I-255 will close for four months during $62.2M project

The Illinois Department of Transportation will host a public meeting to discuss a $62.2 million reconstruction project on Interstate 255 scheduled for 2027.

MoDOT to Close U.S. 61/67 in Crystal City for Overnight Drainage Work

Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - The Missouri Department of Transportation will fully close U.S. 61/67 just north of 6th Street in Crystal City beginning Monday, November 16, 2026, for drainage installation. The closure is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Monday and will affect overnight traffic during construction hours from...

Bring A Cooler To This Missouri Butcher Shop If You Plan To Shop The Weekly Meat Specials

More than 20 flavors of homemade brats sit in one meat case, and some of them include blueberry and Philly cheese steak. That alone made me stop and stare at my screen. The same counter also carries farm-raised elk, bison, ostrich, and wild boar. Then there are the weekly specials, which change regularly and reward shoppers who plan ahead.

County Council adds road improvements to subdivision plan

The Jefferson County Council has added another stipulation that developers of a 200-home subdivision in Imperial must follow before their petition is given the go-ahead. The council voted 6-0 on Oct. 26 to amend the petition submitted by JSS Land Development LLC of St. Louis to include work on Lions Den Road before more traffic is added to the road once the subdivision is built. The work includes widening the road at the intersection of Lions Den and Old Hwy. 21 to allow for a dedicated right-turn lane and a shoulder.

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...

Missouri high school forfeits playoff football game for interesting reason

This season has been one to forget for The Principia School's high school football team (St. Louis, Missouri). Now, the Panthers' 2026 season is over despite still having a playoff game on the schedule. According to a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the team forfeited its second-round postseason game against Crystal City (MO). The reason for the forfeit? To address culture issues. “While we’re disappointed with how the season ended, we believe this was a necessary step in moving our program forward,” The Principia School athletic director Shawn Brown told the Post-Dispatch. With the loss, the Panthers finish the season with a 2-7 record. The team gave up 54 or more points five times and 60 or more points four times. In their six on-field losses, the Panthers lost by an average of 29 points. In their two wins, the Panthers did put up a ton of points, scoring 70 against Veritas Christian Academy (MO) and 66 against Confluence Prep Academy (MO). This year is just the latest what's been a trying near-two-decade stretch for the Panthers. Principia School last won more than five games back in 2009. Since that season, the Panthers have compiled an overall record of

Part of I-255 to shut down in St. Clair County. Here's what we know

The Illinois Department of Transportation plans a $62.2 million construction project on Interstate 255 between Illinois 3 and Illinois 157. The project includes resurfacing, bridge repairs, safety improvements, new lighting, upgraded signs and drainage improvements, according to IDOT. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring or summer 2027. I-255 will be closed in both directions between Illinois 3 and Illinois 157 for about four months, with the highway expected to reopen in fall 2027. IDOT said the full closure will allow crews to finish the work in one construction season, rather than about two years with staged construction. The project is a continuation of work on I-255. IDOT shut down a 3.5-mile stretch from Illinois 15 to 157 for nearly six months in February 2025. In 2020, the agency a seven-mile stretch of the highway from Collinsville Road in southern Madison County to Illinois 15. The highway was opened in 1984. Five phases are planned to upgrade its road deck and bridges. For years, state officials designated I-255 as one of the worst stretches of highway in Illinois. St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern, at the time the restoration project began, compared driving on the road before its restoration to

Festus council considers altering decorum rules

The Festus City Council briefly discussed changing some of its rules of decorum during Monday’s work session, including shortening the amount of time people from outside city limits could speak. Following mounting tensions over a CRG data center development project, the council in August changed some rules of decorum,...

Section of Hwy. 61-67 in Crystal City to close overnight Nov. 16-17

Beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, the Missouri Department of Transportation will fully close Hwy. 61-67 just north of Sixth Street in Crystal City for drainage installation. Construction will take place from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly on Nov. 16 and Tuesday, Nov. 17. Traffic may use Hwy....

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...

Volunteers needed for Belleville's overnight center. Here's how you can help

St. Paul United Church of Christ will host an informational meeting Nov. 18 for people interested in volunteering at an overnight center for people without shelter during dangerously cold weather. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the church, 115 W. B St. Attendees will learn about the Emergency Weather Overnight Center at the McCormick Center, 301 S. First St. in Belleville, which will provide shelter when temperatures fall to 20 degrees or below. People seeking shelter will be screened and transported from the Salvation Army in Belleville. A hired security guard will be stationed at the center, according to the church. The City Council approved the center in August. The McCormick Center is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Belleville, which is encouraging other area cities to offer similar winter services.

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

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...

Lone Elk Park closes indefinitely due to elk mating season

St. Louis County officials have closed Lone Elk Park indefinitely to ensure public safety and minimize animal stress during the current elk mating season.

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.

Mental health fund board awards $7.2 million to agencies

The Jefferson County Mental Health Fund (JCMHF) Board announced it will award $7.2 million to 13 agencies during the course of 2027-2028. The grants will be used to fund 19 behavioral health service programs provided in the county. Agencies that will receive funding from the Mental Health Fund include:. ■...

Competing plans emerge to move St. Louis County employees from Clayton building

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and the St. Louis County Council can’t even agree on how to move out of the county’s aging headquarters. The debate comes after years of disagreements between Page and the council over matters including COVID-era mask mandates, Page’s continuing work as an anesthesiologist and funding for medical care at the St. Louis County jail.

Ameren plans three more Missouri battery plants

Utility company Ameren has received the green light to add a new-to-Missouri type of infrastructure to the electric grid: batteries. The utility is expanding energy storage in the state. It is currently building its first battery facility in Missouri and recently received approval from state regulators for three more. Last month, the Missouri Public Service […]

Students Take the Stage: District Band Auditions

Throughout the week of November 2, several Windsor band members will participate in district band auditions, which are being held at Festus High School. Students will have the opportunity to audition for both concert band and jazz band. These auditions allow students to demonstrate their musical abilities and compete for a spot among some of the best student musicians in the county.