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COLLINSVILLE - IDOT Operations Engineer Joe Monroe has been out throughout the entire region today on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, observing the various state routes. When interviewed in the late morning, he said while high-volume interstate routes are generally in good shape, ramps were at that time somewhat hazardous due to snow accumulation and ongoing weather conditions. Monroe noted that the heaviest snowfall was occurring in the southern part of the region, with varying accumulation levels reported to the north. “If you are driving defensively, you can get where you need to go,” he advised. Traffic levels are crucial, he said, when it is this cold because sufficient vehicles moving at adequate speeds can help prevent snow from accumulating on the roads. As of early Tuesday afternoon, Interstate 255 was in decent condition, with plowing efforts ongoing in areas such as Homer Adams Parkway in Alton, which experienced more significant snowpack compared to other routes, Monroe

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BELLEVILLE - As temperatures drop across the region, several Belleville-O'Fallon area facilities are stepping up to provide warming centers for individuals in need. These temporary facilities are designed to offer relief during extreme cold but do not serve as overnight shelters. In Belleville, the Main and West branches of the Belleville Public Library, as well as the Programs & Services for Older Persons (PSOP) and The Salvation Army, are designated warming sites. The Main Branch of the Belleville Public Library is located at 121 E. Washington St. and can be reached at 618-234-0441. The West Branch is situated at 3414 W. Main St., with a contact number of 618-233-4366. PSOP is located at 201 N. Church St. and can be contacted at 618-234-4410. The Salvation Army operates from 20 Glory Place and is available at 618-235-7378. Fairview Heights also has resources available, with the Fairview Heights Public Library located at 10017 Bunkum Road. The library's hours are Monday through

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ALTON - Community members are invited to the new Riverbend Community Orchestra’s upcoming performance. At 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, Riverbend Community Orchestra (RCO) will perform at Calvary Baptist Church in Alton. The concert is free and will feature selections from musicals like “The Sound of Music,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “West Side Story” and more. Jamie Pullen, President of Alton Youth Symphony (AYS), explained that AYS piloted the creation of RCO a few months ago. AYS directors realized there was a “gap” between AYS, which is for fifth through eighth graders, and the more challenging repertoire of the Alton Symphony Orchestra (ASO) for adults. They created RCO so that high schoolers without an orchestra program available to them, as well as community members who want to play music but aren’t ready for ASO, have an option. “It's fulfilling a lot of different needs,” Pullen said. “Thi

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RIVERBEND - With dropping temperatures and highs forecasted in the teens over the next few days, there are several warming centers available for community members throughout the Riverbend region. We encourage you to check that these locations are open, as some might be closed due to inclement weather. ALTON Hayner Public Library District With branches located at 326 Belle Street in downtown Alton and the Alton Square Mall, the library serves as a daytime warming center during its open hours. The Salvation Army Located at 525 Alby Street in Alton, The Salvation Army is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. The organization sometimes stays open later on cold days. Snacks and occasionally meals are available. The Overnight Warming Location In Alton, the Overnight Warming Location is located at Deliverance Temple at 1125 E. 6th Street. The OWL opens from 5 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. when temperatures are forecasted to drop to 20 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Guests receive

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EDWARDSVILLE – An Edwardsville resident faces major felony charges after firing a weapon 35 times into an occupied vehicle during an armed robbery. Christopher L. Haug, 34, of Edwardsville, was charged on Feb. 18, 2025, with attempted first degree murder (a Class X felony), armed robbery (a Class X felony), aggravated discharge of a firearm (a Class 1 felony) and felon in possession of a weapon (a Class 2 felony). On Feb. 16, 2025, Haug allegedly “fired over 35 rounds of ammunition” into an occupied vehicle with the intent of killing the occupant. He also reportedly stole a purse, its contents, and an iPhone from the same victim, discharging the firearm while committing the robbery. The firearm used in this case is described in court documents as a “5.56 caliber rifle.” Haug’s possession of the weapon was unlawful as a felon previously convicted of armed robbery in a 2017 Madison County case. A petition filed to deny Haug’s pretrial release

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ST. LOUIS — The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting some additional snow on Tuesday evening, Feb. 18, 2025, but it is expected to taper off by early morning on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Jayson Gosselin, a meteorologist at the NWS in St. Louis, indicated that the NWS anticipates a lull in precipitation until approximately evening on Tuesday, continuing until about 2 a.m. on Wednesday. Snowfall amounts are projected to range from 1 to 3 inches in the region. A tighter gradient is noted: areas closer to Alton may see around 1 inch, while Gosselin said the Waterloo area could receive up to 3 inches. Temperatures in the region are expected to remain extremely cold, with overnight lows projected to be between 5 and 10 degrees above zero. Gosselin cautioned that the frigid conditions may hinder some road treatment efforts, making for difficult travel conditions early Wednesday morning, Feb. 19, 2025. Lydia JaJa, another meteorologist at the St. Louis NWS, was contacted at

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ST. LOUIS - City officials in St. Louis reported the death of an unhoused woman found Tuesday morning on Clark Avenue. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and emergency medical services responded to a call at the location, where the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. A high of only 14 degrees is predicted for Tuesday with a low of 9 degrees. On Wednesday, highs are only expected to reach 18 degrees with a low of 2 degrees. According to a statement from Mayor Tishaura Jones' office, foul play is not suspected in the incident. An official cause of death will be determined by a medical examiner. The statement expressed condolences, saying, “Our thoughts are with her and her loved ones…Last night, excess City-funded beds were available to accommodate unhoused individuals, and the City of St. Louis Department of Human Services and shelter providers will continue to work together to ensure that we can fill as many inclement weather shelter beds as possible in th

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VENICE – Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski and Congressman Wesley Bell are set to meet with the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis and Bi-State Development on at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at the Venice Rail Yard. Those gathered will discuss proposed bi-state infrastructure projects in the St. Louis Metro Area. The meeting will take place at the Venice Rail Yard located at 1201 McKinley. This gathering comes at a pivotal moment as the region faces challenges regarding infrastructure funding. The Department of Transportation's recent decision to pause funding and implement new guidelines has raised concerns among local leaders. These guidelines prioritize funding for communities with higher birth and marriage rates, potentially affecting the Metro East region’s access to vital infrastructure investments, Rep. Budzinski said. Congresswoman Budzinski has previously expressed her support for the proposed projects, which have not yet secured the necessary

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ALTON - The “What’s Up Downtown” meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, has been postponed due to inclement weather. The quarterly What’s Up Downtown meetings invite business owners and stakeholders in the downtown Alton district to speak about their work in the community. Hosted by Alton Main Street, the information exchange allow speakers and audience members to promote their businesses, organizations and nonprofits. The Winter 2025 meeting will feature Chantel Morrigan with Jacoby Arts Center, Megan Tyler with Sacred Spaces of CARE, and Father Garron Daniels with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. What’s Up Downtown meetings are held at the iMerge Community Center in downtown Alton. The other dates for 2025 meetings are May 20, Aug. 19 and Nov. 18, 2025. More details about the Winter 2025 What’s Up Downtown meeting, including an updated date and time, will be released soon. For more information, visit the official Facebook even

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John and Lisa Amizich celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Feb. 16, 2025. The couple, who were married in 1985, have built a family that includes two children, Johnny and Anna, as well as a grandson named Jude. The Amizichs have navigated the ups and downs of life together for four decades, raising their children and welcoming a new generation into their family. “We are grateful for the time we have spent together and the family we have built,” Lisa Amizich said.

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CHICAGO – With the weather feeling like -10° outside, an Illinois Lottery player skipped going to the store and purchased a Lotto ticket online instead – and won a cool $1 million. The lucky player matched all six numbers in the Monday, Feb. 17 Lotto Million 1 drawing to score the $1 million prize. The winning numbers for the Lotto Million 1 drawing were: 8-16-20-25-42-46. Already this year, more than 930,000 Lotto tickets have been sold, netting Illinois Lottery players more than $14.7 million in prizes. Lotto is an Illinois-only game that is played three times a week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. The current Lotto jackpot is at $2.6 million. As well as the regular drawing, Lotto offers two additional drawings: Lotto Million 1 and Lotto Million 2. These are additional opportunities for players to match six numbers to win a $1 million prize. Tickets for the game can be purchased in-store, online, or on the Illinois Lottery app. For more information

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ALTON - The Coffee with Candidates event, hosted by YWCA and NCNW, has been rescheduled to next week due to winter weather. At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, community members are invited to the YWCA to meet with Alton’s aldermanic, city clerk, treasurer and mayoral candidates. Attendees can speak one-on-one about specific issues and learn more about each candidate’s background and platform. “We’re really excited about this concept,” said Dorothy Hummel, YWCA Executive Director. “We think having a warm, comfortable environment where people can discuss what’s important to them and get to know the candidates is great.” Madison County Clerk Linda Andreas will also be in attendance to present information on early voting, voting by mail, polling places and more. Hummel said Andreas has confirmed her attendance, and the YWCA and NCNW are now working to secure the other candidates. Hummel encourages attendees to come prepared with

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Autism Clinic at Hope, a local organization that serves kids and adults on the autism spectrum, will host their annual Glo Bingo fundraiser this week. On Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, community members are invited to the Moose Lodge in Edwardsville for an evening of Glo Bingo, games, a cash bar and over $1,000 in prizes. Doors open at 5 p.m. and bingo starts at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $25 in advance or $30 at the door, and students receive $5 off their purchase. All proceeds benefit Hope’s programs and services for individuals with autism. “Anytime we can get people together to celebrate our mission, we are all for it,” said Jodi Ogilvy, chief communications and development officer with Hope. “We do very, very important work, but we have fun while we’re doing it. Events like this are really a great way for us to showcase that and let our staff let their hair down a little bit, have some fun. It’s a really great time for everyone

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GLEN CARBON - State Representative Amy Elik’s office will be hosting mobile office hours in Glen Carbon on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 to meet with constituents who need help with issues concerning a State of Illinois agency. Rep. Elik’s staff will be available to meet with constituents from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday, February 24 at the Glen Carbon Public Library, 198 S Main Street, Glen Carbon. Mobile office hours are open to the public. Appointments are encouraged but not required, however scheduled meetings will take place in the order in which they were received. To schedule a meeting, please call State Representative Amy Elik’s district office at 618-433-8046. More information about Rep. Elik can be found at RepElik.com or by calling 618-433-8046.

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, with a coalition of 20 state attorneys general, is today standing with transgender military members targeted by the Trump administration’s executive order banning transgender Americans from serving in the military. Raoul and the coalition today filed an amicus brief to support a lawsuit aiming to block the implementation of the order. The attorneys general argue that the executive order is unconstitutional, harms national security and discriminates against transgender people honorably serving in our nation’s military, including the National Guard in every state. The brief supports a request for a preliminary injunction filed by a group of current and prospective transgender service members. “The president’s order attempting to implement a transgender military service ban is misguided and discriminatory,” Raoul said. “Transgender individuals have honorably served in all branches of our military, serving alongsid

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced 35 awards totaling $2.3 million through the Innovation Voucher Program to promote small business growth and fuel transformative collaborations across Illinois. Additionally, the Governor announced $2.6 million available in grant funding for the second round of the Innovation Voucher Program. Grantees will be selected through a competitive application process. “Through this grant program, we’re strengthening Illinois’ global status as an innovation hub and driving small business growth statewide,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “By partnering with our higher education institutions, these small businesses will transform groundbreaking ideas into tangible products and services. As we continue to support innovative research and development projects statewide, I encourage all eligible entities to apply for the second round of funding.” T

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EDWARDSVILLE - Margie P. Hollins’ sister called her hysterical and in tears. “They’re tearing down the church,” cried Marlene D. Peters. Hollins’ account of the heartbreaking scene is described in the story of the historic community in the documentary film, “WE BEAR WITNESS: The African American Legacy of Hadley Township, Mo.” Southern Illinois University Edwardsville hosted the debut of Hollins’ “WE BEAR WITNESS” in the Lovejoy Library on Thursday, Feb. 6 at Dunham Hall Theater on the Edwardsville campus as part of SIUE’s Black Heritage Month events . The screening was followed by a discussion with guest panelists: Dr. John A. Wright Sr., notable historian/Fulbright Scholar/author of “St. Louis: Disappearing Black Communities;” Gwen Moore, historian/Curator of Urban Landscape and Community Identity of the Missouri History Museum; the Honorable Mayor Reginald Finney, first African American Mayor of

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EDWARDSVILLE - Community members are invited to enjoy a vendor fair while supporting cancer patients. Stridin’ and Survivin’, a nonprofit based out of Hamel, funds research, services and gas cards for local patients. The organization will host their Spring Vendor and Craft Sip & Shop event from 1–5 p.m. on March 2, 2025, at The Hall in Edwardsville, and you’re invited to come out and shop. “Obviously we haven’t found the cure, but we’re striving to get there,” said Alice Bartels, founder of Stridin’ and Survivin’. “Being able to at least help these families in some way is great.” There will be 32 vendors at the vendor fair, and Bartels promises everything from makeup, spices and kettlecorn to stained glass, wood crafts and kaleidoscopes. There are frequent drawings throughout the day for attendance prizes. Stridin’ and Survivin’ is still working to determine their featured drinks, but Bartels

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Did you know that practicing gratitude can physically change your brain? Research from the University of California, Davis, found that individuals who engage in regular gratitude exercises show increased activity in the hypothalamus, which regulates stress, sleep, and immune function. This fascinating discovery underscores the profound impact that a simple shift in mindset can have on our mental and physical well-being. But how can we seamlessly integrate gratitude into our busy lives? Understanding Gratitude: More Than Just a Feeling At its core, gratitude is more than just an emotion; it’s a practice, a way of engaging with the world that fosters positivity. Psychologist Robert Emmons defines gratitude as "a two-step process: (1) recognizing that you have received a positive outcome, and (2) acknowledging that there is an external source for this positive outcome." This understanding helps us appreciate not only what we have but also the connections we share with others. W

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February 18th has been a significant date throughout history, marking a variety of events that have shaped the world. In a historical context, February 18, 1930, marked the discovery of Pluto by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. This groundbreaking moment in astronomy expanded our understanding of the solar system and led to significant discussions about the classification of celestial bodies. Initially considered the ninth planet, Pluto's status was later redefined, sparking debates that continue to this day. The discovery was celebrated globally, paving the way for future exploration and research into the outer reaches of our solar system. Turning the clock back, on February 18, 1943, the White Rose resistance group was active in Nazi Germany. This group, consisting of students and a professor from the University of Munich, distributed anti-Nazi leaflets calling for passive resistance against the regime. Their courageous actions and eventual martyrdom became symbols of civil

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