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ALTON — For one afternoon each summer, Downtown Alton becomes a showcase for what happens when musicians, artists, independent businesses, and craft beverage producers come together. That's the idea behind Rock the Hops, returning Saturday, Aug. 8, for six hours of live performances, regional tastings, and discovering the people and places that make Alton's creative district unique. From 2 to 8 p.m., festival goers can discover 28 original musical acts while sampling more than 40 styles

GODFREY/GRANITE CITY - Vitality Women’s Clinic has partnered with Coordinated Youth and Human Services to offer healthcare, food and breastfeeding assistance to local families. Vitality Women’s Clinic is a Godfrey-based pregnancy center that works with new and expectant parents. They offer free pregnancy and STI tests and ultrasounds; as a pro-life, faith-based clinic, they do not refer for or perform abortions. Out of Granite City, Coordinated Youth and Human Services (CYHS) help

GRANITE CITY – A local woman faces felony charges in Madison County after allegedly fleeing at over 100 mph from an attempted traffic stop in Granite City. Heather A. Clark, 26, of Alhambra, Ill., was charged on July 9, 2026 with two Class 4 felony counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer. Clark allegedly knowingly attempted to flee and elude a Granite City Police officer who had signaled for her to stop her vehicle on May 20, 2026. Charging documents note sh

SPRINGFIELD – Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in 5 metropolitan areas, including seven consecutive months of year-over-year job growth for Lake County, and decreased in 7 metropolitan areas. Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in 11 metro areas and was unchanged in 1 for the year ending June 2026, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). “Illinois’ economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nearly two years after President Donald Trump promised free IVF for all Americans on the campaign trail, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and are reintroducing the Right to IVF Act, a sweeping legislative package that would make it easier to access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) for the millions of hopeful

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul co-led a coalition of 26 states to stop the Trump administration’s continued efforts to use federal funds—specifically, billions of dollars in federal counterterrorism and other funds—to coerce states into complying with the administration’s political and policy priorities. Raoul and the coalition’s lawsuit filed today challenges decisions by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department

ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE - If you ask any Freedom School student, they’d agree that the experience has improved their reading — but it’s been about much more than just books. This summer, Alton Middle School students could participate in Freedom School, a supplemental literacy program that encourages reading and social activism. SIUE students taught 50 incoming sixth, seventh and eighth graders how to use their voices through books about social justice. “It’s evolved

CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined legislators and community members at Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ to sign HB 4323, officially designating July 25 as Emmett Till Day in Illinois. In 1955 at this Bronzeville church, Mamie Till-Mobley held a public, open-casket funeral for her 14-year-old son after he was brutally lynched and killed by two white men in Mississippi. Till’s murder galvanized the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, igniting a national

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general, urged Congress to take immediate action to protect Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders. In a letter to congressional leaders, Attorney General Raoul and the coalition called on Congress to pass H.R. 1689/S.4814, which would extend TPS protections for Haiti. The coalition also asked Congress to pass legislation that would provide judicial oversight of TPS decisions and establish a

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of the 36th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to renew the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) — a program Duckworth championed in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—that is helping make public transit stations across the nation more accessible and inclusive for all Americans, including people with disabilities.

ALTON - The local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace could use the community’s support in their effort to ensure no child sleeps on the floor in our community. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a national organization that uses volunteers to build beds for kids ages 3–17. Jason Brunaugh founded the Alton chapter in 2019, and local volunteer Dave has been a part of the mission ever since. Dave explained the power of the work they do and how the community can get involved. “We’re

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation was joined by community leaders in Casey today to cut the ribbon on the first charging station built in the state through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, with more to come soon. Additionally, IDOT announced it is awarding $23.5 million through the third round of funding in the program for 29 new projects as part of the effort to build a network of chargers along the interstate system. The new station and

PIASA - Kaden Matuska of Southwestern won Macoupin County championships in the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles on May 7, 2026, highlighting a strong season in hurdle events and multiple relay appearances. The county titles came as Matuska completed his junior season and prepared to enter his senior year at Southwestern. He won the 110-meter highs in the county meet with a time of 17.24 and the 300-meter low hurdles with a clocking of 43.77. Matuska's season included

MILLSTADT, Ill. – Two Illinois House Democrats have recently come under scrutiny for corruption and ethics violations, and State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) is standing up and demanding transparency, accountability, and protection for victims. Schmidt says Illinois lawmakers have a duty to represent their constituents with honesty and professionalism. "Members of the Illinois General Assembly must be held to the highest ethical standards," said Schmidt. "Unfortunately,

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director James Jennings today announced $5 million in funding through the Section 319 (h) Grant Program for projects addressing non-point source (NPS) pollution. The Section 319(h) Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now posted. “The Section 319 Grant Program targets areas of the state prone to nonpoint source pollution,” said Director Jennings. “This funding will aid in the development

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee—and U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Katie Britt (R-AL) to strengthen aviation safety and support our aviation workforce by fostering transparency surrounding medication guidelines successfully passed committee today. The Aviation Medication

EDWARDSVILLE - For a second year, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is all set to host the collegiate competition known as the Electrek American Solar Challenge 2026 on July 27 and 28. 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! With teams traveling from Illinois State University before arriving in Edwardsville, SIUE's stop falls roughly

EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School basketball player Mia Semith has signed to play at Roosevelt University in Chicago, where she will continue her career after becoming one of the top players in the program’s history. Semith is a Spencer Homes Female Athlete of the Month. Semith, who will play for Roosevelt on its primary campus on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, leaves Edwardsville with significant career milestones, according to Edwardsville Athletic Director Amy Boscolo. Roosevelt

ST. LOUIS - A man was injured in a shooting late Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in St. Louis’ Academy neighborhood, and a 27-year-old man was arrested as St. Louis Metropolitan Police District 5 officers investigate what police said likely stemmed from an earlier disagreement. The shooting happened shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the 1400 block of Union Boulevard, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's District 5. Officers responding to a call for a shooting found

Seventy million Americans count on Social Security to afford food, medication, housing and utilities. It’s a bedrock promise to Americans that, after a lifetime of hard work, they will have a secure retirement. The program is there for the grandfather who worked his whole life trying to provide for his family but has seen his savings run out. Or the widowed mother who stayed home to raise four children and is counting on Social Security for retirement income. But according to a report publishe