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ST. LOUIS, MO — Union Avenue Opera is proud to launch its first-ever One-Act Festival , a bold new fall initiative bringing two powerful contemporary operas to the stage: dwb (driving while black) by Susan Kander and Roberta Gumbel, and As One by Laura Kaminsky, Mark Campbell, and Kimberly Reed. Performances will take place October 10 and 11 at 7:30 PM and October 12 at 3:00 PM at Union Avenue Opera. This year’s theme, “Exploring Identity and Injustice Through Opera,” invites audiences into two deeply personal and socially resonant stories told through music. Both works explore the complexities of visibility, vulnerability, and personal transformation in today’s world. In dwb (driving while black) , soprano Marsha Thompson gives voice to an African American mother’s fear and anxiety as her son approaches driving age in America. Directed by Ivan Griffin , this gripping work brings a contemporary lens to the ongoing realities of

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SPRINGFIELD – Headed to the Grandstand? The Illinois State Fair is offering a few important reminders to know before you go. These updated safety protocols at the Grandstand will help ensure a secure and enjoyable experience for all guests. New this year, walk-through metal detectors and bag checks will be in place at all Grandstand entrances. No bags or purses larger than 14"x8", backpacks, or duffle bags are allowed into the Grandstand. If you leave the Grandstand, you will be required to go back through metal detectors and the bag check to re-enter. Please help us keep our venue safe by reviewing the full list of prohibited items prior to your arrival. Parking For general parking, Gates 4, 6, 7, 8, or 11. Gate 6 Lot 18 and Gate 7 Lot 21 are closest to the Grandstand. The cost is $5 per vehicle, per day. Handicap parking is available at Gates 4 and 11 with the tram service running until 8 p.m. Food & Beverages Grandstand concessions are now cashless. All drink

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SPRINGFIELD – Adults 60 and older can enter the State Fair for free on Monday, Aug. 11, when the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) hosts Senior Day in the Illinois Building, located near the main gate of the fairgrounds. “We are excited to welcome over 100 state and community partners to Senior Day to offer health screenings and information to older adults,” said IDoA Director Mary Killough . “We’ll also be hosting special events and activities throughout the day, including bingo and the crowd-pleasing Not So Newlywed Game.” Beginning at 9 a.m., the main floor of the Illinois Building will be set up with vendors and exhibitors offering free health screenings, wellness demonstrations, and giveaways. The building is air conditioned, has restrooms, and offers a limited number of motorized wheelchairs for rent. A schedule of special events and Senior Day activities is below. All events will take place in the Illinois Building auditorium unless

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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois EPA Acting Director James Jennings is announcing eight upcoming Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) one-day collection events for the Fall of 2025. These collection events are co-sponsored by units of local government and provide residents the free opportunity to safely dispose of unused or leftover hazardous products commonly found in homes. “Illinois residents continue to show us the need for our Household Hazardous Waste collection events, which provide them the opportunity and convenience to schedule their drop off at any of our locations,” said Acting Director Jennings . “By properly disposing of unused and unwanted household chemicals and products at these Illinois EPA-supported events, residents are part of the solution to protect the health of our families and neighbors, and our environment.” One-day HHW collections are open to all Illinois residents and operate from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the day of the event. Pre-registration

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul secured a preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts temporarily barring the Trump administration from misspending funds budgeted to protect communities from natural disasters before they strike. For the past 30 years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) bipartisan Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program has provided communities across the nation with resources to fortify their infrastructure against natural disasters. In July, Raoul and a coalition of attorneys general sued the Trump administration after it attempted to illegally shut down the program. The injunction blocks the administration from spending BRIC funding on expenses other than the BRIC program while the case plays out in court. “We must do all we can to prepare for disasters and keep our communities safe,” Raoul said. “By focusing on preparation, the BRIC program protects property,

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EDWARDSVILLE — Get Ready to Celebrate Creativity at the 11th Annual Edwardsville Art Fair! Join us for an unforgettable weekend as the Edwardsville Art Fair, proudly produced by the Edwardsville Arts Center, returns for its 11th year! From September 26th to 28th, Edwardsville’s beautiful City Park will transform into a vibrant hub of artistic expression, community spirit, and joyous festivities. Experience the Magic of Art. Discover the stunning works of over 90 exceptionally talented artists from across the region, nation, and globe. From captivating paintings to intricate sculptures and everything in between, each piece tells a story. Get inspired as you meet the artists, hear their stories, and witness their creative processes through live demonstrations. Celebrate Local Talent. The Fair is more than just an art show – it's a celebration of our community’s creative spirit. Enjoy performances by local musicians and dancers, adding energy and rhythm to your

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MARYVILLE, Ill. — Andrew Hylton was sworn in as the newest officer of the Maryville Police Department during the village board meeting this week. Hylton is scheduled to attend the police academy later this month as part of his training. Village officials and community members welcomed Officer Hylton to the department and expressed hopes for a long, safe career in law enforcement. The Maryville Police Department will oversee his development as he begins his service to the community.

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SOUTH ROXANA – A woman from South Roxana has been released from custody after being charged with arson in connection to a mobile home fire earlier this summer. Jennifer M. Sneed, 41, of South Roxana, was charged on Aug. 4, 2025 with a Class X felony count of aggravated arson. On June 16, 2025, Sneed allegedly set fire to a mobile home on Illinois Avenue in South Roxana, which she reportedly knew or reasonably should have known was occupied by one or more people at the time of the offense. According to the state’s petition to deny Sneed’s pretrial release from custody, the home was already “fully engulfed” in flames when responding officers arrived on scene. “Officers responded to a report of fire at a house trailer, which was fully engulfed,” the petition states. “Witnesses reported that a resident, defendant, admitted to setting the fire and had threatened to burn it down in the past.” One witness reported that the fire

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BETHALTO, Ill. — On July 3, 2025, at approximately 3:10 p.m., the Bethalto Police Department responded to a report of a burglary in progress in the 300 block of West Bethalto Drive. A caller reported seeing a black male going through a vehicle, then leaving and getting into a nearby car, which subsequently left the area. The caller provided the license plate number of the suspect vehicle to the police. Officers confirmed that a large sum of currency had been taken from the victim’s vehicle. With assistance from the Alton Police Department, officers stopped the vehicle hours later. A female was driving at the time and was questioned about the male suspect and his whereabouts, but no credible information was obtained. Police seized the female’s cell phone as part of the investigation. Bethalto detectives obtained information from the leasing company regarding the person who rented the vehicle and secured a search warrant for the seized phone. Surveillance footage

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WEST ALTON- The St. Charles County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the two men who died in a helicopter crash on Thursday morning as 35-year-old Nicholas R. Fulton of Salem, Missouri, and 37-year-old Michael C. Curry of Ashley, Illinois. The crash occurred around 11 a.m. when the helicopter struck power lines, causing them to fall onto a barge and ignite a fire, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. First responders confirmed the helicopter crashed onto the barge and caught fire. J.F. Electric, the employer of one of the victims, released a statement expressing sorrow over the incident. “It is with deep sadness that we confirm a serious incident occurred earlier today involving one of our employees and a subcontractor,” the statement said. “Tragically, the incident resulted in the passing of both the employee and subcontractor.”

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WOOD RIVER - A Brighton-based cat rescue will host a cornhole tournament to raise money for their cats. On Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, at the Wood River Moose, you can come out for “Tossin’ for Tails” to enjoy cornhole, raffles, a 50/50 drawing and more fun in support of Little Cat Rescue of Illinois. Mallory Wolff, founder of Little Cat Rescue of Illinois, noted how important the community’s support is to their mission. “The more that we raise, the more we can help. If funding is not there, then we can’t help. If we don’t have the money in the bank, I can’t take them on,” Wolff said. “There are so many homeless cats. Every year, it amazes me how many cats are out there.” Wolff lives on 98 acres of farmland, and she often rescued stray cats. In 2023, she decided to take this a step further by starting Little Cat Rescue. Her family built a building unit on the property, complete with a “catio” — a ca

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY - The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced ramp closures on eastbound and westbound Interstate 55/64 at the following locations: I-55/64 eastbound exit ramp to Barack Obama Avenue I-55/64 westbound exit ramp to 3rd Street Beginning Saturday, Aug. 9, at 5 a.m., traffic will be restricted at these locations to allow for road construction. All lanes will reopen to traffic by 5 p.m. the same day. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone.

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EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville resident Tyler Morgan was seriously injured recently after falling 30 feet from a tree into water while working, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser organizer. Haylee Trober, who is coordinating a fundraiser to support Morgan and his girlfriend, Jocelynn, said Morgan was airlifted to Saint Louis University Hospital and admitted to trauma care. He sustained a brain bleed, a compound fracture in his femur, a dislocated hip, a punctured liver, and chipped vertebrae. Morgan underwent surgery to have a rod placed in his femur and is now recovering. “Recovery will be long and Tyler will be out of work for a long time, as well as Jocelynn to be there to help Tyler,” Trober said. She added that workers’ compensation will cover most medical bills, but the couple faces ongoing financial challenges. Trober emphasized that Morgan and Jocelynn prefer not to ask for help but said the fundraiser aims to ease their financial burden during this

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WOOD RIVER, Ill. — Officers from the Wood River Police Department responded to a disturbance call on the 300 block of South Central Avenue on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at approximately 9:11 p.m., after a female caller reported being assaulted outside a residence. Upon arrival, officers began an on-scene investigation and learned that Benjamin T. Hale, a male subject inside the home, allegedly threatened the victim with a firearm earlier that day and was involved in illegal drug activity. The victim also accused another woman, Savannah LeBlanc, of physically battering her. Police obtained consent from Hale to enter the residence, where they detected a strong odor of gasoline and observed suspected controlled substances in plain view. Two other individuals inside the home, Savannah LeBlanc and Michael “Dylan” Bass, were identified and found to have active arrest warrants. During LeBlanc’s arrest, she resisted by kicking the interior of a patrol vehicle

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HOLIDAY SHORES - Ryan Turner of Holiday Shores is seeking financial support to cover urgent veterinary care for his dog, Esme, who has been suffering from a severe throat injury. Turner launched a fundraiser after accumulating nearly $6,000 in medical expenses while trying to diagnose and treat Esme’s condition. Esme’s health issues began when she stopped eating and drinking for several days. Turner initially took her to his home veterinarian, where tests reportedly showed no problems. Despite Turner’s concerns that Esme had ingested something harmful, the vet did not examine her throat or mouth in detail. When Esme’s condition did not improve, Turner was referred to an animal hospital. Turner said: "At the hospital, further tests including X-rays and blood work again failed to identify the cause." After two days of observation, Esme was discharged but soon started bleeding from her mouth. Turner returned her to the hospital, where repeated tests still did no

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ILLINOIS - Randy Raley is a Democrat challenging Mary Miller to represent the 15th District of Illinois. Raley recently stopped by “Our Daily Show!” with C.J. Nasello to share his goals for his campaign and his plans for the district if elected. He emphasized that he wants to represent the entire district. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican. Let’s find some kind of common ground where we can lift this district up and make life better for everybody,” he said. “If you don’t look like me or pray like me or love like me, I will represent you, too. If you are a churchgoing guy on Sunday and all of that, I will represent you. It’s a big, wide district, and it covers a lot of land. There’s going to be a lot of different interests in the district and it’s going to be hard to put a coalition together, but at least I’m willing to sit and listen.” Raley lived in Missouri for a long time but

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PLEASANT HILL, Ill. – The Culpepper & Merriweather (C&M) Circus is making its way to Pleasant Hill, bringing an authentic “Big Top” circus spectacle for the whole family to enjoy. On Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, the circus is coming to the Pike County Fairgrounds at 210 W. Clay St. in Pleasant Hill, thanks to a sponsorship from the Pike County Fair Association. Described as an “authentic One-Ring, Big Top Circus,” the C&M Circus has been providing quality, local family entertainment for 40 years. Circus Performances are set for 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Circus officials describe each 90-minute event as “an amazing show the whole family will love!” This year’s shows feature an all-new performance lineup for 2025, including: Big Cats presented by Trey Key; Aerialist Extraordinaire Simone on the trapeze; the Perez Daredevil Duo on the Tight Rope and Wheel of Destiny; the high energy Macias family hand and foot juggling; and everyone's favorite Circus

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EAST ST. LOUIS — Dr. Lawrence Rainey has been named interim principal of Dr. Katie Harper Wright Elementary School for the new school year, East St. Louis School District 189 has announced. Dr. Rainey brings extensive experience to his new role, having served as an assistant principal within the district and previously as a special education teacher at Dr. Wright Elementary. He also has experience as a principal outside the district. Known for his warm and approachable leadership style, Dr. Rainey is recognized for building strong relationships with students, staff, and families. The district highlighted his ability to foster a positive school culture and support student success, describing him as a trusted presence in the schools. As interim principal, the East St. Louis School District 189 said Dr. Rainey will continue to lead with "a focus on compassion, dedication, and academic excellence." East St. Louis School District 189 encouraged the community to welcome Dr.

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SPRINGFIELD – Fairgoers who stop by the Governor’s Tent during the 2025 Illinois State Fair can pick up a free pocket-size copy of the Declaration of Independence and learn how their community can join in the statewide celebration of America’s 250th anniversary next year. “The 250th anniversary is not just a celebration of our nation’s past. It's an opportunity to examine how we ended up where we are today and an invitation to consider the future we want to build,” said Gabrielle Lyon, chair of the Illinois America 250 Commission and executive director of Illinois Humanities. “We invite fairgoers to visit our booth in the Governor’s Tent to find out how they can be part of this historic milestone for our nation.” The Illinois America 250 Commission is encouraging communities, libraries, schools, historical societies, cultural institutions, and individuals of all ages to be part of efforts to develop an inclusive commemoration o

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SPRINGFIELD – Fairgoers who stop by the Governor’s Tent during the 2025 Illinois State Fair can pick up a free pocket-size copy of the Declaration of Independence and learn how their community can join in the statewide celebration of America’s 250th anniversary next year. “The 250th anniversary is not just a celebration of our nation’s past. It's an opportunity to examine how we ended up where we are today and an invitation to consider the future we want to build,” said Gabrielle Lyon, chair of the Illinois America 250 Commission and executive director of Illinois Humanities. “We invite fairgoers to visit our booth in the Governor’s Tent to find out how they can be part of this historic milestone for our nation.” The Illinois America 250 Commission is encouraging communities, libraries, schools, historical societies, cultural institutions, and individuals of all ages to be part of efforts to develop an inclusive commemoration o

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