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CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker, joined by legislators, civil rights leaders, and activists, recently signed multiple bills designed to further protect reproductive rights in Illinois. The package of bills signed includes HB581, which ensures that pregnant women can access needed emergency medical care, HB5239, which expands Illinois’ shield laws, and HB4867, which clarifies and expands the Illinois Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on reproductive health decisions. “It is no longer enough to legislate for the current moment. We sadly have to anticipate a future when the Supreme Court and other bad actors further restrict and punish women seeking to exercise their medical rights and control over their bodies. ? These new laws will ensure that women in Illinois and those travelling from out of state can avoid persecution and discrimination on every level,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These laws work together alongside the legislation my administration

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EAST ALTON – The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC?) is celebrating Environmental Educator Jolena Pang, recently selected as one of the RiverBend Growth Association and Alton Telegraph’s 20 Under 40 Professionals for 2024. This recognition honors 20 outstanding young leaders under 40 years of age who have made significant contributions to their communities and industries. Pang joined NGRREC 15 months ago and has quickly made an impact through her dedication to environmental education and innovation. Her efforts include organizing the exhibitors and layout for the 21st Annual Water Festival, launching NGRREC's inaugural World Water Day Photo Contest and Exhibit, and spearheading the revitalization of Project WET (Water Education Today) in Illinois. “Jolena's recognition is a testament to her passion for connecting to people with the natural world and her remarkable dedication and innovation," said former NGRREC Environmental

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SPRINGFIELD – Before you head out to enjoy the Illinois State Fair, take a moment to review some tips for the best experience. Grandstand If you purchased mobile tickets, be sure to download the tickets to your Ticketmaster app, prior to arriving at the Fairgrounds. This will ensure you have a consistent and reliable wifi signal to minimize any delays getting into the concert. New this year: For the safety of artists and their audiences, no outside drink containers will be allowed inside the Grandstand during concert events. This includes, but is not limited to: Bottles Cans Stanley and other reusable cups Refillable souvenir cups Additionally, all beverages sold within the Grandstand will be opened at the time of sale. Drinks sold on the track (standing room only section) will be poured into a plastic cup. No bottles or cans will be allowed on the track. Weather All Grandstand concerts are rain or shine. The decision to cancel a concert due to severe

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ALTON - Foster’s Light in the Dark , a new nonprofit in the Riverbend region, will host an Overdose Awareness Day event. From 6–8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at Russell Commons Park in Alton, community members can learn about substance use resources and honor those who have been lost. Attendees will light candles for their loved ones, share local resources and learn more about Foster’s Light in the Dark. “Our community needs this. We need this,” said Christina Foster Beegle, founder of Foster’s Light in the Dark. Beegle started the organization to remember people who have been lost to drug overdose or suicide. She is open about her own history of substance use and the loss of her three brothers to suicide. The nonprofit aims to eventually build a memorial park in Alton that provides a space for community members to honor their loved ones. Beegle knows it’s expensive to hold a funeral or burial, so they hope to shoulder

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This day in history is filled with significant events from around the globe, each shaping the world in varied ways. Let's take a journey through time and revisit some of these impactful moments. On August 8, 1974, Richard Nixon became the first and only U.S. President to resign from office. Caught in the web of the Watergate scandal, Nixon's decision to resign came after a long and arduous battle to maintain his presidency. The scandal began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex and culminated in a series of investigations that revealed widespread abuse of power and obstruction of justice. Nixon's resignation was a defining moment in American politics, leading to a greater emphasis on transparency and accountability in government. Moving back in time, on August 8, 1945, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, just days after the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This declaration marked the Soviet

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SPRINGFIELD - Nine photographers ages 8 to 18 won Bright Start college savings scholarships in the Cream of the Crop Photo Contest, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced today. “The students showed amazing creativity and talent with these photos,” Frerichs said . “The images beautifully capture the wonderful diversity of Illinois agriculture.” The winning photographs will be displayed during the Illinois State Fair in the Treasurer’s Tent. You can see the photos of the top three finishers in each of the three age categories on the State Treasurer’s website . Winning entries and other photo submissions will be featured in Ag Invest marketing material, including the 2024-2025 Ag Invest calendar. A list of the winners can be found below. The contest consisted of three age groups — ages 8-10, 11-14 and 15-18. Top winners were awarded Bright Start scholarships, with first-place winners in each age category receiving

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GODFREY - Students in Lewis and Clark Community College’s College for Life (CFL) program invited friends and family to their annual luncheon Aug. 2, 2024 on the Godfrey Campus. Each year, CFL students work with L&C’s Garden Designer and Horticulturist Katie Piper to plant vegetables, herbs and flowers as part of the Monticello Sculpture Gardens, then use the harvest in the luncheon. This year’s buffet was filled with fresh salads and pickled veggies, along with pulled pork sandwiches and zucchini noodles with pesto. CFL’s gardening efforts are supported by a grant from the Lynne F, Solon Foundation, which helps those living with diabetes and other disabilities. To learn more about L&C’s College for Life program, contact Coordinator Roselyn Ellington at (618) 468-4127 or rellington@lc.edu .

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GODFREY - Utility Task Vehicles, or UTVs, were once again a subject of discussion for the Godfrey Village Board on Tuesday , with possible regulations talked about but not yet acted on. Trustee Sarah Woodman began the discussion stating she didn’t see a need for UTVs within the Village of Godfrey. Trustees Rick Lauschke and Jeff Weber agreed. The discussion stemmed from an earlier Village Board meeting in July, during which a public commenter noted the increased prominence of UTVs being used throughout the village over the past decade. Lieutenant Mike Weller with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department said then that the State of Illinois leaves the power to regulate UTVs and similar vehicles to local municipalities, though it was noted Godfrey doesn’t have any such regulations in its Village Code. It was noted at the time that some other municipalities charge UTV owners money in exchange for a permit to drive them on roads maintained by the municipality.

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GODFREY - If you are looking for flowers to smell, or just view, what better place to consider than the beautiful Plant Stand on Godfrey Road? Whether searching for plants to place in a garden or attractive potted arrangements, the Plant Stand is sure to please. Their seasonal inventory of potted live plants include many varieties and species. Annuals, perennials, hardy shrubs and trees are all a part of the offerings. As both a wholesale grower and marketing distributor, they are adept in industry knowledge, making retail customers the beneficiaries of excellent products. The company is owned and operated by David and Sheila Galbreath. While both David and Sheila get involved in buying and selling of product, David handles marketing, research and development, and Sheila takes care of office administration. From humble origins to what it is today, the Plant Stand is truly a family business. It was started in 1979 by David’s parents, Marc and Vicki Galbreath. It was originally

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CASEYVILLE – A black bear was spotted by several residents today from East O’Fallon Drive to Tanglewood Estates in Caseyville, prompting local authorities to issue a public advisory. The Caseyville Police Department alerted the community about the sighting through a statement, advising residents not to approach or disturb the bear. "If you come in contact with the bear, please do not approach or disturb. It will hopefully move along," the statement read. The bear sighting has caused a stir among residents, with multiple reports coming in from the specified areas. The primary concern of the authorities is to ensure the safety of both the residents and the bear. No incidents have been reported so far, and the police are hopeful that the bear will move away from the residential areas on its own. The sighting has raised awareness about wildlife in the community, and residents are urged to stay vigilant and report any further sightings to the Caseyville Police Department

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HARDIN - A reader of ours at Riverbender.com recently shared a fascinating firsthand account of the Great Flood of 1993. The story, written on Aug. 8, 1993, details the sights seen and emotions felt during a boat trip through treacherous waters to drop off a donation to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office. This firsthand account was submitted by Joyce Banovz. Banovz said at the time this story takes place, she was with her now late husband, Roger, “Ava,” a volunteer from the Fieldon school, as well as the late Karen Banovz-Laramore and her husband, Mike. The following has been lightly edited for clarity and grammatical accuracy: Sunday, Aug. 8, 1993: The Flood Drive held this weekend was a success. We took a truck load of cleaning supplies, food, and some clothing to the school in the town of Fieldon. Ava (whose house is underwater) greeted us and said to pull around back. The National Guard unloaded the truck and said the goods would be airlifted by helicopter

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– U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Harris for President Campaign Co-Chair and Democratic National Committee Vice Chair, released the following statement today in response to Vice President Kamala Harris’ selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate: “I’m so pleased to see Tim Walz joining the ticket as Kamala Harris’ Vice Presidential pick. As a Veteran, Governor Walz knows the importance of service to our nation and as a Minnesotan, he speaks to and understands the issues happening at the heart of our country for our working families. "When in Congress, he championed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act , the now law we coauthored to help improve mental healthcare services for Veterans and reduce Veteran suicide. As Governor of Minnesota, he's led sweeping reforms for working families in his state, signing the largest tax cut in state history. He lowered the cost of insulin to $35 per month and signed paid

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WOOD RIVER - Local authors of “Perfectly I’Mperfect” and “Still Perfectly I’Mperfect” will be available for an author meet-and-greet. From 6–8:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, community members are invited to Rustic Roots in Wood River for the event. Authors featured in both books will be present to speak with attendees and network with each other. Tara Hurst, one of the writers who compiled the books, noted that each book is filled with empowering stories by local women. “We had amazing authors that really jumped in and worked together, and it’s really a grassroots effort that we all just shared,” Hurst said. “I also know that it has something to do with the first one. We created a movement, and the women just really felt the power of it and the encouragement and motivation, and they saw another one coming out and they jumped in.” “Perfectly I’Mperfect” was published last year, and

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SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois State Fair officials unveiled the Butter Cow today in the Dairy Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Inspired by “It’s Showtime!” the 2024 fair theme, sculptor Sarah Pratt’s creation captures the magic of the fair through the eyes of a child. While the Butter Cow is the undisputed star of the show, this year, the cow has a delightful companion – a little girl pulling a seven-scoop ice cream cone out of her magician’s hat. Pratt was joined this year by her husband and twin daughters, Hannah and Grace, 20. “As we worked together on the sculptures, our family fondly recalled a song we used to sing, ‘How many scoops do you want on your cone?’ when the girls were young,” said Sarah Pratt, 2024 Illinois State Fair Butter Cow Sculptor. “We enjoyed incorporating our family memories into new ones for this year’s fair visitors.” “The

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GODFREY - A street improvement project for a portion of Pierce Lane in Godfrey is moving forward following unanimous approval from the Village Board on Tuesday. The project area will span 1.534 miles of Pierce Lane from Stamper Lane to Airport Road. Improvements to be made include “roadway construction including new concrete pavement, storm sewers, inlets, curb and gutter, and shared-use path on one side,” according to the Resolution for Improvements Under the Illinois Highway Code. The village has agreed as part of the resolution to contribute $50,000 of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds toward the project’s completion. While it was noted the work would be completed by “contract,” a timeline for bids has not yet been determined. With no further discussion, trustees voted unanimously to approve the Resolution for Improvements Under the Illinois Highway Code. This won’t be the only improvement project to Pierce Lane, following Finance Committee

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EDWARDSVILLE — A Collinsville man has been found guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault involving a child, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Wednesday. Markki L. Edmonson, 48, was convicted on four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, an enhanced class X felony, and one count of criminal sexual assault, a class 1 felony. The verdict came after a bench trial in Circuit Court of Madison County. Edmonson was found guilty of committing sexual acts with a victim who was between the ages of 9 and 13 from Jan. 1, 2016, to Feb. 14, 2018. The assaults were reported after the child disclosed the incidents to a school social worker. Assistant State’s Attorney Rebecca Buettner, in her closing argument, asserted that the victim’s statements were credible, while the defendant’s were not. The investigation was conducted by the Collinsville Police Department and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. "We commen

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (“IDFPR”) announced today, in addition to modernizing outdated processes, it has reached an agreement to secure a new professional licensing system for individuals whose careers require a license to work in Illinois. Through an approximately $9 million investment over the next three years by the Pritzker Administration and the General Assembly, IDFPR will partner with NIC Licensing Solutions, LLC, an industry leading digital government service provider, to implement the new online system. “This new system will elevate the State of Illinois as a national leader in professional licensing by providing state of the art technology for professionals looking to make a career in the Land of Lincoln,” said IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. “Governor Pritzker and lawmakers provided invaluable support in ensuring we can move forward with this upgrade, and I thank them for their

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EDWARDSVILLE - Three dynamic jewelry artists will create positive attention at the upcoming Edwardsville Art Fair on Sept. 27-29, 2024, at City Park. These are three artists who will appear and comments about their artwork: Artist #1 Artist Name: Venus Cramer Artist Medium: Jewelry Artist Statement: " My jewelry is creative, bold and contemporary. I use traditional materials such as sterling silver, gold and precious gemstones, as well as nontraditional mediums including fabric, wood and car paint, These finished forms are my offspring and cannot be denied. They are birthed to find their rightful owners." Artist #2 Artist Name: Alisa Butts Artist Medium: Jewelry Artist Statement: " My goal in creating Elucido Glass jewelry is to offer women a bold wearable art that gives them their empowering pop of color without overstepping their comfort level. I want women to recognize and celebrate their inner and outer beauty." Artist #3 Artist Name: Joseph

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Municipal Band invites the community to an evening of music at the "Musical Potpourri" concerts. The first performance will take place on Thursday, August 8, at 8 p.m. at the Cleaon Etzkorn Bandstand in City Park. For those who prefer a weekend outing, the concert will be repeated on Sunday, August 11, at 4 p.m. at Leclaire Park. The program will showcase an assortment of musical selections, ranging from pops and blues to Broadway and Slavonic folk songs. The concerts will also feature performances by bassoon players Shelia Acuncius and Anthea Ybarra, and clarinet player Nicole Schmidt. In addition to enjoying the music, attendees will have the opportunity to support local community groups. Concessions at the Thursday performance will benefit the St. Boniface group, while Sunday's concessions will support the Friends of Leclaire. "We invite you to join us for an evening (or afternoon) of musical enjoyment and community spirit," the band stated

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ALTON - The Alton Community Unit School District #11 is gearing up for the first day of school next week. Rene Hart, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, noted that teachers have completed several hours of professional learning throughout the summer. Much of this professional learning has focused on literacy, and there are a few updates to the Alton High School English curriculum that include increased student choice and the introduction of artificial intelligence. “We’re really excited about the professional development being an investment into the future of our students and ensuring all students receive high-quality education that prepares them for success,” Hart said. “We’ve definitely taken a literacy focus this summer, but really, best practices for instruction and just making sure that we’re aligned and that teachers are well-supported.” Hart said there were 439 staff sign-ins for professional learning, 178 total hours of professional

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