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

A driver tries to document the scene as they drive by the water line break.

The cellphone ban: Is it working in the metro-east?

Three-and-a-half months after a state law banned talking or texting on cellphones while driving, fewer than 125 people have been ticketed for the offense in the metro-east.

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Featured

SWIC baseball player Derrik Watson spins and flips as he does a break dance move while dancing to the song "Happy" in a SWIC baseball dugout.

Because they're 'Happy': SWIC students have fun with Pharrell's hit song

It doesn't take much to make students happy at Southwestern Illinois College.

Real Estate: What's your neighbor's home selling for?

Recent real estate transactions for Madison and Monroe counties.

Metro-east News

This photo, provided to the BND by the Belleville Fire Department, shows the car being lifted out of the Veteran's Memorial Fountain by a Petroff Towing boom arm tow truck.

Car ends up in Belleville fountain after crash

The historic Veteran's Memorial Fountain in downtown Belleville's Public Square suffered damage when a driver plowed into it early Saturday morning.

Crime

Neighborhood watch: Crimes of the week

Take another look at the top crime stories of the week at bnd.com.

Hot Topics

Coroner identifies passenger ejected, killed in Marissa crash

A single vehicle crash early Friday morning in Marissa left one man dead and two others injured, according to officials.

Sports

FILE - In this June 8, 2001 file photo, former middleweight boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, left, is escorted by an unidentified security guard into the venue where Laila Ali and Jacqui Frazier-Lyde will box each other in Verona, NY. Carter, who spent almost 20 years in jail after twice being convicted of a triple murder he denied committing, died at his home in Toronto, Sunday, April 20, 2014, according to long-time friend and co-accused John Artis. He was 76.

Boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter dies at 76

Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, the boxer whose wrongful murder conviction became an international symbol of racial injustice, died Sunday. He was 76. 2 minutes ago

Features

whips up dishes such as Chicken Breast Donatello, a boneless breast sauteed with prosciutto boursin creamed asparagus, which is served with a salad and choice of Italian roasted potatoes, fresh vegetables, baked potato or penne pasta for $16.

Donatello's: 'People are comparing our food to The Hill'

Don't let the arcade games, batting cages and miniature golf next door fool you. Donatello's is not a concession stand for Family Fun Tyme entertainment complex in Maryville. Far from it.

State|Region

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2009, file photo, Illinois GOP chairman Pat Brady speaks at a news conference in Chicago. In April 2014, a crop of Republican officials who wanted to oust the former Illinois GOP chairman for his statements supporting same-sex marriage have been replaced in their party positions. Ideological shifts in the party's organizational structure come as Republicans in Illinois and nationally are working to expand and attract women and minority voters as they look to November.

Ill. GOP officials who wanted Brady out replaced

A crop of Republican officials who wanted to oust former Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady for his statements supporting same-sex marriage have been replaced in their party positions.