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The December 5th Fund treated a Florissant couple to a behind-the-scenes tour of the St. Louis Zoo while volunteers knocked out chores at their house.

The medical ICU on the 8th floor of the Central West End hospital was the first COVID ward at the busiest hospital in the state.

LOS ANGELES - Legendary rock band The Who has announced an exciting line-up of special guests to join them on THE WHO HITS BACK!Tour. The Who has raised the bar once again on their incredible legacy by inviting a wide range of special guest artists to join on the tour: Texas rockers Los Lonely Boys, the hard-rocking band fronted by the lead guitarist/songwriter from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Mike Campbell and The Dirty Knobs, singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson, British (female-led) rock band The Wild Things, Americana soul singer Amythyst Kiah, singer/songwriter (founder of Barenaked Ladies) Steven Page, and opening for one night at the Bethel Woods show Willie Nile. (Scroll down for dates/details) The iconic band’s upcoming North American trek promises to be another rock n’ roll knockout, bringing singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend back to U.S. venues two years after their acclaimed MOVING ON! Tour, which wowed audiences with a series of sold-out

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today issued updated public recommendations regarding wild birds and the EA H5N1 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) currently impacting some wild and domestic bird species. While HPAI has not been detected in songbird species (passerines), IDNR recommends the use of bird feeders and bird baths cease through May 31, or until HPAI infections in the Midwest subside, especially those that waterfowl may visit. During spring, wild birds will have ample food sources while bird feeders are removed. Further IDNR recommendations: • Clean and rinse bird feeders and baths with a diluted bleach solution (nine parts water to one part bleach) and put away or clean weekly if they can’t be moved away from birds. • Remove any bird seed at the base of bird feeders to discourage large gatherings of birds or other wildlife. • Avoid feeding wild birds in close proximity to domestic flocks.

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CARLINVILLE - A pair of Carlinville men have received an award from the Illinois State Historical Society for a ground-breaking study of the state’s oldest public institution of higher learning. Tom Emery and Carl Kasten earned the Certificate of Merit for Abraham Lincoln and the Heritage of Illinois State University , a comprehensive 288-page volume on the sixteenth President’s many connections to the school. The book has won rave reviews from some of the leading names in Lincoln research. The award was presented at the ISHS’ Best of Illinois History awards banquet in Springfield on April 9. Lincoln spent ample time in Bloomington, and had numerous political supporters there. He served as attorney to the state Board of Education, which oversaw Illinois State in its earliest days, and prepared various documents, including the guaranty to secure funding for the university. In doing so, Lincoln ensured that the university would be located in Bloomington-Normal.

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COLLINSVILLE - A farmer knowing how corn or soybean crops are progressing or being able to identify an insect can mean the difference between a profitable harvest and a bad year. The youth Illinois Crop Scouting Competition puts teams of agriculture students to the test. This hands-on contest in August gives high school students from across the state the opportunity to learn and network. “This competition is back for a second year with more challenging and team-building exercise that give these future ag professionals the chance to engage with their peers from around the state and agriculture researchers and experts," says competition coordinator Chelsea Harbach with University of Illinois Extension. Harbach, an Illinois Extension Agriculture Educator, says crop scouting is an important skill for farmers that can help lead to higher yields and increased profit per acre. Scouting keeps farmers aware of what is happening in the field with crop growth or yield stealers, including

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COLLINSVILLE - Woodlands are a valuable resource that many forest owners use to make income by selling timber. But landowners may have more opportunities to make money from their property than they realize. Landowners can explore income-generating specialty products and recreational services in a free webinar at 6 p.m. on July 12. In “Generate Income from Private Woodlands,” Purdue University Extension Forester Lenny Farlee will cover topics such as sourcing medicinal herbs, fruits, nuts, and craft items from woodlands. He will also explore how owners can provide services by leasing land to the public for hunting, camping, and other recreational opportunities. Sign up in advance for the program at go.illinois.edu/WoodlandIncome . For more information, contact Taryn Bieri at tbieri@illinois.edu . If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Taryn. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs. SOURCE: Taryn

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PEORIA - Some therapy patients are getting an out-of-this-world experience – under the watchful eyes of their therapists. New virtual reality (VR) technology called REAL VR is marrying high-tech activities with traditional therapy needs. REAL VR provides VR therapeutic activities that focus on strengthening, range of motion, and postural control. The system can also address cognitive functions like spatial and depth perception awareness. According to Anne Horowitz, an occupational therapist at OSF Rehabilitation in Peoria, Illinois, virtual reality allows patients to practice a number of skills – all in one sitting. “What I really like about this device is we're working on balance, we’re working on arm motion: overhead, eye-level, below the waist. You can actually hold onto an item as if you're painting. You can also do it standing. So working on standing balance and sitting balance. And if they have vision problems you're working on scanning your environment,”

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Earth Day is not the only date on the calendar in April to honor the environment. Another spring holiday with many of the same ideals has been around for a lot longer, though few notice today. In many Midwestern states, Earth Day comes just before Arbor Day, which has roots dating to 1872. Celebrated in pockets across America, Arbor Day is one of the earlier examples of a national movement to protect the environment. Illinois and many neighboring states celebrate Arbor Day on the last Friday in April, which this year is April 29. However, Arbor Day is observed on different dates in many other states, owing to differences in the local climate. The first Arbor Day celebration dates to 1872 in Nebraska and was the brainchild of Julius Sterling Morton, who moved to the plains from Michigan and missed the trees and shrubbery of his former home. A journalist and newspaper editor who served on the Nebraska board of agriculture, Morton also saw the need for windbreaks and soil anchors in th

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The Civil War battle of Shiloh was one of the bloodiest of the western theater in the Civil War. Several Palmyra men were among the 13,000 Union troops who were casualties in the battle, 160 years ago this month. The troops were part of the 32nd Illinois, which lost 224 of 546 effectives at Shiloh, contested on April 6-7, 1862. The regiment was commanded by Col. John Logan, a Carlinville physician who is often confused with his first cousin, the controversial John A. “Black Jack” Logan of southern Illinois political fame. The fighting was particularly fierce on the first day near the Union center, where the 32nd was stationed for part of that day’s action. The combat was so intense that the position earned the nickname “Hornet’s Nest,” reflected in the words of an officer of the 52nd Illinois, who wrote that “balls flew around and among us like hail.” There, several central Illinois regiments manned an increasingly untenable position.

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PEORIA - Like many of us, Kelli Ballard, a Washington, Illinois, school administrator was hoping after a tumultuous 2020, that 2021 would be a better year. It didn’t quite turn out that way. In January of last year, just as the new school semester was beginning at her K-8 school, the then 42-year-old Ballard received a phone call that would change everything. Ballard was told she had three tumors in her breasts. Tests showed she had stage 1a invasive ductile breast cancer. “They weren’t bringing people in because of COVID and so that was really hard. I actually had a co-worker who had had breast cancer the year before and she was there with me that day when I found out and she was just my huge support system.” It was quite a blow. Ballard’s cancer journey began when after a few years of taking a CancerIQ assessment before every mammogram, she finally decided to talk to someone about her high risk score. The five-minute online tool from the Chicago-based

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With overdose deaths higher than ever in south St. Louis County and surrounding areas, people gathered at Faith Oakville Church for the Stomp Out Addiction Walk.

Just beyond the bridge overlooking Gravois Avenue sits Papa Legba’s Spiritual Supply (4535 Gravois Avenue, 314-489-4338, call for an appointment) a St. Louis staple for ritualistic tools, spiritual texts, and sacred relics. A unique hand-painted alligator covering the storefront window is enough to intrigue passersby, however a peculiar south city rumor alludes to an even greater mystery inside: a “real life mummy” tucked away in the back of the mystical emporium.

A few storms could be strong late this afternoon into the early evening, mainly south of St. Louis.

The former governor’s campaign didn’t obtain official approval for filming, KCPD spokeswoman Capt. Leslie Foreman said Saturday.

Enthusiasts of the Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter campers and buses gathered Saturday on The Hill to celebrate club hangout and garage "das Bushaus."

Tamar Adler's brother was hit by a truck and rushed to St. Louis Children's Hospital. While there, a special person inspired her to help other kids in the hospital.