Today in Alton / Riverbend
Alton Little Theatre's The Outsider plays tonight at 7:30 p.m. and runs through Sunday, November 22.
The Whispering Roots holiday market runs until 3 p.m. today at the Milton Schoolhouse in Alton.
Marine Corps Birthday Ball tonight, 6 to 9 p.m., at Julia's Banquet Center in East Alton.
North Alby Road in Godfrey closes at Humbert Road from 7 a.m. Monday, November 16, until about November 25.
Wood River leaf pickup covers Zones 1 to 4 from Monday, November 16, to Thursday, November 19.
Godfrey election filing opens Monday, November 16, at Village Hall.
Lewis and Clark broke ground November 10 on its $50 million Main Complex renovation in Godfrey.
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
Godfrey yard waste site open Saturday; leaf burning allowed Wednesdays and Saturdays
The Village of Godfrey's residents-only yard waste drop-off site at 1433 Stamper Lane, west of Glazebrook Park, is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, including today, Saturday, November 14. Visitors are asked to show a valid Illinois driver's license or state ID showing Godfrey residency.
Yard waste must be in brown recyclable bags from area hardware stores, each with a village sticker, which costs $1.75. Limbs cannot exceed 4 inches in diameter. In March, April, May, October, November and December, the village allows landscape waste burning on Wednesdays and Saturdays only, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and never in streets or gutters.
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 for bridge construction work. The Illinois Department of Transportation says the lane restrictions began Friday, September 18, and are expected to stay in place through spring 2027.
BACKGROUND
Wood River testing found PFOS above the state standard
The City of Wood River says in a release that recent testing detected perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), one of the PFAS "forever chemicals," at 6.7 parts per trillion in its water. The Illinois standard for PFOS is 4 parts per trillion. The city says the result "does not mean that our residents are experiencing an immediate health emergency."
The city says it has been running a PFAS treatment pilot study to choose the best treatment technology for its system. It is also taking part in litigation involving PFAS manufacturers and says it has received funding that will help cover future treatment costs.
ONGOING
Madison County Board set for final vote on fiscal 2027 budget and levy November 18
The Madison County Board is scheduled to take final action on the county's Fiscal Year 2027 budget and levy ordinance at 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 18. The county says the Finance & Government Operations Committee approved the ordinance October 29.
The county says the ordinance is posted for public inspection at least 15 days before final action.
ONGOING
North Alby Road in Godfrey to close at Humbert Road from November 16
North Alby Road in Godfrey closes at Humbert Road starting at 7 a.m. Monday, November 16, for road work around the railroad tracks. The road is expected to reopen Wednesday, November 25.
ONGOINGWood River
Wood River leaf pickup continues by zone through December 17
The City of Wood River's zone-by-zone leaf pickup runs through December 17, according to the city's Pipeline newsletter. The first round wrapped up with Zone 8 on Friday, November 13. The second round covers Zone 1 on Monday, November 16, Zone 2 on Tuesday, November 17, Zone 3 on Wednesday, November 18, and Zone 4 on Thursday, November 19.
Zones 5 through 8 follow from November 30 to December 3, and a third and final round runs December 7 to 17. The city says the schedule is for leaves only and that no planters or junk will be picked up. Residents can find their zone on the city's leaf pickup map.
NEWWood River
Wood River council to consider TIF agreement for 25-27 E. Ferguson Avenue on November 16
The Wood River City Council's agenda for its 7 p.m. Monday, November 16, meeting includes an ordinance authorizing a redevelopment agreement with Jack Matthews Development for TIF financial assistance at 25-27 E. Ferguson Avenue.
Also on the agenda: an intergovernmental agreement with Wood River-Hartford School District 15 for a student resource officer, kennel requirements in the city's animal code, and an agreement with Pfund Construction Inc. for emergency repair services with competitive bidding waived. The meeting is at City Hall, 111 N. Wood River Avenue.
NEWEast Alton
East Alton board set for final reading of 2026-27 tax levy November 17
The East Alton Village Board's agenda for 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 17, lists the second reading and passage of Ordinance 1750, the village's 2026-2027 tax levy, and Ordinance 1751 on the enterprise zone. The board will also consider a resolution adding an addendum to the ice rink management agreement. A committee meeting is set for 5 p.m. Monday, November 16, at the East Alton Municipal Building.
Elections
ONGOING
Madison County can count mail and provisional ballots through November 17
The November 3 general election is over, but the Madison County Clerk's election schedule lists Tuesday, November 17, as the last day to count vote-by-mail and provisional ballots.
ONGOING
Godfrey election filing runs November 16 to 23
Candidate filing for Godfrey's consolidated election opens Monday, November 16, in the Village Clerk's office at Village Hall, 6810 Godfrey Road, according to a village notice. Filing hours are 7:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. through Friday, November 20. The last day is Monday, November 23, when the afternoon window runs to 5 p.m.
Arts, Culture & Events
ONGOINGAlton
The Outsider plays at Alton Little Theatre tonight and through November 22
Alton Little Theatre's comedy The Outsider, which opened Friday, November 13, plays tonight, Saturday, November 14, at 2450 N. Henry St. in Alton. The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau lists further performances Sunday, November 15, Thursday, November 19, Friday, November 20, Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, all at 7:30 p.m., with admission of $25.
The play follows a painfully shy man who unexpectedly becomes a candidate for governor.
ONGOINGAlton
Holiday market at The Whispering Roots in Alton is today
The Whispering Roots hosts a holiday market today, Saturday, November 14, at the Milton Schoolhouse, 1320 Milton Rd. in Alton, according to the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau. The listing gives the start time as 10:30 a.m. in one place and 10 a.m. in another; the market runs until 3 p.m. Vendors will offer gifts, handmade crafts and custom apparel.
NEWEast Alton
Marine Corps Birthday Ball in East Alton tonight
Riverbend Patriots and A Few Good Marines host a Marine Corps Birthday Ball marking 251 years of the Corps from 6 to 9 p.m. tonight, Saturday, November 14, at Julia's Banquet Center, 101 Eastgate Plaza in East Alton, according to the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau. The evening includes a buffet dinner and guest speakers. Tickets are $45 per person or $360 per table, and formal attire is encouraged.
Community & Culture
NEWGodfrey
Lewis and Clark hosts TransFormation event November 19
Lewis and Clark Community College's Diversity Council, with Alton Pride, hosts its annual TransFormation event from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Thursday, November 19, in the Trimpe Ahlemeyer Atrium on the Godfrey Campus. The college says the event is for learning about and discussing gender diversity, trans experiences and allyship.
Breakout sessions run from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., followed by a panel discussion and audience questions. A food and supply drive for Metro Trans Umbrella Group runs during the event. No RSVP 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 to take part in a 17-month national learning initiative. The foundation's grant record describes the work 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, with around 80 people attending online and in person. The college said a campus AI team has been working to build and implement a campus policy on the use of AI in college business and in classrooms.
The college's published AI policy says AI use in assignments must be credited and that faculty retain control of grading. It also says administrative decisions supported by AI will include human review.
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 registrants could be subject to a court subpoena. Owners can withdraw consent at any time through Alton Police Community Relations. The department's main number is 618-463-3505.
BACKGROUNDUNCONFIRMED
AARP tech classes at Hayner Library follow March class on everyday AI
Not confirmed against the source as of November 14, 2026: Hayner's statement that it partners with AARP on monthly tech classes throughout 2026, the Multipurpose Room location, and the 1-877-926-8300 registration number. Check the source before relying on it.
AARP Illinois held a class, Everyday AI: How It Helps in Daily Life Today, at Hayner Library at Alton Square on March 25, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m. Registration was required.
Hayner says it has partnered with AARP on monthly tech classes throughout 2026. The next listed class is Tech Basics for Caregiving, noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, November 25, in the Multipurpose Room at Hayner Library at Alton Square, 132 Alton Square. Registration is collected by AARP at 1-877-926-8300.
BACKGROUNDWood River
East Alton-Wood River High School uses camera-based gun detection
East Alton-Wood River Community High School District 14 said in January 2026 that it was launching the Omnilert Gun Detection system at the high school. The automated system uses the school's existing security cameras to detect visibly brandished firearms, such as handguns or rifles. The district said the deployment was not the result of any specific incident.
The district says human confirmation is always required before any escalation, and that the system does not predict behavior, monitor conversations or identify individuals. It adds to the district's Evolv weapons detection system at a designated entry point and a camera upgrade to the Genetec platform with more than 50 additional camera lenses.
BACKGROUNDAlton
Alton runs an automated license plate reader system
The City of Alton operates an automated license plate reader (ALPR) system, according to a 2024 how-to guide for its users posted on the city's LPR server. Users monitor plate hits and run reports through a web application and manage hotlists through Security Desk software. Hotlists include state LEADS data, updated twice a day, and national NCIC data, updated daily.
The guide says the system does not run real-time inquiries through LEADS, NCIC or the Secretary of State, and that any arrest made from a plate hit requires a submission form, which is used to justify funding for the system. It also cites the state law that limits sharing ALPR data with outside law enforcement agencies.
Schools & Youth
ONGOING
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.
NEWGodfrey
Lewis and Clark breaks ground on $50 million Main Complex renovation
Lewis and Clark Community College broke ground Tuesday, November 10, on the renovation of Fobes, Baldwin and Caldwell halls on its Godfrey Campus. The project includes electrical and HVAC upgrades, and Fobes will become a new Student Welcome Center with a new main entrance on its south side.
The state awarded $37.5 million toward the $50 million project in 2022, and the college's board allocated the remaining $12.5 million. The college says the build phase should last about 18 months, with completion expected in spring 2028.
NEWGodfrey
Lewis and Clark men's soccer heads to NJCAA national tournament
The Lewis and Clark Trailblazers men's soccer team won its district championship November 7 with a 3-1 win over Harry S. Truman College at Glazebrook Park, earning a spot in the NJCAA Division I national tournament. The tournament runs November 15 to 21 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kansas.
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. The city listed a TerraWatt open house for 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, elsewhere in Madison County, had advisory questions on their ballots asking whether new data centers should be permitted 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.
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