JOLIET – The Illinois State Police (ISP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have a new lead regarding the kidnapping and murder of Tammy J. Zywicki. August 23, 2026 marks the 34th anniversary of Tammy’s disappearance. Her case remains active as ISP and FBI continue exploring new leads, examining 200 pieces of evidence, and retesting items with modern DNA technology. Tammy was reportedly last seen with her car on Interstate 80 at mile marker 83 in LaSalle County, IL between
GRANITE CITY - Granite City police seized 23 dogs and two cats from a residence Aug. 18, 2026, in the 2400 block of Hodges Avenue while executing a search warrant in connection with a cruelty to animals investigation. The animals were placed into protective custody and are currently being cared for by Granite City Animal Control, according to the provided information. The suspect in the incident was taken into custody by the Granite City Police Department pending criminal charges. Granite
CHICAGO – As students throughout the state head back to school, Attorney General Kwame Raoul is warning Illinoisans to be wary of back-to-school scammers trying to take advantage of students and their families. Back-to-school scammers, like all scammers, try to trick consumers into paying for services or items that they will likely never receive or sharing personal data that scammers can use to steal consumers’ identities. “Consumers should not let the stress and expense of
SPRINGFIELD, IL — Last night, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) joined local leaders for a roundtable discussion on gun violence prevention efforts. The meeting comes in the wake of a deadly shooting in East St. Louis last month that took the lives of five and left two more injured. Prior to the roundtable, Budzinski met with the family of those affected by the tragedy. “What happened in East St. Louis is something no family or community should have to endure,” said Budzinski.
CHICAGO – Attorney General Raoul and the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) today urged the Illinois Appellate Court to reject a landlord’s request to weaken the Illinois Human Rights Act’s ban on housing discrimination based on source of income. Raoul and IDHR filed an amicus brief in Cole v. Timberbrook Realty LLC in support of a tenant who said she was evicted for using her federal Housing Choice Voucher, formerly known as a Section 8 voucher, to help pay her rent.
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 21 attorneys general announced a U.S. District Court judge granted a temporary restraining order that blocks the Trump administration from demanding the production of a database of state-owned records containing the sensitive personal information of 17 million drivers and from terminating more than $10 million in federal funding to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) if it refuses to produce the database.
SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt to expand grant opportunities for volunteer fire departments has been signed into law. “When there’s an emergency, people don’t care if the firefighter responding is full time or part time, so access to state grants should reflect that,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The law gives volunteer departments access to resources they need to maintain facilities, upgrade equipment and continue protecting
WOOD RIVER — From neighborhood sidewalks to traffic safety, new state funding secured by State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) will help the City of Wood River address two local priorities. Of the $110,000 investment, $75,000 will support sidewalk improvements throughout the community, while $35,000 will allow the Wood River Police Department to purchase 10 solar-powered speed limit signs. “These are the kinds of investments that make a difference in people’s everyday
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. — Authorities on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, identified the motorcyclist who died in a crash Friday evening in the 9900 block of Mackenzie Road as 21-year-old Zachary Mathews, of the 6200 block of Dexter Drive in St. Louis. St. Louis County police said officers from the South County Precinct responded at approximately 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, to a call for service for a motor vehicle crash. Officers found a sedan and a motorcycle at the scene. The driver of the
EDWARDSVILLE — Metro East Humane Society will host its third annual Newt Scoot, a tribute bike ride honoring Newt, a former MEHS cat who became known among trail users, from 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 17, 2026, at Miner Park in Glen Carbon. Proceeds from the event will support the organization’s animal welfare work in the St. Louis Metro East region. The ride follows MCT Trails and honors Newt, a 7-year-old orange tabby cat adopted from Metro East Humane Society. Newt lived near the Madison
JERSEYVILLE – A second 18-year-old facing felony charges stemming from an alleged public battery incident in Jerseyville is currently in custody. Lucas C. Roberts, 18, of Jerseyville, was arrested by the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Jersey County Jail just before 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Roberts was arrested one week after being charged with a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery/video/audio recording, a Class 4 felony count of mob action, an
A full pantry can make people feel calmer, even when they are not hungry. That small urge to stock up, sort closets, buy sturdier shoes, or check the heater is not random. Humans prepare for fall because the change affects daily life in practical, emotional, and social ways. Shorter days, cooler air, school schedules, holidays, and old habits all push people toward planning ahead. What looks like simple “getting ready” is actually a mix of biology, culture, memory, and common sense.
This Day in Music History: August 24 On Aug. 24, 1975, Queen began recording “Bohemian Rhapsody” at Rockfield Studios in Wales, starting work on a record that would test the limits of both rock songwriting and studio technique. Freddie Mercury brought the band a multi-part composition that moved from piano ballad to hard rock to mock-operatic vocal drama, with no conventional chorus to make it an easy radio single. Producer Roy Thomas Baker and Queen used the studio to build dense
On August 24, 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the Roman cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and nearby settlements under ash, rock, and volcanic debris. For the people living around the Bay of Naples, it was a sudden disaster that destroyed homes, businesses, and entire communities. At the time, it showed the overwhelming power of nature in a part of the Roman world that had seemed prosperous and secure. It still matters today because the ruins preserved by the eruption give historians a
EAST ALTON — Jamie Franklin has organized a GoFundMe for Derek and Miranda Schaaf and their family in East Alton on Friday night, Aug. 21, 2026, after a house fire left them facing funeral and housing expenses following the death of a child who sustained injuries while trapped inside. The fundraiser is intended to help cover funeral costs, temporary housing and necessities as the family navigates the aftermath of the fire and the child’s death. Franklin described the situation
GLEN CARBON — Illinois State Police Troop 8 responded Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, to a fatal single-unit rollover crash involving a truck tractor semi-trailer on eastbound Interstate 270 at milepost 11 in Madison County. The Illinois State Police said the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred at approximately 12:22 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, according to preliminary information from Illinois State Police. ISP said eastbound lanes at the location were shut down after
ALTON — Alton firefighters rescued a dog and reunited it with its owners Sunday night, Aug. 23, 2026, after responding to a structure fire in the 3300 block of Jackson Street. The Alton Fire Department arrived to find smoke showing from the house. The homeowner exited safely, and no injuries were reported. Firefighters rescued the dog from the home. The dog appeared to be fine. The East Alton Fire Department was requested to respond to the scene but was canceled before arriving. The
ALTON - Alton Pride will host their annual Pride Festival to celebrate LGBTQ+ community members. On Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, Alton and surrounding communities are invited to Belle Street in downtown Alton for a festival featuring live music, drag shows, food and activity vendors and more. Anne McCoy, who helps organize the festival every year, expressed her excitement to welcome the community and bring people together. “It is important that Alton Pride exists to show support,”
ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 fourth and fifth graders can learn more about the district’s orchestra program and decide how they’d like to get involved. On Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, at Alton High School, the district’s orchestra teachers will host an “instrument petting zoo” where students can try out the orchestra instruments and families will learn more about the program. Families can come at 6 p.m. or 6:45 p.m. Laura Plummer, who oversees th
CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker appointed Bashir Qaasim, Nedra Sims Fears, Nirali Shah, Rosa Ortiz, and Vanessa Uribe to serve on the newly established Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Board. The Governor also reappointed Neema Jha to serve on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Board. All appointments are subject to approval by the Illinois State Senate. “The newly created NITA Board is charged with delivering transformative reform and investments for our public transit
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