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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District will host their fourth annual Local Author Book Fair in December, and they’re looking for writers. On Dec. 6, 2025, at Alton Square Mall, community members can browse books by local authors and get to know the writing community in the Riverbend. Writers are encouraged to reach out to Hayner Library for more information about securing a booth at the festival. Executive Director Mary Cordes warns that the 25 available booths will go quickly. “The big one is our Local Author Book Fair,” Cordes said. “This is our fourth year of having this. They fill up fast. We have spots for 25 local authors, and I already have people who have emailed and called me over the weekend.” The fair will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 6 in the courtyard between the Alton Square Mall library and JCPenney at the mall. Cordes emphasized that they only have space for 25 authors, but they will have a waitlist available. The

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, released the following statement amid reports that the Department of Homeland Security requested 100 military personnel be sent to Illinois. “Donald Trump continues threatening Chicago and Illinois with his unwarranted, unwanted and unjust military deployments. Now, his administration is seriously considering plans to deploy 100 troops purportedly to protect federal immigration agents who have used excessive force against Americans simply exercising their First Amendment rights. Officials elected by the people of Illinois have made clear to Trump that there is no need for the military on the streets of Illinois. This is government overreach at its worst. “Even as Trump violates the law and stokes chaos as a pretext for deploying troops, our local law enforcement will continue prioritizing Illinoisans’

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker hosted a press conference with elected officials, community advocates, and local leaders to condemn the significant escalation over the weekend of aggressive and alarming tactics used by the Trump Administration’s ICE and Customs and Border Patrol federal agents against journalists, peaceful protesters, and families across the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs. The Governor also announced that the Illinois National Guard was notified that the Department of Homeland Security sent a memo to the Department of War requesting 100 military personnel be sent to Illinois. Over the weekend, there were numerous, confirmed reports of federal agents abusing their power, intimidating innocent civilians, violating the rights of due process, and waging war on law-abiding Illinoisians. This continues to be a manufactured crisis focused on causing chaos and mayhem, with the aim of creating a pretext to deploy military troops against Chicago and its

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MO Healthnet Division Director Todd Richardson will step down from his position leading the state’s Medicaid program at the end of October, according to a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Social Services. Richardson’s decision comes as his division prepares to implement a series of new directives from Congress on how states administer the federal […]

ALTON – An O’Fallon, Mo., resident faces charges in Madison County after allegedly breaking into a boat at the Alton Marina and stealing several items from within. Jeffrey Reed, 59, of O’Fallon, Mo., was charged on Sept. 24, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of burglary and a Class 3 felony count of theft. Reed allegedly entered a boat at the Alton Marina with the intent to commit a theft on May 25, 2025. He is additionally accused of stealing from the owner of the watercraft several items, including a mini fridge, two electric buffing machines, one electric grinder, two Duralast batteries, a chair, and a power washer nozzle, having a combined value of over $500. The Alton Police Department presented the case against Reed, who was ordered released from custody pending trial. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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ST. LOUIS – At the request of Mayor Cara Spencer, the Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners voted to approve a contract with the planning and engineering firm HNTB to begin a detailed exploration of potential Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in the Green Line Transit Corridor. After years of study and engineering for Green Line light rail, estimated project costs remained stubbornly high, and the possibility of securing federal funding, necessary for the construction of a light rail project, remains low given the current priorities of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). “High-quality and high-capacity public transit is necessary for all cities,” said Mayor Spencer. “It’s imperative we have a project that meets our objectives and qualifies for federal funding, which is necessary to make the project viable. Unfortunately, the Green Line, as proposed, has a $1.1 billion price tag for just 10 stations and less than 6 miles, making this project out of

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A head-on collision occurred in De Soto, Missouri around 11 a.m. on Missouri Route 21 at Route 110, with no fatalities reported.

Who’s running the country? That question became terrifyingly urgent this weekend when the President of the United States admitted he was preparing to send US military forces into an American city based entirely on old Fox News footage and lies from his advisors. Tim Cushing had a story yesterday about Trump’s bizarre declaration of war […]

Beginning Oct. 1, Missouri National Guard service members will provide support at Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facilities in the state.

Legislators upset that a bill they oppose becomes law don’t have a right to sue over it, attorneys defending the special session measure that provides state support to professional sports stadiums said in court on Tuesday. “It’s not recognized in the state of Missouri that a legislator can come to the court simply because they […]

On This Day, Sept. 30, 1982 ...Bruce Springsteen released the solo album Nebraska.The album featured 10 acoustic songs Springsteen originally recorded as demos on a four-track recorder. He'd planned to rerecord them…

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Second in a five-part series. When Margaret Crawford found out her reproductive health care provider was closing soon due to federal funding cuts, she scheduled an appointment for her annual exam.  But Crawford, a hairstylist with Medicaid insurance, got a call a few weeks later saying she would have to pay out of pocket, or […]

COLLINSVILLE – More than 200 guests came together on Thursday, September 11, 2025, for the American Cancer Society’s Farm to Table Metro East , presented by MRHFM, raising an outstanding $81,000 to support the fight against cancer. Held at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, the evening featured seasonal dishes from over a dozen top local restaurants, live music by Corey Evitts, and interactive experiences including the wine toss, key to recovery challenge, silent auction, and the Reflections of Hope tribute area. Guests also heard from featured speaker Mark Joiner, a firefighter with the Granite City Fire Department , who shared his powerful personal cancer journey and message of resilience. Farm to Table Metro East raises funds to advance the mission of the American Cancer Society, funding groundbreaking research, advocacy, and patient services that help people facing cancer today. 2025 Participating Restaurants Included: Bella Milano, 1933 House o

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