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Man sentenced for $49K student visa fraud at Mizzou

2 weeks 2 days ago
A man who admitted to using fake academic records to get a student visa and collect thousands of dollars in benefits from the University of Missouri has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison.
Alex Barton

Suspect in West Virginia National Guard shooting pleads not guilty in D.C. court

2 weeks 3 days ago
WASHINGTON — The man accused in the shooting of two West Virginia National Guard members in the District of Columbia pleaded not guilty in his Tuesday arraignment hearing, during which he appeared virtually from a hospital bed. U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died as a result of her injuries, and U.S. Air Force Staff […]
Ariana Figueroa

Marquette Catholic High's Podner Captures A Memorable Snowstorm Drone Image Above School

2 weeks 3 days ago
ALTON - Jon Podner, who works in technology systems at Marquette Catholic High School, captured a captivating drone photo of the school during a snowstorm on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Podner said he believed the image was one many in the area would appreciate. The snowfall and preliminary ice event made travel hazardous throughout the region on Monday, prompting Marquette Catholic to cancel classes on Tuesday due to the accumulation of snow. Temperatures dropped to 26 degrees on Tuesday, with a lo

Riverbend Family Ministries Outlines Mission, Asks for Community Support

2 weeks 3 days ago
WOOD RIVER - As temperatures drop and the holidays approach, the services offered by Riverbend Family Ministries are as important as ever. Located at 144 E. Ferguson Avenue in Wood River, Riverbend Family Ministries (RFM) is composed of several nonprofits working together under one roof. RFM itself provides a daytime warming center for those in need during the colder months. They have also partnered with other community organizations to serve their clients through Community Christmas,

Police Identify Man Killed in Maryland Heights Walgreens Encounter

2 weeks 3 days ago
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO. — Jacob Mercer, 23, of St. Peters, Mo., has been identified as the person fatally shot by police at a Walgreens on Dorsett Road on Sunday evening, Nov. 30, 2025, after St. Louis County Police authorities say he fired at officers. The incident unfolded around 6 p.m. Sunday at the Walgreens located in the 12500 block of Dorsett Road in Maryland Heights. Officers from the Maryland Heights Police Department responded to a call for service and encountered Mercer, who was

Alton Man Charged In Calhoun County Assault Case

2 weeks 3 days ago
HARDIN - On November 19th 2025, at approximately 2:06 AM, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a Disturbance in Progress occurring in the 400 block of Porcupine Ln., Hardin, Calhoun County, Illinois. Deputies from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and a Deputy from the Pike County Sheriff’s Department immediately responded to the residence and conducted interviews and an investigation. Subsequently, Helois M. Foster, aged 40, of Alton, Illinois, was arrested

Trump administration threatens to yank food stamps funding from Democratic-led states

2 weeks 3 days ago
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin next week to block nutrition assistance funding for states led by Democrats that have not provided data on fraud in the program, Secretary Brooke Rollins told President Donald Trump at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. USDA sought data from states earlier this year related to their administration of Supplemental […]
Jacob Fischler

Hamburg Woman Faces Drug Test Fraud Charges

2 weeks 3 days ago
HARDIN On August 6th and September 18th 2025, Gena F Wilson, aged 35, of Hamburg, Illinois, was ordered to submit to a Court Authorized Drug analysis. These samples were collected and submitted to the lab for analysis by the Calhoun County Probation Office. The matter was forwarded to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation. Subsequent to an investigation and analysis by the lab, it was confirmed that Wilson had falsified or altered the test. On October 15th 2025,

Hayner Library to Host Local Author Book Fair, Holiday Open House and More

2 weeks 3 days ago
ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District invites the community to come out to a few unique events this weekend. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, community members can stop by the library at Alton Square Mall for the Local Author Book Fair. Across town at that same time, the Genealogy and Local History Library will host their Holiday Open House. Executive Director Mary Cordes noted that the Local Author Book Fair is a great chance to meet local writers and learn

Our Founders Would Abhor What The USPTO Is Doing With The Patent System

2 weeks 3 days ago
Last week I wrote about how the US Patent and Trademark Office is pushing a rule change that would effectively neuter the inter partes review (IPR) system that reviews already granted patents to make sure they weren’t granted by mistake. Patent tolls and other abusers of the patent system have been screaming about this system […]
Mike Masnick