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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) today announced that youth in custody earned certifications in various career fields, including solar installation, personal training, shipping and receiving, construction, and culinary arts. Classes offered by community partners on topics such as public speaking, podcast production, music production, audio engineering, and constitutional law also contributed to skill building and knowledge for high school graduates working to make the most of their time while incarcerated. “IDJJ continues to expand opportunities for youth in our custody to attain skills and certifications that create career pathways and increase employability,” said IDJJ Acting Director Rob Vickery . “When a young person reenters the community and gains meaningful employment, they are much more likely to be successful long-term.” Solar Installation Training Program- Two young adults at the Illinois Youth Center (IYC)

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SPRINGFIELD – The annual Governor's Sale of Champions at the Illinois State Fair spotlighted the state's top youth livestock exhibitors Tuesday evening, auctioning off animals that earned the title of Grand Champion, the highest accolade for livestock exhibited in Illinois. For the sixth year in a row, Governor JB Pritzker and First Lady MK Pritzker purchased the Grand Champion Steer. Their $105,000 contribution secured the top prize-winning animal, which will be donated to Feeding Illinois and distributed to food banks throughout the state to support families in need. “Earning the title of Grand Champion is the pinnacle of excellence in livestock exhibition,” said Jerry Costello II, Director, Illinois Department of Agriculture. “Reaching this level means countless hours of hard work and sacrifice. To see our youth in agriculture recognized for the effort that they put into these animals is beyond gratifying.” Grand Champion exhibitors, along with the

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GREENE COUNTY — Charles Huff, 68, of rural Rockbridge, died Saturday afternoon, Aug. 16, 2025, following an all-terrain vehicle accident in Greene County, authorities confirmed. Greene County Coroner Brady Milnes reported that Huff was pronounced dead at 3:57 p.m. Saturday after being ejected from the ATV he was operating in rural Rockbridge. The Greene County coroner said preliminary findings indicate Huff died from blunt force trauma sustained in the accident. Further details about the circumstances of the crash have not been released.

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt’s measure to stop gyms and fitness centers from canceling or changing benefits of a promised lifetime membership has been signed into law. “When gyms offer lifetime memberships, they shouldn’t penalize members for actually using the facility,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “If you sign up for a lifetime membership at a set price, the gym shouldn’t be able to come back a year later and raise your fees.” Gyms and fitness centers advertise lifetime memberships, but under state law, gym contracts can only be a maximum of one year. Functionally, these lifetime memberships are just one-year contracts that auto-renew. This is where the hidden price increases or benefit reductions can happen without the consumer knowing. Belt’s law is designed to prevent fitness centers and gyms from changing prices or reducing benefits for any lifetime membership price they advertise. Under the new law, if a fitness

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that total nonfarm payrolls were nearly unchanged over-the-month in July, down -2,500 (0.0%) to 6,165,600. The June monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +9,400 to +2,300. The industry sectors with the largest over-the-month jobs increases included: Construction (+2,900), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+1,700), and Private Education and Health Services (+1,100). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll jobs decreases included: Professional and Business Services (-3,500), Government (-2,900), and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,200). Compared to a year ago, total nonfarm payroll jobs increased by +20,300 jobs. The industry groups with the largest jobs increases included: Private Education and Health Services (+17,400), Government (+7,900), and Information (+3,900). The industry groups with jobs decreases included: Professional and Business Services

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MILLSTADT - Buttercup Ranch and Creamery has an impressive history, and you can be a part of their story at the upcoming balloon glow and triathlon. On Sept. 5, 2025, community members are invited to the Millstadt farm for the balloon glow, food trucks and a concert by Scott Vignassi’s Big Little Big Band, for $20 per car. On Sept. 6, the fun will continue with the fifth annual CiderMan Sprint Triathlon throughout the property. Twenty percent of all funds raised will go to the local police and fire departments in honor of Patriot Day. “Every bit counts,” said Rich MacKeen, who owns the farm with his wife, Mary. “We don’t make money on this. We go in the hole every year, but that’s not the point.” Rich served in the Air Force alongside Jim Ogonowski, the brother of John Ogonowski, who was the pilot on the first plane to hit the World Trade Center. It’s important to the MacKeen and Ogonowski families to remember 9/11, which is why

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BETHALTO — Sgt. Cole McMichael of the Bethalto Police Department retired last night after 20 years of service, the department announced. During his two decades with the department, McMichael served in multiple roles and was recognized as a mentor to many colleagues. The Bethalto Police Department credited him with making a positive impact on the community and contributing to public safety. “Sgt. McMichael filled many roles at this agency and will be missed at the Police Department,” the department said in a statement. “All of us wish him the best of luck in his next journey. Thank you for your service Sgt. McMichael.” The Bethalto Police Department did not provide details on McMichael’s future plans.

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EAST ST. LOUIS — The East St. Louis School District 189 has appointed Robbie Edmond as the new Director of Family Engagement and Attendance Services, a role focused on strengthening connections between families, schools, and the community. Edmond’s work will support the district’s Strategic Plan goals of fostering a safe and healthy learning environment and building strategic partnerships. In her position, Edmond will address family concerns, resolve challenges, and lead initiatives aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism and promoting a nurturing school climate. She will collaborate closely with the family engagement team as well as Homeless Attendance and Truancy Officers and clerks. A proud graduate of East St. Louis School District 189, Edmond holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree, along with post-graduate coursework. She has held multiple leadership roles within the district, demonstrating a commitment to educational excellence, community advancement,

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ALTON - On August 12, 1925, Capt. William D. Fluent, 71 years old, dove 22 feet to the bottom of the Mississippi River to retrieve a piece of boat machinery. The dive was witnessed by a reporter and several others who were on the docks at the time. “Most, if not all, young Alton men who consider themselves good swimmers and divers would not go so far under water as Capt. Fluent did…Very few men in the world, except for those who make their living from pearl diving, would venture to such depth as did this man who is so old in years and yet so young in mind and body,” stated an Alton Evening Telegraph article the next day. Earlier in the week, Capt. Fluent had been on his way down the river when the engine in his boat failed. A mechanic, who was working on the engine, slipped on the dock while he was carrying a large flange wheel from the motor and dropped the wheel into a foot-wide gap between two sections of the dock. Fluent joined a six-foot rod to a 16-foot

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GODFREY - Earline Hopkins started sewing Barbie doll dresses when she was 8 and was wearing her own handmade clothing by the time she was in middle school. These days, she is the premier seamstress for heirloom and children’s clothing in the Riverbend region. Hopkins owns Earline’s Originals, which recently moved to Godfrey. She loves taking on custom sewing projects and teaching smocking and sewing classes. As she grows her business, she hopes to instill her passion for custom and heirloom sewing into her students and clients, who love the clothes she creates for them. “Sewing for special clothes and special dresses, that is something that becomes a keepsake, an heirloom,” Hopkins explained. “You pass it on down to your family, and you feel like it’s worthwhile to pay the price for the fabric and the way to put it in there, because it’s more than a one-time dress, it’s a keepsake.” Hopkins’s passion is children’s

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EAST ST. LOUIS — Residents with outstanding warrants or in need of record expungement or sealing can access free legal and social services Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at the T.A.K.E. Center. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the T.A.K.E. Center, located at 1798 Summit Avenue in East St. Louis. Organizers aim to provide convenient access to resources that assist with clearing criminal records and addressing warrants. “We’re bringing the resources to you, don’t miss your chance to get your record cleared up and connect with people who want to help,” event organizers said. In addition to legal assistance for expungement and warrant issues, attendees can receive free haircuts, clothing, mental health support, insurance guidance, and enjoy live entertainment. The event is hosted by a coalition of local organizations including The Chosen Ones (ESTL), Land of Lincoln Lawyers, CSSJ, OBK, Pure Living, T.A.K.E Center, I Am ESL The Magazine, Muhammad

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SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 2907 into law today, creating the Child Welfare Disclosure to Parents Act. The bi-partisan bill strengthens the rights of birth parents by empowering birth parents at the time of their first contact with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), at which time a case is open. A parent has an open case with DCFS if they are subject to investigation or receive intact or placement services. Parents will be informed of their right to participate in their open case, which will help improve services to children and families in Illinois. HB 2907 was created with input from the DCFS parent advisory group with the goal of ensuring that parents who were experiencing an open case with DCFS could better understand their role and expectation as it relates to the care of their child. This bill represents a major shift in how Illinois approaches family involvement, recognizing that birth parents, when supported, are

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SPRINGFIELD – Today, Governor JB Pritzker took the following bill action: Bill Number: HB3756 Description: Creates an Easy Enrollment process to the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange by allowing a special enrollment period for uninsured taxpayers who voluntarily seek health insurance information through their tax forms. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: HB0079 Description: Deems that a retired sheriff returning to work is once again a participating employee as a school security guard if they are employed by a participating employer and work more than 999 hours annually. Action: Signed Effective: Immediately Bill Number: HB1226 Description: Raises the minimum age that drivers in Illinois are required to take annual driving tests from 75 to 79. Action: Signed Effective: July 1, 2026 Bill Number: HB1270 Description: Enables a health care professional to place their active license into a fee-exempt, volunteer status.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is announcing major updates to several laws impacting the ability to combat human trafficking and help those who have been trafficked with the signing of Senate Bill 2323 , the Illinois Statewide Trauma-Informed Response to Human Trafficking Act. The Act addresses human trafficking through prevention, intervention, and establishing standards for survivor support, and impacts laws governing ISP, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL), Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ), Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board (ILETSB), Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs), the Office of the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor, the Illinois Secretary of State, and other stakeholders. “As Illinois continues to enhance its strategies to combat human trafficking, it’s

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EDWARDSVILLE - In a highly competitive process, forty-one public policy leaders from across Illinois, including Madison County Board Member Chris Guy, were selected for the 2025 class of the Edgar Fellows Program. Chris Guy recently completed the program, a bipartisan initiative designed to improve the effectiveness of Illinois' government and political leadership. "The Edgar Fellows Program was an invaluable experience, packed with policy sessions on the issues impacting every Illinois resident," said Chris Guy. "It's given me new perspectives and tools to tackle the issues that matter most to Madison County taxpayers, from fiscal responsibility to effective governance. I am proud to represent Madison County in this year's class of Edgar Fellows." Established in 2012, the Edgar Fellows Program is a leadership initiative designed by former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar to inspire respectful collaboration in addressing the state's major challenges. The Fellows selected for the class

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt’s measure to stop gyms and fitness centers from canceling or changing benefits of a promised lifetime membership has been signed into law. “When gyms offer lifetime memberships, they shouldn’t penalize members for actually using the facility,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “If you sign up for a lifetime membership at a set price, the gym shouldn’t be able to come back a year later and raise your fees.” Gyms and fitness centers advertise lifetime memberships, but under state law, gym contracts can only be a maximum of one year. Functionally, these lifetime memberships are just one-year contracts that auto-renew. This is where the hidden price increases or benefit reductions can happen without the consumer knowing. Belt’s law is designed to prevent fitness centers and gyms from changing prices or reducing benefits for any lifetime membership price they advertise. Under the new law, if

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EAST ALTON – A man from East Alton accused of sharing child pornography via the Kik messaging application remains in custody on a Class X felony charge. Dalton Stahlhut, 23, of the 400 block of Washington Ave. in East Alton, was charged on Aug. 8, 2025 with a Class X felony count of child pornography. On Jan. 3, 2025, Stahlhut allegedly disseminated child pornography via Kik in the form of a video depicting a child under the age of 13 engaged in a sex act. The investigation began after the East Alton Police Department received a report on Jan. 30, 2025 from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, originating from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The initial report from NCMEC stated a Kik user was using the application to share child pornography. The email address associated with the Kik account in question contained Stahlhut’s entire first and last names, and the associated IP address was linked to Stahlhut’s East Alton address.

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ALTON - The Marquette Catholic High School community enjoyed their first day at school for the 2025–2026 school year. On Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, teachers and staff members welcomed Marquette students back to school bright and early. Principal Tim Harmon noted that the excitement in the morning “very much carried on through the day,” and he looks forward to another great year. “It just felt exciting to have the kids back in school. I think that the kids are excited to be back in school as well,” he said. “It’s always exciting seeing different groups of people coming from all over the area, coming together and kind of learning the Marquette way, so to speak.” Harmon joked that while there was “some groaning here and there” about the end of summer break, the students were generally eager to return and start the day. He said he is “really enthusiastic” to welcome one of the largest freshmen classes of the

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WEST ALTON, Mo. — Federal investigators released an initial report Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, on the helicopter crash that killed two people near West Alton, MO., on Aug. 7, 2025. The National Transportation Safety Board said an eyewitness reported that the helicopter pilot and a lineman were attempting to attach an orange aviation warning marker to power lines above the Mississippi River. The pilot brought the helicopter close to the lines, and the aircraft’s tail struck one of the wires, causing it to dangle and pivot the cockpit into the power line. The two victims in the crash were 35-year-old Nicholas R. Fulton of Salem, MO., and 37-year-old Michael C. Curry of Ashley, IL. The NTSB said the collision produced sparks before the helicopter fell onto the deck of a nearby barge and caught fire, according to the preliminary report. The crew of a tow vessel moved alongside the barge and used its pilothouse fire station to extinguish the flames. Officials said a subsequent inspectio

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ST. LOUIS - Ameren will make available an additional $4 million for bill payment assistance to community action agencies dedicated to energy assistance for residential customers in need of financial assistance across Missouri and Illinois. This follows the $1 million in support for victims of the May 16 tornado that Ameren announced earlier this year, which local area agencies continue to distribute. "We've experienced prolonged periods of extreme heat throughout the summer, leading to increased use of energy and air conditioners," said Joe Solari , vice president of customer experience for Ameren. "We understand the economic hardships families living in our communities are facing each day which is why we want customers to know additional help will soon be available from Ameren through our community partners." Throughout 2025, Ameren has partnered with hundreds of agencies to make more than $75 million available in energy assistance and LIHEAP for its customers. The company continue

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