EAST ST. LOUIS - The East St. Louis Police Department responded to an incident involving a suicidal individual on the Eads Bridge in East St. Louis on Thursday, April 9, 2026, where officers found a person who had climbed over the railing on the westbound side of the bridge and threatened to jump. As a safety precaution, westbound traffic was temporarily shut down, the East St. Louis Police Department said. The department requested assistance from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department t
GODFREY – Preparations for road improvements along a section of North Alby Street in Godfrey are moving forward with recent Village Board approval. Trustees unanimously approved a construction engineering services agreement with Gonzales Companies, LLC for the North Alby Overlay Project at their April 7, 2026 meeting. The full scope of the project includes “full-depth concrete patching in various locations to address areas of structurally deficient pavement, cold-milling the entir
CASEYVILLE - A semitruck strike that brought down a highway sign across Interstate 64 near the I-255 exit was snarling traffic in the Caseyville area as of late Thursday morning, April 9, 2026, as transportation crews worked to reopen the roadway. The crash happened on I-64 approaching the I-255 exit. Illinois State Police rerouted traffic to Illinois 157 at Caseyville, and congestion backed up for several miles from I-255 past Illinois 159 in Fairview Heights, the Illinois Department of Transportation
ALTON - Community members are invited to learn their neighbors’ stories at an upcoming “Heartbreak to Hope” showcase through 3 Purple Coats Productions, the YWCA, and Healing Illinois. From 1–3 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, the YWCA will host the “Heartbreak to Hope” show, featuring six community activists’ stories about resilience. Leah Becoat, founder of 3 Purple Coats Productions, has recorded and edited videos of each person’s story,
– Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Donald Trump announced a “ceasefire” with Iran: “Before Donald Trump launched his illegal, unjustified and costly war, the Strait of Hormuz was open and violence free, gas was $1 cheaper and thousands more people were alive—including 13 American servicemembers. Only someone as deeply incompetent, delusional and unfit as Trump would see this as ‘winning’ when
The American Heart Association and 10 other leading health organizations say it’s time to start checking cholesterol sooner and treating it more aggressively. New, lower low density lipoprotein LDL cholesterol targets are aimed at preventing heart attacks and strokes before symptoms ever appear. Jason Trager, DO, a cardiologist with OSF HealthCare, says people at risk of heart disease should start trying to lower their cholesterol as early as age 30 and continue into old age. They
ALTON – A felony charge has been filed in the latest reported case of theft from Alton Materials. Steven C. Parrish, 42, listed as homeless out of Alton, was charged on March 30, 2026 with a Class 4 felony count of theft. Parrish allegedly knowingly obtained unauthorized control over various pieces of scrap metal which were property of Alton Materials on Jan. 8, 2026. Charging documents note Parrish had previously been convicted of burglary in a prior Madison County case from 2023.
BELLEVILLE/EDWARDSVILLE - CASA of Southwestern Illinois needs volunteers who are willing to be “a voice” for children in the foster care system. On Saturday, April 25, 2026, CASA will host an annual dinner and fundraiser at The Leclaire Room in Edwardsville. Community members are invited to come out and support the work of CASA, or Court-Appointed Special Advocates. These volunteers advocate for kids in court and help judges make decisions in the best interest of the child.
ALTON – Alton officials voted 6-1 on Wednesday, April 9, 2026, to further delay proposed cuts to Alton’s share of Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau funding until 2027. On April 8, 2026, City Council members approved an amendment to a previously postponed resolution which would have slashed the amount Alton contributes to the Bureau’s funding by approximately 68% via ordinance. The approved amendment shifts the date of the vote from May 15, 2026 to April 12, 2027. Alderwoman
SWANSEA — Federal authorities alerted Swansea Police to a social media post containing terrorist threats targeting Swansea Police Department officers, prompting an investigation that led to the arrest of a 28-year-old man and a felony charge, police said. The FBI notified the Swansea Police Department about the threats, and the department’s Criminal Investigations Division began investigating and identified a suspect, according to information released by police. Detectives developed
ALTON/GODFREY - Oasis Women’s Center will host a trivia night fundraiser to build up essential services in the Riverbend community. On Saturday, April 25, 2026, community members can join Oasis at the Alton Wood River Sportsman’s Club in Godfrey for an evening of trivia, a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction and more. Oasis Executive Director Jenna Giess explained that proceeds go toward helping domestic violence survivors, and these services are as needed as ever. “The amount
Planting has never been just a farming task. In many ancient societies, it was treated like a high-stakes appointment with the universe—so important that people built holidays around it, timed it by the stars, and backed it with songs, feasts, and strict rules about what you could or couldn’t do. That can sound dramatic until you remember what was at stake. A missed window for sowing could mean hunger months later. Ancient holidays that “marked planting season” were no
On April 9, 1940, Nazi Germany launched a surprise invasion of Denmark and Norway, an operation known as Weserübung. In a matter of hours Denmark was occupied, while Norway began a longer, harder fight that drew in British and French forces. At the time, the attack mattered because it reshaped control of the North Sea and the route of vital resources—especially Swedish iron ore—while giving Germany better access to Atlantic shipping lanes. It still matters today because it shows
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County police are investigating a late-night shooting in a business drive-thru that left an adult woman dead and an adult man injured, authorities said. The double shooting happened about 11:35 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in the 11300 block of Bellefontaine Road, according to the St. Louis County Police Department. Officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for a shooting and found two victims inside a business with gunshot injuries,
ALTON – Alton Fire Chief Jesse Jemison Jr. was honored at this week’s City Council meeting for his 33 years of service and his positive impact on the Alton community. Rouzell Porter, president of the Southern Illinois chapter of the 100 Black Men of America, gave a presentation commending Chief Jemison for reaching the significant milestone with the Alton Fire Department. “Since you first put on the uniform, you have been a constant calming presence for our neighbors
MADISON COUNTY – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a Madison County judge found a registered sex offender is a Sexually Violent Person (SVP). The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s office. Madison County Circuit Court Judge Amy Maher ordered Louis Arnold, 49, to be remanded to the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Arnold had been detained in the IDHS Treatment and Detention Facility awaiting his trial. “The history of this
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Colonel Kenneth Gregory, chief of the St. Louis County Police Department, announced he will retire effective May 1, 2026, ending a 46-year law enforcement career that began in December 1979 with the department. “After 46 years of service, the time has come for me to step aside and begin a new chapter,” Gregory said. “It has been an honor, a privilege, and an absolute pleasure to serve the residents of St. Louis County and to work alongside the dedicated me
ST. LOUIS –The owner of a fossil replica company was indicted Wednesday and accused of fraudulently seeking disability benefits. Scott A. Taylor, 50, is still on probation from a prior disability fraud case. The new indictment, on one count of making a false statement, accuses him of applying for Social Security disability benefits on Jan. 28, 2026, claiming that he had not worked since 1993. The indictment says Taylor has been self-employed since 2014. A charge set forth in an indictment
ROXANA — Roxana High School senior Ava Cherry, a multi-sport athlete and standout softball center fielder, has been named a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month, an honor recognizing achievements in athletics and academics in Roxana. Cherry, a triathlete throughout her four years at Roxana, has played volleyball, basketball, and softball. She will be joined in the Midwest Members Credit Union recognition with her best friend and Roxana teammate, Lilli Ray, who
ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 has a unique program that allows community stakeholders to provide input to administrators. The Reimagine Alton project asks community members to come together and brainstorm ways to improve Alton schools. Over the past year, the group has met multiple times and will present their ideas to the Board of Education in June. Superintendent Elaine Kane noted that the goal is to help the community by building up the school district. “Strong
stLouIST