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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th–Glen Carbon) and State Representative Amy Elik (111th–Alton) are demanding accountability and transparency in state government following the adjournment of the spring legislative session in which Democratic lawmakers routinely ignored constitutional requirements. Last week, Republican members of the Illinois House and Senate filed a lawsuit in Sangamon County Circuit Court to enforce the Illinois Constitution’s Third Reading Rule—a safeguard intended to ensure thorough review and public input on legislation. The lawsuit cites nearly two dozen instances where bills were rushed through the process without the constitutionally required readings. “Year after year, our state budget and other controversial pieces of legislation are pushed through without time for review or public input all on the taxpayers’ dime,” said Senator Harriss. “The process in Springfield is broken. The supermajority

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ALTON — Illinois American Water repaired an 8-inch water main break by 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, 2025, on the roadway in front of Auto Butler in Alton, a company spokesperson said. The break occurred near 1706 Homer Adams Parkway, according to Terry Mackin, director of communications for Illinois American Water. The repair took approximately four hours to complete. Mackin emphasized that safety was a top priority during the repair, especially given the high temperatures on Wednesday. “The important thing is safety in this kind of heat. We worked very carefully,” he said. Mackin noted that the company worked diligently to maintain water service for as many customers as possible throughout the process. “We worked very hard to keep service intact and get it back on as quickly as we can so customers have water to flush toilets and all things that need water service,” he said. Employees also took precautions to stay hydrated during the repair work.

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ALTON, IL — The Mississippi River Festival (MRF) roars back to life on Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28, 2025, bringing two unforgettable days of music, culture, and community to the Alton Riverfront. With a powerful mix of nationally acclaimed artists, rising stars, and local legends, this year’s MRF promises to be the must-attend event of the summer. The Alton Amphitheater will host an electric lineup that blends rock, soul, Americana, and country influences: Friday, June 27 Ben Rector Wilder Woods Allen Stone Brian Owens Soul Beth Bombara St. Louis & Nashville Songwriters Round Doors open at 3:00 PM Saturday, June 28 Blackberry Smoke Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors Brent Cobb Nikki Lane Kassi Ashton Jeremie Albino Zack Person Riley Holtz & The Lost Cause Doors open at 1:00 PM In addition to the music, the Festival is proud to spotlight its rich legacy with a special Mississippi River Festival History Exhibit, hosted at 600 E. Broadway

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EAST SAINT LOUIS - A local animal shelter is asking for help after their air conditioning has failed in the extreme heat. Gateway Pet Guardians, which serves the East St. Louis, Cahokia Heights, Washington Park and Fairmont City communities, put a plea on Facebook after staff members arrived this morning to find the building already dangerously hot. Jill Henke, Operations Director, explained that the air conditioning is being fixed, but in the meantime, they’re waiving all adoption fees, looking for foster homes for pets, and seeking donations. “We’re so darn lucky that every time that we kind of run into these little crises, the community is so responsive,” Henke said. “That’s what I always remind people: We just have to ask for what we need, and the community does show up. People want to help and people want to be a part of the good things happening in their community. It is always so heartwarming to see.” Since the original Facebook

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JERSEY - Ellie Davis, a pitcher and first baseman for the Jersey Girls softball team, has been named a Sparklight Female Athlete of the Month. The recognition comes as Davis continues to demonstrate strong performance both offensively and defensively during the current season. Davis has maintained a batting average of .282 with 22 hits, 23 RBIs, and four home runs this season. Over her career with the Panthers, she has achieved a consistent .291 batting average. Jersey Girls softball head coach Chelsey Cronkrak praised Davis for her leadership and dedication, saying, "Ellie is an exceptional player offensively and defensively. She is a vocal leader on the field, and encouraging and instructs her younger teammates. She loves the game and spends many extra hours outside of practice and games trying to improve." Davis is expected to return for her senior season in 2026, continuing to build on her strong performance and leadership role within the team.

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CASEYVILLE — A 23-year-old man who was struck by a car and died at the scene early Tuesday morning, June 24, 2025, on Interstate 255 near Caseyville has been identified. Trevor A. Jones of Pontoon Beach was pronounced dead at the scene by St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. after being hit by a vehicle at approximately 1:45 a.m. The Illinois State Police Department (ISP) said the incident occurred shortly after 12:40 a.m. on northbound I-255 near Caseyville. The pedestrian was in the roadway when the vehicle struck him, according to ISP. The victim was pronounced dead at 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday. ISP had northbound I-255 in that area shut down for a period of time, and the area reopened about three hours later on Tuesday.

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DUPO – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced the right lane of Northbound I-255 at IL 3 and the ramp from Southbound IL 3 to Northbound I-255 will be closed beginning Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 7:00 a.m, weather permitting. The ramp will reopen by 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, and all lanes of I-255 are expected to reopen by 10 a.m. on Friday, June 27. The closures are necessary to allow IDOT District 8 Operations forces to make emergency pavement repairs. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changing conditions and all detour signs prior to the work zone, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Metro East Auto Theft Task Force filed 10 cases involving stolen vehicles last week, with suspects from around the Riverbend region and beyond. The following individuals were charged on June 16, 2025 in separate cases with Class 2 felony counts of offenses related to motor vehicles: Eugene A. Covington, 54, of Alton Anita S. Grizzle, 49, listed as homeless out of Alton Scott A. Kaufmann, 36, of Bethalto Adaam S. Agney, 36, of Cottage Hills Michael A. Proffer, 26, of Cottage Hills Jason T. Slaton, 46, of Granite City Everette L. Hines, 69, of Granite City Chad W. Vaughn, 40, of Marine, Ill. Brian H. Huff, 50, of Livingston, Ill. Travis R. Elliott, 34, of Greenwood Village, Colo. Covington, Agney, Proffer, and Hines were each accused of knowingly possessing the same stolen 2007 Dodge Dakota bearing an Illinois vehicle registration number on May 9, 2025. Grizzle was found in possession of a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse on May 4, 2025

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County Treasurer Mike Babcock wants property owners to know tax bills were mailed on June 16, and the first installment due date is July 23. The remaining due dates are September 23, October 8, and December 8. Babcock said although the Treasurer’s Office serves as the county’s tax collector, it’s important to remember that the office doesn’t determine the amount that is billed. “Property tax bills are determined by four factors — the assessment, the equalization factor or ‘multiplier,’ the tax rate, and any exemptions,” Babcock said. Each year, taxpayers receive a bill that outlines where their tax dollars are distributed, payment options and important due dates. Babcock said his office mailed tax bills on more than 132,000 parcels. Over the past four years, the real estate market has experienced rising property values, which can increase assessed values and, in turn, the amount taxing districts

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ALTON - On a recent episode of “You’re Beautiful” with Brian Trust , two coaches with the Wolves Soccer Club spoke about the club’s mission and their trust in God. Travis Steward and Adam Sheppard coach the Wolves Soccer Club . The club started in January 2025 and has “just kept going and going and going,” Sheppard said. The team of 10- and 11-year-old boys has become a close-knit family. “It’s amazing, these boys,” Steward said. “I think of them as my sons.” While the club is based out of Bethalto, they have players from across the Riverbend region. They offer both an indoor and outdoor season throughout the year. The coaches noted that their team works hard to succeed, but they also have a lot of fun. The kids enjoy playing soccer with each other, which is what the sport is all about. Steward and Sheppard encourage the boys to push during each game and practice, but they like seeing them enjoy it,

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CARLINVILLE - Macoupin County protesters experienced a “bizarre intimidation tactic,” organizers said. On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, protesters with Macoupin County IL 50501 & Indivisible, who primarily protest against Donald Trump’s policies, arrived at their usual spot at the Macoupin County Courthouse in Carlinville to find trailers full of manure. But rather than stopping the protest, Kelley Hatee, who organizes the protests, said the manure has fertilized their movement. “We’ve actually grown the movement overnight because of this, so total backfire on their part,” Hatee said. “Instead of showing up to mention issues or mention policies or try to persuade us to Trump’s agenda or to have signs or songs or speeches or anything that would make sense, the one thing that they chose, pardon my French, was bull****. That was what they chose to represent the Trump agenda, to represent their side of this equation. The symbolism of that,

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced legislation to ban the sale and manufacturing of products made from kangaroo skin, also known as “k-leather.” After years of the two lawmakers leading the charge on this issue, this week Mizuno and UMBRO joined cleat manufacturing giants—including Nike, Adidas, Puma and ASICS—in pledging to halt production of k-leather in their soccer cleats and other products. To help build on this momentum, reverse this inhumane trend and safeguard the kangaroo species from commercial exploitation, Senators Duckworth and Booker are introducing the Kangaroo Protection Act, which would help protect millions of wild kangaroos and their innocent babies who are needlessly killed every year for the use of their leather in commercial products. Additionally, this legislation would empower the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with other agencies, to issue civil and criminal

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GLEN CARBON – Glen Carbon trustees on Tuesday approved an agreement to install new security cameras in currently uncovered areas throughout the village. The $42,500 agreement between the city and Flock Safety Inc. will see the installation of two license plate reader (LPR) cameras, one fixed-position solar video camera, and four pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) security cameras. At Tuesday’s meeting, Public Safety Administrative Supervisor Coleen Schaller said that of the seven total new cameras, the two LPRs are being included for free. She then described some of the areas these new cameras will cover. “The first areas that we’re focusing on are the walk-on path, footpath access to the bike trails in the subdivisions that previously uncovered by cameras,” Schaller said. “We’re trying to cover all those access points.” She estimated that two cameras will be installed in the Huntington subdivision, along with two cameras in Iron Mountain Lake an

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EAST ALTON/WOOD RIVER - Emmanuel Kitchener, a 22-year-old area resident and former Special Olympics athlete, will celebrate his birthday with a party at 2 p.m. on July 26, 2025, at 215 Lincoln Avenue in East Alton. The event, themed around Power Rangers, aims to bring together friends and community members to support Emmanuel, who has faced some challenges since graduating from East Alton-Wood River High School three years ago. Emmanuel’s mother, Natasha Parker, said her son has struggled with loneliness after no longer participating in school activities and Special Olympics for the past year due to family health issues. “Because of disability, he doesn’t have a lot of friends, and also because he is not in school anymore and hasn't done Special Olympics,” Parker said. Emmanuel, who previously competed in basketball and bowling in Special Olympics, expressed excitement about the upcoming celebration. His mother said they are looking for future avenues for

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WEST ALTON – The US Army Corps of Engineers, Rivers Project Office, will temporarily close overnight access to Riverlands Way, Maple Island, Ellis Island, and Lincoln Shields Recreation Area in West Alton for the Fourth of July Weekend. Riverlands Way will be closed each of the following timeframes: July 3rd from 10:00pm through July 4th at 7:00am July 4th from 7:00pm through July 5th at 7:00am July 5th from 7:00pm through July 6th at 7:00am Maple Island Access and Boat Ramp will be closed each of the following timeframes: July 3rd from 6:00pm through July 4th at 7:00am July 4th from 6:00pm through July 5th at 7:00am July 5th from 6:00pm through July 6th at 7:00am Lincoln Shields Recreation Area and Ellis Island Trailhead Parking Lot will be closed each of the following timeframes: July 3rd from 6:00am through July 4th at 7:00am July 4th from 7:00pm through July 5th at 7:00am July 5th from 7:00pm through July 6th at 7:00am All areas will again remain

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ALTON — Auto Butler, a car wash located at 1706 Homer Adams Parkway in Alton, is closed the rest of Wednesday, June 25, 2025, due to a water morning main break in front of the business, but Illinois American Water expects the issue to be resolved Wednesday afternoon so the business can open at 8 a.m. on Thursday morning, June 26, 2025. The water leak, which occurred on the road where customers enter the business, has caused the water supply to Auto Butler to be shut off while crews dig up the road to make repairs. The Auto Butler manager said Illinois American Water estimated it will take four to six hours to fix the leak, repair the road, and then water service to Auto Butler will be restored. “They have shut the water off while they fix it and they have to dig up the road,” the manager said. “Basically we are shut down for the day from washing cars, but we will be back open tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.” The manager added that the company’s “best-case

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ALTON – Centerstone, in partnership with Birth to Five Illinois: Region 41, invites the public to a free Community Health and Resource Fair on Saturday, July 19, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the YWCA of Southwestern Illinois, located at 304 E 3rd Street, Alton, IL. The Healthy Communities: Community Health and Resource Fair will bring together local organizations to provide on-site access to resources in health care, education, employment, housing, finance, and legal services. Open to all ages, this event aims to connect our communities with valuable tools for personal and family wellness. Attendees will have the opportunity to: Access free medical and legal advocacy and counseling Receive assistance with SNAP and Medicaid applications Participate in health and wellness screenings Get tips on nutrition, fraud prevention, and credit building Apply for a library card Meet with local service providers Enjoy family-friendly activities “The goal

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WOOD RIVER - A local family is asking for help following a stage 3A colon cancer diagnosis. Carl and Kelly Streubel have been a part of the Riverbend community since they first met at Fast Eddie’s. They love music trivia and regularly attend fundraisers for families in the region. Now, they’re asking the community to rally behind them as Carl battles cancer and they plan a music trivia fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, at the Wood River VFW. “We’re always trying to help out where we can, and now — well, we hate to do it, but it’s our turn to ask for help,” Kelly said. “We’re kind of struggling right now, and this would just be a big weight off of our shoulders if we could get a little bit of help here.” The music trivia night is “a little different than folks are probably used to,” she added. Carl, who is “a big musical encyclopedia,” has been coming up with the questions himself. They pla

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Ameren Illinois crews restored power to approximately 3,700 customers in and around Fairview Heights on Tuesday afternoon, June 24, 2025, working under extreme heat conditions, Brian Bretsch, a spokesperson for the utility company, said on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. "The crews focused on maintaining safety and efficiency while addressing the outage," he said. “They kept an eye on each other to make sure no one got overheated and did a great job." Bretsch and Ameren Illinois also urged residents to check on neighbors and individuals who are homebound during the continuing heatwave. Bretsch also recommended taking vulnerable individuals on a car ride in a cooled vehicle to a local restaurant for relief from the heat during the Tuesday outage. The Ameren Illinois spokesperson emphasized the importance of community support as the region faces several more days of extreme temperatures.

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GRANITE CITY – The Granite City Sports Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2025, which will be inducted in a ceremony on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 at the Granite City High School Performing Arts Center (PAC). The reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by induction ceremonies at 7 p.m. The Class of 2025 features 12 former student-athletes, two special recognition honorees, and three teams: Individuals - Kevin Atkins – 2000 – XC, Track - Tasha (Dittamore) Dailey – 2006 – Basketball, Soccer - Tessa (Gavilsky) Florio – 2007 – Tennis, Basketball, Soccer - Laura Gabriel – 1980 – Tennis - Erika (Todd) Hackmann – 2000 - Tennis, Basketball, Soccer - Jason Maxfield – 1993 – Soccer, Baseball - Stephen McArther – 1986 – Martial Arts - Dean Perkins – 1981 – Wrestling - Larry Schleicher – 1976 – Football, Basketball, Track, Baseball - Tony Segobiano – 1983 &ndash

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