BELLEVILLE – A Belleville man accused of injuring a police officer and resisting arrest by fleeing at high speeds remains in custody on felony charges. LeCourtney A. Luckett, 45, of Belleville, was charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer (both Class 3 felonies) and one count each of resisting or obstructing a peace officer (a Class 4 felony) and driving while license is revoked (a Class A misdemeanor). On Nov. 11, 2025, Luckett allegedly attempted
WOOD RIVER - The Riverbend East Rotary Club recently recognized the October Service Above Self award recipients from East Alton-Wood River High School-Ayla Thomas and Malachi Carter. They were presented their certificates by club President Mark Smith. Ayla is a student whose dedication shines brightly in every endeavor she undertakes. Ayla's commitment to scholarship is evident in her impressive 3.7 GPA and her standing as an active member of the National Honor Society (NHS). She understands tha
ALTON — November 30, 2025, will mark 30 years since Felicia Rexford was fatally stabbed in the parking lot of the Target store in Alton. Rexford was shopping at the Alton Target on November 30, 1995, when she was attacked. Police believe the stabbing was the result of a robbery gone wrong. Her purse was found nearby with a broken strap, and the suspect is believed to have fled behind the building into a wooded area. Rexford reportedly told a bystander that the assailant was a gray-haired
ALTON - OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center's Imaging Services Department wants you to know they do a lot more than x-rays. Director of Imaging Services Fred SanSoucie, RT(R)(CT)(ARRT), and Manager of Imaging and Diagnostic Cardiology Services Jeff Worman, BS, CNMT, explained that imaging encompasses x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, mammography, ultrasounds, nuclear medicine, stress tests, and much more. They noted that St. Anthony’s has cutting-edge technology, and they’re always
ALTON – Two local residents face their latest felony charges after separate but similar cases of attempting to flee from police. Erin R. Hardimon, 35, of Alton, was charged on Nov. 12, 2025 with two Class 3 felony counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, as well as a Class A misdemeanor count of driving while license is revoked. On Nov. 11, 2025, Hardimon allegedly knowingly failed to obey and attempted to elude an Alton Police officer after being given a visua
GODFREY - In 1998, Scooter’s Coffee was born. Co-founders Don and Linda Eckles began an amazing journey when they opened their first drive-thru coffeehouse in Bellevue, Nebraska. Their keys to success: find a great location and stay committed to high-quality drinks, speed of service, and a BIG smile. Scooter’s Coffee is fortunate to have over two decades of success due to its commitment to the original business principles and company core values: Where Great Coffee Meets Even Greater
EAST ST. LOUIS — State Representative Kevin Schmidt visited East St. Louis recently to honor Personal Touch Boutique as the November Business of the Month. The men’s clothing store, owned by Bernita and Derrick Maxwell, has served the community from its location at 1958 State Street since 1994. Personal Touch Boutique is located at 1958 State St, East St Louis, IL. 62205. Derrick Maxwell began his retail career in 1988 by selling merchandise from the trunk of his car. Six years later,
ALTON - The halls of the old Saint Peter and Paul school are decked out and classrooms are filled with items donated by parishioners and ready for resale at the Christmas Bazaar Granny’s Attic sale. Plans are currently underway for the 26th annual Christmas Bazaar to be held at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Alton on Saturday, November 22nd from 9am to 6 pm. With the exception of the Covid year, this will be the 26th consecutive year for the Bazaar. The Bazaar is mostly held in the gymnasium
MARYVILLE — A large house fire on Oxborough Court on Monday night, Nov. 17, 2025, prompted a multi-department response , but thankfully no injuries were reported, Maryville Fire Chief Doug Dankenbring said. The Maryville Fire Department was dispatched at 8:28 p.m. Nov. 17, 2025, to the blaze, which Dankenbring described as one of the worst in the community in recent years. The homeowner was able to escape safely, and firefighters from Maryville and neighboring departments worked
MARYVILLE — A fire that broke out Monday evening, Nov. 17, 2025 , in the 6700 block of Oxborough Court in Maryville has left a home likely a total loss , Maryville Fire Chief Doug Dankenbring said. The Maryville Fire Department responded to the structure fire at 8:28 p.m. Nov. 17, 2025, with automatic mutual aid from neighboring departments in Troy, Glen Carbon, Edwardsville, and Collinsville. The blaze was reported during a storm with significant lightning in the area. The sole occupant
CHICAGO – Today, Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) announced that public universities in Illinois achieved the highest enrollment level in 10 years, with nearly 190,000 students enrolled during the fall semester of the 2025-26 academic year. Total enrollment at Illinois public universities increased for the second consecutive year and is the highest in 10 years according to IBHE’s annual First Look Fall Enrollment report. “Illinois has made
November 18th has been a date marked by remarkable events that have shaped the course of history around the world. Moving back in time, November 18, 1493, marked a key moment during Christopher Columbus’s voyages when he first sighted the island of Puerto Rico. This discovery was part of the broader European exploration and colonization of the Americas, which had profound and lasting effects on indigenous populations, global trade, and cultural exchanges. Columbus’s expeditions opene
FIELDON - Community members can join a community Thanksgiving meal in Fieldon. At 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, at Fieldon United Church of Christ, the Fanning family will serve a Thanksgiving dinner to everyone in attendance. No RSVPs are required, but Niki Egelhoff, who helps organize the event, encourages people to call by Nov. 19 if they would like a carry-out or delivered meal. Everyone is welcome to attend. “It looks just like Thanksgiving has looked at our house for a
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is encouraging public awareness of appropriate use of antibiotics and antifungals during U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week. The annual observance is held November 18-24. As part of this year’s observance, IDPH is recognizing nearly 90 Illinois hospitals who have taken extra measures to prevent antimicrobial resistance, where bacteria and other germs can develop a resistance to the drugs that were designed to fight them.
Did you know that reading not only stimulates the brain but also reduces stress levels by up to 68%, according to a 2009 study by the University of Sussex? Few experiences rival the simple pleasure of diving into a captivating book while nestled beside a crackling fire. The interplay of flickering flames and engrossing narratives creates an atmosphere uniquely suited to immersive reading. But what makes a book truly fireplace-worthy? This article explores the best books to read by the fireplace
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul co-led a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioner who is challenging President Trump’s illegal attempt to fire her without cause. For more than 100 years, the FTC has played an important role in protecting Americans against scams and fraud, recovering billions of dollars for consumers harmed by unfair and deceptive practices. The agency
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) in announcing that they will be introducing the No Torts for Trump Act, legislation to prohibit sitting presidents from seeking taxpayer-funded payouts under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). This follows recent reporting that President Trump is pressing the Justice Department to pay him roughly $230 million as a settlement for proper
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today encouraged Illinoisans who have lost money to cryptocurrency fraud and scams to report the incident to law enforcement and be cautious of so-called “recovery” services. A recent change in Illinois law makes it easier for crypto kiosk or crypto ATM customers to get a refund if they have been scammed into sending money through a crypto ATM. To be eligible for a refund, consumers should file a police report. The law also requires victims
WASHINGTON – As utility rates continue to rise, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in a bipartisan push for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as swiftly and at the highest level possible. Currently, the Trump Administration is sitting on $4 billion in federa
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), led 56 members of Congress in pressing Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer about the Department of Labor’s (DOL) dismantling of key disability employment protections. In their letter, the lawmakers demand an explanation for Secretary DeRemer’s rollback of regulations that prohibit discrimination by federal
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