News, sports and weather for Belleville, IL | Belleville News-Democrat & bnd.com

Mascoutah Middle School employee faces sexual abuse charges

A 21-year-old man who worked part-time as a maintenance worker at Mascoutah Middle School was charged Friday with six counts of criminal sexual abuse.

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Featured

Mascoutah mother accused of providing alcohol for teen son killed in crash

The mother of an 18-year-old Belleville West student killed in a car crash earlier this year now...

The official poster for the 2013 Art on the Square festival in downtown Belleville.

Art on the Square schedule

The 12th annual Art on the Square features 105 artists from all over the world, who will display...

Metro-east News

Senate OKs medical marijuana; McCarter recalls daughter's drug-related death

Despite tearful opposition from a metro-east lawmaker, the Illinois Senate on Friday approved a bill allowing people to use marijuana to ease the pain of certain medical ailments. 7 minutes ago

Crime

Washington Park man charged in Belleville carjacking

Police have charged a Washington Park man in connection with a carjacking Wednesday night in Belleville.

Hot Topics

Former Boy Scout volunteer goes to prison for sexually molesting boys

A former Boy Scout volunteer and suspended Scott Air Force Base civilian employee entered the Menard Correctional Center on Thursday to begin serving...

Sports

Collinsville's Mikayla McCarthy leaps over O'Fallon keeper Hannah Poteet after getting off a shot to score the first goal of the game.

Collinsville squanders lead but recovers, defeats O'Fallon for Class 3A regional title

Collinsville senior Alyssa Reiniger couldn't have found a better scoring option in the middle of the box Friday. 36 minutes ago

Features

Randi Solin of Brattleboro, Vermont cleans her blown glass before the crowds started arriving Friday night at Art on the Square. This is Solin's first year to be at the show. According to her website her complex coloration process makes each piece a truly one-of-a-kind work.

Check out these scenes from Art on the Square

Check out these scenes from Friday night at Art on the Square. 28 minutes ago

State|Region

3 charged after post rape on Facebook page

Three Chicago teenagers are accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl and posting the attack on Facebook. 23 minutes ago

Nation|World

In this Monday, July 2, 2012 file photo provided by Andy Copeland, Aimee Copeland smiles as she leaves a hospital in Augusta Ga., headed for an inpatient rehabilitation clinic. Copeland, who lost both hands, her left leg and right foot after contracting a flesh-eating disease, was on her way back from Ohio Friday, May 17, 2013 after being fitted with prosthetic hands.

Flesh-eating disease victim gets prosthetic hands

A metro Atlanta woman who lost both hands, her left leg and right foot after contracting a flesh-eating disease was on her way back from Ohio Friday...