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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that the Federal Highway Administration has approved its plan to build a reliable electric vehicle charging network throughout the state. The State of Illinois Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan addresses potential challenges and proposes locations for charging stations to ensure motorists can confidently traverse the state in electric vehicles. “Because of my administration’s work on the nation-leading Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and Reimagining Electric Vehicles Act, Illinois stands at the forefront of the emerging electric vehicle industry,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “This funding serves as a vital complement to that work and will ensure we meet our goal of putting one million electric vehicles on the road by 2030. In every corner of the state, we have invested in our infrastructure and our workers, making it clear to vehicle, charging station, and auto parts manufacturers

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ALTON - Abe Lee Barham, a civic activist, was the lead host in a candidate’s forum this past weekend at the Flood Memorial in Alton. He said he was pleased with the turnout and that individuals from both sides turned out and had some good questions for the candidates who were present. “I have always felt it is good to hear from both sides and question both sides,” he said. “I think our country needs to be united and come together to solve problems. It is all right to disagree, but we have to come together on issues that benefit our country and our towns.”’ Debbie Mendoza, Ryan Jumpers, Kris Tharp, Joe Silkwood, Ebony Huddleston, and Barry Julian turned out for the event. A video of the candidate’s event is above.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) were joined by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today to introduce legislation to reduce the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) use of solitary confinement and improve conditions for inmates separated from the general prison population. The Solitary Confinement Reform Act limits solitary confinement to the briefest term and under the least restrictive conditions possible, because the overuse of solitary confinement threatens public safety, strains prison budgets, and violates fundamental human rights. The bill also improves access to mental health services for BOP prisoners in solitary confinement, and provides resources to state and local jurisdictions to assist them in reforming their own confinement practices. Additionally, the bill protects inmates’

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jerseyville Parks & Recreation Department is asking the public for help securing grant funding for Phase 2 of their Lions Club/Wittman Park improvement project, and has launched an online petition in support of the cause. With Phase 1 complete, Phase 2 could include the addition of a splash pad and bathhouse, open-air pavilion, sand volleyball courts, and more. The department is applying for this funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Tyler Hermens, director of the Jerseyville Parks and Recreation Department, said that the community showing their support behind this project can help secure this funding. “Community support is a large piece of that grant application, and so we started a change.org petition hoping to reach more people because the deadline was fast approaching for this grant application,” Hermens said. Community members can show their support for the project by signing the online petition on change.org

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business two-time alumnus Tony Fuhrmann, director of the Madison County Employment and Training Department (MCETD), will lead the development of the Gateway Registered Apprenticeship Programs Hub (Gateway Hub) supported by a $5.8 million award from the U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) grant program. The first of its kind joint initiative between Illinois and Missouri workforce areas anticipates the registration of at least 750 new apprentices across the region. Target industries will include education, healthcare and social assistance, bioscience manufacturing and research and development. According to a MCETD press release , the Gateway Hub, includes six local workforce innovation areas (LWIA): St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and the Jefferson/Franklin Consortium in Missouri, as well as Madison County Employment and Training and the St. Clair County Intergovernmental

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ALTON - Mayor David Goins announced today he will honor Alton-native Jesse White, the Illinois Secretary of State, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, October 8, 2022, at Lewis & Clark Community College. Goins said it is an honor to recognize the retirement of Secretary of State Jesse White "for his services to our country and state and for his humanitarian contributions to our youth, particularly his work with the International Jesse White Tumbling Team, which serves as a positive alternative for at-risk children residing in public housing." Mayor Goins said Jesse White is an absolute legend and has done so much in his lifetime in politics around the state. “It is an honor he chose to come for the event,” Mayor Goins added. “He was born here and he is definitely an absolute Alton hero.” Goins added: "We are also pleased to announce that some of the proceeds from the Motown Mayor’s Ball will support the Oasis Women's Center.” More than 400 guests are planning

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GODFREY – Two new member expansions celebrated opening occasions in September, complete with kick-off ribbon-cutting ceremonies led by the RiverBend Growth Association staff and members. Celebrating were CEFCU at its new Godfrey location and Senior Services Plus in Alton. The RBGA led a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 15, 2022, to celebrate CEFCU’s Godfrey facility, its first location in the Riverbend community, at 2810 Godfrey Road. There were approximately 50 people on hand for the special occasion, with a grand opening hosted by the credit union from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at 11:30 a.m. Remarks were shared by Member Engagement Director Stefanie Withers on behalf of the RBGA, along with CEFCU President/CEO Matt Mamer. There was also a drawing held for a $250 Amazon gift card, a catered buffet from Nicky G’s, and featured floral arrangements by Petaled Pail. CEFCU shared branded items with those in attendance as well. CEFCU,

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College welcomed autumn’s arrival during Fall Fest 2022 on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Students celebrated with music, food, contests and lots of giveaways. The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Club was just one of the many represented at the event. Pictured, from left to right, are OTA students Krystal Roller, Gaby Hall, Madison Wallace and Sidney Ellsworth. To learn more about L&C OTA program and other degree and career programs, call or text the Enrollment Center at (618) 468-2222 or visit the website at www.lc.edu/enroll .

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JERSEY – While senior defender Jacob Wagner would say that baseball is his preferred sport, he does have a good time out on the soccer field. He certainly did Wednesday night when he scored his first goal for the Panther’s soccer team in a 7-0 win over Roxana on Senior Night. “Getting it on Senior Night means a lot. There’s nothing like it, a one-of-a-kind experience,” Jacob said after the game. Afterward, Jacob was nominated by his team as the player of the game. It was his first goal to go along with his two assists throughout his time playing. He doesn’t get on the scoresheet very often as he’s one of Jersey’s go-to defenders. Wagner is a Riverbender.com Jersey Male Athlete Of The Month. The three-sport athlete doesn’t get much time off between sports seasons. He mentioned that he also plays basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring, baseball being the sport he says he’s best at. He had a batting average

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GRAFTON - The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced that $210,000 has been included in the 2023 Statewide Planning & Research Program (SPR/PL) to conduct a study of the ferry systems in Grafton / Calhoun Region. The City of Grafton and the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau worked with the America’s Central Port District to create the grant request titled “Ferry Landing Operations Attract Tourists” (FLOAT). The funding breakdown for the FLOAT was $168,000 federal and $42,000 State Matching Funds. “This is a much-needed study for our tourism-based city,” said Mayor Morrow. “In order to improve and expand our transportation network we need to quantify how important this ferry system is to our region and the state. This study will do that, and it will give us a roadmap for future development and targeted grants.” The study will provide an overview of transportation networks in the Great River Road Corridor that connects the

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, introduced legislation to expand a pathway to legal permanent resident (LPR) status for millions of long-term U.S. residents. The Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 would update the existing Registry statute so that an immigrant may qualify for LPR status if they have lived in the U.S. continuously for at least seven years and are of good moral character. The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). The legislation would provide a much-needed pathway to a green card for up to eight million people, including Dreamers, forcibly displaced people, Temporary Protected Status holders, children of long-term visa holders who face deportation, essential workers, and highly skilled members

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ST. LOUIS - As we gear up for the fall season, it is inevitable that chillier temperatures will find their way to our doorstep, making homemade comfort meals sound especially inviting. When deciding what seasonable dishes to prepare, consider recipes that include ingredients grown and produced locally. The farm-to-table philosophy continues to be popular, as many farmers' markets and local grocery stores have become fixtures in communities. Many refrigerator staples are foods that are made and sourced close to home. Real dairy milk is a great example of this. It takes 48 hours for milk to travel from the farm to the store, ensuring it is truly farm fresh when purchased. Not only is milk a local grocery item, but it contains thirteen essential nutrients, including high-quality protein. “Dairy foods are the top source of calcium and vitamin D in the American diet, and are critical for building healthy bones and teeth,” states registered dietitian Maggie Cimarolli. “These

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford presented an oral argument today in their lawsuit asking the federal government to acknowledge the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The ERA guarantees equal rights for all Americans regardless of their sex. In the argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Solicitor General Jane Notz of the Illinois Attorney General’s office represented Illinois and Nevada and contended that the federal archivist should be ordered to certify and publish the ERA in the official U.S. Constitution. According to Raoul and Ford, a lower court overlooked the special role that Article V of the Constitution gives states in the amendment process, improperly discounted the actions of their state legislatures in ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, and gave too much weight to a seven-year ratification deadline that Congress included in its language

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COLLINSVILLE - Seasons come and go, but home gardening, environmental stewardship, and backyard food production take year-round effort. The University of Illinois Extension provides timely tips in its fall edition of the popular Four Seasons Gardening horticulture workshops. Each online workshop is free. Registration is required at the website listed. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate, contact Gemini Bhalsod at gbhalsod@illinois.edu . Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting access needs. Using Fresh Produce will be held on Oct. 18 at 1:30 p.m. Register at go.illinois.edu/4SeasonsProduce . You have grown fresh produce all summer long, now what do you do with the excess produce like onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, and more? Explore simple ways of storing produce for longer shelf life and sharing resources for get easy recipes like refrigerator pickles to make your produce go further. Deep Bark Secrets of Tree Selection will be hel

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EAST ST. LOUIS – To offer residents a secure option to discard documents with personal information, State Senator Christopher Belt is hosting an event with free shredding services in Madison. “Shredding sensitive documents is a strong way to protect yourself and your loved ones from identity fraud,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “I encourage everyone in our community to gather documents and attend this free event.” Free shredding services will be available from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 320 Madison Ave. in Madison. Questions should be directed to Sen. Belt’s office by calling 618-875-1212.

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JERSEY COUNTY - Jersey County Sheriff Mike Ringhausen said today several residents have received letters saying their FOID (Firearm Owner Identification) Cards have been suspended. He said 87 people as of Thursday have reported to the Sheriff's Office that they received these letters. He questions the letters and is communicating with state officials about their validity. He said at this point, his office will not act on the letters until he is shown these are official. “The people who have come to me are legal, law-abiding citizens,” he said. A Greene County instructor had his license temporarily suspended and some in the county have received letters because of that. Those who receive a letter of this type should contact the State Police to make sure it is official and there are steps they are supposed to follow to get their FOID cards reinstated. A refresher course can be taken to receive official certification and supposedly run for about three hours. Sheriff Ringhausen

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SALEM, ORE. - Momyer Distribution Inc of Salem, Oregon is recalling Dark Chocolate Almonds because they may contain undeclared milk. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. The product is packaged in a 9.5oz plastic container and sold in the produce section of these retail markets. The best by date is printed above the UPC bar code on a label. Product sold at Safeway/Albertsons is labeled as “PRODUCE” in large red letters and Dark Chocolate Almonds are in black text on the top label, UPC 0 19061 19371 2. Product being recalled has a Best By Date on or before 10/15/2023. Product sold at Roths Fresh Market is labeled as Holly Hill Gourmet Snacks Dark Chocolate Almonds, UPC 0 08918 23018 2. Product being recalled has a Best By Date on or before 10/21/2023. No illnesses have been reported to date. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product was distributed

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ALTON - At Wednesday’s City of Alton Council Meeting, members approved Ordinance No. 7856, which grants a special use permit to allow a utility-scale solar system array at the former Alby Street Landfill, and also approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 7851 which adopts Title 4, Chapter 24 to the City Code of Ordinances regarding adult-use cannabis business establishments. The special use permit appears to move forward negotiations with Ameresco about a plan to construct a large-scale array site at the former Alby Street Landfill. Negotiations have been going on for a long period of time for this change. A solar array is a collection of multiple solar panels that generate electricity as a system. Ameresco is a leading cleantech integrator and renewable energy asset developer, owner, and operator. Mayor David Goins said the approval of the ordinance at the council meeting for a special use permit to allow a utility-scale solar system array at the former Alby Street Landfill,

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JERSEYVILLE - Two Rivers Crime Stoppers is offering a $3,000 cash reward for help in locating a man considered armed and dangerous to get him off the streets. Two Rivers Crime Stoppers and the Jersey County Sheriff's Office say a Jerseyville man, Devin A. Krueger, 26, of the 20000 block of Tuetken Road in Jerseyville, is wanted on multiple felony warrants in Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, and Madison County. Krueger is 5'9" with brown eyes and brown hair. The Jersey County Sheriff's Office said Krueger is also wanted for questioning in multiple residential burglaries and possession of a stolen vehicle. The Jersey County Sheriff's Office said anyone helping Devon hideout may be brought in on charges of harboring a fugitive. If you know Krueger's whereabouts, Two Rivers said to call its tip hotline at 1-800-300-2590 and you can remain anonymous, or submit a tip on the Jersey County Sheriff's Office App.

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Letter To Madison County States Attorney Haine From Gov. JB Pritzker: I was disappointed to read your letter and watch your television interview defending a criminal justice status quo where accused murderers, domestic batterers, rapists, and other dangerous criminals can buy their way out of jail pending trial if they have enough money. Unfortunately, you made clear in the KDSK interview that your real concern is not about the serious offenses you falsely claim are non-detainable, but to ensure that low level defendants face punishment before they are found guilty. Your approach – seeking to deter possible future crimes by punishing individuals accused of less serious offenses before they have the opportunity to defend themselves in court – is contrary to the foundation of our justice system and based on outdated research that has been debunked. You also scoff at the notion that the cash bail system contributes to a criminal justice system that disproportionately punishes

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