MILLSTADT - Buttercup Ranch will host their annual triathlon and balloon glow to support first responders, known as Patriots’ Weekend Extravaganza. Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, promise to be fun days at the farm in Millstadt. The sixth annual CiderMan Sprint Triathlon is planned for 7 a.m. on Sept. 12, 2026. You can also check out the hot air balloon glow, carriage rides, plenty of food and activities from 2–9 p.m. both days on the farm. Proceeds go to local
RIVERBEND - People across North America are taking precautions as wildfire smoke from Canada travels through the continent, and Riverbend residents should do the same. As of 2 p.m. on Monday, July 20, 2026, the air quality in Alton and Wood River was rated as “unhealthy” by the Environmental Protection Agency. AccuWeather also rated the air quality as “unhealthy” and warned that sensitive groups are susceptible to symptoms. With the heat advisory currently in effect
EAST ALTON - Airline Care Clinic is offering affordable back-to-school and sports physicals. Nurse practitioner Elizabeth “Betsy” Dykeman understands that summer is a busy time, and the back-to-school season can get expensive as families purchase school supplies and clothing for their kids. That’s why she is offering $40 physicals to fulfill the back-to-school and sports requirements so kids can return to the classroom healthy and ready to learn. “It makes me really
CHICAGO – Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias, the Illinois Literacy Foundation and the Chicago Cubs are launching Illinois Reads Together, a statewide summer reading challenge that gives students who complete their local library’s summer reading program the chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field. The initiative builds on the free summer reading programs already offered by public libraries across Illinois. Students who complete the
ALTON - The Sierra Club Illinois’ Three Rivers Project, Alton Main Street, and Jacoby Arts Center are calling for proposals for artist grants for the 20th annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival. The festival, which will be held from 12:00 to 10:00 PM on Saturday, September 19, 2026, brings together thousands of community members in celebration of the Mississippi River through art, music, and conservation. Local artists are invited to submit proposals via this form by Friday, August 21 t
SWANSEA – State Senator Christopher Belt announced the Illinois Workforce Pell, a new program expanding on the federal Pell Grant by allowing eligible students to use grant funding for short-term workforce training programs aligned with in-demand occupations, is now accepting applications. “This is an opportunity to develop unique skills while putting students in line for high-demand jobs,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The Workforce Pell is a smart investment in Illinois’
If you've gotten a letter about municipal electric aggregation, you're not alone. My office keeps hearing the same questions: Is this a scam? What is this? What am I supposed to do? Electric bills keep climbing, and years of flawed energy policy in Springfield are a big reason why. That's part of why these notices are getting so much attention right now. So let's break down what municipal electric aggregation actually is. It's a program where your city or village negotiates the electricity suppl
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 24 states won a key ruling today declaring the Trump administration illegally misused its regulatory authority to unlawfully pull billions of dollars in federal funding that Congress had set aside for crucial state programs and services. The decision explained that five words in U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, referencing situations where a grant “no longer effectuates … agency priorities,”
CHICAGO — After the landmark bipartisan 21st Century Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act became law without President Donald Trump’s signature, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited a Chicago-based modular home developer to discuss how the new law could help supercharge their work building more homes for Illinoisans. During the Senator’s visit with Inherent Homes , Duckworth discussed how this groundbreaking law will help expand acces
SPRINGFIELD - Following the Chicago Tribune’s reporting on the lack of action by House Speaker Emmanuel “Chris” Welch after receiving reports of sexual harassment against former State Representative Harry Benton, State Representative Amy Elik issued the following statement: “Members of the Illinois General Assembly must be held to the highest ethical standards, but under Speaker Chris Welch’s leadership we’ve seen a total lack of accountability. Sexual
CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, today sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin urging them to end the improper application of certain civil penalties in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to law-abiding
EDWARDSVILLE – Recent national discussions regarding election security and potential vulnerabilities have renewed public interest in how elections are conducted and protected across the country. Regardless of political affiliation, maintaining secure, accurate, and transparent elections should remain a shared priority. As Madison County Clerk, I welcome conversations that encourage continued improvements to election administration. Election security is not a one-time achievement—it
SPRINGFIELD - As temperatures continue to rise across Illinois, pools remain one of the most popular ways for families to cool off and enjoy the summer. Whether you're spending the day at a neighborhood pool, visiting a local aquatic center, or relaxing in your own backyard, it's important to remember that fun in the water comes with responsibility. A moment of distraction can quickly turn into a life-threatening emergency, making constant supervision and safe swimming practices essential.
BELLEVILLE - With the opening of the MetroLink extension to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport set for late summer, the St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) is further strengthening its commitment to rider safety and security through a new partnership with the Mascoutah Police Department. At its July 17 board meeting, the SCCTD Board of Trustees approved a memorandum of agreement with the Mascoutah Police Department to provide law enforcement services at the new MidAmerica MetroLink Station,
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation is asking the public for their feedback on the state's transportation system and the agency’s performance through the annual Traveler Opinion Survey. Available now through Tuesday, Aug. 11, the survey is available online by clicking https://go.uis.edu/Traveler2026 or visiting idot.illinois.gov . Conducted in partnership with the University of Illinois Springfield, the survey is an opportunity for people who live in Illinois
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s reckless attacks on our nation’s elections. “What we saw tonight was another pathetic attempt to rewrite the past and ignore the will of American voters. Donald Trump’s obsession with an election he lost six years ago does not change the fact that the 2020 election was secure. In fact, it was one of the most secure elections in our nation’s history. More
GREENVILLE - Community members can enjoy a weekend of American rural history and culture at Greenville’s Heritage Days event. On July 24, 25 and 26, 2026, the American Farm Heritage Museum will host their annual Heritage Days at 1395 Museum Avenue in Greenville. From farming demonstrations and tractor pulls to a flea market and military displays, the weekend promises to be a fun chance to engage with farming history. “We are a festival about history,” said Steve Loos
EAST ALTON/WOOD RIVER - East Alton-Wood River High School senior Lilly Bock has been selected by the Riverbend East Rotary Club to participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange program and is scheduled to leave for Italy for her senior year. She has been involved in an ongoing fundraising effort and held a final fundraiser at Rustic Roots on Sunday night, July 19, 2026, with exceptional turnout. Bock will study abroad in Italy for 11 months, during which she will attend school, live with a host
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today co-led a coalition of 19 attorneys general who moved to intervene in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and Secretary Pete Hegseth for unlawfully freezing routine reviews of land-based wind energy projects across the country. Federal law requires the DOD to review proposed wind projects for potential national security concerns and work with developers to address any issues. In August 2025, the DOD stopped moving projects
WASHINGTON – During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned the outside witness panel for the nomination of Todd Blanche, President Trump’s pick to be Attorney General of the United States. Durbin began by offering his condolences to witness Jennifer Bos, a mother from Illinois whose daughter, Megan, went missing and was found dead on the property of an undocumented
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