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MACOMB —  Western Illinois University’s psychology program is receiving a $3.6 million federal grant  aimed at helping graduates launch their careers while expanding access to mental health services in rural school districts  across the region. The funding comes through the Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Grant Program  administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The multi-year grant is designed to strengthen the pipeline of trained mental health profe

SPRINGFIELD —  A proposal moving through the Illinois Senate would allow the Secretary of State to develop and issue a new specialty license plate designed for autistic and neurodivergent drivers , as well as for parents of autistic and neurodivergent children. Under the legislation, the plate would function less like traditional specialty plates tied to universities or sports teams and more like a “Baby on Board”–style safety alert , intended to signal to other motorists tha

PITTSFIELD —  After a stretch of colder winter weather, the Twin Pikes region is on track for a noticeable warm-up heading into next week, with temperatures climbing steadily and several days expected to reach well above seasonal averages. Forecast trends show highs rising out of the 40s midweek and pushing into the 50s by Friday , with that warmer pattern continuing through the weekend. By early next week, daytime highs are expected to approach or reach the lower 60s , marki

CARROLLTON —  Greene County State’s Attorney Craig M. Grummel announced Tuesday that Benjamin T. Rice  has been sentenced to concurrent five-year prison terms  in the Illinois Department of Corrections following convictions in two separate felony cases in Greene County Circuit Court. Rice was convicted in one case of aggravated battery , which was prosecuted by Special Prosecutor Michael Havera  of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s Office. In a separate ca

BOWLING GREEN —  Organizers in Bowling Green are inviting young women and girls to take part in a new community tradition with the debut of the Miss Bowling Green  and Jr. Miss Bowling Green  pageants, scheduled for April 17, 2026 , in conjunction with the city’s first Park Day celebration. The event will crown the first-ever titleholders, who will have the opportunity to present awards at Park Day, assist with community events throughout 2026, and gain experience designed to

Alvin “Basil” Barnd , 87, of Roodhouse, Illinois, passed away Sunday, February 8, 2026, at White Hall Nursing and Rehab. He was born October 8, 1939, in Drake, Illinois, the son of Alvin F. and Theresa Reese Barnd. He married Helen L. Mercer on June 25, 1960, in Granite City. He is survived by his wife, Helen Barnd of Roodhouse; two children, Gerald Barnd of Pekin and Greta Pridemore of Quincy; four grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by hi

HANNIBAL —  A Missouri family continues to search for answers nearly three years after the disappearance of Brian James Snyder, a 6-foot-6 Hannibal resident who was last known to be alive in May 2022. Snyder, born February 28, 1976, was raised in Mount Sterling, Illinois, and had lived in Hannibal at the time he vanished. Family members say it is completely out of character for him to go long periods without contact, making the extended silence deeply concerning. He also has

SPRINGFIELD —  The Illinois Retail Merchants Association is praising a court ruling that upheld the state’s Interchange Fee Prohibition Act , a law aimed at reducing credit and debit card swipe fees charged to businesses. The ruling allows Illinois to move forward with a first-in-the-nation law that prohibits banks and credit card companies from charging swipe fees on the tax and tip portions of transactions  when customers pay with a credit or debit card. Illinois Retail Mer

LOUISIANA —  The City of Louisiana is expected to see a major economic boost following the sale of the former Press Journal Printing facility on Georgia Street, a development that could bring dozens of new full-time jobs to the community. According to newly sworn-in Ward 1 City Council member Woodrow Polston , the industrial property has been sold to a company planning to employ between 40 and 60 full-time workers . Polston shared the update publicly, calling the sale “great

CALHOUN COUNTY —  The Calhoun Ferry Company has announced schedule updates affecting both the Golden Eagle Ferry and the Winfield Ferry. According to the company, the Golden Eagle Ferry  will reopen tomorrow morning, Tuesday, February 10 , beginning at 5 a.m. , and will resume regular operating hours. At the same time, the Winfield Ferry  will close tonight at 9 p.m.  and will remain closed until further notice . The Calhoun Ferry Company did not provide a timeline for the Wi

SCOTT COUNTY —  A Scott County woman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit accusing a Springfield-based nonprofit organization and her daughter’s foster mother of negligence in the death of her 8-year-old daughter. Amanda Sleek of Winchester filed the lawsuit against Rutledge Youth Foundation  and Mallori Reardon  of Murrayville in connection with the death of her daughter, Emma , who died July 10, 2023. The lawsuit alleges negligence by both defendants while Emma was in foster

LOUISIANA —  City officials in Louisiana have issued a public statement explaining why the City Council moved forward with filling the Ward I council vacancy, saying the action was legally required under Missouri law and necessary to ensure continued representation and uninterrupted city operations. In its statement, the City of Louisiana said that once a councilmember is lawfully removed from office, a vacancy exists immediately by operation of law. At that point, the City C

LOUISIANA —  Woodrow Polston was officially sworn in this week as the new Ward 1 city council member after being appointed by Mayor Tim Carter. The oath of office was administered by City Clerk Riley Anderson following Polston’s acceptance of the appointment. Polston’s appointment comes as he is also a declared candidate for mayor in the upcoming April 7 municipal election . He fills the Ward 1 council seat while continuing his campaign for the city’s top elected position. Pr

PITTSFIELD —  The Pike County Sheriff’s Office and local police agencies released their weekly arrest report covering February 2 through February 8, 2026 , with several serious felony-level and violent offenses  highlighted alongside multiple failure-to-appear and warrant arrests. Among the most significant cases, William E. Potter , 35, of Louisiana, Missouri, was arrested by the Pike County Sheriff  on February 5  on multiple charges, including possession of methamphetamine

SPRINGFIELD —  Illinois lawmakers are considering a new proposal that would require certain drivers to install speed-limiting technology in their vehicles as part of a statewide effort to reduce high-speed crashes and traffic fatalities. House Bill 4948 would create the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program , allowing courts to order some traffic offenders to install a certified device that automatically limits a vehicle’s maximum speed based on posted speed limits. The measur

GREENE COUNTY —  A Greene County man has been sentenced to eight years in prison following the revocation of his probation in a drug case, according to court records. Thirty-seven-year-old Dale Smith Jr.  was sentenced late last week to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after being convicted on two Class 3 felony counts of possession of methamphetamine. The sentences will be served concurrently. The sentencing followed a probation revocation by the Greene

CALHOUN COUNTY —  The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office has announced the appointment of Chris Barnes  as its new Chief Deputy, bringing to the role a longtime public servant with decades of experience in law enforcement, fire service, and leadership. Barnes has worked in public safety since the late 1990s, serving in both law enforcement and fire protection roles across Southern Illinois. Over the course of his career, he spent 20 years in the fire service, including 15 years

SPRINGFIELD —  Cases of acute respiratory illnesses, including flu and COVID-19, have declined across Illinois according to state health data released in January, offering signs of improvement after one of the state’s toughest flu seasons in recent years. Illinois had been experiencing unusually high levels of influenza activity earlier this winter, with flu severity reaching the highest category, described as “very high,” in early January. More recent data now places flu act

BOWLING GREEN, MO —  A major investment in services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is moving forward in Pike County, Missouri , after the Pike County Agency for Developmental Disabilities  project was officially funded. The funding will allow PCADD, in partnership with the City of Bowling Green , to construct a new Developmental Support Center and renovate the agency’s existing facility. Local leaders say the project will significantly expand

BOWLING GREEN —  Tom Thompson has officially filed to run for mayor of Bowling Green in the upcoming April municipal election and, as of the close of filing, is the only candidate seeking the office. Thompson, a longtime local business owner and part owner of A Taste of Philly, said his decision to enter the race is rooted in a deep commitment to the city and a desire to help guide its future growth. He has identified the Bowling Green Municipal Airport as a key economic asse