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ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Regional Freightway on Wednesday released its 2027 Priority Projects List, outlining 29 freight infrastructure projects across Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois with a combined value of more than $9.2 billion, as regional and state transportation leaders pointed to funding progress and ongoing construction on several major efforts. The list was unveiled during the annual Freight Summit, the signature event of FreightWeekSTL, held aboard the Gateway

GLEN CARBON - Natalie Beck was one of the key seniors on the Father McGivney Catholic girls soccer team that won the IHSA Class 1A state championship on June 6, 2026, over Pleasant Plains 3-0 at North Central College in Naperville, in far west suburban Chicago, and was also one of the St. Louis area's leading scorers this season in helping the Griffins to the championship. Beck has been an outstanding athlete for McGivney over the years, playing on championship basketball teams and being a stat

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - A 36-year-old Villa Ridge man was killed, and a 56-year-old High Ridge man was injured Tuesday afternoon, June 9, 2026, in a two-vehicle crash on southbound Missouri 109 south of Niehoff Drive in St. Louis County, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report. The crash happened at 2:03 p.m. on June 9, 2026, and was investigated by Sgt. M.G. Autenrieth and MCIU No. 2 Sgt. J.D. Cox of Troop C, the report said. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man whose partial human remains were found in South St. Louis County in 2021, authorities said Tuesday, June 9, 2026, after an artist’s rendering of the deceased was completed. The remains were discovered Nov. 27, 2021, near Green Park Road and Union Road, according to the St. Louis County Police Bureau of Crimes Against Persons. On Tuesday, police said the St. Louis County Medical Examiner’

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Parks and Recreation has announced it recently received a report of an invasive hammerhead worm at Cliff Cave Park in St. Louis County, warning visitors that the flatworm can harm the local ecosystem and pose risks to people and pets. The hammerhead worm, originally from Asia, preys on native earthworms, which are essential for healthy soil. Officials said the worms are usually seen after heavy rains and tend to hide under logs, rocks, and leaf litter. Hammerhead

JERSEYVILLE – Multiple events are coming up in Jerseyville later this summer, including the Jersey County Fair Parade, fireworks show, and a July 4 “Rock the Block” concert. A resolution for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to close State Highway 67 for the Jersey County Fair Parade was unanimously approved by City Council members at their June 9, 2026 meeting. Mayor Kevin Stork said the closure will be in effect on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 from 5 to 9 p.m.,

MARYVILLE - Officer Keith Hopke of the Maryville Police Department carried the Flame of Hope through Maryville on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, as part of the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run, an effort to raise awareness for Special Olympics Illinois. Hopke received the flame from officers with the Collinsville Police Department as the torch traveled across multiple law enforcement agencies in Illinois, according to the Maryville Police Department. The torch run is part of a broader awareness effort

ALTON – Two Alton residents were charged on the same day with fleeing from local law enforcement agencies in two unrelated incidents. Jerry Richmond Jr., 36, of Alton, was charged on June 1, 2026 with a Class 4 felony count of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer. Richmond allegedly attempted to flee from a Madison Police officer who had signaled for him to stop the vehicle he was driving on May 30, 2026. Charging documents state his attempted flight from the officer

ALTON - As summer heats up, the Alton Community Unit School District #11 is focused on completing several projects before students and teachers return to the classrooms this fall. Eddie McCrady noted that the maintenance crew is mostly focused on basic “regular preventative maintenance,” but they are also overseeing the installation of safety vestibules in North and Gilson Brown Elementary Schools, among other projects. The goal, he emphasized, is to provide a positive school

COLLINSVILLE/MORRISONVILLE - Three Collinsville residents, including a 16-year-old and a pair of 19-year-olds, were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Morrisonville, Illinois, according to elected officials, prompting concern from U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, who said her office is seeking more information. Officials identified those detained as Jesus Alexis Cruz, 16, Hector Cruz Sanchez, 19, and Jonathan Godoy, 19. The three teens lived in Collinsville

SPRINGFIELD – June 15 is Elder Abuse Awareness Day. With reports of elder abuse on the rise in Illinois since 2022 , Department on Aging (IDoA) Director Mary Killough, is reminding community members to learn the warning signs and speak up about suspected abuse of older adults. “We must stand together to protect the dignity, safety, and respect every older adult deserves,” said IDoA Director Mary Killough. “Abuse, neglect and exploitation are not just private matters,

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the City of Chicago’s Department of Water Management will receive $22,119,933 in grant funding to help get lead out of the city’s drinking water by supporting approximately 650 lead service line replacements in the Austin neighborhood. This comes after the Senators announced over $316 million for clean water funding in Illinois last month, including

EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that lane closures will be in place on northbound Interstate 55 between St. Clair Avenue and Exchange Avenue in East St. Louis from 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily beginning Wednesday, June 10, through Friday, June 12, 2026, weather permitting, for bridge maintenance. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing

EDWARDSVILLE – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) is announcing that fire departments and fire protection districts throughout the 56th Senate District have been awarded more than $323,000 through the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal's (OSFM) 2026 Small Equipment Grant Program. "Our firefighters and first responders work tirelessly to protect our communities, often operating with limited budgets and resources," said Senator Harriss. "These grants help ensure departments

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, continued his calls for serious reforms to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Section 702 allows the government to collect the private communications of foreigners overseas without a warrant. The problem is that millions, and potentially billions, of innocent Americans’ communications with friends, family

WASHINGTON – Following the 100-day mark of the Iran War, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today criticizing President Trump’s unclear strategy and recent comments on “Meet the Press ” in which he reiterated yet again that he is “very close” to a deal. “If that sounds like a familiar refrain, it is. President Trump has been saying some variation of that sentence almost every week since the war began over

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced the recipients of the 2026 Small Equipment Grant, which included seven awardees from St. Clair County. State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) said first responders in St. Clair County will benefit greatly from receiving these funds to improve community safety. “Our first responders go to great lengths to keep our communities safe and I’m happy to see local fire departments, fire protection

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias announced a landmark investment to expand access to information and educational resources statewide by awarding a first-of-its-kind contract for a comprehensive digital library resource program. Through their local library, or through the Illinois State Library’s website, every Illinois resident now has free access to a vast collection of trusted online resources, including e-books, journals, magazines,

HIGH HONOR ROLL 12th Grade High Honor Roll ADAMS, JOHN D. III ALEJO, GERSON J. ALMEIDA, JULIA D. ARNOLD, KATY D. BEHL, ABIGAIL L. BELL, JUSTIN H. BICK, KYLER E. BISHOP, MATTHEW A. BLASA, ADRIAN J. BLASA, CLARK B. BODENBACH, MADALYN L. BREDEN, CALI L. BROOKS, ALIYAH M. CARTER, KAYLEIGH E. CHEEK, EVAN M. CHIN, ABIGAIL L. COX, BRAYDEN M. DAVIS, ARIANA M. DEIST, AVA L. DEIST, CLINT M. DOWNEY, KALE B. EDWARDS, ETHAN R. FITZGERALD, JESCIE M. FORD, KIMBERLEE J. FRALEY,

Ask an adult to describe childhood in one image, and chances are they will not mention a classroom. They will talk about a bike leaning in the grass, a popsicle dripping onto bare feet, the smell of sunscreen, or the long walk home after staying out too late. Memory does not keep every ordinary day. It saves the ones that feel bigger, freer, and more alive. That is one reason summer often takes up so much space in childhood stories. Summer shapes childhood memories because it changes the rhythm