CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a $120 million settlement with Monsanto Company (Monsanto) and affiliates Solutia Inc. and Pharmacia LLC over the environmental and health effects of Monsanto’s decades-long production of polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs. Raoul’s office filed a 2022 lawsuit alleging the company was aware of the chemicals’ toxicity while publicly denying any knowledge of the danger to human health and the environment. This settlement
Kevin Childers Jr., 38, who formerly ran the jail's kitchen, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and meth, the U.S. attorney's office said.
ALTON - Nicole Rhoades is seeking community support following the tragic death of her father, John Rhoades, who died in a recent house fire. The family is coping with the sudden loss and the financial burden of the funeral and final expenses. John Rhoades was described by his daughter as a loving father and devoted grandfather who brought joy and laughter to family gatherings. “He had a playful spirit and loved playing games with us all — he truly was a big kid at heart, and his
SPRINGFIELD – Several new laws take effect in Illinois on Jan. 1, 2026, including regulations on artificial intelligence, eliminating the state’s grocery tax, and more after receiving Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature. AI Amendments To Human Rights Act Target Employment Discrimination House Bill 3773 makes it a civil rights violation for employers to use artificial intelligence (AI) to discriminate against employees or potential new hires based on race, gender, age,
ALTON – State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) was named an Americans for Prosperity – Illinois (AFP–IL) 2025 Prairie State Policy Champion. AFP-IL cited her work leading opposition to the Homeschool Act as a determining factor in their decision to award Elik. “I am honored to be recognized for my efforts to rein in government spending, ease Illinois’ state tax burden, and protect homeschoolers and empower educational choice in Illinois,” said Rep. Amy Elik.
PONTOON BEACH – Holiday cheer is once again hitting the streets of Madison County as Madison County Transit’s (MCT) “Holiday Bus” rolls out for the 2025 season. The festive tradition offers surprise complimentary rides to passengers throughout December, reflecting MCT’s appreciation for the community members they serve. In 2024, the Holiday Bus provided nearly 5,000 free rides to passengers throughout the county. From December 1 through December 31, the Holiday
GRAFTON - On a chilly Friday evening, Nov. 28, 2025, families gathered in The Grove Memorial Park in Grafton to celebrate the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, welcoming the holiday season with festive cheer and community spirit. Despite the cold, attendees enjoyed hot chocolate and s’mores provided by the Grafton Pub, warming themselves around a fire as Nickie Brooks performed Christmas songs that set a joyful tone. Children eagerly awaited the moment when the large Christmas tree
ALTON - Illinois Main Street, a statewide coordinating program of Main Street America, recently announced the 2025 Lt. Governor Awards for Excellence in Revitalization during the Illinois Main Street Conference in Dixon, Illinois. The program recognized more than two dozen projects, organizations, and local leaders who are transforming downtowns and neighborhood business districts in communities of all sizes across the state. Alton Main Street was honored for a study that was completed in partnership
Superintendent Mark Delaney, a former deputy, has served as interim superintendent since July, after it was announced the district's previous hire would not assume his role "due to unforeseen circumstances."
When the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2026, Illinois will usher in a slate of new laws, signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, that promise to reshape workplaces, redefine employee rights, and even redraw the boundaries of corporate power.
A former Lincoln County Jail contract employee appeared in federal court Monday and was sentenced for smuggling methamphetamine and fentanyl into the jail.
ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE/GRANITE CITY - The Overnight Warming Locations (OWLs) are once again active and making sure there’s a warm place for people to sleep on the coldest nights of the year. Located in Alton, Edwardsville and Granite City, the OWLs open when the forecast overnight temperature in Alton is 20 degrees or lower. Unhoused community members or folks with insufficient heat are invited to come in, enjoy a hot dinner, take showers, and spend the night. In the morning, guests
by Tom Finan, Executive Director/Co-Founder, Construction Forum If you know architect and historian John C. Guenther, FAIA, LEED AP, you know he sees things the rest of us walk past — and then helps us see them too. I’ve admired that gift for decades. John has been practicing architecture for 48 years, 27 of them […]
From St. Louis Magazine: It’s not complicated: kids + sand + toy trucks = hours of independent playtime. But a new playspace is taking that childhood pastime to the next level. Slated to open in early 2026, Little Diggers in Des Peres (13347 Manchester) is billed as “your neighborhood’s largest indoor sandbox.” It’s made for […]
Licensed gun dealers are a major source of firearms that end up illegally trafficked, according to a new analysis using federal data by the research arm of Everytown for Gun Safety, which advocates for stricter gun laws. Gun trafficking involves diverting guns from legal commerce into the illegal market, often through straw purchases, unlicensed dealing or […]
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