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EDWARDSVILLE - Alex Suhre, as a swimmer for the Paddlers Swim Club in Granite City, has enjoyed an outstanding season for the Pirates as she competed in a dual meet for the club against Montclaire Swim Club in Edwardsville on July 10, 2025. Suhre competed in two individual events – the 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke – as well as two relay races, and felt she performed well in all of her events, with the Southwestern Illinois Swimming Association championship meet set to take place July 20 at the Summers-Port Swim Club in Godfrey. The Pirates' Suhre won the 100-meter freestyle in a time of 1:04.87 against Montclaire Swim Club. Alex is a Stillwater Senior Living Female Athlete of the Month for Granite City. During an interview conducted during a break in the action, Suhre expressed confidence that she had swum well in her events to that point. “Yes, I am looking forward to the SWISA Championships,” Suhre said. “It sounds fun and I think

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EDWARDSVILLE - Beau Roberts, a 15-year-old swimmer for the Paddlers Swim Club in Granite City, enjoyed an excellent dual meet for the Pirates against Montclaire Swim Club in Edwardsville on July 10, 2025, and seems to peaking at the right time for the Southwestern Illinois Swimming Association championship meet, to be held July 20, 2025, at Summers-Port Swim Club in Godfrey. Roberts is a relay specialist who swims anchors in the freestyle legs of the medley relays for the Pirates, as well as in the freestyle relays, and usually does better in the relay races than in individual races. During an interview held during a break in the meet, he felt he was swimming well. Beau is a Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete of the Month for Granite City. Roberts, as mentioned, is a relay specialist who swims the anchor legs of the medley relay races, as well as swims in the freestyle relays. “I do well at those relays,” Roberts said. “I do better in the relay than I

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) spoke with KMOV about the status of education funding for Metro East schools. On May 30, Budzinski headlined a town hall at East St. Louis High School to call out the Trump Administration for withholding $19 million in funds for critical air conditioning and heating upgrades for the school district. While the funds were encouragingly released on July 8, the Administration continues to withhold $218 million in Congressionally approved education funds from Illinois. “This was actually scrutinized, reviewed, and approved. It is now, then, not up to another branch of government to decide whether or not to cut the check. “What we don’t need are further dramatic cuts in the public education system. We need to make sure that we are fulfilling our commitments to our children.” In addition to the HVAC funding, last week Budzinski sent a letter alongside 150 House Democrats to Education

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EDWARDSVILLE – A nearly $150,000 agreement for a new shared use path and median along a section of New Poag Road in Edwardsville faces City Council approval on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Aldermen are set to consider a professional services agreement for the New Poag Road median and shared use path in the amount of $149,695. According to Tuesday’s meeting documents, the agreement includes “plans and specifications rendered for the construction of a shared use path along New Poag Road from Ammann Place to the MCT Goshen Trail.” The project will also include “a median on New Poag Road.” “Improvements will generally consist of grading, trail construction, curb and gutter replacement, raised median construction, pavement marking, signage, sidewalk installation, and modular retaining block wall as needed,” according to the agreement. “The raised median will include a city welcome sign with a design provided by the City and an irrigation

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TROY — Get ready for a fun-filled evening as the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce hosts National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5, at Tri-Township Park. The event will run from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Pavilion #10 (410 Wickliffe, north of the football fields). “We are very excited to bring National Night Out to our community,” said Dawn Mushill, President/CEO of the Chamber. “This event offers something for everyone and is a wonderful opportunity to bring neighbors, families, and law enforcement together in a positive and fun setting.” The evening’s Touch-a-Truck lineup will feature an impressive collection of vehicles, including a K-9 police car, fire truck, ambulance, racecar, street sweeper, large wrecker, and even a live AirMed helicopter landing. Families can also take advantage of the Illinois Family Identification Program, which will be on-site to provide parents with important child ID kits. Kids’ activities will include

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and their fellow members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) in writing a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing deep concerns with imminent Reductions in Force (RIFs) at the State Department and requested answers on the Trump Administration’s process for carrying out these layoffs. The Senators wrote: “RIFs should remain a tool of last resort, and if implemented must be conducted according to long-standing procedures that prioritize transparency and a merit-based process for both career civil service employees and Foreign Service Officers (FSOs). During a time of increasingly complex and wide-spread challenges to U.S. national security, this administration should be strengthening our diplomatic corps—an irreplaceable instrument of U.S. power and leadership—not weakening it. However, RIFs would severely undermine the Department’s

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SPRINGFIELD - Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration: Illinois Department of Human Services Christopher Thor Martin will serve as Inspector General at the Illinois Department of Human Services.* Martin has over 20 years of experience as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney, leading the State’s Attorney’s Office’s efforts to modernize internal technologies and use technological evidence in trials. In 2022, he became Deputy Bureau Chief of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Bureau, in charge of prosecuting gang crimes, narcotics, white collar crime, and gun violence, and he was later promoted to Chief Deputy. In 2025, Martin joined the Office of Inspector General of Illinois Department of Human Services as its Deputy Inspector General. Martin also serves on two professional advisory boards, including the

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MADISON COUNTY — Joseph A. Torres II was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and reckless discharge of a firearm following a fatal shooting early Sunday morning at 3rd Chute II, a bar located at 2204 Fosterburg Road in unincorporated Alton. At approximately 1:05 a.m. on Sunday, July 13, 2025, Madison County deputies responded to reports of an unwanted subject at the establishment. While en route, dispatch received additional calls reporting a shooting at the same location. Upon arrival, deputies and Alton Police officers found Malcolm D. Woodhouse-Alexander with multiple apparent gunshot wounds in the parking lot. He showed no signs of life. Torres was taken into custody without incident. Investigators determined that Torres and Woodhouse-Alexander were acquaintances who had been involved in an ongoing argument throughout the night that had turned physical on several occasions. Around 12:15 a.m., authorities said Torres reportedly fired a single shot into the air

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SPRINGFIELD — An Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team from Illinois is headed to Texas overnight to assist with operations after deadly flooding this week. This group of 39 rescuers from fire departments, deployed as part of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) as USAR Task Force 1, will be on the ground in Texas for up to 14 days. IEMA-OHS Acting Director Theodore (Ted) Berger said, “This nationwide mutual aid agreement allows states to share resources and personnel during emergencies, and tasks for this operation include wide-area search and rescue as well as debris pile clearance. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this devastating tragedy and hope we can be of service.” Illinois is one of close to two dozen states offering assistance to flood-ravaged Texas. “Just as many towns, cities, and counties in Illinois have agreements to assist each other in times of disaster, states have agreements to do the same,” explained Berger. Gov. JB Pritzker

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CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed Executive Order 2025-03 , directing state agencies to evaluate the scale and impact of how Trump’s tariffs will affect key economic sectors in and the increased costs that will be passed onto working families. The order comes as the Trump Administration continues to push a disastrous trade policy that exacerbates economic uncertainty for businesses, disrupts supply chains, and raises costs on everyday goods. Gov. Pritzker joins other governors including Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, New York, Oregon, and Washington, who are taking similar executive actions at the state level. “Donald Trump’s reckless trade policies are nothing more than a tax on working families that will jack up prices, threaten jobs, and impact the way we live,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This Executive Order ensures we have a clear-eyed view of the impact the Trump Slump will cause from higher prices at the grocery store to uncertainty

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CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced that $7 million in grant funding has been awarded to four grantees through the Tech Incubator Enhancement Grant (TIEG) Program to support entrepreneurship and innovation in key growth industries around the state. These grant awards will strengthen the resilience of both existing and new startup incubators. "Illinois has an unmatched spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, and the Tech Incubator Enhancement Grants Program is helping channel that into world-changing advancements and sustainable economic growth," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Our technology incubators and start-up ecosystem are positioning our state as a powerhouse in the economy of tomorrow, and I am proud to be strengthening our investment in that future." The TIEG Program was designed to modernize and revitalize tech incubators across Illinois to meet the evolving needs of startups. This initiativ

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EAST ALTON – A case of home invasion in East Alton has yielded a Class X felony charge against one of the city’s residents. Jesse E. Stewart, 41, of East Alton, was charged on July 7, 2025 with one count of home invasion, a Class X felony. On July 4, 2025, Stewart allegedly knowingly entered an East Alton residence without authority and injured one of the home’s occupants by striking the victim about the face. The state’s petition to deny Stewart’s pretrial release from custody states Stewart got into a physical altercation with the homeowner after kicking in their front door and refusing to leave the residence, despite being told to do so multiple times. Stewart was still present in the residence when officers arrived in response to the reported home invasion. According to the petition, “the homeowners advised they had no relationship with the defendant and he had no authority to enter their residence.” At the time of this incident, Stewart

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ALTON - Puddle of Mudd is coming to the Alton Amphitheater on Aug. 2, 2025, and frontman Wes Scantlin can’t wait. Puddle of Mudd is known for their post-grunge sound and early 2000s hits like “Blurry” and “She Hates Me.” They recently released the album “Kiss the Machine,” which has been a major success. Scantlin expressed his excitement to perform in Alton and share the music with Riverbend residents. “We are very excited to come and jam,” Scantlin said. “We’ll be sweating, definitely.” In addition to their chart-topping songs, Scantlin promises “some deep cuts” from Puddle of Mudd’s older records, as well as, potentially, a few covers. He said all of the songs are “like special little babies” to him, and he looks forward to reminiscing over Puddle of Mudd’s career during the Alton show. Scantlin reflected on many of the songs and projects that contributed to Puddle

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MADISON COUNTY - The Madison County Regional Office of Education recently hosted a ceremony to recognize the recipients of the first ever Alma Irene Aitch Scholarship for Madison County Students. Ten students from across Madison County were selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship based upon their applications that detailed their high school careers and future plans. The winners were chosen from over 50 extremely qualified applicants. The scholarship is named after Alma Irene Aitch who was a former teacher at the Lincoln School in Edwardsville. It was funded through a collaboration between Mr. Manny Jackson, Dr. Ed Hightower, and Dr. Robert W. Werden that was designed to reward hard work and excellence in education. The scholarship will continue in the future and will continue to be open to all Seniors in any Madison County High School who will be continuing on to a university, college, or trade school. Mr. Jackson, Dr. Hightower, Dr. Werden, and the entire Madison County Regional

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SOUTH ROXANA — The American Legion Post 1167 in South Roxana received a complete replacement of its heating and air conditioning system at no cost, thanks to efforts by local officials and a veteran-owned business. The issue began when the post’s central air conditioning unit stopped working. On July 2, 2025, South Roxana Mayor T.J. Callahan personally reached out to Mike Barton, commander of The American Legion Post 1167, after learning of the problem. Callahan used personal funds to purchase a window air conditioner for the post as a temporary solution. Following that, Terrah Bevelo, a village employee, suggested Barton contact American Heating and Cooling, a veteran-owned company. The owner, Mr. Spearlock, inspected the existing unit and determined it was beyond repair. He then offered to replace the entire heating and air conditioning system free of charge. American Heating and Cooling was a definite "Difference Maker" in the region with this heartfelt donation

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EAST ST. LOUIS — The East St. Louis Community Tennis Association has had an incredible summer. A ribbon cutting in May 2025 unveiled the six brand new courts at East St. Louis Senior High in May 2025. East St. Louis has hosted tennis tournaments, free lessons, and school outreach events over the summer. "Whether you are a player, parent, or community supporter, there is something for everyone," the East St. Louis Community Tennis Association said about the new tennis courts. East St. Louis School District Superintendent Arthur R. Culver has emphasized the importance of the new courts in fostering student engagement and athletic development. “We believe these courts will spark a love for the game and inspire a new generation of student-athletes to explore tennis, build confidence, and stay active both on and off the court," he said. The East St. Louis project was made possible through financial support from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO),

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GODFREY - Freer Auto Body will once again sponsor their Christmas in July event with the goal to raise over $75,000 for Community Christmas. From 10:30–1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18, 2025, you can stop by Freer Auto Body in Godfrey to purchase raffle tickets and enjoy a sloppy joe lunch. All proceeds go to 17 local agencies that participate in Community Christmas to supply toys, clothing, hygiene products and more to area families. “On Christmas Day, you get a warm feeling knowing that you helped. You really do,” said Margaret Freer. “If people haven’t been, they need to come and experience it. It’s a fun day. Little kids wait on you. It’s kids helping kids. The sloppy joes are the best you’ll ever have.” For a donation, you can receive a sloppy joe, chips and a slice of Margaret’s cheesecake. You can also purchase raffle tickets for $10 each. The raffle prizes include $3,500 cash, several vacations and experiences,

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ALTON — Six Alton Middle School cheerleaders have been selected as All-American Cheerleaders at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) Cheer Camp, earning an invitation to perform at the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28, 2025. The cheerleaders, recognized on June 18, 2025, will represent their school and community in what organizers describe as a “once-in-a-lifetime event.” Sarah Crause and five others are coordinating a fundraiser to support the cheerleaders’ participation. Each cheerleader faces a cost of $1,000, which does not include travel expenses. The organizers are seeking donations from the community to help cover these costs and ensure the athletes can take part in the parade. “Any amount is greatly appreciated,” the fundraiser organizers said, emphasizing the importance of community support to enable the cheerleaders to attend this honor. Click here for the GoFundMe.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—secured several important provisions to support servicemembers and boost American competitiveness and national security in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that SASC approved this week and the full Senate will now consider. Among the provisions that the Senator secured in the Committee-passed legislation, Duckworth successfully led a provision to expand IVF access for uniformed servicemembers and ensure military families have the same level of coverage that Members of Congress and other federal employees already have. As President Donald Trump continues to misuse our military to intimidate American citizens across our nation, Duckworth also successfully secured provisions that would safeguard Americans’ civil rights when servicemembers assist

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CHICAGO — A gas station in a small town southwest of Chicago has sold a winning Lotto ticket worth a cool $1 million. The winning ticket was sold at Citgo, located at 8755 W. 79th Street in Justice, IL. It matched all six Lotto Million 1 numbers in the Thursday, July 10 drawing: 5-11-16-23-25-39. Citgo, formerly known as Beahan Oil, has been a fixture in the small community for over 22 years. The store’s owner hopes the lucky ticket was purchased by a local customer. “I was out of the country when I got the call from my manager. We have no clue who the winner might be, but I have a strong feeling it was a regular Lotto player from our area,” said William Beahan, owner of the Citgo gas station. “Whoever it is, we’re very happy for the winner and look forward to celebrating with them.” Retailers who sell winning lottery tickets also have good reasons to celebrate as these wins bring their business a cash selling bonus of one percent of the

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