WOOD RIVER - The Wood River Police Department said it recently concluded an undercover narcotics investigation at a residence in the 500 block of North 1st Street in Wood River, Illinois, culminating in the execution of a search warrant at about 6:15 a.m. June 12, 2026, with the detention of people inside the home. According to the Wood River Police Department, the investigation began after suspected drug activity, ordinance violations, and occupancy-related concerns at the residence.
ST. LOUIS — The Saint Louis Zoo will transport guests millions of years back in time starting Friday, June 19, at Dinoroarus (DIE-noh- ROAR-us), a returning, temporary attraction for all-ages. The walk-through experience will feature 20 animatronic dinosaurs and sculptures that will move, roar, spit and chomp their way through the Zoo's Historic Hill, in the valley below the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium. The collection spans the Late Triassic through the Late Cretaceous periods, representing
BELLEVILLE - Three suspects were taken into custody after a report of a possible attempted home invasion and subsequent gunfire in St. Clair County. The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department said that through the 911 communications center, it received a call on Wednesday, June 10th, 2026, with the report and St. Clair County sheriff’s deputies responded, and officers with the Dupo Police Department had already arrived and separated the subjects involved. After interviews
ALTON - Organizers of the Mississippi Earthtones Festival are seeking an artist to design entryway banners for the festival’s 20th annual event on Sept. 19, 2026, at the Alton Riverfront, offering a paid opportunity for original artwork that will greet attendees as they enter. The call for artists comes from Sierra Club Illinois’ Three Rivers Project, Alton Main Street and the Jacoby Arts Center, which said the banners will be the first thing thousands of festival-goers
CHARLESTON, IL. - Charleston officials began a storm relief food distribution at noon Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Eastern Illinois University’s Doudna Fine Arts Center, offering free food, bottled water, and refreshments to residents affected by severe storms that hit the area on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. The distribution is taking place at the Doudna Fine Arts Center, 1860 South Ninth St., on the university campus near the intersection of Ninth Street and Garfield Avenue in Charleston.
GLEN CARBON - Peyton Ellis was the goalkeeper for the Father McGivney Catholic girls soccer team that won the IHSA Class 1A state championship with a solid, dominating win over previously undefeated Pleasant Plains 3-0 in the final on June 6, 2026, at North Central College in Naperville. She is a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Female Athlete of the Month for the Griffins. It was a standout season for Ellis herself, as she was the team's number one goalkeeper, making 109 saves and conceding only
EDWARDSVILLE – State Senators Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) and State Senator Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon) welcomed a standing-room-only crowd to their End of Session Town Hall on June 16 at the Edwardsville Gun Club, where residents gathered to hear an update on the recently concluded spring legislative session. "People are frustrated, and they have every right to be," said Senator Jason Plummer. "Families are paying more for electricity, more at the gas pump, and more in property
EDWARDSVILLE/WOOD RIVER — The Madison County Board approved the purchase of five downtown Wood River properties to house county departments currently operating at the former Wood River Township Hospital campus. Board members took the action on Wednesday during their monthly meeting. Madison County Board Chairman Chris Slusser said the acquisition marks an important milestone in the county’s long-term facilities plan. “These acquisitions provide a path forward for county
BETHALTO - Villa Rose Senior Living Community is a completely unique independent living experience. Executive Director Cindy Cannon explained that the community, located in Bethalto, combines independent living with supportive services. She believes the “family” feel, shared by both residents and staff members, sets them apart as a home for older adults to feel comfortable, cared for, and supported as they age. “Statistics tell us that older adults are lonely,” Canno
Medical experts are warning about a dangerous trend known as “dusting” or “huffing,” saying the practice can cause sudden death after a single use. That was the case in 2025, when a 19-year-old woman from Arizona died after suffering sudden cardiac arrest from inhaling aerosol from a can of keyboard cleaner. Though less prevalent than other substances, huffing is considered one of the most dangerous forms of drug abuse. Because inhalants are readily available household
GODFREY – A Godfrey resident seeking to launch fireworks on July 3, 2026 will have to raise their liability insurance coverage to $1 million before securing a permit. The consideration and approval of a fireworks permit for Bob Mueller was on the Village Board agenda for June 16, 2026. When the item came up for a vote, Trustee Gerard Fischer said he was “uncomfortable” with Mueller’s certificate of property insurance showing $300,000 in liability coverage. “Is
Just like technology has evolved, so have things in the vaping space. The risk for cancer, stunted brain development and other serious ailments remains the same. But the look of the vapes, the sensation you get when using them and the age at which kids start vaping all are changing. That’s according to Karen Boyd, Heather Thompson and Jessica Williams, Mission Partners (employees) at OSF HealthCare Moeller Cancer Center in Alton, Illinois, who have been talking to parents and kids in
Summer means outdoor activities and a reminder to watch for suspicious moles, a possible sign of skin cancer. But doctors say skin lesions come in many forms, and you should know when to get an expert opinion. What is and isn’t a skin lesion? Raman Kumar, MD , a colorectal and general surgeon at OSF HealthCare, has your checklist: YES: moles, blisters, bumps, acne, boils, peeling skin from a sunburn, rashes, poison ivy or similar skin reactions, warts, skin tags and bug bites YE
SOUTH ROXANA - South Roxana residents, families, and guests are invited to a free community celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 3, 2026, at Connect Church, 1417 Herbert St., in South Roxana, according to Village Administrator and Chief of Police Bob Coles. The event will include a fireworks show, food trucks, bounce houses, music and games, and other family-friendly activities. Coles thanked residents for their continued support of the annual Fourth of July celebration and said officials
BELLEVILLE/EST ST. LOUIS - A Belleville, Illinois, man who pleaded guilty to possessing a machine gun was sentenced in federal court in East St. Louis to eight years in prison, authorities said, a punishment that will be served in addition to any sentence he may receive in a pending Missouri state case. Dontay Moore Jr., 23, of Belleville, was sentenced by a district judge and will also serve three years of supervised release after his prison term. Moore pleaded guilty in February to one
O’FALLON, Ill. — HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital has recently installed a third robotic-assisted surgical system, the da Vinci® 5 , to continue to enhance the surgical offerings and access to patients in the Metro East region. The minimally invasive robotic surgical system, funded fully by HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Foundation, can be used across a spectrum of procedures for gynecology, urology, thoracic, cardiac and general surgery. Dr. Scott Crouch, a general surgeon
ALTON – An Alton resident accused of posting identifying images of seven minor victims to an adult website faces seven felony counts in Madison County. Jonathan A. Pence, 20, of the 2700 block of Residence Street in Alton, was charged on June 17, 2026 with seven counts of posting of identifying information on a pornographic internet site. Two counts are classified as Class 3 felonies, while the remaining five counts are Class 4 felonies. Pence is accused of posting images of seven different
ST. LOUIS — Olin Corp., a St. Louis-based chemical manufacturer and former Fortune 500 company, is expected to merge with Huntsman Corp. in an all-stock deal announced Tuesday, June 16, 2026, that would create a new company called OlinHuntsman headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas. The preliminary merger plans, announced by Huntsman on Tuesday morning, call for Olin and Huntsman to combine into OlinHuntsman. The merger has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companie
EDWARDSVILLE — The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office is pleased to welcome a new class of summer interns who will gain hands-on experience working alongside prosecutors and staff in a wide range of criminal justice matters. Throughout the summer, interns will have the opportunity to assist with legal research, observe court proceedings, support case preparation, and learn directly from experienced attorneys. Upper-level students also will gain courtroom experience prosecuting
GODFREY – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced the closure of Cook Street between Greenwood Lane and Pierce Lane beginning Monday, June 22, 2026, weather permitting, for road reconstruction. During the closure, access to properties within the work zone will be maintained via Illinois 3 using the newly constructed section of Cook Street. The west portion of Cook Street will be closed to traffic. This portion of work is expected to be completed by mid-August. This
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