Metro-East News

Southwest Illinois’ 25 most-read news articles of 2021, according to BND readers

Belleville News-Democrat

December 31, 2021 5:00 AM

Pallbearers remove 2-year-old Loy’el Dunigan’s coffin from a hearse for graveside services that took place Aug. 21, 2021 at Sunset Gardens of Memory Cemetery Millstadt. Loy’el was one of five children, all siblings, who died in an Aug. 6, 2021, fire at their East St. Louis home. She was the youngest. — Pallbearers remove 2-year-old Loy’el Dunigan’s coffin from a hearse for graveside services that took place Aug. 21, 2021 at Sunset Gardens of Memory Cemetery Millstadt. Loy’el was one of five children, all siblings, who died in an Aug. 6, 2021, fire at their East St. Louis home. She was the youngest. Lexi Cortes acortes@bnd.com

It didn’t take the COVID-19 pandemic to make it a big year in news in southwestern Illinois and the metro-east.

Apart from the virus and its economic toll, our region had it’s share of both good news and bad, triumphs and controversies.

Based on readership at bnd.com, here are the 25 stories our readers thought were the most important to our region:

1. BND public pay database

2. East St. Louis community gathers to bury five children killed in apartment fire

3. Here’s where officials said tornadoes touched down in Illinois, Missouri

4. Wally Spiers: Survey provides all-time presidential rankins. Trump supporters won’t like the results

5. Amazon warehouse collapses at Gateway Commerce Center in Edwardsville. Fatalities reported

6. FOID card changes, minimum wage hike among new laws taking effect Jan. 1 in Illinois

7. East St. Louis woman charged in connection with the deaths of her 5 children in fire

Cars line up at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds in Belleville for the COVID-19 booster shot. St. Clair County health officials announced Friday the fairgrounds will now offer the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster shots. The location is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, with the last available drive up appointment at 7 p.m. — Cars line up at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds in Belleville for the COVID-19 booster shot. St. Clair County health officials announced Friday the fairgrounds will now offer the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster shots. The location is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, with the last available drive up appointment at 7 p.m. Derik Holtmann dholtmann@bnd.com

8. This Waterloo native went viral performing a Dolly Parton song. Now she’s a country music star

9. What happened behind the scenes that led the St. Louis Cardinals to fire Mike Shildt?

10. Want to live in a historic river town? Grafton will give you the land for free?

11. How a high school student from East St. Louis turned TikTok success into a rap career

12. Check out the election results for contested races in St. Clair County

13. Several new mayors will take office in Madison County, Illinois election results show

14. Two massive highway projects in southwest Illinois are still in the works, IDOT says

Jordyn Powell, better known as Jaiimoni Starr, runs through a song in the recording studio at Shock City Studios in St. Louis. A viral Tik Tok video laid the foundation for the East St. Louis native’s budding rap career. — Jordyn Powell, better known as Jaiimoni Starr, runs through a song in the recording studio at Shock City Studios in St. Louis. A viral Tik Tok video laid the foundation for the East St. Louis native’s budding rap career. Derik Holtmann dholtmann@bnd.com

15. St. Louis Cardinals top pandemic draft pick already being compared to Albert Pujols

16. Man shot to death in Sauget nightclub parking lot, police say

17. Madison County restaurant closes, building declared ‘dangerous and unsafe’

18. People from outside Illnois took 80% of Friday’s vaccine appointments in St. Clair County

19. State police investigating death of woman found in vehicle in southern Illinois field

According to multiple sources, multiple people are trapped inside an Amazon warehouse on Gateway Commerce Drive in Edwardsville. — According to multiple sources, multiple people are trapped inside an Amazon warehouse on Gateway Commerce Drive in Edwardsville. Derik Holtmann dholtmann@bnd.com

20. Here’s the letter sent to Belleville West High School families regarding ‘offensive conduct’

21. Protesters demand police department accountability in Fairview Heights Sky Zone incident

22. ‘Hitler was right,’ southern Illinois congresswoman tells Trump supporters

Belleville Mayor-elect Patty Gregory, the founder and executive director of Art on the Square, is sworn in as mayor by retired 20th Judicial Circuit Judge Annette Eckert. Gregory defeated longtime incumbent Mayor Mark Eckert and write-in candidate Jeffrey “J.D.” Dixon. — Belleville Mayor-elect Patty Gregory, the founder and executive director of Art on the Square, is sworn in as mayor by retired 20th Judicial Circuit Judge Annette Eckert. Gregory defeated longtime incumbent Mayor Mark Eckert and write-in candidate Jeffrey “J.D.” Dixon. Derik Holtmann dholtmann@bnd.com

23. Mother of children who died in East St. Louis fire needs prayer and time, grandmother says

24. Final, unofficial Belleville election resutls show Gregory with big lead in mayor’s race

25. Out-of-state victims help unravel 20 years of fraud and deception by Highland woman

Alexandra Kay will perform alongside Cooper Alan and Thomas Mac for the “In Real Life” tour in St. Louis on Dec. 15. — Alexandra Kay will perform alongside Cooper Alan and Thomas Mac for the “In Real Life” tour in St. Louis on Dec. 15. Contributed