The familiar heart symbol doesn’t look much like a real human heart—and that mismatch is the whole mystery. If the shape is supposed to stand for love, why is it a pair of rounded bumps meeting at a point, like a leaf or a peach? The answer isn’t one neat origin story. It’s a long chain of art, belief, and habit that turned a rough idea of “the heart” into one of the most recognizable icons on Earth. Why the heart became the home of feelings Long before anyon
A text message can cross the world in seconds, yet it can still feel oddly weightless. A handwritten letter, by contrast, can make your chest tighten before you even open the envelope. Same basic goal—sharing words—yet one lands like a notification and the other lands like a keepsake. Handwritten letters feel more personal because they carry more of the sender with them. Not just their ideas, but their time, their choices, their habits, and even their imperfections. The letter becomes
Some people can’t hide what they feel even when they try. You see it in their face, hear it in their voice, and catch it in the way they move. We often describe that kind of openness with one vivid phrase: “wear your heart on your sleeve.” It’s a saying people use all the time, but it’s also a surprisingly physical image. Why would anyone put their heart—something private and vulnerable—on the outside of their body? The answer blends old customs, storytelling,
On February 9, 1990, the Soviet Union signaled that it would allow Lithuania to pursue independence, a turning point in the slow collapse of the Cold War order in Europe. The announcement did not instantly make Lithuania free, and it did not end the Soviet Union overnight. What it did do was change the direction of events: it showed that Moscow was no longer willing—or no longer able—to hold the union together by force in the same way it had in earlier decades. At the time, this mattere
This morning starts clear with temperatures around 38 degrees. Expect abundant sunshine throughout the day, with the high reaching 51 degrees by the afternoon. Winds will be mild, coming from the south-southeast at 6 mph with gusts up to 13 mph. Evening brings clear skies and cool conditions as temperatures drop toward 38 degrees. Overnight remains clear with lows around 38 degrees. Tomorrow will be partly sunny with highs near 55 and lows dipping to 28. Winds will pick up slightly from the north-northwest
SPRINGFIELD – Generational hits and pop rock is headed to Springfield as Matchbox Twenty takes over the Illinois Lottery Grandstand Stage on Sunday, August 16, 2026. With a catalog packed with era-defining songs, the band promises a night fairgoers won’t forget. Few bands have woven themselves as seamlessly into the fabric of American popular culture as Matchbox Twenty. With timeless anthems like “ 3AM,” “Push,” “Unwell,” “Bent,”
On Saturday, February 6, 1926, Ruth Draper performed at Monticello Seminary in Godfrey. Draper captivated the audience at Reid Memorial Chapel with her dramatic original monologues. New York critic Kelcey had recently credited Draper with being “the best actress in America…she stands alone in her art,” and the Alton Evening Telegraph author who covered the performance agreed. “Those who heard give her recital of amusing impersonations in monologues at Monticello
ALTON - The Alton Police Department is investigating a shooting that left a victim in critical condition after officers were dispatched Saturday night, Feb. 7, 2026, to a residence in the Alton Acres neighborhood, authorities said. Officers were sent at about 9:08 p.m. Feb. 7, 2026, to a home in the 3100 block of Lawn Street in Alton, after a report that a person had been shot, according to information provided by the Alton Police Department. During the initial investigation, officers identified
On February 7, 1971, Switzerland held a national vote that finally granted women the right to vote in federal elections. The change came late compared with many other democracies, but it reshaped Swiss public life by bringing half the population into national decision-making on equal terms. At the time, it mattered because major policies—taxation, social programs, foreign relations, and the rules of daily civic life—were being decided without women’s ballots. It still matters
EDWARDSVILLE- Tremolos flared brilliantly at the Annual Jazz Alumni Concert performance in Dunham Hall Theater, Feb. 4, 2026. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Concert Jazz Band welcomed back star alumni bassist Carlos Henderson (’96), and trombonist Chris Leach (’96), to fill the theater with lively performances of reworked favorites and a touching tribute to former Professor Emeritus Rick Haydon. Garrett Schmidt, conductor of the Concert Jazz Band and Jason Swagler,
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School's Colin Dexter is seeking donations to help cover his tuition for the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, saying he needs financial support to take part in the group’s summer tour with expenses that include travel, housing, equipment, and food. “My name is Colin Dexter, and I am reaching out because I need help covering my tuition for the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps,” he said. “Being a member of The Cavaliers has been a dream
SPRINGFIELD – The State Treasurer’s Office made $1.5 billion in investment earnings from the state investment portfolio during 2025, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced today. Treasurer Frerichs is the state’s Chief Investment and Banking Officer. He is responsible for investing state revenue in the state investment portfolio . “We are trying to maximize earnings for our state at a time when President Trump is illegally yanking away federal money from Illinois
ALTON – Riverbend Head Start & Family Services (RHSFS) is pleased to welcome Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski to our Essic Robinson location on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, beginning at 3:00 pm. The address is 1802 E. Broadway, Alton, IL 62002. The phone number is (618) 463-5933. Rep. Budzinski previously planned to visit our Essic Robinson location on Tuesday, January 27. However, due to the weekend snowstorm that preceded her scheduled visit, all Head Start classes were
ALTON — Alton Police responded Saturday night to an apparent shooting in the 3100 block of Lawn Street, where an ambulance and helicopter were called to transport a victim to a St. Louis hospital. An ambulance was seen leaving the scene with its lights and sirens on, and a helicopter was called for the transport. Crime scene tape was stretched across the front of an apartment, and evidence markers were seen in front of the apartment door. Alton detectives were on scene interviewing people
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06) today introduced the Prohibiting Tianeptine and Other Dangerous Products Act , legislation that would prohibit tianeptine from being marketed to consumers. Tianeptine is an unapproved drug that is marketed as a purported dietary supplement and sold under labels such as “Neptune’s Fix.” Ingestion of tianeptine has le
VENICE, IL. - Venice, Illinois, ranks as the most affordable city in the nation to buy a home in MoneyLion’s 2026 analysis of the cheapest places to purchase a home in every state, according to a new research study released by the financial services company. MoneyLion said it analyzed data from Zillow and the U.S. Census to identify the least-expensive qualifying city in each state, pairing average home values with local household incomes and benchmarking results against what it described
EDWARDSVILLE – Madison County voters will see very few contested county-wide races on their ballots for the 2026 primary elections. In the Republican primary race for Madison County Clerk, Kurt Prenzler is challenging incumbent Linda Andreas. The party’s chosen nominee will go on to face Democrat Rachelle Bauerle in the general election on Nov. 3, 2026. Only two County Board races will see competition during the primaries, with incumbents facing challengers in Districts 4 and 10.
EDWARDSVILLE – The Madison County Recorder’s Office earned an annual award for the second year in a row for work promoting the Property Fraud Alert (PFA) program recently. The award is given to a county in Illinois each year for the highest enrollments. Clerk & Recorder, Linda Andreas, has added over 21,000 new subscribers since 2023 towards the total of 28,700 subscribers in Madison County, about 41%. She would like to see this number increase to 100% of property owners. Linda
When it comes to energy costs, summer air conditioning often gets the most attention. But for the average Ameren Missouri customer, electricity use is typically highest in January and February. In both 2024 and 2025, the average customer used approximately 1,300 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity in the first two months of the year. July and August usage is close behind, but the start of the year leads overall. This can come as a surprise because bills are commonly associated with summer heat.
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Fairview Heights Police announced that Officer Connor Maedge has been named Officer of the Year, citing his activity and arrests during 2025 in Fairview Heights. “Congratulations to Fairview Heights Officer Connor Maedge on being named Officer of the Year,” the department said in a statement. “Thank you for your dedication and outstanding service to our community.” The department said Maedge was responsible for 567 traffic stops and 86 pedestrian
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