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On April 28, 1945, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was executed by anti-fascist partisans near Lake Como, just days before the end of World War II in Europe. At the time, his death marked the collapse of fascist rule in Italy and signaled how quickly wartime power could unravel when military defeat and public support both disappeared. It still matters because it helped shape Italy’s postwar transition away from dictatorship, influenced how Europe dealt with former authoritarian leaders,

ALTON - The Alton Police Department has filed charges against a St. Louis man after investigators say he robbed a convenience store at gunpoint and was arrested minutes later while trying to break into another business. Alton Police said the investigation began about 8:56 a.m. April 26, 2026, when officers were dispatched to a report of an armed robbery at the Phillips 66 convenience store at 1660 E. Broadway in Alton, Illinois. A male suspect, later identified as Jesse J. Williams, 35, of St.

JERSEYVILLE – Recycling guidelines for Jerseyville and Jersey County residents are now available as the city and county move forward with recycling services at the city dump , with related items set for City Council consideration. According to the April 28, 2026 City Council agenda , dump stickers sales are underway at Jerseyville City Hall, and the newest round of stickers will remain valid until April 30, 2027. Dump permit holders are required to show proof of residency using either

COLLINSVILLE — The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Monday that drivers will encounter lane restrictions on southbound Interstate 255 over Illinois 162 starting Tuesday morning as crews close the right lane and the exit ramp for emergency bridge repairs. The restrictions are scheduled to begin Tuesday, April 28, at 7 a.m., weather permitting, in Collinsville. IDOT said District 8 Operations crews need to perform “necessary emergency bridge repairs.” All lanes

ALTON – Two local men face felony charges after a firearm sale reportedly turned into an armed robbery in Wood River. Treshaun L. Butler, 18, of Alton, and Sirahjay Collins, 20, of East Alton, were both charged on April 20, 2026 with one count each of armed robbery (both Class X felonies), mob action, and aggravated unlawful possession of weapons (each Class 4 felonies). On April 17, 2026, the two allegedly knowingly acted together to rob another individual of U.S. currency by use o

HARTFORD - Community members can have an immersive experience at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10, 2026, the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site will host their annual Departure Event, complete with historic demonstrations, reenactors and more. Mike Bortko shared that this is the “red-letter weekend” for the historic site, and he looks forward to engaging with community members and teaching them about the journey

GLEN CARBON - Illinois State Police Troop 8 responded Monday afternoon, April 27, 2026, to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 270 in Madison County after one vehicle reportedly hydroplaned and went off the road, with no injuries and no lane blockages reported. The crash was reported at about 2:24 p.m. April 27, 2026, on I-270 eastbound near milepost 12, west of Illinois 159, according to preliminary information provided by Illinois State Police. “A preliminary investigation indicates the

CREVE COEUR - Precision TMS is exploring new ways to treat depression. Located in Creve Coeur, Missouri, Precision TMS offers transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a noninvasive procedure where magnets stimulate the brain. TMS has been approved to treat depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Tom Malone, CEO of Precision TMS, wants to help patients recover through TMS and ketamine treatments. He is curious to learn more about how psychedelics can treat psychiatric conditions,

EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville High School boys tennis coach Dave Lipe said the program’s senior players have been “a great group” this season, citing their leadership and "team-first approach" in Edwardsville. The senior boys are shown above, from left standing with their banners - Lucas Hutton, Brandon Wong, John Almos, Milo Kathriner, Ian McGinness, Kelen McDonald, Isaac Chieboun, Lucas Rudd, and Schaefer Bates. The senior tennis boys are Spencer Homes Male Athletes Of

EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School junior McKenna Lee was selected by composer Eric Whitacre to perform a solo during an April 13, 2026, concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City while traveling with the EHS Choir, according to Edwardsville School District #7. The Edwardsville School District said Lee was “personally selected by renowned composer Eric Whitacre to perform the solo in his arrangement of Hurt ” during the performance. Lee described the moment as

Closings Monday, April 27, 2026 School Closings Brooklyn Unit District 188, closing at 1 p.m. Carrollton Community Unit School District 1, closing at 1 p.m. East St. Louis School District 189, closing 2 hours early. Lewis and Clark Community College is switching to remote operations at 1 p.m. Metro East Montessori - Granite City, early dismissal 2 hours. Other Closings The Edwardsville YMCA closed at 4 p.m. The Niebur 24/7 Fitness Center will remain available for those with 24/7 access.

ALTON - Alton High School boys tennis coach Jesse Macias has nominated senior Joe Ventimiglia for athlete of the month after Ventimiglia posted a 12-10 record and placed fifth at No. 2 singles in the Springfield JD Sinnock tournament over the weekend. Ventimigilia is the Auto Butler Male Athlete of the Month for Alton High. Macias, who teaches in Alton High School’s social studies department and coaches the school’s girls and boys tennis teams, said Ventimiglia delivered th

BELLEVILLE - The Belleville Police Department and the Belleville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 226 hosted the 3rd Annual Touch-a-Truck Event on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Belleville to support autism awareness, partnering with Cities in Harmony. The police department said the event drew “a great turnout” and thanked those who attended. “On Saturday, Belleville Police Department, with Belleville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 226, hosted the 3rd Annual Touch-a-Truck

NORMAL - May 4-8 is Teacher Appreciation Week, a time to recognize the caring, dedicated professionals in the vital field of education. There is plenty of reason to celebrate at Illinois State. Founded as the state’s first public institution of higher learning in 1857, ISU was a “normal school,” a term for teacher training. That was the mission of the university for its first 108 years of existence until October 1965, when the Illinois Board of Higher Education

EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Health Sciences Complex, a $117.4 million state-appropriated construction project made possible by the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois Capital program and overseen by the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB), will hold its ceremonial ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28. The Clayco and Poettker joint venture design-build team, in collaboration with design firms Lamar Johnson Collaborative, Inc. and Christner, Inc.,

JERSEYVILLE – A suspect in the recent stabbing of a juvenile victim in Jerseyville has been released from custody pending trial in Jersey County. Trent J. Devore, 20, with no listed address, was charged on April 23, 2026 with one count each of aggravated battery in a public place, aggravated battery, and unlawful use of a weapon in a public place (each Class 3 felonies). Devore allegedly knowingly stabbed a minor victim in the right thigh with a knife while at Wittman Park in Jerseyville

ST. LOUIS - A rare, higher-end severe weather threat is expected to build across the St. Louis region this afternoon and into tonight, with forecasters warning that storms could bring tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail. The National Weather Service in St. Louis has upgraded the area to a Moderate Risk, or Level 4, for severe thunderstorms today, with the most likely window for severe weather between 2 and 10 p.m., meteorologist Mark Fuchs said on Monday morning, April 27, 2026. Forecasters

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Police (ISP) is now accepting applications for the three Team Illinois Youth Police Camps (TIYPC) this summer. Each week-long, overnight camp is geared towards teenagers (ages 13-17 years) and focuses on providing personal development opportunities to challenge young people to reach their full potential. The TIYPCs are based upon a military model and attendees, or cadets, learn military drills and participate in physical fitness exercises. Cadets also attend

CARLINVILLE – Blackburn College has appointed Philip R. Foxman as Vice President for Institutional Advancement. He will oversee the College’s fundraising, alumni, and donor engagement, as well as related philanthropic initiatives, and will serve as a member of the President’s senior leadership team. Foxman brings more than three decades of higher education experience to Blackburn. Most recently, he served as Associate Vice President for Advancement & Alumni Engagement at Beloit

SPRINGFIELD – Nearly 7,000 students will visit Illinois state parks, natural areas, museums and other natural resources sites thanks to grants from the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant program administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF). This competitive grant program allows Illinois teachers to apply for funds to take students on a field trip to study Illinois’ natural resources. Learning activities mus