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EDWARDSVILLE – This week’s Edwardsville City Council meeting marked a ceremonious evening for Edwardsville first responders. Cole Schrage was officially sworn in as the city’s newest Fire Lieutenant on April 7, 2026. City Clerk Michelle Boyer administered his Oath of Office. At the same meeting, Edwardsville Police Officer Wesley Nolden and EMT/Paramedic Chris Hartsoe were presented with VFW Public Servant Awards. VFW Post 1299 Quartermaster Larry Miller highlighted the

ALTON - The Old Bakery Beer Company will host the 15th annual Riverbend Earth Day Festival complete with vendors, a plant sale, live music, drink specials and more. From 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, community members can stop by OBB for a day of Earth Day-themed fun. Lauren with OBB explained that the event is “a celebration” and a chance to engage with local organizations and vendors, with a focus on sustainability and environmentalism. “It’s

ALTON - The Running Redbirds program at North Elementary School encourages students to read 26 books, complete 26 good deeds, and run 26.2 miles over 26 weeks. On April 4, 2026, the students finished this year’s program with the 1.2-mile GO! St. Louis race in Forest Park. Jason Chapman, a fifth grade teacher who oversees the Running Redbirds, is proud of his students for their commitment and noted he has seen several former students go on to become runners because of the Running Redbirds

TROY, IL. - Madison County authorities said the Illinois Secretary of State Bomb Squad will conduct controlled detonations on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, as investigators continue looking into a fatal house fire and reported explosion on W. Kirsch Road in Troy, Illinois. The controlled detonations will involve “several devices” and will be carried out throughout the day at two separate locations southeast of Troy, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Th

SPRINGFIELD, MO. - Edwardsville High School’s color guard won its second consecutive championship Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the Mid-Continent Color Guard Association Championships in Springfield, Mo., with its scholastic A team taking the title and the AA team posting its highest score to date. The competition this past weekend drew nearly 60 groups across two high schools, keeping Edwardsville’s teams moving from warm-ups to performances while supporting one another, according t

ALTON – An effort to subject the Alton mayor’s appointees to one-year term limits and yearly City Council approval has been delayed for three years. Committee of the Whole members voted 5-2 this week to postpone a resolution calling for an ordinance to limit the terms of appointed officials to no more than one year without City Council approval. Alton Mayor David Goins quickly voiced his disapproval of the measure when it came up for a vote. “I absolutely disagree with

ALTON - A powerful dove release ceremony is planned for grieving mothers. At 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at Killion Park, the group MOTHERS Unique will come together to read the names of their kids, pray, and release doves in honor of their loved ones. The community is invited to attend, and any mother who has lost a child can pay $50 to read their child’s name and release a dove. Proceeds from the fundraiser go to MOTHERS Unique and their work to support grieving mothers. “When

GODFREY - Residents at Beverly Farm in Godfrey were visited by the Easter Bunny as members of the Godfrey Women’s Club distributed 86 Easter baskets filled with treats, candy, and a Beanie Baby, in a community project now in its 13th or 14th year. The bunny was played by Godfrey Women’s Club member Susan Marshall, according to information provided by the club. Residents “were very happy to see the Easter Bunny,” and the visit “brought many smiles and laughter.”

CHICAGO — Open enrollment has ended, but uninsured Illinoisans can still enroll in a health insurance plan through the state’s new Tax Time Easy Enrollment program. The program provides a pathway to coverage for residents as part of the annual tax filing process. With the deadline to file taxes approaching on April 15, Get Covered Illinois is encouraging filers to take advantage of this new program. When completing their IL-1040, residents seeking coverage should check the Health

MADISON COUNTY – The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting to discuss a study for the proposed improvements on Illinois 203 from Maverick Drive to Eagle Park Road in Madison County. The meeting will be held: Thursday, April 23, 2026 4-7 p.m. The Mill Events 1311 20th St., Granite City IDOT, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, has initiated the preliminary engineering and environmental study of Illinois 203. This section o

SPRINGFIELD — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Lincoln Land Community College, and the Illinois Trucking Association announced a $76,500 U.S. Department of Transportation grant to support Lincoln Land Community College’s commercial motor vehicle operator training program. The program specifically provides commercial driver’s license (CDL) training for veterans, and the USDOT funding secured by Budzinski will support education for at least 17 new students. “When

SPRINGFIELD — With the April 15 deadline quickly approaching, the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is encouraging taxpayers to file their 2025 state individual income tax returns as soon as possible and avoid waiting until the last minute, especially if filing by mail. “Filing electronically is still the fastest and most reliable way to get your return processed,” explained IDOR Director David Harris. “If you are expecting a refund, choosing direct deposit will hel

SPRINGFIELD - The construction season is about to heat up, and Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza wants workers on publicly funded projects to know her office is available to help if they aren’t being paid a fair wage. The prevailing wage is set by county, designating the least amount of money and benefits a contractor is required to pay workers. Besides ensuring fair pay, these laws are also necessary to help create a level playing field and fair bidding process for all contractors on

SPRINGFIELD – Residents may not always know what chemicals are used in their community or how to interpret the safety codes posted on certain buildings. That’s why agencies including the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA OHS), Illinois Department of Labor, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Fire Service Institute (ISFI), and local fire and emergency management partners monitor and manage this critical information. These

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The tenure and tenure-track faculty who are members of the UIS United Faculty (UISUF) returned to the picket line today for Day 2 of their strike, demonstrating unwavering resolve in their fight for a fair contract. Members were again joined by students and other supporters, who offered powerful words of encouragement. U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (IL 13) energized the strikers, telling them: “I am so proud to stand with you. I am a union member

ALTON – A man accused of firing an antique weapon inside an Alton home during an argument has been released from custody pending felony charges. Steven A. Morgan, 65, of Alton, was charged with one count each of felon in possession of a weapon (a Class 3 felony), reckless discharge of a firearm (a Class 4 felony), and aggravated assault (a Class A misdemeanor) on March 27, 2026. Morgan allegedly possessed a Springfield Arms .45-70 caliber rifle on March 25, 2026. These rifles were produce

BRIGHTON - Alex Spangler, a senior at Southwestern High School, has been named an Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month. Alex plays baseball at Southwestern High School, wearing No. 12. He plays right field and sometimes pitches. He also played golf this past year and has done track and field in the past, and is a gifted overall athlete. “Alex loves the game of baseball and always has,” Jennifer Spangler, his mother, said, dating his interest back to Littl

ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has a busy month ahead with a focus on helping the community and providing a space for people to come together. “We’re trying to do old-school programs and get people together and build a sense of community,” said Executive Director Mary Cordes. “That’s what the library strives to be: a community.” At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the Alton Square Mall library branch will host a presentation titled “St.

WOOD RIVER - Taven Wardein, a senior at East Alton-Wood River, is being recognized for cross country after a year in the sport that he said was defined by consistent work in practice and progress in his personal-record time. Wardein said he began running cross country at the start of his junior year and credited the team environment as a major reason he stayed with it. “What I like most about this sport is the social aspect of being with friends,” he said. “Running alongside

BELLEVILLE — Mark C. Milton, a Belleville native and founder of Milton Law Group, has acquired a historic downtown Belleville building and plans to renovate it into a Southern Illinois satellite office for his tax law practice, with an upstairs residential unit to be leased as “The Jefferson Loft.” Through his real estate holdings company, Miltchester Properties LLC, Milton purchased the 3,485-square-foot, 2.5-story property at 122 W. Main St. in the heart of downtown Belleville.