MOUNTAIN LION FOUND DEAD IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS; IDNR INVESTIGATING

A young male mountain lion that had been roaming Southern Illinois for approximately two months has been found dead in Jackson County near the Union County line. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, a hunter discovered the animal’s remains and contacted conservation police. Conservation police officers and...

Movies returning to Mt. Vernon in November; major renovations planned for 2027

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (Heartland News) - On Tuesday, Golden Ticket Cinemas announced plans to reopen the Mount Vernon 8 this November, bringing movies back to the community just in time for the holiday season. Beginning in 2027, the company will begin to renovate the theater, with luxury recliner seating, self-serve...

Most Of These Old-School Steakhouses Closed Years Ago, But This Illinois One Still Serves T-Bones And A Full Buffet

A 16-ounce T-bone and an all-you-can-eat buffet still share the same menu at one Illinois interstate stop. Plenty of families thought that combo vanished along with the restaurants of their childhood. The chain behind it once dotted highways across the Midwest. Most of those locations closed years ago, so finding...

This Secret Illinois Nature Preserve Is A Peaceful Escape Worthy Of Your Bucket List

There’s a place in southern Illinois that most people have never heard of, and it sits above the Mississippi River like it’s been keeping a very pleasant secret for a very long time. That place is Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve, and it’s located near the small town...

Southern Illinois Hides 6 Restaurants Worth Driving Hours For Fried Chicken

Some of the best meals in Illinois come from places you would drive right past without a second look. A gravel lot, a plain sign, maybe a farmhouse porch, and then a plate of crackling, golden chicken that ruins every drive-thru for you. Southern Illinois is full of these quiet...

Fairmount Park Casino and Racing Announces Facility Improvements, New Racing Schedule for 2027

Fairmount Park Casino and Racing Announces Facility Improvements, New Racing Schedule for 2027

Edwardsville, Glen Carbon area restaurant inspections Nov. 2-6

All information is from the Madison County Health Department’s website.

Kay Weber on Belleville’s 46th Annual Thanksgiving Art and Craft Fair

This Edwardsville restaurant has some of the best barbecue in US, report finds

A family friendly barbecue restaurant in Edwardsville was recently named one of the best in the nation by National Barbecue News . Doc’s Smokehouse was named one of the 28 best “Best of the Best Barbecue Restaurants in America” in National Barbecue News’ August guide. The establishment is known for its signature sandwiches , specialty burgers, nachos and tasty side dishes. “Doc and Susan Richardson (owners of Doc’s Smokehouse) count it an honor and a privilege to represent the St. Louis Metro area, as well as the state of Illinois,” an Aug. 13 press release said. “The National Barbecue News endorsement as the “Best of the Best” speaks volumes about their staff and their commitment to excellence.” To be eligible for the Best of the Best Barbecue Restaurants in America list, an establishment must be taste-tested without notice or announcement by an affiliate of National Barbecue News, the press release said. The recognition lasts one year before the restaurant is re-tested. Doc’s Smokehouse is the “first, and currently the only, barbecue restaurant to achieve this honor in the St. Louis metro area,” according to the press release. In addition to its popular regular menu items, Doc’s Smokehouse offers a special

Some areas at Rend Lake to close during deer firearm season

BENTON, Ill. (Heartland News) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake announced that several areas around Rend Lake will close during Illinois firearm deer hunting season. The closures are necessary to ensure public safety. From November 20-22 the following areas are closed to all vehicle and foot...

Pet of the Week- Meet Starr!

Thank you to Doit's Village Inn for sponsoring The Granite City Daily News adoptable pet from Metro East Humane Society. Meet Starr! This spunky girl is full of personality and guaranteed to keep you smiling! She's playful, fun, and has just the right amount of sass, but once the excitement settles down, Starr turns into an absolute cuddle bug who loves being close to her people. She's ready to trade shelter life for a cozy bed, a loving family, and someone she can call her very own. Starr has so much love to give and is just waiting for someone to give her a chance. Don't let this sweet girl wait any longer come meet Starr. Hi I am new to Metro East Humane Society and I am very excited to meet you!! If you are interested in adopting me, please fill out an application on our website at https://www.mehs.org/adoptables If you are interested in learning more about all of our adoptables or the adoption process at MEHS, please email info@mehs.org All of our dogs and cats will be microchipped, spayed or neutered, and up-to-date on vaccinations at the time of adoption. MEHS Adoption Fees: Dogs under 6 months: $250

Illinois Families Fill Their Pantries At These 8 Old-School Meat Markets Making Their Own Smoked Sausage

Some of the best food in Illinois hides behind plain storefronts with hand-painted signs and a smoky smell drifting out the door. You walk in expecting a quick errand and walk out with a cooler full of brats, sausage sticks, and summer sausage you did not plan to buy. These...

Find a Sinkhole at Stemler Cave Woods Nature Preserve

Take a hike through the old-growth forest and explore the sinkholes at Stemler Cave Woods Nature Preserve near Columbia, Illinois. This 194-acre nature preserve sits between Millstadt and Columbia, Illinois, on Stemler Road. The preserve is known for its karst topography, which includes caves and sinkholes that drain into Stemler Cave.

‘American Idol’ winner Hannah Harper to perform in Marion in 2027

MARION, Ill. (KBSI) — “American Idol” winner Hannah Harper is scheduled to perform at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center on Thursday, July 29, 2027. The concert, presented by Dunbar Music Group, will feature the Willow Springs, Missouri, native who won the singing competition’s 24th season in May 2026.

FoodieLand, massive food festival, coming to St. Louis region next year

FoodieLand, a massive food festival featuring hundreds of vendors, is coming to the St. Louis region next summer.

Old Herald Brewery & Distillery: A Spicy Stop on the Mother Road

Illinois Route 66: Where the Mother Road Begins

Prime Rib And Toasted Ravioli At This Old-School St. Louis Steakhouse Keep Missouri Steak Lovers Coming Back

Some restaurants chase trends, and some just keep doing the same good thing for decades. In south St. Louis County, one white-tablecloth steakhouse has built a loyal crowd by serving prime rib, toasted ravioli, and classic steaks the old-fashioned way. A pianist plays in the bar, the holiday decorations draw...

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.

The Brass Rail preparing free Thanksgiving meals

O’FALLON, Mo. (First Alert 4) - We’re just a few weeks from Thanksgiving and a St. Charles County restaurant is once again planning to feed thousands for the holiday. Every November, hundreds of volunteers prepare and pack meals at The Brass Rail in O’Fallon. Those free meals...

Chef behind Famous-Barr's French onion soup has died: His story and the recipe

Manfred Zettl, a master chef renowned for perfecting one of the St. Louis area’s most iconic culinary creations — Famous-Barr’s French onion soup — has died. Zettl, 85, died of natural causes Oct. 30 in St. Louis, but the culinary creations he crafted over a lifetime will live on in people’s memories. At Famous-Barr, he oversaw 32 restaurants and 500 employees as executive chef. He later founded one of the area’s first diet-food businesses. He began his career in Austria and aboard cruise ships, serving Hollywood celebrities and heads of state. Whether you enjoyed the signature soup at Famous-Barr’s Scandia Room at St. Clair Square or in the downtown St. Louis tearoom after viewing the Christmas window displays, chances are you recall its distinctive aroma throughout the dining areas. The rich, velvety beef broth, loaded with sliced onions, was served in an ovenproof brown McCoy Pottery bowl, topped with baguette slices and a thick layer of bubbling Swiss cheese. Zettl didn’t invent the soup, but he was responsible for what he described as “perfecting” it. He told me its backstory when I was food editor at the now-defunct St. Louis Globe-Democrat, which closed in 1986. He was warm, friendly and