SPRINGFIELD - As temperatures continue to rise across Illinois, pools remain one of the most popular ways for families to cool off and enjoy the summer. Whether you're spending the day at a neighborhood pool, visiting a local aquatic center, or relaxing in your own backyard, it's important to remember that fun in the water comes with responsibility. A moment of distraction can quickly turn into a life-threatening emergency, making constant supervision and safe swimming practices essential.
BELLEVILLE - With the opening of the MetroLink extension to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport set for late summer, the St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) is further strengthening its commitment to rider safety and security through a new partnership with the Mascoutah Police Department. At its July 17 board meeting, the SCCTD Board of Trustees approved a memorandum of agreement with the Mascoutah Police Department to provide law enforcement services at the new MidAmerica MetroLink Station,
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation is asking the public for their feedback on the state's transportation system and the agency’s performance through the annual Traveler Opinion Survey. Available now through Tuesday, Aug. 11, the survey is available online by clicking https://go.uis.edu/Traveler2026 or visiting idot.illinois.gov . Conducted in partnership with the University of Illinois Springfield, the survey is an opportunity for people who live in Illinois
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s reckless attacks on our nation’s elections. “What we saw tonight was another pathetic attempt to rewrite the past and ignore the will of American voters. Donald Trump’s obsession with an election he lost six years ago does not change the fact that the 2020 election was secure. In fact, it was one of the most secure elections in our nation’s history. More
GREENVILLE - Community members can enjoy a weekend of American rural history and culture at Greenville’s Heritage Days event. On July 24, 25 and 26, 2026, the American Farm Heritage Museum will host their annual Heritage Days at 1395 Museum Avenue in Greenville. From farming demonstrations and tractor pulls to a flea market and military displays, the weekend promises to be a fun chance to engage with farming history. “We are a festival about history,” said Steve Loos
EAST ALTON/WOOD RIVER - East Alton-Wood River High School senior Lilly Bock has been selected by the Riverbend East Rotary Club to participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange program and is scheduled to leave for Italy for her senior year. She has been involved in an ongoing fundraising effort and held a final fundraiser at Rustic Roots on Sunday night, July 19, 2026, with exceptional turnout. Bock will study abroad in Italy for 11 months, during which she will attend school, live with a host
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today co-led a coalition of 19 attorneys general who moved to intervene in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and Secretary Pete Hegseth for unlawfully freezing routine reviews of land-based wind energy projects across the country. Federal law requires the DOD to review proposed wind projects for potential national security concerns and work with developers to address any issues. In August 2025, the DOD stopped moving projects
WASHINGTON – During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned the outside witness panel for the nomination of Todd Blanche, President Trump’s pick to be Attorney General of the United States. Durbin began by offering his condolences to witness Jennifer Bos, a mother from Illinois whose daughter, Megan, went missing and was found dead on the property of an undocumented
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), author of the Durbin Amendment and the Credit Card Competition Act , received the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2026 Champion of Main Street Award in honor of his leadership to address the high cost of debit and credit card interchange fees and his efforts to curb organized retail crime. “As Americans are struggling with the rising cost of everyday essentials, I’ve made it a priority in Congress
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate remained at 5.1 percent in June, unchanged from May, and up +0.8 percentage point from the same month, one year ago, based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised May unemployment rate was 5.1 percent. Total nonfarm payrolls saw a fourth consecutive over-the-month increase in June, up +1,500 (0.0%) to 6,164,400. The May monthly change in payrolls
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed two bills into law to support law enforcement and emergency responders by modernizing recruitment standards to attract qualified deputy sheriffs and by ensuring consistency in traffic enforcement is applied to Scott’s Law violations. “Our state has one of the best police forces in the entire nation, and we’re working to increase their talent pipeline by modernizing hiring practices and enhancing protections for officer-involved
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of 20 state attorneys general in sending a letter to federal banking regulators raising concerns about granting national banking charters to financial technology companies, often referred to as fintechs, without necessary safeguards to protect consumers, investors and the financial system. The attorneys general call on regulators to deny charters to fintechs that have a history of predatory lending or risky practices. In their
JERSEYVILLE – A Bethalto man accused of sexually abusing a child last week remains in custody in Jersey County. Anthony B. Newcome, 25, of Bethalto, was charged in Jersey County court on July 16, 2026 with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under 13 years old. On July 14, 2026, Newcome allegedly committed an act of sexual conduct against a minor victim. The victim’s exact age has not been made public as no date of birth was listed for the victim
Taylor Fresh Foods is voluntarily recalling all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico after a multistate Cyclospora outbreak, even as the Food and Drug Administration said Sunday that a lettuce sample previously believed to have tested positive was actually a false positive. The recall includes certain Walmart Marketside-brand iceberg salad and shredded lettuce products with “Best if Used By” dates between July 18 and Aug. 3, 2026, as well as lettuce supplied to restaurants,
A slower walk, a deeper breath, an urge to sit outside a little longer—many people notice these shifts and call it “summer mood,” as if relaxation simply appears out of nowhere. But that calm feeling often has clear causes. It comes from the way light affects the brain, how routines change, what the body expects, and even what we have been taught to associate with this part of the year. Humans often feel more relaxed in summer not because life suddenly becomes easy, but because
A three-minute song can change what people wear, where they gather, what they say, and even how they remember a year. That is the real power of summer music. It is not just background sound for road trips and barbecues. It helps shape moods, habits, trends, and shared memories on a large scale. Certain songs seem to take over public life all at once. They play at beaches, corner stores, family cookouts, gyms, car windows, festivals, and weddings. People who do not even know the artist can still
GRANITE CITY — Tyler Moore, a senior forward for Granite City’s boys basketball team, said a season of hard work and growth helped lead the Warriors to a 16-15 turnaround campaign in 2025-26 after the team finished 9-23 a year earlier. Moore averaged 4.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per game this season, while adding 31 assists and 24 steals. He said he appreciated what the team accomplished during the rebound season. “It was a hard fight,” Moore said. “It was a really
ALTON - Dylan Anderson won the 2026 IHRA Formula 1 Powerboat Series championship Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the Alton Powerboat Nationals on the Mississippi River, securing his first series title after early leader Spencer Love suffered a mechanical failure in the closing stages of the season-deciding final. Anderson, of Anderson Marine and from Nashville, Tennessee, crossed the line 1.47 seconds ahead of Jared Jensen in the Formula 1 final. Chris Rinker finished third. The result ended a ru
On July 19, 1870, France declared war on Prussia, setting off the Franco-Prussian War, the most consequential event tied to this date in modern global history. At the time, the conflict grew out of rising rivalry in Europe and disputes over who would shape the continent’s balance of power. What followed was a short but deeply important war that led to the defeat of France, the fall of Emperor Napoleon III, and the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership. Its effects lasted far
MADISON – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that lane closures on Illinois 203 from the Madison County line to Ohio Street will begin Monday, July 20, weather permitting, to accommodate construction of temporary crossovers as part of the first phase of a $13.8 million bridge replacement project. One lane will remain open in each direction during this phase of construction. The lane configuration is expected to remain in place through the end of August, weather
stLouIST