SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that lanes that have been closed for construction will reopen, where possible, for the Memorial Day weekend to minimize travel disruption. Non-emergency closures will be suspended from 3 p.m. Friday, May 22, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 25, 2026. The following lane closures will remain in place during the holiday weekend. The public can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through these areas. Drivers
GODFREY – Godfrey residents will soon be surveyed on what they want to see in a future recreation center. Erin Morris with AAIC, the architectural firm chosen to lead the rec reation center project , gave Village Board members an update on May 18, 2026 regarding the firm’s six-phase plan to develop the facility from concept to construction. These six phases include concept planning and programming, master planning, schematic design, design development, construction documents,
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sgt. Jason Sandidge and Deputy Jordan Felax from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office traveled to Washington, D.C., this past week to take part in National Police Week, joining officers from across the country in honoring law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office said the trip was an opportunity to “remember and pay tribute to the law enforcement officers
GRANITE CITY - Three members of the Granite City Police Department attended National Police Week in Washington last week, where they joined events honoring fallen officers, met House Speaker Mike Johnson at the U.S. Capitol, and escorted families during a memorial ceremony. Sgt. Eric Stacy, Detective William Temple, and Officer Doug Nicoson took part in the week’s events as guests of Linsey and Chloe Timmins, according to the Granite City Police Department. During the visit,
GRANITE CITY/EDWARDSVILLE - A Granite City man was sentenced Wednesday, May 20, 2026, to 15 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of breaking into an ex-girlfriend’s home in Granite City and attacking a police officer who responded, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced on Thursday, May 21, 2026. Associate Judge Emily Nielsen sentenced Victor S. Dantzson, 52, to the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to Haine’s announcement. Dantzson previously
ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals said Wednesday, May 20, 2026, that they have created an official “Tarps Off” fan section in the upper right-field bleachers at Busch Stadium, formalizing a high-energy cheering area inspired by a shirtless-fan movement that emerged at recent games. Starting Wednesday night, May 20, 2026, any fan in the ballpark, regardless of seat location, can join the section, the team said in a statement announcing the move. The Cardinals described
GLEN CARBON/EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Board did not vote on a motion to grant a special use permit to Trentino Solar, LLC, to develop a commercial solar energy facility in Glen Carbon. During the Board’s regular meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, several representatives with Trentino Solar and a volunteer with the Illinois Solar Education Association spoke in favor of the project during the public comments section of the meeting. Keith Morrell, the project manager with Trentino
A room can feel larger, safer, and more hopeful the moment sunlight reaches it. Nothing about the walls has changed, yet people often do. That simple shift tells us something important: daylight does more than help us see. It can change mood, attention, energy, risk-taking, social behavior, and even how we judge other people. We tend to think of behavior as driven by personality, habits, or choice. Those things matter. But the amount of natural light around us also pushes the mind and body i
On May 21, one of the most significant events in global history took place in 1927, when Charles Lindbergh landed in Paris after completing the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. His journey from New York to France lasted more than 33 hours and showed that long-distance air travel was no longer just an experiment. At the time, the flight captured worldwide attention because it proved that aircraft could connect continents in a direct and practical way. It still matters today
EDWARDSVILLE - Lisa Allen, a Title I reading teacher at Leclaire School in Edwardsville, was named the winner of the Equity Advocate Award at the 2026 District #7 Awards Banquet, according to award information and comments from colleagues and students. The award recognizes Allen for her work to create “a school environment where every student feels welcomed, respected, and represented.” The award information said Allen is “a steadfast champion for equity and inclusion”
O’FALLON, IL. – A man who started his career in law enforcement at the Belleville Police Department – David P. Jordan – was identified as the person who died after being struck by a vehicle late Tuesday night, March 19, 2026, in the 200 block of Wesclin Road, near Trenton. Jordan was transported with head and chest injuries to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, IL., where he succumbed to his injuries, Clinton County Sheriff Dan Travous said today. “Dave
NEW FLORENCE, MO. - Google announced Wednesday, May 20, 2026, a $15 billion investment to build a data center in New Florence, Mo., a project state officials said will create thousands of jobs, expand local infrastructure capacity, and support energy affordability programs in Montgomery County and beyond. The planned facility will be built in Montgomery County in New Florence, about 20 miles west of Warrenton along Interstate 70, next to an approved $35 billion data center run by Amazon, according
MADISON COUNTY - Illinois State Police Troop 8 responded to a three-vehicle crash with reported injuries on the southbound Interstate 255 at Gateway Commerce Drive in Madison County at about 3:32 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2026. The three-vehicle crash shut down all southbound lanes, and the ISP diverted traffic from the area. Preliminary information from Illinois State Police indicates injuries were reported, though no additional details were immediately available. "All southbound lanes of IL-255
WOOD RIVER – Exciting events are coming up this summer in Wood River following a $10,000 donation towards a July 3 drone show and city approval of other event requests. At the May 18, 2026 Wood River City Council meeting , Tiffany James with Midwest Members Credit Union presented Mayor Tom Stalcup with a $10,000 sponsorship check in support of Wood River’s upcoming Illinois 250 Celebration on Friday, July 3, 2026 . The family-fun event at Belk Park will run from 4 to 10 p.m.,
WOOD RIVER - Wood River Main Street promotes the revitalization of downtown Wood River, and Executive Director Kristen Burns is pleased to see their efforts growing. “Wood River is hopping,” Burns said. “It’s been dead for so long. We had some momentum a couple of years ago, and then it kind of fell flat, and then just started building again. You could just see the bubbling of it coming up, and then it exploded.” Burns noted that businesses along Ferguson
GLEN CARBON - Illinois State Police Troop 8 responded to a serious crash involving an overturned commercial vehicle on Interstate 255 southbound south of Interstate 270 in Madison County near Glen Carbon at approximately 1:36 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. ISP reported injuries in the crash, according to preliminary information from the agency. I-255 southbound lanes in that vicinity were open following the crash, Illinois State Police said in a response at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
ALTON - During their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education approved a couple of key appointments. Starting this next school year, Michelle Sherwin will serve as the K–8 Behavior Systems Support Specialist, and Rebecca Huller will serve as the new Supervisor of Special Ed. Both appointments were unanimously approved; Board members Tiana Gipson, Jason Harrison, and David Lauschke were absent. Sherwin has a bachelor’s
ALTON - The Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education recognized two students as Optimist Students of the Month. During their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the Board honored Alton Middle School student Caidyn Bey and Early Childhood Center student Zaiden Carter for their hard work and kindness. Alton Middle School Principal Dr. Brian Saenz said he was “so impressed” when getting to know Bey. An “exceptional” student athlete, Bey has
GODFREY - Vitality Women's Clinic proudly celebrated its official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday, May 6 at 12:30 p.m., welcoming more than 40 attendees from across the Riverbend region for a meaningful afternoon of connection, collaboration, and community celebration. The event brought together representatives with State Representative Amy Elik’s office, representatives from OSF St. Anthony's Healthcare, CALC, the clinic’s Board of Directors, local businesses, churches, nonprofit
SWANSEA - TWM, Inc., one of the top engineering and geospatial firms in the metro-east St. Louis area, is proud to announce Adam Bilzing, a senior at Belleville West High School, as the recipient of the inaugural Jim Barganier Memorial Scholarship. The $2,500 scholarship was established in honor of TWM’s late colleague and surveyor, Jim Barganier, PLS, to support students pursuing STEM-related degrees. Josh Hoffmann, Director of Geospatial Services at TWM, Jim’s wife Lori Barganier,
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