Brad Choat

5 days ago | advantagenews.com | Brad Choat

The May 10th South Roxana house fire in the 400 block of Indiana (photo courtesy William Roe) Nobody was home when a house exploded Saturday afternoon in South Roxana, according to crews who responded. It happened about a quarter till two in the 400 block of Indiana. Flames were shooting through the roof when firefighters arrived. A box alarm brought in crews from four other departments to help South Roxana.

6 days ago | advantagenews.com | Brad Choat

A commercial structure fire in Pontoon Beach before sunrise Friday morning included an additional hazard for first-responders, as some oxygen and acetylene tanks were exploding. Long Lake Volunteer Fire Department reports it happened on Elliott Road, just off Route 162. Crews from neighboring districts like Mitchell, Madison, and State Park provided assistance, including water transport. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

6 days ago | advantagenews.com | Brad Choat

A measure that would force school districts like Granite City and Collinsville to abandon use of their Native-American school mascots has failed to advance in the Illinois Senate. Republican Senator Erica Harriss of Glen Carbon says House Bill 1237 did not get assigned to a senate committee by Friday’s deadline. She says it’s a strong indication that community voices opposing the plan were heard.

1 week ago | advantagenews.com | Brad Choat

The 2025 Order of Lincoln class poses with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on May 3, 2025 (Lincoln Academy photo) The latest class of Lincoln Laureates received medallions on Saturday at a ceremony on the campus of the University of Illinois. The newest six join more than 350 others with Illinois ties who’ve been recognized for their contributions to the betterment of humanity since 1964. Five-time Winter Olympic gold medal speed skater Bonnie Blair was among this year’s induction class.

1 week ago | advantagenews.com | Brad Choat

Some women from Godfrey and Jerseyville were among the thirty-plus passengers injured Saturday morning when a Hermann Missouri tour bus trolley crashed. The highway patrol says it happened on Missouri Route 100, west of Hermann. The driver, identified as a 45-year-old male Hermann resident, over-corrected when the bus left the roadway, and it veered off into ditch and some woods. He suffered major injuries and was airlifted to a Columbia Missouri hospital.