TROY - The Early Childcare Center at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church had an exciting summer program this year, especially when firefighters and police officers stopped by to say hello and give them the grand tour of their vehicles. The summer program is for kids ages 2–12. Earlier this month, the kids learned about what to do in an emergency by meeting firefighters and police officers. “For the Fourth of July, that was ‘Red, White and Blue.’ So we asked the community helpers to come and see our kiddos,” Lindsey Strong, the director of the Early Childhood Center, said. “They got to go inside the fire trucks and see the police cars. Then they got to talk to the kids and our kiddos asked them whatever questions they had.” These interactions often make police officers and firefighters feel less intimidating to young kids. Strong explained that the Center paired the visit with stories about calling 911 and other similar lessons. The goal
EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Friday that an appellate court has upheld the convictions of a man serving a life sentence in prison for a triple murder and armed robbery in Bethalto. The 5th District Appellate Court in Mount Vernon has upheld the convictions of Brady Witcher, 44. In 2022, a jury in Madison County found Witcher guilty of three counts of first-degree murder and one count of armed robbery. The appeals court found that it was proper for the trial judge in Madison County to allow prosecutors to present evidence to jurors that Witcher committed other crimes in other states – including a kidnapping and a murder – prior to the murders of three people in Bethalto. “We appreciate the Appellate Prosecutor’s work in defending this case on appeal, and are glad the Appellate Court has upheld this dangerous murder’s conviction in this violent, multi-state crime spree,” Haine said. “Madison
COLLINSVILLE – Entering Year Five of Rebuild Illinois, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that major projects in the Metro East are planned or underway, highlighting an ongoing commitment made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan capital program. Eighteen major projects combined represent a total investment of more than $762 million, improving safety and mobility while sustaining and creating good-paying jobs throughout the region. “Rebuild Illinois is revitalizing communities and neighborhoods by investing in projects and people in the Metro East area and throughout the state,” said Gov. Pritzker. “Through the largest capital program in state history, IDOT will be delivering improvements to build a more resilient, accessible and equitable system of transportation for generations to come, while creating jobs and enhancing local quality of life.” Of the 18 major projects in the Metro East, five are scheduled
BRANSON, Mo. - MSHP Troop D has confirmed one person is dead in a drowning near Moonshine Beach in Branson Thursday, July 27. MSHP said that the person was taken to Cox in Branson and pronounced dead at the hospital. The identity of the deceased has not been released yet. This is a breaking news [...]
(Stacker) - While college enrollment remained below pre-pandemic levels, fall2022 freshman enrollment rebounded by nearly 100,000 students from the previous year, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. As enrollment levels begin to stabilize and more students pursue a college degree, Stacker compiled a list of the best colleges in America using Niche's 2023 rankings. Niche ranks colleges using various [...]
(Stacker) - American life expectancy dropped in 2021 for the second year in a row and represents the largest two-year decline since 1921-1923. The average life span across the entire population is 76.1 years—the lowest since 1996. Life expectancy can be affected by numerous factors, from genetics to air quality to economic opportunities. Stacker used data from [...]
ILLINOIS — Governor JB Pritzker made changes to the state's Mandatory Supervised Release System (MSRS) by signing Senate Bill 423 into law. SB423 brings several changes to the MSRS including: Pritzker signed the bill at a Friday event featuring rapper/activist Meek Mill, entrepreneur Michael Rubin, and the CEO of REFORM Alliance, along with several other [...]
Authorities on Friday charged a 34-year-old man accused of grabbing a child who was riding his bike and sexually assaulting him in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood. He's also charged in another similar incident.
ILLINOIS/MISSOURI - Now that recreational cannabis use is legal in both Illinois and Missouri, there is some confusion about what all these laws cover. We’re answering one of the most pressing questions for whoever in your friend group calls shotgun this weekend: Can you smoke marijuana if you’re a passenger in a car? Short answer, no. In fact, there are many laws when it comes to driving with marijuana. Keep reading to make sure you’re safe when transporting your pot. Illinois Vehicle Code outlines the rules about drugs and alcohol for legal users in a motor vehicle. It’s helpful to think about marijuana in the same league as alcohol. Just like you can be arrested for driving under the influence while over the legal alcohol limit of 0.8, you can be charged with a DUI if you’re high, too. But the limit for cannabis consumption is much more strict. Illinois law says it’s illegal to drive if you’re under the influence of a drug “to a
by Pat Lindsey The STAGES production of “Clue” in the Ross Family Theatre at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center is one crazy murder mystery dinner party. Based on the Clue board game, you will be reintroduced to Miss Scarlet, Col. Mustard, Mrs. White, Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green and Professor Plum. (The dinner guests are all […]
One of St. Louis' largest engineering firms that's also one of the region's largest privately held companies has made several changes to its leadership team as it also merges with a related company and prepares for continued growth.
ST. CHARLES -- A truck driver died after a fatal crash on I-70 early Friday morning. He has been identified by the Missouri State Highway Patrol as James Melton, 36, of Wentzville, Missouri. A semi truck driver was stopping because of traffic congestion in a construction zone on westbound I-70 at around 12:30 a.m. Friday. [...]
Illinois crisis pregnancy centers, which often pop up near abortion facilities to offer information about alternatives, could face penalties if they disseminate misleading or untruthful information.
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