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CARLINVILLE – With unofficial election results rolling in from across the region, here’s a first look at how contested races are settling in Macoupin County, including several mayoral contests and more. City of Carlinville Carlinville residents have elected a new mayor in the city’s only contested race. Doug Downey won his mayoral bid with 64.54% of the vote, defeating challengers Randall Link and James Spoon, who earned 27.89% and 7.57% of the vote respectively. Downey will replace current Mayor Sarah Oswald, who did not seek re-election. City of Bunker Hill Bunker Hill saw contested races for Mayor and Ward 1 Alderperson. Incumbent Mayor John Chapman won his re-election bid against challenger Alan Mize. Chapman earned 56.46% of the vote, while Mize totaled 43.54% of the vote. The city’s first ward saw three candidates compete for two open aldermanic positions. Securing victory were Incumbent Alderman Rick Girth and Betty Phelps with 41.42% and 34.73

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JERSEYVILLE – As Election Night wraps up on April 1, 2025, here’s a look at the few contested races that took place across Jersey County. School Board Races Five candidates competed for four open spots on the Board of Education for Jersey Community Unit School District (CUSD) #100, each carrying a four-year term expiring in 2029. Four candidates competed for three open seats for Township 8N Range 11W. The three victors are Pamela J. Heitzig, Peggy Perdun, and Darcy L. Graham, who secured 22%, 21%, and 18% of the vote respectively. DeWayne Lott lost his School Board bid with 17% of the vote. Jeffrey C. Goetten also secured his bid as the only candidate who ran for Township 8N Range 12W on the Jersey CUSD #100 School Board. Elsah Township One of Jersey County’s few contested races saw two candidates compete for Elsah Township Highway Commissioner. Democrat Billy Greding defeated Republican Russell Wittman, securing his victory with 78.01% of the vote

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ALTON - Incumbent David Goins prevailed in the competitive Alton Mayor race, with 1,656 votes for 39.39 percent of all votes cast on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Alderman Ray Strebel was second with 1,348 votes or 32.06 percent of the vote and Brant Walker finished with 1,200 votes or 28.54 percent of the vote. In another contested race, Lauren Wilson emerged with a victory in the Alton City Clerk's race with 2,093 votes or 54.70 percent of the vote to Cheryl Ingle's 1,733 votes or 45.30 percent of the overall vote.

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY – Voters from across St. Clair County cast their votes in the April 1, 2025 consolidated elections. Here’s a first look at the unofficial Election Night results: Collinsville Sees City Council Contest The race for Collinsville City Council saw four candidates compete for two open council seats. Councilman Donna Green won her re-election bid with 45% of the vote. This marks Green’s second consecutive re-election victory after being first elected to the council in 2017 and re-elected in 2021. She will serve another four-year term which expires in 2029. Three other candidates faced off for the vacancy left by Councilman David Jerome, who did not seek re-election. David Seaton Jr. won a seat on the council with 35% of the vote, defeating challengers Eric M. Nagel and Alonzo J. Skipper III, who earned 27% and 19% of the vote respectively. O’Fallon Re-Elects Treasurer O’Fallon voters saw a couple of contested races, one for City Treasurer

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GODFREY - Mike McCormick emerged victorious in the Village of Godfrey mayoral race, securing 2,219 votes, or 59.28 percent of the total, in the election held on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Craig Lombardi received 1,104 votes for Godfrey mayor, accounting for 29.50 percent of the vote tally, while Beth Johnes garnered 420 votes, or 11.22 percent. Following the announcement of the results, McCormick expressed his gratitude for the turnout at the Sportsman’s Club. "I am very, very happy and overwhelmed," he said. He credited his campaign manager, Deb Detmers, and his wife, Linda, for their unwavering support throughout the campaign. "They helped me along a long campaign time," McCormick noted. Reflecting on his plans for the next four years, McCormick emphasized the importance of completing a bike path and continuing efforts to maintain local roads, particularly through Jim Lewis's chip-sealing process. He also highlighted the goal of keeping taxes down as a priority for his administration.

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BELLEVILLE – As unofficial results roll in from election night on April 1, 2025, it appears Belleville voters have elected a new mayor. The City of Belleville saw multiple contested races this spring, including those for Mayor, City Clerk, and Second and Fifth Ward Alderpersons. Incumbent Mayor Patricia A. Gregory lost her re-election bid against challenger Jennifer “Jenny” Gain Meyer. Meyer secured 46 % of the vote, while Gregory earned 28 % of the vote, with all 38 precincts reporting. As the current City Clerk, M e yer chose not to run for re-election, aiming instead for the mayoral bid. She will become the City of Belleville’s second-ever female mayor, preceded only by Gregory. Two candidates ran to replace Meyer as City Clerk, with Michelle “Shelly” Schaefer securing the victory. Schaefer tallied 49 % of the vote on Tuesday night while Irma G. Golliday totaled 23 % of the vote, with all precincts reporting. Aldermani

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ALTON — Bubby and Sissy's, a long-standing establishment in Alton, is undergoing a transition in ownership as Michael Paynic steps back after 23.5 years of running the business. The new owners, Mike Klasner and his wife Mikey, who are cousins of Paynic, have acquired the restaurant located at 602 Belle St. with partners Barry Church and Joe Miragliotta. For many years, Michael owned the establishment with his sister, Debbie Paynic. She died on Jan. 3, 2025. The transition comes as Paynic expressed his gratitude for the new ownership. "I am glad they stepped up to the plate for me," he said about the new owners. Mike Klasner and Mikey, along with partners Barry Church and Joe Miragliotta, have plans to give the popular bar a facelift and make improvements during the closure this week. Paynic indicated that the establishment aims to reopen as Bubby’s and Sissy’s by this Saturday, pending construction progress, but it should be reopened by sometime next week. Paynic

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CARROLLTON – Greene County voters saw a series of mayoral and aldermanic contests on their local ballots, as unofficial results have been announced for the April 1, 2025 elections. City of Greenfield While the county seat of Carrollton didn’t see any contested races this election cycle, the City of Greenfield saw a contest for Mayor after current Mayor Nicholas Bishop did not seek re-election. Brock Andrew Meyer was elected Greenfield’s new mayor, securing his victory over challengers John E. “Jr.” Hardwick and David K. Bishop. Meyer secured 44.73% of the vote, while Bishop earned 33.09% and Hardwick totaled 22.18%. Greenfield also saw two candidates compete for Ward 1 Alderperson. Kory M. Chapman won their re-election bid against challenger Robert K. Ives, with Chapman tallying 52.59% of the vote to Ives’s 47.41%. City of Roodhouse Roodhouse saw a three-person race for Mayor in which incumbent Charles Huffines was defeated by challenger

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ALTON - YWCA Southwestern Illinois is honored to be the recipient of the Freezing for Funds 2025 fundraiser. At the YWCA Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, March 25, Executive Director Dorothy Hummel accepted a generous $5,100 donation from the Freezing for Funds organization. Representing Freezing for Funds were Shane Calhoon, Cami (Beaber) Giertz, Mark Haynes, Tawnya Hooper, Craig Lombardi, and Trisha Perks. The initiative, launched in 2022 by the Alton High School Class of 1986, raises funds for local nonprofits through an annual polar plunge event at Glazebrook Park in Godfrey. Since its first event in 2023, Freezing for Funds has grown in community support and impact. “We are thrilled by the overwhelming support we received this year,” said Cami (Beaber) Giertz, co-founder of Freezing for Funds. “It’s incredible to see our donations grow each year, and we’re proud to support such a great organization like YWCA.” Tawnya Hooper, fellow

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SPRINGFIELD – A monument in Alton dedicated to noted abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy has received a much-needed facelift thanks to efforts by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and local supporters. The 110-foot-tall Lovejoy monument was in dire need of repair and restoration. IDNR completed lower elevation masonry repairs in the fall, including cleaning, tuckpointing, and caulking seams and cracks to stop further weathering and damage to the granite and limestone. The department initially invested $42,944 into the project and expects to invest more than $50,000 total after the initial condition assessment and graffiti removal. In addition, an outside retaining wall and steps leading up to the monument had been defaced by vandals. IDNR is partnering with the City of Alton, Alton Area Landmarks Association , and volunteer Brandon Hall to remove the graffiti from the retaining wall leading up to the memorial. “Lovejoy became a martyr to the abolitionists’

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BELLEVILLE - Five art students from Belleville East High School were selected to showcase their work at the 2025 Regional High School Juried Art Exhibition at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). This annual event, organized by the Department of Art and Design, invites junior and senior students from high schools within a 50-mile radius of Edwardsville to submit their artwork for consideration. The selected Belleville East students and their respective pieces were: Aubrey Heins with “Hope Persists,” a colored pencil work; Aleah Ingram, who created “Sleeping Like He The One Who Gave Birth” using acrylic on fabric; Ramiya Fowler, who submitted “Be Sweet,” also in colored pencil; Gabby Patterson with her digital photography piece “Rainbow Glass”; and Liam Collins, whose work “Without Bees, Humans Couldn’t Survive” is a digitally manipulated photograph. This year’s exhibition continues a tradition

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SWANSEA - Police officers rescued a resident from a burning home on Marla Kay Drive in Swansea at 4:40 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2025. The incident began around 4:40 p.m. when Swansea officers Justin Schutzbach, Matt Lindley, and Sgt. Breanna Kemper-Damm arrived at the scene to find smoke billowing from the residence. Upon assessing the situation, Officer Schutzbach heard faint noises coming from the garage, leading him to believe someone was trapped inside. With no alternative means of entry, the officers forced their way through the garage door by ramming it with their bodies. Once inside, they were able to escort the resident to safety and awaited the arrival of emergency medical services. Swansea Fire Department, assisted by Northwest Fire and Eastside Fire, worked to extinguish the flames and secure the property. The quick actions of three local children, Roman, age 6, Xavier, age 10, and Darius, age 11, played a crucial role in the timely response. While playing outside, the

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy’s Kelly N. Gable, PharmD, is among the inaugural class of the 2025 American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP). “I am definitely excited and quite honored to be on a list with some phenomenal psychiatric pharmacists from across the country!” said Gable , BCPP, FAAPP, professor and director of well-being and resilience for the SIUE School of Pharmacy (SOP) and member of the AAPP . The Fellows will be recognized at the 2025 AAPP Annual Meeting on April 28 in Salt Lake City, Utah. “The AAPP Fellows Program recognizes members who have demonstrated excellence in advancing the practice of psychiatric pharmacy and have distinguished themselves in advancing the mission and goals of AAPP, thereby promoting public awareness of the profession,” according to the website. “The distinction of Fellow status also signifies that you will continue to promote and educate

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SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed the month of April as Innovation and Technology Month in Illinois, underscoring the significance of IT and the dedicated efforts to establish the state as a thriving innovation and technology hub, delivering statewide services to agencies, boards, commissions, and residents. "Illinois has long been a leader in innovation, and we're building on that legacy by positioning Illinois as the global quantum capital, while continuing our commitment to expanding STEM initiatives," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Through investments in expanding career and technical education programs and the creation of the nation's first quantum tech hub, we're driving technological advancement and economic growth for decades to come. I'm proud to designate this month to celebrate these accomplishments and look forward to the opportunities the continued growth of innovation will bring to our state." Illinois continues to solidify its position as a leader

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Congressman Zach Nunn (R-IA-03), Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) and Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the New Producer Economic Security Act — bipartisan legislation to help bring the next generation into family farming. This bill would establish a pilot program within the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to address the most pressing challenge for new and beginning farmers: access to land, capital, and markets. This program would help secure the domestic food system and strengthen the farm workforce by giving the next by giving the next generation of farmers the tools they need to succeed. “If we are going to revitalize and strengthen American agriculture going forward, we need to take steps now to ensure young farmers can succeed," said Congresswoman Budzinski. "I’m proud to lead bipartisan legislation that will allow young and beginning farmers access land, markets, and capital —

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC)—and U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51) introduced the IVF for Military Families Act, bicameral legislation that would require TRICARE coverage of fertility services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), for servicemembers and their families. The bill introduction comes after Congressional Republicans—in secret negotiations behind closed doors—betrayed military families by striking a Duckworth-Jacobs amendment that would have required such coverage from the final FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last year, even though it had passed in the House and through committee in the Senate. The lawmakers’ bicameral legislation would help ensure military families can get the same level of IVF coverage that’s accessible to Members of Congress an

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MEXICO CITY — Today Governor JB Pritzker signed an Addendum to the Illinois-Mexico Sister-State Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) alongside Mexico Governor Delfina Gómez Álvarez. The MOU comes at the beginning of a delegation trip from Illinois to Mexico City to deepen economic cooperation and opportunities between the State of Illinois and Mexico. The agreement emphasizes the strong ties between the two entities with a focus on bilateral trade in key industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and finance. “Mexico has been an essential partner to the state of Illinois for decades, and I’m proud to stand alongside Governor Gómez Álvarez and assert the importance of this continuing relationship,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “More than ever before, we must reassure our neighbors in Mexico that Illinois will remain a beacon of economic and cultural cooperation and opportunity for our people.” "Illinois has long held Mexico

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SPRINGFIELD–Today, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) announced $20 million in available grant funding for the second round of the Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP-IL). The funding will help eligible 501(c)(3) organizations that are deemed at high-risk of a threat, attack, or acts of terrorism implement enhanced safety measures. Grantees will be selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process. “Everyone deserves to work, study, or worship in safe spaces,” said IEMA-OHS Interim Director Adnan Khayyat. “Through the Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program, we are enhancing safety and security measures by providing 501(c)(3) organizations with the resources they need to prevent attacks. I encourage all eligible entities to apply to this funding opportunity as we continue our commitment to safety in every corner of the state.” The second round of the NSGP-IL

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SPRINGFIELD – For a second consecutive year, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will celebrate 30 Days of Public Health throughout the month of April. Governor JB Pritzker helped kick off the month with this video message hailing the state’s “Public Health Heroes.” The observance amounts to an extended National Public Health Week (April 7-13) and coincides with National Minority Health Month. The month-long slate of activities includes an IDPH Job Fair on April 23 and is intended to engage Illinoisans about how they can be healthier and safer in their own lives, and raise awareness about all that public health does to protect us from illness, disease and injury. “National Public Health Week is always one of the weeks in April, but in Illinois, we’ve started a new tradition: we celebrate public health all month long, because seven days just isn’t enough,” Governor Pritzker said. “When it comes to highlighting

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) reintroduced two bills to expand and increase access to employment opportunities for underserved youth. The Helping to Encourage Real Opportunity (HERO) for Youth Act and the Assisting in Developing (AID) Youth Employment Act will increase federal resources for communities seeking to create or grow employment programs and provide tax incentives to businesses and employers to hire and retain youth from economically distressed areas. “To invest in our future, we must invest in the next generation. Increasing youth employment opportunities can address poverty and crime across Illinois while setting up our state’s youngest residents for a brighter future,” said Durbin. “Congresswoman Kelly, Senator Duckworth, and I are reintroducing the HERO for Youth Act and the AID Youth Employment Act to boost

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