In an unanimous decision, the St. Charles City Council approved on Friday a ban on zoning changes or building permits for data centers until Aug. 22 next year.
Earlier this year, an Army helicopter collided with a passenger plane over the Potomac River in Washington, DC. All sixty-seven people aboard both vehicles were killed. While the FAA focused its investigation on the failures that led to this mid-air collision, local investigators in Virginia were somehow far more concerned about identifying who had leaked […]
ALTON – The Wedge is proud to welcome Jacqueline Reyes as its new Marketing & Communications Specialist. A student at Principia College and a first-generation college attendee, Jacqueline brings with her a strong mix of creativity, digital marketing experience, and a passion for connecting with people. Originally from California, Jacqueline is currently a senior at Principia studying Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Art History. She has a growing portfolio of experience, from managing social media campaigns and building websites, to organizing campus events and helping fellow students with career planning. At The Wedge, she’ll be supporting marketing and storytelling efforts, helping to grow The Wedge’s visibility through digital content and media, while assisting with programming and promotion—engaging both current members and the broader Riverbend community. “Jackie has a great mix of curiosity and initiative,”
Warren Haynes has shared a new track from his upcoming album, The Whisper Sessions, which features stripped down versions of songs from his 2024 solo album, Million Voices Whisper.The latest is the song “From Here…
HIGHLAND — Gavin Schlarmann, a dedicated emergency medical technician and firefighter with the City of Highland, died in a motorcycle crash on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, the Highland Police and Fire Departments announced on Friday. Schlarmann was known for his commitment to public service, frequently responding to ambulance calls and supporting his colleagues at the firehouse. The Highland Fire Department described Gavin as someone who consistently “stepped up” and “was always the first to step up and the last to leave,” highlighting his courage, compassion, and selflessness. “It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic passing of Gavin Schlarmann,” the department said in a statement. “His kind spirit touched countless lives. Gavin always greeted you with a smile.” The loss has deeply affected his family, friends, and fellow public safety personnel. The Highland Police Department asked the community to keep them in
Around 10:20 a.m. on August 22, 2025, first responders were called to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Prisoner Processing area of the St. Louis City Justice Center (CJC) for a sick person call. Staff assigned to the Prisoner Processing area observed a 43-year-old woman experiencing a medical emergency and alerted medical personnel in the […]
GRANTFORK - Madison County Coroner Nicholas P. Novacich has identified a 21-year-old Highland man who died following a motorcycle crash on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. Gavin L. Schlarmann was operating a 2025 Kawasaki motorcycle northbound on Illinois Route 160 in Grantfork when his motorcycle left the roadway and struck a tree. Schlarmann was transported to St. Joseph Hospital Emergency Room in Highland, where he was pronounced dead at 3:10 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, by the emergency room physician. The preliminary cause of death is blunt head trauma. The coroner's office said routine toxicology samples were collected and will be tested for drugs and alcohol, with results pending. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police Troop 8 and the Madison County Coroner’s Office. A final cause of death will not be issued until all reports are complete. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Meridith Funeral Home in Highland.
WOOD RIVER — Marquette Catholic’s boys golf team delivered a strong performance Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, at the Madison County Small Schools Golf Championships, held at Belk Park. The Explorers finished with a team score of 324, highlighted by senior Carson Jones’ second-place individual finish among small schools and seventh overall. The tournament took place Aug. 21, 2025, bringing together small school teams from across Madison County. Marquette Catholic’s boys golf squad demonstrated depth, with senior Andrew Belden and sophomore Sam Jun tying for sixth and seventh place individually among small schools, each shooting an 80. Jones led the team with a 75, contributing significantly to the Explorers’ overall team success. Other individual scores included senior Henry Freihoff at 89, junior Chase Pruitt at 91, and junior Hubert Allen at 95. The team’s achievement earned them recognition as Tucker’s Automotive Repair and Tire Male Athletes
ALTON — Landon Mayer captured the Large School Division title at the Madison County Boys Golf Tournament event at Belk Park in Wood River, finishing with a score of 1 over par, 73. Mayer’s performance showcased his skill among competitors in the region. Mayer managed to post a strong score that set him apart from the rest of the field. “Landon is the most talented player in the conference and has the chance to have a special junior season," Alton's head boys golf coach Dylan Dudley said. "He had the opportunity to watch and learn from Sam (Otwell) last year, which has helped him tremendously.” Landon is an Auto Butler Male Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds. Coach Dudley also highlighted the importance of Mayer’s mental approach to the game, noting that managing emotions is crucial for his continued success. “The key for Landon is to handle the mental side of the game; you can never get too high or too low,” Dudley added. Mayer’s
A lawsuit filed Thursday accuses Ferguson Florissant School District of failing to intervene when former principal Cedric Gerald, who was charged in May with nine child sex crimes, abused a former student.
The White House’s recently-unveiled “AI Action Plan” wages war on so-called “woke AI”—including large language models (LLMs) that provide information inconsistent with the administration’s views on climate change, gender, and other issues. It also targets measures designed to mitigate the generation of racial and gender biased content and even hate speech. The reproduction of this bias […]
Cheap Trick is back with new music.The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers are set to release their 21st album, All Washed Up, on Nov. 14 and have dropped the record’s first single,…