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Did you know that the average person spends over 6 hours per week reading for pleasure, yet many do so in spaces that fail to inspire or comfort? The environment in which you read can dramatically influence your focus, relaxation, and overall enjoyment. Designing a cozy reading nook isn’t merely about aesthetics—it’s about crafting a personal sanctuary that invites you to unwind and immerse yourself in stories or knowledge. Whether your reading habits are occasional escapes or daily rituals, a thoughtfully arranged nook can transform those moments into richer, more satisfying experiences. Here’s how to create a reading space that combines comfort, functionality, and style. Selecting the Ideal Location The foundation of any effective reading nook lies in its placement. The right spot can enhance natural light, reduce distractions, and cater to your comfort needs. Consider Natural Light and Privacy Studies show that natural light improves mood and focus,

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September 23 has long been a date marked by significant events across the globe, shaping history in profound ways. Moving back through history on this day, September 23 has been witness to a variety of pivotal moments spanning politics, science, culture, and exploration. In 1846, the planet Neptune was discovered by astronomers Johann Galle and Heinrich d'Arrest, based on predictions by Urbain Le Verrier. This discovery expanded our understanding of the solar system and marked a triumph of mathematical prediction in astronomy. It was a milestone that underscored human curiosity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge about our universe. Fast forward to 1932, when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was officially proclaimed by Abdulaziz Ibn Saud. This unification of disparate regions laid the foundation for the modern state of Saudi Arabia, a country that would soon become a key player in global geopolitics and energy markets. The announcement on September 23 was a turning point in Middle

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ALTON - The Riverbend community has the opportunity to come together for community beautification. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, community members can join the Alton Fall City-Wide Litter Clean-Up sponsored by Pride, Inc. Pat Stewart noted that Pride, Inc. hosts the clean-ups to beautify the community and unite people under the common goal of taking care of their city. “It’s just a great way to get people together,” Stewart said. “All we can do is do our part to keep the streets clean and make people kind of take a look at the city and go, ‘This really is a cute little town.’ I think it makes us very proud.” Pride, Inc. has sponsored biannual litter clean-ups for years, and they’re starting to see a major difference. Each clean-up collects 50–100 bags of trash, but Stewart has noticed that 80% of the streets “don’t look nearly as bad as they used to” year-round. She believes this differenc

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Today will bring a high of 80 degrees and a low of 66 degrees with cloudy and humid conditions. Periods of rain and thunderstorms will start this afternoon and continue into the night. It will feel very warm with afternoon highs feeling like 84 degrees. Overnight, heavy rain and thunderstorms are possible, bringing beneficial rain but also a risk of localized flooding. Allergy alert: Mold levels are moderate, with ragweed and grass pollen low. Tomorrow's outlook calls for a high of 74 and a low of 59. Expect mostly cloudy skies with a couple of showers and a thunderstorm possible. It will remain humid with temperatures feeling pleasant but cooler, feeling like 74 degrees. For the latest updates, visit https://riverbender.com/weather .

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ALTON – A resolution to allocate nearly $184,000 to design “streetscape and transportation improvements” on East Broadway is on its way to the Alton City Council. Committee of the Whole members on Monday approved a resolution appropriating $183,914 in Riverfront Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District Funds, or as much is needed to complete the design portion of the project. According to the resolution, the project requires additional funding through the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), resulting in a Joint Funding Agreement between the city and IDOT. The full scope of the project consists of “professional design services including civil engineering, land surveying, and landscape architecture for the design of streetscape and transportation improvements,” according to the Joint Funding Agreement. The designed improvements are set to span 0.59 miles of East Broadway from Market Street to Ridge Street. Also passed on Monday was an Engineering

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School has announced that seven of its students have been recognized as National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students for their exceptional academic performance. The following students received this honor: Kaan Demirer Maya Hatch Ian McGinness Josie Proctor Myurie Suthan Logan Szymanski Andrew Wang The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes students based on their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Each of these students posted scores among the top 50,000 in the nation out of roughly 1.5 million juniors who take the PSAT each year, placing them in the top 2–3 percent nationally and reflecting exceptional academic ability and potential for future success.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — An 8-year-old boy died Sunday evening, Sept. 21, 2025, after a backyard swing set collapsed and trapped him beneath a crossbar in the 11300 block of Larimore Road, authorities said. St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives are investigating the accidental death of Cortez Williams Jr., who was found unresponsive at approximately 6 p.m. on September 21, 2025. Officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for a sick case at the residence. According to a preliminary investigation, Cortez was playing on the swing set when it collapsed. Family members were able to free him, and he initially appeared to have minor injuries. However, he later became unresponsive and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said additional information will be released as it becomes available.

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EDWARDSVILLE — Erin Hamilton-Foley, a former assistant principal at Edwardsville High School, was convicted Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and sentenced to four years in prison. The 53-year-old pleaded guilty in Madison County Circuit Court to a Class 1 felony charge related to a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student while she held a position of trust and authority. Hamilton-Foley was charged in May 2023 after the Edwardsville Police Department investigated the case. The student was under the age of 18 at the time of the relationship, making the conduct a criminal offense due to Hamilton-Foley’s supervisory role. Following her prison term, Hamilton-Foley will be required to register as a sex offender and serve a period of Mandatory Supervised Release, formerly known as parole. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Ali Foley (no relation), head of the Children’s Justice Division, and Rebecca Buettner, who

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, jointly announced the introduction of the Sparking Production of Urban and Rural (SPUR) Housing Act . The SPUR Housing Act establishes a fund to increase the capacity of emerging developers – those with limited development experience and limited resources – who are undertaking affordable housing and community development projects. The funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the form of competitive grants for nonprofit housing organizations and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) providing financing, capacity-building training, and technical assistance to eligible emerging developers. “Despite there being more than 112,000 real estate development companies in the United States, only one percent

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) is expanding its successful Intern to Hire Program partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to include engineering roles. This initiative provides a clear pathway for aspiring civil engineers to launch and sustain long-term public service careers in the State of Illinois. This expanded program comes amid a nationwide shortage of engineering professionals and a historic period of unprecedented infrastructure investment in Illinois. The program offers structured, paid internships leading to full-time State employment, providing hands-on experience and professional development to meet critical workforce needs. “We are investing in the future of the State’s workforce, with a focus on engineers,” said Raven A. DeVaughn, Director of CMS. “This program is not only creating career opportunities for emerging professionals, but also helping us reform and modernize

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WOOD RIVER — After 18 years of dedicated leadership, Tammy Iskarous, Founder and Executive Director of Riverbend Family Ministries (RFM), has announced her retirement, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s history. At RFM’s annual banquet on September 18, Tammy made the official announcement of her transition. The event, which raised $82,999, served as both a fundraiser and a celebration of the annual impact of RFM’s work—highlighting the thousands of people served, the community of supporters who make it possible, and the many partnerships both within RFM’s building and throughout Madison County. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to walk alongside this community—staff, volunteers, donors, and partners—as we’ve built something bigger than ourselves: a place where families find strength, healing, and a new path forward,” Tammy shared during the announcement. “I am filled with gratitude and pride

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) held a press conference with Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01) and Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) to call on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to improve service for Americans and protect postal employees. Budzinski highlighted the decline in USPS on-time mail delivery rates, the importance of preserving USPS’s Universal Service Obligation, and her commitment to safeguarding local postal jobs in Central and Southern Illinois. Budzinski, Bergman, and Pappas, along with Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), serve as co-chairs of the Congressional Postal Service Caucus. The new, bipartisan group focuses on improving on-time delivery rates, protecting postal employees, and stopping harmful facility consolidations and threats of privatization that reduce access in rural and underserved areas. “The Postal Service is a lifeline, especially for our rural communities. But in recent years, service reliability ha

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after three Russian fighter jets violated the airspace of Estonia, marking the third time Vladimir Putin has violated NATO airspace this month: “This is now the third Russian violation of NATO airspace and our allies’ sovereignty this month, and each is simply unacceptable. “Putin is clearly testing the NATO alliance’s commitment to mutual defense and taking advantage of Trump’s flip-flopping to threaten our allies and stoke instability. We must listen to our allies and what they need in this tense moment and stay united against Russian aggression, whether in Poland, Romania, Estonia, Ukraine or anywhere else. “The safety and stability of our close friends and allies aren’t just paramount to U.S. interests—they also help ensure American troops aren’t sent into conflict abroad. I’m doing everything in my power to help ensure

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ALTON - Kids and families are invited to a “Back-to-School Foos Fiesta” foosball party. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, at Crane’s Clubhouse, community members can enjoy food, vendors, an ice cream truck, live music, and foosball tournaments. Joshua and Kristina Crane, who opened Crane’s Clubhouse in the Milton Schoolhouse earlier this year, can’t wait to welcome the community for a fun day and a chance to engage in their favorite game. “What we’re trying to do is bring family, friends and foosball together,” Joshua said. “We’re trying to get people introduced to foosball but also provide something that would be interesting and free for the community.” The free event invites kids of all ages and skill levels to participate in three tournaments. There will be prizes for the top winners. Families can also enjoy face-painting, craft vendors, food vendors and an ice cream truck. Joshua and Kristina

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SPRINGFIELD – Jerry Kruse, MD, MSPH , dean and provost of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and CEO of SIU Medicine, announced today that he will conclude his service at the end of his current contract, on or around August 31, 2026. Since joining SIU School of Medicine in 1984, Dr. Kruse has served in numerous leadership roles, including chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, executive associate dean and dean and provost. His tenure has been defined by innovation in medical education, expansion of rural training opportunities, modernization of research, statewide partnerships and steadfast leadership through unprecedented challenges. “Over 10 years as dean and provost and CEO, Dr. Kruse has led the School of Medicine through a period of rapid change and growth: navigating the pandemic, workforce shortages and health care challenges while ensuring SIU’s mission stayed strong,” said Dr. Austin Lane, chancellor of Southern Illinois

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EDWARDSVILLE – Four faculty members were awarded the Southern Illinois University System’s 2025 Faculty Collaboration Award at the SIU Board of Trustees meeting on September 18, 2025 for their academic innovation and partnerships. Two of the recipients were Dr. Sinan Onal, professor and chair of the Department of Industrial Engineering at SIU Edwardsville (SIUE), and Dr. Chao Lu, associate professor in the School of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering at SIU Carbondale (SIUC). They have collaborated on methods to observe and measure the human gait of individuals with movement disorders or physical impairments, addressing a pressing challenge in biomedical engineering and rehabilitative healthcare. In their research, they ask people to wear sensors that utilize artificial intelligence (AI), and then they apply integrated technologies with advanced algorithms to monitor their gait. Their work has the potential to inform the development of next-generation rehabilitatio

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CARLINVILLE - Macoupin County’s 1869 Jail, a historic landmark that served as the county’s detention facility for 119 years until 1988, now welcomes visitors. Located in Carlinville across the street from the courthouse, the Old Jail offers tours that provide detailed insights into its architecture and history. Designed by architect E.E. Meyers, who also designed the Macoupin County Courthouse, the jail features a medieval-inspired fortress style with iron cell blocks, iron ceilings, and 20-inch-thick stone walls and floors. The building’s interior follows the “jailer residence” style of architecture, a design used until the 20th century that allowed the jailer and his family to live on-site. While the sheriff carried out duties across the county, the jailer’s wife was responsible for cooking prisoners’ food, doing laundry, and maintaining order within the jail. Construction of the jail employed the “cannon ball” method, in which

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ALTON — Alton Parks and Recreation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois , and National Fitness Campaign (NFC) today announced a partnership to bring an outdoor Fitness Court® Studio and digital wellness programming to the City of Alton . The Fitness Court® Studio, located at Riverfront Park , will open Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 10:00 AM with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Fitness Court® Studio was developed by Alton Parks and Recreation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, and NFC to expand free access to high-quality workouts and create equitable access to exercise for communities across the region. The Fitness Court® is the world’s best outdoor gym that lets users leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven exercise stations. Created for adults of all abilities aged 14+, the Fitness Court® Studio workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their

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PALMYRA — Jamie M. Griffiths, 53, of Palmyra, was charged Friday with four counts related to alleged assaults involving multiple victims, according to court documents. Griffiths faces one count each of aggravated battery of a handicapped person, aggravated battery in a public place, domestic battery, and domestic battery causing bodily harm. The first count alleges Griffiths committed battery against a physically disabled victim by pouring milk and Kool-Aid on her and lifting the mattress she was lying on, causing her to fall out of bed. The second count involves an incident on Emmerson Airline Road, where Griffiths allegedly struck another victim in the head with a jar and his fists. The third count accuses Griffiths of pouring milk and Kool-Aid on his wife. The final count alleges he struck his daughter in the head with his hand. No further details about the victims’ conditions or the circumstances surrounding the incidents were provided in the charging documents.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced the ramp from northbound IL 3 to westbound I-55/64 (Poplar Street Bridge) in East St. Louis will be closed on Tuesday, September 23 and Wednesday, September 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The ramp closure is necessary to allow IDOT District 8 Operations crews to perform bridge inspections. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, 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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