CogniLocal Your Community, More Completely.
Illinois edition
CogniLocal

Alton / Riverbend

Your Community, More Completely.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · Permanent link to this edition
Edition archive
November 3 · General Election Day, polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; East Alton Village Board, 7 p.m.November 4 · Godfrey Village Board, 6 p.m.; campaign sign recycling beginsNovember 6 · Byway Discovery Center grand opening, Godfrey, 2 p.m.November 9 · IDOT bike trail open house, 4 p.m.; Lovejoy Day program, 7 p.m.
Weather at a glance · Alton / Riverbend
Loading weather...
Weather data: Open-Meteo

Today in Alton / Riverbend

Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. today for the general election; the Alton 2 precinct votes at the Scott Bibb Center.
Rain and possible thunderstorms are forecast through tonight, with a 100% chance of rain and a high near 73. (unconfirmed)
The East Alton Village Board meets at 7 p.m. today, with the 2026-2027 tax levy ordinance set for a first reading.
Hayner Library's Taps & Tomes book club discusses The Great Gatsby tonight at The Old Bakery Beer Company, starting with a 6 p.m. social hour.
The Byway Discovery Center at Great Rivers Park in Godfrey holds its grand opening Friday, November 6, from 2 to 5 p.m.
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 tonight on tax levy and a new police officer

The East Alton Village Board meets at 7 p.m. today, Tuesday, November 3, at the East Alton Municipal Building, 119 W. Main Street.

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

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

UPDATEUNCONFIRMED

Rain and possible thunderstorms forecast through Election Day night

Not confirmed against the source as of November 3, 2026: the 1:01 p.m. forecast time, the 100% chance of rain this afternoon and wind gusts as high as 31 mph; the National Weather Service forecast now in place (updated 2:46 p.m.) gives a 90% chance of rain this afternoon (100% tonight) and gusts as high as 29 mph. Check the source before relying on it.

The National Weather Service forecast for Alton, updated at 1:01 p.m. today, calls for rain and possibly a thunderstorm this afternoon, Tuesday, November 3, with a high near 73. It will be breezy, with south wind gusts as high as 31 mph, and the chance of rain is 100%.

Rain and possibly a thunderstorm are forecast tonight before 4 a.m., then a chance of rain, with a low around 54 and gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday, November 4, may bring sprinkles before 7 a.m., then mostly cloudy skies and a high near 63. Thursday should be sunny, with a high near 66.

Elections

ONGOING

Polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for today's general election

Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, Tuesday, November 3, for the general election. The Madison County Clerk says the Alton 2 precinct has moved to the Scott Bibb Center, 1004 E. Fifth Street in Alton, for Election Day.

Early voting and grace period registration and voting ended Monday, November 2. 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. Voters in the Cottage Hills Fire Protection District will see a question on a special tax of up to .10% of the value of taxable property in the district to pay for emergency and rescue crews and equipment. 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

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.

ONGOING

Byway Discovery Center opens at Great Rivers Park in Godfrey November 6

The Byway Discovery Center at Great Rivers Park, 10832 Lockhaven Road in Godfrey, holds its grand opening from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, November 6, according to the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau. The new visitor space has interactive exhibits on the history, landscapes and communities of the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway.

The opening is hosted by the Great Rivers Land Trust, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the tourism bureau. Light refreshments follow the opening ceremony. The listing gives Jennifer Buehrer, 618-465-6676, as the contact.

  • Source: Great Rivers and Routes: Grand Opening of the Byway Discovery Center at Great Rivers Park

Community & Culture

ONGOING

Javapalooza latte art voting runs through November 30 at Riverbend coffee shops

Public voting in the Javapalooza latte art competition runs November 1 through 30, with the winner to be announced the first week of December, according to the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau. The regional coffee celebration runs through November 30.

Participating shops in the Riverbend include Elysian Gallery and Cafe, Maeva's Coffee and Post Commons in Alton; Bri's Brews Coffee Shop, Cafe LaNae and Bakery and Roasterz Coffee Co. in Wood River; The Shoppes at Beverly Farm in Godfrey; and Germania Brew Haus, with locations in Alton, East Alton and Godfrey. Visitors can try shops' signature drinks and vote for a favorite, and check in on the Great Rivers and Routes app along a coffee trail for a chance at prizes.

ONGOINGUNCONFIRMED

Hayner's Gobble Up a Good Book reading challenge under way

Not confirmed against the source as of November 3, 2026: that the challenge began Monday, November 2 (the library's listing now shows it running November 3 to 15). Check the source before relying on it.

Hayner Public Library District's Gobble Up a Good Book reading challenge for children, which began Monday, November 2, is under way at Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall. Readers fill in bingo squares by reading books, attending library programs, exploring the library and trying new genres, with separate cards for ages birth to 5 and 6 to 11.

Each completed bingo earns a prize, and a finished card enters the reader in a drawing for grand prizes. Children ages birth to 3 can also pick from a baby prize bin for each bingo. All Hayner locations will be closed Wednesday, November 11, for Veterans Day.

NEW

Hayner's Taps & Tomes book club discusses The Great Gatsby tonight

Hayner Public Library District's Taps & Tomes book club meets tonight, Tuesday, November 3, at The Old Bakery Beer Company, 400 Landmarks Blvd. in Alton, to discuss The Great Gatsby. A social hour starts at 6 p.m., and the book discussion begins at 7 p.m.

Participants can come for both or just the discussion, and no registration is required. The library says book club selections can be checked out at Hayner Library and are usually available on the Libby and Cloud Library digital platforms.

NEW

DAR chapter holds open house at Hayner's genealogy library November 7

The Ninian Edwards Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Hayner's Genealogy and Local History Library, 401 State Street in Alton, hold the chapter's annual open house from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, November 7. Experienced researchers will be on hand to guide visitors through the DAR application process.

The chapter notes that eligibility also covers a broader "Patriotic Service" category, which includes people such as doctors and nurses who aided the wounded. Admission is free, and no registration is needed.

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.

Schools & Youth

NEW

Alton school board hearing November 17 on publishing its annual statement of affairs

The Alton School District will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 17, during the regular board meeting at the Alton High School Library. The hearing takes public comment on a proposed waiver of the requirement that the district publish its Annual Statement of Affairs in a newspaper.

Still Developing

The latest confirmed movement, the open question and the next checkpoint.

OPEN

Proposed 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.

Sources: City of Alton: Data center comment form and update; The Waterways Journal: Former Illinois steel mill may become data center; Madison County Clerk: Referenda questions, November 3, 2026
OPEN

Alton 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.

Sources: Illinois Education Association: Alton Education Association statement on Teamsters strike; City of Alton: City Council

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.