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WOOD RIVER - The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southwestern Illinois chapter helps community members take care of their mental health. In an interview on “Our Daily Show!” with C.J. Nasello at Centerstone’s recent resource fair , Heather shared her lived experience and the resources available through NAMI. An outreach specialist for NAMI, Heather’s entire career path was changed because of her lived experience, and she is proud that she can now help others who need help. “I lived a year of my life recently, within the last five years, completely agoraphobic. I had so many panic attacks that I wouldn’t leave my house,” Heather shared. “Sometimes when I’m talking to people, they’re like, ‘Ooh, that’s uncomfortable. Like, you’re telling your story?’ Yeah, I am, and it is a little uncomfortable, but I’m doing it with a purpose so that other people are like, ‘Hey,

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ALTON - The community is invited to the eighth annual Trinity Festival to enjoy 16 bands in 12 hours and raise money for Trinity’s Way. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in the warehouse at Milton Schoolhouse in Alton, and the event concludes at midnight. With two stages, over ten vendors, and 16 bands on the lineup, members of Trinity’s Way promise a fun day for everyone who comes out. “I think we’re on track to really have a great festival this year,” said April Gray. “Just to have that community support and that sense of love and the good vibes that day, it’s honestly enough to keep us going all year long and all of the other events that we do.” This year’s lineup includes Datura, Modern Pasta, Sometimes It’s Foggy and Sometimes It’s Clear, Hideous Gentlemen, Accidentally on Purpose, The Trophy Mules, Krickett & the Grilled Avocados, The Peacelords, Piasa Canyon, Mellow Trauma, Psychedelic

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ALTON - Rebecca Nixon, a retired kindergarten teacher who started her career in the Alton School District at Gilson Brown Elementary, left a very positive impact on her teaching journey with the district and school. She dedicated herself to influencing her students the right way each year, always making her classrooms memorable. Nixon's students were always ready for the next grade after she honed their skills. When asked what she loved most about her work, Nixon said it was the opportunity to influence students' lives positively. Now retired, she plans to spend more quality time with her family. In addition to family, Nixon enjoys traveling and attending sporting events during her free time and is consistently seen at Redbird home competitions. Offering advice to new educators, Nixon said the most important part of teaching is "building strong relationships with both students and colleagues." She said those relationships are the true keys to being a teacher who has an impact on

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GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSofSI) is excited to announce that Build-A-Bear Workshop is now part of our council retail experience! Girl Scouts – as well as non-Girl Scouts – can now build a new furry friend at our retail location at 4 Ginger Creek Parkway in Glen Carbon. To celebrate this new addition, GSofSI will hold two events and the public is invited to participate. Both events will take place at 4 Ginger Creek Parkway in Glen Carbon. First, a ribbon cutting, in partnership with the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce, will be held on Thursday, August 7 at 4:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided as well as a private sneak-peek of the forthcoming grand opening plans. Next, join GSofSI for an exciting grand opening full of activities! On Saturday, August 9 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., guests are invited to stop in and share in the fun. Tour and explore the Build-A-Bear party room, snap a pic at the photo booth, make and customize

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair Grandstand will open gates at 6 p.m. – two hours early – to accommodate the Megan Moroney concert crowd on Sunday, August 10. The event start time remains the same at 8 p.m. “We love the energy and excitement of a sold-out show,” said Rebecca Clark, Illinois State Fair manager . “With thousands of people funneling in, allowing a little extra time to get everyone through the gates will help things flow smoothly.” Concert goers are reminded to Arrive early Have your digital ticket downloaded before you get to the Fairgrounds Travel light to get through the security line quickly The concert pre-show party will start at 4:30 p.m. Tickets for this pre-show event are still available on Ticketmaster.com. Pre-show ticket holders are the first to be let on to the track. Note: Concert ticket is required for purchase of pre-show ticket. Just announced, Hunter Flynn will take the Illinois Lottery Grandstand

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EDWARDSVILLE - Birth to Five Illinois advocates for kids and families. Based out of Edwardsville, the Birth to Five Illinois Region 41 chapter serves Madison County. They offer several resources and councils that aim to increase support for community members with young children. “We have families, we all have kiddos, but everyone feels like they’re doing this journey alone,” said Malayna Hutchins, Family and Community Engagement Specialist. “So when we bring them together and they say, ‘Oh, you know what, I’m going through the same thing, I’m struggling with this too’ — they’re like, ‘Why isn’t there anything where these people can come together and meet and share resources and talk about the struggles?’ That’s something that’s been really passionate for them.” Hutchins oversees the Family Council, a division of Region 41 that brings together “family voices.” Adrienne

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ALTON - The Marie Meyer Flying Circus performed in the flying field near Wood River on Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26, 1925. The American Legion sponsored the shows, which began at 3 p.m. both days and featured three planes. A parade took place on Friday, July 24, to promote the shows. Planned events at the Flying Circus included wing walking by Marie Meyer, “said to be the only woman stunt flying in the country.” Meyer also planned to stand in the middle of the top of a plane while her pilot made the plane loop the loop. Meyer’s husband, Charles Fowler, was another one of the pilots. Fowler was well-known for his ability to fly upside down for long distances. There was an attempt at the “leap of death” by Bertie Brooks, movie stunt flyer, who also planned to hang from a trapeze by his teeth. In the leap of death, Brooks jumped from one end of the plane, hanging onto a rope, and attempted to climb back up the rope into the plane. Before

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Exemption allows facilities using ethylene oxide, a gas linked to health problems in humans, two more years to meet federal standards.

A vigil is being held today for Sammy Hayes Jr., who died in the City Justice Center after allegedly being left alone, strapped to a restraint chair. The vigil is scheduled for 6 p.m. in front of the Justice Center, as announced by the attorney representing Hayes' family. Hayes, 31, died around 10 p.m. last [...]

The Jade Marlin Foundation is giving away free backpacks filled with school supplies today at 5740 Doctor M.L.K. Drive, near Hamilton Heights, starting at 10 a.m. Families are encouraged to visit the location to receive backpacks that include essential school supplies such as notebooks, pencils, and folders. This initiative aims to support students and families [...]

Affinia Healthcare is hosting a series of back-to-school events, starting today at their Lemp Avenue location from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Families attending the event can receive free school supplies, health screenings, physicals, immunizations, and haircuts, all without the need for an appointment. If families are unable to attend today's event, Affinia Healthcare will [...]

Famous Footwear has partnered with Ticket to Dream Foundation for a back-to-school event. The event, which runs from 9 to 11 AM, aims to give kids in foster care a confidence boost as they prepare for the new school year. The 'Back-to-School Shopping Spree' is a nationwide initiative focused on supporting foster children as they [...]

(The Center Square) – With the southern border crisis largely eliminated, Republicans and the Trump administration are setting their sights on China as the next major threat to U.S. domestic security.