Aggregator

NWS survey crews surveyed damage from Monday night's storms. Here's how many tornadoes they've confirmed so far.

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Benny the Bull joined forces today to remind Illinoisans that the office continues to issue REAL IDs following the May 7 enforcement date. Giannoulias hosted Benny at the office’s REAL ID Supercenter, located at 191 N. Clark St., where the Bulls mascot took advantage of some downtime during the summer break to apply for a REAL ID before the NBA season kicks off in the fall. “As we’ve been saying for months, the May 7 REAL ID ‘deadline’ wasn’t really a deadline. The enforcement period has begun at airports and the unprecedented demand we experienced has started to wane,” Giannoulias said. “For those still interested in getting a REAL ID, we’re continuing to offer expanded service throughout the state for fast, specialized service.” Since the enforcement period took effect nearly two weeks ago, demand for REAL IDs in Illinois has dropped with fewer applicants

Continue Reading

From St. Louis Post-Dispatch:  The city’s building safety chief says two historic vacant buildings north of downtown need to be demolished in the wake of a damaging fire over the weekend. Building Commissioner Ed Ware said Wednesday that the buildings, owned by controversial developer Paul McKee’s NorthSide Regeneration, sustained considerable damage in the blaze, and […]

ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, will host a meeting to provide additional information on the new 1,200-foot lock at Lock and Dam 25. The meeting will be held at Lock 25, 10 Sandy Slough Road, Winfield, Missouri, May 22, starting at 10 a.m. Project team members will have posters with designs and will be available to provide information, answer questions, and discuss the project with attendees. Attendees will also be able to tour the project. The St. Louis District, in collaboration with the Inland Navigation Design Center, or INDC, are in the process of completing the design for the new 1,200-foot lock that will expand the existing Lock and Dam 25. The project team will provide additional information on the project development and future construction as the design efforts reach the 95% design point. Feedback, comments and questions from the community members are welcome in this first of many engagements to be held throughout the completio

Continue Reading

From Leader Publications:  Festus R-6 school officials have allocated nearly $5 million to build an approximately 10,500-square-foot addition to Festus Intermediate School at 1501 Mid-Meadow Lane. The Festus Board of Education voted unanimously April 17 to award a $4,976,990 contract to Brockmiller Construction of Farmington to build the addition. The company submitted the lowest of […]

A Troy, Illinois, man appeared in Madison County Circuit Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for killing his own mother.

A man from Rolla, Missouri, was sentenced to up to a decade in prison for shooting his ex-girlfriend in the face.

WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats on Tuesday blasted the assault charges the Trump administration is pursuing against New Jersey U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver following a clash with law enforcement earlier this month outside an immigration detention center in Newark. Leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus, Democratic Women’s Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus defended McIver at a press conference […]

WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Tuesday was grilled by senators on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee about funding estimates for a barrier along the southern border, as well as concerns about the Trump administration’s adherence to due process in immigration enforcement. Noem was sharply criticized by Democrats for […]

EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Tuesday that a Troy man convicted of first-degree murder in the death of his mother has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. Neil Howard, 46, received the sentence Tuesday for the murder of his mother, Norma J. Caraker, 60, of Troy. She was strangled with a bungee cord in September 2023. Following a week-long trial in February, a jury convicted Howard of first-degree murder. Evidence and testimony presented by Assistant State’s Attorney Luke Yager and Assistant State’s Attorney Ryan Kemper suggested Howard was unhappy about his mother’s dating. The evidence and testimony showed that she was killed in her bedroom, shortly after she had a date. At a sentencing hearing Tuesday, Yager sought a sentence of at least 45 years in prison. Yager noted that Howard had previous arrests involving incidents with other family members. “It is clear that the defendant is a violent individual, and

Continue Reading

When this week’s tornados struck the City of St. Louis John Clark, labor relations manager for Millstone Weber, headed for the neighborhoods he knew would be worst hit. It was more than curiosity: Clark has a long history of doing relief work in tornado-struck areas, including the 2011 Joplin tornado. Clark works through Samaritan’s Purse, […]

STAUNTON – As part of its ongoing commitment to enriching rural communities, Madison Communications is proud to announce that the Bunker Hill Public Library has been awarded the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) Community Grant of $4,200. This annual grant program, sponsored by FRS and supported by NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association members, provides funding to projects that enhance the quality of life in rural America. Each year, grants ranging from $250 to $5,000 are awarded to support community-focused initiatives across four major categories. Madison Communications, a long-time NTCA member serving Internet, TV, and Voice to Madison and Macoupin counties in Illinois, partnered with FRS to secure this grant for the Bunker Hill Library. The library chose to use its awarded funds to install a custom-made interactive technology table in its children’s section. Designed as an engaging educational resource, the table encourages learning through play and supports

Continue Reading

The National Weather Service has confirmed at least three tornadoes just south of the St. Louis metropolitan from Monday's severe storms.

GRANITE CITY – Granite City High School is proud to announce that its Job Shadow & Workplace Experience Program, led by business teacher Candi Parker , has been named the 2025 Madison County CTE Program of the Year . Parker was presented the award by Madison County CTE Director Kaleb Smith at the Madison Country CTE Awards Luncheon on May 15 in Edwardsville. "The exceptional quality of this year’s nominees inspired us to create a new category—the 2025 CTE Program of the Year," said Smith. "From job shadows to internships and capstone projects, students gain essential skills and connections that prepare them for life after graduation. Mrs. Parker's tireless efforts have built a program where employers are not just participants—they’re advocates." Parker, who is completing her fifth year in GCSD9, teaches business classes at GCHS and Lake Educational Support Services Center (ESSC) and also serves as the and CO-OP and Job Shadow Coordinator.

Continue Reading

ALTON - The Alton Community Unit School District #11 community can now receive healthcare at Alton High School. On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, ACUSD11 and Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation (SIHF) marked the opening of a new healthcare clinic at Alton High School, available to students, staff and district families. The clinic will offer in-person and telehealth appointments, and insurance is not required. “Our number one district and school goal is to create a culture of belonging for all of our students and staff, and what we know is that it can be very challenging to get quick, responsive healthcare,” said Superintendent Elaine Kane. “We really believe that having access here on campus will improve attendance and improve the well-being of everyone in the Alton School District.” Kane thanked the Board of Education, the district administration, the high school administration and maintenance staff, and many others for their support of the project. She

Continue Reading

Our Secretary of Homeland Security, tasked with overseeing the detention of thousands of people, doesn’t understand one of the most fundamental protections against unlawful imprisonment in our legal system. And we’re not talking about some obscure technical detail — we’re talking about habeas corpus, a basic right that’s been around since the Magna Carta. Kristi […]

Court documents reported that Scott Arnold-Micke, 48, met with a 17-year-old boy and engaged in sexual acts.