ALTON - Alton Middle School will welcome a new athletic director/dean of students for the 2026–2027 school year. During the regular meeting of the Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education on Feb. 17, 2026, the Board unanimously approved the appointment of Jalen Williams to the role. Williams noted his excitement to step into the position. “My goal is to help every student become the best version of themselves, both in the classroom and through athletics,”
The Pentagon will review and potentially cut off tuition assistance for active-duty military service members at Washington University, along with dozens of other institutions, following a memo signed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
ALTON – Carson Bauer, an outfielder and pitcher from Marquette Catholic, signed his letter of intent on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, to continue his baseball career at Illinois College. “It means a lot to me. It’s been a goal of mine to play baseball in college, and it feels like a blessing to be able to do that next year,” Bauer said. Bauer was also heavily involved in academics and extracurricular activities at Marquette. He was a member of the student council, National
JERSEYVILLE – A local nonprofit helping youth victims of abuse recently got a financial boost from Jerseyville city officials. City Council members unanimously approved a $5,000 contribution to the Unified Child Advocacy Network (UCAN) at their Feb. 17, 2026 meeting. UCAN’s mission is to serve, protect and advocate for children affected by sexual and serious physical abuse, and to educate the community about child abuse. UCAN conducts forensic interviews with these victims in
ALTON - During their regular meeting on Feb. 17, 2026, the Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education recognized the February Optimist Students of the Month. Sophia Groppel was named the Optimist Student of the Month for Alton Middle School, while Cruz Janis was recognized from East Elementary School. Alton Middle School Principal Dr. Brian Saenz introduced Groppel and commended her for her “significant impact” on the school. Groppel is involved in the school’s
Paul McCartney and Wings will be the subject of a new exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.The exhibit, opening May 15, is described in a…
ALTON - Beverly Woody operates from a place of love. Woody, one of the YWCA’s eleven 2026 Women of Distinction, will be honored at the Y’s annual gala for her commitment to the community. She works as a licensed social worker, volunteers with her church, serves as a foster parent, and hosts a give-back event for local families every winter. “I do my best,” Woody said. “I’m not an out front person. I’ll stay in the back, and I'll do any and everything
This year, the St. Louis Aquarium is going bigger, brighter, and longer. For the first time, with two teams, freshwater grit meets saltwater flow. Two waters. One splashy showdown. Cheer […]
On display at the ever-popular orchid show, the Missouri Botanical Garden’s vast orchid collection includes more than 6,000 individual plants representing almost 700 unique species, and approximately one in 10 […]
A driver of a truck pursued by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville police died late Sunday night after losing control and crashing into a building off campus, authorities said.
ALTON - Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski got her share of hugs during a visit to Riverbend Head Start, where she talked about the importance of funding Head Start programs. On Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, Budzinski read a book and completed a craft with a classroom of 3- to 5-year-olds at Riverbend Head Start in Alton. She shared that the event was a major highlight of her day, and it reminded her why she is pushing for continued funding for Head Start programs. “You can just see the impact.
A bouquet can say “I’m sorry” without using a single word—and most people will understand it instantly. That’s a strange kind of power for something that can’t speak, can’t move, and will wilt in a few days. Yet flowers have become one of the clearest emotional languages humans share. Why flowers work when words feel risky Emotions are messy. Saying them out loud can feel awkward or too intense. Flowers offer a safer middle ground. They let someone
A major property tax reform bill in the Missouri House was sent back to a special committee Tuesday over concerns that the bill needed more changes. Sponsored by state Rep. Tim Taylor, a Republican from Bunceton, the wide-ranging bill would change how property taxes are calculated and when property tax measures are voted on. “There […]
On February 18, 1930, a young astronomer in the United States announced that a new world had been found at the edge of the solar system. Clyde Tombaugh’s discovery of Pluto quickly captured public attention because it seemed to complete a long search for a “Planet X” thought to be tugging on the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. At the time, it expanded the known map of the solar system and showed how much remained unseen beyond the familiar planets. It still matters today because
Ten Democratic-leaning states are using their own money to help people buy Obamacare health plans, at least partially replacing the federal tax credits that expired at the end of last year. The state assistance, some of it offered through programs that existed before the federal subsidies expired, is helping hundreds of thousands of people lower […]
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