ALTON - A group of Alton historians are raising concerns about the Alton Museum of History and Art. Diana Maul Halstead, an Alton native, recently appeared on “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello, wherein she spoke about the museum’s governance and transparency. The museum closed in March 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic and has not reopened. Halstead has questions about the items and properties owned by the museum. “This is about preservation, accountability, an
COLLINSVILLE - In its weekly "Fugitive Friday" edition on social media, the Collinsville Police Department said it is seeking public assistance in locating Chrishawn Crosby, who is wanted in connection with a domestic incident. Crosby faces charges of Domestic Battery, Aggravated Domestic Battery, and Criminal Damage to Property. Authorities urge anyone with information about Crosby’s whereabouts to contact the department at 618-344-2131, extension 5209. Callers can leave a message an
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today filed a lawsuit with the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Minnesota and New York challenging the Trump administration’s illegal attempt to freeze $10 billion in federal funding that provides critical support for children and families. “At a time when families are struggling with basic costs of living, the Trump administration’s arbitrary move to withhold this funding is particularly callous,” Raoul said.
When your child is at school, daycare, work or in sports, their health and safety is a top priority. The adults in the room should know the youngster’s health information and what to do if something goes wrong. But do you need to take it a step further? Should the child wear a bracelet at all times with their medical needs printed on it? It depends, says Luis Garcia, MD , an OSF HealthCare pediatrician. When and when not “We will advocate for use in kids with certain conditions
MADISON COUNTY — Steven E. Watson was charged with multiple felonies related to child exploitation following an investigation initiated by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office after receiving a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on December 30, 2025. Investigators from the Digital Forensics Division began examining large amounts of digital data, photographs, and videos tied to Watson, the Madison County Sheriff's Office said. The probe
COLLINSVILLE – State Representative Katie Stuart, (D-Edwardsville), who serves as Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip, toured the new Collinsville Area Vocational Center site today to get a firsthand look at construction progress. CAVC Director Joe McGinnis and Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 Superintendent Dr. Mark B. Skertich, along with representatives of Holland Construction Services, guided Leader Stuart through the facility. The CAVC expansion, which broke ground
EDWARDSVILLE - The Scott Credit Union Community Foundation has awarded four grants to District #7 schools, supporting projects across six schools as part of its With You Grants, part of a larger initiative that has provided $150,000 to support 57 student-centered projects across Illinois and Missouri this year. The With You Grants Program is funded through the Foundation’s annual golf scramble and a percentage of purchases made by members using their Scott Credit Union debit cards.
COLLINSVILLE - Community members can have fun and support Hope Animal Rescues at their upcoming trivia night. On Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at the Madison County Fireman’s Hall in Collinsville, hundreds of people will come together for a game-themed trivia night to support the nonprofit animal rescue. Hope Animal Rescues saves dogs on the day they are to be euthanized. Profits from the trivia night will go toward the dogs’ vet care and spay and neuter bills. “The money that
LIVINGSTON – An 81-year-old area man accused of possessing explicit material depicting children under 13 remains in custody pending felony charges in Madison County. Jerry W. Harper, 81, with a listed address at a motel in Livingston, Ill., was charged on Jan. 8, 2026 with five counts of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), each Class 2 felonies. The day prior on Jan. 7, Harper was allegedly found in possession of multiple explicit photos depicting children under the age of 13. The Madison
JERSEY - Jersey senior Abe Kribs is leading his basketball team with strong performances as they prepare to face Triad on Friday night, Jan. 9, 2026. Kribs, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound forward, is averaging 11 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, both team highs, along with 2.7 assists and 2.1 steals per contest. He is also shooting 63 percent from the free-throw line. Kribs is a Sparklight Male Athlete Of The Month for the Jersey Panthers varsity basketball squad. Matt Murphy, head coach of the Jersey
MARYVILLE - Edward LaRue, 82, and Marlene Parsons, 78, exchanged wedding vows in the pool at the Collinsville Maryville Troy YMCA in Maryville, Illinois, in mid-December 2025. The ceremony, held at 1 Maryville Town Center Drive, included family, friends, and even a lifeguard who participated in the event. The couple, who began dating in December 2023, met at the Collinsville Maryville Troy YMCA pool, which inspired their choice of venue. LaRue proposed shortly after, but Parsons waite
SPRINGFIELD - Gov. JB Pritzker signed a controversial energy bill into law yesterday. Critics say Senate Bill 25 will raise energy rates by $8 billion while leaving families and businesses with a less reliable energy supply. State Representative Kevin Schmidt said the legislation will create more burdens in his District which is why he voted no on SB25: “Under the guise of 'green energy,' Illinoisans will see higher rates, less production, and a less reliable energy supply,”
EAST ST. LOUIS — East St. Louis School District 189 hosted its annual Alumni Panel on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, bringing together nine former East St. Louis High School Flyers to share insights with current seniors preparing for college and career paths. The event, organized by the district’s College & Career Readiness Team, took place during the holiday break and featured alumni who are currently attending colleges such as Howard University, Southern Illinois University
O'FALLON, IL. — The O’Fallon Police Department issued a reminder Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, about the laws governing electric scooters and e-bikes in Illinois, aiming to address concerns over safety and compliance following a surge in their use since Christmas of 2025. "We figured it may be time to provide the citizens with current laws about the use of these items in the city/state," the O'Fallon Police Department said. "It amazes our officers how many children/teens are riding these
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced that $27.8 million in funding for local projects she secured as part of the federal budget process has passed out of the full House of Representatives. After two years of obstruction from House Republicans, the bill now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to be passed and signed into law. “I promised my district that I would not rest until these dollars were brought home. Today, we are one step closer
GODFREY – A local woman who acted swiftly to help save the occupants of a burning home is Godfrey’s latest Good Neighbor Award recipient. Tamara Jones was presented with this month’s Good Neighbor Award by Trustee Sarah Woodman at the Jan. 6, 2026 Public Safety Committee meeting. Woodman said Jones was leaving her home in the Seasons Subdivision one afternoon last October when she saw what appeared to be smoke rising from a house in her neighborhood. “Tamara could hav
If cold air directly caused illness, every walk to the mailbox would come with a guaranteed sore throat. Yet the idea that “being out in the cold will make you sick” is one of the most stubborn health beliefs around. It shows up in family warnings, school rules, and everyday routines—like bundling up a child who insists they “feel fine.” So why do so many people connect cold weather to colds and flu, even though viruses are the real cause? The quick truth: cold
If you’ve ever stayed up late to finish a paper or meet a deadline, you’ve probably said you were “burning the midnight oil.” But the phrase isn’t just a colorful way to describe a long night—it’s a leftover from a time when late-night work had a literal smell, flicker, and cost. Why this phrase still feels so familiar Even with bright LED lamps and glowing laptop screens, “burning the midnight oil” still hits a nerve. It captures a specific
Taken together, January 9 shows how single decisions—by inventors, leaders, activists, and artists—can ripple outward for decades. In 1431, the trial of Joan of Arc began in Rouen, in what is now France. Captured during the Hundred Years’ War, Joan was accused of heresy and other charges by a church court aligned with English political interests. The proceedings were shaped by the conflict of the era: control of territory, legitimacy of rulers, and the power of religious institutions.
BUZZ MAGAZINE – A new book on Illinois’ leaders and actions in the Revolutionary War helps celebrate America 250th anniversary with an array of little-known stories to inspire and excite readers. Illinois in the Revolutionary War provides fast-moving, easy-to-read narrative on the events that took place in present-day Illinois during the American Revolution, forty years before statehood. Many of the stories in the book have been overlooked in the 250 years since they happened. Writt
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