GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSofSI) would like to congratulate the Top Cookie Sellers from the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program for 2026. Girl Scouts made door-to-door sales, hosted cookie booths, and even made online sales to friends and family near and far. GS of SI would like to recognize the girls who sold the most packages for their Service Unit. Let’s give a shout out to the following girls for being Top Cookie Sellers for their respective areas: Kennedy
On April 18, 1906, a powerful earthquake struck San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area, triggering fires that burned for days and turning large parts of the city into ruins. The quake and its aftermath killed thousands of people, displaced a huge share of the population, and caused damage that reshaped the region’s economy and daily life. It mattered immediately because it tested how a modern city could respond to sudden disaster—when water lines broke, streets split, and communication
ALTON - The Alton Fire Department responded Friday afternoon to a structure fire at Skyline Towers, a senior independent living apartment complex, where firefighters encountered smoke on the third floor and extinguished the fire with water cans. Firefighters were dispatched at 4:16 p.m. to Skyline Towers at 3113 Washington Ave. in Alton. Upon arrival, crews were notified of smoke on the third floor, and as they reached that level, they encountered smoke in the hallway, officials said. As firefighters
EDWARDSVILLE — A two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Buchanan and Park in Edwardsville blocked the road for a period of time Friday morning, April 17, 2026, according to Cathy Hensley, a spokesperson for the City of Edwardsville. “At least one person was reportedly injured in the crash,” Hensley said Friday afternoon. No other details were yet known about the accident.
Key takeaways: Excessive drinking can cause many problems, including brain, liver, skin, stomach and pregnancy issues. If alcohol is part of your outdoor fun, take it slow, and take breaks. Call 9-1-1 if someone needs quick medical attention. Your primary care provider can link you with resources to help quit drinking. Warm weather means more outdoor activities involving alcohol. The dangers How quickly can binge drinking turn problematic? “Very easily,”
WOOD RIVER - Von Dell Gallery and Studios in Wood River, Illinois, will mark its 10th anniversary with a public celebration Saturday, April 18, 2026, featuring artist demonstrations and refreshments, owner Gary Von Dell Conrad said. The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the gallery, 102 E. Ferguson Ave., at the corner of First and Ferguson in Wood River. “It is a milestone to be in business for 10 years, I am pleased,” Conrad said. “I love what I do.” Conrad
JACKSONVILLE – Luke Worrell, ALC (Accredited Land Consultant) with Worrell Land Services in Jacksonville, IL., was awarded the distinguished Land REALTOR of America Award by the REALTORS Land Institute at a Leadership Awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, during RLI’s 2026 National Land Conference in San Antonio. This year marked the 20th Anniversary of the National Land Conference. The Land Realtor® of America Award recognizes RLI members for their effort and work expended
ALTON — Alton Police arrested two men accused of separate aggravated battery incidents involving juvenile girls on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Alton, authorities said, on Friday, April 17, 2026, crediting the victims’ reports and a surveillance review for helping investigators quickly identify suspects. The Alton Police Department said officers first responded Monday to the area of College Avenue in Alton after a report of an aggravated battery involving a 16-year-old female victim.
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced weekend lane closures on eastbound Interstate 64 between Illinois 159 and Illinois 157 in St. Clair County. Beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, April 18, traffic will be reduced from three lanes to one lane for sign installation. Two lanes are expected to reopen by 7 p.m. Saturday, weather permitting. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to
ALTON - The City of Alton will be conducting road work on Central Avenue next week. As a result, OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center will be impacted by road closures near the hospital campus along Central Ave, from Elm Street to State House Square (“The Circle”), Monday, April 20 through Thursday, April 23, 2026, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day (weather permitting). All vehicle traffic must enter and exit the OSF Saint Anthony’s campus through the Emergency Departmen
JERSEYVILLE - Journalism and yearbook students from Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 earned multiple placements Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the IHSA Journalism Sectional competition, with four students advancing to the IHSA State Tournament, the district said. At the sectional competition, Shayla Friedel placed sixth in Headline Writing, Haylie Eilerman placed fourth in Infographics, Sierra Williams placed fourth in News Writing, Kiley King placed sixth in Photo Storytelling,
EDWARDSVILLE/BELLEVILLE - Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has charged the former owner of Zapp Thai Restaurant Inc. in Edwardsville, alleging he defrauded the state of more than $100,000 in sales tax revenue, authorities said. The Attorney General’s office charged Saran Puribhat, 54, of Belleville, with two counts of theft of government property exceeding $100,000, Class X felonies punishable by up to 30 years in prison; one count of sales tax evasion exceeding $100,000, a Class
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois State Senate has joined the Illinois House of Representatives in adopting HJR 6 on Thursday to designate Illinois Route 140 as it travels through Meadowbrook as the ‘Cpl. Tommy N. Miller Memorial Highway’. The resolution was sponsored in the House by State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) and in the Senate by State Senator Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon). “We have been working to get this road-naming resolution passed for five years now,”
EDWARDSVILLE – The City of Edwardsville is inviting the community to attend as the Goshen Commons downtown park project takes a big step forward. Mayor Art Risavy and City officials will be joined by Rep. Katie Stuart and other guests at 9 a.m. Monday, April 20, 2026, for a groundbreaking at the site of the planned pedestrian plaza and park space in the heart of downtown Edwardsville. Goshen Commons will repurpose one block of St. Louis Street between North Main Street and Second Street
JERSEYVILLE – Short term rental properties across Jersey County will be subject to a new 5% tax after recent County Board approval of certain Hotel and Motel Tax changes. Jersey County Board members approved a recommendation from the county’s Legislative Committee to codify changes to the Hotel and Motel Tax Ordinance on April 16, 2026. County Board Member Jeremy Beasley cast the sole vote against codifying the changes. County Board Chairman Gary Krueger said Jersey County will
BETHALTO — Bethalto Police Chief Jason Lamb has been placed on paid administrative leave, according to the Bassett-Gabriel Law Office. The law firm confirmed Friday morning, April 17, 2026, that Lamb is on paid administrative leave. Bassett & Gabriel Law Office, PC is the Village Of Bethalto Attorney. The law office said it could not release any other information at this time about the investigation. Lamb was placed on administrative leave in early March 2026. Bethalto Mayor Gary Bost
EDWARDSVILLE - Senior citizens connected with students at Edwardsville High School’s inaugural Senior Breakfast. On Friday, April 17, 2026, senior community members were invited to the high school for a free breakfast, where they also heard updates about the district and enjoyed orchestra and choir performances by students. Administrators expressed their gratitude for these community members and were eager to welcome them to the newly renovated high school. “It’s special,”
JERSEYVILLE – Residents across Jersey County will soon have access to the Jerseyville city dump site with newly added recycling services under a recently approved partnership between the city and county. Jersey County Board members unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Jerseyville regarding recycling at their April 16, 2026 meeting. Vice Chairman Mark Wagner said the county will be responsible for the hauling of recyclables to the dump and associated costs,
The weirdest part of a “perfectly normal” night is waking up at 3 a.m. and feeling wide awake for no clear reason. You went to bed on time. You didn’t drink coffee late. And yet your sleep feels lighter, choppier, and easier to lose. That pattern often has less to do with willpower and more to do with what’s happening outside your window. Spring weather changes several of the body’s sleep cues at once—light, temperature, humidity, and even the air you breathe.
On April 17, 1961, a U.S.-backed force of Cuban exiles landed at the Bay of Pigs on Cuba’s southern coast, aiming to overthrow Fidel Castro’s government. The invasion quickly unraveled, ending in a decisive defeat for the attackers. At the time, it mattered because it exposed the limits of covert power and pushed the United States and Cuba into a deeper, more hostile standoff. It still matters today because it helped lock the Caribbean into Cold War rivalries, strengthened Cuba’s
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