EDWARDSVILLE/GLEN CARBON - Jimmy John’s has closed its location at 1063 South Route 157 in Edwardsville and plans to reopen later this month in June 2026 at 99 Magnolia in Glen Carbon, according to an announcement at the former site and an employee at the chain’s other Glen Carbon location. A note to customers at the Route 157 location announced the closure and the planned reopening. Construction is underway at the new Magnolia address in Glen Carbon. An employee at Jimmy John’s
GODFREY - As Vitality Women’s Clinic prepares to conclude their Baby Bottle Campaign, Executive Director Jackie Duty emphasized the importance of giving toward the organization’s work. Vitality is a pro-life, faith-based pregnancy clinic that provides free pregnancy and STI testing, ultrasounds and other resources to individuals experiencing unplanned pregnancies. They do not refer for or perform abortions. Duty highlighted their work and the building “momentum”
BUNKER HILL – Bunker Hill High School celebrated its Class of 2026 at a graduation ceremony May 15, but for two graduates, the night was doubly important. Grace Burris and Vivien Wilcox were among those who received their high school diplomas that night, but they also received their associate degrees from Lewis and Clark Community College. “Both students also received our ‘Academic Trailblazer’ award, named after Lewis and Clark’s mascot, which recognizes
ST. LOUIS - U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Wednesday sentenced a convicted felon who lied about the accidental shooting of a toddler to 46 months in prison. On March 6, 2025, Rodrick Miller and his girlfriend cleaned an Anderson Manufacturing, AM-15 semiautomatic pistol and left it unattended on a couch in the girlfriend’s Wellston home. After the girlfriend’s son was shot in the calf, she and Miller took him to the hospital. On the way, Miller hid the gun behind
ALTON - The City of Alton invites residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to attend a public open house on Thursday, June 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Old Bakery Beer Company to help shape the redevelopment of the city's downtown Broadway corridor. The open house will focus on implementation of the City's Great Streets Plan, adopted in 2020, with an emphasis on planned improvements along East Broadway between Market Street and Ridge Street. Attendees will have the opportunity
WOOD RIVER – Wood River residents looking to make exterior home improvements may be eligible for new grants from the city. Wood River City Council members unanimously approved an ordinance on June 15, 2026 to establish an Exterior Renovation Program to encourage city-wide homeowners to make various property improvements. City Manager Steve Palen said the matching grant program will help offset the costs for property owners to repair and replace siding, fascia, roofing, and more. The
BUNKER HILL – A few years ago, Bunker Hill High School was determined to find a way to address a decline in students pursuing post-secondary education and prepare them for successful careers. “We were faced with the same problems a lot of schools were having,” said Superintendent Todd Dugan. “Under half of our student body was continuing to pursue post-secondary education. We also noticed our high school students were disengaged regarding experiences that were relevan
GODFREY - A GoFundMe campaign organized by Brandy Watson of Shipman is seeking support for John Green Jr. and his family after Green was injured in a motorcycle accident recently on Godfrey Road, according to information shared by family members. The family says Green faces “a long road to recovery” after the crash and is dealing with multiple injuries and multiple surgeries. It asks for donations to help cover medical and living expenses while he remains hospitalized and unable
CARLINVILLE – Voters in Macoupin County will be asked this November whether the county should pursue separating from Cook County to form a new state, though their response will have no immediate legal effect. Last week, Macoupin County Board members voted 9-6 to place a public question on separating from Illinois on the ballot for countywide voters during the General Election on Nov. 3, 2026. The public question regards the issue of whether or not Macoupin County “should enter discussion
EDWARDSVILLE - Emma Birkenmeyer, who led the Tigers in many defensive statistics in helping the girls' flag football team to a very successful 15-2 inaugural season, has signed a letter of intent to play for Purdue-Northwest in Hammond, Ind. Birkenmeyer made Edwardsville sports history by becoming the first player from the flag football team to sign to play in college, and she was a key player in helping the Tigers go to the IHSA state tournament, where Edwardsville lost to Chicago Perspectives/Leadership
ILLINOIS - SFC Victor Hernandez with the Illinois Army National Guard wants community members to know that the military is an option for them. “It’s completely changed my life,” he said. “It’s just been awesome.” Hernandez joined the National Guard 18 years ago. He has enjoyed working with the state and federal governments. He explained that he recently moved to Alton and started working as a recruitment specialist in the Alton National Guard office.
BATES COUNTY, MO. - The Bates County Coroner’s Office has identified the 12 victims of a plane crash that occurred Sunday, June 14, 2026, at Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Missouri, while cautioning that authorities are still working to make “certain” the deceased are positively identified. In a statement posted by the coroner’s office, Bates County Coroner Jerret J. Reno said the victims were identified “through the provided manifest and next-of-kin notifications.”
GRANITE CITY – State Senator Erica Harriss and State Representative Amy Elik have partnered to host a FREE Kids Fair Event this weekend. The event will feature free resources for parents and their children, free vison/hearing tests, face painting, food, touch-a-truck, a foam party, and so much more! Who: State Senator Erica Harriss, State Representative Amy Elik When: Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Where: The Mill (Former Niedringhaus United Methodist Church)
EDWARDSVILLE – For a second year, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the Department of Engineering will host the exciting collegiate competition known as the Electrek American Solar Challenge. More than 20 solar car teams traveling a 1500+ mile course in eight days along the Great River Road and Route 66 will encounter a festival at the SIUE stop, with food trucks, music and more! Monday, July 27 – 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Solar cars arrive staggered until 6pm;
JERSEYVILLE/ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE - A tornado watch remained technically in effect Wednesday morning, June 17, 2026, for Montgomery, Macoupin, Jersey, Calhoun, Greene, Pike, Brown, and Adams counties in Illinois, but the threat had “severely lessened” after showers and storms moved through most of the area, Melissa Delia, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in St. Louis, said. Delia said the National Weather Service in St. Louis forecasters are predicting two rounds of showers
SPRINGFIELD – Waterfowl hunters can mark their calendars for upcoming waterfowl hunting blind drawings scheduled at several public hunting areas across Illinois in July and August. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will conduct traditional blind drawings at all sites scheduled this year. Participants should follow any site-specific drawing procedures. Duck and goose hunters must register in person for waterfowl blind site drawings and must be present at the drawing
SPRINGFIELD – A major component of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ Road Safety & Fairness Act will begin next month with the elimination of the state’s mandatory behind-the-wheel driving tests for Illinois drivers ages 79 to 86. Starting July 1, the new law raises the age at which Illinois drivers must take a driving test from 79 to 87, removing an outdated age-based requirement that made Illinois the only state in the nation to require a behind-the-wheel test solely
MILLSTADT, Ill. – After the largest-in-history $55.9 Billion FY 27 State Budget was signed into law by Governor Pritzker on June 16, 2026, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) issued the following statement. “I am disappointed that Governor Pritzker signed a budget that will increase costs for Illinois families," said Schmidt. "This budget raises taxes another $800 million and will create more burdens for working families and businesses. I’m committed to fighting
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in pressing President Donald Trump on Republican threats to Social Security after a new Trustees Report revealed that Republican policies are accelerating Social Security’s insolvency. The Senators’ letter also follows a series of comments from Trump Administration officials and Republican leaders in Congress suggesting that they support benefit
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