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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,

ALTON - Residents in Alton have been watching the roof and upcoming tower restoration work at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 519 E. Fourth St. in Alton, as crews address aging materials at the historic church, Father Nathan said this week. Father Nathan said the project includes roof work, tower work, and restoration work. He said the roof needs replacement after “30-some years” and that the new roof “will be much more durable and match the rest of the church.” “It

ALTON - The Alton Municipal Band will open their season with a concert tonight. At 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2026, community members can gather at Riverview Park in Alton for the concert, themed “June is Bustin’ Out All Over.” This will be followed by the same concert at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, at Haskell Park. Chairman Adam Rogers expressed his excitement to kick off the band’s summer concert series. “We are going to start our 136th season tonight,”

ALTON — Lilly Hannigan, who recently completed her junior year at Marquette Catholic, has emerged as a key contributor for the Explorers’ track and field team, with coach Billy Sprague describing her as “a dynamic athlete” and a leader for the team in 2026. Lilly Hannigan is a Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Female Athlete Of The Month for Marquette Catholic High School. Hannigan has been an important member of Marquette’s 4x100-meter relay in recent years. O

MACOUPIN COUNTY - The Macoupin County Fair Pageant has introduced its 2026 Fair queens, naming Ruby Lowder as Miss Macoupin County Fair. Charlee Steward was announced as Junior Miss Macoupin County Fair, and Mae Lewis-Hahn as Little Miss Macoupin County Fair. The Macoupin County Fair Pageant organizers said it was proud of the three winners and looked ahead to their roles representing the fair over the coming year. The pageant identified the winners as: Miss Macoupin County

ILLINOIS - A UK man is traveling to the States to bicycle the entire length of Route 66 — with one leg. Aaron Moon is a Royal Marine Commando veteran who plans to break the world record for the fastest bicycle ride from Chicago to Los Angeles along Route 66. That’s 2,517 miles in 22 days, starting in late July. He explained that the goal is to prove that you can do anything you set your mind to, while raising money for Wounded Warrior Project, Blesma, and Team Forces to support

ROXANA - Roxana's Gianna Stassi is a powerful two-spring sports athlete for Roxana's Shells. In 24 hours recently, Gianna played a regional soccer final at night against Marquette Catholic at Public School Stadium in Alton, then made a trek to the IHSA Girls State Track and Field Championships and competed in the 3,200 meters the following morning. She performed at high levels for both teams. Stassi is one of the Shells' biggest offensive weapons in soccer, but is all over the field and also

ROXANA - Mason Crump finished his Roxana Shells baseball career with two hits and an RBI and now will move his career on to Indian Hills Community College next season, his head baseball coach, Jerry Wheaton, said after Wednesday's sectional semifinal game. Mason broke the Roxana High School career strikeout record this spring, previously held by Logan Reardon at 235. Mason is also at the top of the charts for career wins on the mound for the Shells. Crump is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male