ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 students have a unique opportunity to try new fruits and vegetables through an important nutritional program. The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is an initiative through the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. Eligible elementary schools receive foods like pink dragon fruit, rainbow carrots and more to try. Kim Nixon, who helped secure the grant for Alton students, explained the goal is to expose kids
This Day in Music History: Sept. 21 Music has often provided a public language in moments when ordinary speech falls short. That was especially clear on Sept. 21, 2001, when America: A Tribute to Heroes brought performers, actors and competing television networks together just 10 days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. The two-hour, commercial-free telethon was carried by the major broadcast networks and dozens of cable outlets, with a radio simulcast that reached thousands of stations.
On September 21, one of the most important events in world history took place in 1792, when the French National Convention voted to abolish the monarchy. With that decision, France formally ended centuries of royal rule and moved toward becoming a republic. At the time, the change reflected the deep political and social unrest of the French Revolution, which had already shaken Europe. It mattered because it challenged the old idea that kings ruled by inherited right. It still matters today because
O'FALLON, IL. - Seven members of the Looking Glass Prairie Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, visited the Flags of Valor display at Art Hill in Forest Park in St. Louis to pay respects during a display held on the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The display featured 11 miles of red, white, and blue United States flags across Art Hill. Each flag honored a first responder, military member, or civilian who was lost. “The only sound heard was th
EDWARDSVILLE – The City of Edwardsville’s long-running Tree Planting Program is once again available, with higher reimbursements being offered for certain types of trees in an effort to grow the City’s tree canopy. The program is an initiative of the Edwardsville Environmental Commission; approved applicants could be reimbursed up to $200 to buy and plant a tree at their Edwardsville property. In previous years, the reimbursement offered was up to half the purchase and planting
S PRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) reminds parents and caregivers that properly securing children in the appropriate car seat, booster seat, or seat belt is one of the most important steps they can take to protect a child in a vehicle. Illinois recognizes the week of September 21-27, 2026 as Child Passenger Safety Week. Recent crashes in Illinois demonstrate the devastating consequences that can occur when children are not properly restrained. September 6, 2026 –
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following new reports that the Pentagon has covered up 4 additional American servicemember deaths in President Donald Trump’s Iran War, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Pat Ryan (D-NY-18)—both Iraq War combat Veterans—are calling on Congress to pass their legislation that would prevent the Trump Administration from continuing to do this. The lawmakers’ Honoring the Sacrifice of Troops in War Act would ban Secretary
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced today that a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon has permanently blocked the Trump administration from penalizing states, including Illinois, with potentially millions of dollars in penalties related to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operations. The ruling makes permanent a preliminary injunction the court issued in December 2025. The judge also ruled in favor of Raoul and the coalitio
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation—and U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today called on every U.S.-based passenger airline to guarantee that the emergency medical kit (EMK) kept on-board their aircraft include epinephrine—a life-saving medication to treat passengers who go into anaphylactic shock—in delivery methods designed that can be easily self-administered
ALTON – Both sides in the case of Mayor David Goins vs. the City of Alton will have to wait slightly longer to make their arguments before a Bond County judge. Last Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, the hearing was rescheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at the Bond County Courthouse in Greenville, Ill. Madison County court records show the hearing was rescheduled due to the unavailability of the city’s legal counsel for a previously scheduled hearing on Sept. 17, 2026. A representative
BROOKLYN, ILL. — A woman was shot and killed early Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, at Club O Gentlemen’s Club in Brooklyn, Ill. and a man was killed nearly two hours later in a second shooting a short distance away, Illinois State Police said. The first shooting happened at 3:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, at the club in the 200 block of Madison Street, according to the Illinois State Police. The second shooting happened at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in the 100 block of South Fourth
GODFREY — A passenger died and a driver was injured early this morning after a black 1999 SUV crashed in a construction zone near West Delmar Avenue and West Homer Adams Parkway in Godfrey, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. A Madison County sheriff’s deputy was flagged down by a motorist around 1:47 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, who reported that a crash had just occurred in the area, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies arrived and found an
SWANSEA – State Senator Christopher Belt announced new funding is available under the Illinois Grocery Initiative through the New Stores in Food Deserts, Equipment Upgrades and Grocery Rescue grant programs – representing a $26 million effort to address food deserts and prevent grocery store closures in communities across the state. “The Metro East has been hit hard with grocery chain closures. Seeing the Cahokia Heights Walmart and the East St. Louis Save-A-Lot closed within
SPRINGFIELD – The popular Maple Grove boat launch at Chain o' Lakes State Park in McHenry County has reopened to the public following a $3 million improvement project that incorporates numerous accessibility upgrades and other amenities, including a new fishing pier and kayak launch. Located in the heart of Illinois’ largest concentration of natural lakes, Chain o’ Lakes State Park features nearly 6,500 acres of water and 488 miles of shoreline, offering outstanding recreational
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Museum and Springfield state historic sites are hosting a series of special events in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Hecho en Illinois 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 Illinois State Museum, Springfield Participants from the Mi Casa es Tu Casa Beardstown Project will share their stories about finding a home in Illinois, including what brought them to the state, their experiences and what makes them feel a sense of belonging. Festival
CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker today announced the launch of the Illinois Reproductive Health Care Hub, the State’s new website centralizing resources for those making decisions about their reproductive health. This new online hub provides a one-stop-shop of information to help access and pay for care, while also informing patients in Illinois about their rights. The resource hub can be found at: reproductivehealth.illinois.gov. “When seeking reproductive care, patients deserve
O'FALLON, IL. - Sgt. Joe Wagner of the O’Fallon Police Department has received the Dan Stafiej DRE, or Drug Recognition Expert, of the Year Award from MADD Illinois for his work in impaired-driving enforcement and efforts to keep community roadways safe. In 2025, Wagner made 21 DUI arrests, bringing his career total to 202 DUI arrests over more than 15 years of service. The recognition reflects Wagner’s dedication to impaired-driving enforcement and his commitment to roadway safety.
SPRINGFIELD – Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site will host the City of the Sun 5K trail run at 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. The course will wind through woodlands and grasslands, including portions of Cahokia Mounds seldom seen by visitors. The race will take place rain or shine and will only be canceled in the event of lightning. The course is mostly level but includes sidewalks, gravel, grass and dirt trails that may be wet or muddy. Registration fees are $30 through Oct. 1, $35 beginning
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in August, down -0.2 percentage point from July, and up +0.4 percentage point from the same month, one year ago, based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised July unemployment rate was 4.9 percent. Total nonfarm payrolls decreased over-the-month in August, down -4,400 (-0.1%) to 6,175,600. The July monthly change in payrolls
GLEN CARBON – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) has secured $85,000 for the Glen Carbon Police Department to purchase body-worn cameras and other police equipment. “When the state requires local departments to have certain equipment, we should also be doing what we can to help communities cover those costs,” said Senator Harriss. “This $85,000 will help Glen Carbon meet those ongoing needs while keeping more of that expense off local taxpayers.” Mayor
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