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On July 9, 1816, leaders meeting in Tucumán declared the independence of the United Provinces of South America, a major step in the long struggle that helped break Spanish rule across much of South America. At the time, the declaration mattered because it gave political form to years of fighting and uncertainty in the Río de la Plata region. It was a public statement that local leaders intended to govern themselves rather than return to imperial control. The event still matters

Ice cream can hurt your head, numb your tongue, and still feel impossible to resist. That odd mix of pleasure and discomfort says a lot about human cravings. Cold treats are not just about taste. They tap into the body’s need for cooling, the brain’s reward system, and the emotions tied to comfort and fun. A popsicle after a long walk, iced coffee on a busy morning, frozen yogurt during a rough week, gelato on vacation—these foods and drinks often mean more to us than “something

ALTON – Alton officials have allocated over $640,000 in federal grant funding to resurface several streets across the city. City Council members voted unanimously on July 8, 2026 to allocate $644,428 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the Fiscal Year 2026 budget for street resurfacing projects in each of the city’s seven wards. These include: Ward 1: State Street from West 9th to Bluff Street Ward 2: Big Arch Road from Alby to East Center Drive Ward 3

COLLINSVILLE - The Collinsville Police Department announced that Officer Brian Joy was recognized as its May Officer of the Month, praising his continued work after being named the 2025 Officer of the Year. The Collinsville Police Department said Joy “has continued to proactively work to remove criminals from our streets while going the extra mile for our residents.” The department asked the public to join in congratulating Joy and thanked him for “your outstanding

MARYVILLE, IL — A new ambulance is now serving the residents of Maryville thanks to a $330,000 state investment secured through the advocacy of State Senator Erica Harriss. Senator Harriss joined local officials, first responders, and community members Wednesday for the Maryville Village Fire Department's Ambulance Commissioning and Push-In Ceremony, celebrating the department's newest addition to its emergency response fleet. "Our first responders answer the call every day without

MEADOWBROOK - A group of seven Southwestern Illinois College students in the CEJA (Climate and Equitable Jobs Act) program recently constructed a new front porch at the home of veteran Dave Stout in Meadowbrook, providing hands-on training for the students and a new porch for a longtime member of the local veteran community. Stout is a Marquette Catholic graduate who enlisted in the Air Force in 1965, served as a radio operator during the Vietnam War in 1968 and 1969 and went on to complete

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 49 attorneys general, today called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to strengthen rules that would cut off scammers’ access to legitimate telephone numbers to prevent scammers from deceiving Americans through robocalls and text messages. Raoul and the coalition, as part of the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, asked the FCC to work on this issue in 2021 and are now responding

JERSEYVILLE – A Jerseyville man faces felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly burglarizing a boat and stealing various fishing supplies from within. Jeffrey D. Flynn, 74, of Jerseyville, was charged on July 1, 2026 with a Class 3 felony count of burglary without causing damage and a Class A misdemeanor count of theft. Flynn is accused of knowingly entering another individual’s boat without authority on June 22, 2026. The boat was located in the Walmart parking lot in Jerseyville

GRANITE CITY - DOUBLE00 Vodka is set to make its official debut at 7 p.m. in Granite City on Saturday, July 11, 2026, when founder Darryl Gill introduces the brand at Nick’s Bar & Grill in what he described as the product’s first official pour. The launch event is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Nick’s Bar & Grill, 3900 Nameoki Road, Granite City, Illinois. The event will introduce DOUBLE00 Vodka to the region. DOUBLE00 Vodka is served ice cold as a premium shot experience. Gill,

CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 4438 into law, designating the black and gold bumblebee as the official Illinois State Bee. The black and gold bumblebee serves as a critical prairieland pollinator – boosting Illinois’ natural ecosystem, supporting agriculture, and even helping to sustain life on earth. This action follows a year of advocacy by students from Naperville's Lincoln Junior High School. Last year, the students in educator Barbara Bell’s

JERSEYVILLE – A building in downtown Jerseyville is set to get a new roof as it prepares to welcome a relocating business and upper-floor apartments. Jerseyville City Council members unanimously approved a commercial roof grant application from Nate and Tiffany Blasa regarding 108 S. State St. at their July 7, 2026 meeting. With an estimated project cost of $99,807, the two requested the maximum grant amount of $25,000. The project includes the removal of the building’s existing roo

CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced today the X-Labs Fast Fund to encourage U.S. National Science Foundation X-Labs ( NSF X-Labs initiative ) teams to choose Illinois as the place to pursue technical breakthroughs in the quantum technology sector. The Illinois X-Labs Fast Fund reinforces Illinois’ leadership as the nation’s leading hub for quantum innovation. “There’s no better place

DUPO - State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) continues to donate the legislative pay raise he voted against to local organizations throughout the 114th District to help families in need. This month, he donated a variety of essential food items to the TWIGS Program, which provides free summer lunches to children ages 18 and under in Dupo, East Carondelet, and Cahokia Heights. “I take pride in donating my legislative pay raise to help people in our communities who are less

Wednesday starts partly sunny and quiet, with temperatures in the upper 60s early and very light wind. It will feel a little warmer than the thermometer right away, with feels like temperatures in the low to mid-70s as humidity stays high. By afternoon, the day turns hotter and stickier, reaching a high near 87. Sunshine will mix with building clouds, and there is a 55% chance of rain with a spotty thunderstorm possible later in the day. Winds stay light out of the southeast around 6 mph, with

BETHALTO – A domestic battery suspect accused of threatening to kill a Bethalto Police officer has been ordered released from custody pending trial in Madison County. Timothy L. McCann, 58, of Bethalto, was charged on June 29, 2026, with one count each of threatening a public official (a Class 3 felony), domestic battery, and resisting a peace officer (both Class A misdemeanors). Two days prior on June 27, McCann allegedly knowingly made verbal statements threatening to take the life

JERSEYVILLE - Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 said Jersey Community High School recently concluded its Theater Camp with a packed house for the campers’ performance, bringing together 75 campers and 50 high school students for a week of activities centered on theater. According to the district, participants learned a song and dance, toured backstage areas, learned about different stage crew jobs, played acting games, enjoyed snacks and received a surprise visit from

ALTON - The City of Alton and the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau will once again host the Alton Powerboat Nationals. From July 17–19, 2026, community members and visitors can enjoy the Alton Riverfront and several thrilling races on the Mississippi River. There will also be a free meet-and-greet street party on July 17 at Mac’s Downtown. Grace Sakry, a spokesperson with Great Rivers and Routes, noted the excitement of preparing for the races and bringing people together

GODFREY - Village of Godfrey officials have approved a renovation project for the vortex chamber at the Great Godfrey Corn Maze, a popular feature of the village’s haunted maze attraction in Glazebrook Park, Mayor Mike McCormick said. Trustees approved at the Tuesday night, July 7, 2026, board meeting a proposal from Stutz Excavating Inc. for structural work on the vortex chamber, which is located near the corn maze and gazebo in Godfrey. McCormick said the work involves reconstruction

GLEN CARBON - Illinois State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash involving an SUV and a truck tractor semi-trailer on Interstate 270 westbound near South Glen Carbon in Madison County at about 6:27 a.m. July 8, 2026, according to Troop 8. A preliminary investigation indicates the crash occurred at Milepost 11 on I-270 westbound, Illinois State Police said in information provided by Trooper Genelle Jones of the agency’s Public Information Office. Unknown injuries were reported at the

EDWARDSVILLE - Main Street Community Center hosted a lively and well-attended USA 250 Celebration BBQ, bringing together over 120 community members, volunteers, staff, and Board members for an afternoon filled with food, music, and patriotic celebration. The event honored America’s upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026 with a red, white, and blue themed gathering focused on community connection, engagement, and shared enjoyment. Guests enjoyed a classic summer barbecue spread featuring hot