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The fall equinox is not the day when day and night are perfectly equal everywhere on Earth. That common idea is close, but not quite right—and the small difference says a lot about how our planet moves and how people have tried to make sense of it. What the fall equinox actually is The fall equinox marks the point when the Sun appears directly above Earth’s equator as it moves southward in the sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, this usually happens around September 22 or 23. In the

This Day in Music History: September 22 On Sept. 22, 1985, music became a national megaphone for America’s family farmers. The first Farm Aid concert filled Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, with 80,000 people and brought together an unusually broad lineup that included Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Loretta Lynn, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. Organized in only six weeks after Dylan’s Live Aid comments about the farm

On September 22, 1980, Iraq invaded Iran, beginning the Iran-Iraq War, one of the most destructive conflicts of the late 20th century. The attack grew out of border disputes, regional rivalry, and political tension after Iran’s 1979 revolution. What started as a fast-moving military offensive turned into a long, costly war that lasted eight years and killed hundreds of thousands of people. It mattered at the time because it reshaped power in the Middle East, disrupted global oil markets,

BRIGHTON - Get ready to celebrate Family History Month with a visit to St. John’s Church Museum and Family Heritage Center in Brighton on Sunday, Sept. 27 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Family History Month is celebrated every October in the United States. Visitors to the St. John’s Family Heritage Center will receive a free set of genealogy worksheets and a free on-site web search on the meaning of their surname. “In recognition of Family History Month, we’ll be providing visitors

ALTON – Alton officials may seek a state grant to make it easier for cyclists and pedestrians to cross East Broadway. Alton Committee of the Whole members on Sept. 21, 2026 approved a resolution to apply for an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant for bicycle and pedestrian improvements on East Broadway. Committee members voted 5-0 to send the resolution to the City Council for consideration this Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. Alderwomen Rosie Brown and

WOOD RIVER - Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Oiler of the Month” program at East Alton-Wood River High School. A senior student is selected each month by members of EAWR faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000.00 “Oiler of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. September's winner is Kami Batton. Kami is a Senior at EAWR and

ST. LOUIS - A 42-year-old Dupo, Illinois, woman died on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, in St. Louis County after a northbound tractor-trailer struck her stalled pickup on Interstate 270 northbound south of Interstate 44, according to crash information investigated by Missouri State Trooper H.L. Rivera and Crash Team No. 2 Sgt. M.A. Frigy. Missouri State Highway Patrol said the crash happened at 1:58 a.m. when a 2024 Freightliner Cascadia, driven by a 52-year-old Alton, Illinois, man, was northbound i

EDWARDSVILLE - These are artists who will appear at the Edwardsville Arts Fair Friday, Sept. 24-Sunday, Sept. 27, at Edwardsville City Park. Artist: Emily James Medium: Painting Location: St. Louis, MO Website: https://Emilyjamescreative.com Artist Statement: "My work centers on the feminine figure as a space for emotion, memory, and quiet transformation. Through layered materials and a balance of softness and structure, I create figures that feel both present and slightly beyond

EDWARDSVILLE — Annika Jenkins, a senior on the Metro-East Lutheran High School girls volleyball team, is looking for the Knights to turn three years of experience together into success during the 2026 season in Edwardsville. “Our team has been together for three years, and we really are clicking together, and it’s showing a promising season,” Jenkins said. Metro-East Lutheran has a 6-8 overall mark at this point in the volleyball season. Jenkins said the Knights have face

BELLEVILLE — People interested in volunteering at the new Emergency Weather Overnight Center in Belleville can tour the McCormick Center and learn about the program during a Volunteer Recruitment Fair from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at 301 S. First St. The center will provide shelter for people who do not have a place to stay when the temperature falls to 20 degrees or below. Volunteers will learn what will be expected of them when people in need arrive after being screened and transported

GODFREY - The Great Godfrey Maze will celebrate its 25th annual Fall Festival this weekend. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, the Great Godfrey Maze and all of its attractions at Glazebrook Park will be open along with additional activities, live music, food trucks, Highland cows and more. Godfrey Parks and Recreation Director Chris Logan encourages all families to come by this weekend and join the fun. “It’s a nice thing,” he said. “Families

ALTON — Senior Charity Price said Alton High’s first-year girls flag football team is focused on improving, staying prepared and supporting one another as the Redbirds adjust to a new sport this season. Price, who plays quarterback, wide receiver and linebacker, spoke after Alton’s game against Edwardsville. The Redbirds continued to play through the end of the game despite a defeat to the Tigers, and Price said the team is trying to build around persistence and accountability.

JERSEYVILLE – A Jerseyville resident faces 11 criminal charges after stealing a wide variety of fishing equipment and several other items from boats and trailers on opposite ends of the city. Jeffrey D. Flynn, 74, of Jerseyville, faces seven counts of theft, including three Class 3 felonies and four Class A misdemeanors, as well as four counts of burglary, each Class 2 felonies. The charges against Flynn were filed Sept. 17, 2026 in Jersey County court and stem from an alleged series of

EDWARDSVILLE - As the school year starts, kindergarteners at Leclaire Elementary School in Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 are learning basic skills to be successful students. Interim Principal Cari Wencewicz is always impressed by the teachers and K–2 students at Leclaire, and this year has driven home the work that teachers do to ensure their students have a good year. Especially as the kindergartners learn how to interact in a school setting, Wencewicz is thankful

For Mark Segobiano, the hardest part of his prostate cancer journey came before treatment ever began. It was hearing the word “cancer” again. Mark had already battled acute promyelocytic leukemia years earlier, so when blood work and prostate testing revealed an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, the news brought back familiar fears. He and his wife, Cindy, had learned firsthand how quickly a health concern could become something much more serious. The Bloomington,

COLLINSVILLE – As harvest season gets underway across Illinois and Missouri, Ameren is encouraging farmers and agricultural workers to make safety a top priority when working around overhead power lines and operating large farm equipment. National Farm Safety and Health Week, observed Sept. 21-25, serves as an important reminder that modern farming technologies can improve efficiency, but vigilance remains essential when working near electrical infrastructure. Large combines, tractors,

ALTON - Alton High School students have the opportunity to engage with local professionals and learn more about their career paths. The high school’s Guest Speaker Series invites people to come in and speak with juniors and seniors about their post-high school careers. The hope, explained Director of Student Services Angela Kuchnicki, is to help students think about their own paths and how they can achieve their goals. “It’s been very eye-opening for our students to hear

EDWARDSVILLE/GLEN CARBON - The Daughters of Isabella O’Reilly Circle No. 218 in Edwardsville presented a $2,000 scholarship check on Sept. 9, 2026, to Father McGivney Catholic High School to support Catholic young women who show academic promise, parish involvement and a commitment to service. The scholarships were awarded to Veronica Noronha and Ella Roundcount for the 2026/2027 academic year. The organization described Noronha and Roundcount as examples of faith, service and leadership.

GRANITE CITY — Granite City Police Department Lt. Nick Roberts was among 265 law enforcement officers who graduated Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., after completing advanced training designed for experienced law enforcement professionals. The 299th session of the National Academy included men and women from 44 states and the District of Columbia, along with 29 international law enforcement members from 28 countries, five military organizations and

PRAIRIETOWN - The Fab Lads led by Everett Dean and Whiskey River, guided by Jimmy Strickland, brought the show home at the Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, When I’m 64 Beatles Festival. The annual show featured an all-day celebration of Beatles hits once again at Prairietown Fireman’s Hall from noon to 9 p.m. on Washington Street. Dean’s band the Fab Lads Beatles tribute started in 2022, he said in an interview after his show. Dean is originally from Chicago but now lives in South