SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Museum (ISM) invites the public to get their kicks at a new "Miles of Memories: Stories of Route 66" exhibit opening Saturday, May 23. The exhibition brings to life the experience of living, working and traveling along U.S. Route 66 during its heyday. The exhibit incorporates the museum’s Route 66 Oral History Project , a collection of 100 interviews with people who experienced the road when it served as the primary route between Chicago and Los
PONTOON BEACH – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that the outside lane of eastbound Interstate 270 from Illinois 203 to Illinois 111 will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, May 8, weather permitting, for pavement repairs. In addition, the ramp from eastbound I-270 to Illinois 111 also will be closed. Work is expected to be completed by the end of the day Friday. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this lane closure.
EDWARDSVILLE - Missy Banker is grateful for those who came before her. Banker teaches orchestra at Liberty Middle School in the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she is remembering the “amazing” music teachers who inspired her, and she’s working hard to create that inspiration for her own students. “Middle school students are the absolute best,” Banker said. “They are in a stage in life where growth happens
CHAMPAIGN — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) convened her third roundtable discussion with local leaders and immigration nonprofit and advocacy organizations. The conversation focused on immigration enforcement activity across Central and Southern Illinois and how elected officials, community organizations, and local leaders can work together to better support affected residents. “Today was an important opportunity to come together as a community and learn how we can
COLLINSVILLE - Often referred to as the “Best Kept Secret in Collinsville, Illinois”, the 42-acre Willoughby Heritage Farm & Conservation Reserve is enjoyed by children and adults alike with its extensive trail system, preserved 1920s farmhouse, facility rentals, and farm animals. With the park’s popularity growing, the City of Collinsville, which has owned and operated the property since 2018, turned to Lawrence Group’s experienced Landscape Architecture studio to develop
GODFREY — The students of Lewis and Clark Community College have elected Emily Hoge as the school’s 2026-2027 student trustee, selecting an active campus leader with a background in service, workforce leadership and student advocacy. Hoge serves as a training lead at Chick-fil-A in Edwardsville and is a recipient of the company’s Remarkable Futures Scholarship. Before enrolling at Lewis and Clark, she was involved in several leadership and service organizations, including
EDWARDSVILLE - In 1990, at age 5, Jessie Buehnerkemper decided on her first day of kindergarten that she wanted to stay in that environment forever. That dream came true, and Buehnerkemper now teaches kindergarten at Leclaire Elementary School in the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she remembers the “magic” that inspired her as a child and works hard to provide that same experience for her own students. “I knew I wanted
ALTON – Alton’s Workforce Training Hub, located at Lewis and Clark Community College’s Scott Bibb Center, recently awarded certificates to 62 students who completed clean-energy training through Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). The training equips participants with the technical skills and industry knowledge needed for entry-level positions in fields such as solar energy, efficient HVAC systems and sustainable construction. The program is designed
BETHALTO - Gina Schmidt has found her way home. Schmidt is a special education teacher for kindergarten and first grade students at Bethalto East Primary School in the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she’s reflecting on the journey that brought her back to Bethalto, where she grew up, and led to her dream job. “My favorite part of teaching is the students,” she shared. “I love seeing the smiles on their faces, hearing th
ALTON - Sarah Jones loves to celebrate her students. Jones is a special education teacher for the fifth grade at East Elementary School in the Alton Community Unit School District #11. This Teacher Appreciation Week, the district is taking a moment to turn the tables and celebrate her for the difference she makes in kids’ lives every day. “I decided to become a special education teacher because I wanted to make a meaningful difference for students who learn differently,”
ALTON - Sarah Boyd has always loved working with kids, so education was a natural pathway for her. Boyd teaches at North Elementary School in the Alton Community Unit School District #11. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she is thankful for the opportunity to engage with students and help them grow. “I love watching kids learn!” she said. “There is something rewarding about knowing that, as a teacher, you touch kids’ lives in ways beyond what you teach in class. I lov
HIGHLAND - St. Paul Catholic School in Highland recently hosted their annual Baseball Day to build the school’s sense of community. Abbey McGinley, a kindergarten teacher, explained that she did a Baseball Day at her previous school and decided to bring the tradition to St. Paul. The eighth grade students played baseball against the teachers while younger students provided entertainment between innings. “What kid doesn't love the Cardinals?” McGinley said. “It’s
A festival can make strangers hug, sing in the street, and spend money on things they would never buy on a normal Tuesday. That’s a strange power for something that often boils down to food, music, lights, and a shared calendar date. Festivals aren’t just “fun events.” They scratch several deep human itches at once: the need to belong, the need for meaning, the need for a break, and the need to feel something together. When you look closely, it becomes easier to see wh
On May 6, 1954, a simple but powerful message traveled between two computers, helping to prove that machines could “talk” to each other over a shared network. That day, researchers successfully demonstrated packet switching in a way that pointed toward a new kind of communication system—one built to move information efficiently, even when lines were busy or parts of the network failed. At the time, this mattered because governments, universities, and laboratories were looking
ALTON - Dr. Katie Dudley will speak in Alton about how time spent outdoors, not memorizing scientific names, helped shape her commitment to conservation and how recreation can open broader pathways into environmental stewardship. Dudley, a Community and Economic Development Specialist with University of Illinois Extension, will give the talk, titled “You Don’t Have to Name the Tree to Love the Forest,” at the Old Bakery Beer Company. Attendees are invited to
WOOD RIVER - Jerald Downs, a junior at East Alton-Wood River High School, is being recognized for his baseball skills, crediting his ability to stay calm in high-stress situations and remain focused as his best traits. Downs said he has played baseball since he was 7 and is drawn to the sport’s unpredictability and challenge. Downs is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month. “I love how anything can happen at any time, and it's a game of failure,” he said.
ST. LOUIS – A former U.S. Postal Service supervisor on Monday admitted stealing 89 checks from the mail. Benita D. Randle, 43, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of theft of mail by a U.S. Postal Service employee. John W. Harrison, 26, of Black Jack, Missouri, pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2026, to one count of possession of stolen mail matter. Randle was a supervisor at the St. Louis Processing and Distribution Center, which processes, sorts and distributes
PONTOON BEACH - Madison County Coroner Nicholas P. Novacich on Monday identified two female passengers who died after a two-car crash late Saturday night, May 2, 2026, in Pontoon Beach. The victims were Janecia N. Gardner, 32, of Pontoon Beach, and La Traya N. Hughes, 17, of Alton, Novacich said in information on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The crash occurred at about 11:27 p.m., May 2, 2026, north of 2188 Illinois State Route 111 in Pontoon Beach. Madison County Coroner’s Investigator Samual
O’FALLON, Ill. – HSHS Medical Group is pleased to welcome two new providers bringing advanced specialty care to the O’Fallon area. Brandy Holthaus, MSN, FNP-C – HSHS Medical Group Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Brandy Holthaus, MSN, FNP-C, has joined HSHS Medical Group Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, located at 670 Pierce Blvd. in O'Fallon. Holthaus is accepting new patients and brings a focused interest in hand surgery and upper extremity care to the practice. Holt
JERSEY COUNTY - A driver lost his life in a crash on Sunday in Jersey County. At 11:38 a.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2026, the Jersey County Sheriff's Office received a report of an accident with injuries on Delhi Road near Hill Drive. Jersey County Sheriff Nick Manns said the investigation determined that it was a one-car accident. "The vehicle left the roadway as it was traveling downhill and struck a tree," Sheriff Manns said. "The driver, a 56-year-old male from Jerseyville, was killed. A 33-year-old
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