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What if the secret to bringing people closer lies not in grand gestures, but in the simple act of sharing a meal outdoors? Backyard barbecues have long been a staple of social life, transcending cultures and generations. But throwing a successful barbecue is more than just firing up the grill and hoping for the best. It’s about crafting an experience that combines good food, great company, and a relaxed atmosphere. Whether you’re a seasoned host or planning your first backyard gathering, mastering some key elements can transform your barbecue into an event everyone looks forward to. Setting the Scene: Designing a Welcoming Space The environment you create significantly influences the mood of your barbecue. Think beyond the basics of tables and chairs to create an inviting atmosphere. Seating and Layout: Arrange seating to encourage conversation. Use a mix of benches, chairs, and picnic blankets to accommodate different preferences and age groups. For example, a circular

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Extreme heat is making its mark today with a high of 95 degrees and a low of 75. The sky will be mostly sunny with a westerly breeze at about 7 mph. It will feel much hotter, with the heat index soaring to around 110 degrees. Stay hydrated and avoid prolonged sun exposure to prevent heat-related illnesses. The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning until 7 p.m. Wednesday. This means dangerous heat conditions are expected, so take extra care if you’re outdoors. Allergy sufferers should note that mold levels are moderate, ragweed is low, and tree pollen is low. UV rays are very high today, so sunscreen is a must. Tomorrow will bring even hotter weather, with a high near 97 and a low around 74. It will be mostly sunny and humid again, with the heat index climbing to 111. Another round of dangerous heat is expected, so continue to take precautions. Looking ahead to Wednesday, thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon and evening, some could be heavy with th

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MADISON — Investigators with the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis are making progress in the homicide investigation following their activation Saturday afternoon in Madison, Illinois. Since the activation, detectives have pursued 48 investigative leads, many of which have yielded valuable information. Authorities have positively identified the victim as a 16-year-old Black male juvenile from East Saint Louis, Illinois. Investigators have worked throughout Sunday and continue into the night, expressing determination to bring justice in the case. The Major Case Squad is urging the public to come forward with any information that could assist the investigation, emphasizing that even minor details may be helpful. Those with information are encouraged to contact the Major Case Squad Command Post at 618-876-7182 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477).

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MT. VERNON — At approximately 12:49 a.m. Sunday, July 27, 2025, officers from the Mt. Vernon Police Department, along with Littons Ambulance and the Mt. Vernon Fire Department, responded to multiple reports of gunfire in the 600 block of South 15th Street. Upon arrival, authorities found several individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. Two victims were confirmed dead at the scene or shortly after, while five others were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Some were taken by ambulance, and others arrived by private means. The investigation remains active and ongoing. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims pending family notification. Officials are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact the Mt. Vernon Police Department. The Mt. Vernon Police Department acknowledged assistance from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police in the investigation. Assistant Chief Travis Chapman expressed condolences

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District’s Summer Reading Program might be over, but Executive Director Mary Cordes promises there’s plenty of summer fun left. “We are rocking and rolling,” Cordes said. At 2 p.m. on Aug. 3, 2025, community members can enjoy “An Afternoon with Switchback” at the Benjamin Godfrey Chapel on the Lewis and Clark Community College campus. This award-winning duo will play Celtic and American roots music, and Cordes promises they are “high-energy and really talented musicians.” This event will be followed by “X’s and Sews: A Crafting Program” from 6–7:30 p.m. on Aug. 5 at Hayner’s Alton Square Mall location. This “really popular” program invites crafters to bring their art projects to the library and work on them while chatting with other artists. Cordes noted that Hayner has several online databases , including Creativebug, which offers tutorials

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CALHOUN COUNTY — The Hardin Fire Department and Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office have conducted multiple water rescues involving individuals trapped in flooded vehicles near the Michael area during the morning of Sunday, July 27, 2025. Calhoun authorities urge residents to use alternate routes or remain in place if possible and to exercise extreme caution if travel is necessary. Illinois Highway 100 between Hardin and Kampsville was closed due to flash flooding, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office reported Thursday. Floodwaters and large debris have inundated intersections at McCauley Road, Hamburg-Michael Road, and Churchman Hollow, creating hazardous travel conditions, the Calhoun Sheriff's Office said. The flooding has also affected several other roadways, including North Hamburg-Michael Road, Gresham Hollow Road, Irish Hollow Road, Degerlia Hollow Road, and Poor Farm Hollow Road. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) crews are currently working to clear

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JERSEY COUNTY — Torrential rain that began late Saturday evening, July 26, and continued into Sunday, July 27, 2025, caused significant flooding and standing water in parts of Jersey County, according to residents and the National Weather Service in St. Louis. Jennifer Edwards shared a photo of Pump Station Road in Jersey County, showing the impact of the heavy rainfall. “It rained heavily most of the night. I live right down the road,” Edwards said. Several areas in Jersey County experienced flooding. Reports so far include Brookshire Place in Jerseyville, Bowman Station Road and North Irish Lane, Pump Station Road, and Illinois Route 16 in Fieldon. Multiple locations along these routes and the Jersey County area had water across the road, creating hazardous conditions for drivers. Additionally, standing water was reported in basements throughout Jersey because of the torrential rain. The National Weather Service reported that Jerseyville received close to 9 inches

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July 26 and 27 have long been dates marked by transformative events across the globe, spanning politics, science, culture, and social change. In the realm of civil rights, July 26, 1948, marked a turning point when President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which declared equality of treatment and opportunity in the armed services, without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin. This order initiated the process of desegregating the U.S. military, a critical step toward broader civil rights reforms. Truman’s executive order was a bold move at the time and set the stage for future legislation aimed at combating racial discrimination in America. July 26 also holds cultural significance. In 1956, Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries landed in Cuba, marking the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. This event would dramatically alter the political landscape of the Western Hemisphere and influence Cold War dynamics for decades. The revolution’s repercussions

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SPRINGFIELD - Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration: Illinois Finance Authority Timothy Ryan will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Finance Authority.* Ryan has dedicated his career to supporting working families across the Midwest. He currently serves as Midwest Region Tri-Fund Coordinator for the Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America. There, Ryan assists with finding sites that are appropriate for new affordable housing projects, and he coordinates safety, training, and labor management funds across 10 states. Ryan received a Bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a Juris Doctorate from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Illinois Workforce Innovation Board William Lo will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board.* Lo is a dedicated and goal-driven business leader with over 20 year

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SPRINGFIELD - On Monday, July 28, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) will convene a roundtable discussion in Springfield focused on improving mail delivery and protecting postal services across Central and Southern Illinois. Local leaders, postal workers, and community stakeholders from across downstate Illinois will join the conversation. The discussion will cover key issues impacting mail service in the region including efforts to improve on-time delivery, protect local postal jobs, oppose privatization, and stop harmful facility consolidations that reduce access in rural and underserved areas. WHAT: Congresswoman Budzinski to Host Roundtable on Strengthening Postal Service in Central and Southern Illinois WHO: U.S. Congresswoman Budzinski, Illinois’ 13th District State Senator Doris Turner State Representative Mike Coffey Springfield Chamber President Mike Murphy Barbara Bridges, Champaign Postal Worker and Activist President Pam Shumard, Illinois

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 23 attorneys general and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, filed an amended lawsuit challenging the White House Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) attempt to gut AmeriCorps by withholding tens of millions of dollars in funding for critical service programs. In June, Raoul and the coalition won a court order that reinstated hundreds of AmeriCorps programs that were unlawfully canceled, and barred AmeriCorps from making similar cuts without formal rulemaking. Despite this order, OMB is withholding funding intended for outstanding service programs, threatening their survival and the well-being of those who depend on their services. Raoul and the coalition filed an amended lawsuit that adds OMB and its director as defendants and brings new legal claims against them. “More than 1 million Americans have participated in AmeriCorps because they wanted to serve veterans and children, protec

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) today led a bipartisan call for maintaining U.S. leadership in aviation safety. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, the Senators led 43 of their Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to oppose single-pilot operations at the International Civil Aviation Organization. “Despite ongoing challenges, the U.S. has long represented the gold standard in aviation safety,” wrote the Senators. “The FAA should continue to promote sound safety standards as new technology develops and presents challenges to existing procedures. While technology will play a critical role in shaping the future of aviation innovation, including improved safety measures, policymakers have a duty to ensure that any changes are rigorously evaluated and incorporated into evidence-backed safety frameworks. The presence of two rested, well-trained, and qualified pilots

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker, state leaders, and community members from across Chicagoland gathered to officially rename 115 S. La Salle St. the Jesse White State of Illinois Building, honoring Illinois’ longest-serving Secretary of State and a legendary public servant. The event follows unanimous votes in both the Illinois House and Senate last year to rename the building after White, who turned 91 last month. “As the longest serving Secretary of State in our history, Secretary White spent his career doing something good for the people of Illinois every single day,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “He championed good and honest government at a time when our state needed it the most – putting us on a path to progress by rooting out the corruption and insider dealing that had defined our institutions. I cannot think of a more appropriate name than the Jesse White State of Illinois Building, which will serve generations of Illinoisans and stand as a symbol

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced that three of her bills, the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act , the VA Mental Health Outreach and Engagement Act , and the Health Professionals Scholarship Program Improvement Act , advanced out of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC). “I’m excited to announce that three of my bipartisan bills to support veterans have passed out of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “Our veterans should be given every tool they need to succeed in civilian life – and these pieces of legislation are designed to do just that by helping veterans advance their skills, get connected with good-paying jobs, access the best quality health care, and navigate mental health resources at the VA. I look forward to continuing to work across the aisle to get these bills signed into law.” The bills now move to the full House

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07) led their fellow Senate and House Democratic colleagues in reintroducing legislation to protect Americans’ right to access reproductive health care, regardless of income, insurance or zip code. The Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Healthcare (EACH) Act would end the discriminatory Hyde Amendment and help lift unjust abortion coverage restrictions for those who depend on Medicaid and other government-sponsored plans—reaffirming the right to access reproductive health care after Donald Trump signed his Big, Beautiful Betrayal into law that will rip health care away from over 15 million Americans. “Ever since Trump’s far-right Supreme Court majority struck down Roe, Republicans have made it their mission to strip away a woman’s right to reproductive health care—a right they have no place to stand in the way of,” said Senator Duckworth.

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ALTON - The YWCA offers many programs for community members, but their summer camp and before- and after-school programs stand out. In an interview on “Our Daily Show!” with C.J. Nasello at Centerstone’s recent resource fair , Maddie explained the YWCA’s Child Enrichment Program and how it benefits local kids. She said that the Y is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. to provide childcare, which includes games and lessons on topics like astronomy, STEM and dinosaurs. “It’s great,” Maddie said. “I never imagined working with kids, but once I started working here, being exposed to the kids, I not only got to teach the younger generation, but they were teaching me, too.” Locally, the YWCA of Southwestern Illinois has several locations, most notably their building at 304 E. 3rd Street in Alton. They also have spots in Wood River, Roxana and Godfrey. The childcare and summer camp programs work with kids in kindergarten throug

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Makayla “Mak” Mallon, currently pursuing her graduate degree in African American Literature, has spent this summer as a Servant Leader Intern for the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools® hosted on SIUE’s campus . Mallon graduated SIUE with a bachelor’s in history (’24) and also co-founded the student organization Black Literary Analysis Club (BLAC). “I was also privileged enough to work as a graduate assistant in the Redmond Center,” said Mallon. Here she shares her summer 2025 experience working with Freedom School scholars her own words. I am a Servant Leader Intern (SLI). As an SLI, I facilitate Integrated Reading Curriculum, which is rooted in activism and literature. So, we read selected books that follow along with Freedom School’s “I can make a difference” weekly themes. Once we have read with our scholars, we facilitate fun

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ALTON - Senior Services Plus, Inc. (SSP), located at 2603 N. Rodgers Avenue in Alton, IL, will be hosting an I-Cash Event on Wednesday, August 6th, 2025 from 10am-1pm in SSP’s Meeting Room. During this walk-in style clinic, participants can speak with a representative from the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office and receive assistance with unclaimed property searches. What is Unclaimed Property? According to https://icash.illinoistreasurer.gov , “unclaimed property consists of accounts and other financial instruments, usually intangible, being held at corporations, financial institutions, financial intermediaries, courts, and life insurance companies, that have gone dormant for a specified period of time based on property type.” “Common types of unclaimed property include checking and savings accounts, uncashed wage and payroll checks, uncashed stock dividends and stock certificates, insurance payments, utility deposits, customer deposits, accounts

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ALTON – Simmons Hanly Conroy , a national leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families, is pleased to announce that firm partner Jo Anna Pollock has played a leading role in the founding and national expansion of education nonprofit Lindenwood Education System (LES), including its recent acquisition of Ancora Education. LES, headquartered in Saint Charles, Missouri, is the private nonprofit parent entity of a system of independent higher education institutions that offer a variety of certificate, diploma, associate, bachelor and professional-level programs. Each of the institutions under LES operates as a separate corporate entity and maintains its respective name, brand and distinct accreditations. The goal of LES, which now operates in nine states, is to expand access to education, diversify program offerings, and foster innovation that addresses today’s skill gaps and tomorrow’s workforce needs. Pollock, a Lindenwood

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MADISON — The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was activated Saturday afternoon, July 26, 2025, following the discovery of a deceased male at an intersection in Madison, Illinois. At approximately 1:15 p.m., July 26, 2025, officers from the Madison Police Department responded to reports of shots fired near Washington Avenue and Wayne Lanter Avenue. Upon arrival, they found a male victim lying in the intersection who was pronounced dead at the scene. Chief Jeffrey Bridick of the Madison Police Department requested the involvement of the Major Case Squad, which was activated around 2 p.m. Twelve members of the squad are currently investigating the incident under the direction of Deputy Commander Sergeant Brent Rombach of the Wood River Police Department. Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the shooting to come forward. Tips can be submitted by contacting the Major Case Squad Command Post at 618-876-7182 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477).

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