GODFREY – Godfrey is the latest community to honor Alton’s Rayna Raglin – not only for her athletic accomplishments, but also for her character. Raglin made her community proud when she took first place in both the 100 and 200 meter races at the IHSA Class 3A Girls State Track and Field Meet on May 23, 2026. She also placed eighth in the 400 meter race. At the last Godfrey Village Board meeting, Raglin was honored with the proclamation of June 2, 2026 as “Rayna Raglin
As a pediatrics expert and mother of an eight-year-old, Emily Isom has seen the screen time debate firsthand. “Kids are being introduced to technology early,” says Isom, a certified medical assistant in pediatrics at OSF HealthCare. “COVID was one of the reasons. Kids did schoolwork on their devices. That turns into using technology throughout the day. They get attached and addicted to scrolling and swiping. It’s glued to their hands.” One way to break the cycle?
COLLINSVILLE — Illinois State Police announced the results of roadside safety checks conducted in Madison and St. Clair counties in May, reporting 65 total citations and arrests, including three DUI citations, as part of an effort aimed at improving roadway safety. ISP Troop 8 Commander Capt. Casey Faro announced the results of the Roadside Safety Checks, or RSCs, in a statement released from Collinsville. The enforcement activity also resulted in two other alcohol- or drug-related citations,
O'FALLON - Officers with the O’Fallon Police Department responded about 8 a.m. Thursday, May 21, 2026, to the 100 block of North Vine Street in O’Fallon after a shooting that left a 36-year-old woman wounded and led to the arrest of a Fairview Heights man, authorities said. Police said officers found the woman on the front porch near the entrance of the residence, suffering from a gunshot wound. A 29-year-old man and 36-year-old Tyrell Billey, of Fairview Heights, were
ALTON - The hosts of the Mississippi Earthtones Festival are searching for an artist to design entryway banners for the 20th Annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival on September 19, 2026. Hosts Sierra Club Illinois’ Three Rivers Project, Alton Main Street, and the Jacoby Arts Center encourage interested artists to apply for this exciting opportunity. The banners will greet thousands of festival-goers each year as they arrive at the Alton Riverfront - they will be the first thing people
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to gift Donald Trump’s ICE and Border Patrol an additional $70 billion without any guardrails or reforms but refused to help Americans suffering from soaring costs as a direct result of Trump’s illegal war and other disastrous policies. The GOP reconciliation bill passed the Senate by a vote of 52-47. “Americans are getting pummeled by sky-high costs thanks
CHICAGO — Today, following inaction from the Illinois General Assembly, Governor JB Pritzker is directing the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to pause processing agreements for the Data Center Investment Program starting July 1, 2026. The Governor also outlined a comprehensive framework for Illinois to address the growing impact of data centers on energy affordability and reliability, water resources, and local communities. “Illinois has an
WASHINGTON – As Senate Republicans attempt to jam through nearly $70 billion in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to support the President’s cruel mass deportation campaign, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the Dream Act, called up his amendment to protect DACA recipients for a vote. The amendment would redirect $10 million towards timely
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced a weekend lane closure on eastbound Interstate 64 between Illinois 157 and Illinois 159 in St. Clair County. Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2026, traffic will be reduced to one lane in the eastbound direction. Two lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, June 8, weather permitting. The lane closure is required for road construction as part of ongoing improvements in the corridor. Motorists should expect delays
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced ramp openings as well as ramp and lane closures at the Interstate 64 and Illinois 159 interchange in St. Clair County for ramp maintenance work. All currently closed westbound I-64 ramps at Illinois 159 are scheduled to reopen by Friday, June 5, 2026. Starting at 1 a.m. Friday, June 5, the following ramps will close: Southbound Illinois 159 to eastbound I-64 Northbound Illinois 159 to eastbound I-64 Eastbound
BUZZ MAGAZINE – Edwardsville is getting ready to celebrate the 100th anniversary of America’s Main Street! “On the Road Again: A Route 66 Centennial Celebration” is an original musical production developed, designed, staged and performed by Alumni Players! in partnership with the Friends of the Wildey. The 2-hour live show marks the centennial of The Mother Road (1926-2026) and will be performed at the historic Wildey Theatre, located at 252 North Main Street in Edwardsville,
BUZZ MAGAZINE – The iconic Mother Road is turning 100, and it’s getting a soundtrack to match. Legendary rock band STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas has been announced as the headliner for The Route 66 Centennial Celebration, taking place on November 11, 2026. The historic event will be hosted at the Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill, Museum & Entertainment Complex in Springfield, Illinois. The concert will serve as the grand finale for a full day of events, including the annual Illinois
ALTON – A reported disturbance at an Alton Hit-N-Run store has yielded criminal charges against a local man accused of attacking and threatening to kill the officers who responded. Alfonso L. West, 22, of Alton, was charged on June 2, 2026 with two counts of aggravated battery (both Class 2 felonies) and one count each of threatening a public official (a Class 3 felony) and disorderly conduct (a Class C misdemeanor). West allegedly knowingly threw items inside a Hit-N-Run convenience
June 5 has often marked turning points in war, empire, culture, and public life, but the date is most strongly linked with the start of the Six-Day War in 1967. On that morning, Israel launched a major air attack against Egypt, and fighting quickly spread to Jordan, Syria, and other parts of the region. The war lasted less than a week, yet its effects were far-reaching. It changed control over territory, reshaped regional politics, deepened the Arab-Israeli conflict, and influenced diplomacy
ALTON – A local woman accused of fleeing police at high speeds to avoid arrest for stealing items from Target in Alton faces felony and misdemeanor charges. Emaya L. Harris, 23, of Cottage Hills, was charged on June 1, 2026 with two Class 4 felony counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer and a Class A misdemeanor count of retail theft under $300. Harris allegedly knowingly attempted to flee from an Alton Police officer on May 29, 2026, exceeding 21 mph over
EAST ALTON – An East Alton man accused of fleeing from multiple law enforcement agencies at high speeds without a license currently remains in custody. Donald L. Berry Jr., 37, of East Alton, was charged on May 29, 2026 with one count each of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer (a Class 4 felony) and driving without a valid driver’s license. Berry allegedly knowingly attempted to flee from an East Alton Police officer who had signaled for Berry to stop the
EAST ST. LOUIS - East St. Louis Senior High School student Carl Hill has been selected to serve on the Illinois Education and Career Success Network Student Advisory Council for the 2026-27 school year, a role that will allow him to provide feedback on student experiences with education initiatives across Illinois. The selection places Hill on a council whose members share input on Success Network-supported initiatives, helping leaders understand which supports are most effective as students
EAST ST. LOUIS - The East St. Louis Flyers Unified Track and Field Team recently won another state championship. In the announcement, the team was recognized for bringing home “another state championship to East St. Louis, which was referred to as the “City of Champions.” The East St. Louis School District 189 administration praised the team’s performance and impact on the community, saying the athletes continue to inspire through “determination, teamwork,
EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department is set to replace five vehicles in its fleet as it updates its in-car camera system with City Council approval. Edwardsville City Council members approved a series of police-related resolutions at their June 2, 2026 meeting, including the purchase of new police vehicles and in-vehicle cameras totaling up to $387,971.44. The following items were approved unanimously: The purchase of four Ford Explorer vehicles and associated equipment
GODFREY – Godfrey may promote a program to offer guidance on solar installations to residents and small business owners. Virginia Woulfe-Beile, chair of the Godfrey Sustainability Commission, asked Village Board members to consider joining the “Switch Together” group solar buy program at the board’s previous meeting on May 19, 2026 . She emphasized the program’s focus on affordability and small-scale solar projects. “Our nonprofit, the Energy Association,
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