TROY, IL. - The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting on June 29, 2026, in Troy, IL., to gather input on proposed improvements to U.S. 40 in Madison County, as the agency studies ways to address traffic safety and mobility along the corridor from Formosa Road to Illinois 162. The meeting is scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 29, at CA Henning School, 520 U.S. 40, Troy. IDOT, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, has initiated the preliminary
ST. LOUIS - St. Louis County Police announced on Tuesday morning, June 23, 2026, that the deceased in a tragic fire in the 2500 block of Palm Drive in Florissant, Mo., has been identified as Michael Ruhl, 54, who resided in the residence. St. Louis County Police discovered Ruhl dead inside the residence early Monday, June 22, 2026. Officers from the North County Precinct responded at 5:30 a.m. Monday, June 22, 2026, to assist the Florissant Valley Fire Department with a house fire in the 2500
COTTAGE HILLS - Madison County Sheriff’s detectives and the Madison County Coroner’s Office have been investigating the death of a 27-year-old woman since shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday, June 21, 2026, after she was found dead in a creek area near the 1100 block of Lee Street in Cottage Hills, authorities said. The woman was identified as Kayla C. Edwards, who was homeless, according to an update from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
ALTON - New signage now greets motorists and pedestrians at Lincoln-Douglas Square in Alton, where the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club worked with the city to add an identifying marker to the western side of the historic site at the Landmarks/Piasa/Broadway intersection. The sign marks Lincoln-Douglas Square, which commemorates the 1858 debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in their contest for the U.S. Senate. According to the provided information, the site had stood for decades but
JERSEY - Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100's Camp SMART at Jersey Community Middle School had what was described as “another fantastic week of learning and fun” last week, with students taking part in STEM activities, creative writing, games, and a school-wide kickball event to culminate activities. The district said Camp SMART highlighted student participation in a series of camp-themed activities at JCMS. The district said students brought “so much energy
MACOUPIN COUNTY – The Macoupin County Public Health Department confirmed the first positive surveillance pool for West Niles Virus in the county in 2026. The Macoupin County Public Health Department has confirmed the county’s first positive surveillance pool for West Nile virus in 2026, officials said after a mosquito pool in Gillespie tested positive on June 19, 2026. The department announced the finding and urged residents to take steps to reduce mosquito breeding areas and protect
CHICAGO – Operation Lifesaver has designated June 24 as Emergency Notification System (ENS) Sign Awareness Day to highlight the importance of blue and white signs posted at rail crossings across the country. “All motorists and pedestrians should know about these potentially life-saving signs, what the information listed means, and the steps to take if you or someone you witness get stuck on train tracks,” said Aisha Jackson, ICC Rail Safety Specialist and Illinois Operation
CHICAGO — The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) today announced 147 grants to organizations totaling $50.8 million in the latest round of Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program funding. These grants continue the state’s commitment to uplifting communities that have experienced systemic racism and historic disinvestment. “Illinois is proud to make historic investments in neighborhoods that have too often been left out and left behind,” said Governo
SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans are invited to chronicle their stories, memories and reflections in audio recordings that will be permanently archived at the U.S. Library of Congress during a series of community recording sessions scheduled for this summer. Illinois Voices 250 is an initiative led by the Illinois America 250 Commission in partnership with Illinois Humanities and StoryCorps Studios. It’s the most expansive effort yet to ensure Illinois’ commemoration of the nation’s
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, sounded the alarm over the dramatic increase in deaths among detainees in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since January 2025. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and ICE Acting Director David Venturella, th
CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker joined nine fellow governors from across the country urging Congress to reject federal legislation that would grant sweeping legal protections to fossil fuel companies and limit the authority of states and local governments to enforce their own laws. In a letter signed by California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and Illinois, the coalition of governors underscored that the proposed legislation
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor offering condolences to the families and friends of Delores Shelton and Sarita Kimble—who were killed by the recent tornadoes in Illinois this weekend. According to the Chicago Tribune , Illinois has experienced more than 147 confirmed tornadoes over the past six months, nearly three times the state average of 54 from 1990 to 2020. In 2024, the previous record year for tornadoes
EDWARDSVILLE — Did you know that every two seconds someone needs blood in the United States? Or that blood and platelets cannot be manufactured, they can only come from volunteer donors? To help meet the current demand for blood donations, State Senator Jason Plummer is partnering with Moose Lodge 1561 to host a blood drive on Thursday, June 25, 2026 at the Moose Lodge in Edwardsville. Donors are encouraged to come out to participate. Who: State Senator Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville)
DECATUR — Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced today that ADM will invest over $103 million to modernize key facilities at its North American headquarters in Decatur, where the company has maintained a presence since 1939. The company’s investment will create 50 new full-time jobs and retain over 1,000 existing full-time jobs, reinforcing Decatur’s role as a global center for agriculture and manufacturing. “F
View the public service announcement. SPRINGFIELD – As Illinois families prepare to celebrate Independence Day, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias released a public safety announcement urging residents to leave fireworks to trained professionals and attend organized community displays. Giannoulias joined fire safety officials and medical professionals to highlight the serious injuries and tragedies that occur each year during Fourth of July celebrations. “Fireworks are
MT. VERNON/CHARLESTON, IL. - The National Weather Service has confirmed at least three tornadoes from Sunday, June 21, 2026, storms in Southern Illinois and western Kentucky, including an EF3 that killed two Jefferson County residents, while survey crews continue assessing additional reports of tornado activity. An EF3 tornado (Enhanced Fujita Scale) has estimated wind speeds of 136 to 165 mph. The National Weather Service findings show the strongest tornado tracked from north-central Jefferson
EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education has approved a new Curriculum Advisory Committee. During their regular meeting on Monday, June 22, 2026, the Board discussed the creation of the committee. This committee’s goal is to “inform, educate, and ensure that all curriculum decisions brought before the Board are reviewed, assessed, and accompanied by a well-reasoned recommendation prior to Board action.” The Board discussed
On June 23, 2016, voters in the United Kingdom chose to leave the European Union in a referendum that quickly became one of the most consequential political decisions of the early 21st century. The result, widely known as Brexit, reshaped British politics, altered the EU’s future, and raised broader questions about national sovereignty, economic integration, migration, and democratic decision-making. It mattered immediately because it unsettled financial markets, brought down a prime minister,
ALTON – An ongoing effort to add restrooms to Hellrung Park in Alton faces another delay. Committee of the Whole members voted 5-1 to lay over a resolution approving the allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the city’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Alderman Michael Velloff moved to lay the item over without further comment. After being laid over at the committee’s previous meeting on June 8, 2026, the item is now set for reconsideration on July 6, 2026
WOOD RIVER — State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) is proud to announce a $100,000 state grant to assist Madison County with the acquisition of a new facility that will support operations of the Madison County Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB). "Supporting our 911 system and emergency communications network is one of the most important investments we can make in public safety," said Senator Harriss. "This grant will help Madison County continue providing dependable emergency
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