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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor’s (IDOL) On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program (On-Site) is celebrating the Staunton Fire Protection District (SFPD) for earning the 2025 International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Health, Safety and Survival Section Billy Goldfeder Fire Service Organizational Safety Award. The award recognizes people and organizations that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to fire service health and safety. SFPD’s collaboration with On-Site, and its inclusion in federal OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) were highlighted by the IAFC as key factors in the district’s selection. SFPD achieved SHARP designation in May 2017 and remains the only volunteer fire department in the nation to hold the certification. It is also one of only four SHARP-designated fire departments in Illinois. SHARP is a federal recognition program that acknowledges small employers with exemplary safety

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ST. LOUIS - With October marking National Manufacturing Month, a time when communities across the country celebrate modern manufacturing, the St. Louis region stands out as a hub for manufacturing education and workforce development with a well-established network of programs and centers of excellence that continue to grow in both in scale and impact. These programs are helping to address the rising demand for skilled workers in advanced manufacturing, aerospace and avionics, and the St. Louis Regional Freightway is continuing its efforts to promote their availability and educate students and career seekers about the tremendous career opportunities they lead to. “Advanced manufacturing is a thriving, targeted industry sector in the St. Louis region, and the strength of the aerospace subsector is particularly noteworthy,” said Mary Lamie. Lamie is head of St. Louis Regional Freightway, which launched the St. Louis Regional Aerospace and Aviation Task Force in 2024 to hel

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after Israel and Hamas agreed to phase one of the U.S.-led peace agreement: “Just over two years after Hamas’s brutal attack against Israel on October 7th, 2023 and the ensuing bloodshed and heartbreak suffered by Palestinians and Israelis, we are finally welcoming the first phase of a peace agreement that could end the fighting, bring all the hostages home and alleviate the horrific humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “I deeply hope that Hamas, Israel and all parties involved agree to and implement their respective conditions of each phase of this agreement. “We should all hope that this announcement marks a turning point in the years-long effort to secure a de-escalation of tensions in the region that ultimately results in a two-state future which strengthens the safety of Israel, brings home all remaining hostages, eliminates the threat pose

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CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced Pasqal , a global leader in neutral-atom quantum computing, will establish their U.S. headquarters as a future tenant of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park ( IQMP ) on Chicago’s South Side. With support from the State’s Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity Act ( MICRO ) Program, Pasqal will invest more than $65 million in their first U.S. location and create 50 new full-time jobs. Pasqal’s facility will include a space to house one of the company’s quantum processing units onsite. In addition to the State’s MICRO incentives, Pasqal has secured a $15 million loan from the Illinois Finance Authority/Climate Bank to support their U.S. project. “Pasqal’s decision to establish its U.S. headquarters in Illinois marks another major milestone for Illinois’ quantum ecosystem,” said Governor

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SPRINGFIELD – The stocking of catchable trout for the fall season is on hold until water temperatures are more suitable for the trout, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced today. Unusually warm weather in Illinois this fall has delayed the cooling of lakes and ponds across the state. Trout stocked in waters warmer than 68 degrees could experience high mortality. IDNR will stock the early catch-and-release sites as soon as water temperatures cool. Sites are expected to be stocked by Oct. 31. The public will be provided stocking updates on IDNR’s ifishillinois.org website and social media channels for IDNR. While the official opening date for the fall trout season remains Saturday, Oct. 18, anglers should be aware that trout will not be present at many sites on opening day. The stocking delay also will affect the early-season catch-and-release opportunities at sites statewide. IDNR biologists are monitoring water temperatures statewide, and

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois officials have unveiled the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan, a comprehensive $44.8 billion infrastructure investment over six years aimed at addressing the state’s aging transportation network and creating jobs. The plan, announced recently, targets improvements across Illinois, which currently has a C-rated infrastructure and deferred maintenance backlogs of $30 billion for roads and transit systems. The plan allocates $33.2 billion specifically for transportation projects, including $25.4 billion for roads and bridges, $1.4 billion for major rail projects and grade crossing protections, $150 million for aeronautic facility upgrades, and another $150 million for port improvements. It is expected to support approximately 540,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs over the life of the program, averaging around 90,000 jobs annually. Several key projects in the Metro East area are included in the plan: A $211.6 million new bridge on I-270 over the Mississippi

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. — Kieran Murphy, 57, of Florissant, Mo., was charged Wednesday with first-degree terrorist threat after authorities say he made a bomb threat to a hospital emergency room, according to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. The charge stems from an incident early Wednesday morning, Oct. 8, 2025, at approximately 4:30 a.m. at Christian Northeast Hospital. Law enforcement officials reported that a caller, later identified as Murphy, told hospital staff there was a bomb in the emergency room that he would remotely detonate. The caller then hung up, prompting hospital security to document the phone number and notify law enforcement. Following the threat, hospital staff and officers evacuated the emergency room. A vapor wake dog conducted a search but found no explosives. Investigation revealed the phone number used for the call was registered to Murphy, who had been a patient at the hospital and was released against medical advice the previous

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CHICAGO - A federal judge on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from deploying more than 500 National Guard members to the Chicago area, citing a lack of credible evidence of a rebellion in Illinois. During a nearly three-hour hearing, U.S. District Judge April Perry challenged the Trump administration’s claim that there was a danger of rebellion in Illinois, particularly focusing on incidents at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, a Chicago suburb. “I see no credible evidence there is a danger of rebellion in the state of Illinois,” Perry said from the bench late Thursday. She also ruled that the administration violated the 10th Amendment, which grants certain powers to states, and the 14th Amendment, which assures due process and equal protection. The order is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 23, with a telephone hearing scheduled for Oct. 22 to consider extending the injunction for another 14 days. Th

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ALTON - Naeem West is a senior at Alton High School. He is incredibly grateful for this honor and recognition as Rotary Student of the Month for October. He also wants to thank all the educators who have encouraged and guided him throughout his life, and he’s, of course, deeply thankful for the unwavering support of his family. Over the past four years, Naeem has maintained a 4.231 GPA while challenging himself with many rigorous courses. This includes passing six AP classes, six dual credit classes and 18 honors courses. He's also an active member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. Mu Alpha Theta is a math honor society where they tutor other students in mathematics at Alton High. Last year, he was honored by being named Student Athlete of the Month. This recognized his achievements both academically and athletically. Additionally, he received the Academic All-Conference award in 2024. Outside the classroom, he is heavily involved in extracurricular activities.

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ALTON - Karly Davenport is one of two Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club Students of the Month for October. She is a senior at Marquette Catholic High School and the daughter of Nicholas and Michelle Davenport. Throughout her four years at Marquette Catholic, Karly has maintained a 4.0 unweighted GPA and currently holds a 4.68 weighted GPA. She has consistently earned High Honor Roll recognition while taking numerous honors, dual credit, and AP courses. During her junior year, she received the AP Scholar Award in recognition of her outstanding performance on multiple AP exams, including Chemistry, United States Government and Politics, and Precalculus. Karly is actively involved in many clubs and extracurriculars. She serves as vice president of the National Honor Society, class president on the Student Council, and president of the Breast Cancer Awareness Club. She is also a dedicated member of Marquette Catholic’s Interact (Rotary) Club. A strong student-athlete, Karly has competed

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after U.S. District Court Judge April Perry issued a temporary restraining order blocking President Trump’s national guard deployment in Illinois for two weeks: “I welcome this ruling against the President’s diabolical plan. President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Illinois, without the consent or request of Illinois’ elected leaders, is a clear violation of our Constitution and laws. President Trump does not have any legal basis for these deployments and may not use the military as a police force. “It’s clear this Administration’s unlawful use of military resources to police American cities endangers our communities and our democracy. It is a mistake that will be remembered in the history books. Our National Guard personnel do not deserve to be used as the President’s

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HICKORY HILLS – Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and school leaders, teachers, and students to launch the Illinois Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools program and celebrate the 2025 award recipients at Glen Oaks Elementary in North Palos District 117. Mascoutah Middle School, Mascoutah, Mascoutah School District 19, was one of the recipients. Twenty-eight schools from across Illinois received the 2025 designation for demonstrating exemplary academic performance. “At a moment when quality education is more important than ever, we will never abandon our pursuit of academic excellence or recognition of the teachers and students doing the hard work every day – that’s why we are proud to honor 28 Illinois schools as part of the new Governor’s Blue Ribbon Schools Program,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Illinois will always strive to give our students and schools the tools and support they nee

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ALTON – Two women from Alton face felony charges for their alleged roles in unrelated burglaries within the city. Mariah C. Moore, 27, of Alton, was charged on Oct. 3, 2025 with one count each of burglary (a Class 2 felony) and theft (a Class 4 felony). Moore allegedly entered a garage on Wyss Avenue in Alton without authority and with the intent to commit a theft on July 26, 2025. She is additionally accused of stealing a Poulan Pro chainsaw from the owner of the garage after previously being convicted of offenses related to motor vehicles in 2023, also in Madison County. Moore was charged earlier this year with possession of a stolen moped, and was charged last month with burglarizing a building on Wallace Street in Alton. The Alton Police Department granted the latest cast against Moore, who was granted pretrial release from custody. Another Alton woman, 37-year old Jovoncia A. McLemore, was charged in a separate case on Sept. 29, 2025 with a Class 1 felony count of

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O’FALLON, IL. – O’Fallon Domino’s, located at 304 E. Highway 50, and the National Fire Protection Association are teaming up with the O’Fallon Fire Department to promote fire safety during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 5–11. On Monday, Oct. 13, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., customers who order Domino’s pizza may be randomly selected for a special surprise: their delivery could arrive with a fire engine. If the smoke alarms in their home are working, the pizza is free. If the alarms are not working, firefighters will replace them or install new batteries. “Fire safety is essential,” said Mark Ratterman, O’Fallon Domino’s franchisee. “We’re very excited to partner with NFPA and the fire department for a program that not only promotes the safety of our friends and neighbors but rewards those who prioritize fire safety.” This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion

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WOOD RIVER – The City of Wood River is taking action to deter dumpster diving after City Council members this week approved setting fines of up to $750 per offense. An ordinance amending a section of the City Code “prohibiting unauthorized scavenging from refuse containers” was passed unanimously at this week’s City Council meeting. The ordinance states Police Chief Brad Wells has advised city officials of “problems with persons engaging in unauthorized scavenging of refuse containers within City limits, thereby endangering public health and safety and causing damage to private property.” The City Code amendment aims to promote the health and welfare of Wood River residents by “prohibiting unauthorized persons from removing, distributing, or scattering refuse, recyclables, or yard waste from containers placed for collection, which will help maintain clean and sanitary conditions throughout City limits.” The newly approved ordinance

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SAINT LOUIS, MO – 612North Event Space + Catering is inviting the community to gather and celebrate the season at its first annual Friendsgiving Brunch on Sunday, November 16, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m . in the heart of Downtown St. Louis. This festive, all-you-can-eat brunch blends traditional Thanksgiving favorites with classic brunch staples, creating a holiday dining experience like no other. Guests will enjoy carved turkey, bourbon sweet mash, green bean casserole, and pumpkin cheesecake, alongside a full lineup of brunch essentials. To complete the experience, the event will also feature bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys as an add-on option and seasonal special cocktails, making it the perfect outing for friends, families, and brunch lovers alike. “We created Friendsgiving Brunch as a way for people to celebrate the season together—without the stress of cooking or cleaning,” said Munsok So, the owner at 612North. “It’s

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SAINT LOUIS, MO – This holiday season, let us bring the joy (without the stress) straight to your table! 612North Event Space + Catering is thrilled to announce the return of our beloved Holiday at Home Meal Packages —crafted with care to help families and friends savor every moment together. Whether your gathering is small and cozy or a lively crowd, our ready-to-heat meals make it easy to celebrate with warmth, flavor, and joy. What’s Included Our chefs have prepared a comforting and festive spread that brings all the holiday favorites to your home. From tender carved turkey and creamy garlic whipped potatoes to fresh-baked rolls, bourbon sweet mash, green bean casserole, and pumpkin cheesecake—every bite is designed to feel like home, only easier. Package Pricing Meal for 2 – $69.95 Meal for 4 – $129.95 Meal for 8 – $249.95 Easy Pick-Up Choose a time that works best for you: Tuesday, November 25

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WOOD RIVER – A Wood River man accused of battering an elderly victim and an Edwardsville man charged with domestic battery face felony charges in separate Madison County cases. Eric M. Sanders, 37, of Wood River, was charged on Oct. 2, 2025 with two counts of aggravated battery (one Class 2 felony, one Class 3 felony), as well as a Class 3 felony count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Sanders allegedly struck a victim about the body, causing bruising, “a broken hand, broken ribs, and a brain bleed,” according to charging documents. The victim in this case was 60 years of age or older at the time of the offense. Sanders was additionally accused of possessing less than five grams of methamphetamine. He was ordered remanded to jail for his initial court appearance in the case presented by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. In a separate case, Kyle E. Green, 42, of Edwardsville, was charged with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated domestic battery

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ALTON - Community members who own or wish to buy a historic property had the chance to learn about tax programs that might benefit them, with more educational workshops scheduled for the future. On Oct. 8, 2025, the Alton Historical Commission, Alton Area Landmarks Association, and Alton Main Street hosted a seminar at The Wedge Innovation Center. Attendees learned about the Property Tax Assessment Freeze Program and the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program through presentations by Anna Margaret Barris from the State Historic Preservation Office and Greg Caffey with the Planning and Development Office in the City of Alton. “Saving our houses is saving our history,” said Sharon Jackson with the Alton Historical Commission. “The reason why this is so important is because we are a town of historic structures. Not just a bunch of old houses, but there's a significant diversity of architectural significance in Alton. When people come from out of town an

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CAHOKIA — Cahokia Unit School District #187 Superintendent Curtis McCall Jr. announced Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, the cancellation of all tailgating activities on school property until further notice, citing concerns for student safety and compliance with state law. The decision follows a letter from Sam Knox, assistant executive director of the Illinois High School Association, who raised concerns about alcohol consumption during tailgating events on district grounds. Knox referenced communications from Nicole Johnson, who had previously spoken with district officials and the school board regarding the issue and shared photographic evidence. “I've been a high school A.D., so I understand these challenges, but the fact is that alcohol (along with tobacco and drugs) is not allowed on school property in the state of Illinois,” Knox wrote in his letter. “This isn't just an IHSA policy, it is a state law.” Knox urged the district to address the matter directly.

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