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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) has released the 2025 prevailing wage rates for construction trades for all counties in the State. The updated rates, which took effect Tuesday, July 15, are the result of IDOL’s annual statewide survey conducted under the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act . The Act requires that workers on publicly funded construction and infrastructure projects be paid wages consistent with local standards. This ensures taxpayer dollars stay in the Illinois economy—supporting local workers, promoting quality jobs, and fostering fair competition among contractors. Each June, IDOL determines the prevailing wage rates by reviewing compensation—defined as hourly base pay plus annualized fringe benefits—commonly paid to workers performing similar jobs on public works in each locality. “Illinois continues to invest in its workforce and communities through strong prevailing wage protections,” said Illinois Department

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ALTON - Riverbend Head Start is one of 17 agencies that receives assistance through Community Christmas, and the organization encourages people to support the initiative so their families can enjoy the holiday. Community Christmas is an annual initiative sponsored by United Way. Freer Auto Body in Godfrey will support Community Christmas with a Christmas in July fundraiser on Friday, July 18, 2025. Gene Howell, the president of Riverbend Head Start, emphasized that the fundraiser is a great chance to support the cause and help their families have a merry Christmas. “Community Christmas obviously is about preparing for the holidays. What better time to start than now for our families?” Howell said. “For a lot of our families, the biggest thing is they get the message from the community that, hey, we care about you and your kids. The kids, the message they get is they get something for Christmas that’s not used. It’s brand new, and that’s

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The World Literacy Foundation announced today that Caryn Jones will be a Youth Ambassador for 2025. She will serve as a local advocate, aiming to increase education and community awareness about the importance of reading and writing and lift literacy rates in Missouri City and beyond. Caryn will join a global group of 15- 26-year-olds from 90 countries striving to improve literacy outcomes for disadvantaged children who struggle to read. Caryn, a 17-year-old young woman with an unwavering passion for becoming a WLF ambassador, shares, " I love to read and learn, and I want that door to be open for everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances. I believe literacy is one of the most powerful tools for creating change, as it reduces inequality, empowers individuals, and opens up opportunities in every aspect of life. " Caryn is committed to ensuring everyone can access literacy resources. She feels strongly about joining a global initiative recognizing

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ALTON – The Community Hope Center Charity Golf Scramble, presented by Simmons Hanly Conroy, will take place July 18 at The Woodlands Golf Club in Alton. Proceeds from the event will help Community Hope Center provide groceries, warm meals, clothing, household items, and community navigation support to hundreds of families in the region who are facing food insecurity and other crisis situations. “Simmons Hanly Conroy is honored to be a longtime champion for Community Hope Center, and we are very proud to support its incredible work helping to provide area families with hope and basic necessities,” said John Simmons , chairman of Simmons Hanly Conroy, which is a national leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families. “We look forward to this year’s Charity Golf Scramble and encourage all our community partners to join us for this great cause.” Registration for the Community Hope Center Charity Golf Scramble

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 announced its school supply lists for the upcoming 2025-26 school year, which is set to begin on Thursday, August 14. Additional items may be added by individual teachers at the start of the year. It is recommended to purchase additional basic supplies during the “Back to School” sales especially things like pencils, paper, spiral notebooks, pocket folders and crayons. GRANITE CITY HIGH SCHOOL (9th-12th Grade) - ENGLISH | SPANISH COOLIDGE JUNIOR HIGH (7th & 8th Grade) - ENGLISH | SPANISH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Kindergarten-6th Grade) - ENGLISH | SPANISH LAKE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES CENTER - ENGLISH | SPANISH Enrollment and registration remains open for the 2025-26 school year and GCSD9 families can register by using your SKYWARD account on a web browser. For all NEW enrollments, visit the Enrollment/Registration website for required documents prior

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that lane closures on Illinois 3 between Schaefer Road and the McKinley Bridge in Madison County, originally scheduled to begin Monday, July 14, have been postponed to Monday, July 21, weather permitting. Under the updated schedule, one lane will remain open in each direction. However, two lanes will be open between 20th Street and Broadway during the following times to reduce commuter delays: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. southbound 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. northbound The lane closures are part of a $25.87 million pavement resurfacing project expected to be completed by mid-summer 2026. Drivers are encouraged 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. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s

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GODFREY - Clearwave Fiber aims to support the community in Godfrey and beyond. As an internet fiber company, Clearwave Fiber works hard to provide reliable, fast internet to 5,000 homes and businesses in Godfrey, as well as throughout Illinois, Kansas, Georgia and Florida. But Shelley Hallier, Senior Vice President of Marketing, explained that their reach extends beyond the internet and into the community. “We believe that internet is no longer a luxury. Great internet is really a necessity, and we’re really excited to provide that to Godfrey,” she said. “When we come in and invest in a community like Godfrey and some of the surrounding areas in Southern Illinois, we also invest in the organizations and the youth. The real purpose is to ensure that folks in the community have access to the technology that they need to connect and thrive and pursue their dreams no matter where they live, in a small town or a small city or a big city.” To this

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ALTON – An Alton resident accused of mob action and illegal weapon possession faces multiple felony charges. Randolph L. Smith, 43, of Alton, was charged on July 8, 2025 with a Class 3 felony count of felon in possession of a weapon and a Class 4 felony count of mob action. Smith allegedly acted together “with an unidentified assailant” and struck the victim about the head and body, according to charging documents. Smith also possessed a Beretta 9mm handgun, which was illegal for him to possess given his 2024 felony conviction of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Madison County. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to deny Smith’s pretrial release from custody. According to the petition, the victim reported being approached by Smith on the street before Smith and a second assailant knocked the victim to the ground and began kicking him. “Video confirmed these events,” according to

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ALTON - The Alton Police Department has received a donation from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Club Ice Hockey Team to support its K-9 Unit. The donation, presented at an event recognizing the partnership, was funded through proceeds from the team’s Annual Teddy Bear Toss Game and Silent Jersey Auction. Members of the SIUE Club Ice Hockey Team presented custom teddy bear-themed jerseys to four K-9 handlers and their canine partners: Officer Archer for K-9 Rico, Sergeant Morelli for K-9 Jax, Officer Averbeck for K-9 Odin, and Officer Garland for K-9 Crash. The event highlighted the team’s commitment to both athletic performance and community support. In a statement, the Alton Police Department expressed gratitude for the generosity, noting that “our K-9 handlers and their partners are honored by your support.” The department emphasized that collaborations like this “strengthen the bond between our local organizations and th

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City Police Department announced the addition of Kaylee Durham as their newest telecommunicator. Durham joined the department after serving two years with the Pontoon Beach Police Department. The Granite City Police Department welcomed her to the team, highlighting her prior experience in emergency communications.

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today that 24 more professions are now available for licensure via the Department’s new online licensing system, CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment). Today’s announcement marks the successful completion of CORE’s Phase 2.3, with the final part of Phase 2 set for completion this summer. The Department will announce when Phase 2 is completed, including which professions are added to CORE. Phase 2 focuses on adding license types to CORE that are currently exclusively available as paper applications and not through IDFPR’s legacy online licensing system , which will eliminate the need of paper applications altogether (which require longer processing times to review all submitted materials). Individuals seeking their first license and whose professions are now available on CORE should utilize IDFPR’s new licensing system to apply for licensure

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ALTON - Two upcoming vigils will honor those lost to drug overdose and suicide. From 4–8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, community members are invited to Russell Common Park in Alton for the second annual Drug Overdose Awareness Day Candlelight Vigil. This will be followed by the first annual Suicide Awareness Candlelight Vigil at 4 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2025, at the park. Both events are hosted by Foster’s Light in the Dark, a local nonprofit that aims to spread awareness about recovery. “We’ve been there,” said Christina Foster, who founded the organization. “It’s by the grace of God that any of us made it out of addiction alive and in recovery. We can’t forget where we came from. We help others. Every eight minutes, an addict will die in the United States from a drug overdose, and that is just sad…If they show up to our event, they will know how to get help.” In addition to the candlelight vigil and dove release b

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EDWARDSVILLE - Crews have installed a new bridge deck on Center Grove Road as part of an ongoing replacement project east of Esic Drive in Edwardsville, officials said. The construction, which involves replacing a 35-year-old bridge over the Nickel Plate Trail, is progressing well and remains on schedule for completion before mid-August 2025, before the start of the school year. Edwardsville High School, Metro East Lutheran High School, and multiple businesses are located close to the bridge work, which makes it even more important to be completed by that deadline. Keller Construction crews are working six to seven days a week to advance the project despite weather challenges. The trail beneath the bridge will be intermittently closed for safety but will remain open at times for public use. The section of Center Grove Road east of Esic Drive, just past Edwardsville Township Park, is currently closed to all traffic while work continues. The City of Edwardsville advised drivers to

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EDWARDSVILLE - Fifth Avenue in Edwardsville will be closed starting Thursday, July 17, 2025, for up to two weeks to accommodate utility work by Ameren Illinois, city officials announced Tuesday, July 15, 2025. City officials said the closure will affect a section of Fifth Avenue adjacent to an alley west of Troy Road in Edwardsville. Ameren Illinois crews will conduct a pipeline inspection that involves excavation, pipeline repairs, and road restoration in that area. Officials said all homes and businesses west of the closure, including the Glen-Ed Pantry at 125 Fifth Avenue, will remain accessible via alternate routes such as streets north of Fifth Avenue and Longfellow and Bryant avenues. The road is expected to reopen once Ameren completes the necessary work, which could take up to two weeks.

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WOOD RIVER - Riverbend Family Ministries will host a golf tournament to raise money for their work. On Friday, July 25, 2025, community members are invited to Belk Park Golf Course in Wood River to play golf and support RFM. Tammy Iskarous, the executive director of RFM, looks forward to sharing RFM’s mission with the community while encouraging their support. “It takes all of us to help an individual,” Iskarous said. “Through their partnership, their donations, their involvement in some of the different fundraisers that we do, it allows us to do the work.” Registration and lunch start at 12 p.m. on July 25, followed by the four-person scramble shotgun start at 1 p.m. Dinner will follow. RFM is still looking to fill a few team spots, as well as a couple of sponsorships. For more information about how to sponsor or sign up as a golfer, click here . Located at 144 E. Ferguson Avenue in Wood River, RFM houses several nonprofits under one roof,

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MARYVILLE, Ill. — The Maryville Police Department reported one impaired driving arrest and 16 seatbelt citations during the Fourth of July enforcement campaign that ran from June 20 through July 7, 2025. The department participated in the statewide effort alongside 200 other local and state law enforcement agencies. The campaign, which included the “Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High Get a DUI,” and “Click It or Ticket” initiatives, aimed to remove impaired drivers from the roads and promote seatbelt use. In addition to the impaired driving arrest, Maryville officers issued 13 speeding citations, six distracted driving citations, five other citations, and made one warrant arrest. The Illinois Department of Transportation supported the campaign by providing federal traffic safety funds. Law enforcement agencies across the state collaborated to enhance road safety during the holiday period.

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EAST ST. LOUIS - East St. Louis officials say the city is no longer among the most dangerous cities in the country, reflecting a decline in crime amid ongoing challenges faced by other U.S. cities grappling with violent offenses. The East St. Louis Police Department issued a statement expressing gratitude for the crime decrease in the city: "We want to thank our dedicated and hardworking officers. We want to thank the outstanding assistance we receive from outside agencies." The Illinois State Police have also played a role in the crime decrease in East St. Louis with a partnership with the city police. A recent analysis of crime data highlights the 10 most dangerous cities in the United States, ranked by homicide rates and other violent crimes. Explore USA released a list that ranked St. Louis, Mo., top of the list with a homicide rate of 66 per 100,000 residents, followed by Memphis, Tenn., and Baltimore, MD.. Other cities in the top 10 include Detroit, Mich.; Little Rock,

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MARYVILLE/GRANITE CITY/BELLEVILLE - Chestnut Health Systems will offer free virtual NARCAN training. At 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2025, community members can attend a virtual training over Zoom where they will learn how to access and administer NARCAN. NARCAN, also known as Naloxone, is a nasal spray that can reverse an opioid overdose. Chestnut Health Systems offers free virtual NARCAN training every third Thursday of the month. Hosted over Zoom, you can attend without leaving your home. You can also attend anonymously if desired. The training will cover when to use NARCAN, how to recognize the signs of an overdose, and how to administer the medication. Opioids like heroin, fentanyl and prescription medications can be deadly. NARCAN blocks opioid receptors in the brain and reverses an overdose, which can be life-saving. NARCAN is available over the counter at pharmacies and for free at certain organizations. For more information about the free virtual NARCA

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GLEN CARBON – State Representative Amy Elik is offering a FREE Shred Day in Glen Carbon! Paper documents will be accepted for safe and secure destruction. Cardboard boxes used to transport documents will be returned to each person. The shredding company will accept a maximum of two bankers’ boxes per person. “I’m pleased to bring this free event to Glen Carbon,” Rep. Elik stated. “I hope that residents will take this opportunity to get rid of some documents you’ve been holding on to that need secure disposal. See you in Glen Carbon!” Event details are as follows: Saturday, July 26, 2025 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Glen Carbon Village Hall 151 N Main Street, Glen Carbon To participate, simply drive to the location where staff will be there to assist. Questions can be directed to Rep. Elik’s office at elik@ilhousegop.org or 618-433-8046.

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ALTON - As Alton prepares for the Alton Midwest Nationals F1 Powerboat Championship, Event Boat Patrol Lead Mike Farmer shares his insights on powerboat racing. Farmer, a local powerboat racing expert, is excited to welcome the community to the event. He looks forward to hosting the championship in Alton for the next several years. “I hope everybody comes and enjoys the show,” he said. “We want to put on a good enough show that they can’t wait to get back here next year. There’s a three-year contract, and we want it to grow and grow and grow. It would be awesome if we filled every hotel in the area and restaurants all boomed and everybody had a good time at the races. That would be a great weekend.” Farmer has been following powerboat racing since he was a child. His father introduced him to the sport and started a family boat repair business, where Farmer would help out. Powerboat racing is a family sport for Farmer and many of the

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