Live Music, Veterans Tributes and Family Events Across the Region, Nov. 13-15

Live music, veterans tributes, holiday shopping and hands-on family activities offer plenty of ways to spend Nov. 13-15, 2026, around the region. Explore the highlights below and visit RiverBender.com Events for the complete calendar. Start the weekend with City Heat Live at VFW Post 1308 in Alton. The band will...

Glen Carbon committee approves prairie restoration

The village approved a three-year, $37,450 agreement with Native Plant STL to restore about 1.5 acres of prairie at Green Space East.

District 7 reviews 2027-28 calendar with earlier semester end, full spring break

“Our goal is for all of the students of District 7 to be performing at grade level,” Superintendent Allen Duncan said as the district reported plans to focus more heavily on math proficiency.

St. Clair County to unveil new drone program for first responders

St. Clair County officials will host a news conference Tuesday in East St. Louis to announce the launch of a new drone program for first responders and demonstrate its capabilities.

Bob Ridings Pana to Host Veterans Day Cookout Saturday

Bob Ridings Pana is inviting local veterans and their families to its annual Veterans Day cookout. The free event is set for this Saturday on the dealership’s grounds at 8 North Locust Street. It’s expected to begin at 10 a.m. and last well into the afternoon, but the food is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. General Manager Bryan Booth is leading the charge in organizing the event. Speaking on the WTIM Morning Show, he says there are also giveaways geared towards those who have served.

Local Food Inspections November 2 - 6

The following food establishments were inspected by the Madison and St. Clair County Health Departments between November 2 and 6. November 2 Trackside Bar & Grill- Collinsville 10 (Pf) Handwashing sink shall be provided with paper towels, continuous towel system supplying user with clean towel, heated-air hand drying device or air-knife system Reference 6-301.12. MENS RESTROOM MISSING PAPER TOWELS. PIC ADDED PAPER TOWELS TO DISPENSER DURING INSPECTION. CORRECTED. 51 ( C) Plumbing needs repair. Repair according to Illinois and local plumbing code. Reference 5-205.15.KITCHEN HAND SINK HAS A LEAK. REPAIR OR REPLACE. November 3 SOS Soup Kitchen-First United Presbyterian Church- Collinsville 19 (P) Food was not reheated to 165F within 2 hours, before being placed in hot holding. Reference 3-403.11. ROAST BEEF WAS COOKED AND COOLED YESTERDAY. BEEF IS BEING SLICED AND PLACED IN CROCKPOTS WITHOUT REHEATING MEAT TO AT LEAST 165F FOR HOT HOLDING. CORRECTED BY PLACING MEATS IN OVEN UNTIL REACHING AT LEAST 165F. Jimmy Johns- Collinsville 16 (Pf) Food contact surfaces and utensils shall be clean to sight and touch. Wash, rinse, sanitize routinely. Reference 4-601.11. ONION SLICER STORED ON RACK FOUND STILL DIRTY. CORRECTED BY PLACING IT INTO 3C SINK TO BE PROPERLY CLEANED AND SANITIZED.

Wreaths Across America marks 20 years at Alton National Cemetery

Jersey County puts ambulance tax increase on 2027 ballot

Jersey County voters to decide if sales tax increase will keep ambulance service running

Local loyalty or lower costs? Taylorville officials weigh insurance proposals

TAYLORVILLE — The Taylorville Finance Committee voted Thursday, Nov. 5, to recommend continuing the city's insurance coverage through Dimond Bros., following an extensive discussion comparing proposals from the longtime provider and competing firm Gallagher. The special meeting focused on the city's property and liability insurance, with representatives from both...

Rep. Stuart: BJC and Aetna Agreement Preserves Access for Metro East Retirees

EDWARDSVILLE — State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, released the following statement after BJC Health and Aetna health insurance have reached an agreement to extend health care coverage for at least one year:. “I’m grateful BJC and Aetna have come together to ensure members in our community and across the...

Edwardsville Hub Anchors Illinois Library Technology Lending Initiative

EDWARDSVILLE —America is online. Nine in ten US adults use the internet daily, and 41% report using it “almost constantly.” Nearly 80 percent of Americans have a high-speed internet (also called broadband) subscription at home. This isn’t just a consumer trend or screen addiction epidemic, though.

Alton's new meeting rules add screening, limit bags and require attendees to sit

Alton's new meeting rules add screening, limit bags and require attendees to sit

Trial Lawyers Sued Using RICO Law

CHICAGO, IL — A federal judge in Chicago ruled November 6 that JM Eagle can proceed with three civil racketeering claims against Simmons Hanly Conroy, an asbestos law firm headquartered in Alton, Illinois. The claims will also proceed against Sokolove Law and several named attorneys and staff. The case...

Statement from Granite City Fire Department on Ambulance Diversion

Gateway Regional Medical Center's Emergency Department is currently on diversion status due to staffing limitations. Gateway ER has been on diversion status since Saturday, November 7 and will continue to be on diversion for the foreseeable future. This diversion status…

Taylorville School Board Presented Plans For New Tennis Courts

Plans for new tennis courts at Taylorville High School were presented during a lengthy Taylorville Board of Education Meeting on Monday night. Dr. Terry Cunnington provided board members with copies of the plans by Benton Engineering and stated that they are working to secure the grant from the US Tennis Association and have passed the technical review.

Glen Carbon trustees split over higher tax levy

Higher levy proposal would add about $5.30 a year to some tax bills, according to Trustee Bill Maliszewski.

Farmington Inmate Dies at St. Louis Hospital

St. Louis, Mo. (KFMO) - A Missouri Department of Corrections inmate has died at a St. Louis hospital. According to the Missouri Department of Corrections, 39-year-old Terry Benson was pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital St. Louis at 4:48 p.m. Monday, November 9, 2026. Benson was serving a five-year sentence at...

Missouri Plant Closing Soon, 51 Workers to Lose Jobs

Missouri was notified by a company that they will be closing a plant which will result in job loss for 51 employees starting in January.

St. Charles County Parks Opens Their 20th Park Location

The newest location in the St. Charles County Park System, Spring Bend Park, is officially open to the public. Holding 126 acres of land just off Upper Bottom Road in St. Charles, the property was donated to the park system back in 2007 by Nancy Knowles and her family, who have deep roots in the area and operated a small farm on the land for years. The park now holds some beautiful prairie and river views to be explored.

This Former Missouri Library Is Now A Record Shop Where You Can Flip Through The Albums You Grew Up With

The old library shelves are long gone, but the stacks are still here. Only now they hold LPs, 45s, 8-tracks, and cassettes instead of books. This 1961 mid-century modern building once served readers as a public library branch. Today it’s a used record store packed from floor to ceiling.