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ALTON - The Alton River Dragons will auction limited-edition jerseys during their June 4, 2025, 6:35 p.m. home opener game against the Quincy Dog Paddlers at Gordon Moore Park to support the Alton Fire Department and the Alton Police Department’s K-9 Division. All proceeds from the auction will be donated directly to these two local organizations. The event, set to take place in Alton, encourages fans and community members to arrive early for a special announcement honoring an individual important to the community and first responders. The Alton River Dragons hope the event will raise awareness and provide financial support to the city’s emergency services. https://tickets.altonbaseball.ticketsocket.com/events Alton IL Fire Department Alton Police Department

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SWANSEA — The Swansea Police Department took part in the annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26, 2025, honoring veterans and remembering those who have fallen in service to the nation. The Swansea Police Department showcased its Honor Guard, Bicycle Unit, and newly formed ATV Unit during the event. In a statement, the department expressed gratitude to all veterans, emphasizing the significance of the day. “We were honored to showcase our Honor Guard, Bicycle Unit, and our newly formed ATV Unit. It’s always a privilege to take part in this meaningful community event,” the Swansea Police Department said. The parade serves as an opportunity for the community and local officials to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by military members. The department’s participation highlighted its commitment to honoring and remembering those who served.

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EAST ST. LOUIS — Kenneth Watts, a Truancy Officer with East St. Louis School District 189, is retiring after 17 years of dedicated service, the district announced Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Watts has spent nearly two decades working to remove barriers to student attendance and ensure access to education for all students in the district. His role involved making home visits, collaborating with families, and encouraging students to maintain their academic progress. Throughout his tenure, Watts focused on building relationships and providing support while also holding students accountable, a combination district officials say has had a lasting impact on the school community. “Mr. Watts led with compassion and consistency,” the district said in a statement. “His presence will truly be missed across the district.” East St. Louis School District 189 expressed gratitude for Watts’ commitment and the legacy he leaves behind after nearly two decades o

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SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is monitoring a black bear sighting in southwestern Illinois, with the animal first observed Monday, May 26, 2025, in St. Clair County and confirmed by an IDNR wildlife biologist Tuesday, May 27, 2025. The bear has been seen multiple times in the same area and has caused damage to some private property bee hives, though it has had no direct interaction with humans. While black bear sightings in Illinois are rare, the IDNR notes they are not unprecedented during summer months. Bears from neighboring states with established populations, including Missouri and Wisconsin, occasionally move into Illinois. Previous confirmed sightings have occurred in counties such as Jo Daviess, Lake, Saline, Pope, Williamson, and Jackson. The IDNR advises residents to avoid direct encounters with bears and to remove potential food sources that could attract them. Bears have a strong sense of smell and can detect food odors

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JERSEYVILLE – Jerseyville is the latest Riverbend community to keep a sales tax on groceries in place after the state’s own grocery tax is set to expire in 2026. 100% of the proceeds from the state’s 1% sales tax on groceries have gone directly to local municipalities since the state first imposed them in 1990. Faced with significant revenue loss, municipalities were given the option to pass their own ordinances imposing 1% sales taxes on groceries and grocery “services” within their communities. Jerseyville officials first considered retaining the 1% grocery tax at the city level in April of 2025. According to a breakdown of city revenues contained within Jerseyville’s Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan , sales tax accounted for nearly 60% of intergovernmental revenues in 2024, amounting to over $3.5 million. While the 1% grocery tax retention wouldn’t raise prices any further for consumers, it also wouldn’t lower them, effectively

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ALTON - The Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education voted unanimously to create a Community Engagement Coalition. This coalition will engage 20–25 community members to gather feedback about the school district, student performance, safety and security, and school climate. Superintendent Elaine Kane explained that the district has outlined a strategic plan by working with staff members, students and the Board of Education, and now they want to hear from the larger community. “We really now are ready to open up and involve our community stakeholders,” she said. “We’re looking for people who are interested and invested in the schools who want to be part of the process of helping us to make really good decisions that are in the best interests of the broader community.” Kane said there will be two “layers” to this community engagement, starting with the formation of a group that will operate similarly to a steering

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GRANITE CITY - Becky Hansel is appealing to the public for support as her 16-year-old niece, Trinity Waelterman, of Granite City, battles stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer that has spread throughout her body. The family is facing significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges amid Trinity’s ongoing treatment. Trinity’s cancer originated in her soft tissue and has metastasized to multiple areas including her legs, arms, shoulders, neck, spine, pancreas, and lungs. The survival rate for this type of cancer is approximately 7%, underscoring the severity of her condition. The treatment plan involves a 46-week chemotherapy regimen. The first week of each cycle includes three different chemotherapy drugs administered to aggressively target the cancer. Weeks two and three each involve a single chemotherapy drug to allow Trinity’s body to recover. This cycle repeats every four weeks, continuing for the full 46 weeks. Terry Waelterman,

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police announced it issued 35 citations during the Memorial Day “Click It or Ticket” enforcement period. “Through the Memorial Day enforcement campaign, we helped make Illinois roads safer and spread the word that seat belts save lives,” said Lt. Matt Senci. During the enforcement period, Edwardsville Police wrote 19 citations for seat belt violations and wrote 16 citations for other violations. The “Click It or Ticket” campaign is funded with federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. For more information on safe driving practices, visit ItsNotaGameIllinois.com .

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ST. LOUIS - In addition to other services, the American Red Cross is now providing financial assistance to qualifying individuals whose homes were impacted by the May 16th tornadoes. To qualify, an individual’s home must have been classified by Red Cross as having sustained major damage or was completely destroyed. Red Cross teams have been assessing damage to homes across the Greater St. Louis area to make these determinations. Everyone whose home was damaged is asked to go to www.redcross.org/gethelp to review the information about qualifications and to fill out the online form. For those who qualify to receive assistance, Red Cross will send personalized text messages and emails or call with instructions on how to access financial assistance. To receive the assistance, individuals must respond to the text, email or phone call. For questions regarding this process, call 1-800-Red-Cross. Numerous additional Red Cross services are available to those impacted by the tornado

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ST. LOUIS - The American Red Cross has opened an additional shelter located at Peter & Paul Community Services: Garfield Building , 2612 Wyoming St., St Louis, MO 63118. Four shelters are open: Shelters were opened within a few hours of the tornado hitting. The number of individuals seeking a place to stay in the shelters has grown to more than 200 individuals. Shelters are located at the following sites and all have availability: Peter & Paul Community Services: Garfield Building, 2612 Wyoming St. St Louis, MO 63118. 12th & Park Recreation Center, 1410 S. Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104 Refresh Community Church, 829 N. Hanley Rd., St. Louis, MO 63130 Friendly Temple Outreach Center, 6356 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, St. Louis, MO 63133 Individuals displaced by the tornado are encouraged to come to the shelters for water, meals, snacks and a safe place to stay overnight. Trained Red Cross volunteers are available to offer disaster mental health and health car

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ST. LOUIS - Today, St. Louis City's Board of Aldermen will introduce two bills to support residents who were displaced or whose homes were severely damaged by recent storms. The scope of an existing ordinance, which established the City’s Impacted Tenants Fund in 2024, will be expanded to include tenants displaced by natural disasters. The original legislation made funds available to tenants forced to relocate due to condemnation for occupancy as a result of landlords’ failure to comply with code requirements. The Impacted Tenants Fund was initially funded with $100,000.00 in American Rescue Plan Act funds and financed annually using a portion of the fines collected for municipal building code violations. “We passed the original bill knowing that displacement causes profound hardship for individuals and families. Recognizing that the recovery and rebuilding process will extend over months and years, it is essential for the City to proactively support tenants in

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SWANSEA - The Rotary Club of Swansea presented financial educational awards to four Center for Academic & Vocational Excellence (CAVE) District 201 graduating seniors on May 8, 2025. A total of $8,000 was awarded to help further the students in their future trade careers and continued training. Funds were raised by the Club through a ticket raffle held in Fall 2024. The following are the award recipients (featured left to right in the top photo): ? Kennedi Allen ? Daniya Holmes ? Aliayah Anderson ? Lillian Averbeck ? Eric Morgan-Cox ? Adela Gagen ? Noah Mesiti (Darice Bohnenstiehl Endowment Award) ? Serenity Graham The School District 201 Center for Academic & Vocational Excellence (CAVE) Program, located at 7645 Magna Drive in Belleville, is an educational program designed to address the physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs of at-risk students in order to successfully transition back to Belleville East or West High School or on to college or career. It offers

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) will host its Spring Vendor Summit on June 4, 2025. The event will take place at The Pavilion, 1602 Sioux Dr., Marion, Illinois from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This half-day summit will give attendees an opportunity to learn how to do business with State of Illinois agencies — providing a detailed understanding of the certifications and registrations required and how to complete a Business Enterprise Program Utilization Plan. “We invite business owners to attend the Spring Vendor Summit in Marion, whether they’re seeking resources to help grow their business or looking to better understand how to do business with the State,” said Andy Manar, Deputy Governor for Budget and Economy. “This event is designed to empower businesses to compete and succeed in Illinois.” Vendor Summits are key components in the State’s efforts to diversify its vendor pool and provide equitable

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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Police (ISP) conducted a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance detail on May 13-16, 2025. This commercial motor vehicle enforcement campaign occurred at fixed and portable scale locations in Cook, Will, Madison, Montgomery, and St. Clair Counties. Officers successfully enforced state and federal motor carrier safety regulations by conducting North American Standard Inspections and educated drivers on the importance of safe driving, seat belt use, and safe equipment. Detail Results Total Motor Carrier Safety Inspections: 1,870 Total Motor Carrier Safety Out of Service Notices: 339 Total Citations: 112 Total Warnings: 2,124 Total Criminal Arrests: 1

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of 20 attorneys general, today urged the American Medical Association (AMA) to take stronger action to protect health care providers from risky in-person medical board certification requirements. In testimony submitted to the AMA, Raoul and the coalition argue that mandating in-person board certification testing in states that have aggressively criminalized or penalized reproductive and gender-affirming health care endangers providers and threatens access to essential care nationwide. In particular, the attorneys general highlight the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ABOG), which requires OB/GYNs seeking board certification to travel to Texas for in-person testing. Texas has imposed some of the most severe restrictions on abortion and gender-affirming care in the country. “Illinois medical professionals who provide lawful health care should not be forced to travel to states that have criminalized reproductive

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general, today filed an amicus brief supporting a challenge to an executive order that indefinitely suspended the entry of refugees through the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program (USRAP) and dismantled the USRAP’s infrastructure by terminating agreements and funding for resettlement agencies. Raoul and the coalition filed their brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in Pacito v. Trump, arguing that Executive Order 14163 is unlawful because it violates the Immigration and Nationality Act, which prohibits the federal government from barring entry to a specific class of people unless those individuals’ entry would be detrimental to the national interest. The order includes no findings specific to USRAP refugees, who are legally admitted to the country, authorized to work and have undergone rigorous vetting. “Our country has a long history of welcoming refugees into our

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SPRINGFIELD – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) led 15 lawmakers in a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy urging him to protect funding for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Expansion Grant Program. CCBHCs provide lifesaving care to millions of Americans; however, a leaked draft of President Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget called for the elimination of their funding. As part of her recent district-wide Medicaid tour, Congresswoman Buzinski visited Chestnut Health Systems in Granite City , which receives funding through the CCBHC Expansion Grant Program. The members write, “Eliminating the CCBHC program would immediately disrupt these critical services, potentially leading to increased, more costly hospitalization rates and exacerbating homelessness. Such cuts would reverse the significant progress that has been made in ameliorating the opioid

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TROY, Ill. — The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce will host its Spring E-cycling and Shredding Day on Saturday, June 7, from 9 a.m. to noon at Triad High School, 704 E. U.S. Highway 40 in Troy. Residents can drop off electronic items with cords for recycling free of charge, except for televisions and monitors, which will incur a small fee from CJD E-cycling. There is no limit to the number of items accepted. A list of items not accepted is available on the Chamber’s website. In addition to e-cycling, attendees can take advantage of free unlimited document shredding provided by The Shred Truck. The event also offers drop-off options for old prescription medications, eyeglasses, and hearing aids. No appointments are necessary. The event is funded through the City of Troy’s tourism funding and organized by the Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact the Chamber at 618-667-8769 or via email at dawn@troymaryvillecoc.com. Additional details

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ALTON – The Wedge Innovation Center Powered by SIUE today announced the hiring of Stephanie Schrage as Community Manager. The former Alton Main Street President brings over 10 years of experience connecting entrepreneurs, fostering collaboration, and driving social impact innovation, exactly the expertise needed to fuel The Wedge's mission as the region's premier startup community. In her new role, Schrage will develop community engagement strategies, coordinate events and programming, and support the network of entrepreneurs, researchers, and professionals at The Wedge. "Stephanie's track record of building vibrant, welcoming communities and her passion for supporting people with big dreams makes her an ideal fit for The Wedge," said J. Scot Heathman, CEO of The Wedge. "Her experience in nonprofit leadership, combined with her deep understanding of community development, will be invaluable as we continue to grow our community of dreamers, doers and thinkers. Stephanie

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ALTON - Enjoy the sounds of multi-platinum selling rock band Puddle of Mudd as they take the stage at the Alton Amphitheater on Saturday, August 2, 2025, with gates opening at 6 p.m. “A Saturday evening on the Alton Riverfront with another multi-platinum selling band like Puddle of Mudd will be a great night for Alton and the region,” said Dan Herkert, Alton Amphitheater Commission Chair. Ticket sales will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 30, 2025. VIP tickets will sell for $65.00, reserved tickets for $46.50, and general admission tickets for $34.25 plus all applicable taxes and fees. Tickets will be available at www.Metrotix.com and through MetroTix outlets. A VIP ticket includes entry to the concert, assigned seating in the VIP area, reserved parking, and access to the VIP tent on the side of the stage with private concessions. A reserved ticket provides entry to the concert and assigned seating at the amphitheater while general admission tickets include entry

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