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ALTON - The 20th annual Miles Davis Jazz Festival honored the musician’s legacy and supported local students. On Saturday, June 7, 2025, community members gathered at Post Commons in Alton for an evening of jazz music by the Alton High School Jazz Combo and Saman Swanson. The event recognized Davis as an important part of Alton’s history while raising money for scholarships for high school students. “The past 20 years have been fabulous. We’ve watched it grow from a little gathering of people to the actual honoring of the greatest trumpeter in the world, homegrown Miles Davis,” said Lee Barham, chairman of the event. Over the last 20 years, Barham and his committee have given away over 40 scholarships. Four students — one homeschooled student, two students from Alton High School, and one student from Marquette Catholic High School — received $500 scholarships this year through the festival. Barham highlighted the importance of

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ROLLA, MO. - The Steel Bridge Design Team at Missouri University of Science and Technology placed fifth in the nation at the Student Steel Bridge Competition, held Saturday, May 31 at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. The fifth-place finish is a record for the S&T team, with a previous best result of twelfth place in 2004. The Steel Bridge competition requires students to design a scale model of a bridge, spanning 20 feet and capable of holding 2,500 pounds. The assembly of the bridge is timed, and the completed bridges are load-tested, weighed and judged on aesthetics and cost estimates. The bridges are designed to solve a real-world problem; this year's challenge was to design a bridge over the South Skunk River in Iowa to connect walking trails in a park. The S&T team earned their place at the national competition with their seventh consecutive win at the American Society of Civil Engineers Mid-America Student Symposium, in which they came in first in six out of seven categories

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TROY - The City of Troy and the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce hosted their second First Friday event. On Friday, June 6, 2025, community members came out to downtown Troy to visit with vendors, check out the local businesses, enjoy live music and more. These events, hosted on the First Friday of every month from May to September excluding July, invite the community to have a fun night while supporting local business owners. “It’s so amazing to see everyone downtown celebrating tonight,” said Carol Sparks, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce board. “It’s great, absolutely. When you think about the local community and the local economy and all the things that can happen here, it’s great to see new business coming, new people coming to town, and just supporting what’s here and growing what we have.” Sparks and Dawn Mushill, president of the Chamber of Commerce, noted that the idea behind First Friday came

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GRANITE CITY – A man and woman from Granite City face felony charges of battery and domestic battery in separate criminal cases. Skyla M. Soomro, 18, of Granite City, was charged on June 4, 2025 with two Class 3 felony counts of aggravated battery. Soomro allegedly struck the victim in the head with a glass bottle, causing a laceration to the victim’s head which required multiple stitches to close. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to deny Soomro’s pretrial release from custody. According to the petition, the victim told authorities Soomro entered a room and struck her with the glass bottle “unprovoked.” A witness supported the victim’s statement, and Soomro reportedly “admitted to the offense, saying the victim owed her money.” According to a report of Soomro’s criminal history, she was under an active Order of Protection at the time of this incident. The protective order was issued in

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COLLINSVILLE – Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 8 Commander, Captain Casey Faro, announces the ISP will conduct Distracted Driving Enforcement Program patrols in Madison and St. Clair counties during June. This program allows ISP to focus on distracted driving laws to prevent traffic deaths and serious injury crashes. Distracted Driving is doing another activity that takes the driver’s attention away from driving. Distractions can increase a driver’s risk of being in an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: - Over 3,000 people annually are killed in crashes involving distracted driving. - Reading a text message cantake a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. - Nearly 1 in every 10 injury crashes involved a distracted driver. Officers will be on the lookout for drivers who disobey Illinois’ distracted driving laws. - All drivers are prohibited from reading, sending, or receiving text messages or

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and fellow Senate Democratic colleagues in calling on the Acting Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to open an investigation into new information obtained by her office revealing that DOGE may have gained access to “two of FSA’s internal systems: Financial Management System (FMS) and Partner Connect,” in addition to sensitive borrower data. Following DOGE’s “takeover” of ED, the Senators opened an investigation into the matter. In response, ED disclosed that DOGE supported a review of FSA’s contracts, and to conduct this review, ED granted “one employee read-only access” to two of FSA’s internal systems, which both hold sensitive personal information for people on Title IV loan and grant programs. “Because of the Department’s refusal to provide full and complete information, the full

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EDWARDSVILLE – As long as there are instances of people dealing with post-traumatic stress, depression and more becoming increasingly intertwined with responses from law enforcement, then it will remain critical for police officers to be properly trained in sensory inclusivity, according to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Dominic Dorsey. Dorsey, Director of SIUE Office for Accessible Campus Community and Equitable Student Support (ACCESS) and President of SIUE’s Black Faculty and Staff Association, presented the topic of sensory inclusivity to the SIUE Police Department. “During a conversation with Director Dorsey, regarding how the SIUE PD could better serve our diverse community, he mentioned sensory inclusivity and the great training provided by KultureCity ,” said Patrol Officer Maria Ferrari. The department is in the process of obtaining sensory inclusion first responder certification from KultureCity. “Sensory inclusivity

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – During Gun Violence Awareness Month, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) and more than 80 Members of Congress in introducing the bicameral Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, legislation to ensure that victims of gun violence have their day in court and that negligent gun companies and gun sellers are not shielded from liability when they disregard public safety. The bill would repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), passed by Congress in 2005, which gives the gun industry a unique and unjustifiable legal liability shield that protects gun manufacturers from lawsuits. “The needless gun violence that too many Illinoisans—and Americans across the country—experience

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GODFREY – Godfrey park visitors may notice more “no smoking” signs in the near future. Concerns were raised at last week’s Public Safety Committee meeting about people smoking near playgrounds and potentially exposing children to second-hand smoke. Local resident and physician Katie Sherer said the issue is especially urgent as cases of asthma and other respiratory conditions in children are on the rise. “Anything you smell, your body has to process and will deliver your lungs, so even the smell of the cigarettes and the non-smells of the vapes, are dangerous – especially for children with respiratory issues,” Sherer said. “I’ve seen a growing number of kids with asthma, allergies, and other respiratory conditions that would really benefit from just having no exposure whatsoever.” One possible solution she and trustees discussed were “smoking huts,” though Sherer said they would have to be placed away from

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GRANITE CITY - After a hiatus, beloved staple Jerry’s Cafeteria is open again. Located at 1920 Edison Avenue, Jerry’s Cafeteria has been a Granite City institution for decades. In October 2024, they closed the cafeteria side of their business to focus on catering. But thanks to the community’s support, they are open again from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday. “It’s looking like it’s going in the right direction,” said Mickey Loftus, general manager. “But running a small business, it’s tough, and we could definitely use more traffic. We’re not trying to be everybody’s competition. We just would like to be able to pay the bills and take care of our loyal customer base and continue to be a staple in Granite for however many more years we can make it.” Loftus explained that Jerry’s started 40 years ago. Owner Jon Roderick’s grandparents owned a tavern,

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ALTON — The 36th annual Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair welcomed families to the National Great Rivers Museum on Saturday, June 7, 2025, offering free fishing activities, educational exhibits, and entertainment designed to connect children and adults with outdoor recreation and natural resources. Hosted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge, the event featured more than 30 stations, including catch-and-release bluegill fishing, a One-Cast station where every participant earned a prize, and bow-fishing at moving and three-dimensional targets. Children who completed at least seven stations were rewarded with prizes and had the opportunity to catch trout from a stocked pond. Scott Isringhausen, urban fishing coordinator for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said the fair has been held since 1990 and continues to attract strong participation despite weather challenges. “We

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CLAYTON, MO. - Five Iron Golf is officially open in Clayton, and owner Carlton Blood can’t wait to welcome everyone from the novice to the “golf junkie.” “We’re so excited to be open for the community of St. Louis as a whole,” Blood said. “Now that we’re open, please come across the river and come see us.” Located at 8015 Forsyth Boulevard in Clayton, Five Iron Golf has several golf simulators and games for people to enjoy. They open at 6 a.m. and encourage members to come out and practice in the early morning. Later in the day until midnight, they usually welcome casual golfers, groups of friends and parties to enjoy the simulators, the food and beverage menu, and happy hour. Blood explained that the Five Iron team has been searching for a new location in the St. Louis region for 18 months. They finally decided on their Clayton location, an 8,300-square-foot space with ten simulator bays. Within the next three years,

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Municipal Band will perform its next summer concert on Thursday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cleaon Etzkorn Bandstand in City Park. Everyone is invited to bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a fun evening of music in the park. This concert will feature music from popular musicals, both old and new. The program shows how musical theater has changed over time while still telling great stories and connecting with people of all ages. Concessions will be available, provided by the League of Women Voters. Come out and enjoy our second concert of the summer as the Edwardsville Municipal Band continues a tradition of live music in the park that began in 1885. Bring a lawn chair, relax with family and friends, and enjoy an evening of music in the heart of the community. Stay connected by following the Edwardsville Municipal Band on Facebook and Instagram for news and updates.

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SPRINGFIELD - Several initiatives spearheaded by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias aimed at enhancing road safety, bolstering library security and modernizing the office to boost efficiency were approved by state lawmakers. “This legislative session we have made a great deal of progress in areas that will make a real difference in the everyday lives of Illinoisans,” said Giannoulias, referring to the bills passed out of the General Assembly during its spring legislative session that recently ended and now await consideration by Governor JB Pritzker. They include: Making Roads Safer House Bill 1226 calls for enhanced safeguards to bolster road safety while increasing the age at which Illinois drivers must take a behind-the-wheel driving test from 79 to 87. The bill would establish new procedures aimed at preventing unsafe motorists – regardless of age – from driving. If a motorist’s driving skills begin to significantly decline or cognitive

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) has recovered more than $85,000 in unpaid wages for 17 workers that were employed on a construction project in Saline County. IDOL also recovered more than $17,000 in penalties from D&D Electric, LLC (D&D). “Illinois law requires that employees on publicly funded projects be paid a fair wage for their skilled work,” said Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan. “Making these workers whole reflects IDOL’s commitment to enforcing the Prevailing Wage Act and holding employers accountable when they violate workers’ rights.” IDOL began its investigation of the Harrisburg, Illinois-based contractor in 2024 for its work on a solar panel installation. The Department determined D&D violated the State’s Prevailing Wage Act by failing to properly classify workers and correctly compensate them for fringe benefits and overtime. The Prevailing Wage Act requires contractors and subcontractor

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JERSEYVILLE – Beginning Monday, June 9, 2025 Illinois American Water will be flushing the new water main along Hollow Avenue in Jerseyville. Illinois American Water estimates the flushing program on the new water main to have a temporary impact to approximately 39 customers in the area of Hollow Avenue. Impacted customers will receive a phone call from the company. The flushing program could cause temporary, aesthetic water quality issues in other areas of the Jerseyville water system as water moves around the community. “Our local Illinois American Water team will isolate all the side street connections to limit impact to our customers along the flushing route,” said Brendan St. Peters, Senior Supervisor of Operations, Illinois American Water. St. Peters asks local motorists and residents to slow down and follow all signage when Illinois American Water crews are working in the area. “The safety of our employees and customers is top priority,” said St

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COLLINSVILLE - The Collinsville Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Michael A. Pinson, who has an active felony warrant for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Authorities released the information on Fugitive Friday, June 6, 2025, as part of their ongoing effort to apprehend fugitives. The department is urging anyone with information about Pinson’s whereabouts to contact them at 618-344-2131, extension 5209. Callers can remain anonymous. Police also encouraged Pinson to surrender voluntarily. “These charges and statements made herein are based upon probable cause," the Collinsville Police said. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, the department noted in its public release.

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BELLEVILLE — A 60-year-old man died after being struck by a vehicle Friday evening, June 6, 2025, on Centreville Avenue, the Belleville Police Department reported. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of Centreville Avenue. Officers responding to the scene found the pedestrian, described as a white male, unconscious and seriously injured in the roadway. Emergency personnel provided life-saving measures and transported him to a local hospital, where he later died. The vehicle involved was a gold 1998 Chevrolet S-10. The driver, a 61-year-old white male, remained at the scene and was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence following a preliminary investigation. He was subsequently released pending further investigation. The Illinois State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit assisted with the investigation. Belleville Police Detectives are working in coordination with the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office to

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SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Acting Director James Jennings today announced a total of $4.4 million in funding through the release of two Section 319(h) Grant Program Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to address nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Illinois EPA is seeking proposals for both watershed-based planning projects as well as watershed-based plan implementation projects to prevent, eliminate, or reduce water quality impairments to Illinois’ surface and groundwater resources. “Illinois EPA’s Section 319 program enables us to prioritize projects in areas where nonpoint source pollution is a significant cause of impairment in local watersheds,” said Acting Director Jennings. “Projects focused on the development of a watershed management plan, or the eventual implementation of such plans are essential to addressing and improving water quality throughout Illinois.” NPS pollution is caused by rainfall

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky has released its Dean's List for the Spring 2025 semester. A total of 9,785 students were recognized for their outstanding academic performance, including the following local students: Jerseyville: Chloe Chastain Edwardsville: Nevaeh Kiley Margaret G. Terry To make a Dean’s List in one of the UK colleges, a student must earn a grade-point average of 3.6 or higher and must have earned 12 credits or more in that semester, excluding credits earned in pass-fail classes. Some UK colleges require a 3.5 GPA to make the Dean’s List. The full Dean's List can be accessed by visiting: https://provost.uky.edu/deans-list .

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