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GRANITE CITY - The Pledge of Allegiance took on added significance today at Maryville Elementary School, where students and staff gathered around the flagpole to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and observe Patriot Day. The gathering continued an annual tradition under Maryville Elementary Principal Liz Niepert’s leadership. Students and staff marked the occasion by reciting the pledge together, with many showing patriotic spirit by wearing American flag

ALTON – The ongoing case of Mayor David Goins vs. the City of Alton will be heard in Bond County after being delayed twice more. Madison County court records show Judge Christopher Bauer was unavailable for an originally scheduled Sept. 11, 2026 hearing in the case of Goins vs. Alton. On Sept. 4, the case was set for a Sept. 17, 2026 hearing in Courtroom #1 at the Bond County Courthouse in Greenville. Bauer is a judge in the 3rd Judicial Circuit Court of Bond County, Ill. As of the mornin

EDWARDSVILLE - One of Edwardsville’s longest-running traditions, Leclaire Parkfest, will return this October. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, the community is invited to Leclaire Park for a day of vendors, live music, food, trolley tours, vintage cars and tractors, and more fun. Cindy Reinhardt, one of the organizers with Friends of Leclaire, noted that the event is a fun chance to engage with the community while learning more about the area’s history. “Mostly,

A name on a stone can outlast a lifetime, but only if someone stops to read it. That simple act of remembering matters more than it may seem. Remembrance is not just about honoring the dead or marking major events. It shapes how people understand loss, gratitude, identity, and responsibility. It helps families hold onto stories. It helps communities make sense of sacrifice. It also reminds us that real lives sit behind public holidays, monuments, and familiar phrases. When people remember well,

This Day in Music History: Sept. 11 Sept. 11, 2001, became an indelible date in American history, and its shock immediately changed the context in which music was heard, released and performed. That morning, Jay-Z’s sixth studio album, The Blueprint , arrived as scheduled. It became one of hip-hop’s defining albums and, in 2018, the first recording from the 21st century chosen for the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. Its place in the registry recognizes more

September 11 is most widely remembered for the attacks carried out in the United States in 2001, an event that changed international politics, security policy, and public life around the world. On that morning, hijacked commercial airliners were used in coordinated attacks against the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., while a fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers resisted the hijackers. Nearly 3,000 people were killed. At the time, the

ALTON — Teamsters Local 525, representing the dedicated members of the City of Alton Public Works Department, announced on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, that its members are prepared to initiate a lawful strike in 15 days following months of prolonged stall tactics, bad-faith bargaining, and a lack of meaningful negotiation from city leadership. Despite repeated attempts by the union to negotiate fair, competitive wages and address critical workplace concerns, the City of Alton has consistently

EDWARDSVILLE – A man from Edwardsville accused of leaving the scene of an accident while driving with a revoked license for the eighth time faces new charges in Madison County. Clayton C. Shaffer, 50, of Edwardsville, was charged on Sept. 2, 2026 with one count each of driving while license is revoked (a Class 4 felony) and leaving the scene of an accident (a Class A misdemeanor). Shaffer allegedly drove a 2005 Lincoln Navigator on State Route 143 in Edwardsville on July 20, 2026, while

EDWARDSVILLE – Three Edwardsville High School seniors have been named semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, placing them among a select group of academically talented students from across the country. Alan Chen, Jude Luesse, and David Maloney were named National Merit Semifinalists as part of the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. More than 16,000 students nationwide were named Semifinalists in this year’s program, representing less than one

SWANSEA - A traffic stop attempt over mismatched license plates led to a crash and arrest Sept. 7, 2026 near North Belt West and North 17th Street, according to the Swansea Police Department. Tazia J. Beison was arrested at approximately 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 7, after a Swansea Police officer attempted to stop a 2003 Hyundai Sonata because the license plates displayed on the vehicle did not return to the Hyundai, police said. The driver, identified by police as Beison, did not stop

EAST ST. LOUIS - A woman was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2026, in East St. Louis after police said a male victim reported she injured him with a knife and bit him when he tried to intervene in a physical altercation inside a residence. Officers with the East Saint Louis Police Department were dispatched Sept. 8, 2026, to the 1800 block of Missouri Avenue in reference to a reported aggravated battery. Police said the victim reported he had been assaulted by a female later identified as Bonnie

BETHALTO - It was an exciting morning for senior students at Civic Memorial High School as they learned more about available scholarships. On Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, senior students gathered to engage with the high school’s CM Next initiative, which encourages students to think about their future after graduation. As part of this, all students learned more about their individual scholarship offers through VU Scholarships, a program offered by the Bethalto Community Unit School District

WOOD RIVER – Wood River officials have placed new restrictions on where future businesses and transitional living facilities can be located within the city. A series of three zoning-related ordinances gained unanimous approval from City Council members at their Sept. 8, 2026 meeting. “Transitional living facilities” are the subject of one ordinance, which only allows such facilities to be located with I zoning districts. These refer to “any dwelling house containing

BETHALTO - The Bethalto Volunteer Fire Department welcomed an impressive crowd to the 107th Bethalto Homecoming. From Sept. 4–7, 2026, the homecoming offered a carnival, vendors, live music and plenty more fun to enjoy. The event serves as a fundraiser for the fire department. Riverbend residents enjoyed the homecoming tradition and look forward to another great event next year. “I think the community really enjoys this because it’s a time to get together,” said voluntee

Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are more popular than ever, leading people to seek options that are quicker, cheaper and involve less prying questions than a traditional in-person doctor visit. But here’s a statistic that should give you pause: Casey Zaring, RPh, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist at OSF HealthCare, says a 2023 audit by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found 95% of online pharmacies were not legitimate. This leads to concerns about getting bilked out of

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — An adult male died Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, after a single-vehicle crash near South Lindbergh Boulevard and Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis County police said. Officers from the South County Precinct responded at 11:05 a.m. Sept. 10, 2026, to a call for service at the intersection. Police said officers found the driver in the vehicle with injuries sustained in the crash. The driver was taken to an area hospital for life-saving treatment but died from his injuries,

EDWARDSVILLE - An Edwardsville photographer is among the artists who will showcase their work at the Edwardsville Art Fair event Sept. 25-27, 2026, at Edwardsville City Park. Also included here are other artists who will be present that weekend. Artist: Jeff Bohnert Medium: Photography Location: Edwardsville, IL Artist Statement: "My work explores the quiet, magnetic pull of places, those fleeting intersections of light, atmosphere, and emotion that most people pass by without noticing.

GODFREY — Women in the Riverbend are invited to connect, learn, and grow at the upcoming LeadHERship Seminar, taking place Friday, September 25, at Enjoy Church in Alton. Presented by the RiverBend Growth Association and co-sponsored by Cope Plastics and Waggoner Equipment Rental, the LeadHERship Seminar is designed to empower women through professional development, meaningful connections, and conversations focused on leadership, personal growth, and success. The event will bring together

EAST ST. LOUIS — A former Bethalto attorney appeared in federal court Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, on 15 federal charges alleging he stole more than $400,000 from bank accounts belonging to minors he had been appointed to represent in Madison County. David K. Elliott, 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury Aug. 18, 2026, on bank and mail fraud charges related to his appointments as guardian ad litem for four minors. The indictment alleges Elliott used fraudulent court orders to withdraw

ALTON - Alton’s film industry is coming to life with new filming and economic development opportunities. “Herbert West: Reanimator” is a psychological horror movie that was filmed in Alton earlier this summer. Between this movie, which will likely premiere in theaters later this year, and the “Food Is Love” TV show’s decision to center several episodes around Alton, John Simmons believes Alton’s film industry is on the rise. “The future