Madison County Adoption Day 2025
By Tribune Staff • On Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, the Madison County Circuit Court hosted its Eighth Annual Adoption Day, finalizing adoptions for 36 children from foster care and uniting them with loving, permanent families. Many children in foster care endure waits of three or more years for adoption, and 20% will age out of…
Read MoreMore seniors now eligible for property tax relief under new Illinois law
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is reminding senior homeowners of the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program, which has been expanded thanks to legislation signed by Governor JB Pritzker. Pritzker emphasized the importance of this legislation stating, “Our seniors have spent their lives building our communities and strengthening our state, and…
Read MoreIllinois Student Assistance Commission announces 2026-27 Illinois State Scholars
CHICAGO – The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state’s college access and financial aid agency, is pleased to announce the 2026-27* Illinois State Scholars. State scholars are chosen each year based on their ACT or SAT test scores and sixth semester class rank and are honored for their remarkable academic achievements. These talented students…
Read MoreGovernors can opt-in to Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program for K-12 scholarships
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) just issued Revenue Procedure 2026-6 to allow the nation’s governors the ability to make an advance election to opt in to the federal tax credit scholarship program. The federal tax credit scholarship was enacted by President Trump and Congress…
Read MoreTrump administration sues Illinois over state law limiting federal immigration actions
State law allows residents to sue federal agents who violate their constitutional rights By Brenden Moore Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD — In an expected move, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit last week seeking to nullify a new state law that allows Illinois residents to sue federal immigration agents who arrest them in or near…
Read MoreFormer Marissa Police Officer, Granite City resident caught during Operation Relentless Justice
205 child victims located, 293 child sex abuse offenders arrested in nationwide crackdown, including four in the Southern District of Illinois By Tribune Staff FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in…
Read MoreSemi-truck carrying spuds overturns at 55-270 interchange
Updated at 12:40 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2025 with information from the Troy Fire Protection District. TROY – A tractor-trailer hauling potatoes skidded off of a ramp and overturned Dec. 27 at the Interstate 55-270 interchange, closing it for about 3.5 hours. Per Troy Fire Protection District Chief Darren Davis, “We were dispatched to Interstate…
Read MoreMadison County helps families enjoy Christmas
by Randy Pierce • Families in Madison County who are socioeconomically challenged, according to a term used by its child advocacy center (CAC) director, Jenny Wilkinson, were able to experience enhanced enjoyment of the holiday season this year because of the efforts of her staff and many others who dedicated themselves to various programs and…
Read MoreNo word on when Starbucks will open but Troy has plenty of infrastructure work planned, in progress
By Charles Bolinger Editor • Even though Starbucks has not informed Troy city officials when it intends to open the store it built along Edwardsville Road, west of the strip center that houses Joe’s Pizzeria, the city has plenty of other infrastructure irons in the fire. Troy City Engineer Tom Cissell delivered his final infrastructure…
Read MoreBetty Ann Market owner Craig Norrenberns acquires Highland’s Tru-Buy Market
By Zachary Daum [email protected] Craig Norrenberns, owner of Betty Ann Market in Mascoutah and Red Bud/Millstadt IGA, has expanded his independent grocery operation with the recent purchase of Tru-Buy in Highland, a store long operated by the Gutzler family. The acquisition, finalized shortly before Thanksgiving, brings the Highland grocery at 610 Broadway into Norrenberns’ family…
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