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WICHITA, Kan. - More than 430 students completed a total of 453 degrees and certificates at Wichita State University in summer 2025. The breakdown of degrees and certificates granted includes: Undergraduate: 257 degrees and certificates for 250 undergraduate students Graduate: 196 degrees and certificates for 180 graduate students Included in the grads was this Alton native: HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, DEGREE, MAJOR Alton, IL Samantha Smith, Doctor of Philosophy, Psychology-Community For bachelor's degrees, honors were conferred to the following: Summa cum laude: 13 students Magna cum laude: 49 students Cum laude: 48 students Undergraduate students who have attained a grade point average of 3.9 out of a possible 4.0 received the summa cum laude award; those with an average of 3.55 received the magna cum laude award; and those with an average of 3.25 received the cum laude. See a full list of summer 2025 Wichita State graduates here: https://www.wichita.edu/about/wsunews/news/2025_graduates/summer_24-25_graduates_all.php.

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GLEN CARBON – Glen Carbon trustees recently approved site plans for a new Retina Institute location opening in the village’s Sunset Park Plaza development. A resolution approving site plans for the Retina Institute were approved unanimously at the Sept. 23, 2025 Village Board meeting. Their current location is at 5 Country Club Executive Park in Glen Carbon. According to Community Development Director Erika Heil, the new facility will consist of an approximately 6,318 square foot office building and parking lot on 0.97 acres of land in Sunset Park Plaza. Developers are not seeking any variances since the property is already properly zoned for its intended use, which according to the resolution, is as a “retina institute for patients and office space.” Trustee Ben Malischeski asked about the landscaping plans for the site, as nearby residents were reportedly concerned about losing trees which currently serve as a landscape buffer. Justin Venvertloh

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COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that pavement repairs on Illinois 159 between Kinloch Avenue and Clay Street in Madison County will require intermittent lane closures beginning, weather permitting, Tuesday, Sept. 30. One lane will be open in each direction. All lanes will be open daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during these lane closures. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. The work is expected to be completed by mid-November. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general and agencies to stop a deceptive nationwide charitable fundraising scheme. Raoul and the coalition filed a complaint and proposed settlement alleging Kars-R-Us.com Inc. (Kars) and its operators made false claims to deceive tens of thousands of people across the country to donate vehicles. Attorney General Raoul and the coalition filed a lawsuit against professional charitable fundraiser Kars-R-Us.com Inc. and its operators, Michael Irwin and Lisa Frank, who purported to solicit charitable donations nationwide on behalf of United Breast Cancer Foundation Inc. (UBCF), a New York-based charity that claims to assist individuals affected by breast cancer. Raoul, the FTC and the coalition allege that Kars ran national and local TV, radio and online ads in English and Spanish to solicit vehicle donations and contributions with little regard for the truth

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ALTON - Senior Services Plus, Inc. (SSP), located at 2603 N. Rodgers Avenue in Alton, will host an informational presentation, “Wills & Powers of Attorney Paperwork,” on Friday, October 24th, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Chelsea Jakob, Senior Paralegal with Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, will be speaking at this event, aimed to help you safeguard your future by outlining your wishes for your estate and ensuring trusted individuals can make decisions on your behalf if you are unable. This event will take place in the School House Grill inside Senior Services Plus. Doors will open at 11 AM and speakers will begin at noon. The event is free, open to the public, and lunch will be provided thanks to sponsor AARP Illinois. Registration is required, and space is limited. To reserve your seat, call 618-465-3298 ext. 123 or visit https://events.aarp.org/SSPWillPOA About Senior Services Plus Senior Services Plus, Inc. is a 501(c) not-for-profit organization established to help enric

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ALTON - The National Great Rivers Museum invites the community to come out for a night of spooky fun. From 6–9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, community members can enjoy “Night at the Museum,” complete with education stations, animal visits, trick-or-treat opportunities, a costume contest, bonfires and haunted tours of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam. “This is going to be a fun after-hours event for Halloween at the museum,” said Elise with the National Great Rivers Museum (NGRM). NGRM will screen “The Nightmare Before Christmas” in their theater. Kids can enter a costume contest, judged by the NGRM mascot Bobber the Water Safety Dog. The Nature Institute will be onsite with a bat-related activity. You can visit with snakes from the St. Louis Herpetological Society. Audubon Center at Riverlands will offer an activity, and the National Great Rivers and Research Education Center will have a station about nocturnal animals. The Alton

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CHICAGO – Last week, Governor Pritzker demanded answers from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on the deployment of federal law enforcement agents in Illinois after she recorded b-roll and fled the state without providing any answers . Prior presidential administrations have always kept local leaders and members of Congress updated on their immigration enforcement plans, but the Trump Administration is refusing to provide clear answers. In response, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation issued a letter requesting a meeting with Chicago Field Office Director Russell Hott after ICE rescheduled their meeting. The Governor stands with the Illinois Congressional Delegation’s calls for transparency and accountability, and continues to push for answers from the Trump Administration in the wake of uncoordinated federal deployments. “Secretary Kristi Noem and the Trump Administration are not serious about public safety—they only care about producing

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois residents now have 24/7 access to driver’s license and vehicle renewal services through Central Illinois’ first drive-through DMV kiosks located at the office’s Springfield Flagship Center, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced. “The Fast-Lane kiosks at our Springfield Flagship Center provide a new level of convenience for Central Illinois drivers, offering driver’s license renewals and vehicle sticker purchases outside of normal business hours, without ever leaving the car,” Giannoulias said. “This is an important step in our ongoing effort to modernize the office and make it easier for people to access essential services.” Located at 2701 S. Dirksen Parkway, the two kiosks allow customers to: Renew vehicle registrations and immediately print license plate stickers. Renew driver’s licenses or state IDs and receive a temporary document on-site while the new card is mailed within 15 business

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today hosted a celebration to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the work of community leaders from throughout the state. The event was an opportunity to reflect on great achievements and present awards to eight Latino leaders: the president of Aurora University; the head soccer coach at South Suburban College; an entrepreneur who launched importing and candy businesses; the president and CEO of a community foundation; a business manager with a union local; the executive director of a family resource center; a state lawmaker; and a theater educator, director and researcher. “Today, we shine a spotlight on some of our Hispanic and Latino neighbors to formally recognize their contributions,” Frerichs said at the event held at the state government building at 555 W. Monroe St in Chicago. “We’re expressing appreciation for their longtime dedication, and we’re celebrating their work in making

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker, Lieutenant Governor Stratton, and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) released the Illinois Birth Equity Blueprint - a roadmap designed to improve maternal healthcare and birth outcomes in Illinois. The Blueprint builds upon the Illinois Birth Equity Initiative, which was featured on MSNBC during a panel to discuss the Blueprint release hosted by Morning Joe’s Mika Brzezinski with panelists Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, Chicago Beyond Founder and CEO Liz Dozier, and actress and Baby Yams founder Tatyana Ali. “The Illinois Birth Equity Blueprint is the way forward in maternal health and birth equity. Conceived, written, and published with the input of experts, advocates, community leaders, and providers across the state – this report is a roadmap for unlocking an improved future for Illinois’ mothers and families,” said Governor Pritzker. “Since our first days in office, Lieutenant Governor

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WOOD RIVER - The Illinois Secretary of State's mobile Driver Services unit will be at Wood River Public Library on Monday, November 3, 2025. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 326 E. Ferguson Ave, Wood River, IL 62095. Representatives of the Secretary of State's office will be on hand to assist with renewing or correcting driver's licenses, converting existing standard driver’s licenses into REAL ID driver’s licenses, obtaining renewed or first time Standard or REAL state IDs, issuing free state IDs for seniors aged 65 or older, and purchasing license plate stickers. Attendees can also register to be an organ donor/tissue donor and register to vote while applying for a driver’s license or identification card. Please contact the Wood River Public Library at (618) 254-4832 or info@woodriverlibrary.org with questions. A list of acceptable documents for the issuance of first time ID’s and REAL ID’s can be found at www.ilsos.gov .

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JOLIET – Today, Governor Pritzker joined school leaders, elected officials, students, staff and community members at Joliet Junior College (JJC) to celebrate the grand opening of its new Center for Student Wellness and Support (CSWS), a dedicated space designed to promote the holistic well-being of students through accessible, compassionate, and culturally responsive mental health services. Rooted in a commitment to equity and inclusivity, the center honors the diverse identities and experiences of JJC students while empowering them with tools to thrive both academically and personally. JJC alumnus and former student trustee, Josh Stamborski, initially came up with the idea for a center and student retreat on campus, and with collective support from Government Pritzker and Illinois General Assembly partners, Illinois allocated $250,000 of state funding to make it possible and further invest in the wellbeing of Illinois students. “Joliet Junior College is an engine of economic

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A fatal crash occurred in St. Clair County early Saturday morning, resulting in the death of one person. The incident occurred around 5 a.m. when a Toyota traveling south on Route 1-63 near Cemetery Road in Millstadt veered off the road and collided with a tree. The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at [...]

Metrolink riders should prepare for delays on three upcoming weekends due to track maintenance and bridge demolition, with bus shuttles providing transport between affected stations and passengers advised to plan accordingly.

The Lindbergh High School Class of 1975 celebrated its 50-year reunion by donating $50,000 to establish a permanent scholarship for future graduates.

Major U.S. utilities earn an ​“F” on a new report card because they’re planning to build far too little clean energy and far too many gas-fired power plants.