EDWARDSVILLE - Lucy Doyle’s sophomore girls track and field season was marked by a runner-up finish at the IHSA Class 1A Girls Track and Field Sectional in Carlinville on May 13, 2026, and a personal-best performance a week later at the state championships in Charleston. Doyle of Metro East Lutheran placed second in the 3,200 meters at the sectional with a time of 13:05.38 to advance to the IHSA 1A State Track and Field Championships at Eastern Illinois University. At state, she ran a
ST. LOUIS — Homicide detectives are investigating a fatal shooting in the Wells/Goodfellow neighborhood in St. Louis after police said officers responding to a disturbance Thursday night, July 9, 2026, encountered a gunfight and found a 44-year-old man wounded in the street. The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 9, in the 2800 block of Union near Maffitt and Union, according to police. District 5 officers responding to a disturbance call detained four people and found th
ALTON - The Gen. George Rogers Clark Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution held a program Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at Lincoln-Douglas Square in Downtown Alton to mark the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence and reflect on its significance. “While July 4th marks the birth of our independence, July 8th was the day the people first heard the words that would change the world,” said Richard Ruedin, past president of the Gen. George Rogers Clark Chapter of th
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following statement after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in Barnett v. Raoul, in which the court upheld the state’s ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. “This is a win that enhances public safety in Illinois. We have seen the damage that assault weapons and large-capacity magazines can inflict, and these weapons of war have no place in our communities. My office has successfully defended th
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced weekend lane closures on eastbound and westbound Interstate 64 at Illinois 159 between the Exit 12 entrance and exit ramps in St. Clair County. Beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, July 10, traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions, weather permitting, for bridge repairs. Two lanes in each direction are expected to reopen by 6 a.m. Monday, July 13. The lane closures are part of ongoing improvements
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed two bills (HB 4456 and HB 5524) that strengthen energy affordability and consumer protections by helping lower utility costs for working families across the state and increasing transparency around the charges that appear on monthly electric bills. This set of new laws builds on Gov. Pritzker’s affordability agenda by ensuring Illinoisans have greater access to energy assistance while increasing available data and transparency o
EDWARDSVILLE - Front access has been restored within the construction zone in the 100 block of North Main Street in Edwardsville, the City of Edwardsville announced in a project update, marking a milestone in a major infrastructure project that still has significant work to be done. The City of Edwardsville administration said the restored access allows people to walk the stretch and visit shops, restaurants and service providers in the area. The update said the project involves replacing
7/13/26 UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, the lane closures on Interstate 55/70 between Illinois 203 and Exchange Avenue in St. Clair County have been rescheduled to begin at 9 a.m. TODAY. All lanes are expected to reopen by 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 14. MADISON – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced weekend lane closures on westbound Interstate 55/70 in St. Clair County to allow for bridge repairs. Beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, July 13, weather permitting, westbound
BETHALTO – A Bethalto man accused of damaging a utility pole with his vehicle during a drunk driving accident faces his fifth charge of driving under the influence. 54-year-old Louis I. Thompson of Bethalto was charged in Madison County court on July 1, 2026 with one count each of aggravated driving while under the influence (a Class 2 felony), driving while license is revoked/suspended (a Class 4 felony), reckless driving (a Class A misdemeanor) and improper lane usage (a petty offense).
JERSEYVILLE – A Brighton resident faces felony and misdemeanor charges in Jersey County after reportedly attacking another individual with a butter knife. Dakota L. Harris, 24, of Brighton, was charged on July 7, 2026 with a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery and a Class A misdemeanor count of battery. The day prior on July 6, Harris allegedly struck another individual in the face with a closed fist and cut the same victim with a butter knife. The Jersey County State’s
GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced lane closures on westbound Interstate 270 from Illinois 3 to the Mississippi River in Madison County for road construction. Beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, July 11, westbound I-270 traffic will be reduced to one lane, weather permitting. Two westbound lanes are expected to reopen by 6 p.m. Sunday, July 12. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged
WATERLOO - A search was underway Friday morning, July 10, 2026, in Monroe County, Ill., for a possible plane crash reported south of Waterloo, with local, state and federal authorities working to determine the aircraft’s last known location. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department said it received reports of a possible plane crash around 2:30 a.m. Friday. After receiving the report, the sheriff’s department, the Waterloo Fire Department and Monroe County EMS responded to the are
On July 10, 1940, the Battle of Britain began, opening one of the most important air campaigns of the Second World War. After the fall of France, Nazi Germany aimed to gain control of the skies over Britain as a step toward possible invasion. What followed was a long struggle between the German Luftwaffe and the British Royal Air Force. At the time, the battle mattered because Britain stood as a major center of resistance in Western Europe. Its outcome also shaped the wider war by preventing
A song you have not heard in years can change your mood in seconds. One chorus, and suddenly you are back in a car with your family, in a school hallway, or in a bedroom covered with posters from another version of your life. Nostalgia works that fast. It is not just remembering. It is feeling the past in the present. Nostalgia is one of the most familiar human emotions, yet it is often misunderstood. People talk about it as if it were simple homesickness or a habit of living in the past. In
ST. CLAIR COUNTY - Two people are in custody after a child’s remains were found buried Wednesday in a wooded area in Stookey Township outside Belleville, Illinois, in a case authorities said is believed to be connected to a parental kidnapping investigation involving St. Louis Police and Desloge, Mo., Police. Photos of the suspects in the kidnapping case have been released and are shown above. The child's remains were found after a multi-agency search on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Officials
ALTON/GODFREY – Fans of music, film, and history won’t want to miss the next event offerings from Hayner Library this summer. Mary Cordes with the Hayner Public Library District outlined a few of their exciting upcoming events during the latest “ Beyond the Shelves” segment on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . Music lovers can experience a blend of Celtic and American sounds at an upcoming free concert in Godfrey. “Switchback: A Celebration of American Root
EDWARDSVILLE - A man was sentenced Thursday to 115 years in prison after abducting a woman at knifepoint outside a Collinsville Starbucks and sexually assaulting her. Judge Berkley handed down the sentence. Timothy Dubois Jr. was found guilty in May on 10 charges following a three-day trial in which jurors heard testimony from the victim and watched portions of Dubois’ confession tape. He must serve 85% of his sentence. Investigators said the 21-year-old victim was sitting alone in her
GLEN CARBON – Glen Carbon Police have charged a village resident with battering a 12-year-old child. The 33-year-old Glen Carbon woman faces one count each of aggravated battery (a Class 3 felony) and domestic battery (a Class A misdemeanor) filed in Madison County court on July 2, 2026. The woman allegedly knowingly struck a 12-year-old child on the face with a belt on May 26, 2026, causing bruising and bodily harm. The Glen Carbon Police Department presented the case to prosecutors,
ALTON - Ashley Trail, a 24-year-old Alton native, is set to appear on the 90-minute season premiere of CBS' "Big Brother" on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 7 p.m. Central Time, as one of the first 14 houseguests introduced by host Julie Chen Moonves. Trail was born and raised in Alton and now lives in Chicago. She works for Barstool Sports as the weather girl for the show and also does some bartending at a popular bar in Chicago. She is also an Alton High graduate. On the "Big Brother" site, Trail
EDWARDSVILLE - Tyhlee Simms was a junior forward and a co-author of a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of girls' basketball at Granite City High School, helping the Warriors to a 21-10 record in the regular season in 2025-2026. She is a Stillwater Senior Living Female Athlete Of The Month. A year ago, the Warriors went 12-17, and in 2023-24, Granite finished at 2-25. The Granite City School Board of Education hired veteran coach Ron Twichell to head the program, and he has played a significan
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