ALTON — Alton Police were investigating an apparent shooting Thursday afternoon, Aug. 20, 2026, in the area of Sixth and Spring streets in Alton, where one person was transported to a local hospital in an emergency. Information on what led to the incident has not been released. The Alton Police Department is also apparently tracking a suspect in the area, according to the available information. The Illinois State Police canine unit has also been called to the scene, and Highland's canine
GRAFTON – A new committee in Grafton will soon look into ways to regulate food trucks within the city. Mayor Mike Morrow and several other appointees were recently named to a to a special committee to recommend legislation on food trucks in Grafton. The appointments were approved at the Aug. 18, 2026 Grafton City Council meeting with Alderman Richard Mosby absent. The committee also includes City Council members Richard Mosby, Mary Jo Cote, and Rus Roy, as well as former alderman David
ALTON - Three Alton High School FCCLA members were recognized during the Alton School District Board of Education’s August meeting for earning Silver Medals at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference. Carter Stahl, Lilly Burns and Trenton Wilson were invited to attend the meeting, where the board recognized their accomplishments at the national level in their competitive events. Stahl, Burns and Wilson are definite Difference Makers in their community. Stahl earned a Silver Medal in
ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE — Claire Delap, a Liberty Middle School in Edwardsville seventh-grader, attended the Illinois Summer Youth Music program this summer on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus after receiving a full scholarship last spring through her participation with the Alton Youth Symphony. Delap, the daughter of Amy and Kyle Delap, attended the weeklong band camp as part of the ISYM program. Claire plays multiple instruments and began learning piano under the direction
DU QUOIN – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 7 Special Agents arrested 28-year-old Amanda Russell and 34-year-old Michael Russell of Du Quoin, IL for Involuntary Manslaughter among other charges after the death of their 1-year-old daughter. On August 17, 2026, the Du Quoin Police Department requested ISP’s assistance with a child death investigation in the 700 block of West Park Street in Du Quoin. The child suffered severe burns over a large
TROY, IL — The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce is inviting residents to responsibly recycle unwanted electronics during three Fall 2026 E-Cycle collection events in Troy, Maryville, and St. Jacob. These events provide a safe, convenient way for residents to dispose of unwanted electronics while helping protect the environment by keeping electronic waste out of local landfills. In addition to E-Cycling, select events will offer document shredding and other specialty
CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) announced disaster tax relief for individuals and businesses in 15 counties affected by widespread damage from torrential downpours, flash flooding, straight-line winds and several tornadoes. Illinois currently leads the nation with approximately 204 tornadoes this year as verified by the National Weather Service. “Severe weather has caused significant damage and disruption for families, businesses, and
JERSEYVILLE – The Jerseyville Public Library is getting temporary help from an out-of-town cataloger following a 4-1 vote from City Council members. Jerseyville City Council members approved the employment of a part-time cataloger for the Jerseyville Public Library who resides outside corporate city limits at their Aug. 18, 2026 meeting. Mayor Kevin Stork said under the city’s personnel policy, city employees are required to reside within Jerseyville city limits, and that the council
A growing social media trend is putting vibration plates in the spotlight as a potential tool to shake off lymphedema symptoms, though specialists caution that the devices should complement, not replace, established therapies. Whole-body vibration plates, which create rapid muscle contractions while users stand, sit or exercise on the device, have attracted attention online for claims that they can improve circulation, reduce swelling and support lymphatic health . Many people discover
ROXANA — A driver was killed Thursday morning, Aug. 20, 2026, in a two-unit crash on Illinois 255 northbound at Wagon Wheel Road in Roxana after the vehicle became immobilized in a traffic lane and was struck by another vehicle, Illinois State Police said. Illinois State Police Troop 8 responded to the crash in Madison County at approximately 5:27 a.m. Aug. 20, 2026. A preliminary investigation indicated Unit 1 was traveling northbound and approaching Wagon Wheel Road when it became
(Photos by Mary Ann Mitchell) EDWARDSVILLE - Hallways came back to life Wednesday, Aug. 19, as students across Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 returned to classrooms for the first day of the 2026-27 school year. The Edwardsville School District began the year with a half-day schedule for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The shortened day was intended to help students and staff ease back into routines, reconnect, and start the year together. Schools across the
GRANITE CITY — Firefighters rescued a trapped person from a burning private residence in the 2200 block of Johnson Road in Granite City early Thursday morning, Aug. 20, 2026, after a nearby crew saw the fire while responding to assist EMS, Granite City Fire Chief Todd Richey said. The Madison County Coroner's Office said the woman later died at Gateway Medical Center. Chief Richey said one person was found with entrapment, removed from the residence and transported to a hospital. He said
GRANITE CITY - A quick response to an equipment fire at Precoat Metals kept damage to the building and machinery minimal, Granite City Firefighters Local 253 said after crews responded on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, to the facility at 25 Northgate Industrial in Granite City. Firefighters said crews achieved a quick knockdown of the fire. Staff evacuated the facility quickly, according to the Firefighters Local 253 group. Precoat Metals provides coil-coated metal solutions, including options
SPRINGFIELD – The annual Governor's Sale of Champions at the Illinois State Fair brought together Illinois' top youth livestock exhibitors, their families and industry supporters to celebrate excellence in livestock exhibition and invest in the next generation of Illinois agriculture. For the seventh year in a row, Governor JB Pritzker and First Lady MK Pritzker purchased the Grand Champion Steer. Their $105,000 contribution secured the top prize-winning animal, which will be donated t
EDWARSDVILLE – Edwardsville officials are seeking state funding assistance for a new shared use path along Illinois 157 and upgrades at Joe Glik Park. City Council members unanimously approved submitting two grant applications at their Aug. 18, 2026 meeting with Alderman William Krause absent. These include applications for an Illinois Transportation Enhancement (ITEP) grant for the shared use path and an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant for the park improvements,
MADISON COUNTY - A driver was killed and others were injured on Thursday morning, Aug. 20, 2026, in separate crashes on Illinois 255 at New Poag Road in Madison County, where Illinois State Police Troop 8 responded to reports of a two-unit fatal crash and a jackknifed truck tractor semi-trailer. State Police spokesperson Jayme Bufford said a preliminary investigation indicates Troop 8 responded at approximately 5:27 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, to northbound Illinois 255 at New Poag
On August 20, one of the most significant events in modern world history took place in 1940, when Leon Trotsky, a leading figure in the Russian Revolution, was fatally attacked in exile in Mexico. The assault, carried out by a Soviet agent, reflected the bitter internal struggle that followed the rise of Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union. At the time, Trotsky’s death marked the end of the last major revolutionary rival to Stalin. It still matters because it showed how political conflict i
A breakup song can make someone cry and hit repeat at the same time. That strange mix of pain and pleasure sits at the heart of one word: bittersweet . We use “bittersweet” for moments that are hard to name. A child leaving for college. The last day at a job you loved. Looking through old photos and smiling even as your chest tightens. The word matters because life is full of experiences that are not purely happy or purely sad. “Bittersweet” gives us a way to talk about
EDWARDSVILLE — Six public speakers condemned Madison County Chairman Chris Slusser during a packed Madison County Board meeting in the Nelson Hagnauer County Board Room in Edwardsville after Slusser posted a Facebook comment Wednesday, July 29, 2026, suggesting Dr. Anthony Fauci needed a “public hanging.” The comment was posted from Slusser’s personal account on an original Facebook post by Hartford resident Jim Barzee, who criticized Fauci and referenced him being silent
EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is warning Madison County residents about an increase in scam phone calls from people claiming residents missed jury service and must pay immediately to avoid arrest or further penalties. The sheriff’s office said callers may claim to be contacting residents on behalf of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office or the courts. The callers may provide a name, callback number, and email address “to make it sound legitimate,”
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