BETHALTO - Villa Rose Senior Living Community is a completely unique independent living experience. Executive Director Cindy Cannon explained that the community, located in Bethalto, combines independent living with supportive services. She believes the “family” feel, shared by both residents and staff members, sets them apart as a home for older adults to feel comfortable, cared for, and supported as they age. “Statistics tell us that older adults are lonely,” Canno
Medical experts are warning about a dangerous trend known as “dusting” or “huffing,” saying the practice can cause sudden death after a single use. That was the case in 2025, when a 19-year-old woman from Arizona died after suffering sudden cardiac arrest from inhaling aerosol from a can of keyboard cleaner. Though less prevalent than other substances, huffing is considered one of the most dangerous forms of drug abuse. Because inhalants are readily available household
GODFREY – A Godfrey resident seeking to launch fireworks on July 3, 2026 will have to raise their liability insurance coverage to $1 million before securing a permit. The consideration and approval of a fireworks permit for Bob Mueller was on the Village Board agenda for June 16, 2026. When the item came up for a vote, Trustee Gerard Fischer said he was “uncomfortable” with Mueller’s certificate of property insurance showing $300,000 in liability coverage. “Is
Just like technology has evolved, so have things in the vaping space. The risk for cancer, stunted brain development and other serious ailments remains the same. But the look of the vapes, the sensation you get when using them and the age at which kids start vaping all are changing. That’s according to Karen Boyd, Heather Thompson and Jessica Williams, Mission Partners (employees) at OSF HealthCare Moeller Cancer Center in Alton, Illinois, who have been talking to parents and kids in
Summer means outdoor activities and a reminder to watch for suspicious moles, a possible sign of skin cancer. But doctors say skin lesions come in many forms, and you should know when to get an expert opinion. What is and isn’t a skin lesion? Raman Kumar, MD , a colorectal and general surgeon at OSF HealthCare, has your checklist: YES: moles, blisters, bumps, acne, boils, peeling skin from a sunburn, rashes, poison ivy or similar skin reactions, warts, skin tags and bug bites YE
SOUTH ROXANA - South Roxana residents, families, and guests are invited to a free community celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 3, 2026, at Connect Church, 1417 Herbert St., in South Roxana, according to Village Administrator and Chief of Police Bob Coles. The event will include a fireworks show, food trucks, bounce houses, music and games, and other family-friendly activities. Coles thanked residents for their continued support of the annual Fourth of July celebration and said officials
BELLEVILLE/EST ST. LOUIS - A Belleville, Illinois, man who pleaded guilty to possessing a machine gun was sentenced in federal court in East St. Louis to eight years in prison, authorities said, a punishment that will be served in addition to any sentence he may receive in a pending Missouri state case. Dontay Moore Jr., 23, of Belleville, was sentenced by a district judge and will also serve three years of supervised release after his prison term. Moore pleaded guilty in February to one
O’FALLON, Ill. — HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital has recently installed a third robotic-assisted surgical system, the da Vinci® 5 , to continue to enhance the surgical offerings and access to patients in the Metro East region. The minimally invasive robotic surgical system, funded fully by HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Foundation, can be used across a spectrum of procedures for gynecology, urology, thoracic, cardiac and general surgery. Dr. Scott Crouch, a general surgeon
ALTON – An Alton resident accused of posting identifying images of seven minor victims to an adult website faces seven felony counts in Madison County. Jonathan A. Pence, 20, of the 2700 block of Residence Street in Alton, was charged on June 17, 2026 with seven counts of posting of identifying information on a pornographic internet site. Two counts are classified as Class 3 felonies, while the remaining five counts are Class 4 felonies. Pence is accused of posting images of seven different
ST. LOUIS — Olin Corp., a St. Louis-based chemical manufacturer and former Fortune 500 company, is expected to merge with Huntsman Corp. in an all-stock deal announced Tuesday, June 16, 2026, that would create a new company called OlinHuntsman headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas. The preliminary merger plans, announced by Huntsman on Tuesday morning, call for Olin and Huntsman to combine into OlinHuntsman. The merger has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companie
EDWARDSVILLE — The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office is pleased to welcome a new class of summer interns who will gain hands-on experience working alongside prosecutors and staff in a wide range of criminal justice matters. Throughout the summer, interns will have the opportunity to assist with legal research, observe court proceedings, support case preparation, and learn directly from experienced attorneys. Upper-level students also will gain courtroom experience prosecuting
GODFREY – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced the closure of Cook Street between Greenwood Lane and Pierce Lane beginning Monday, June 22, 2026, weather permitting, for road reconstruction. During the closure, access to properties within the work zone will be maintained via Illinois 3 using the newly constructed section of Cook Street. The west portion of Cook Street will be closed to traffic. This portion of work is expected to be completed by mid-August. This
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today are leading their Senate Democratic colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to help ensure websites and mobile applications are accessible for Americans with disabilities. In a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, the Senators sharply criticized the Trump Administration’s efforts to revise and delay federal
CHICAGO — Yesterday, Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 862 into law, creating the Illinois Department of Disability Advocacy and Guardianship (IDAG). This landmark legislation positions Illinois as a national leader in disability advocacy and guardianship by elevating the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission (IGAC) to a cabinet-level department. "By establishing the Department of Disability Advocacy and Guardianship, we are making it crystal clear that disability rights are
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – On Tuesday, Governor JB Pritzker approved the $56 billion Fiscal Year 2027 Illinois State Budget, which spends nearly a billion dollars more than last year. The Democratic majority’s budget, passed in the early morning hours of the final day of session, is a record-high $55.9 billion and relies on $800 million in new revenue, including new taxes on social media platforms and digital ads, while raiding $150 million of revenue from the state sales tax on
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Curtis (R-UT) to improve coordination between the United States and our partners in the Indo-Pacific successfully passed the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) today. With the threat of increasing aggression from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the Indo-Pacific, the Senators’ bipartisan South China Sea Strategy Act would ensure the State Department prioritizes diplomati
A barbecue can turn an ordinary patch of grass, a driveway, or a small balcony into the center of the neighborhood. Put fire, food, and a few chairs in one place, and people who barely speak all week suddenly start swapping stories, offering advice, and asking for another helping. That simple scene helps explain why humans love barbecues. They are not just a way to cook. They bring together something old and deeply familiar with something social and enjoyable. A barbecue gives people a reason
On June 18, one of the most important events in modern world history is the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the clash that ended Napoleon Bonaparte’s rule for good. Fought in present-day Belgium, the battle brought together French forces against an allied army led by the Duke of Wellington and supported by Prussian troops under Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. At the time, it mattered because it decided who would shape Europe after years of war and political upheaval. It still matters today
EDWARDSVILLE - Several appointments, zoning matters, and property purchases were approved Wednesday night at the Madison County Board meeting in Edwardsville, while public speakers urged officials not to sell Special Sewer Area 1 to American Water. The board made five appointments to local boards. David Kuehnel was appointed to the Wood River Drainage and Levee District, replacing Nathan Kincade, who resigned. In the Moro Water District, Mark Allison and Darren Singleton were reappointed. Amand
EDWARDSVILLE — Katie Albrecht and Emma Gusewelle have concluded their senior years at Metro East Lutheran High School after standout bowling careers that included all-conference recognition and postseason competition. The two girls are BJ's Printables Female Athletes of the Month for MELHS. Metro East Lutheran’s girls bowling team turned in a strong performance at the Gateway Metro Conference Bowling Tournament, where Gusewelle and Kacy Gearns earned honorable mention all-conference
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