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EAST ALTON – An East Alton man faces 11 Class X felonies after allegedly making a series of terrorist threats targeting several local businesses. Austin H. Blair, 25, of East Alton, was charged on Sept. 4, 2025 with 11 counts of making a terrorist threat, each Class X felonies. From July 28 to Aug. 27, 2025, Blair allegedly knowingly threatened to commit a terrorist act or created the impression that a terrorist act was about to be committed on 11 different occasions. Blair allegedly made a series of terrorist threats via phone calls to several local businesses, including fast food restaurants, a convenience store and a local bar. On each occasion, he either falsely reported seeing an active shooter approaching the location or threatened to commit an act of violence the location, according to charging documents. On July 28, 2025, Blair reportedly made four such terrorist threats in one day, with each incident described in charging documents as follows:

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ROXANA — Mekhi Shorter, a sophomore running back who transferred from East Alton Wood River, is making an immediate impact for the Roxana Shells football team this season. Through two games, Shorter leads the team with an average of 123.5 rushing yards per game and has scored six rushing touchdowns. Shorter has carried the ball 21 times for a total of 247 yards, with his longest run covering 44 yards. In last Friday’s game against Red Bud, he recorded eight carries for 102 yards and three touchdowns. He is a Midwest Members Male Athlete of the Month for the Shells. “I want to make a good example of myself, I want to show everyone I belong here, and help Roxana win,” Shorter said. As a freshman at East Alton Wood River last year, Shorter played in six games, gaining 144 yards on 16 carries and averaging nine yards per carry. “Shorter is pretty electric until you see him out there playing varsity football you don’t know what to expect and he ha

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The East St. Louis native and 1956 Assumption High graduate got his college degree from Southern Illinois Carbondale and his first job at the East St. Louis Journal.

This week, our first place winner on the insightful side is Shannon Vanshoon with a comment about RFK Jr’s congressional hearing: So, yeah, I’d say on one hand that it’s nice Senator Cassidy is railing against Kennedy like this for all the unmitigated and horrifically dangerous decisions he’s making. But hey, you know what would’ve […]

Americans have a vested interest in what happens in their jails. More oversight, not less, is the only solution.

Missouri Republicans want to make it harder for citizens to alter the state Constitution