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COLLINSVILLE — A Collinsville man faces serious allegations following a child pornography investigation conducted by local authorities. Layne A. Willhite, 25, was charged with six Class X felony counts of child pornography after detectives presented their findings to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. The charges stem from incidents alleged to have occurred between July 1 and August 31, 2024. According to the charges, Willhite solicited visual reproductions or depictions of child pornography through social media platforms. The investigation was spearheaded by the Collinsville Police Department, with assistance from the Madison County Sheriff’s Department. The inquiry was prompted by a tip received through the Internet Crimes Against Children data system. Willhite is currently in custody, awaiting a detention hearing and further court proceedings. As the case unfolds, it is important to note that the charges are based

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WOOD RIVER - Hope Animal Rescues will host a “Barkade” Party — a fundraiser complete with unlimited arcade games. From 12–3 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, 2025, community members are invited to Atomic Pinball Arcade in Wood River for games, pizza, a 50/50 raffle and more. Tickets cost $25 and all proceeds go back to Hope Animal Rescues. Jackie Spiker, who oversees the rescue, explained that the goal is to raise money for the 109 dogs in their care. “It should be a whole lot of fun,” Spiker said. “These fundraisers are very important in helping us maintain our budget.” Kids and families are welcome to come out and enjoy the day. Adults can bring alcoholic beverages if they’d like, or there will be soft drinks available. Hope Rescues asks people to register by visiting their official website or calling 618-219-0171. Spiker stressed that these fundraisers help Hope continue its mission. Located in Godfrey, Hope rescues dogs

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ALTON - The Mississippi River Festival will return to Alton this summer. After a successful revival in 2024, the organizers of the MRF are gearing up for another festival on June 27 and 28, 2025, at the Alton Amphitheater. This year, they promise a longer lineup, more diversity in music, and a lot of fun that pays homage to the original MRF of the 1970s. “The intent of it is excellence, and not just for excellence’s sake, but excellence because that’s what this festival deserves and that’s what the people of Alton deserve,” explained Nick Bifano, one of the organizers. This year’s MRF will stretch over two days. The lineup ranges from “good Americana music” on Friday, June 27, to “Southern rock, country and rock and roll” on Saturday, June 28. On Friday, June 27, Ben Rector headlines, supported by Wilder Woods, Allen Stone, Brian Owens Soul, and Beth Bombara. On Saturday, June 28, attendees can enjoy Blackberry

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COLLINSVILLE — Uptown Scoops, an ice cream shop located at 403 West Main Street in Collinsville, announced on social media that it was the victim of vandalism over the weekend of March 15, 2025. The owner reported to the Collinsville Police that someone broke into the establishment and vandalized the bathrooms. The Collinsville Police Department has also posted the Uptown Scoops information on its Facebook page . Despite the incident, the shop is set to open as scheduled at 12 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, 2025. The Uptown Scoops owner expressed disappointment over the vandalism but reassured the community that it would not hinder their opening plans. In an effort to find the perpetrator, the owner urged anyone with information or knowledge of the person shown in these two photos to contact the Collinsville Police Department at 618-344-3122. The incident highlights concerns about safety and property damage in the area, as the community rallies to support local businesses.

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined three attorneys general on Wednesday in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration to preserve federal grant dollars flowing into Illinois for clean-energy projects. Raoul and the coalition filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Illinois Climate Bank, a state-created public bank whose purpose is to stimulate the development of clean energy and greenhouse gas emissions-reducing projects, and to help overcome existing market barriers to these projects. The lawsuit also names Citibank, which holds the funds for the federal government, to ensure those funds are released as required by law. “Congress appropriated billions to assist in transitioning to a clean-energy future, protecting our environment from carbon emissions and putting people to work in the process,” Raoul said. “The Trump administration’s decision to deny these critical funds will prevent the development of clean energy projects across Illinois,

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Did you know that nearly 90% of people feel a surge of energy and optimism as the first day of spring approaches? This remarkable statistic highlights a profound connection between this season and our emotional well-being. The first day of spring is more than just a date on the calendar; it’s a moment that sparks joy, creativity, and a sense of renewal. So, what is it about this day that captivates hearts and minds across the globe? Let’s explore the rich tapestry of cultural significance, personal traditions, and the invigorating spirit that the first day of spring evokes. The Cultural Significance of the First Day of Spring Across various cultures, the arrival of spring has been embraced with celebrations and rituals that reflect humanity’s deep-rooted connection to nature. In many societies, the first day of spring symbolizes rebirth and renewal. For example, Nowruz, or Persian New Year, is celebrated on the vernal equinox and marks the start of spring in Iran

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CHAMPAIGN- Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello, and local agriculture leaders to kick off the Standing Up for Illinois Tour. The event’s roundtable discussion shed light on how the Trump administration’s extreme agenda is hurting Illinoisans and emphasized the need for responsible leadership that supports farmers and working families. Today’s visit is the first stop of the Governor’s Standing Up for Illinois Tour, where he is joining members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation to raise awareness about the devastating impacts of the Trump Administration's cuts to critical services and resources for Illinoisans. “Farming is a way of life in Illinois – the bedrock of our economy and the backbone of our communities, and it’s a tradition passed down by families from generation to generation. That way of life is under attack by the leaders of our country,”

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Welcome to March 20, a day that has seen its fair share of transformative events throughout history. **Scientific Milestone: The Discovery of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (1965)** March 20 marks a significant milestone in the field of astrophysics. In 1965, physicists Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson detected cosmic microwave background radiation, a remnant of the Big Bang. This groundbreaking discovery provided crucial evidence for the Big Bang theory, fundamentally changing our understanding of the universe's origins. Their work earned them the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1978, and it has since opened the door to numerous advancements in cosmology and our comprehension of the cosmos. **Cultural Landmark: The First Performance of 'Hamlet' (1601)** On this day in 1601, William Shakespeare's iconic tragedy 'Hamlet' was performed for the first time at the Globe Theatre in London. This play is often regarded as one of the greatest works in the English language, exploring

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EDWARDSVILLE - The National Black Radio Hall of Fame (NBRHOF) announced its Class of 2025 inductees which includes WSIE’s Robin Boyce, pioneer and seasoned radio broadcast journalist and on-air talent. Boyce received the Radio Pioneer Award. The NBRHOF will have its induction ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2025 at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel, 9801 Natural Bridge, St. Louis, Mo., 63134. WSIE is a non-commercial, community-supported, public radio station, located on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, which operates on funding generated by tax-deductible donations, grant awards and underwriting partnerships. “The Sound,” just voted one of the top 3 radio stations in St. Louis by St. Louis Magazine 2021 Reader's Choice Awards, delivers a rich blend of jazz, smooth jazz, blues and easy R&B to St. Louis and the Metro East. To learn more about how you can support WSIE 88.7 “The Sound,” visit wsie.com/support . Southern Illinois

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Trump administration and Elon Musk attack public education in America by closing offices and laying off 1,300 workers at the Department of Education, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and 35 of their Senate colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon expressing outrage at the administration’s reckless and illegal firing of half of the workforce at the U.S. Department of Education, which will devastate America’s public education system and impact students across the country. “At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, when 60 percent of people live paycheck to paycheck, millions of Americans cannot afford higher education, and 40 percent of our nation’s 4th graders and 33 percent of 8th graders read below basic proficiency, it is a national disgrace that the Trump Administration is attempting to illegally abolish

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JERSEY - The Jersey Community Middle School wrestling team has concluded a historic season under the leadership of Head Coach Ron Linenfelser, Assistant Coach Tad Strauch, and Assistant Coach Tommy Leslie. The team, which recorded an 8-5 season, achieved significant milestones in various tournaments and competitions throughout the year. The boys are Sparklight Male Athletes of the Month for their tremendous efforts. Competing in the Jon Davis Tournament in Edwardsville, the team secured a seventh-place finish, earning six medals. The Jacksonville Crimson Invite Tournament saw JCMS excel further, as they finished in third place and garnered a total of 16 medals and ribbons. Notably, the tournament featured an All Girls Division, where all seven of the JCMS female wrestlers placed. Skylee Howell and Charlotte Hinkson stood out, finishing 1st and 2nd in their respective classes. In a landmark achievement, JCMS won its regional for the first time, amassing a total of 394 points,

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GRANITE CITY - Kyridas Orr, a junior reserve guard for the Alton girls' basketball team, was a valuable sixth player who could come off the bench and provide a spark to the Redbirds when they needed it most in the 2024-2025 season. She's proven it time and again, and during Alton's second-place state finish, she was a key cog. Orr is an Auto Butler Female Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds. Orr has come off the bench and contributed mightily to the Redbirds' success this season, having scored six points against Granite City and two points against Quincy, as the Redbirds won Granite's regional handy, then in the Alton sectional, after another good game against O'Fallon, stepped into a starter's role when two regular starters were sick, and hit for nine points, including seven in the opening quarter, to help the Redbirds go on to a 63-36 win over Pekin in the final on Feb. 27. She averaged about 3 points a game and 2.6 rebounds a game for the Redbirds. "A lot of fundamental

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EDWARDSVILLE - Senior Jacob Kober will be one of the top pitchers and players for the Metro-East Lutheran High School baseball team this spring, as he transitions to the field from a very successful basketball season. Kober is a BJ's Printables Male Athlete Of The Month for MELHS. Last baseball season, Kober was 1-1 with a 5.92 ERA in 12 appearances for the Knights, pitching a total of 13 innings, and allowing 17 walks while striking out 13, also recording two saves. Kober had only been with the baseball team for a week following the basketball team's elimination in the sectional final loss to Greenfield Northwestern, but things have gone very well for him and the Knights in preseason practice and opening games. "Things are going pretty well for the short amount of time I have been here," Kober said in an interview. "I have seen guys work, and just want to improve." Kober relies on two pitches to help him out when things aren't going well. "I have my fastball or like my slider,"

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EDWARDSVILLE - Alexis Weber will be a key player for the Metro-East Lutheran softball team this spring, as the senior, along with her twin sister, Taylor, will form a potent one-two punch. She is a BJ's Printables Female Athlete of the Month for MELHS. "I think I've seen a lot of improvement," she said during a recent interview. "Like, most of the girls here, who have come back from last year have left off right where they were from last year. I think we're going to be pretty strong this year." Alexis and her sister, Taylor, will be considered the key players for Metro-East this season, and it's a role that she's relishing as the new season begins. "Well, I think we're young," Alexis said. "We're definitely both key players, and we're just going to do what we do, take every opportunity, and try to help out our team as much as we can." Alexis feels that her best pitch may be her curve ball, but also relies on a change-up to get batters out. "I just started getting into my curve,

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O'FALLON – HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital received unanimous approval March 18, 2025, from the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board (HFSRB) to build an outpatient surgical treatment center and medical office building on the current campus in O’Fallon, Illinois. St. Elizabeth’s applied for Illinois’ required Certificate of Need to move forward with this important project last fall. “We are excited to be able to bring much-needed, local health care resources to our community,” said Chris Klay, President and CEO of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s. “This investment illustrates HSHS’ and St. Elizabeth’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality health care for our patients and the region.” The three-story, 70,000-square-foot building will include an outpatient surgery center with four operating rooms, two procedure rooms, along with post-acute care unit rooms and prep and recovery stations. The medical office

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GRANITE CITY – A Granite City woman remains in custody after admittedly setting a house on fire and telling the owner to “file an insurance claim.” Kayla R. Hood, 29, of Granite City, was charged with a Class 2 felony count of arson on March 12, 2025. On Dec. 23, 2024, Hood allegedly set fire to a residential property on Lee Avenue in Granite City. A petition to deny Hood’s pretrial release states she admitted to setting the fire before contacting the homeowner. “Defendant was identified as the subject leaving a residential property that was found by police engulfed in flames,” the petition states. “The fire investigator determined that the fire was of human origin. Defendant was located and admitted to being in the house prior to the fire, leaving a cigarette near some old rags and then contacting the homeowner to tell him to file an insurance claim.” The petition to keep Hood detained was granted, with a detention order clarifying

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GRANITE CITY – A Granite City man faces a new domestic battery charge after multiple prior convictions for the same offense. Dennis W. Narvaez, 43, of Granite City, was charged with his fourth offense of domestic battery, a Class 3 felony, on March 10, 2025. Narvaez is accused of striking a household or family member in the face on March 8, 2025. A petition to deny his pretrial release states the incident occurred in an alleyway and was overheard by a nearby witness. The victim told officers Narvaez struck her in the mouth, and she sustained a small laceration to the face. Narvaez had previously been convicted of domestic battery in 2008, 2012, and 2020, each in Madison County. At the time of this latest incident, he was on mandatory supervised release from the Illinois Department of Corrections. Madison County court records indicate Narvaez was released from the Madison County Jail to be held at the Illinois Department of Corrections. All individuals charged are presumed

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ST. LOUIS - It's a miraculous birthday celebration Antwoinne Vinson will never forget. Vinson, a natural gas supervisor for Ameren Illinois, and his family had just placed their drink orders at a steakhouse in St. Louis on Friday, March 14, when he noticed a woman and her husband were in distress. "I heard the hustle and bustle and when I glanced over to their table I saw the husband giving his wife the Heimlich maneuver. My family and I watched for a second and we all said, 'she is choking,'" Vinson says. "I asked my nephew, who was sitting next to me in the booth, to move out of the booth and then I sprinted into action. "I went over to the table. The husband was still performing the Heimlich again, but her airwave was still blocked. I asked if I could help. She looked at me and the husband tried the Heimlich one more time and then she pointed to me. I asked if she could breathe, and she never responded. When she didn't respond I knew she still was choking." Vinson says, he

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Wednesday, March 19, 2025, that a jury has returned a guilty verdict in an aggravated assault case prosecuted by two assistant state’s attorneys who have been licensed for less than a year and a half. The trial, which began Monday in Circuit Court, was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Jerren Fulcher and Assistant State’s Attorney Zac Cato. After just two hours of deliberation, the jury found the defendant guilty of aggravated assault for pointing a firearm toward a juvenile, without justification. While felony cases often make headlines, Haine emphasized that his office is committed to developing trial experience at all levels of prosecution. “We are dedicated to providing our attorneys — whether they are new to the practice or seasoned professionals — with real opportunities to handle cases in court. Even recent graduates, like Fulcher and Cato, are ready to

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced today that a Madison man has received a 30-year prison sentence after being convicted of first-degree murder. Chauncy D. Lucas Jr., 24, received the sentence after pleading guilty Tuesday, March 18, 2025, to one count of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Tyrone Williams, 20. The shooting happened May 10, 2023, in the area of Rock Springs Drive in Alton. Alton Police responded to a report of a shooting and located the victim, who later died at a St. Louis hospital. “Our prayers remain with the family and loved ones of Tyrone Williams,” Haine said. “Our hope is that this conviction and sentence can begin to offer them closure.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Luke Yager, who is assigned to the Violent Crimes Unit at the State’s Attorney’s Office, and Assistant State’s Attorney Gina McNabnay. Haine commended Alton

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