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GREENE COUNTY - Robert Schollmeier of rural Greene County used social media last month to draw attention to what he said were Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) trucks dumping deer carcasses from a bridge into Apple Creek. IDOT later confirmed it was aware of a complaint and said the carcasses had been removed. On Feb. 22, 2026, Schollmeier, a Greene County resident, posted photos on Facebook showing IDOT trucks on the Belltown Bridge on Illinois 267. He wrote that he believed the trucks

You can tell what month it is without a calendar—if you know where to look. A shadow that falls a little shorter than it did last week. A star that rises in a new spot. A plant that suddenly sends up shoots on the same hillside it always has. For most of human history, these were not fun observations. They were survival information. Before printed calendars and phone reminders, people still needed to answer the same hard questions: When should we plant? When will animals migrate? When

ST. LOUIS - Six Flags Entertainment said on Thursday, March 5, 2026, it has agreed to sell seven amusement parks, including Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, to EPR Properties as part of what the company called an “ongoing strategy to optimize and strengthen our park portfolio.” The announcement was made Thursday morning, March 5, 2026. Six Flags said operations are expected to transition to EPR Properties after the 2026 season, with EPR partnering with Enchanted

On March 6, 1957, Ghana became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to win independence from European colonial rule in the post–World War II era. The new nation emerged from Britain’s Gold Coast colony after years of political organizing, elections, and negotiations led by Kwame Nkrumah and other independence leaders. At the time, the change mattered because it showed that colonial systems could be dismantled through mass politics and constitutional steps, not only through war.

GLEN CARBON — Carson Barone has played a steady role in Father McGivney Catholic’s most successful boys basketball season in program history, and the junior guard is already looking ahead to what comes next. Barone, a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Male Athlete of the Month for the Griffins, posted his highest-scoring game of the 2025-26 season with 22 points against North Greene on Jan. 5, 2026. He has been described as a dependable player for McGivney during the season. “I

WOOD RIVER – Certain fees are set to increase at the Wood River Rec Center and Belk Park Golf Course as the city seeks Madison County grants funds for park improvements. City Council members unanimously approved an ordinance updating rates and fees for the Belk Park Golf Course and Wood River Recreation Center at their March 2, 2026 meeting . Parks & Recreation Director Pat Minogue said Rec Center fees will be increasing slightly after remaining unchanged for the past two years. The

GODFREY - NexGen Fieldhouse will host an open house to celebrate their new business in the Godfrey community. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2026, community members can stop by NexGen Fieldhouse at 5773 Godfrey Road in Godfrey for giveaways, pictures with Fredbird, and more fun. Frank Bock, who opened NexGen Fieldhouse earlier this year, can’t wait to show the community all the possibilities at the sports facility. “We feel that in Godfrey specifically, even

GODFREY - Students at Lewis and Clark Community College have an exciting opportunity to complete a four-year degree online at a lower cost through a partnership with Southern Illinois University Carbondale. On Thursday, March 5, 2026, LCCC President Dr. Ken Trzaska and SIU Chancellor Dr. Austin Lane met at LCCC’s Godfrey campus to complete the sub-agreement. Known as the Saluki Step Ahead program, this agreement guarantees SIUC admission to LCCC students for specific degree tracks.

Whether you’re dealing with a job loss, financial woes or embroiled in relationship issues, we all suffer from stressful situations from time to time. No matter what the situation, stress is not good for our health in so many ways. It can impact our cardiovascular health, mental health, sleep and even our skin and hair. One of the biggest problems is how stress affects our gut health. Stress can cause diarrhea, constipation, bloating or make conditions such as irritable bowled syndrome o

MONROE COUNTY - Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Freeda’s Bar in Renault, Illinois, early on March 1, 2026, after a report of a large fight, and Sheriff Neal Rohlfing said video surveillance shows a 25-year-old man struck a 49-year-old man without any prior interaction as misinformation about the incident circulated online. Deputies were sent to the bar at 2071 Main Street at about 12:55 a.m. on March 1, 2026, Rohlfing said. The Waterloo Police Department assisted

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Thursday sentenced a woman who secretly took out insurance on her fiancé before having him killed to 225 months in prison. Victoria Rena Williams, 67, pleaded guilty in September to one count each of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, aiding and abetting murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Michael Grady, 70, was convicted by a jury on Monday of the same three counts. Charles Harris III, who worked

MADISON COUNTY – A Chicago-area man accused of sexually abusing someone at a Madison County rest area has been charged and released from custody. Bowala Rakkitha, 49, of Bolingbrook, Ill., was charged on Feb. 18, 2026 with one count each of criminal sexual abuse (a Class 4 felony) and aggravated battery (a Class 3 felony). Rakkitha allegedly committed an act of sexual conduct by touching a 24-year-old victim who was “unable to give knowing consent” on Aug. 18, 2025, according

U.S. Rep. Mary Miller met with Illinois Farm Bureau President Phil Nelson to discuss the agriculture economy, support for producers and the organization’s priorities for 2026, according to a statement attributed to Miller. Miller, a congresswoman, said she met with Nelson, who leads the Illinois Farm Bureau. The statement did not specify when or where the meeting took place. “It was great meeting with my friend Phil Nelson, President of the Illinois Farm Bureau,”

CARLYLE - A fundraiser has been launched to help pay funeral and memorial expenses for Sadie Tull, a 41-year-old Carlyle business owner who was found shot to death on March 4, 2026, inside her home on Fairfax Street, as the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis investigates the killing. Myrna Piehl organized the fundraiser following Tull’s death. Authorities said detectives have followed up on dozens of leads and are asking anyone with information to contact investigators. In the GoFundMe

S WANSEA - KinderCare Learning Center has officially opened its new location in Swansea, and leaders emphasize that they are much more than a daycare. As an early learning center, KinderCare offers childcare and educational programs for infants, toddlers and preschool-age children. Swansea’s Center Director, Tori Siron, explained that the center aims to provide support to the whole family while educating kids and giving them opportunities to grow. “We love welcoming all

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after President Donald Trump fired Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and announced U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as his preferred replacement: “Kristi Noem was the face of an unpopular, illegal, and outright dangerous mass deportation campaign that claimed the lives of innocent Americans and terrorized many

ALTON - The Alton School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Mack Ivory as the new Assistant Principal at Alton High School. Mr. Ivory holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from Missouri Baptist University, as well as two Master’s degrees from Missouri Baptist University: one in the Art of Teaching and the other in Educational Administration. Mr. Ivory began his educational career in January 2020 as a Student Support Specialist in the Rockwood School

ALTON - The Alton School District Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment of Amanda Beiser as Assistant Principal at Alton Middle School for the 2026-2027 school year. Mrs. Beiser is a proud graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Learning Behavioral Specialist, as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Administration and Leadership. She began her teaching career in the Alton School District

EDWARDSVILLE – When water flows cleanly from a tap, it carries with it the expertise of professionals trained for a job most people never see but upon which everyone depends. Illinois policymakers had the opportunity to see that infrastructure in action while touring Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Environmental Resources Training Center (ERTC). ERTC welcomed Illinois State Representative Katie Stuart on Feb. 20 and Illinois State Senator Erica Harriss on March 2 for

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) war powers resolution that would have blocked President Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran unless authorized by Congress. Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution states that the power to declare war is an explicit power of Congress and Congress overwhelmingly reaffirmed this constitutional provision when it passe