Williamson County social worker pleads not guilty

Fairview Heights approves development plan for Lotawata Creek building

The massive building that housed Lotawata Creek Southern Grill for nearly 30 years will be converted into a gas station with a convenience store, liquor store and fast-food chicken restaurant. Lotawata Creek closed last year at 311 Salem Place in Fairview Heights, near the intersection of Illinois 159 and Interstate 64. On Wednesday night, the City Council approved a site plan for the Sav-On Phillips 66 project and a special-use permit allowing a gas station in an area zoned B-4, or retail business. “This is going to be very good for the city,” said Dallas Alley, director of land use and economic development. “While we loved having Lotawata Creek, and restaurants are a great thing, that’s a very big building, and it would be very difficult to fill it with another restaurant.” The site plan shows a convenience store, Sav-On liquor store, video gambling room and Champs Chicken restaurant inside the building with Phillips 66 gas pumps and electric-vehicle charging stations outside. The restaurant will have a drive-thru window. Developers Alka and Nick Patel, of Caseyville, didn’t return calls for comment Thursday. In city paperwork, they listed 20 other businesses as examples of their ownership experience in the past 27

Southern Illinois Has 8 Small-Town Diners Worth The Long Drive For Breakfast Alone

Some of the best mornings start with a plain little building you almost drive right past. You walk in hungry, grab a booth, and suddenly the bacon, biscuits, and coffee turn an ordinary trip into a story you keep telling. Southern Illinois is full of these quiet breakfast spots, tucked...

These 10 Under-The-Radar Illinois Thrift Shops Keep Bargain Hunters Digging For Hours

Paperback books for a quarter each. Three full floors of secondhand stuff stacked inside an old house. A charity shop where your purchase helps pay vet bills for rescue dogs. I could stop right there and you’d probably already be reaching for your car keys. Illinois has a sneaky habit of hiding its best bargains in plain sight, from a former warehouse to a grocery-and-thrift combo.

World's Largest Catsup Bottle: Collinsville's claim to fame

Illinois Route 66: Where the Mother Road Begins

Downtown Cape Girardeau announces holiday events, 34th annual Parade of Lights

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Old Town Cape Inc. is preparing for the holiday season with several events planned in downtown Cape Girardeau, including a Christmas tree lighting, Small Business Saturday and the 34th annual Parade of Lights. The holiday festivities will begin Friday, Nov. 27, with the downtown...

The World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales Return to Very Merry Marion

The World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales Return to Very Merry Marion. Get ready, Marion! Golden Eagle Distributing, in conjunction with the City of Marion, is thrilled to announce the return of the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales to Marion this November!. Known for their impressive size, graceful presence, and timeless holiday tradition, these...

Salem Army Veteran receives $5,000 at Thrive Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (KBSI) — Leonard Newcomb and his wife have four children and three bedrooms. They’re looking to sell their current home and buy one with more room. Now, a $5,000 check could help with the down payment. Newcomb, a U.S. Army veteran, is the Illinois winner...

Three Southern Illinois counties vote on proposal to form new state separate from Cook County

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (KBSI) – Voters in three Southern Illinois counties are weighing in Tuesday on whether their county leaders should explore forming a new state separate from Cook County. Saline, Hamilton and Gallatin counties have advisory questions on their Nov. 3 general election ballots asking whether county officials should...

Southern Illinois schools earn Exemplary ratings on 2026 Illinois Report Card

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (KBSI) — Several Southern Illinois schools have earned the state’s highest overall designation on the 2026 Illinois Report Card. Carterville High School, Tri-C Elementary School, Giant City School and Vienna High School were among the schools receiving an Exemplary designation. The report cards, released Oct. 30,...

Election Day live: Southern Illinois voters decide on local, statewide elections

A voter in Eldorado, Illinois, Kaylynn Owens, casted a democratic vote this midterm. “If we don’t, then who is choosing for us?” Owens said. Owens, working in a school district in Saline County, said she voted ‘no’ for the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. PTELL is an Illinois law that limits the amount of how much local property taxes can go up.

Doody poised for reelection as campaign supporters celebrate in Anna

Despite the heavy rain pouring outside of Patron Grill in Anna, the atmosphere was celebratory as supporters of Republican incumbent Scott Doody gathered inside a backroom of the Mexican restaurant on Tuesday night. Election results point toward another term for Doody to represent Illinois’ 118th House District. Associated Press...

Paul Jacobs retains 59th District state senate seat

Paul Jacobs was reelected to his state senate seat Tuesday night after campaigning on business deregulation and his experience as a local business owner, optometrist and former 118th District Illinois House representative. Democratic nominee and Jackson County board member Tamiko Mueller lost after running on liberal issues and stimulating local tourism.

Oisín Dilger appointed carillonneur, Centralia Bell Tower

Oisín Dilger is appointed carillonneur for the Centralia Bell Tower, Centralia, Illinois. Originally from Galway, Ireland, he earned a music degree from University College Cork during which time he began studying carillon with Adrian Gebruers. He received the Quercus Scholarship of Performing Arts in 2023 and the following year the Staf Gebruers Memorial Award. Dilger has studied at the Royal Carillon School in Mechelen, Belgium, and has performed across Belgium, the Netherlands, and in the United States. He further studied organ at the conservatory of Mechelen.

More Illinois counties vote to explore new state, separating from Cook County

A group of Illinois counties has joined a growing list of areas that are open to exploring the idea of separating from Cook County and forming a new state. According to unofficial election results, all 11 counties that voted on the “separation referendums” voted in favor of the idea, instructing their respective county boards to potentially collaborate with other counties in exploring the idea of severing ties with Cook County and forming a new state.

Williamson County voters reject Herrin Park District tax increase

HERRIN, Ill. (Heartland News) - Voters in Williamson County rejected a proposed property tax increase for the Herrin Park District. The majority voted no, so the district’s tax cap remains unchanged. The ballot question asked voters to raise taxes by about $17 a year per $100,000 of home value....

National display on Revolutionary War now in Salem

A national touring display of the American Revolutionary War Experience is in Salem now through November 19th. The Salem and Centralia chapters of Daughters of the American Revolution both applied to receive the display from the national organization and then elected to work together to bring the display to the area.

No problems reported as DOJ observes Missouri and Illinois voters

Employees of the U.S. Department of Justice visited polling places in St. Louis, St. Clair County and Madison County on Tuesday as part of what the DOJ described as its largest-ever effort to monitor U.S. elections. Election officials in Missouri and Illinois said they’d received reports of DOJ visits at...

Cape Girardeau prepares for more road work and street improvements

The City of Cape Girardeau boasts plenty of fun activities, a lively downtown and multiple subdivisions, but all of that traffic can cause more stress on the roadways. While it might cause more delays and longer travel times, the City of Cape Girardeau is planning more construction projects and improvements to the roads around town.

Hotel, restaurant owners offer to pay for Cape Girardeau tourism study

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Heartland News) - Local hotel and restaurant owners are prepared to pay a Chicago-based firm about $100,000 to assess Cape Girardeau’s tourism potential beyond sports tourism, according to a plan presented to the city council on Monday. Jeff Maurer of Mayson Capital Partners pitched the plan...