ST. LOUIS – A teenage felon from St. Louis on Thursday admitted being caught with a machine gun after a police chase. Juanell Carter, 19, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On the afternoon of Aug. 26, 2025, the St. Ann Police Department was alerted about a stolen 2024 Nissan Altima on Page Avenue. A St. Ann police lieutenant spotted the vehicle backing into a parking spot at a convenience store. Carter was behind
COLLINSVILLE/GRANITE CITY- Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the Collinsville community, Jimmy Ford and the Madison County Republican Party successfully collected over 100 suitcases, along with canned goods and toiletries, at their donation drive held Saturday, May 16, at American Legion Post 365. All donations went directly to The Good Samaritan House in Granite City, an emergency shelter dedicated to serving women and families in crisis across Madison County. The event, which ran from
GODFREY –As it continues its every-other-month cycle of recognizing excellence proven by its member small businesses, the RiverBend Growth Association has chosen its May shoutout. King Air Conditioning and Heating Inc. of Godfrey has been chosen for Small Business Excellence recognition this month by the RBGA. Owned by Mike and Karen Edwards for the past 35 years, the company itself has been in business for 52 years now. The Edwardses purchased it in September 1991, when two of their
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) today announced that Congress has approved a Department of Veterans Affairs budget request of $1.6 billion to modernize the John Cochran Veterans Hospital in St. Louis. The VA funding bill, which is expected to be signed into law by President Trump, provides for the construction of a new bed tower, a mental health and substance abuse clinic, administrative facilities, parking garages, and a central utility plant. "Our veterans deserve
EDWARDSVILLE – A restaurant and bar in downtown Edwardsville is allowed to continue selling alcohol under its new ownership. Edwardsville City Council members on May 19, 2026 unanimously approved a Class C liquor license for Suhas Mandavalli, the current owner of the Foundry Public House at 126 N. Main St. in Edwardsville. Alderwoman Elizabeth Grant asked if Mandavalli is the Foundry Public House’s new owner, which Mayor Art Risavy confirmed. Risavy also said the establishment’s
CHICAGO — A western Illinois woman is celebrating a life-changing win after claiming a $1 million prize on Powerball ® . Diana of Carman matched all five white ball numbers — 3, 19, 35, 51 and 67 — in the April 29 Powerball drawing to win the $1 million prize. “I couldn’t believe it — I picked these numbers randomly,” said Diana. “I’ve won smaller prizes before, but this is the first time I’ve won a million dollars.”
GODFREY - Madison County Sheriff’s deputies responded at 9:40 a.m. Thursday, May 21, 2026, to a traffic collision on West Delmar Avenue just east of High Meadow Drive in Godfrey involving a passenger vehicle and an Illinois Department of Transportation mowing tractor, authorities said. When deputies arrived, they found a black minivan overturned on its side, Madison County Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Marcos Pulido said today. Pulido added that the driver, an adult woman, removed herself
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to Department of Justice (DOJ) Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche requesting immediate information regarding President Trump’s misuse of taxpayer dollars to line the pockets of January 6 insurrectionists and Trump’s political allies through a nearly $2 billion Department of Justice slush fund. The DOJ and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) settlement
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth joined fellow U.S. Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) along with Afghanistan Veteran Max Rose and VoteVets Veterans to call out Donald Trump for breaking promise after promise to the American people, chastising the President for ensnaring America in yet another expensive war with no clearly defined end-state. Duckworth spoke about the rising costs our servicemembers and Americans are
MADISON COUNTY - Mitchell Fire Department crews responded Wednesday afternoon, May 20, 2026, to a three-vehicle crash with reported entrapment on southbound Interstate 255 south of Interstate 270 near mile marker 30, where an overturned semi-truck tractor-trailer was leaking fuel, and one patient was later airlifted from the scene. The Mitchell Fire Department said it was dispatched at approximately 1:32 p.m. on May 20, 2026, to the crash site. Responding units were advised that
SPRINGFIELD — Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) and Representative Kevin Schmidt (114th-Millstadt) today announced the passage of two bills focused on government transparency and supporting Illinois veterans. House Bill 2137 requires local governments that already maintain a public website to post information directing residents to where audit and financial reports can be accessed through the Illinois Comptroller’s Office. “Taxpayers deserve easy access to information
ALTON/GODFREY - The Early Childhood Center in the Alton Community Unit School District #11 has resources for all kids ages birth through 5. The center offers a preschool program for kids ages 3–5, but they also have in-home services for expectant parents, newborns and toddlers. Principal Cindy Schuenke noted that their goal is to support these families and prepare their children to enter kindergarten. “We’re here just to support parents and families and make sure that
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will receive $295,551,000 in grant funding to help get lead out of our state’s drinking water by substantially boosting the state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) for this purpose. This funding is made possible through Duckworth’s water provisions in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure
SPRINGFIELD – Congrats, Grad! The Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) applauds your remarkable achievements this commencement season. Graduating is a major milestone filled with pride, excitement, unforgettable memories, and new opportunities ahead. Of course, an accomplishment this special calls for a celebration! As families and friends gather to honor the Class of 2026, we encourage parents, guardians, relatives, and loved ones to plan ahead for a memorable, safe, and alcohol-free
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
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