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What do you get when you combine culinary innovation, historical documentation, and a pinch of cultural pride? The celebration of National Waffle Day, a seemingly simple holiday with roots that stretch back centuries. While waffles are beloved worldwide, the story behind the day dedicated to them is an intriguing blend of invention, tradition, and marketing savvy. The Birth of the Waffle: A Historical Perspective Waffles, as food historians note, have origins dating back to the Middle Ages. Early forms of the waffle were made by cooking batter between two hot metal plates, often emblazoned with intricate designs. These early irons were used over open flames, and the resulting cakes were both decorative and practical. The first known waffle recipe appeared in a 14th-century manuscript, indicating the dish’s long-standing presence in European cuisine. The term “waffle” itself is derived from the Dutch word “wafel,” reflecting the treat’s deep roots

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August 23rd and 24th stand out in history as days marked by pivotal moments that shaped the course of global events. Arguably the most consequential event associated with August 23rd is the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942. This brutal confrontation between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II proved to be a critical turning point in the war. On this day, Adolf Hitler launched Operation Blue, intending to capture the city of Stalingrad (modern-day Volgograd) to secure the eastern front and gain control over the oil-rich Caucasus region. What followed was a months-long siege marked by intense urban warfare, severe casualties, and an unyielding Soviet defense. The battle eventually culminated in the encirclement and surrender of the German 6th Army in February 1943, marking the beginning of the German retreat on the Eastern Front and shifting the momentum in favor of the Allies. But August 23rd’s historical significance extends far beyond the battlefield. In 1939,

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Incident occurred about 5:10 p.m. Tuesday at West Florissant and Davison avenues, police said.

Police say the incident, which took place shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday, is believed to be "domestic related."

The man was from Raymondville in southern Missouri.

DU QUOIN – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias spent the day in Du Quoin touring the Public Library and visiting the State Fair. The visit to the library follows the awarding of nearly $1.5 million in library grants to Southern Illinois libraries for FY25 to ensure access to quality resources and programming. The Du Quoin library received $12,500 in technology grants and $8,594 in per capita grants. The per-capita grants were calculated according to a statutory formula based on the population of each community, while the technology grants were awarded to help public libraries in underserved communities with needed technology enhancements. View a full list of libraries and award amounts. At the Du Quoin State Fair, Giannoulias toured the office’s tent and visited with attendees and employees. Fairgoers can check out the office’s One-Stop-Shop experience, allowing a customer to attain both driver and vehicle services from a single counter.

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Documents obtained by the Post-Dispatch offer a glimpse of what went on behind the scenes as the school board held a series of closed-door meetings to discuss Dominguez's job status.

SAINT LOUIS - United Way of Greater St. Louis will kick off their annual fundraising campaign at a Cardinals game next week. On Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, the St. Louis Cardinals will host “United Way Night” at Busch Stadium. A portion of ticket sales will go back to United Way and their efforts to support 16 counties in Illinois and Missouri. The fundraising campaign will continue through the end of the year. “United Way is for everybody, and it impacts everybody,” said Stephanie with United Way. “Our mission at United Way is to help every single person in our 16-county footprint live their best life, whatever we can do.” Stephanie explained that United Way started 103 years ago when a group of people decided they wanted to help the community by supporting existing nonprofits. To this day, United Way of Greater St. Louis works with over 160 nonprofits in the Greater St. Louis region. The money they raise during their fundraising campaign

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Launched nationally in July 2022, 988 is the three-digit dialing code for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, created to provide an easier, more accessible way for people experiencing emotional distress to get help. Since its launch three years ago, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has connected millions of Americans in distress with trained crisis professionals, answering more than 16 million calls, texts, and chats to date. Thanks to these dedicated mental health professionals, including those at Centerstone, response times have dropped dramatically, with the national average speed to answer being just over 60 seconds across all modalities. Answer rates have also improved significantly: 98% for texts, 91% for online chats, and 88% for phone calls. As a result, the 988 Lifeline is reaching more people, more quickly than ever before, helping to save thousands of lives. While the numbers matter, the heart of 988 is the people. None of this groundbreaking work would be possible without

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MARION – Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs today returned a lost Purple Heart medal to the grand-niece of a World War II veteran who earned it while fighting the Germans in Italy. Frerichs reunited Army Private Stephen J. Grabowski’s military medals with grand-niece Chrystal Cantrell during a ceremony at VFW Post 1301 in Marion. It is the 16th lost medal Frerichs has returned as part of Operation Purple Heart , an unprecedented mission to reunite lost medals with the rightful owners. The iconic military honor is given to individuals wounded or killed during military combat. “Private Grabowski sacrificed a great deal to stop an evil dictator and ensure a free world,” Frerichs said. “It is never too late to honor the sacrifices of the Greatest Generation.” On April 15, 1945, during the closing days of active fighting in Europe, Grabowski and thousands of others participated in Operation Grapeshot, the final Allied attack during the Italian Campaign.

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CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1181 into law, clarifying that the protections in the Citizen Participation Act apply to the freedom of the press to opine, report, or investigate matters of public concern. The Citizen Participation Act protects against “strategic lawsuits against public participation” (SLAPPs), and with this new amendment, news media will be explicitly added as a protected entity. In Illinois, journalists facing defamation lawsuits and similar litigation for reporting on public matters will be protected under the same legislation. “As Trump and his friends continue their frivolous and targeted attacks on members of the free press, we are working to protect and empower Illinois journalists as they keep the general public informed,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This law will strengthen our anti-SLAPP legislation in Illinois—ensuring press don’t have to fear retaliation for reporting the truth and

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Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey will become a co-deputy director of the FBI

A man has been arrested for allegedly giving abortion-inducing drugs to a pregnant woman without her consent, resulting in a miscarriage.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Two men were killed and three other people were hurt, including a juvenile, in a shooting where the victims were found at a downtown Kansas City parking lot at 13th and Grand on Sunday morning. Kansas City police say the early investigation indicates an argument led to shots being fired just [...]

Workers at FEMA worry that demanding disaster survivors access services using email could shut out people without internet connectivity from receiving government aid.