ALTON - A sizable crowd gathered at the Alton High School football field to watch a preview of the Marching 100 band’s season. On Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, families, administrators and friends of the Alton Community Unit School District #11 braved the heat for a preview of the band’s halftime show. Matt Chesner, the high school band director, noted that students have been attending band camp for the past two weeks and were eager to show off what they had learned. Chesner encouraged
TROY - The free community celebration will once again transform the streets of downtown into a vibrant outdoor festival featuring live music, local artists, interactive art experiences, food trucks, shopping, family activities, and specials from downtown restaurants and businesses. Whether you're an art enthusiast, music lover, foodie, or simply looking for a fun evening with family and friends, First Fridays offers something for everyone. Live Music Headlining the evening will be Ryan
ALTON – A sex offender accused of failing to register after moving to Alton and giving fake names to police has been detained pending trial. 63-year-old Gary L. Vancil, listed as homeless out of Alton, was charged on Aug. 4, 2026 with his latest offenses of unlawful failure to register as a sex offender (a Class 2 felony) and obstructing identification (a Class A misdemeanor). Vancil allegedly failed to register with the Alton Police Department within three days of moving from Sangamon
PIASA - Aiden Roberts, a Southwestern football and wrestling athlete, made significant improvement during the 2025-26 wrestling season, according to assistant wrestling coach Kimberly Kessinger. She said Aiden shined after developing through a youth wrestling club and continuing a sport shared by his family. Roberts is one of the bright spots for Southwestern in wrestling for the future after his performances this past season, and his future appears exciting. Roberts has been an offensive linema
GODFREY — Christmas in July, a fundraiser organized by Margaret Freer for Community Christmas, raised a record $85,000 on July 24, 2026, at Freer Auto Body in Godfrey, with proceeds going to help provide local families with toys, clothes, food, hygiene items and more during the holiday season. The total surpassed last year’s previous record of $76,000. “It was a monumental accomplishment,” Freer said. “We have a wonderful, giving community. The Christmas in Jul
ALTON/GODFREY - A luncheon brought together educators and community partners to celebrate Alton Community Unit School District #11 teachers and students. On Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, the Alton Educational Foundation (AEF) hosted their annual Partners in Education Luncheon to share their support for the district. AEF Director Dr. Kristie Baumgartner noted that the foundation is focused on three main programs this year, all of which aim to boost student and teacher success. The luncheon also
CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker today joined the Ambassador and Director General of American and European Affairs for Indonesia, Grata Endah Werdaningtyas, Illinois leaders, and Indonesian officials to announce a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the State of Illinois and the Republic of Indonesia focused on expanding trade, opening new markets for Illinois farmers, and strengthening cooperation across business, education, and workforce development. “Illinois and Indonesia
ALTON – A woman from Alton accused of illegally carrying a defaced handgun in a vehicle faces felonies in Madison County. Brandy S. Garrett, 46, of Alton, was charged on July 31, 2026 with one count each of defacing identification marks of a firearm (a Class 3 felony) and aggravated unlawful possession of weapons (a Class 4 felony). Garrett allegedly knowingly possessed a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun with a serial number that had been altered or removed on July 30, 2026. Charging
ALTON - Ryan Howard Jr. is expected to be a key piece for Alton High’s boys basketball program as JaQuail Townser takes over the Redbirds following Dylan Dudley’s departure after a 21-12 season in 2025-26. Howard is an Eardley Agency LLC Male Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds. He was a key player for the Redbirds last season as one of the leading scorers and had a strong summer of development. Dudley was announced as the new Illinois College head men's basketball coach on July
CHICAGO - More than 50 decomposing bodies were found Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at South Chicago Chapel on the South Side of Chicago, prompting a hazardous materials response as officials worked to identify the remains and notify relatives, authorities said. The discovery drew a sharp response from Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, whose office said it is familiar with the funeral home’s operators, Johanna and Clark Morgan, because of past practices at another business they ran, Heights
ALTON – The Alton Educational Foundation is pleased to announce that ten individuals will be inducted into the Alton High School Wall of Fame for 2026. This year’s induction class includes: Greg Adams, Mark Bacus, Mark Cappel, Ken Conrady, Joe Elliott, Stephanie Elliott, Herbert Peel, Cas Sheppard, Rob Schwartz and George Terry. Peel was inducted posthumously. The recipients and their families were honored on Thursday, August 6 at the Foundation’s “Partners in Education”
ALTON — Alton High’s Olivia Williams turned in a notable performance at the IHSA 3A sectional, placing fourth in the high jump with a mark of 4-11.95. Williams’ result at the sectional adds to a season that included several strong finishes in both the high jump and triple jump. Williams is an Eardley Agency Female Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds. Chelsea Anderson, Alton's girls track and field coach, said Williams already has a goal for the spring of 2027: qualifying
EDWARDSVILLE – An Edwardsville man remains in custody after allegedly robbing someone of a cannabis bag and setting their personal property on fire. John M. Molinar, 40, of Edwardsville, faces a Class 2 felony count of robbery and a Class A misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property in a Madison County case filed July 29, 2026. Two days prior on July 27, Molinar allegedly knowingly stole a bag of cannabis from another individual by use of force and caused less than $500 worth of propert
ALTON/ST. CHARLES COUNTY — Dead carp have been reported recently near the Melvin Price Lock and Dam area in Alton, along the Great River Road near the city and in the Mississippi River in Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles counties, where state wildlife officials said warm temperatures and low oxygen in shallow water are primarily causing mass fish deaths, not a chemical spill. The photo above was taken this week and shows dead carp floating in the Mississippi River along the
EAST ST. LOUIS — A 15-year-old East St. Louis juvenile was arrested after a 78-year-old Jennings, Mo., man was stabbed to death Sunday night, Aug. 3, 2026, while waiting at a bus stop in East St. Louis, Illinois State Police said. The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6 Public Safety Enforcement Group said special agents arrested the juvenile male on a charge of first-degree murder, a Class M felony, after the stabbing attack that killed John W. Allen. East
On August 7, one of the most far-reaching events in modern history is the start of the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942, when United States forces landed in the Solomon Islands during World War II. The campaign was the first major Allied offensive against Japan in the Pacific. At the time, it mattered because it challenged Japanese expansion and helped protect sea routes linking the United States and Australia. It still matters today because it marked a turning point in the Pacific war, showing
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought demanding that the Trump Administration restore funding for the 33 energy grants totaling more than $580 million to the State of Illinois that were unlawfully terminated in October 2025. The Trump Administration
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, made a closing statement during today’s Committee consideration of the Farm Bill where he argued in support of Democrats’ request for a two-year delay to Republicans’ requirement that forces states to provide a share of the cost of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The two-year delay is supported by a bipartisan coalition including the Nationa
CHAMPAIGN – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced Regional Site Readiness Program awards totaling $35 million to support site readiness activities at 22 sites across Illinois. To date, the State has awarded $115 million to support 63 projects across Illinois in their site preparedness efforts. The Regional Site Readiness Program prepares sites to attract future industrial investment and new job opportunities across Illinois
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today led 17 of her Senate Democratic colleagues in introducing legislation that would stop Donald Trump’s desperate attempt to obscure how long his illegal war against Iran has lasted, dishonor the sacrifice of our troops injured and killed in combat and hide the true cost of his disastrous war from the American people. The Senators’ Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Troops in War Act would ban the Secretary
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