Metro-east news roundup: From school deals to murder charges. Here’s what to know

Wednesday was a busy day in news in the metro-east and at the Illinois statehouse, from a long-awaited teacher contract to new charges in criminal investigations and agreements among lawmakers. Here’s a quick look at the stories shaping the region.

Here are key takeaways:

• Cahokia School District 187 and its teachers union reached a four-year tentative agreement Tuesday night after a four-hour session with a federal mediator. The proposed contract includes a 5% baseline salary increase and $1,000 more for medical insurance.
• The Ainad Shriners Parade returns to Belleville’s Main Street Friday at 7:30 p.m., followed by Shriners Day at Arsenal BG Ballpark on Saturday, where general admission is $16 per person.
• Tyrell Billey, 36, of Fairview Heights was charged with two Class X felony counts of home invasion after a 36-year-old woman was inadvertently shot during a May 21 altercation outside an O’Fallon home, according to O’Fallon police.
• Rashad Alston, 29, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to reckless homicide in a 2022 wrong-way crash on Interstate 255 that killed 8-month-old Marqiest Bean. The judgment follows a $1.05 million wrongful death settlement from St. Clair County.
• Thousands of pounds of explosive devices were recovered from a Troy home where an Easter Sunday explosion killed three people, and a judge ordered 22-year-old Colton Cissell to remain jailed until trial on six felony counts including involuntary manslaughter.
• Jason A. McCallum, an 18-year-old from Florissant, Missouri, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the May 26 fatal shooting of Travion Sherrod, 38, in Venice, where investigators recovered 17 shell casings at the scene.
• Gov. JB Pritzker intends to sign Senate Bill 2427, which imposes a statewide ban on cell phones during instructional time in public and charter schools starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
• Illinois lawmakers unanimously passed House Bill 5511, the Children’s Online Social Media Safety Act, which limits algorithmic feeds and notifications for users under 18 and carries fines up to $7,500 per child for intentional violations when it takes effect in 2028.
• Belleville residents can report potholes, broken streetlights and other non-emergency issues through the myBelleville 311 system via app, online portal, or by texting 618-677-6080 or calling 618-233-6810.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.