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ALTON - Seventy-five Alton High School juniors were inducted into the National Honor Society, a major accomplishment. On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, families and staff members crowded the school’s auditorium to watch the induction ceremony. Advisor Angela Laaker noted that the organization is a great way to build leaders, and the ceremony was a chance to celebrate their new members. “I think they're going to be bigger and better people because of it,” she said. Students

GODFREY - A 54-year-old man was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle Monday night, April 13, 2026, while crossing Humbert Road in Godfrey, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded at 8:45 p.m. Monday, April 13, 2026, to the 5600 block of Humbert Road just south of North Mill Spring Drive for a reported vehicle-pedestrian collision, the sheriff’s office said. Investigators determined a vehicle traveling southbound on Humbert Road struck a pedestrian

ALTON - Graceful Treasures will kick off their flea market season this weekend. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2026, community members can stop by the warehouse at Milton Schoolhouse for a flea market sponsored by the vintage store Graceful Treasures. Owner Kimberly Grace encourages everyone to come out and see what the market has to offer. “It is an actual, good old-fashioned flea market where there’s rusty, crusty, old, all the way to newer home decor,”

ALTON - Marquette Catholic boys tennis notched another big triumph over Hillsboro 9-0 on Monday, April 13, 2026, at Gordon Moore Park. Hubert Allen’s No. 1 singles win over Hillsboro’s Mark Mattson, 6-3, 6-4, was rated as one of the biggest Explorers' victories of the day. The Explorers squad has been sensational throughout the 2026 season to date. With the win on Monday, Marquette moves to a flawless 5-0 record. Nathan Joehl is the head coach for Marquette boys tennis for 2026

ELSAH - Principia College will host their annual Dance Production with the theme “Seasons of Life” this weekend. At 8 p.m. on April 16, 17 and 18, 2026, and 2 p.m. on April 18, 2026, community members can come to the Duvall Theatre in the McVay Center for the Performing Arts on Principia’s campus. The show features students from over 12 majors as well as several alumni. To Erin Lane, chair of Principia’s dance program, this collaboration and connection demonstrates

JERSEY - Advanced STEM students from Jersey Community High School tested their engineering skills against other area high school teams at the Lewis and Clark Community College Trebuchet Competition, where one Jersey team placed second and another finished sixth. The Jersey Navy team of Brayden Cox, Jack Deist, Caden Klunk and Brady Maxeiener won second place, and the Jersey White team of Aaron Hughes, Bryce Hutchens, Shane Lamer and Lucas Long earned sixth, according to Jersey Communit

ALTON - The Alton Police Department will host its 11th annual “Ballin’ With a Cop” youth basketball event from noon to 2 p.m. on May 9, 2026, at the YWCA gym in Alton, partnering once again with A Precious Organization and the YWCA of Southwestern Illinois to bring local kids together with officers for food and a scrimmage game. The event is scheduled for the YWCA Gym at 304 E. Third St. It will include pizza, drinks, and cookies, along with a basketball scrimmage

If you’ve ever wondered why Tax Day lands on April 15—why that date, of all dates—the answer isn’t “because that’s when the government wants it.” The deadline is a patchwork of history, politics, and practical timing, shaped by wars, paperwork, and a few calendar quirks. Tax Day feels like a fixed point on the American calendar, but it’s actually the result of decisions that changed as the country changed. The modern income tax is younger than

In 1755, English writer Samuel Johnson published A Dictionary of the English Language . Before Johnson’s dictionary, English spelling and definitions varied widely from place to place and from printer to printer. His work did not “freeze” the language—English kept changing—but it provided a shared reference point that influenced education, publishing, and public debate for generations. It also reflected a growing belief in the value of organizing knowledge in a

MASCOUTAH - State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) has recognized Mascoutah Community Lanes as his March ‘Business of The Month.' Rep. Schmidt visited with Jen and Dan, operators of Mascoutah Community Lanes, to present them with an official certificate from the Illinois House of Representatives. “Jen and Dan have operated this local bowling alley for fifteen years and has truly made it a special place for league nights, birthday parties, fundraisers, meetings, or simply

GODFREY - A local physician assistant has some advice on how to manage your health this spring, whether you’re navigating allergies, experiencing increased stress levels, or simply trying to make the healthiest choices you can. Lucas Edwards works for OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center at the OSF PromptCare center in Godfrey. He shared some tips on how to manage your health this spring and year-round. When you’re completing your spring cleaning, Edwards suggests it’s

GLEN CARBON – Construction of a nearly $16.5 million water treatment plant in Glen Carbon is moving ahead with unanimous Village Board approval. Trustees approved several resolutions related to the long-planned water treatment plant at their April 14, 2026 meeting. These include: Approval of the $16,449,000 construction bid from Korte and Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. Approval of a 7 acre land parcel purchase totaling $155,000 and a $90,000 easement purchase to facilitate the construction

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Prosecutors in St. Louis County have filed charges against a second 19-year-old suspect in the February shooting death of Lionel Steed, who was killed during an alleged attempted robbery in the 11400 block of Maridosa Trail, authorities said. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on Monday, April 13, 2026, issued charges against Jonathan Phillips Jr., 19, of the 5600 block of Hiller Place in St. Louis. Phillips is charged with second-degree murder, two count

ALTON - A local wiffleball tournament will raise money for a Marquette Catholic High School scholarship in honor of Jack Warren. At 10 a.m. on May 30, 2026, community members will come together for Wifflefest, an annual 2v2 tournament for players of all ages, genders and abilities. Noah Fahnestock, who helps organize the tournament, said the event will be a lot of fun while raising money for a good cause in honor of his friend. “It’s my favorite day of the year,” Fahnestock

GRANITE CITY – Two men from Belleville and Caseyville faces felony charges in separate cases of burglary recently filed in Madison County. Marlon A. Taylor, 41, of Caseyville, Ill., was charged on April 2, 2026 with a Class 1 felony count of residential burglary. He allegedly entered a Granite City residence in the 3300 block of Lydia Lane with the intent to commit a theft on April 1, 2026. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to deny Taylor’s

ST LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County prosecutors have charged a Texas man in connection with a 1992 sexual assault near Parkway North High School, according to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. On Thursday, April 9, 2026, the office issued charges against Miguel Canizares, 56, of the 7500 block of Spring Stuebner Road in Spring, Texas. Canizares was charged with two counts of sodomy and one count of first-degree sexual abuse. He is being held on a $500,000 cash-only

SAINT LOUIS - As more people choose nursing as a “second career,” leaders at Goldfarb School of Nursing and BJC encourage students to consider their programs. Dr. Angela Clark, the president of Goldfarb School of Nursing, explained that Goldfarb is part of the BJC system. They offer an accelerated program and a variety of scholarships, making them a popular choice for nontraditional students. With an open house scheduled for June 6, 2026, Clark hopes many people come out to learn

ALTON - The Alton Owl’s Club will host their annual rummage sale and bake sale to raise money for their work. From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, and 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2026, community members can support the Owl’s Club at the sale at 227 Blair Avenue in Alton. Mark Birmingham, a club member, noted that the proceeds will allow them to help other Riverbend organizations and nonprofits. “We try to support local charities,” he said. Birmingh

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — Federal prosecutors said a U.S. Marshals Service-led warrant enforcement operation in Southern Illinois over three days resulted in 21 arrests and the seizure of four firearms and 12 grams of narcotics, targeting violent fugitives with felony warrants and identifying gang members in the district’s southern counties. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois announced the results today, describing the coordinated effort as carried

ALTON - As required by Alton City code 1-13-8.B.1, Mayor Goins submitted to the City Council a proposed budget compiled by the City Comptroller covering all municipal activities for the fiscal year that began on April 1, 2026. This proposed budget is an internal management tool based upon a careful consideration of departmental needs and fund resources, as presented to the Mayor by the Comptroller and department heads. A resolution regarding the adoption and use of an internal administrative