Unemployment Rate Ticks Up Across All Metro Areas in March Champaign metro payrolls climb to 14 months of consecutive year over year growth SPRINGFIELD, IL. - Among area cities, Edwardsville had the lowest unemployment rate at 4.0% in March 2026, up from 3.1% in March 2025. Alton's unemployment rate increased from 4.3 percent to 5.4 percent from March 2025 to March 2026. O’Fallon’s rate was 4.2%, up from 3.2% a year earlier, and Collinsville’s was 4.1%, up from 3.5%.
JACKSON, Tenn. - Godfrey's Eliana Synder joined 383 students who were named to Union University in Jackson, Tenn., President's List for the spring 2026 semester. The President's List includes full-time students who achieve a 4.0 grade point average on a four-point scale. Founded in 1823 and affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, Union University is characterized by quality Christ-centered teaching and learning. Union offers liberal arts training in more than 100 majors and programs
SPRINGFIELD, IL. - The Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) is overseeing the construction of a new $42.6 million Library Learning Student Success Center at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS). Funded through Governor JB Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital plan, the 55,000-square-foot facility will serve as a resource for academic learning and student support. Construction is currently underway, with many structural components already completed. The grand staircase has been
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 21 attorneys general, called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to abandon draft guidance that would ease approvals for flavored e-cigarette products, widely understood to disproportionately worsen youth addiction. Federal law requires that all e-cigarette products receive authorization from the FDA before they can be legally marketed or sold in the United States. The FDA has authorized only 45 e-cigarette
On May 12, 1949, the Soviet Union ended the Berlin Blockade, reopening land and water routes into West Berlin after nearly a year of trying to force the Western Allies out of the city. The blockade mattered immediately because it turned a tense post–World War II standoff into a daily struggle for survival for more than two million Berliners. It still matters because it helped set the pattern for the Cold War: rival systems testing each other’s resolve without direct war, and civilians
MARYVILLE, IL. — As Anderson Hospital joins healthcare organizations across the country in celebrating National Hospital Week, May 10–16, 2026, the hospital is proud to announce its continued recognition as a leader in healthcare excellence, earning a place on Newsweek’s 2026 World’s Best Hospitals list—the fifth consecutive year the hospital has achieved this prestigious honor. This year’s National Hospital Week theme, “Healing Happens Here,” honors
BETHALTO — At Monday night’s Bethalto City Council meeting, Ryan Dugger was officially sworn in as the new Bethalto Police Chief. Dugger, a 2003 graduate of Civic Memorial High School, was unanimously approved by the council for the position. He replaces former Chief Jason Lamb, who was previously placed on administrative leave for undisclosed reasons. Dugger brings prior leadership experience to the role, having served as police chief in Mount Olive before joining the Bethalto
ALTON – Plans to relax residency requirements for certain Alton city employees are now on hold for the next three years. Committee of the Whole members voted 4-3 on May 11, 2026 to postpone a resolution to consider amending a section of the City Code regarding residency requirements for city employees until April 11, 2029. Under the current City Code, Alton’s non-union employees are required to primarily reside within Alton School District 11, while union employees are allowed
GRAFTON - According to Mayor Mike Morrow, Grafton’s soldiers have arrived home. On Monday, May 11, 2026, a small crowd gathered at the site of the National Memorial of Military Ascent (NMMA) in Grafton to welcome a truck carrying several life-sized statues. These 500-pound statues will be installed on the face of the bluff over the next few days. “Today, the National Memorial of Military Ascent soldiers are deploying to Grafton, Illinois, for duty,” Morrow said. “What
JERSEYVILLE - Paxton Weirich delivered a no-hit performance and helped power Jersey to a 15-0 win over rival Marquette Catholic on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Jerseyville. Weirich, a sophomore, pitched four innings for the no-hitter, striking out eight Marquette batters as Jersey improved to 14-8. Weirich is a Sparklight Female Athlete of the Month for the Jersey Panthers. Jersey built the rout early, scoring five runs in the first inning. The Panthers added one run in the second, erupted for
ST. LOUIS – A woman from Lake St. Louis turned herself in Monday to face an indictment accusing her of embezzling $1.2 million from her employer. Kari Bertels, 44, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on April 29 with five counts of wire fraud. She turned herself in on Monday, May 11, 2026, appeared in court and pleaded not guilty. The indictment accuses Bertels of using her company credit card to make purchases for herself and relatives from Oct. 9, 2018, to Jan. 12,
ROXANA - The Riverbend East Rotary Club recently recognized the Roxana High School April Service Above Self award winners-Keelan Crawford and Kylee Slayden. Photo-Rotary President-Elect Patti Anderson presents Service Above Self certificates to Keelan Crawford and Kylee Slayden Keelan Crawford Keelan is a Senior who has seemingly spent his high school career in constant motion. A standout multi-sport athlete, Keelan has competed in Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Soccer, all while serving
EDWARDSVILLE — Thanks to the generosity of the Metro East community, State Senator Erica Harriss’ 2026 Mother’s Day Diaper Drive collected hundreds of essential baby and toddler items for local families in need. On Friday, donations gathered throughout the drive were delivered to Safe Families for Children Metro East to help support moms and children across the region ahead of Mother’s Day. “The response from the community was incredible,” said Senator Harriss
JERSEYVILLE – Three Macoupin County residents face felonies in Jersey County for their alleged involvement in a string of retail thefts across two Jerseyville stores. The following individuals were each charged on May 6, 2026 with three counts of retail theft, including two Class 2 felonies and one Class A misdemeanor: Avery W. Heyen, 18, of Girard, Ill. Brandon A. Whitworth, 18, of Carlinville, Ill. Jonathan E. Walch, 20, of Atwater, Ill. The three allegedly knowingly stole
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County police detectives are investigating the drowning death of a 64-year-old man whose body was recovered Monday from Spanish Pond Lake after witnesses reported he may have fallen into the water while boating. Officers from the St. Louis County Police Department’s North County Precinct responded about 4:03 p.m. Sunday, May 10, 2026, to the 12500 block of Spanish Pond Road in Spanish Lake Park for a possible drowning, police said. At about 10:20 a.m. Monday,
JERSEYVILLE — Jersey Community High School's FFA chapter was recognized for a “successful year” at the Section 15 Banquet, where Jerseyville earned top Greenhand and Discovery team honors and placed second overall in the varsity team standings among 16 schools. Jersey Community Unit School District 100 shared the results in a post, saying FFA members Mary Jones and Lucy Boes “were also recognized for their achievements this year with their SAE projects.”
ALTON — Effective May 11, 2026 , the public boat launch ramps at Alton Marina are officially closed due to low water. As of today, the river level at Alton Marina stands at 413 feet above sea level , providing approximately 3-4 feet of water within the harbor . According to the latest forecast from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) , water levels are expected to remain steady at 413 feet for the next seven days. During this period, the public launch ramps will remain closed
ALTON - Alton Police Department members took to the basketball court at the YWCA Southwestern Illinois in Alton for one of their beloved community events called “Ballin' With a Cop” on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The Alton Police Department said the main purpose of the gathering was to connect with local youth. “Today was all about community, connection, and basketball at Ballin' With a Cop,” the Alton Police Department said in a statement. “Members of the Alton Police
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Fairview Heights Police Chief Steve Johnson on Monday released a message from a citizen praising an officer’s response to a reported wallet theft at a local Lowe’s store. In the release dated Monday, May 11, 2026, Johnson shared an email in which the citizen said they were “the victim of a wallet theft at our local Lowe’s” and the writer credited Fairview Heights Police Officer Jacob Montagnani with quickly locating a suspect and recovering
EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies across Illinois for the 2026 “Click It or Ticket” campaign running May 15-26, 2026 during the Memorial Day travel period. In addition to regular duties, officers will be conducting high-visibility patrols targeting seat belt violations. Buckle up or expect to be stopped and cited. Illinois law requires all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts. While usage increased to 93% in 2025, unrestrained
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