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CHICAGO — In the shadow of midterm gerrymandering wars for U.S. Congressional seats, Illinois voters may soon face a new ballot measure aimed at curbing partisan map-drawing for legislative districts within Illinois set to take effect after the 2030 census. Partisan gerrymandering reduces political debate and competition in our elections. It also serves to predetermine the outcome of our elections, robbing voters of a truly representative government. That is why the League of Women Voters of Illinois is endorsing the latest effort by Fair Maps to amend the state constitution and move our state a step closer to having legislative districts that reflect our voting population. The League acknowledges that the proposed amendment falls short of our larger objectives, including map-drawing that is fully independent of the Illinois state legislature, a process that is subject to open meetings, transparency, and input from our communities, and a commission that is structured to drive

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GODFREY — Edwardsville High School orchestra student Zachary Majors, a 10th grader, rode 150 miles over two days on September 6 and 7, 2025, to raise awareness and funds for people affected by multiple sclerosis. Majors began the Bike MS event at Lewis & Clark Community College’s Benjamin Godfrey Campus, riding 75 miles on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, and another 75 miles on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. Majors raised $450 and participated as a member of the Boeing team. Bike MS events nationwide have raised $1.5 million so far this year. The annual fundraising rides involve nearly 40,000 cyclists and more than 4,000 teams across the country, all supporting research and services for individuals living with multiple sclerosis.

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GRANITE CITY — U.S. Steel announced Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, it will cease processing steel slabs at its Granite City Works plant in Illinois by November 2025, shifting operations to other facilities following the recent $15 billion acquisition by Japanese company Nippon Steel. The decision comes three months after Nippon Steel finalized its purchase of the iconic American steelmaker. U.S. Steel said it will focus on processing raw steel at its Mon Valley Works in Pennsylvania and Gary Works in Indiana. Despite ending slab processing at Granite City, the company stated it will not lay off any of the roughly 800 workers at the plant or reduce their pay. Employees will maintain the facility to keep it operational in case circumstances change. Granite City Mayor Michael C. Parkinson has expressed frustration over the lack of clear investment plans for the plant, which reopened in 2018 after President Donald Trump’s visit. The plant had ceased raw steel production in 2023 afte

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ALTON - The RiverBend Growth Association is excited to host their annual LeadHERship Conference to empower local women. On Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, community members will attend the sold-out conference at Enjoy Church in Alton. The half-day seminar will include presentations by Kalli Erwin, Lori Hopkins and Brittany McCrady. RBGA officers Debbie and Stefanie can’t wait to connect with business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders in the community. “It’s about professional growth and personal,” Debbie explained. “We try to keep it to topics they can take back to their workplace and share with others who maybe didn’t get to come to the seminar. But it all kind of flows together.” With 200 women slated to attend the conference, Debbie and Stefanie are “very happy” to see the event’s growth over the last 25 years. They hope that the speakers will resonate with attendees. Kalli Erwin, owner of Just Right Organizing, will talk

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Imagine gathering your friends and family under a star-lit sky, the flicker of a movie screen casting gentle light on smiling faces wrapped in warm blankets. Outdoor movie nights have surged in popularity, with over 50% of Americans saying they would attend one if given the chance, according to a 2023 survey by Eventbrite. Yet, creating a truly cozy and memorable experience requires more than just setting up a projector. When executed thoughtfully, an outdoor screening can transform an ordinary evening into a cherished ritual of connection and entertainment. Selecting the Perfect Location The foundation of any successful outdoor movie night lies in choosing the right setting. Ideally, the location should be spacious enough to accommodate your guests comfortably without feeling crowded. A backyard with a flat lawn is often perfect, but community parks or even driveway spaces can work well if permissions are secured. Consider proximity to a power source, as most projectors and speakers

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September 10 has long been a date marked by significant moments that have shaped history across the world. On September 10, 1846, the world of science was captivated by the discovery of Neptune. Johann Galle and Heinrich d'Arrest, acting on predictions by Urbain Le Verrier, successfully observed the planet for the first time. This discovery not only expanded our understanding of the solar system but also demonstrated the power of mathematical prediction in astronomy. The arts have also found a place on this date. In 1897, the first modern Olympic Games were awarded to Athens, Greece, setting the stage for the revival of a tradition that celebrates athleticism and international unity. The Olympics have since grown into a global phenomenon that transcends cultural and political boundaries. September 10 has its place in technological history too. In 1960, the LCD (liquid crystal display) was first demonstrated by George H. Heilmeier and his team at RCA Laboratories. This innovation

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Mom! I have to go!” “Hold it!” It's an exchange you probably had as a kid on long car rides. But Uwais Zaid, MD, says it’s not just a funny vacation story. A person of any age or profession can find themselves holding their urine for a long time. “In the medical field, we see this all the time,” says Dr. Zaid, a urologist who sees patients at OSF HealthCare. “When you’re rushing from patient to patient, doctors, nurses and technicians might not go to the bathroom as much as they should. They hold their urine the whole day.” Dr. Zaid is sharing his playbook: why this phenomenon happens, how to fix it and what can happen if you don’t. Why do we hold our pee? Dr. Zaid says some people hold their urine simply based on the situation. They’re on a long car ride, and stopping will make them late. Or they might be at a dinner party and don’t want to seem rude by leaving the table. “Then there’s another

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ALTON – In response to our nation’s mental health crisis, and due to local demand for mental health resources in the Riverbend region, OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center – Psychological Services will offer a third FREE mental health first aid training session to interested individuals. This groundbreaking skills-based training session will give participants the tools to identify, understand and respond to someone who might be struggling with a mental health or substance use challenge — and connect them with appropriate support and resources when necessary. The Mental Health First Aid training course will be held on Friday, September 26, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., in the 3rd floor Psychological Services Group Training Room at OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center (1 St. Anthony’s Way, Alton, IL, 62202). Lunch will be provided during this all-day training course. Space is limited for this FREE training session and registration is required – online

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GODFREY - Established in April 1982 by Joe and Vicky Neeley, TK Carpet Gallery provides Godfrey and the surrounding areas with a comprehensive arrangement of affordable and professional flooring installation along with cleaning services. TK Carpet Gallery provides superior quality flooring removal, installation, repairs and refinishing. The company name was derived from sons, Tom and Kevin. Have a pet? They will have carpets looking, feeling, and smelling like that four-legged friend was never even there. Struggle with allergies? TK Carpet Gallery has the equipment to remove the dirt, dust and allergens that are buried deep in the carpet. Regardless of the size of the job or the toughness of the stains, cleaning services will ensure that carpets are as clean as the day they were installed. The company offers hot water extract cleaning for upholstery and area rugs. Hot water extraction cleaning is a method that uses hot water mixed with cleaning agents, which is injected into

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ALTON — The Marquette Catholic girls' tennis team concluded its recent tournament with a 3-1 record, securing wins against Marion High School and Richwoods from Peoria before being eliminated in the first round by Waterloo High School. The Marquette Catholic tennis girls are Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Female Athletes of the Month. The tournament matches took place recently in Alton, where the Marquette team faced off against several regional opponents. In the opening round, Marquette was defeated by Waterloo High School with a score of 5-1. The only singles victory for Alton came from Maddie Waters, who defeated Ella Brown 6-4, 6-3. Waterloo’s Lily Starek, Ava Hemmer, Zoey Jones, Marie Starek, and Lucy Baldwin all won their singles matches, with two matches decided in close third-set tiebreakers. Following the loss, Alton Marquette rebounded with an 8-1 victory over Marion High School. Maddie Waters again led the way with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Ellie Weston. Other single

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CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker visited the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC) and met with leaders from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and its member organizations to highlight their critical work to support immigrant communities as the Trump Administration increases federal deployments in Chicago. With reports from across the country of ICE indiscriminately arresting and detaining individuals and Border Czar Tom Homan’s warning of “more collateral arrests,” Governor Pritzker met with ICIRR and its member organizations to discuss their work to protect the Constitutional Rights of Illinois residents. To combat tactics that leave communities at risk of having their rights violated, the state supports Illinois’ strong network of community organizations that provide legal and services support. “Many families who have lived in Illinois for years are fearful to pick up their kids from school, go to work,

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PONTOON BEACH – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that in addition to the ongoing closure of Illinois 111 at Interstate 270 in Madison County, a weekend lane closure of eastbound I-270 from Illinois 203 to Illinois 111 will begin, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. The closure is necessary for ramp construction and is expected to be lifted by 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 15. Work on the entire interchange is anticipated to be completed by the end of October. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this lane closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. 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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ELDORADO – The Illinois State Police arrested 25-year-old Jesse W. Trout of Eldorado, IL, for First-Degree Murder (Class M Felony) following a homicide investigation conducted at the request of the Eldorado Police Department. On Sunday, September 7, 2025, shortly after 5:00 a.m., Eldorado Police Department Officers responded to a 9-1-1 call in reference to an individual shot near the corner of Benton Street and First Street in Eldorado. Upon arrival, Eldorado Police Department located a 44-year-old male, identified as Michael J. Wiseman of Eldorado, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Wiseman was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Following a thorough investigation, Jesse W. Trout was arrested. On September 8, 2025, the Saline County State’s Attorney’s Office formally charged Trout with First Degree Murder. Following a detention hearing on September 8, 2025, the defendant was detained in the Saline County Jail pending trial.

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WASHINGTON – The Make America Healthy Again Commission today released the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, a sweeping plan with more than 120 initiatives to reverse the failed policies that fueled America’s childhood chronic disease epidemic. The strategy outlines targeted executive actions to advance gold-standard science, realign incentives, increase public awareness, and strengthen private-sector collaboration. Chaired by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Commission is tasked with investigating and addressing the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis, with a focus on childhood chronic diseases. “The Trump Administration is mobilizing every part of government to confront the childhood chronic disease epidemic,” Secretary Kennedy said. “This strategy represents the most sweeping reform agenda in modern history—realigning our food and health systems, driving education, and unleashing science

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NASHVILLE, TENN. - Two nonprofit behavioral health providers will finalize the merging of their organizations at a ceremonial signing event in Springfield. Executives from Nashville-based Centerstone and Springfield-based Brightli will sign a master transaction agreement (MTA) on Sept. 9, formalizing the merger of the two organizations to form the largest nonprofit behavioral health care provider in the United States. Following the merger’s closing in early November, David C. Guth, Jr. will be the Chief Executive Officer of the merged organization. Brightli CEO C.J. Davis will be CEO-elect, becoming the CEO in January 2027 when Guth becomes CEO Emeritus. Guth will then retire later in 2027 after having served the organization for 39 years. “I am confident in the leadership and vision that C.J. brings to help continue the growth of Centerstone as a leader in the industry. He is guided by a deep mission of expanding care to the people in our communities,” Guth

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GRANITE CITY – Three people from around the Riverbend were charged on the same day with possession of stolen vehicles in a series of cases presented by local authorities. Paige M. Keils, 29, of Granite City, was charged on Sept. 4, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of offenses related to motor vehicles. Keils allegedly possessed a 2010 Ford Fusion bearing an Illinois registration number which she knew to be stolen on July 26, 2025. The case against Keils was presented by the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force on behalf of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. She was granted pretrial release from custody. Laura R. Williams, 37, listed as homeless out of Granite City, was also charged on Sept. 4, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of offenses related to motor vehicles in a separate case. Williams is accused of knowingly possessing a stolen Chevrolet Silverado on July 31, 2025. Paul T. Porter, 46, of Collinsville, was charged in another separate case filed on Sept. 4, 2025

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BELLEVILLE - The Belleville chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution invites the community to join them for a bell-ringing awareness campaign on Constitution Day. At 3 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2025 — the date recognized as Constitution Day in the United States — the Belleville DAR ladies will ring bells on the courthouse steps in Belleville to raise awareness and encourage conversations about the Constitution. Becky Juelfs, the Constitution Chairperson for DAR, invites community members to join them in their celebration of Constitution Day. “Everybody’s supposed to BYOB — bring your own bell,” Juelfs joked. “You don’t want anybody to forget . We’ve got to keep it right there in the forefront of our minds and treasure it, because you don’t want it to disappear someday or anything. We’ve got to keep repeating it, keep teaching the kids and setting an example to appreciate history.” Juelfs explained that

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GODFREY - Financial advisor Scott Mandrell has some advice for clients who come to his Godfrey Edward Jones office. “Definitely start saving,” he said. “You can’t really be an investor if you’re not a saver.” While that advice seems straightforward, Mandrell acknowledges that managing your money can be a daunting task. He encourages community members to meet with a financial advisor, no matter what your financial situation is, to talk about how to grow your wealth. Mandrell has been in the financial industry for a long time, and he loves working in the Riverbend region. He enjoys getting to know his clients and advises people to look for that personal connection when choosing a financial advisor. A lot of people tell Mandrell that they don’t have enough money to look into investment opportunities. Mandrell disagrees. He argues that no matter what your financial situation is, you can always benefit from having that conversation

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CHICAGO — The State of Illinois, through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS), has launched a new series of strategic partnerships with the Chicago White Sox, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and Northern Illinois University (NIU) to promote career opportunities in state government. These partnerships include a series of in-person career activations at sporting events this fall, where fans will be able to engage directly with CMS representatives, learn about state job openings, and explore careers in public service. The initiative kicked off with great success on August 29 at Chicago White Sox Puerto Rican Heritage Night, where hundreds of fans engaged with CMS staff and learned about the variety of career paths available with the State of Illinois. Upcoming on-site activations include: September 10: Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays — Nurse Appreciation Night September 19: Chicago

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ST. LOUIS — September is National Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross of Greater St. Louis urges everyone to protect their loved ones by getting their households ready now. This spring, Missouri experienced a series of destructive tornadoes that serves as a stark reminder of the growing frequency and intensity of natural disasters across the country. Between July 2024 and June 2025, the Missouri and Arkansas region of the American Red Cross responded to over 15 disaster relief operations including those spring tornadoes. Additionally, the Red Cross of Greater St. Louis responded to over 500 home fires assisting nearly 2,000 people. Following the May 16th tornado in St. Louis, the Red Cross opened eight shelters to serve those who had been displaced, providing more than 27,000 overnight stays. At the height of the response, we had approximately 260 people in five different shelters. Other partners including Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis also provided shelter

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