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MADISON COUNTY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the newly reconstructed interchange at Interstate 270 and Illinois 111 will open to traffic this afternoon, Sept. 30, weather permitting. The $25.1 million project was completed 20 days ahead of schedule, marking another major investment in the region’s transportation infrastructure. The new, modern interchange, located in the heart of the warehouse district in Pontoon Beach and Edwardsville, features a diverging diamond design that improves traffic flow and enhances safety throughout the area. Beginning this afternoon, all ramps and lanes will be fully reopened. While construction will continue off the road to complete the project, the timing of any future traffic restrictions will be announced in advance. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and remain alert for workers and equipment. Funded by the Illinois Competitive

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has a variety of fall events available for patrons to enjoy. Executive Director Mary Cordes emphasized that the library’s goal is to share their resources with the community. From their materials to their databases to their programs, they hope to inform and entertain. She noted that the events aim to draw people into the library so they can learn more about the services they offer. “The whole point is to get people to realize the value of your library in the community,” Cordes said. “Truly, I can’t think of one instance where, if you’ve got something going on, you can’t come to us. You can deal with it right at the library, check something out and take it home, download something to help you with it. I can’t think of a life instance where the library wouldn’t help you.” For kids, there’s a special story time planned for 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, at the Alton

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COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Police Department officially welcomed two new officers during a swearing-in ceremony held Monday evening, Sept. 29, 2025. Officer Blake Melton, DSN 242, joins the department as a lateral transfer from the Nashville, Illinois, police department, where he served for two years. Before that, Melton briefly worked with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. Officer Isaac Bourque, DSN 243, brings nine years of experience from the United States Air Force, including service as a Military Working Dog Handler. Melton has already begun a 14-week Field Training Program and is expected to be ready for solo patrol duty by late December. Bourque will attend the Transition Academy at Southwestern Illinois College and is projected to start solo patrol in early 2026. The department expressed pride and excitement in welcoming the new officers to Collinsville.

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Missouri military personnel will be on duty through September 2026.

A mile-long redesign will replace a traffic lane with a two-way bike path and add crosswalks and curb extensions downtown.

Oli Marmol will return for his fifth season as St. Louis Cardinals manager in the 2026 season, even as the organization undergoes a significant front office change.

EAST ST. LOUIS - East St. Louis Senior High School’s Beta Club has qualified for the national competition in the Collaboration Connections category, the East St. Louis School District 189 announced. The competition tests teams on teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership through real-time performance-based challenges using only the materials provided. Participants must apply higher-level skills and think quickly to succeed. “This competition is no ordinary challenge — it’s an adrenaline-pumping test of teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership,” the district said in a statement. “In short: it’s all about brainpower, collaboration, and quick thinking — and our scholars rose to the occasion.” The East St. Louis School District officials expressed pride in the students’ hard work and dedication, congratulating the Beta Club scholars as they prepare to advance to nationals.

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MADISON COUNTY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the newly reconstructed interchange at Interstate 270 and Illinois 111 will open to traffic this afternoon, Sept. 30, weather permitting. The $25.1 million project was completed 20 days ahead of schedule, marking another major investment in the region’s transportation infrastructure. The new, modern interchange, located in the heart of the warehouse district in Pontoon Beach and Edwardsville, features a diverging diamond design that improves traffic flow and enhances safety throughout the area. Beginning this afternoon, all ramps and lanes will be fully reopened. While construction will continue off the road to complete the project, the timing of any future traffic restrictions will be announced in advance. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and remain alert for workers and equipment. Funded by the Illinois Competitive Freight

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Rock & Roll Hall of Famer James Taylor is set to make his Grand Ole Opry debut on Nov. 11 in Nashville.“The Opry has been built over the last 100…

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Industry groups and dieticians successfully blocked lawmakers from implementing the program last spring

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today secured a significant victory to protect Illinois’ energy programs, after the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon found that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) cap on state energy program funding is illegal. In a ruling from the bench today, Judge Mustafa Kasubhai granted a motion for summary judgment Raoul and a multistate coalition filed, concluding that the DOE’s policy violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The policy would have slashed reimbursements for staffing and administrative costs and threatened millions of dollars for essential energy programs. “Improving energy efficiency by increasing clean energy is good for the environment, state economies and our workers,” Raoul said. “The Department of Energy’s cap on indirect and employee benefit costs would severely jeopardize programs that are essential to states’ efforts to modernize and improve energy grid efficiency,

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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Director James Jennings today announced the dates for the next EV Rebate Program application cycle, as well as updates to the program that reflect legislation passed by the Illinois General Assembly in 2025. Program requirements are included on the Illinois EPA’s EV Rebate Program webpage . The next application cycle for the EV Rebate Program will open Tuesday, October 28, 2025, and run through Saturday, January 31, 2026. Change to the definition of low-income applicant: A “low-income applicant” is defined as “persons and families whose income does not exceed 80% of the regional or county median income for the current State fiscal year, as established by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Illinois Income Limits by metropolitan area and county.” Median income can be found on the HUD website at Illinois Low Income Limits by County. Longer time

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District will host their fourth annual Local Author Book Fair in December, and they’re looking for writers. On Dec. 6, 2025, at Alton Square Mall, community members can browse books by local authors and get to know the writing community in the Riverbend. Writers are encouraged to reach out to Hayner Library for more information about securing a booth at the festival. Executive Director Mary Cordes warns that the 25 available booths will go quickly. “The big one is our Local Author Book Fair,” Cordes said. “This is our fourth year of having this. They fill up fast. We have spots for 25 local authors, and I already have people who have emailed and called me over the weekend.” The fair will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 6 in the courtyard between the Alton Square Mall library and JCPenney at the mall. Cordes emphasized that they only have space for 25 authors, but they will have a waitlist available. The

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, released the following statement amid reports that the Department of Homeland Security requested 100 military personnel be sent to Illinois. “Donald Trump continues threatening Chicago and Illinois with his unwarranted, unwanted and unjust military deployments. Now, his administration is seriously considering plans to deploy 100 troops purportedly to protect federal immigration agents who have used excessive force against Americans simply exercising their First Amendment rights. Officials elected by the people of Illinois have made clear to Trump that there is no need for the military on the streets of Illinois. This is government overreach at its worst. “Even as Trump violates the law and stokes chaos as a pretext for deploying troops, our local law enforcement will continue prioritizing Illinoisans’

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker hosted a press conference with elected officials, community advocates, and local leaders to condemn the significant escalation over the weekend of aggressive and alarming tactics used by the Trump Administration’s ICE and Customs and Border Patrol federal agents against journalists, peaceful protesters, and families across the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs. The Governor also announced that the Illinois National Guard was notified that the Department of Homeland Security sent a memo to the Department of War requesting 100 military personnel be sent to Illinois. Over the weekend, there were numerous, confirmed reports of federal agents abusing their power, intimidating innocent civilians, violating the rights of due process, and waging war on law-abiding Illinoisians. This continues to be a manufactured crisis focused on causing chaos and mayhem, with the aim of creating a pretext to deploy military troops against Chicago and its

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MO Healthnet Division Director Todd Richardson will step down from his position leading the state’s Medicaid program at the end of October, according to a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Social Services. Richardson’s decision comes as his division prepares to implement a series of new directives from Congress on how states administer the federal […]

ALTON – An O’Fallon, Mo., resident faces charges in Madison County after allegedly breaking into a boat at the Alton Marina and stealing several items from within. Jeffrey Reed, 59, of O’Fallon, Mo., was charged on Sept. 24, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of burglary and a Class 3 felony count of theft. Reed allegedly entered a boat at the Alton Marina with the intent to commit a theft on May 25, 2025. He is additionally accused of stealing from the owner of the watercraft several items, including a mini fridge, two electric buffing machines, one electric grinder, two Duralast batteries, a chair, and a power washer nozzle, having a combined value of over $500. The Alton Police Department presented the case against Reed, who was ordered released from custody pending trial. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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ST. LOUIS – At the request of Mayor Cara Spencer, the Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners voted to approve a contract with the planning and engineering firm HNTB to begin a detailed exploration of potential Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in the Green Line Transit Corridor. After years of study and engineering for Green Line light rail, estimated project costs remained stubbornly high, and the possibility of securing federal funding, necessary for the construction of a light rail project, remains low given the current priorities of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). “High-quality and high-capacity public transit is necessary for all cities,” said Mayor Spencer. “It’s imperative we have a project that meets our objectives and qualifies for federal funding, which is necessary to make the project viable. Unfortunately, the Green Line, as proposed, has a $1.1 billion price tag for just 10 stations and less than 6 miles, making this project out of

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