Area News
MCT announces January 2026 service, fare adjustments
Changes include route realignments, expanded MicroTransit, later evening service, and simplified fares As part of its regular January Service Change, Madison County Transit (MCT) will implement a series of service adjustments as well as a fare reduction for trips to and from St. Clair County. These changes are designed to match service with ridership patterns,…
Read MoreTenth running of Bommarito Automotive Group 500 back in primetime, under the lights
INDYCAR officials recently announced the 10th annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline at World Wide Technology Raceway will be broadcast live on FOX with a primetime start of 8 p.m. Central Time on June 7, 2026. Coming off an explosive 2025 race that brought over a million viewers of the primetime…
Read MoreEdwardsville’s Special Events Grant application available to support new, returning activities
The City of Edwardsville is once again offering a Special Events Grant Program to support organizations looking to host free events for the enjoyment and benefit of the community. The program was established to help offset costs and boost the economic impact of community events that take place in Edwardsville. This round of Special Events…
Read MoreSIUE School of Pharmacy announces inaugural Endowed Professorship
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) now has its first Endowed Professorship, due to a major contribution from Professor Emerita Therese Poirier, PharmD, MPH, FASHP, FCCP, BCPS. The Therese Poirier Endowed Professorship in Pharmacy is the largest single gift in the School of Pharmacy’s history. “I look at some of the bigger…
Read MoreNew laws: Illinois’ grocery tax to end, aquifer protections begin
Bills regulating reservation apps, single-use plastics to take effect Jan. 1 By BEN SZALINSKI and BRENDEN MOORE Capitol News Illinois Article Summary Nearly 300 Illinois laws will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Illinois’ 1% statewide grocery tax will be eliminated, but more than half the state’s cities and towns have passed an ordinance…
Read MoreISP welcomes 21 new troopers of Cadet Class 151; over 700 since 2019
The Illinois State Police (ISP) welcomed 21 new Troopers on Dec. 19, 2025, from Cadet Class 151 at a graduation ceremony at the Illinois State Police Academy in Springfield. The new Troopers reported to seven ISP Troop locations throughout the state on Sunday, Dec. 21. Cadet Class 151 marks the 23rd cadet class graduation…
Read MoreMadison County hosts eighth annual Adoption Day
On Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, the Madison County Circuit Court hosted its eighth annual Adoption Day, finalizing adoptions for 36 children from foster care and uniting them with loving, permanent families. Many children in foster care endure waits of three or more years for adoption, and one in five will age out of the system…
Read MoreGov. Pritzker announces the 2026 Order of Lincoln recipients
Larry Gies, The Honorable Valerie Jarrett, Blair Kamin, Reginald Petty, and The Honorable Jesse White will receive the award on April 11 On Dec. 19, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced the 2026 recipients of the Order of Lincoln, the state’s highest honor for professional achievement and public service. Established in 1964, the Order of Lincoln…
Read MoreJustice Department announces results of Operation Relentless Justice
205 child victims located and 293 child sex abuse offenders arrested in nationwide crackdown, including four in the Southern District of Illinois FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in over…
Read MoreUnited Way of Greater St. Louis celebrates $264,000 raised through Divine 9 Challenge
Historically Black Greek Organizations unite to strengthen families across the region The United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) Charmaine Chapman Society’s (CCS) Divine 9 members raised over $264,000 through its Divine 9 Challenge, an initiative of UWGSL’s Black philanthropy efforts. The challenge among CCS members from Black Fraternities and Sororities in the St.…
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