On April 16, 1947, a ship loaded with fertilizer-grade ammonium nitrate exploded in the U.S. port of Texas City, triggering fires, a tidal surge, and a chain reaction that destroyed much of the waterfront and nearby neighborhoods. The Texas City disaster became one of the deadliest industrial accidents in modern history, killing hundreds and injuring thousands. At the time, it exposed how quickly everyday industrial materials could become catastrophic when heat, confined storage, and emergency
EDWARDSVILLE - During the April 15 Madison County Board meeting in Edwardsville, board members approved a series of appointments, zoning items, and public safety purchases and recognized a Roxana High School sophomore who won a girls' state wrestling title. Roxana sophomore Chloe Skiles was recognized for being the 110-pound champion. She won the championship match by fall in 41 seconds over Zoey Dodgers of Franklin Park-North Lake Leyden. The coach also noted Skiles is ninth in the nation.
EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Board voted 20-3 on April 15, 2026, to deny Apollo Properties LLC’s request to rezone about 0.45 acres at 5429 Maryville Road in Granite City, blocking a proposed change from the B-1 Limited Business District to the R-5 Multiple-Family Residence District. The vote came during the board’s regular meeting in Edwardsville, where members were asked to approve a zoning map amendment for the property. The request had failed in the ZBA and the B&Z committees
GODFREY – The Avionics program at Lewis and Clark Community College has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation. Tom Steinmann, Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math at LC, said this funding will help provide new resources for students enrolled in the program. “This money has already been used to purchase additional hands-on flight instrument equipment for students, such as altimeters, vertical speed indicators and magnetometers,”
GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College and CJD E-Cycling will host a community e-Waste event from 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2, 2026, in the Tolle Lane parking lot across from the college’s Godfrey Campus. Most items will be accepted for free, providing community members with a secure, Earth-friendly option for discarding used electronics. The following is a sampling of the items that will be accepted: Servers Switches, PC towers Printers Landline
CHICAGO – Illinois families are seeing relief from sky-high energy costs, thanks to Governor JB Pritzker’s landmark Clean and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) . Capitol News Illinois reported that CEJA has put $1.8B back into the pockets of ComEd customers across the state. And in the coming months, additional relief will chop off an average of $19 from Illinoisans’ monthly energy bills. In 2021, Gov. Pritzker’s CEJA legislation was aimed at creating jobs, sustaining Illinois’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the seventh week of Donald Trump’s unjustified and illegal Iran war, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) forced a vote on Senator Duckworth’s War Powers Resolution that would have immediately withdrawn American forces fro
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has issued its annual update of advisories related to the consumption of sport fish caught in Illinois waterways. Fish are tested statewide by the Illinois Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and methylmercury. Results are used to issue advisories which detail how frequently fish from various waterways can be eaten without posing a health risk.
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a national settlement in principle with Albertsons that, once final, would require the grocery chain to pay more than $773 million to address its role in the opioid crisis. In addition to the financial terms, a final settlement remains contingent on agreement on critical business practice changes. To date, national investigations and litigation against the pharmaceutical industry over the opioid crisis have led to more than $5
BETHALTO – Leaders of the Bethalto Police and Fire Departments gave updates this week on their total calls for service, new equipment, pending grants, and more. At the April 13, 2026 Village Board meeting , Fire Chief Jay Grant said his department has taken on 175 calls for help so far this year as they prepare to switch over to a new STARCOM radio dispatch system. “All the radios are installed,” Grant said. “Dispatch is finishing up their consoles this week ... an
PIASA — Southwestern freshman pitcher Sydney Timpe delivered a dominant complete-game performance Saturday, April 11, 2026, striking out 14 batters and allowing three hits as Southwestern beat Marquette Catholic 16-2 at Gordon Moore Park. Timpe, an Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for Southwestern, was credited with the win after going the distance in the circle. Timpe’s head coach, Amanda Edwards, said the freshman has made an immediate impact
BRIGHTON – A Brighton man accused of attacking another individual over “inappropriate messages” the victim allegedly sent the suspect’s wife faces criminal charges in Madison County. David W. Gotter, 56, of Brighton, was charged on April 10, 2026 with one count each of aggravated battery (a Class 3 felony) and criminal damage to property (a Class A misdemeanor). Gotter is accused of knowingly striking another individual in the face and head without legal authority,
GODFREY - Vitality Women’s Clinic has several volunteer opportunities available. Vitality Women’s Clinic is a pro-life, faith-based pregnancy center that works with individuals experiencing unplanned pregnancies. Executive Director Jackie Duty, Center Manager Lori Saunders, and long-time Vitality advocate Sandra explained that they are expanding their volunteer programs and looking for people who want to give back through their nonprofit. When a patient comes to Vitality,
EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department is applying for two state grants to assist with traffic enforcement and retail theft investigations. City Council members unanimously approved two resolutions last week allowing the Police Department to apply for the Organized Retail Crime Grant from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and the Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant through the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). The department is seeking
Samuel Caughran ALTON - Samuel Caughran, Kennedy Lacey and Lucille Cassenti , all students at Alton High School, were honored as Students of the Month for April 2026 during a regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey at Gentelin’s on Broadway Restaurant. Samuel Caughran was recognized for his academic performance, extensive school involvement, and long-standing commitment to community service. Caughran’s service background is rooted in the Rotary principle “Service
Lucy Cassenti ALTON - Lucille Cassenti, Kennedy Lacey and Samuel Caughran , all students at Alton High School, were honored as Students of the Month for April 2026 during a regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey at Gentelin’s on Broadway Restaurant. Lucy Cassent was recognized for her academic performance, extensive involvement in school music programs and math competitions, and community service. Cassenti has pursued high-level coursework and earned awards including
ALTON - Kennedy Lacey, Lucille Cassenti and Samuel Caughran , all students at Alton High School, were honored as Students of the Month for April 2026 during a regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey at Gentelin’s on Broadway Restaurant. Kennedy Lacey Kennedy Lacey, a senior at Alton High School, has a 4.16 GPA and has been consistently placed on the Academic High Honor Roll. She is dual-enrolled at Lewis & Clark Community College and Saint Louis University and plans t
GRANITE CITY – Granite City Elks Lodge #1063 recognized Granite City High School seniors William Taylor and Sunny Valle as Students of the Month for April. The Elks Student of the Month Program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for achievements in school and community life-fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry and farming. Nominees are judged on multiple achievements including leadership skills, good moral character,
STAUNTON – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that rehabilitation of a crossing by Norfolk Southern railroad on Illinois 4 between Renken Road and Spangle Road south of Staunton in Madison County will require a full closure beginning Monday, April 27, weather permitting. A posted detour will be in place to safely guide motorists around the closure, which is expected to conclude Friday, May 1. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced more than $4.85 million in grant funding has been awarded to 66 grantees through three grant programs – the Tourism Attractions Grant Program ($2 million), Tourism Marketing Partnership Grant Program ($2.25 million), and Tourism Private Sector Grant Program ($598,900) – as part of the State’s efforts to build upon the record-breaking tourism industry
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