ST. LOUIS COUNTY - A second suspect has been charged in the April 2026 fatal shooting of a Steak ’n Shake employee in north St. Louis County, prosecutors said Wednesday, May 27, 2026. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on May 27, 2026, charged Torriono Baker, 22, of the 2300 block of Kingsford Drive in St. Louis, with first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, first-degree assault, and unlawful use of a weapon in the April 8 shooting at the Steak
A family recipe can preserve more history than a museum display. One handwritten card for bread, soup, or sweets can carry a grandmother’s habits, a region’s ingredients, and a family’s way of gathering around a table. That is the quiet power of tradition. Traditions do more than repeat old customs. They keep memory active. They help people honor the past not only by remembering it, but by living it in small, familiar acts. Why traditions matter A tradition is a practice,
JERSEYVILLE – Are you tired of browsing for something to stream only to be disappointed? Do you have favorite movies you want to share with your kids or grandkids? The Friends of the Jerseyville Public Library have just what you need ... a DVD sale. On Thursday, June 4, 2026 you can grab up your favorites, for .50 cents each, from a huge selection of over 1,000 DVDs. They have award winners, classics, and the best that have been produced in the past 40 years. On Friday, June 5, the DVDs
In 1754, the French and Indian War began in North America with the Battle of Jumonville Glen. Although the fighting started in the colonies, it was part of a larger rivalry between Britain and France that soon widened into the Seven Years’ War. That global conflict involved Europe, North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. The war reshaped imperial control, especially after Britain emerged with major territorial gains. Yet victory also left Britain with heavy debts, leading it to
ALTON – Appointments to two key Alton commissions were approved this week by City Council members following delays and debate at their last meeting. City Council members unanimously approved two appointments at their May 27, 2026 meeting . These include the appointment of Mike Batchelor to the Alton Plan Commission and Gwen O’Brien to the Alton Historical Commission. Both appointments were laid over at the council’s previous meeting on May 13, 2026 , when Alderman Chris
ALTON – Simmons Hanly Conroy, a national leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families, was proud to support the Alton Firefighters Local 1255 Third Annual Golf Tournament as a Gold Sponsor. The tournament took place on May 8, 2026, at Woodlands Golf Club, and was organized as a four-person scramble and welcomed golfers of all skill levels for a day of friendly competition, contests, prizes, and community camaraderie. All proceeds benefited Alton Firefighters
EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 has appointed Ali Hiller as principal of Nelson Elementary and Jamie Anderson as principal of Glen Carbon Elementary. Both appointments were approved May 26, 2026, by the District 7 Board of Education. Hiller and Anderson will assume their new roles July 1, 2026. Hiller is completing her second year as assistant principal at Woodland Elementary. Prior to her appointment at Woodland, she served as an administrative intern
EDWARDSVILLE - During their regular meeting on May 26, 2026, the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education discussed the possibility of creating a Curriculum Advisory Committee. The committee would support the curriculum reviews completed by teachers and administrators. Board President Bob Paty explained the purpose behind creating a new committee. “The Curriculum Advisory Committee exists to inform, educate, and ensure that all curriculum decisions brought
GRANITE CITY — Downtown Granite City is preparing to welcome hundreds of visitors on Saturday, June 6, 2026, as communities along Illinois’ historic Route 66 come together for a regional celebration centered on tourism, local business support, history, and community involvement. The event, culminating in a downtown Granite City celebration in Civic Park and extending to the Neon Sign Park area, is expected to bring visitors from across Illinois and surrounding states into local restaurants
SHIPMAN - A building in Shipman is getting a refreshed look with a new mural. Logoline, located at 129 Keating Street in Shipman, is a woman-owned business that offers in-house printing and merchandising services. Owner Tye Christopher shared that the business recently collaborated with Kelly Christenson with Hype of Type to paint a mural on their building, with the hopes of sharing their investment in the community. “I just thought that bringing some color to that side of the building
ALTON – Alton officials are holding off on creating a new dedicated fund for downtown festivals and events. At the May 26, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting , Alderwoman Martha Pfister moved to postpone a resolution to establish a Festival and Event Fund using Food and Beverage Tax revenue. The resolution’s stated purpose is “to support events in the Downtown District of Alton.” “Events held within the downtown area generate increased activity for local restaurants,
GODFREY - Community members and business owners from across the region gathered at the RiverBend Growth Association Chamber Choice Awards. On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, the RiverBend Growth Association (RBGA) hosted their fifth annual awards luncheon, featuring music by the Alton Youth Symphony Chamber Strings, a meal catered by Nicky G’s, and the recognition of several award and scholarship winners. The event, held at The Commons at Lewis and Clark Community College, invited community
EDWARDSVILLE — Albert Lee Zigler was ordered to be held in the Madison County Jail pending trial after appearing Wednesday before Judge Hackett for a detention hearing in the 1993 murder of Randy Gail Sperino of Granite City. Hackett ruled that Zigler should remain jailed until trial in the case, which prosecutors said stems from Sperino’s killing on Nov. 9, 1993. During the hearing, the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office argued that Zigler drove by Sperino as
ALTON - The Alton High School Construction Trades class is excited to announce that they have almost completed their first house. Over the past school year, students in the Construction Trades class have worked onsite at 1 Woodland Hills Court in Alton, where they worked together to build a house from the ground up. Paul Yost, owner of Tycon Builders, oversaw the project alongside Alton Community Unit School District #11 teachers. He expressed his pride in the students as they complete the
COLUMBIA — Father McGivney Catholic High School’s girls soccer team advanced to the Class 1A IHSA sectional championship Tuesday night with a 6-0 semifinal win over Freeburg in Columbia, a victory that also featured Natalie Beck’s 100th career goal. McGivney will face Columbia in the Columbia Sectional Championship at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 29, 2026, in Columbia. Beck, a senior, is a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Female Athlete of the Month for the Griffins by reachin
COLLINSVILLE/PONTOON BEACH – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced intermittent nightly lane closures on Interstate 255 between I-270 and the St. Clair County line in Madison County beginning Wednesday, June 3, weather permitting. The closures are necessary for a $6.6 million pavement preservation project on I-255. Motorists can expect one lane to remain open in each direction nightly from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. All lanes will reopen daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The work
ALTON – Alton Main Street invites you to a fun event which spans 22 pet-friendly patios and businesses on Saturday, May 30th from Noon-8 p.m. Join us for the Pup Crawl - yes you read that correctly, it’s a pub crawl with dogs! Tickets are on sale now at all participating locations, or you can get your ticket at the Alton Dog Park on the day of the event while supplies last. With your $10 ticket you will receive a bandana for your pet, a passport listing food & beverage specials an
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) has resolved multiple investigations involving alleged violations of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, ensuring employees received access to paid leave benefits required under state law. The investigations involved employers across Illinois in a variety of industries, including food service, hospitality, and home services. In each case, employers worked cooperatively with the Department to address concerns, revise policies, and
EAST ALTON - The Village of East Alton Water Department will begin visiting certain neighborhoods this week, starting May 26, 2026, to gather information on residential water service lines as part of an ongoing project, according to the village. Village of East Alton Water Department employees may go door-to-door in selected areas to check whether service lines are made of copper, plastic, or galvanized material. The inspection is expected to take about five to 10 minutes, the Villag
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