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Vehicle Fire Fuels St. Louis Street Takeover Probe

2 months ago
ST. LOUIS — District 1 detectives with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are asking for the public’s help identifying several people and vehicles connected to a street takeover early Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, at Gravois Avenue and Morgan Ford Road in the city’s Bevo neighborhood, where police said a vehicle was set on fire. Police said several incidents occurred during the street takeover, including reckless driving, a vehicle fire, medics held at gunpoint

Senator Harriss Secures $40,000 for East Alton Police and Fire Equipment

2 months ago
EAST ALTON – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) announced she has secured $40,000 in state funding to help the Village of East Alton purchase new equipment for its police and fire departments. “Our police officers and firefighters put themselves on the line every day to keep our communities safe, and they deserve to have the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively,” said Senator Harriss . “I’m proud to bring these dollars back to Eas

Illinois Comptroller Urges Lawmakers To Make The Mishandling Of Human Remains A Crime

2 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza today urged state lawmakers to make the mishandling of human remains a felony with prison time. In an opinion published today in the Chicago Tribune, Mendoza proposes a range of death care industry regulatory reforms. She writes, “Without criminal consequences, operators who profit from desecrating the dead have nothing to fear. A $10,000 fine is not a deterrent. We will not deter this conduct until we treat it with the ful

Illinois American Water Annual Maintenance Program Includes Flushing Mains, Fire Hydrants And Temporary Water Treatment Change In Alton

2 months ago
ALTON — On Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, Illinois American Water will begin its annual maintenance program in the Alton water system that includes testing and flushing fire hydrants in addition to a temporary change in water treatment. This annual maintenance work supports continued delivery of water and fire protection to homes and businesses. The maintenance program will continue through Oct. 5. WATER MAIN AND FIRE HYDRANT FLUSHING Flushing the water system and checking hydrants, in suppor

Eastgate Plaza Cleared After Disorderly Crowd

2 months ago
EAST ALTON - A fight outside of an East Alton bar brought police from multiple agencies to Eastgate Plaza around 10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, where officers worked to clear a large, disorderly crowd, East Alton Police Chief Scott Golike said. Golike said the bar was hosting an event that “ended poorly.” He said there was “a fight and a large crowd” and “a lot of disorderly stuff.” East Alton Police requested assistance because of the crowd's size, Golike

IDOL Marks Labor Day With 2026 Report Highlighting Wage Recovery, Worker Protections And Safety

2 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – This Labor Day, the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) is recognizing the contributions of working people across Illinois and highlighting the Department’s work over the past year to protect workers’ wages, rights, welfare and safety. The Department’s 2026 Labor Day Report details IDOL’s enforcement, education and outreach efforts, including nearly $3.9 million collected in back wages for workers and more than 3,300 individual wage payments issued.

Attorney General Raoul Charges Effingham County Sex Offender With Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

2 months ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged an Effingham, Illinois man with possessing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. The Attorney General’s office charged Travis J. Gillespie, 54, in Effingham County Circuit Court with two Class 1 counts of

TBD Studios to Open in East Alton Featuring Beauty Services and More

2 months ago
EAST ALTON - A new studio space is coming to East Alton with a grand opening this weekend, and owner Chelsea Ricketts can’t wait to change the culture of the beauty industry one artist at a time. From 12–3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Eastgate Plaza in East Alton, Ricketts will introduce TBD Studios, a new spot where beauty artists and photographers can rent out studio space and build their clientele. The grand opening will feature a vendor fair, music, treats and other

Gov. Pritzker Announces $11.4 Million To Expand Workforce Training And Career Opportunities Across Illinois

2 months ago
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $11.4 million in funding for 23 organizations across Illinois as part of the Job Training and Economic Development Program (JTED) to expand workforce training, career pathways, and support services for Illinoisans facing barriers to employment. Through the Job Training and Economic Development Program (JTED), the funding will help connect workers with the skills and

Duckworth, Durbin Demand FAA Pay Air Traffic Controllers Congressionally-Approved Raise

2 months ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation—and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today demanded that FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford immediately hand over the Congressionally-authorized pay raise to the air traffic controller (ATC) workforce that he has held hostage for four months and counting. Despite a 3.8% raise for ATCs being approved by Congress and then signed into law by President

Senator Harriss To Host Child Internet Safety Event In Caseyville

2 months ago
CASEYVILLE, Ill. – With children spending more time online and new apps and social media trends constantly emerging, State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) is bringing together law enforcement and online safety experts to help parents better understand the risks their children may be facing. “Kids are growing up online and in a digital world that looks very different from the one many of us grew up in,” said Senator Harriss. “As a parent, I know how difficult it

Belt Encourages Local Organizations To Apply For Pre-Apprenticeship Funding

2 months ago
SWANSEA – To expand the 57th District’s talent pipeline and boost diversity in Illinois’ construction and building trades, State Senator Christopher Belt is encouraging local community-based organizations to apply for the latest round of funding through the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program. “We have a diverse group of hard-working people here in the Metro East that will directly benefit from this program,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Participants will hav

Don't Let The Blood Supply Fall: Give Blood Or Platelets With Red Cross Now

2 months ago
ST. LOUIS — The American Red Cross urges people not to wait to make a lifesaving impact this fall by scheduling a blood or platelet donation appointment in September. The blood supply remains vulnerable after recovering from critically low levels during a summer blood shortage, and now is the time for donors of all blood types to help patients who count on blood products for care. Reserve a spot to give now. Visit RedCrossBlood.org , call 1-800-RED CROSS or use the Red Cross Blood Donor

Governor Pritzker Announces Record-Breaking Milestones For Illinois Tourism In 2025

2 months ago
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced record-breakinggrowth across Illinois’ tourism industry in 2025. The state welcomed 115 million domestic and international visitors in 2025 – an increase from 2024. "Illinois continues to attract visitors from across the country and around the world, delivering economic benefits that reach communities in every corner of our state,” said Governor JB Pritzker

Closures On Martin Luther King Bridge In St. Clair County

2 months ago
EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced the Martin Luther King Bridge will be reduced to one lane eastbound and completely closed westbound beginning Wednesday, Sept. 9, weather permitting, for bridge maintenance. The eastbound lane closure and westbound full closure will be limited to off-peak hours. All lanes will be open during peak hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. westbound and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. eastbound. The closures will be in place Sept. 9-11, weather

Local Students Named To Columbia College Summer 2026 Semester Dean's List

2 months ago
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Columbia College recently announced its dean's list for the Summer 2026 Semester (May-August 2026). To be named to the dean's list, a student must have completed 12 undergraduate credit hours in a 16-week period and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0-point scale. Students from the area who received this honor include: Alton Cierra Johnson Edwardsville Kimberly Eichelberger Founded in 1851 in Columbia, Missouri, Columbia College has been helping students advance their

Attorney General Raoul Sues ABC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric For Unfair, Deceptive Business Practices

2 months ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today filed a lawsuit against ABC Plumbing , Heating, Cooling & Electric, Inc. (ABC) for its deceptive business practices that mislead consumers, most often senior citizens, to sign a contract for home repair work at inflated prices by unlicensed technicians while they also unknowingly waive their statutory rights to cancel the contract. “ABC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric’s deceptive business practices are not only illegal but

SIUE University Museum Awarded Federal Grant From The Institute For Museum And Library Services

2 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE – SIUE, the College of Arts and Sciences and the University Museum proudly announces the University Museum has been awarded a federal grant for $200,427 from the Institute for Museum and Library Services to work on Stage IV of the Museum Collections Inventory Project! Executive Curator for SIUE's University Museum, Erin Vigneau-Dimick, served as the sole grant writer for the University Museum. The federal Institute for Museum and Library Services offers multiple annual grant

Why Fall Can Quietly Change Your Mood

2 months ago
A shorter day can change your brain before you even notice your mood. You may still go to work, answer texts, and move through your routine as usual. Yet somewhere between waking up in dim light and heading home after sunset, your energy can flatten out. Motivation slips. Small problems feel heavier. For some people, this shift is mild and temporary. For others, it becomes a serious mental health issue. That is one reason fall affects mood in such a noticeable way. Why mood shifts can happen

This Day in Music History: Sept. 8 From Jimmie Rodgers to the Digital Music Shift

2 months ago
This Day in Music History: September 8 September 8, 1897, marks the birth of Jimmie Rodgers, a foundational figure whose recordings helped establish country music as a national commercial force. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Rodgers drew on his railroad experience and made a personal style from blues, folk ballads, jazz, gospel and stage-show yodeling. His relaxed phrasing, guitar playing and famous blue yodels gave early recorded country music a new kind of singing star: one who sounded rooted