mary Schulte prior to her retirement, April 30. “I'm excited to move back closer to my mother and younger brother's family and to serve in the community I grew up in,”

ALTON - The Alton High School Junior ROTC will share information about how to respectfully fly and retire a U.S. flag at an upcoming event. At 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Alton High School, students will explain how to take care of the flag. They will also accept flags that are no longer in use and properly dispose of them. Lexi, a JROTC member, shared that the event is a great way to learn more about the American flag and how to care for it. “This event will be about flying

GLEN CARBON - Lt. Ned Miller, a 27-year veteran of the Glen Carbon Police Department, will retire June 23, 2026, after serving in roles that included patrol officer, detective, patrol sergeant, and, for the past seven years, lieutenant, village officials said. Miller joined the department in June 1999 shortly after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Truman State University. Over his career, he served the Village of Glen Carbon in multiple capacities an

CHICAGO – This week, Governor JB Pritzker welcomed the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) site selection committee to Chicago. Chicago has been named one of five cities under consideration to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention. The committee’s consideration reflects Chicago’s reputation as a premier destination for hosting large-scale events, as well as the success of the 2024 DNC, which generated $371 million for Chicago’s economy and safely

EDWARDSVILLE – The City of Edwardsville will take a weeklong trek through history this summer to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Thanks to the collaboration of community groups, Edwardsville’s America 250 celebration will feature a fun and patriotic series of musical performances; a movie; historical reenactors; an all-ages parade in City Park; creative, thought-provoking activities; a gigantic community-decorated cake and, of course, a fantastic Fourth

GLEN CARBON - Marquette Catholic's girls track and field squad tallied 98 points and placed third in the recent Gateway Conference Meet. The girls are now primed for the IHSA Sectional Meet at Springfield Southeast on Thursday, May 14, 2026. The Marquette Catholic track and field girls are Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Female Athletes of the Month. Eliza Boatman was a star of the day for the Explorers with a first place in the 100-meter hurdles (17.16), the 300 hurdles (50.90), and the lon

SPRINGFIELD — Environmental advocates, faith leaders, and community members from across Illinois gathered at the Illinois State Capitol today to demand immediate action from the Governor and Illinois lawmakers on the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513). “Illinois is at a turning point, and right now, we are heading in the wrong direction,” said Illinois Environmental Council Executive Director Jen Walling. “In just the last three months, Illinois communities have approved thousands

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) called on his colleagues to pass his American Cures Act , legislation that restores the United States’ commitment to breakthrough scientific and biomedical research. Yesterday, Durbin reintroduced the legislation, which would create mandatory funds to provide steady, predictable funding for breakthrough research at America’s top research agencies, allowing the U.S. to remain

CHICAGO – In its ongoing effort to strengthen the state’s health care workforce, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) today announced the addition of two new license types onto its modernized licensing platform, CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment). This update marks the completion of Phase 3.4 in the system’s implementation. The latest added license types expand the range of health care professionals who can apply and

GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College students, faculty and community members gathered online and in-person Tuesday, May 6, for a dynamic panel discussion on how artificial intelligence is reshaping learning, teaching and the modern workplace. Faculty and student panelists spoke candidly, sharing both enthusiasm and caution about AI’s growing influence in daily life. Former Student Trustee Jim Eck, who helped organize the event, commended the students and faculty who made

GLEN CARBON - The Metro East High Lutheran School track and field boys captured the team title at the recent Gateway Conference Meet at Father McGivney Catholic High School. MELHS won the meet with 133 points, followed by McGivney with 121 points, Althoff Catholic with 84 points, and Marquette Catholic with 78 points. The MELHS boys are BJ's Printables Male Athletes of the Month. Jack Shank blazed the trail in the 1,600 with a first-place time of 4:43.38, followed by teammate Dean Hemmer (4:50.01).

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today secured a commitment from U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll for more advance warning and communication going forward for any additional workforce changes at Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) in her home state of Illinois. During today’s U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Duckworth highlighted the chaos and confusion experienced earlier this year when as many as 155 RIA employees were originally

GODFREY – Students from Wolf Ridge Education Center in Bunker Hill recently participated in a hands-on Burn N Learn: Firefighting & STEM Day coordinated through a partnership between Lewis and Clark Community College and the Illinois Regional Office of Education #40. LC Fire Science Coordinator Ed Burnley collaborated with ROE 40 Director of STEM Initiatives Kelly Remijan to organize the April event with support from Bunker Hill Fire Protection District Firefighter Boe Yeager, Edwardsville

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele L. Pankow and members from the Illinois Fire Service gathered today to honor and remember a fallen Chicago Fire Department Captain and recognize those who went above and beyond their duties at the 33rd Annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial and Medal of Honor Ceremony. “It is my honor to recognize our state’s courageous firefighters and the sacrifices they make every day to protect their fellow Illinoisans,” said Governor JB

CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker urged U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to promptly approve Illinois’ Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal, which would deliver $1.04 billion in federal funding to expand broadband access to more than 383,000 Illinois residents, the vast majority living in rural communities. Illinois and California are the only two states awaiting approval. “Service providers are ready to get shovels in the ground