ST. LOUIS - Be part of one of the largest volunteer clean-up events in the metro area and help beautify the Mississippi and Missouri River watersheds. Open Space STL and its partners invite the public to be part of the 2026 Confluence Trash Bash, happening April 11th in the St. Louis area. Confluence Trash Bash partners for 2026 include; Great Rivers Greenway , MSD Project Clear , the Earthways Center , Saint Louis County Parks and Recreation Department , Missouri Department of
BETHALTO - Civic Memorial High School will install a new elevator this year. During the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8 Board of Education’s regular meeting on March 26, 2026, the Board voted unanimously to release up to $80,000 in Operation and Maintenance Funds for the project. Christopher Schomber, Bethalto’s business manager/chief school business officer, noted that the project is ready to begin. “We finally have all the pieces of the financial puzzle together,”
ALTON - A retirement party is set for Dena Grubb, a beloved longtime employee at Johnson’s Corner, ahead of her final day on the job. The party is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Johnson’s Corner. Johnson's Corner owner Cathy Johnson said Friday, April 3, 2026, will be Grubb’s last day, and that Grubb will work all day for those who want to see her and say goodbye. “Everyone loves Dena,” Johnson said in a post announcing the event. "Sh
ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School students and staff presented a memorial plaque on Friday, March 27, 2026, to Cynthia Down, the widow of SSgt. and Capt. William R. Down, in partnership with the Til Valhalla Project. Marquette Catholic students James Sehorn, Carson Jones, Noah Menke, Melanie Marshall, Kaylin St. Peters, Juliana Urhahn, and Dakota Nelson took part in the presentation, along with staff members Mike Roberts and Jon Podner, according to information provided by Podner, who i
ALTON - Alton Area Community Organizations and community leaders will hold their 5th Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Rock Spring Park, offering free activities and resources for families. The event, which is free and open to the public, is being coordinated in part by Kim Brice-Hollis of the CLB Foundation, along with a committee that includes Leon Smallwood-Bey of the 100 Men Movement, James Hickman of Mr. Everything, Alderwoman
EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville High School Tiger Talk Podcast Network recently visited Shock City Studios in St. Louis for a personal tour of their professional recording studio, along with an informational session led by Studio Manager Jonathan Shaver. For students who spend hours behind the microphone, this was a chance to see what storytelling looks like at the highest level. Artists like SZA, Future, Yung Gravy, and bbno$ have all recorded at Shock City Studios, a highly reputable St. Loui
A new year once began with a lamb. Not on January 1, and not with fireworks. In parts of the ancient Near East, people marked the turning of the year when fresh grass returned and herds started giving birth. That timing shaped calendars, taxes, and temple rituals. It also shaped something more personal: the way communities welcomed the return of growth after a hard stretch. Ancient spring celebrations were not just parties. They were practical, emotional, and deeply symbolic. People used them
ALTON – An Alton man accused of using a knife to illegally detain two people, including a domestic battery victim, is currently in custody pending his latest criminal charges. Sean M. Scroggins, 44, of Alton, was charged on March 25, 2026 with two Class 3 felony counts of aggravated unlawful restraint and one Class 4 felony count of domestic battery, his second or subsequent such offense. Scroggins allegedly knowingly detained two people without legal authority while using a carpenter's
On March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower was formally completed in Paris, giving the world one of the most recognizable structures ever built. At the time, it was a bold experiment in engineering and a centerpiece for the 1889 World’s Fair, meant to showcase industrial skill and modern design. Many people admired it, while others criticized it as an eyesore that did not fit the city’s older architecture. What made the tower important then was its proof that iron construction could reach
ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has an exciting spring ahead. As April begins, Executive Director Mary Cordes noted that the spring newsletter hit mailboxes last week and features several upcoming events for families, teens, kids and adults to enjoy. She hopes the activities and programs — all of which are free — encourage people to utilize the library, enjoy the outdoors, and engage with the community. “A lot of the programs are geared towards getting people
COLLINSVILLE – A cannabis dispensary in Collinsville is at the center of a federal lawsuit alleging male staff members, including the facility manager, participated in continuous sexual harassment of female employees. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced its lawsuit against Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. on Monday, March 30, 2026. The EEOC claims in a press release that the company “violated federal law when it subjected female employees at the company’s
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County prosecutors have charged Connor Will, a 30-year-old Eureka, Mo., man, in connection with an officer-involved shooting during a reported home break-in and hostage situation early Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Shrewsbury, Missouri, authorities said. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges Sunday, March 29, against Will, of the 600 block of Butler Drive in Eureka, for first-degree burglary, two counts of armed criminal action,
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The St. Louis County Police canceled an alert on Monday afternoon, March 30, 2026, after detectives determined there was never a missing or abducted child reported from the 9800 block of New Hampshire Avenue in the Affton-Southwest Precinct, the department said. The St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives “have been able to confirm that there was never an abducted child” from that location, according to
EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 has announced the appointments of Kalan Gott as special education coordinator and Caty Happe as curriculum coordinator. Both appointments were approved in March by the Board of Education. Gott replaces Lori Compton, who is retiring at the end of the school year following a 25-year career in District 7. Gott currently serves as an elementary instructional coach in the district’s curriculum department, where she works alongside
EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department announced it is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies to step up April enforcement efforts in recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. “Distracted driving endangers everyone, and we need the community’s support to keep our streets safe,” said Lt. Matt Senci. “While most people know texting while driving is illegal,
JERSEYVILLE – Residents of Jerseyville and Jersey County may soon have recycling service options pending approval of a new trash and recycling contract, along with increased yearly dump fees. Jerseyville City Council members are set to consider a three-year contract with Republic Services for trash hauling and single-stream recycling at city sites and the city dump, as well as new fees for city dump permits, at their next meeting on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Jerseyville officials clarify
ST. LOUIS - Quick wrap-up on northern lights potential for the St. Louis area over the next few days: Not likely for our area. Current conditions: Kp ~3 (no geomagnetic storm). Best near-term window: early Mar 30 (UTC) with forecast peak around Kp ~4.67 — roughly 7–10 PM CT Sunday, Mar 29 and 10 PM–1 AM CT late Sunday into Monday. Still generally not strong enough this far south. Mar 31–Apr 1: forecast eases back to ~3.67 then ~2.33 (less promising). If someone
EAST ALTON - Community members can support United Way at an upcoming trapshoot and barbecue fundraiser. On Friday, April 17, 2026, United Way will host their 18th annual labor fundraiser at Winchester Shooting Facilities in East Alton. The shooting starts at 8 a.m. and goes until 11:30 a.m., and shooters must arrive by 10 a.m. to participate. It costs $85 for two rounds, which includes the barbecue immediately following the shoot at Machinists Bluff City Lodge 660 in East Alton. All proceeds
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is announcing all 169 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) throughout Illinois, commonly called 911 call centers, have successfully transitioned to Next Generation 911 (NG911). NG911 upgrades the traditional 911 service from voice-centric networks to secure, IP-based infrastructure designed to support today’s communications. “This milestone reflects years of coordinated work by the ISP Division of Statewide 911, PSAPs, Emergency
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today urged Illinois consumers to be alert for scam text messages claiming they committed a traffic or tollway violation and must pay a fine. Raoul’s office is warning that the unsolicited text messages are intended to trick consumers into sharing personal and financial information. “Illinois residents should be assured that government agencies will not call, text or email unprompted to ask for payment or personal information,”
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