Today in Alton / Riverbend
Early voting at Alton's Scott Bibb Center runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday; polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3.
Election Day forecast: rain likely, with a possible afternoon thunderstorm and a 90% chance of rain.
Today is the last day of the Great Godfrey Maze, open noon to 6 p.m.
Roxana upset top-seeded Hillsboro 55-48 in the Class 3A playoffs; Civic Memorial's season ended at Centralia.
Wood River's City Council takes up Riverbend Enterprise Zone changes and a proposed Hollywood River Business District on Monday, November 2.
Hayner Library's Gobble Up a Good Book reading challenge for children starts Monday, November 2.
IDOT holds an open house on widening the Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail on Monday, November 9, at Hayner Library at Alton Square.
NEW: newly reported developments or upcoming opportunities. UPDATE: later substantive information on a covered story. ONGOING: continuing useful information. RESOLVED: the reported issue has ended. BACKGROUND: dated historical context, not a new development or confirmation of current availability. UNCONFIRMED: a story, continuing story or detail that could not be confirmed against its cited source on the edition date; the note under the headline says what is not confirmed. Today and countdown lines carry "(unconfirmed)" for the same reason. All local times are Central Daylight Time.
City, Roads & Planning
ONGOING
East Alton board meets November 3 on tax levy and a new police officer
The East Alton Village Board meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 3, at the East Alton Municipal Building, 119 W. Main Street, after a committee meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, November 2.
The agenda lists the appointment of Maria Ferrari as a police officer, effective November 4; Resolution 2026-27 for a sealed bid auction of a 2005 Chrysler 300; and two ordinances marked for a first reading and to lay over: Ordinance 1750, the 2026-2027 tax levy, and Ordinance 1751 on the Enterprise Zone.
ONGOING
Wood River council takes up Enterprise Zone and business district ordinances November 2
The Wood River City Council meets at 7 p.m. Monday, November 2, at City Hall, 111 N. Wood River Avenue. Its agenda includes an ordinance amending the Riverbend Enterprise Zone to make a technical correction, modify incentives and amend the zone's territory, and an ordinance proposing a Business District Plan for a proposed Hollywood River Business District and setting a time and place for a public hearing on it.
Also on the agenda: an amended contract with JAME Properties, LLC for the sale of 13 Whitelaw Avenue; a tax increment financing redevelopment agreement with Americains, LLC for 84 E. Ferguson Avenue; a change order expanding Kamex Inc.'s sidewalk contract; and Wood River Business Alliance requests to close streets for the Santa Parade and a Holiday Tradition Event on Friday, November 27.
East Alton's Village Board has Ordinance 1751, on the Enterprise Zone, set for a first reading at its November 3 meeting.
ONGOING
Godfrey asks residents not to blow leaves into streets
The Village of Godfrey is asking residents not to blow or rake leaves into the streets, saying in an October 28 notice that it has no curbside leaf vacuum program and that leaves can block stormwater flow in curbs and ditches and clog drainage pipes.
Leaf burning is allowed on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in October, November and December. The residents-only yard waste site at 1433 Stamper Lane is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, with proof of residency. Yard waste must be in brown recyclable bags with village stickers, which cost $1.75 each; limbs over 4 inches across are not accepted.
The Village Board and its Public Safety and Finance Committee next meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 4, at Village Hall.
ONGOING
IDOT open house on widening the Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail set for November 9
The Illinois Department of Transportation holds a public meeting on proposed improvements to the Illinois 100 Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, November 9, at Hayner Public Library, 132 Alton Square. IDOT's Phase I engineering and environmental study is looking at reconstructing and widening the trail.
The meeting is an open house with no formal presentation. Display boards will cover engineering, land acquisition and environmental issues, and IDOT and consultant staff will answer questions. Comments received by November 27 go into the official meeting record; they can also go to Nathan Cox of IDOT District 8 at Nathan.Cox@illinois.gov or 618-346-3189.
ONGOING
Lane restrictions on Homer Adams Parkway expected through spring 2027
One lane is open in each direction on Illinois 3 (Homer Adams Parkway) between Bloomer Drive and College Avenue in Alton for bridge construction. The Illinois Department of Transportation says the restrictions began Friday, September 18, and are expected to stay in place through spring 2027.
IDOT encourages drivers to use alternate routes and to slow down in the work zone. Updates are posted by IDOT District 8 and on the state's GettingAroundIllinois.com traveler map.
BACKGROUND
Wood River testing found PFOS above the state standard
A letter to residents from Wood River City Manager Steve Palen says recent testing found perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), one of the PFAS "forever chemicals," at 6.7 parts per trillion in the city's water, above the Illinois standard of 4 parts per trillion. Palen wrote that a result above a standard "does not mean that our residents are experiencing an immediate health emergency."
The city says it has been running a pilot study to find the best PFAS treatment for its system and is working with the Illinois EPA. It is also part of litigation against PFAS manufacturers, which it says has brought in money for future treatment.
Public Safety & Weather
UPDATE
Rain likely on Election Day after a cloudy, damp Sunday
The National Weather Service forecast for Alton, issued at 4:56 a.m. Sunday, calls for a 30% chance of rain today, Sunday, November 1, mainly before 11 a.m., with patchy fog early, cloudy skies and a high near 62. Monday should be cloudy with a high near 72 and south wind gusts as high as 24 mph.
On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, rain is likely, with rain and possibly a thunderstorm after noon, a high near 74 and breezy conditions; the chance of rain is 90%. Rain is likely Tuesday night as well, with a 70% chance.
Daylight saving time ended at 2 a.m. today, Sunday, November 1, when clocks moved back one hour.
Elections
ONGOING
Final days of early voting before the November 3 election
Madison County voters can still vote early at the Scott Bibb Center, 1004 E. Fifth Street in Alton, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, Sunday, November 1, and from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, November 2, the last day of early voting. All precincts in the county are served at every early voting site. Early voting at Godfrey Village Hall and at the Wood River Township Office in East Alton ended Friday, October 30.
Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 3. The county clerk says the Alton 2 precinct has moved to the Scott Bibb Center for Election Day. Grace period registration and voting run through Monday, November 2, at the County Clerk's Office. Mail and provisional ballots can be counted through Tuesday, November 17.
The county's list of ballot questions includes none from Alton, Godfrey, East Alton, Wood River or their school districts. The Madison County Clerk's office is at 618-296-6200.
ONGOING
Campaign signs can be recycled November 4 to 9
Corrugated plastic campaign signs can be dropped off for recycling November 4 through November 9 at IBEW Local 649, 3945 Humbert Road, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and at LaVista Park, 2421 W. Delmar Avenue, from dawn to dusk. Signs must be free of stickers, and metal bases should be separated into their own containers.
The collection is run by the Greater Godfrey Democrats, IBEW Local 649 and the Village of Godfrey.
ONGOING
Godfrey election filing runs November 16 to 23
The Village of Godfrey's November calendar lists Monday, November 16, as the first day and Monday, November 23, as the last day for Godfrey election filing at Village Hall, 6810 Godfrey Road. Filing hours are 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m., with the afternoon window running to 5 p.m. on the last day.
Arts, Culture & Events
ONGOING
Great Godfrey Maze closes its season today
Today, Sunday, November 1, is the last day of the Great Godfrey Maze at Robert E. Glazebrook Park, 1401 Stamper Lane. Sunday hours are noon to 6 p.m. The haunted maze ran on Friday and Saturday nights and is not open today.
The regular maze costs $8 for ages 12 and up and $6 for ages 6 to 11; children 5 and under are free. This year's theme is the Inside Out films, and children 13 and under must be with an adult. The Cow Train, hay wagon rides and the jumping pillow are $3 a ride.
- Source: Great Rivers and Routes: Great Godfrey Maze 2026
ONGOING
Underground Railroad exhibit at Alton City Hall; Lovejoy Day program November 9
The traveling exhibit *Journey to Freedom: Illinois' Underground Railroad* is at Alton City Hall through Thursday, December 31, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hayner Public Library District co-hosts it with the city. It includes the story of Isaac Kelly of Alton, a deacon at Union Baptist Church and a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
A Lovejoy Day reader's theater program, A Cause Sprinkled with Blood: The Life of Owen Lovejoy, is set for 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, November 9, at the Genealogy and Local History Library, 401 State Street. Rev. Owen Bryant Lovejoy, great-great-grandson of Owen Lovejoy, and his son, Rev. Elijah Patrick Lovejoy, present it with Alton School District Superintendent Elaine Kane as special guest. Registration is at 1-800-613-3163.
A related program, Connie Martin's "Pre-Civil War Quilts: Secret Codes to Freedom on the Underground Railroad," is planned for 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 15, at Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall.
Sports
UPDATE
Roxana upsets top-seeded Hillsboro; Civic Memorial's season ends at Centralia
Roxana beat top-seeded Hillsboro 55-48 on Saturday, October 31, in the IHSA Class 3A First Round, according to High School On SI's bracket results. Roxana reached that round by beating Massac County 60-23 on Saturday, October 24, Fox 32 Chicago reported. The next round is set for November 6 and 7.
Civic Memorial of Bethalto lost 49-13 at top-seeded Centralia on Friday, October 30, in the Class 4A First Round, High School On SI reported. Civic Memorial had advanced by beating Quincy Notre Dame 28-24 on Friday, October 23.
AI in Your Community
BACKGROUND
Lewis and Clark gets grant tied to AI advising tools
Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey received a $100,000 Gates Foundation grant in July 2026 for a 17-month national learning initiative on student success. The foundation's grant record describes the purpose as "advancing the effective and equitable use of AI-enabled advising tools in higher education."
In May, Lewis and Clark students hosted a panel on AI in education on the Godfrey campus, with about 80 people taking part in person and online. The college said a campus AI team is working on a policy for AI use in college business and in the classroom.
BACKGROUND
Alton police keep a voluntary registry of home and business cameras
The Alton Police Department runs a voluntary Private Video Surveillance Camera Registration Program. Residents and business owners register their address so police know where cameras are, and officers may contact them to request footage when a crime happens nearby.
The department says registering "does not automatically give the Alton Police Department access to your camera system." Footage that owners share may be used as evidence, and owners could receive a subpoena. Owners can withdraw at any time. Questions go to the department at 618-463-3505.
BACKGROUND
AARP tech classes at Hayner Library follow March class on everyday AI
AARP Illinois held an in-person class, Everyday AI: How It Helps in Daily Life Today, at Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall on March 25, 2026. The hour-long lecture covered how AI already shows up in everyday tasks, from voice assistants to customer service and health care, and ways people can use it. Registration was required.
Hayner says it has partnered with AARP on monthly tech classes throughout 2026, covering topics "from AI and smartphones to estate planning and online shopping." The next two are Tech Basics for Caregiving from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, November 25, and Online Shopping on Wednesday, December 9. Each is a live AARP webinar shown in the Multipurpose Room at Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall; registration is through AARP at 1-877-926-8300.
Still Developing
The latest confirmed movement, the open question and the next checkpoint.
OPENProposed data center campus at the former Alton Steel site
The City of Alton says Alton Steel Inc. and TerraWatt have approached it about buying and redeveloping the former Alton Steel property as a data center campus. The city said October 21 that no permit or zoning application has been filed. The site would need to be rezoned, with a detailed site plan going first to the Plan Commission and then to the City Council, each voting at a regular meeting. The city says it will seek a third-party consultant for engineering, planning and environmental review and takes resident comments through a form on its website. TerraWatt held an open house October 27 at the Wedge Building, 620 E. Broadway. The Waterways Journal reported that the mill covers 381 acres, that Alton Steel stopped operating in January, and that the property's owner, J&J Ventures LLC, is exploring a deal with TerraWatt, a Texas-based developer that the Journal said has not completed any data centers. On November 3, voters in Chouteau, Granite City, Nameoki and Venice townships will see advisory questions on whether new data centers may be built there. The proposal becomes news again when an application is filed and a Plan Commission date is set.
First covered October 30, 2026.
OPENAlton Public Works strike
Alton Public Works Department employees represented by Teamsters Local 525 went on strike September 25 after working without a contract, according to an October 22 statement from the Alton Education Association, the teachers' union. The association said its members would support the strikers, wear red on Wednesday, October 28, and contact City Council members to urge a quick and fair settlement. No new contract had been announced as of that statement. The City Council meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 101 E. Third Street. A ratified contract or a return to work would make this news again.
First covered October 30, 2026.
About CogniLocal
CogniLocal is human-led community information supported by AI-assisted research, source discovery, verification and story tracking. Editorial judgment and final publication decisions remain human. Meet the publisher and read the editorial standards.
News tips and corrections: editor@cognilocal.com.