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COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect connected to a burglary that took place in the early morning hours of January 18, 2026. Officials released the above images of the individual and asked anyone with information to contact Detective Temple at 618-344-2131, extension 5209, or send a message via the department’s Facebook page. Tipsters may remain anonymous. The department did not provide additional

EDWARDSVILLE - Students from the Jersey Community High School band were selected to participate in the SIUE Bi-State Bands event held Friday and Saturday at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The students traveled to SIUE on Friday evening for initial practice sessions, followed by all-day rehearsals on Saturday, culminating in a Saturday evening performance. The Jersey selected students include Carter Butler, a junior saxophone player; Payton Mooney, a senior flutist; Abigail Wedig

ALTON - The City of Alton is officially kicking off its 40 Days of Nonviolence initiative to support local youth. On Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, city officials and representatives with the 40 Days of Nonviolence organization spoke about the initiative and plans to provide students with 40 days of programming. These programs aim to curb violence in the city starting on Jan. 28 through March 8, 2026, and beyond. Speakers noted the connection between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the kickoff

ALTON — Civic Memorial High School senior Jude Breyer finished in fourth place individually at the IHSA Regional Bowling Tournament at Alton, contributing to the Eagles’ team victory and advancing them to the sectional competition. Shown above are CM bowlers. The CM bowling boys are Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athletes of the Month. The scores for the CM bowlers were as follows: Breyer, a senior, 1286 Hunter Kremke, a senior, 1235 Kale McMichael, a senior, 1204 Jayden

ST. LOUIS - Ameren Corporation's (NYSE: AEE) operations in Missouri and Illinois triggered more than $20.7 billion in annual economic output, according to a study by a leading market research and development firm. Conducted by HR&A Advisors and commissioned by Ameren, the study analyzed direct spending by the company on functions such as payroll, capital equipment, supplier services, and the additional economic benefits that are generated when those investments prompt other businesses and

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. — Ka'Ontee Johnson, 30, of the 1400 block of Comet Drive in St. Louis, was identified as the pedestrian fatally struck early Saturday morning, Jan. 17, 2026, in the 9000 block of Lucas and Hunt Road, according to the St. Louis County Police Department. The incident occurred at 1:26 a.m. Jan. 17, when officers from the North County Precinct responded to a motor vehicle crash call. Upon arrival, officers found Johnson had been struck by at least one vehicle and was

Martin Luther King Jr. Day didn’t start as a feel-good holiday. It started as an argument—loud, emotional, and deeply political—about what the country owes to the people who pushed it to change. The day matters because it is one of the few national holidays created to honor a citizen who challenged the government and the culture around him. It is also a reminder that progress is not automatic. It has to be demanded, organized, and defended. Understanding how this holiday was

The first sip of a hot drink can make your whole body feel warmer—even though it barely changes your core temperature. That little burst of comfort is real, and it’s one of the reasons people reach for tea, coffee, cocoa, or broth when the air turns cold. Warm drinks in cold weather aren’t just a habit. They hit several systems at once: your nerves, your senses, your emotions, and your social routines. Some of the effects are physical, some are psychological, and most are

This morning starts off very cold with clear skies and a low near 12 degrees. A cold weather advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. due to dangerously cold wind chills that could drop to 15 below zero. Winds from the WNW at 15 mph with gusts up to 29 mph add to the chill, making it feel bitterly cold. By afternoon, expect mostly sunny skies and frigid temperatures peaking at a high of 20 degrees. The brisk wind continues, with gusts keeping it feeling colder than the thermometer shows. This evening

Silence isn’t just the absence of sound. It has a texture—and sometimes it feels so thick you can almost lean on it. That’s why a quiet street can feel completely different depending on what’s happening in the world around it. One kind of quiet feels open and relaxed, like a pause between conversations. Another feels sealed shut, like the world has pulled a blanket over itself. The difference isn’t only in your head. It comes from how sound moves, what the landscape

On January 19, 1915, the world saw the first large-scale aerial bombing raid on Britain when German Zeppelin airships attacked towns on England’s east coast. Air raids were not entirely new, but this moment showed how quickly war was expanding beyond battlefields and into everyday civilian life. At the time, it forced governments and ordinary people to confront a new kind of danger: attacks arriving from the sky with little warning. It still matters today because it marked an early turning

BELLEVILLE - On the night of Saturday, January 17, 2026, police responded to multiple shots fired on the 1700 block of Jamestown Road in Belleville, Illinois, resulting in one woman’s death and injuries to another, authorities said. At approximately 11:19 p.m., officers from the Belleville and Swansea Police Departments arrived at the scene and found three female victims. One woman was deceased in the roadway, while two others were inside a nearby parked vehicle. One of the women in the

MACOUPIN COUNTY — Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged Michael Upton, 34, of Palmyra with multiple felony counts related to child sexual abuse material and drug possession following a search of his residence on East Oak Street in Palmyra. The charges, filed in Macoupin County Circuit Court, include two counts of dissemination of child pornography, each a Class X felony carrying a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison. Upton also faces 10 counts of possession of child pornography,

ROYAL LAKES - A man is facing multiple felony charges following an alleged domestic battery incident that occurred earlier this month. According to charging documents filed by the State’s Attorney’s Office, Eugene Arnold of Royal Lakes is accused of attacking the victim, on January 6, 2026. Charging documents allege Arnold struck her in the face, causing a fractured nose. The injury is listed as great bodily harm, resulting in a charge of aggravated battery causing great bodily

ALTON – Alton Police have charged a local resident with recklessly firing a weapon and engaging in an act of animal cruelty. Jonathon H. Vincent, 20, was charged on Jan. 12, 2026 with a Class 4 felony count of reckless discharge of a firearm and a Class A misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals. On Jan. 9, 2026, Vincent allegedly discharged a firearm in a reckless manner multiple times in close proximity to another individual, endangering the victim’s bodily safety. He is also accuse

ALTON — Woody’s Chicken, a well-known local brand that closed in 2019, made a test comeback on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, by serving its signature chicken tenders from a food truck. The event took place at the Mr. Everything parking lot, 211 E. Elm St., starting at 10 a.m. and will continue until supplies run out. Vehicles lined up in unbelievable numbers for the event, reflecting strong community enthusiasm for the legendary Woody's Chicken product. Nate and Lilly Dettmers, family

On January 17, 1991, the United States and a broad international coalition began the air campaign of the Gulf War, launching strikes against Iraq after months of failed efforts to persuade Iraqi forces to leave Kuwait. The fighting mattered immediately because it tested whether the post–Cold War world would respond collectively to a major act of cross-border invasion. It also mattered to ordinary people far from the battlefield, because it was one of the first wars watched in near real

SPRINGFIELD - In response to the Illinois State Board of Education vote today to recommend the minimal required allocation in funding under the evidence-based formula , President of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates, issued the following statement: “The recommendation from the state board of education is not what is needed to meet this moment and we are certain it will change as others in the Assembly take up the urgent need for a ta

ST. LOUIS – The City of St. Louis has been selected to be part of the Gateways for Growth (G4G) program through the American Immigration Council and Welcoming America , two national nonprofits working to support immigrant inclusion in communities across the country. As part of G4G Round VI, the City will receive tailored research briefs, customized technical assistance and participation in a community of practice with the intention of deepening the cultivation of international communities'

O'FALLON, IL. - After being held in northern Illinois for decades and growing into one of the largest conservation gatherings in the Midwest, the Wild Things Conference is taking root in Southern Illinois this month. With a focus on connecting people and nature across Illinois, the conference brings together conservation professionals, volunteers, educators, and advocates for a full day of learning about and celebrating the ecosystems and wild places of the Midwest. The Wild Things 2026 Conference