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GALENA, MO. - A Missouri judge today made the decision to dismiss all charges for the duck boat operators in the 2018 tragedy in stormy weather on Table Rock Lake - Curtis Lanham, Charles Baltzell, and Kenneth Scott McKee. Judge Alan Blankenship dismissed the charges for each because he said there was a lack of evidence that the boat operators knowingly risked the passengers’ lives. The three were facing multiple felony charges over the 2018 tragedy. Sixteen passengers including nine from the same family and one crew member driving the boat, drowned that night and making it one of the deadliest boating accidents in U.S. history. Judge Blankenship said this in a statement to the media: “This court feels great sadness for this needless loss of life and the impact on the victims’ family and friends. However, because the court does not find sufficient evidence to support the men’s reason or intent required for the charges at issue, as defined by Missouri law,

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EAST ALTON — United Way’s Southwest Illinois Division will host its sixth annual Power of the Purse event on Thursday, April 28, to help local people. The event will begin at 5:00 p.m. at Lewis and Clark Community College – N. O. Nelson Campus, 600 Troy Road, Edwardsville, IL, 62025. Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy appetizers from Bella Milano , drinks, a silent purse auction, and a live auction with a fashion showcase of designer handbags. Admission is $30 per person, and additional sponsorship opportunities are also available. All proceeds will help local people through the Southwest Illinois Division of United Way of Greater St. Louis. To register or purchase a sponsorship, visit Helplingpeople.org/purse or contact Millie Bond at 618-258-9800. Lisa Hayes, Power of the Purse volunteer committee chair and global talent acquisition, university recruiting talent operations specialist at Boeing is thrilled to be leading this exciting community event once

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CASEYVILLE - A part of Interstate-64 is closed near Caseyville after an accident that involved an Illinois Department of Transportation truck. The accident is serious and a medical helicopter landed at the scene to transport one victim and another victim was reported seriously injured. Multiple vehicles are involved in the crash. Motorists are advised to stay away from the area during the evening commute. More to come. To see the above photo on FOX 2, click here.

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FDA is currently seven months delinquent on acting on a court-order to review e-cigarette applications, which has allowed companies like JUUL to continue hooking kids WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf about the agency’s delay in comprehensively regulating the e-cigarette marketplace to protect public health. During today’s call, Durbin urged new Commissioner Califf to finally conclude FDA’s review of premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) for e-cigarette products, now seven months past the court-ordered deadline for the review. While FDA has reviewed nearly seven million PMTAs it received, the agency has yet to act on e-cigarette products most often used by children, including JUUL. Under the Tobacco Control Act , e-cigarette manufacturers must prove to FDA that entry on the market would be “appropriate for the protection

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EDWARDSVILLE - The new owners of Cleveland Heath - Gina and Evan Buchholz - were welcomed recently with an Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. For the last decade, this beloved restaurant has been a staple of downtown Edwardsville. Gina and Evan plan to maintain the farm-to-table concept including seasonal items and have plans for a few upgrades to enhance the dining experience. While reflecting on the first few months of ownership Gina said: "We're very excited to be part of this neighborhood and the community is amazing to be a part of." She also shared there are "a lot of fun and exciting things to come." Supporters from the local business community included front row: Sam Fink (Holmes Insurance Agency), Angela Warren (Bank of Madison County), Laura Mattson (First Community Credit Union), Kristy Armstrong (restaurant patron), Gina and Evan Buchholz (Cleveland Heath), Lauren Smith (Royal Banks of Granite City), Mary Jo Smith (Hospice of Southern Illinois),

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ALTON - The Alton Education Foundation hosted the annual Guardians of Education Recognition & Appreciation event this past week at the Post Commons in Alton and again it was a special event. This open house event featured exhibits from the 2021 teacher grant awardees. Coffee and pastries were served. The format was a little different this year as grant recipients had stations and showcased what they had done with their grants. Elaine Kane of the Alton School District said the district for years has so much appreciated what the foundation does for the schools. Ann McLaughlin coordinated the breakfast as this year's chair and did an excellent job, Kane said. “It is inspiring,” Kane said. “It is a group of volunteers and a group of donors committed to our teachers and schools,” she said. “They really go out of their way to show support and affirmation of the work our teachers do every day. It allows our teachers to be innovative and creative. I don’

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic's Sammy Hentrich is off to a sensational start for the 2022 track and field season for the Explorers. Sammy is the Tucker Automotive Repair & Tire, Inc., Female Athlete of the Month for Marquette Catholic High School. Sammy's Coach Tim Turnbeaugh describes her as one of the "catalysts" for his Marquette girls' team in 2022. The coach said Hentrich, a junior, so far this season has recorded a 13.64 time in the 100, 28.14 in the 200, 55.14 in the 300 hurdles, long jumped 14-0.5 outdoors, and long jumped 15-10 in the Jersey Winter Thaw indoors, one of the best jumps in the state. The 15-10 jump is "fantastic," her coach said. She also had a best of 8.57 in the 60-meter dash indoors. Coach Turnbeaugh said Sammy was 25th in the final rankings indoor. She is working towards the peak time and performance in the long jump when the state series comes around. "She is working very hard to get back to IHSA State Meet on May 19, 2022," the coach said. "So far this

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EDWARDSVILLE – Two of the legal industry’s most prestigious firms - Flint Law Firm, LLC. and Raefan Group - announced today that they have merged to form the preeminent litigation firm, Flint Cooper, LLC. The new firm will be co-led by founding partners Ethan Flint and Jeff Cooper, both of whom are world-renowned for their accomplishments litigating asbestos-related cases and 5th Amendment Takings cases. By joining forces, Flint Cooper immediately scales the reach and velocity with which the firm manages a diverse portfolio of multibillion-dollar cases. Currently, Flint Cooper is actively working on a caseload worth over $17B the majority of which is comprised of post-judgment collections and damages phase litigation. Flint Cooper has offices in Dallas, Edwardsville, and Paducah. "Our firms have always respected and supported each other when it comes to shared values around client commitment and reputational excellence,” says Ethan Flint, Co-Founder of Flint Cooper.

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SPRINGFIELD – Leaders of the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) released the following statement today after Governor Pritzker signed HB 1167 into law, creating COVID-specific sick days for vaccinated educators and school staff and restoring previously used sick time for school and university employees who were forced to quarantine (or stayed home with school-aged children forced to do so) during the 2021-22 school year. IFT President Dan Montgomery said, "The pandemic has been emotionally and economically daunting for us all, especially educators, school staff, and their families who have been on the front lines of COVID’s effects from day one. By signing this bill today, Governor Pritzker has provided important relief and ensured that education personnel can afford to take time off if they or their families become ill with COVID-19. His leadership will help keep our students and communities healthy even as new variants arise and COVID rates in our state fluctuate over

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SPRINGFIELD – Joined by stakeholders, advocates and lawmakers, Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 1167, a measure that will keep students and teachers safe in the classroom without penalizing vaccinated school employees for taking COVID-required leave for themselves or their children. Ensuring support for all working families, the legislation protects all hourly school employees in addition to classroom teachers, such as bus drivers, food service providers, and administrative personnel. “We want to ensure that our school children see the fewest disruptions to their in-person learning due to the public health crisis,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The bill I signed into law today fulfills that promise by guaranteeing that if a teacher has done their part to keep their classroom safe for their most vulnerable students, they won’t have to worry for a second about their pay or their paid time off should COVID-19 affect their livelihood. At a time when we want

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives are currently investigating a homicide in the 200 block of Ben Nevis Road in the North County Precinct which resulted in the death of an adult male. On April 5, 2022, at approximately 12:58 AM, St. Louis County Police Officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for a shooting in the 200 block of Ben Nevis Road. Officers located an adult male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to an area hospital for life-saving treatment but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. The investigation is very active at this time. Additional information will be disseminated as it becomes available. Please contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 to speak to investigators if you have any information regarding the incident. To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, please contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS

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ALTON - Erika Rae Crawford and Hasan Crawford have organized a GoFundMe in memory of Nicholas West, who died tragically riding his motorcycle around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2022. This is what was said in the GoFundMe information about Nicholas: "My brother Nicholas West was killed while riding his motorcycle in Alton, Illinois. He would have been 33 on May 31. Because of this untimely event, we were not prepared for such a tragedy. He leaves behind a devastated wife and three young sons under the age of 12. "His wife, Abbrin, is going to need help with funeral expenses and to lessen the stress from losing her husband/best friend. Please help with what you can, even if it's just $1." Nicholas' sister closed by saying: "I wish I could give you more information, but it's an open investigation. I urge the witnesses that have reached out to either myself, our mother, or his wife to call the Alton Police Department and give their statements. Thank you." Nicholas's Obituary

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressmembers Robin L. Kelly (IL-02), Sean Casten (IL-06), Steven Horsford (NV-04), and Andy Levin (MI-09) led 24 of their colleagues in urging Members of House Leadership to take action on pending gun violence prevention legislation in the face of the worsening gun violence epidemic. “At the start of this Congress, House Democrats promised to build on the success of passing the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Enhanced Background Check Act in the 116th Congress. However, over the last 14 months, these remain the only gun violence prevention bills passed out of the House of Representatives. As Americans throughout the country continue to be victimized by gun violence, we must act with the necessary urgency. “We cannot accept that gun violence is just a facet of everyday life. In the United States, no child should be afraid to go to school or walk around their neighborhood. No spouse should be afraid to come home at night. No American

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) cosponsored the Support Kids Not Red Tape Act with Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and a bipartisan group of their colleagues. The bill makes sure the crucial U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) school meal flexibilities that have fed children throughout the COVID-19 pandemic continue from June 30, 2022, to September 30, 2023. “As someone whose family relied on public nutrition programs after my father lost his job, I recognize that food insecurity is a systemic issue,” said Duckworth. “The Support Kids Not Red Tape Act is an opportunity to help reduce the number of children who have to worry about where their next meal is coming from by helping ensure millions of kids across the nation have food to eat, and I’m proud to help introduce it alongside Senators Stabenow and Durbin.”

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EAST ALTON – The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center’s (NGRREC sm ) April Neighbor Nights event will showcase the research being completed by several of the center’s spring interns. This month’s Neighbor Night will be both in-person and broadcasted virtually. It will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday April 19. There will be a 30-minute field station tour starting at 6:15 p.m., followed by the intern presentation starting at 7 p.m. “Interns will receive valuable experience from presenting at our April Neighbor Nights event,” Director of Environmental Education Sarah Fisher said. “This opportunity prepares our interns to present their research findings at future professional conferences or symposia. The presentations will focus on the following topics: Collecting and conducting data analysis of fecal bacteria levels in the Prairie du Pont and Judy’s Branch watersheds; generating a baseline set of water quality

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CARLINVILLE - Blackburn College students will be hosting a Spring Festival on April 23 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The festival will include a variety of activities including a craft fair, silent auction, a cash bar, food trucks, and a DJ. Blackburn students in the Leadership Skills Workshop class, taught by Dr. Shelly Peffer, professor of Leadership, Law, and Public service, are organizing the event. All activities will take place between Woodward Dawes Athletic Center and Demuzio Campus Center on the Blackburn College campus. This event will serve as a fundraiser for Blackburn and Beyond, a program designed to increase opportunities for young adults with diverse learning abilities. Claire Stein, a sophomore student in the leadership class, explained, “As young leaders at Blackburn we recognize the need to make high-quality education accessible to all young students. By supporting Blackburn and Beyond we feel that we are ensuring that this is something that can continue to positively

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ALTON - There is still one more opportunity to participate in a Seed Swap with the Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois. The final seed swap will be held in partnership with The Lodge Bar at Lovejoy this Saturday, April 9. Join Three Rivers Project staff, our partner, and fellow farmers and gardeners while swapping or sharing your quality seeds, cuttings, and bulbs. This community event is free to attend and all are welcome. Join us in celebration of the end of winter and the start of the spring gardening season! The third and final seed swap event will be held at The Lodge Bar at the Lovejoy on Saturday, April 9, from 11:00am to 3:00pm. To register for the Seed Swap at The Lodge Bar at the Lovejoy, go to sc.org/Lovejoyseedswap . If you are sharing self-collected seeds, please label the homegrown seeds with the common or species name, year, and your name. If you are sharing commercial seed packets, no further action is needed. “We hope Metro-East community members wil

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ALTON – The Illinois Department of Transportation announces intermittent lane closures of IL 140 (College Ave) between Annex St and IL 111 in Bethalto beginning on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, weather permitting. At a minimum, one lane in each direction will remain open at all times. This project will provide a new asphalt surface and it should be completed by the end of September 2022. 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. The contractor on this project is the C. E. Mahoney Co. of Swansea, Illinois. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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ST. LOUIS – In support of his most recent album Wonder, GRAMMY nominated, multi-platinum singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes has announced 13 additional "Wonder: The World Tour" shows in the US & Canada, with 86 arena dates announced so far spanning across North America, the UK & Europe. The new dates include stops in Shawn’s hometown of Toronto, new shows in San Diego, and St. Louis, as well as a second stop in Brooklyn. More great tickets have also been added to all previously announced shows in North America. On the tour, Shawn will be joined by Dermot Kennedy and Tate McRae in North America (see tour listings for respective opener in each city). Tickets for the July 16 stop at St. Louis’ Enterprise Center will be available via Ticketmaster starting Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m. CT, and range in price from $26.50 – $196.50. To purchase, please click here. Tickets for the added North America dates will be available via Presales that begin Wednesday, April 6th at

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GLEN CARBON – Summer camp is a Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois tradition, and it’s calling YOU! Girl Scout Camp gives girls the opportunity to try new adventures, build skills, make new friends, and enjoy the great outdoors. Not a Girl Scout? No problem! Girls can join Girl Scouts now through an extended membership so they can enjoy camping this summer and transition right into the troop experience in the fall. It’s the perfect time to join! “We can’t wait for summer to get here so we can experience the great outdoors at Girl Scout Camp,” said Mary Buchanan, Senior Director of Program Engagement. “Girl Scouts is all about empowering girls to try new things and explore what interests them. At Girl Scout Camp, girls have the opportunity to do this while building memories that will last a lifetime,” Buchanan added. Resident Camp sessions are available in DuBois, Edwardsville, Ozark, and Makanda. Spots are filling quickly, so be sure to

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