All Posts

SPRINGFIELD —  The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association has launched the 2026 edition of its annual “Makers Madness”  contest, a bracket-style competition that allows the public to vote on what product should be named The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois . Presented by Comcast Business, the contest celebrates products manufactured across Illinois and highlights the role manufacturers play in the state’s economy. Nominations are now open at makersmadnessil.com  and will be accept

Elaine Karol Dameron Elaine Karol Dameron, 74, of Curryville, Missouri, passed away Thursday, February 12, after courageously battling a prolonged illness. Elaine was born June 14, 1951, in Hannibal, Missouri. She married the love of her life, Floyd “Chub” Dameron, on June 12, 1971, and together they built a life centered on faith, family, and hard work in the Curryville area. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose family remained her greates

PITTSFIELD —  The Pittsfield High School Saukettes brought home a spectacular haul of honors from the 2026 Illinois Drill Team Association (IDTA) State Finals , making Pike County proud with a sweep of state-level performance championships. At the state finals competition, the Saukettes captured multiple top titles, including 2026 State Champions in Class A Lyrical  and 2026 State Champions in Open Pom , along with the 2026 High Point Championship  and 2026 Grand Champion  te

JACKSONVILLE —  One person has died following a shooting Saturday evening in Jacksonville, according to local police. Officers were dispatched at 5:42 p.m. to the 800 block of West Chambers Street after reports of shots fired. When police arrived, they found an individual suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound, authorities said. The victim was transported to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, where they later died. The identity of the victim has not been released as pol

PITTSFIELD —  The Pittsfield Police Department has welcomed a new four-legged member to the force, introducing Maverick, a 3-year-old trained narcotics K-9, who officially began active duty last week alongside his handler, Officer Mackenzie Moore. Since starting work, Maverick has already assisted Pittsfield officers in two arrests. Moore says Maverick clearly understands when it’s time to work, immediately shifting into duty mode as soon as he is deployed from the squad car,

LOUISIANA, Mo. —  Hands & Hearts of Pike County is inviting community members to take part in the planning of a major Fourth of July celebration marking America’s upcoming 250th birthday. The organization will hold its first official planning meeting  for the event, titled “Together We Shine: America’s 250th Celebration,”  as preparations begin for a full-day, family-friendly celebration scheduled for July 4  in Pike County. Organizers say the event is intended to honor the n

Charline M. Smith Charline M. Smith, age 70, of Hull, Illinois, passed away Friday, February 13, 2026, at Barry Healthcare & Senior Living in Barry. Charline was born September 10, 1955, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Robert Cooper and Rose Watkins. She married Kevin Smith on July 4, 1986, at Calvary Baptist Church in Hannibal, Missouri. She earned her LPN license and spent decades working in the nursing field, including employment at nursing homes, doctor’s offices, the Q

JEFFERSON CITY —  Families of Missourians with disabilities, along with caregivers and advocates, are urging state lawmakers to reverse proposed budget cuts they say would severely impact services that allow people with developmental disabilities to live safely at home and remain active in their communities. Dozens of residents packed a Missouri House Budget Committee hearing this week to oppose $80.7 million in proposed reductions tied to Gov. Mike Kehoe’s budget plan. The c

PITTSFIELD —  The family of a Pittsfield High School student killed in a May 24 automobile crash, along with a student who survived the collision, have filed a civil lawsuit seeking a combined $300,000 in damages against the two drivers involved. According to Illinois State Police, the crash occurred at the intersection of U.S. 67 and Woodson Winchester Road when a car driven by Pittsfield High School student Tristyn Ruzich collided with a truck driven by Zachary Trace of Woo

WINCHESTER —  Plans are moving forward in Winchester to honor a pivotal moment in Abraham Lincoln’s political history with a proposed statue commemorating his 1854 speech delivered in the city. Winchester Mayor Rex McIntire says the statue would be placed in Douglas Park near the existing monument to Senator Stephen A. Douglas, a deliberate pairing reflecting the historic clash of ideas that unfolded in the community. In August of 1854, at the site of the former Scott County

PITTSFIELD —  Work is set to begin Monday, February 16, on a major downtown revitalization project that city leaders say will modernize infrastructure and improve streets and sidewalks throughout the heart of Pittsfield. Mayor Gary Mendenhall said construction crews are expected to move in with more than 60 workers downtown as the long-planned project officially gets underway. The effort has been in development for several years after the city secured multiple state grants in

NEW LONDON, Mo. —   STORY UPDATE: Gavin Davis of New London, age 21 is facing charges of unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree assault causing serious physical injury and armed criminal action. Two people are recovering after a shooting early Friday morning at a New London bar, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Authorities say the incident happened just before 1 a.m. at Tubby’s Grub and Pub  after reports of a man causing a disturbance inside the business. The

CALHOUN COUNTY —  Ferry service in Calhoun County has fully reopened following a new update issued Friday, reversing an earlier partial-closure notice and restoring all major river crossings. On February 12 , officials reported that the Kampsville Ferry  had reopened while the Brussels Ferry  remained closed, limiting options for drivers traveling across the Illinois River. At that time, the Kampsville Ferry resumed operations as a free, 24-hour service operated by the Illino

If you’ve already spilled your coffee, locked your keys in the car, or just have a bad feeling about today, the calendar might be to blame. Friday the 13th  has returned — and in 2026, it’s not a one-time event. This year delivers the maximum number possible: three Friday the 13ths , landing in February, March, and November . That only happens when the year starts on a Thursday, which puts the unlucky date on repeat. The last time it happened was 2015, and it won’t happen aga

SPRINGFIELD —  A proposal moving through the Illinois General Assembly to raise the statewide minimum wage to $27 an hour  is drawing sharp criticism from small business advocates who warn the plan reflects a growing disconnect between Chicago-area lawmakers and the economic realities of downstate Illinois. Filed by Senator Kimberly Lightford and Representative Norma Hernandez, the legislation would significantly accelerate wage increases beyond Illinois’ current schedule. Un

PITTSFIELD —   Editor’s note:  This is a corrected version  of this story. We apologize for an earlier error after the AI-based tool we use to assist in gathering news information failed on this item. The following information has been reviewed and corrected. The Pittsfield Police Department has added a new narcotics K-9 to its force following a donation that made the program possible, strengthening the department’s ability to combat drug-related crime in the community. Polic

SPRINGFIELD —  Illinois and the nation are marking the birthday of Abraham Lincoln today, honoring the legacy of the 16th president whose life and career were deeply rooted across central and western Illinois, including connections to Pittsfield and Pike County. Born February 12, 1809, Lincoln spent much of his adult life in Illinois after moving to the state as a young man. As a lawyer riding the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Lincoln traveled extensively through west-central Illi

HILLSBORO —  Ameren Illinois says its natural gas storage strategy helped limit price spikes for customers during one of the coldest stretches of the winter, even as demand surged and wholesale gas prices soared. Ameren officials say natural gas prices were driven sharply higher during late January and early February as extreme cold increased demand across the region. Brad Kloeppel, senior director of natural gas operations and technical services for Ameren Illinois, said the

HARDIN —  The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office marked a formal transition in leadership on January 30, 2026, as newly appointed Sheriff Zach Hardin presided over the swearing-in of the department’s full-time deputies and a newly appointed chief deputy. The oaths were administered before the Honorable Judge Charles H.W. Burch, officially reaffirming each officer’s authority to serve as Deputy Sheriffs of Calhoun County. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the entire existing te

LOUISIANA —  A longtime Independence Day tradition in Pike County will continue into 2026, as Hands & Hearts of Pike County  announced it will take over hosting and organizing the Fourth of July Celebration in Louisiana, Missouri , an event previously coordinated by the City of Louisiana. Organizers said the decision came after learning the future of the celebration was uncertain. With 2026 marking the 250th anniversary of the United States , the nonprofit said it was determi