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

Co-partners of Donatello's Italian Restaurant in Maryville (from left) are Chris Cason, and Jill and Rich Dunnavant. At far right is Jennifer Davis, the bar manager.

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&#...

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

Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper catches a fly ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Matt Carpenter during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 20, 2014, in Washington.

Span's sacrifice fly in 9th lifts Nats over Cards

Denard Span's approach with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning proves math pays off. 17 minutes ago

Features

Sandra Watson, 55, wears a box top hat with a short brim made by her mother, Carrie Redmond. Sandra was No. 5 of Carrie's 10 children. "I prefer a jogging suit and some tennis shoes," said Sandra. "All my sisters dress up. I wear them because my mother made them."

Heavenly hats: East St. Louis church women treasure Carrie Redmond's creations

The late Carrie Redmond not only made women's hats, she gave instructions on when and how to wear them.

State|Region

FILE - In this March 18, 2014 file photo, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., greets guests during Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn's election night reception in Chicago. Durbin is being challenged by Republican Jim Oberweis in the November election and said he is taking his opponent seriously, even if many others are not. Political prognosticators and even some top Republicans say Durbin’s rival is a long shot to unseat the Senate’s second-ranking Democrat.

US Sen. Durbin says he's taking Oberweis seriously

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says he's taking his opponent in the November election more seriously than any challenger since he first was elected to the Senate nearly two decades ago.