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GILLESPIE - The annual drive-thru holiday lights display at Gillespie Health & Rehab Center is now lit and will remain free and open for visitors throughout the holiday season until the end of this year. This year’s lights display will run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night from Dec. 12 to 31, 2023 at the facility’s campus at 7588 Staunton Rd. in Gillespie. The attraction will feature “thousands of festive lights and holiday decorations,” according to a press release from the center. Beth Cherry with Gillespie Health & Rehab Center said the event is free and open to the public, features thousands of lights, and is part of their effort to “be a good community neighbor.” “Our annual drive-through light display is now open throughout the season, and the public is invited to come and enjoy this luminous holiday tradition,” Cherry said. “Visitors can experience thousands of lights and holiday decorations on our skilled nursing

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Aylo Holdings, the parent company of Pornhub and some of the largest free and premium porn sites in the world, agreed to a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) to help resolve a Federal Bureau of Investigation probe into the platform’s conduct related to a sex trafficking scheme. According to documents provided by the Department of Justice […]

ILLINOIS - What does Abraham Lincoln, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and a favorite Christmas carol have in common? According to historian Tom Emery, all three are connected to the state of Illinois. Emery explained that Christmas has changed a lot through the ages, but the holiday has a long history in the Prairie State. Abraham Lincoln Like a lot of people in the 1830s, future president Abraham Lincoln was aware of Christmas, but he didn’t do much to celebrate. Emery spoke of Lincoln’s time living in New Salem, about 20 miles north of Springfield, while he was a state legislator. “I would like to tell you some stories about what he did at Christmas. Frankly we don’t know a whole lot about what he did,” Emery said. “One reason for this is because Christmas was just not as big of a deal in the 1830s as it is today. Christmas celebrations were just a tiny fraction of what we know today.” The holiday was “a blip on the radar”

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The opening of CityPark was one of the most significant business events of 2023. Here's a look at the building from the unique perspective of photographer Dilip Vishwanat.

Tyler Cowen asks: How Were So Many Economists So Wrong About the Recession? Maybe they were wrong. Maybe the fabled soft landing will happen. Maybe it will turn out that high interest rates don't always slow down the economy. But I would still counsel patience. Economists have been wrong so far, but that doesn't mean ...continue reading "Economists might have been wrong about a recession. So far."

The Israeli military says it has expanded its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip to the densely populated urban refugee camps in the central part of the territory. With international pressure for a cease-fire building, top U.S. officials were meeting with Israel’s minister for strategic affairs Tuesday at the White House in Washington. Residents reported [...]

ALTON - In the 1950s, Chris and Helen Doucleff began a holiday tradition that has since expanded and become almost a legendary part of the Alton fabric. This past weekend, Amy and Ben Hollis, the daughter and son-in-law of Mike Doucleff of Duke Bakery, had another holiday gathering where Santa, his elves and even a pair of reindeer were on hand at their Henry Street location. Families with children were lined up along the block of Duke Bakery to see Santa and visit the bakery for its best in holiday treats. The owners said: "It was an amazing day - we had great weather for Santa and a fantastic crowd." Mike Doucleff began his career at Duke Bakery folding pie boxes in the family living room in 1952. The family lived next door to the bakery back in those days. Mike vividly remembers his dad being Santa close to the bakery right before the holidays waving to children. It became something people became used to and he and Amy and Ben have continued that wonderful tradition. "We have

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JERSEYVILLE - A local business recently received recognition from the Jersey County Sheriff’s Department for their donation of 10 bikes to be distributed to 10 local children in need this Christmas. The department commended S.S. Hansen Embroidery in a Facebook post for showing them “the meaning of Christmas.” “If you have any doubts that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in this day and age, you must look no further than a local favorite small business, S.S. Hansen Embroidery,” they said. “This year, they purchased and donated ten new bicycles to children in our county, asking that the Jersey County Sheriff's Office identify those who needed them the most. What an incredible gift to the recipient children and to our personnel who got to experience some real Christmas joy as they delivered the bicycles.” Thanks to their donation, the Sheriff’s Department added there are “ten awful happy Jersey County kids this Christmas.”

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Happy Boxing Day! I have no pictures of boxes, but to make up for it here's a picture of the box-like Segerstrom Hall, crown jewel of the Orange County Center for the Performing Arts. A nighttime picture is here.

Markets where home growers sell unregulated marijuana have drawn thousands in recent months.

A St. Louis investment firm has raised $70 million for a new fund.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office has filed charges in connection with a Christmas Eve homicide on the city’s northside.

Trees from residential homes without lights and decorations will be accepted through Jan. 14, 2024.

ALTON - Alton Police Officer Ashley Clare has made a big difference in the Riverbend area with her abilities as a trained negotiator in crises. Recently, Ashley saved the life of an individual who was located sitting on the outside ledge of the Clark Bridge with her negotiation skills. The incident occurred on Sept. 11, 2023. Alton Major John Franke recently presented Clare with a Life-Saving Award. Ashley is a recognized difference-maker in the Alton community. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said Ashley Clare has been with APD for three years and previously worked at a different police department for almost five years. She just recently became the Alton PD's newest School Resource Officer and will take over that position at Alton Middle School after school resumes from the Christmas break. “Officer Clare was able to use a calm, patient, and caring presence to help de-escalate an intense and dangerous situation at the Clark Bridge. Ultimately, her poise and empathy were the

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ALTON - Leon Smallwood and Tori Porter are believers in the importance of assisting youth and for this holiday season, the pair were heavily involved in a successful Christmas Shopping Spree for some Alton High students. Smallwood is the president of the Alton Branch of the NAACP. He said his first order of business when he took over was to re-establish the Alton NAACP Youth Council. He named Alton NAACP Youth Council President Tori Porter and she took the idea of the Christmas Shopping Spree to outstanding levels. "Our Youth Council President Tori Porter accompanied myself and one other youth council member," he said. "She took several Alton High School students on a shopping spree at Walmart in Wood River. Each student was able to spend $200. This is something we want to do to give back to our community and to show our fellow youth council members the importance of providing for their very own. "We would like to thank all that donated to make this possible. The children truly

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It seems safe to say that Ozzy Osbourne's New Year's resolution for 2024 is to play live again. As we close the book on the year that saw the Prince…

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