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GRANITE CITY — The Granite City High School Marching Warriors swept music, visual, auxiliary, and percussion honors on their way to winning the Bi-State Marching Invitational on Oct. 10, 2026, at Potosi High School in Potosi, Mo. The band finished first in its class and overall in preliminaries before earning the first-place field championship in finals. The Marching Warriors received outstanding music, visual, auxiliary and percussion honors in preliminaries, then won caption

GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced temporary lane closures on Interstate 270 eastbound between Illinois 3 and the Mississippi River in Madison County. Traffic will be reduced to one lane from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, to accommodate road construction. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage,

JOLIET – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced that Hyundai Translead is expanding its planned investment in Will County – creating a total of 3,750 new full-time jobs and investing $600 million. Since announcing its decision to establish an Illinois manufacturing presence in March 2026, Hyundai Translead has decided to add a third shift in order to meet growing demand. To support the project and provide

CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $2.4 million is available in tourism funding through the Tourism Attraction Grant Program ($1.8 million) and the Tourism Private Sector Grant Program ($600,000). Eligible entities can apply for grants to develop and improve new and existing tourism attractions through the Tourism Attraction Grant Program and grants to support and attract events and festivals through the

GRAFTON — Dogs and their people are invited to enjoy a howling good time at Bark-Tober Fest on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Raging Rivers Waterpark & Riverland RV Resort, 100 Palisades Parkway in Grafton. Admission is free. The event will feature a Doggie Vendor Fair & Market, a dog costume contest (winner gets $250 from Jersey State Bank), a DJ, and educational speakers and trainers offering helpful tips for pet owners. The Purina Incredible Dog Team will tak

On Oct. 22, 1883, a performance of Charles Gounod’s “Faust” opened New York’s Metropolitan Opera House, launching an institution that would help shape American musical life for generations. The anniversary leads a date that also brought a historic breakthrough for the Supremes, a defining Led Zeppelin album, Pearl Jam’s concert debut and two very different landmark releases in 2012. Looking back on Oct. 22, 2026, these milestones show how a single evening or record

This Day in History: October 22, 2026 On October 22, 1962, President John F. Kennedy told Americans that the Soviet Union had placed nuclear missiles in Cuba. He announced a naval “quarantine” to prevent additional offensive military equipment from reaching the island and demanded that the missiles be removed. The confrontation brought the Cold War’s two main powers close to nuclear war, with consequences that could have reached far beyond the United States, Cuba, and the Sovie

BELLEVILLE - For patients traveling to medical appointments, visitors supporting loved ones and hospital employees commuting to work, the experience of getting to and from Memorial Hospital extends beyond its doors. Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), the St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD), Memorial Foundation, Inc. and AARP in St. Louis are working together to make that experience brighter and welcoming through a planned transformation of the MetroBus stop at 4500 Memorial Drive, across

BELLEVILLE - A 42-year-old woman from Alton, Illinois, was fatally injured when she was struck by a vehicle Wednesday morning, Oct. 21, 2026, in the 9800 block of West Main Street in Belleville, according to Belleville Police. The driver fled the scene. Belleville Police Department officers responded to the crash at approximately 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. The woman's name is Tameka L. Glaspie, 42, of Alton, the St. Clai

EDWARDSVILLE — State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, releases the following statement regarding patients at Barnes Jewish Hospital (BJH) receiving notice that their health insurance provider, Aetna, will no longer be accepted at BJH or WashU Medicine on Jan. 1, 2027: “For retired state workers in the Metro East and beyond, Aetna is the only insurance plan available. Countless people in our area count on Aetna to provide Medicare and standard healthcare coverage for everything from

ALTON — Nine years ago, at his grandmother's funeral, Zak Dahlheimer made a promise: On October 26, 2026, the day she would have turned 100, their family would come together again to celebrate her life. Next Monday, Oct. 26, he'll keep that promise in the very building where she once owned and operated her longtime Alton beauty shop. At 11:30 a.m. Monday, October 26, Alton Mayor David A. Goins will present to the Dahlheimer Family an official proclamation declaring October 26, 2026, a

MARYVILLE, Ill. — The Maryville Fire Department is offering free smoke alarms and installation in homes throughout the community through Nov. 13, 2026, to help ensure residents have working alarms. The department received the alarms through the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance as part of the statewide Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Blitz Program. The program aims to help keep residents and their families safe. Residents who need smoke alarms installed can call the Maryville Fire Department station

The difficult conversation is over. The big presentation is behind you. But hours later, you’re still replaying what you said, wondering what others thought and worrying about what might happen next. Stress is a normal part of life, but when the mind and body struggle to switch off, it can be harder to move forward. Understanding the difference between stress and anxiety — and learning how to manage both — can make a difference to your overall wellbeing according to behavioral

GRANITE CITY– Granite City Elks Lodge #1063 recognized Granite City High School seniors Braxton Tolley and Elizabeth Weaver as Students of the Month for September. The Elks Student of the Month Program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for achievements in school and community life-fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry and farming. Nominees are judged on multiple achievements including leadership skills, good moral

ALTON - Put on your Halloween best and head to downtown Alton Saturday, Oct. 24 for the first-ever Great Haunted Alton Halloween Festival. The fun begins at Noon and runs until 6 p.m. on Third and State Streets in Downtown Alton and is free to attend. Both streets will be closed to traffic so everyone can enjoy an afternoon of haunted fun. “We can’t wait to celebrate a Halloween festival in One of the Most Haunted Small Towns in America,” festival co-event planner Madeline

JACKSONVILLE — The MacMurray Foundation & Alumni Association (MFAA) has awarded a 2026 community grant to the Crisis Center Foundation (CCF) in Jacksonville, supporting its Healthy Relationship Programs and efforts to expand domestic violence prevention education and healthy relationship skills among young people in West Central Illinois. The grant supported the CCF’s 2026 Healthy Relationship Programs, including an expanded teen outreach initiative in Greene County. The programming

EDWARDSVILLE — The Madison County Board approved all items presented for consideration on its agenda, including zoning requests, county department purchases, infrastructure improvements, grant appropriations, and several appointments to county boards and districts. Among the major items approved were more than $800,000 in equipment and vehicle purchases for county departments, along with contracts for courthouse security access, jail repairs, and technology services. Marquette Catholic

JERSEYVILLE – A domestic battery suspect from Jerseyville remains in custody after being charged last week in Jersey County. Scott R. Hartkopf, 39, of Jerseyville, was charged on Oct. 13, 2026 with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated domestic battery and a Class A misdemeanor count of unlawful interference with the reporting of domestic violence. Hartkopf is accused of intentionally committing an act of domestic battery against another individual on Oct. 11, 2026. On the same date, Hartkopf

MADISON COUNTY – Here’s an overview of the key county-level races and ballot questions facing Madison County voters on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. In the race for Madison County Clerk, incumbent Republican Linda Andreas is seeking re-election and faces Democrat challenger Rachelle Bauerle. Andreas has held the office since 2022. Several contested County Board races appear on the ballot, including in District 1, where Republican Jennifer Korte faces Democrat Barbara Hosto-Marti

EAST ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis man faces a federal arson charge after allegedly setting fires inside two Cahokia Heights massage parlors early Oct. 19, 2026, authorities said. One body was recovered from the scene, and an autopsy is pending. Quentin Hanks, 36, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of arson in connection with the fires at Fuji Super Spa and One Spa. A 911 call reported the fire at approximately 3 a.m. Authorities did not provide a motive. According to the complaint,