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GRAFTON - Raging Rivers WaterPark guests can enjoy a visit from a NASCAR Truck courtesy of World Wide Technology Raceway. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, community members can take photos with a NASCAR Truck and visit with WWTR staff while at the waterpark. Raging Rivers staff members are looking forward to welcoming the community for a unique experience. “The more memories we can create, the more we’ll draw people back,” said General Manager Jeremy Hayes. “That’s ultimately the goal, to continue the legacy of Raging Rivers for many years to come.” Hayes believes the parents and kids will be “super stoked” to see the NASCAR Truck. You can touch the truck and take photos with it, but no one will be allowed to sit inside. Additionally, World Wide Technology Raceway staff members will be onsite with “tchotchkes and giveaways” for kids to enjoy, Hayes said. He emphasized the value of partnerships like

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Office of Comptroller (IOC) will once again have a tent at the Illinois State Fair, offering visitors exciting giveaways, cold water, games, information about the office’s programs and services, and a chance to learn more about what the IOC does as the state’s fiscal watchdog. “I absolutely love the Illinois State Fair, and I hope in between rides and lemonade shake-ups that fairgoers will visit my tent and see what the role of Comptroller is all about and where their tax dollars are going,” said Comptroller Mendoza. Additionally, the IOC will hold its popular dog adoption event at the fair: On Tuesday, August 12th , WILD Canin e Rescue in Springfield will be at the tent from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with some of the group’s adorable dogs available for adoption. Come out and spend some time with the pooches looking for a forever home and learn more about the IO C ’s Comptroller’s Critters program. At las

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SPRINGFIELD – The most requested ride at the Illinois State Fair is returning with more stops this year. Made possible through the support of the Illinois Corn Growers Association and Ameren, two trams will run daily on a dedicated route throughout the 11 days of the fair. Tram rides are free for all fairgoers and offer handicap accessibility. “Offering tram service at the Illinois State Fair is part of our commitment to making the fair experience enjoyable and accessible for everyone,” said Jerry Costello II, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. “With so much to see and do at the fair, the tram service will help visitors reach our most popular destinations.” The trams will run continuously throughout the day, on the schedule outlined below. Maps showing the tram routes will be displayed on the fairgrounds. Stops include Happy Hollow at the Handicap Ramp to Illinois Building/Senior Center (a new location this year), Campground/Arena

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Kami Waldman defeated Paula Sigman 92%-8% in Tuesday's special municipal election. Waldman received 348 votes.

EUREKA — For the second time this year, voters in parts of St. Louis and Jefferson counties have rejected a property tax increase proposed by the area's firefighting district to pay for its services.

PEORIA - Construction is set to begin later this year on 380 miles of new and upgraded high voltage transmission lines across 13 counties in the mid-section of Illinois. When completed in 2029, the project will support lower supply costs by opening new pathways of energy for delivery to millions of residential and business customers in the Ameren Illinois service territory. The proposed route for the transmission line was recently approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). "At a time when the Midwest faces a persistent shortage of the electricity needed to meet rising demand, this vital project will provide energy access and certainty for businesses and residential growth," said Shawn Schukar , chairman and president of Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois. "Adding system capacity and increasing access to energy resources will improve reliability, boost economic development and help keep bills affordable for energy consumers in Illinois." New and upgraded transmission

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LEBANON – Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi joined the Illinois Capital Development Board and state and local officials today to celebrate the start of construction on a new solar energy site that will supply power to an adjacent Illinois Department of Transportation storage facility along Interstate 64. The $617,700 project is part of a pilot effort to identify underutilized IDOT property that can be used to generate alternative energy, resulting in a reduction in carbon emissions and long-term savings for the public. “Under the leadership of Gov. JB Pritzker, we are committed to doing our part at IDOT to move toward clean energy sources and better protect the environment,” said Secretary Biagi . “As one of largest landowners in Illinois, IDOT can offer many potential solutions. Adding solar power at one of our facilities is a step in the right direction.” In coordination with IDOT, the CDB broke ground earlier this year on a solar

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BELLEVILLE – People from throughout the St. Clair County area will join the fight against suicide at the Out of the Darkness (OOTD) St. Clair County Community Walk on Saturday, October 18, 2025, in Belleville. Sponsored by the Illinois Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the walks provide an opportunity for people impacted by suicide to come together to connect and support one another, as well as raise awareness and funds for AFSP. The OOTD St. Clair County Community Walk begins at 9:30 a.m. at The Square, 19 Public Square, Belleville, IL. Check in begins at 8:30 a.m. The St. Clair County walk is one of hundreds of Out of the Darkness Community Walks that will be held across the country. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for all ages. In 2023, 49,316 Americans died by suicide and there were an estimated 1.5 million suicide attempts. In the United States in 2023, suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10-34,

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Last fall, heavily influenced by Jonathan Haidt’s extremely problematic book, Australia announced that it was banning social media for everyone under the age of 16. This was already a horrifically stupid idea—the kind of policy that sounds reasonable in a tabloid headline but crumbles under any serious scrutiny. Over and over again studies have found […]

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, along with 49 other state and territorial attorneys general, urged the U.S. Department of Justice to take action against illegal offshore online gambling.

This year marked the 40th anniversary of Dire Straits' blockbuster album Brothers in Arms, and frontman Mark Knopfler is reflecting on the album’s success in a new interview with Guitar World."Well, it’s tempting just to…

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JENNINGS, MO. — Four men have been charged in connection with an armed robbery and vehicle hijacking that took place in Jennings, Mo., according to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. On Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, charges were filed against Cederick Boyd, 20, of the 3500 block of Boswell Avenue in St. Louis, and Bryant-Michael Chatmon, 19, of the 1400 block of Elmridge Place in St. Louis. Both face charges of vehicle hijacking, first-degree robbery, and two counts of armed criminal action. Each is being held on a $250,000 cash-only bond with no 10% bond option. Earlier, on July 28, 2025, Fernandor Williams, 20, of the 6800 block of Corbitt Avenue, and Terrance Lee Jr., 23, of the 9200 block of Riverwood Drive in St. Louis, were charged with the same offenses. Lee also faces additional charges of leaving the scene of an accident and resisting or interfering with arrest for a felony. Both are being held on the same bond terms. According to probable cause

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The St. Charles Police Department is still searching for the "I-70 Killer" who murdered seven women, including Nancy Kitzmiller, along Interstate 70 in the early 1990s, and is offering a $25,000 reward for information.

Four men are in custody for carjacking a man at gunpoint in St. Louis County.

ALTON — The James Killion Beautification and Enhancement Committee, in partnership with Be A Bridge, will host a Back-to-School Movie Night and Community Celebration at Killion Park beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. The event aims to provide families in the Alton community with school supplies, resources, and a welcoming atmosphere ahead of the new school year. Liberty Bank is the exclusive movie sponsor for the event at Killion Park, with additional support from Pennzoil and Friends for David Goins. Community partners including the SIU School of Dental Medicine, UnGUN Institute, and outreach organizations such as Flock, Food is Love, and the Madison County Child Advocacy Center will be present to offer services and engagement opportunities. The celebration will open with a keynote address by Dr. Marty K. Casey of the UnGUN Institute from 7:45 to 8 p.m., followed by a family-friendly movie screening at dusk. DJ Matt Edwards will provide live entertainment throughout

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A final vote on a St. Louis County bill to regulate intoxicating hemp products stalled out Tuesday night after about a dozen business owners and lobbyists opposed it at the county council meeting. The bill’s sponsor, St. Louis County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, told The Independent on Wednesday morning that she plans on revisiting the bill’s […]