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Lucy Haskell Playhouse to Host Free Open House and Birthday Party Events

1 month 2 weeks ago
ALTON - The Lucy Haskell Playhouse has a few events lined up to celebrate Lucy’s legacy. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, 2025, community members can stop by the playhouse in Middletown for an open house. Families can play old-fashioned games and tour the playhouse. This will be followed by Lucy’s birthday party from 6:30–8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, where you can enjoy cake, ice cream, games, pony rides and more. “It’s building that sense of community,” said Sarah, one of the volunteers. “I just love the legacy of the Haskell family, the fact that Florence Haskell donated this house and playhouse and land to the City of Alton for the education and recreation of children. It’s beautiful to be able to continue that legacy for the family. I just love the sense of community that it builds for all of us.” All of the Lucy Haskell Playhouse events are completely free to attend. Organizers Sarah and Margaret

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Granite City Mayor, Legislators Plead For President Trump's Help For Local Steel Plant

1 month 2 weeks ago
GRANITE CITY — President Donald Trump announced in late May 2025 a revised partnership agreement between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel, reversing earlier opposition to the acquisition that officially closed June 18, 2025. The deal includes commitments to keep U.S. Steel’s headquarters in Pittsburgh, maintain an American CEO, and ensure a majority of U.S. citizens on the board. Nippon Steel pledged $14 billion in U.S. investments, including $2.4 billion for facilities in Pennsylvania’s Mon Valley region. Despite these assurances, officials and community leaders in Granite City and Illinois state legislators have raised concerns about the future of the local U.S. Steel plant. The legislators are on both a statewide and a national level. Granite City Mayor Michael C. Parkinson has expressed frustration over the absence of clear investment plans for Granite City Works, which reopened in 2018 following President Trump’s monumental visit to the community and the steel

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It's Not Too Late to Protect Your Trees from Emerald Ash Borers

1 month 2 weeks ago
If your ash tree’s canopy is thinning, bark is flaking off in patches, or woodpeckers are suddenly interested in your trunk, you may be seeing the signs of an emerald ash borer infestation. These bright green beetles may look harmless—no bigger than a penny—but their larvae are devastating tree killers, and they’ve been sweeping through the Midwest for years. In late spring, adult emerald ash borers lay eggs in the cracks of your ash tree’s bark. When the eggs hatch, the tiny larvae chew their way under the surface and begin tunneling through the soft layer just beneath the bark. That’s where your ash moves water and nutrients. As the larvae feed, they leave behind winding S-shaped galleries that slowly choke the tree from the inside out. Over time, your tree’s upper branches begin to die off, bark splits open, and shoots sprout directly from the trunk—a desperate attempt by the tree to survive. Left untreated, the damage builds year afte

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Grok Becomes ‘MechaHitler,’ Twitter Becomes X: How Centralized Tech Is Prone To Fascist Manipulation

1 month 2 weeks ago
This week, Elon Musk’s Grok AI started spewing extreme antisemitism, responding with conspiracy theories about Jewish people, and for a brief period telling people to call it “MechaHitler.” The incident perfectly illustrates why Alex Komoroske’s manifesto about the dangers of centralized AI, which we ran less than a month ago, has been making waves. When […]
Mike Masnick

Jersey County Fair, Alton Farmer's & Artisan's Market, and EXO Headline Your Weekend Go Guide

1 month 2 weeks ago
From lively summer camps and vibrant county fairs to engaging cooking classes and exciting concerts, the variety of events happening across the Riverbend offers something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for family fun, community gatherings, or unique local experiences, there’s plenty to explore and celebrate. For a full listing of upcoming events, be sure to visit https://www.riverbender.com/events/ . If you want to make sure even more of the region is aware of your event email cj@riverbender.com and explore our range of Event Promotion Services! Featured GGCA Summer Camp invites kids ages 3 to 12 to embark on an unforgettable adventure with their 2025 Summer Camp themed "Bible Explorer: Trek through Truth!" This engaging camp, held at Greater Glory Christian Academy in Alton, Illinois, offers a full schedule of outdoor and water games, crafts, weekly field trips to local attractions and the NCG Cinema, and daily hot meals. Operating weekdays from Jun

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Officer interrupts shooting in progress, kills armed suspect

1 month 2 weeks ago

Update: The deceased suspect was identified as 26-year-old Andre Pellegrino of St. Louis City. Force Investigators were called to 14th and Market in St. Louis after an officer interrupted a shooting in progress and killed the suspect. A preliminary investigation reveals that the officer, with 18 years of service, interrupted a shooting involving two men. […]

The post Officer interrupts shooting in progress, kills armed suspect appeared first on St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

Mitch McCoy

UPDATE: Armed Shooting Suspect Killed After Refusing Police Commands, Reaching in Bag

1 month 2 weeks ago

Update: The deceased suspect has been identified as 42-year-old Arick Wren of Hazelwood, MO. Just after 2am on June 22, 2025, District 2 officers responded to the 4100 block of Manchester for a shooting. When officers arrived on scene, they located an adult man who had been shot. That shooting victim is in stable condition […]

The post UPDATE: Armed Shooting Suspect Killed After Refusing Police Commands, Reaching in Bag appeared first on St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

Mitch McCoy