CARLINVILLE – Voters in Macoupin County will be asked this November whether the county should pursue separating from Cook County to form a new state, though their response will have no immediate legal effect. Last week, Macoupin County Board members voted 9-6 to place a public question on separating from Illinois on the ballot for countywide voters during the General Election on Nov. 3, 2026. The public question regards the issue of whether or not Macoupin County “should enter discussion
EDWARDSVILLE - Emma Birkenmeyer, who led the Tigers in many defensive statistics in helping the girls' flag football team to a very successful 15-2 inaugural season, has signed a letter of intent to play for Purdue-Northwest in Hammond, Ind. Birkenmeyer made Edwardsville sports history by becoming the first player from the flag football team to sign to play in college, and she was a key player in helping the Tigers go to the IHSA state tournament, where Edwardsville lost to Chicago Perspectives/Leadership
ILLINOIS - SFC Victor Hernandez with the Illinois Army National Guard wants community members to know that the military is an option for them. “It’s completely changed my life,” he said. “It’s just been awesome.” Hernandez joined the National Guard 18 years ago. He has enjoyed working with the state and federal governments. He explained that he recently moved to Alton and started working as a recruitment specialist in the Alton National Guard office.
BATES COUNTY, MO. - The Bates County Coroner’s Office has identified the 12 victims of a plane crash that occurred Sunday, June 14, 2026, at Butler Memorial Airport in Butler, Missouri, while cautioning that authorities are still working to make “certain” the deceased are positively identified. In a statement posted by the coroner’s office, Bates County Coroner Jerret J. Reno said the victims were identified “through the provided manifest and next-of-kin notifications.”
GRANITE CITY – State Senator Erica Harriss and State Representative Amy Elik have partnered to host a FREE Kids Fair Event this weekend. The event will feature free resources for parents and their children, free vison/hearing tests, face painting, food, touch-a-truck, a foam party, and so much more! Who: State Senator Erica Harriss, State Representative Amy Elik When: Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Where: The Mill (Former Niedringhaus United Methodist Church)
EDWARDSVILLE – For a second year, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the Department of Engineering will host the exciting collegiate competition known as the Electrek American Solar Challenge. More than 20 solar car teams traveling a 1500+ mile course in eight days along the Great River Road and Route 66 will encounter a festival at the SIUE stop, with food trucks, music and more! Monday, July 27 – 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Solar cars arrive staggered until 6pm;
JERSEYVILLE/ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE - A tornado watch remained technically in effect Wednesday morning, June 17, 2026, for Montgomery, Macoupin, Jersey, Calhoun, Greene, Pike, Brown, and Adams counties in Illinois, but the threat had “severely lessened” after showers and storms moved through most of the area, Melissa Delia, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in St. Louis, said. Delia said the National Weather Service in St. Louis forecasters are predicting two rounds of showers
SPRINGFIELD – Waterfowl hunters can mark their calendars for upcoming waterfowl hunting blind drawings scheduled at several public hunting areas across Illinois in July and August. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will conduct traditional blind drawings at all sites scheduled this year. Participants should follow any site-specific drawing procedures. Duck and goose hunters must register in person for waterfowl blind site drawings and must be present at the drawing
SPRINGFIELD – A major component of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ Road Safety & Fairness Act will begin next month with the elimination of the state’s mandatory behind-the-wheel driving tests for Illinois drivers ages 79 to 86. Starting July 1, the new law raises the age at which Illinois drivers must take a driving test from 79 to 87, removing an outdated age-based requirement that made Illinois the only state in the nation to require a behind-the-wheel test solely
MILLSTADT, Ill. – After the largest-in-history $55.9 Billion FY 27 State Budget was signed into law by Governor Pritzker on June 16, 2026, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) issued the following statement. “I am disappointed that Governor Pritzker signed a budget that will increase costs for Illinois families," said Schmidt. "This budget raises taxes another $800 million and will create more burdens for working families and businesses. I’m committed to fighting
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in pressing President Donald Trump on Republican threats to Social Security after a new Trustees Report revealed that Republican policies are accelerating Social Security’s insolvency. The Senators’ letter also follows a series of comments from Trump Administration officials and Republican leaders in Congress suggesting that they support benefit
EDWARDSVILLE – June marks the official start of summer, and with that comes increased chances of excessively high temperatures. The City of Edwardsville is urging residents to prepare now for periods of prolonged or excessive heat and the associated risks. The City is working in cooperation with several local facilities to provide relief when the heat index rises above 100° Fahrenheit. The following facilities are available to serve as cooling centers during their normal operating
CASEYVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced ramp closures at the Interstate 64 and Illinois 157 interchange in St. Clair County. Beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, 2026, the following ramps will be closed to traffic: • Illinois 157 to westbound I-64 • Westbound I-64 to Illinois 157 Weather permitting, all westbound ramps at the interchange are expected to reopen by 4 p.m. Monday, June 22. Immediately following the reopening of the westbound
SPRINGFIELD - Today Governor JB Pritzker signed SB3365 into law, building a foundation to protect patients in anticipation of significant changes to the healthcare system in Illinois due to the federal HR1 legislation. This law will deliver significant reforms to Illinois’ hospital system and long-term care industry. The bipartisan Fiscal Year 2027 Medicaid Omnibus bill will strengthen the ability of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and of the Illinois Department of Healthcare
SPRINGFIELD – Today, Illinois Board of Higher Education Executive Director Ginger Ostro issued the following statement following the signing of the fiscal year 2027 state budget package: “We are grateful to Governor Pritzker, legislative leaders and members of the General Assembly for enacting a budget that includes crucial funding for higher education. Illinois continues to recognize that investment in higher education, even when we are experiencing difficult fiscal times, is foundational
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) advanced numerous provisions led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to strengthen our security and readiness in the Indo-Pacific region. Duckworth’s provisions would improve coordination and planning with our partners in the Indo-Pacific on crisis management, maritime security and military medicine, while also bolstering our defense industrial base. “We are a Pacific nation, and our national security and
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a spotlight forum on protecting election security as the Trump Administration continues to restrict Americans’ voting rights and President Trump and some congressional Republicans continue to push the SAVE America Act. The spotlight forum comes after the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Louisiana v. Callais , in which
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, continued his calls for serious reforms to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Section 702 allows the government to collect the private communications of foreigners overseas without a warrant. The problem is that millions, and potentially billions, of innocent Americans’ communications with friends, family
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) in introducing the Make More in America Act to rebuild American manufacturing capacity in industries critical
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois General Assembly has approved legislation backed by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias to modernize Illinois distracted driving laws by addressing the use of artificial intelligence smart glasses and other emerging technologies behind the wheel. House Bill 4843 updates the Illinois Vehicle Code to clarify that electronic communication devices include artificial intelligence smart glasses, ensuring Illinois law keeps pace with rapidly evolving
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