ST. LOUIS - A 44-year-old woman was critically injured early Tuesday, July 21, 2026, after gunfire from outside her Greater Ville residence struck the home, prompting a St. Louis Metropolitan Police District 5 investigation, authorities said. Officers were called just before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2026, to a local hospital after the woman was dropped off with a gunshot wound to her back, according to the information released. She was listed in critical but stable condition. A preliminary
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) continues to target vehicle theft, hijacking, and related violent crimes using grant funding from the Illinois Secretary of State Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council. ISP was awarded a $10 million grant for the first fiscal year, another $677,000 in June 2024, and $637,500 in July 2025. From April through June 2026, ISP missions resulted in the following: Vehicles recovered –
ST. LOUIS - A 36-year-old St. Louis man, Gregory Seddens, died after a shooting on Thursday, July 16, 2026, on the 4100 block of North Grand, St. Louis Metropolitan Police said. St. Louis District 4 officers responded to the shooting at about 1:45 p.m. on July 16 and found Seddens suffering from a gunshot wound. Police said he was barely conscious and barely breathing when officers arrived. EMS took him to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Police identified
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, denounced the recent surge in the Trump Administration’s cruel campaign against immigrants following the fatal shootings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas, and Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Durbin also called out the Trump Administration’s false
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs returned a record $307.8 million in missing money to more than 567,000 residents, businesses and organizations through the I-CASH program during Fiscal Year 2026. “Our changes to I-CASH allowed us to return more money to more people,” Frerichs said. “We are proud to set records, but we’re even more proud of helping folks. Reuniting people with money that rightfully belongs to them is even more important as
ALTON — For two hours this Friday afternoon, the heart of Alton will beat a little louder. On July 24, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Soulcial Kitchen will host its Block Party for Good at Soulcial Square (Market and E 5 th street) — an open-air celebration where every plate, every bag of groceries, and every service offered comes with the same price tag: free. The event pairs the festive energy of a summer block party with something rarer — practical help delivered without paperwork,
WASHINGTON – Following President Trump’s speech on Thursday where he peddled lies about the 2020 election and attempted to sow doubt in the 2026 and 2028 elections, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor to debunk the President’s lies about election security. Durbin also called out Republicans’ SAVE America Act , legislation which would make it more difficult for millions of Americans
MADISON, Wis. - More than 9,100 students earned degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May 2026. The university held its Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony for doctoral, MFA, and medical professional candidates at the Kohl Center on Friday, May 8 and its ceremony for undergraduate, law, and other Master's degree candidates at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, May 9. Local degree recipients include: HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, COLLEGE, DEGREE, MAJOR(S), DISTINCTION (if listed) Granite
CHICAGO – Today, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Illinois has secured approximately $30 million in federal funding for The Bloch Quantum Tech Hub. The Bloch will advance quantum technologies by growing the domestic base of quantum components manufacturers and strengthening domestic supply chains. This funding from EDA marks a significant milestone in advancing Illinois’ technological innovation, creating equitable employment opportunities and establishing
MADISON, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-Madison has recognized students named to the Dean's List for the spring semester of the 2025-2026 academic year. Here are the students from the Riverbend area who have received this honor: Edwardsville, IL Sydney Chong, College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, Dean's List Students who achieve at a high level academically are recognized by the dean of their school or college at the close of each semester. To be eligible for the Dean's List, student
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced investigators, analysts and prosecutors in his office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) were recognized on Friday by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for their work during Operation Fentanyl Free America. As part of the operation, the Attorney General’s office charged a Cook County physician and his pharmacist who received over $1 million in fraudulent Medicaid and Medicare payments for care and prescriptions they
GODFREY - A local patient shared that Vitality Women’s Clinic has supported her through her motherhood journey, and she hopes other people can benefit from the clinic’s work. Taylor Pierson is a local mother of six who first came to Vitality 15 years ago in search of baby food. Since then, Pierson has engaged with Vitality’s parenting classes and resource shop, and she has utilized their services through every pregnancy. Pierson and Jackie Duty, Vitality’s executive
On July 21, 356 BC, according to ancient tradition, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was destroyed by fire. In the ancient world, this was more than the loss of a famous building. The temple was one of the great religious and cultural centers of its time, known across the Mediterranean for its scale, wealth, and artistic importance. Its destruction mattered then because temples were not only places of worship but also symbols of civic pride, identity, and stability. It still matters today because
ALTON – Alton officials are looking into making the city’s top attractions easier to navigate to and from. On July 20, 2026, Committee of the Whole members approved a Professional Services Agreement with RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture totaling $38,500 for the “Alton Wayfinding Program.” Alderwoman Rosie Brown was absent. The proposal consists of two phases: preliminary services totaling $4,500 and schematic design services totaling $34,000. Phase 1 would include
ALTON - The Alton Police Department said today that Willie L. Carter, 53, of Alton, has been charged in connection with a series of armed robberies and business break-ins in the Upper Alton area during the summer of 2026, including two robberies in June, an attempted burglary later that month and a burglary in July 2026. Carter was taken into custody July 17, 2026, and the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office subsequently issued the charges today, police said. Carter has been
GLEN CARBON - Oberweis opened a new ice cream store on July 17, 2026, at Orchard Town Center in Glen Carbon, Illinois, expanding the brand’s presence near Edwardsville and across the St. Louis region under parent company Hoffmann Family of Companies. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, 2026, with activities planned from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the official ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. Guests can spin a prize wheel throughout the day. The first 100 guests
SPRINGFIELD - Illinois has reported 309 confirmed and probable cases of Cyclospora as of 7 a.m. on July 17, 2026, including 24 hospitalizations and no deaths, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, as national outbreaks have been linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico. The intestinal parasite outbreak in Illinois includes 152 acquired through domestic travel cases, 125 cases involving travel outside the United States, and 32 cases with unknown travel status,
ST. LOUIS - A woman believed to be in her 30s was struck and killed early Saturday, July 18, 2026, while crossing Gravois Avenue near Ohio, and Accident Reconstruction investigators are now leading the investigation, authorities said. St. Louis District 3 officers were called to the 2700 block of Gravois near Ohio at about 2:40 a.m. Saturday, July 19, 2026, for a report of a person hit by a car. When officers arrived, they found a female pedestrian who had been struck. She was taken to a hospital,
WOOD RIVER - Mikayla Miller, a junior volleyball player at East Alton-Wood River, has been recognized as a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete Of The Month for the Oilers, an honor she said reflects years of work in the sport and support from her parents and coaches. Miller, who has played volleyball since sixth grade and club volleyball for three years, said the recognition is meaningful because of the effort behind it. “Starting an athletic career young has led to moments like
ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Metropolitan Police homicide detectives are investigating after skeletal remains were found Friday afternoon, July 17, 2026, behind the 5500 block of Genevieve or in the Walnut Park East neighborhood, authorities said. District 6 officers were called to the area at about 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2026, and homicide detectives were later requested, according to police. The remains were located to the rear of the block. The cause of death is unknown, St. Louis Metropolitan
stLouIST