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COLLINSVILLE — Collinsville High School math teacher Bill Gottschalk recently took part in an online discussion activity hosted by the New York Times Learning Network , marking his fifth time participating in the program. The event featured a graph illustrating the average number of children born to women in select countries and regions between 1960 and 2020. Gottschalk was selected for the opportunity due to his active involvement with the American Statistical Association’s K-12

SPRINGFIELD - Please be advised that effective November 19, 2025, the Illinois Office of the Secretary of State (ILSOS) will begin offering Mobile Identification Cards, “Mobile IDs,” which will allow Illinois driver’s license and state identification card holders to present their Illinois driver’s licenses and state identification cards digitally via the digital wallet incorporated into the Apple iPhone or Apple Watch. Under Illinois law, a Mobile ID is an acceptable

EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Board voted to deny special use permits for three solar projects and approve one project. During their regular meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, the Board discussed four different solar projects and their potential impact on the county. Several members of the public also commented on the projects, with many urging the Board to deny them. “We have worked a lifetime to improve our investments in our land and homes. We don’t want out-of-state

Did you know that the average American consumer spends over $1,000 during the holiday shopping season, generating millions of tons of additional waste and carbon emissions every year? This staggering statistic highlights a pressing issue: our holiday shopping habits have a significant environmental footprint. As consumers, the choices we make during this period can either contribute to unsustainable practices or help foster a more responsible and eco-friendly economy. The Environmental Impact

November 20th has been a date marked by pivotal moments across the globe. One of the most significant moments in history that occurred on November 20th was the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the United Nations in 1959. This landmark declaration set forth the fundamental rights and protections owed to children worldwide, emphasizing their right to education, health care, and protection from exploitation. It was a major step forward in international human rights law and

Expect a chilly and cloudy day with morning rain. The high today will reach 55 degrees, with a low around 51. Winds will come from the south-southeast at 8 to 14 mph, bringing occasional gusts. The morning rain could make for slower travel and lower visibility, so plan accordingly. It will feel a bit chilly, with temperatures feeling closer to the mid-40s. This morning will start off with moderate showers, tapering off as the day goes on, leaving behind mostly cloudy skies through the afternoon

WOOD RIVER - The Wood River Business Alliance and the City of Wood River hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday November 18th to celebrate the opening of Pfund Construction in Downtown Wood River. The event marked not only the launch of a new business location, but also a step forward in the ongoing revitalization of the downtown district. Located within a historic building that had long remained in disrepair, Pfund Construction has breathed new life into the space bringing craftsmanship,

SPRINGFIELD – Please attribute the following message to Karl Goeke, president of the Illinois Education Association: “Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education and parsing its duties out to various agencies allows our neediest students and all students’ rights to be ignored. It’s insulting, frankly, that this plan would be presented during American Education Week, a week founded in 1919 by the National Education Association and the American Legion to seek ways

COLLINSVILLE - The Collinsville High School Student Advisory/Rotary Interact Club recently completed its mission to provide a headstone for late Collinsville educator Everett Singleton, who died in 1970. Singleton, who was inducted into the Kahok Hall of Fame in 2024, was a well-known Collinsville educator whose story spans the period of segregation and desegregation in the community. When CHS students in the Student Advisory/Rotary Interact Club learned that Singleton’s grave in St. John

ALTON – An Alton man accused of fleeing from police over the Clark Bridge and a St. Louis man who evaded pursuit face felony charges in separate Madison County cases. Michael D. Bass, 39, of Alton, was charged on Nov. 13, 2025, with one count each of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer and driving while license is revoked, both Class 4 felonies. Bass allegedly drove a Honda CR-V upon the Clark Bridge in Alton while his license had been revoked on Sept. 24, 2025.

ST. LOUIS – Today, the City of St. Louis’ Recovery Office and the Department of Public Safety Building Division announced that structural inspections have begun for property owners requesting assistance with repair, demolition and debris-removal services following the May 16 tornado. This is a critical step in helping residents and communities recover and rebuild. Since the program opened a month ago, the City’s Recovery Office has received more than 700 applications for Private

ALTON - On Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, Alton Main Street will host an event that’s sure to get you into the holiday spirit. The 32nd annual Community Tree Lighting at Lincoln-Douglas Square will begin with the arrival of Santa Claus on the trolley at 6 p.m. The free festivities, including caroling, cookies, and hot cocoa, will continue until 6:45 p.m. when Alton Mayor David Goins flips the lights on the beautiful tree, which is provided by the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club. Families are encouraged

EDWARDSVILLE — Renovation work on the Madison County Board Room starts Thursday as part of a more than $320,000 project to modernize the space and improve accessibility. The County Board approved the renovation contract in July, and reconstruction is expected to continue through January. During the overhaul, all committee meetings will be held in Conference Room 309, located inside the county board room, and full county board meetings will take place in the Atrium on the first floor of

ALTON - The Enhanced Wellness Care program at Associated Physicians Group in Alton guarantees personalized, comprehensive care. Dr. Christopher Green, an internal medicine physician at Associated Physicians Group, explained that the office’s Enhanced Wellness Care program invites patients to pay an annual membership fee and receive longer appointments, after-hours access to Green via his personal cell phone, and same-day or next-day appointments. Green believes the program is a grea

ST. LOUIS COUNTY — Three 16-year-old males have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy in St. Louis County last month, authorities said. On Oct. 31, 2025, a 16-year-old male suspect was taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. Two additional 16-year-old male suspects were arrested on Nov. 12, 2025, and charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and first-degree assault. All three suspects wer

JERSEYVILLE — Roger E. Page, 63, was charged Nov. 5, 2025, with Unlawful Possession with Intent to Deliver 15 to 100 grams of Methamphetamine, a Class X felony, Jersey County State’s Attorney Ben Goetten has announced. If convicted, Page faces six to 30 years in prison. The charges stem from an incident on Nov. 4, 2025, when Jersey County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Marshall Lewis was investigating a reckless driver on Illinois State Highway 16 near Casey’s General Store

ALTON - Centerstone is excited to offer the Holiday Giving Initiative once again. Centerstone’s Holiday Giving Initiative will extend through December 12, 2025 to provide holiday gifts for Centerstone patients who might otherwise not receive them. The initiative also connects and unifies enterprise holiday giving programs under one umbrella so that we can increase the number of patients who can receive holiday assistance from Centerstone. This year, we anticipate more than 250 Illinois families

GODFREY – In a rare move on Tuesday night, Godfrey trustees agreed to reverse one of their earlier decisions to vacate a section of Vollmer Lane after several property owners spoke against the action. Members of the Godfrey Finance Committee voted on Oct. 7, 2025, to vacate a portion of Vollmer Lane spanning the approximate blocks of 6100 to 8600. If the road were vacated, the village would no longer be responsible for maintaining it. In a memo to Mayor Mike McCormick and Finance

ALTON - Community leaders and entrepreneurs had the opportunity to share more about their businesses in downtown Alton. On Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, Alton Main Street hosted their quarterly “What’s Up Downtown” information exchange at The Wedge Innovation Center in Alton. Executive Director Sara McGibany thanked the community for coming out and encouraged them to visit the official Alton Main Street website for more updates about upcoming events, including Small Business

ALTON — Internet and telephone services were disrupted Wednesday morning, Nov. 19, 2025, for many residents and public service entities in Alton, Illinois, including Riverbender.com offices, following what Spectrum described as a “criminal attack” on its communications infrastructure. The outage affected all Alton city facilities except the police department, causing interruptions to telephone and internet connectivity. Spectrum also reported that some residential customers