A doctor once wrote a prescription that didn’t list pills, syrups, or bed rest. It simply said: “Watch a comedy.” That idea can sound like a modern wellness trend, the kind you’d see on a poster in a waiting room. But the belief that laughter can heal is much older—and more complicated—than most people expect. Across centuries, laughter has been praised as a way to steady the heart, calm the mind, and even help the body recover. It has also been treated with
An egg is already a near-perfect design: smooth, strong, and neatly sealed. So why do humans insist on painting it, waxing it, carving it, beading it, and wrapping it in gold? The answer isn’t just “because it looks nice.” Egg decoration sits at the intersection of meaning and play. It turns an everyday object into a message—about luck, life, identity, love, and belonging. Across many cultures, the egg becomes a small canvas that can carry big ideas, whether it’s
On April 6, 1994, a plane carrying Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down as it approached Kigali, Rwanda. Within hours, coordinated killings began, and in the weeks that followed, the Rwandan genocide took the lives of an estimated 800,000 people, mostly Tutsi, along with many Hutu who opposed the violence. The crash mattered immediately because it shattered a fragile political balance and was used as a trigger for mass murder. I
GRAFTON - The Grafton Ferry will open Friday, April 10, 2026, with expanded hours and year-round service between St. Charles County and the City of Grafton, IL. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on the Grafton Ferry landing at 10 a.m., Friday, April 10. The ferry will open at 5 a.m. to service commuter traffic and early bird travelers. The ribbon cutting will include a short speech and a special surprise for the first 15 ferry passengers to cross the river following the ribbon
HARDIN - The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office said a 37-year-old man from Richland, Washington, was arrested late March 30, 2026, after investigators received information that an adult male was attempting to solicit a 13-year-old child in Hardin. Orlin Guevara-Ulloa was arrested at 11:32 p.m. on March 30 following a traffic stop on South Park St. near French St. in Hardin, according to the Calhoun Sheriff’s office. Calhoun Sheriff Zach Hardin and Pike County Chief Deputy Zack Orr
TROY - The Troy Fire Department responded to a structure fire late Sunday, April 5, 2026, in the area of West Kirsch Road and Springvalley Road after multiple neighbors called 911 to report a loud explosion and visible flames and smoke. Firefighters arrived just after 11 p.m. Sunday and found a house fully involved. Crews located one victim with burns. The person was taken to an area hospital and later transported to St. Louis by medical helicopter. Firefighters worked to bring the fire under
GRANITE CITY, Ill. — The Granite City Fire Department responded Sunday evening, April 5, 2026, to a structure fire in the 1400 block of 25th Street, where firefighters found an abandoned house burning and brought the fire under control. A neighbor said a homeless person would sometimes sleep in the house, but firefighters did not locate anyone inside. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
On April 5, 1722, Dutch navigator Jacob Roggeveen sighted a remote, triangular island in the southeastern Pacific—Rapa Nui, known to Europeans as Easter Island. The encounter mattered because it pulled one of the world’s most isolated inhabited places into the growing web of global sea travel and imperial competition. For Europeans, it expanded maps and ambitions across the Pacific. For the Rapa Nui people, it marked the start of a long, uneven relationship with outsiders that would
SPRINGFIELD – For the third year, the Illinois Department of Health (IDPH) will recognize “30 Days of Public Health” throughout the month of April. The initiative is designed to raise awareness of the role public health plays in keeping all Illinois communities healthy and safe. The April observance expands National Public Health Week into a month-long effort and coincides with National Minority Health Month, highlighting the importance of advancing health equity and showcasing
GODFREY - Vitality Women’s Clinic will host their annual fundraising dinner next weekend, but their work continues all year long. On Friday, April 10, 2026, community members can attend the banquet at Lewis and Clark Community College to raise money for Vitality. Executive Director Jackie Duty and Patient Services Coordinator Stephanie Stupperich shared that Vitality aims to help individuals experiencing unplanned pregnancies make the choice that is right for them. “Fear of
SPRINGFIELD, IL. - The next two weeks will see a flurry of action on hundreds of bills that have advanced to the House floor, with many debates and votes being taken. Below I highlight a couple of bills I passed out of committee that should receive a House vote before the Third Reading Deadline. There’s an old saying around the Capitol that a bad bill is never truly dead. Once again, the gun grabbers in the Democrat majority attempted to push through several anti-Second Amendment bills
ALTON - Emily Taft, field secretary for the Illinois League of Women Voters, visited Alton on March 31, 1926, and met with a number of local women. The annual meeting of the National League of Women Voters was scheduled for April 14 – 21, 1926, in St. Louis. Many Alton women belonged to the state organization and planned to attend the national convention, so Taft’s visit to Alton was to coordinate those plans and encourage attendance at the convention. “The purpose of the
SPRINGFIELD – The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence ( NCADD ) sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month every April to “increase public awareness, provide education, and advocate for effective prevention, treatment, and recovery services to support individuals and communities affected by substance use issues.” This month recognizes individuals struggling with alcoholism and the negative effects of alcohol. It also aims to raise awareness and eliminate harmful stigmas
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police are investigating a wrong-way, head-on crash late Friday, April 3, 2026, on Lewis & Clark Boulevard near Highway 67 that killed a 23-year-old woman and injured four others. Detectives are asking witnesses to come forward. The crash happened at 10:44 p.m. Friday, April 3, in the northbound lanes of Lewis & Clark Boulevard near Highway 67 in St. Louis County, Missouri, according to St. Louis Police. Officers from the St. Louis County Police Department’s
Letter To The Editor: I am Sergeant Ferguson with the Alton Police Department. We have participated in this event for the past 35 years and are trying to inform local businesses and citizens who might be interested in attending a baseball game. This is the first year we are reaching out to local businesses to see if they would like to donate tickets that could be given to Alton School District children and their families to enjoy with us. I have attached the community partner request (for businesse
ALTON - Dennis “Denny” Stanford of OSF HealthCare was recognized with the Lifetime Legacy Award on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Alton, where the Alton Police Department and Alton Fire Department honored him for more than 50 years of service to the community and the regional emergency services system. Stanford is a definite Difference Maker in his community. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford and Fire Chief Jesse Jemison presented the award to Stanford, citing his work as an Emergency Medica
ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Metropolitan Police said officers have taken 45-year-old Demetrius Ingram into custody after he was wanted in connection with the shooting at a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officer around 10 p.m. Monday, March 30, 2026, in the 3200 block of South Kingshighway. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said Ingram was located in a garage on Lawn Avenue near Fyler Avenue on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, and that a firearm was recovered. St. Louis Metropolitan
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced new bipartisan legislation to ensure all of the U.S. Department of State’s foreign Embassies, Consulates and Chief of Mission Residences meet federal accessibility guidelines. The bipartisan Inspector General Accessibility Reporting Act would create a regular opportunity for oversight and improve visibility into structural barriers that limit accessibility by adding to regularly scheduled inspections
CHICAGO – April is Safe Digging Month in Illinois. With temperatures starting to rise, the annual proclamation from Governor JB Pritzker is a reminder to all professional excavators and homeowners to call 811 to locate and mark utility lines for free before starting any digging project. “Before a shovel hits the dirt, call 811 to have utility lines marked. Hitting utility lines can cause service outages and even lead to injury or death. Stay safe and remember there’s no project
CHICAGO – In just the first quarter of 2026, a growing list of global companies are choosing Illinois to invest, expand, and create jobs—driving early-year momentum that has is already outpacing total job creation commitments in recent years. Companies participating in the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program have committed to creating nearly 4,000 jobs and nearly $2.5 billion in committed investments so far this year, exceeding the total number of jobs committed
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