EDWARDSVILLE – The offices of State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) and State Senator Jason Plummer (55th-Edwardsville) are partnering with the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office to host two ICASH events in the Metro East, helping residents search for unclaimed money or property that may be waiting for them. “Earlier this year, a constituent stopped by one of my ICASH events and discovered they had $94,000 waiting for them,” said Senator Harriss. “That’s
GRAFTON - Community members are invited to “sip, savor, and celebrate” the region’s local flavors at the third annual Craft Beverage Festival. From 1–5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at the Grafton Winery Vineyards, the festival will feature over 20 vendors with wine, beer, spirits, coffee, soda and food samples. All of these vendors are local makers who are eager to share their products with the community. Hosted by Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, the event
DUPO, ILL. – State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) is hosting a Tire Recycling Event and Food Drive in Dupo and encourages constituents to attend. The event will provide residents with a safe and secure way to dispose of tires. Rep. Schmidt’s staff will also be collecting non-perishable food items to deliver to local food pantries throughout the 114th District. “I’m excited to host this event and help the community safely recycle unused tires,” said Schmidt.
ALTON – The Alton Amphitheater may get an extra $100,000 to help book quality acts for the 2027 season. Committee of the Whole members on Sept. 8, 2026 approved an amended resolution allocating $100,000 from the Marina Development Fund, also known as the Hotel Tax Fund, to the Alton Amphitheater Commission. The resolution states the commission’s ability to book quality entertainers to perform at the venue requires an additional $100,000 at least nine months prior to the event. T
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS — The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis is asking for the public’s help as it continues investigating a Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, shooting in the 800 block of Saint William Drive in Cahokia Heights involving 17-year-old Darvel Thomas and a second teen. Thomas, of Cahokia Heights, has been identified as the 17-year-old victim in the homicide investigation, according to the Major Case Squad. A second victim, a 16-year-old from Cahokia Heights, was treated and released
GODFREY — A 41-year-old East Alton man was found dead early Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, after being struck by a train on railroad tracks between Tolle Lane and Pearl Street in Godfrey, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred about 5:31 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Timothy W. Freytag, of East Alton. The sheriff’s office responded to the scene with the Godfrey Fire Protection District,
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - The Cahokia Heights Police Department has added two new officers, Nyah Ford and James Matthews, who graduated last Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, from the 16-week Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy Session No. 159 and have begun field training in the community. Ford and Matthews are the department’s newest officers, according to information from the Cahokia Heights Police Department. The department encouraged community members to welcome the officers as they
O'FALLON, ILL. - Two O’Fallon Police officers graduated today from Session 159 of the Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy, completing months of training before returning next week to begin field training, the O’Fallon Police Department said. Madison Ashford and Logan Schermesser officially completed the academy and will have “a well-earned weekend off” before reporting back, the department said. “We’re excited to have them back and ready
GODFREY — The Village of Godfrey is asking residents to help shape the future of recreation in the community by participating in a Recreation Center Needs Assessment Survey. The survey is designed to gather resident feedback about the programs, services, and amenities they would like to see included in a potential recreation center. Survey results will help the Village establish community priorities and determine whether development of a recreation center is feasible. The Village has hired
Fair Fun, Festivals and Community Gatherings Fill The Riverbend Calendar From live music and local fairs to family activities, art, markets and fundraisers, the Riverbend calendar is packed with upcoming ways to get out in the community. For the complete calendar, visit RiverBender.com Events . Leadership Development: Setting Expectations That Align Performance brings a 90-minute monthly lunch-and-learn to The Wedge Innovation Center in Alton on Friday, Sept. 11. Sponsored by RiverBend Growt
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced his office has secured a settlement with Northern Illinois Gas Company (Nicor) that cuts the natural gas utility’s requested rate increase by 63% - a reduction of approximately $140 million. In January, Nicor filed for a $221 million rate increase, representing a 14.5% increase over current rates. Raoul’s office opposed this increase, alleging that significant portions of Nicor’s forecasted capital spending program
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that he has secured relief from unlawful conditions the Trump administration attempted to place on Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) funding. Administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the program provides funding to state and local agencies that enforce fair housing laws. In Illinois, the program supports the Illinois Department of Human Rights’ work to protect Illinoisans from housing discrimination.
EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department has completed its Labor Day impaired driving enforcement effort, which resulted in five arrests for driving under the influence. Officers also issued 15 citations for speeding, 11 for seat belt violations, and 15 for other offenses. The Edwardsville Police Department collaborated with other law enforcement agencies and highway safety partners across the state for the Illinois Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive
For years, parents have been told that keeping kids safe online is largely their responsibility. Set screen limits. Monitor social media. Know which apps your child is using. Talk to them about what they see online. Those things matter. I am a parent, and I know those conversations matter. But parents should not be expected to compete alone against some of the largest technology companies in the world and products specifically designed to keep people clicking, scrolling and coming back
CHICAGO – Today marks one year since the Trump Administration launched Operation Midway Blitz, the excessive federal immigration enforcement operation that brought fear, chaos, and disruption to communities and cost over a billion dollars in lost revenue across Chicago and Illinois. “Operation Midway Blitz was Trump’s attempt to break Illinois’ resolve and make us feel powerless before his might. He failed.” said Governor JB Pritzker. “If anything from the
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined Illinois State University (ISU) as they opened doors to the new home for their College of Engineering, Campus East. The 392,000 square foot, 28-acre facility provides the space and state-of-the-art equipment needed to support a growing academic program and prepare Illinois’ next generation of engineers, including up to 700 new students. “Illinois has always been a state where people design, build, and innovate – it is incumbent
This Day in Music History: September 9 On Sept. 9, 1956, Elvis Presley made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show , a television event that turned a fast-rising rock-and-roll singer into a national force. The broadcast reached an enormous audience at a time when network television could bring much of the country together at once. Presley performed “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Love Me Tender,” “Ready Teddy” and “Hound Dog” from Los Angeles,
On September 9, one of the most significant events in global history took place in 1776, when the Second Continental Congress officially adopted the name “United States” for the former British colonies in North America. Until then, official documents often referred to the new political entity as the “United Colonies.” The change may sound simple, but it marked an important step in turning a rebellion into a nation. At the time, it helped give a clearer identity to the
JERSEYVILLE – Jersey County Clerk Pam Warford gave an update on mail-in voting in the county at the Sept. 8, 2026 County Board meeting as an executive order on the subject remains blocked in court. Warford said an executive order restricting mail-in voting issued by President Donald Trump is currently facing a legal challenge . While the executive order has cast uncertainty over the county’s mail-in voting process, Warford said local election officials will continue ahead as usual
EDWARDSVILLE — The Edwardsville Police Department completed its Labor Day impaired driving enforcement effort in Edwardsville, resulting in five arrests for driving under the influence and dozens of citations as part of a statewide safety campaign. Officers issued 15 citations for speeding, 11 for seat belt violations, and 15 for other offenses during the enforcement effort. The department collaborated with other law enforcement agencies and highway safety partners across Illinois for
stLouIST