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DANVILLE – Governor JB Pritzker, Vermilion Advantage and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced that Vermilion Advantage has been awarded $80,000 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Local Technical Assistance program. Vermilion Advantage is a non-profit organization that combines the functions of a chamber of commerce and an economic development agency to create and sustain an environment for business success and economic growth within Danville and Vermilion County. “Illinois is committed to investing in projects that leverage that strengthen economic development opportunities while creating jobs,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to organizations like Vermilion Advantage, and support from the Federal Grant Support Program, businesses in Vermilion County will benefit for years to come from the recruitment plan created through this initiative.” To make their federa

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SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to expand the availability of fresh, locally-grown produce and strengthen the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crop industry, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) plans to distribute more than $679,000 over a three-year period thanks to funding allocated in the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant program. An application for grant funding is available on the Illinois Department of Agriculture website and must be returned to the Department by 11:59 p.m. on June 23, 2025. To be eligible for funding, all projects must begin in calendar year 2026. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, local and government entities, trade and commodity associations, public and private colleges/universities. Illinois encourages applications that benefit smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers and underserved communities. “Illinois’ specialty crop industry is

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TROY - Community members can come out for the monthly First Friday event in downtown Troy. From 5–8 p.m. on Friday, June 6, 2025, the City of Troy and the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce will host First Friday on the corner of East Market and South Main Street. Attendees will enjoy music by Shotgun Creek, vendors, food trucks and more. “This is a big one,” said Dawn Mushill, president of the Chamber of Commerce. "It’s beautiful downtown." The First Friday events are held in downtown Troy every first Friday of the month from May to September, excluding July. The event encourages people to check out the downtown businesses, shop at local vendors’ booths, try new food trucks and downtown restaurants, and enjoy the live music. Mushill said their vendor space is completely full, and she looks forward to welcoming shoppers to Troy so they can support local artisans and crafters. She encouraged people to stop by Time Out or the Troy

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ALTON - The summertime Night Market series kicks off next week in Alton. From 7–10 p.m. every Thursday night in June and July, excluding July 3, 2025, community members can enjoy artists’ booths, live music and shopping in downtown Alton. This year, the Night Market events are located in Sugar Alley, which runs parallel to Broadway and intersects State Street. “We absolutely love this event. It’s a great summer series,” said Sara McGibany, executive director of Alton Main Street, which hosts the Night Markets. “It turns what could be a sleepy night, a Thursday night, a weeknight, That’s our goal. We’re trying to make cash registers ring in downtown Alton. We took what could’ve been a slower night and turned it into one of the busiest nights downtown.” On Thursday, June 5, 2025, the band HOOKie will provide live music in the greenspace next to Catdaddy’s. There will be a corridor of 45 artists’ booths

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MILLSTADT - State Representative Kevin Schmidt highlighted the significance of renaming the Millstadt Post Office in honor of Marine Corporal Matthew A. Wyatt, a local veteran who died in service. The dedication took place recently at the post office located at 200 S. Veterans Drive in Millstadt. Wyatt, who was 21 years old when he died on Dec. 3, 2004, sacrificed his life protecting his platoon from a suicide bombing in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Rep. Schmidt described the renaming as “truly special for his family, friends, and the community.” Schmidt also emphasized the district’s strong veteran roots and the community’s loyalty to one another, calling it a privilege to represent the area. The renaming serves as a tribute to Wyatt’s sacrifice and a reminder of the local community’s respect for its veterans.

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jersey County Business Association (JCBA), in partnership with the City of Jerseyville, is thrilled to announce the return of the Jersey County Farmers & Artisan Market, opening earlier than past years on Tuesday, June 3rd, and running weekly through September 9th at City Center Plaza, 403 North State Street in Jerseyville (between Dairy Queen & Germania). The Market will be open Tuesdays from 4–7 PM (except no market will be held July 8th due to the fair parade) and feature around 15–20 local vendors offering handmade and homegrown goods—fresh produce, baked treats, locally raised meat, artisan crafts, and more. To ensure a safe and fair experience for everyone, vendor sales begin promptly at 4 PM. This season also wraps up earlier, so don’t miss a single Tuesday! We’re excited to bring back grilling nights with the Jersey County Farm Bureau & 4-H on June 24th, July 15th, August 12th & 26th, and our final market on September 9th—a

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HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State University recognized approximately 1,691 graduates during its Spring 2025 commencement ceremonies Friday and Saturday, May 16-17, at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. Godfrey's Brittany Ritter graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Fort Hays this spring.

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EAST ST. LOUIS - Rosie Rochelle, a single mother from East St. Louis, is seeking support through a GoFundMe campaign for her infant son, Ace, who was born with a rare condition known as Radial Ray. The condition affects the development of Ace’s arms, hands, and feet, presenting unique challenges for the child and his family. Radial ray anomalies comprise a large spectrum of upper limb anomalies which range from partial radial hypoplasia to complete radial aplasia, deficiency of the radius, radial hemimelia with or without accompanying deficiency of the thumb bones. The fundraiser, launched by Rochelle, aims to cover ongoing medical visits, therapies, and support needs for Ace. Additionally, the campaign seeks to raise awareness about Radial Ray and other rare conditions. Rochelle-Ace is also working to expand her small brand, Rosie & Ace, which focuses on love, healing, faith, and hope through baby products, emotional support bracelets, and empowering messages for families

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SPRINGFIELD - Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced the office’s REAL ID Saturdays program will offer expanded weekend hours for the last time this Saturday. With fewer daily applicants since the May 7 enforcement date took effect, Giannoulias encouraged Illinoisans to come in now – and throughout the summer – for faster service. The following DMVs will offer specialized REAL ID walk-in Saturday hours for the last time on Saturday, May 31: Addison – 50 E. Oak St., Addison, IL 60101 Aurora – 970 N. Lake St. Suite B, Aurora, IL 60506 Chicago West – 5301 W. Lexington St., Chicago, IL 60644 Des Plaines – 1470 Lee St., Des Plaines, IL 60018 Elgin – 595 S. State, Elgin, IL 60123 Joliet – 201 S. Joyce Rd., Joliet, IL 60435 Lake Zurich – 951 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich, IL 60047 Melrose Park – 1903 N. Mannheim Rd., Melrose Park, IL 60160 Plano – 236 Mitchell Dr., Plano, IL 60545 St. Charles –

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt passed a measure through the Illinois Senate to ensure taking time off work to donate an organ doesn’t put workers’ livelihoods at risk. “This bill is deeply personal to me,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “As someone who received a lifesaving kidney transplant, I know firsthand how life-changing and life-saving these donations are. We should be removing barriers for people who are willing to step forward and give that gift.” The bill allows eligible part-time workers to take up to 10 days of leave in a 12-month period to serve as organ donors. For part-time employees receiving compensation for their donation, employers must pay them based on their average daily pay over the previous two months of employment. Currently, part-time workers often do not receive the same workplace protections as full-time employees. Belt’s legislation ensures that all eligible workers, no matter how many hours a week

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SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Acting Director James Jennings today announced a funding opportunity through the new Overflow and Sewer Grant (OSG) program. The OSG program was created to assist local governments with infrastructure needs to address combined sewer overflows (CSO), sanitary sewer overflows (SSO), and stormwater management to improve water quality and protect local water resources. A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been posted I llinois EPA website . “Many communities are challenged by frequent sanitary or combined sewer overflows, which can cause property damage and negatively impact area water resources,” said Acting Director Jennings . “This new funding opportunity provides a financial resource for communities working to address the root cause of flooding experienced during heavy rainfall events.” Higher priority will be given to projects that reduce the occurrence and severity of CSO

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SINGAPORE – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—and U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) are leading a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Singapore to this year’s International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue, which is one of Asia’s premier global international security and defense summits, to reaffirm the United States’ strong bipartisan commitment to our partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific region. Their arrival in Singapore comes immediately after Senator Duckworth completed a successful visit to Taiwan where she voiced her support for the Taiwanese people and our partnership with them. While in Singapore, the Delegation plans to meet with a number of defense and foreign affairs officials representing several of our partners in the Indo-Pacific

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SWANSEA – To emphasize the importance of learning throughout the summer, State Senator Christopher Belt is hosting a Summer Book Club to encourage students to read and continue their studies during the summer vacation. “Reading over the summer helps students keep their minds sharp and ready for the new school year,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “I’m excited to launch this Summer Book Club to encourage young readers and reward those who join and complete their reading goals.” The Summer Book Club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books on a form, and return the form to Belt’s East St. Louis office by Aug. 15. Every child who completes the Summer Book Club will receive a gift card and a certificate from Senator Belt. Summer Book Club forms are available to download at SenatorBelt.com . People with questions can reach out to Belt’s East St. Louis office at (618) 875-1212

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is alerting Illinoisans on ways to keep cool and offset coming energy price spikes. Summer costs are expected to rise June 1, 2025 for ComEd and Ameren customers alike following a regional increase in energy supply prices. “Energy affordability is always top of mind at the ICC, and we want ratepayers to be aware of higher summertime rates so they can safely plan to reduce energy usage and improve energy efficiency around their homes,” said Jonathan Feipel, Executive Director for the Illinois Commerce Commission. “Higher energy supply rates are not unique to Illinois. Unfortunately, electric consumers from Louisiana to Minnesota will be paying more for electricity—not due to state policy decisions, but regional supply and demand.” PJM Interconnection, the power grid operator for northern Illinois, and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the operator for central and southern Illinois,

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 16 attorneys general, today announced a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration’s illegal attempts to cut critical National Science Foundation (NSF) programs and funding that help maintain the United States’ position as a global leader in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). In their lawsuit, Raoul and the coalition are seeking a court order blocking the implementation of the NSF’s new directives to eliminate programs addressing diversity in STEM and cut vital funding for research across the country. “The funds the Trump administration is attempting to cut are vital to addressing the nation’s biggest challenges,” Raoul said. “The impact of these illegal cuts would devastate scientific research at universities in Illinois and across the country and would stall efforts to grow the STEM workforce.” On April 18, the NSF began terminating grants funding

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SPRINGFIELD - Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias honored the legacy and impact of former Governor and Secretary of State Jim Edgar today with the formal dedication of the Jim Edgar Reading Room at the Illinois State Library. Giannoulias, who also serves as State Libarian, was joined by a bipartisan group of state officials, including Governor JB Pritzker and Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, to dedicate the Reading Room and celebrate Edgar’s vital contributions to Illinois’ library and literacy programs. “It’s a privilege to honor the legacy of Governor Jim Edgar – an incredible statesman, advocate and friend – for his career of service to our state and its citizens,” Giannoulias said. “The Jim Edgar Reading Room enshrines the former Governor and Secretary of State’s legacy and indelible contributions to our state’s library, which continue to have a profound impact throughout our state.” Giannoulias drafted House Joint

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EAST ST. LOUIS — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) headlined a town hall at East St. Louis Senior High School hosted by the Public Education Alliance to address the devastating impact of the Trump administration’s threats to public education and of revoked federal COVID-relief funds. Congresswoman Budzinski was joined by National Education Association President Becky Pringle, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, and more than 300 parents, educators, and students from across Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. The event comes just weeks after the U.S. Department of Education abruptly rescinded over $19 million in obligated ESSER III funds to East St. Louis School District 189—despite previously approving an extension for the completion of essential HVAC upgrades to protect student and staff health. The decision not only jeopardizes critical infrastructure projects already under contract and underway, but it also

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TROY - The City of Troy will offer a Summer Kick-Off Community Resource and Outreach Market for families to have fun and learn about local services. From 5–7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at Tri-Township Park Pavilion #1, community members can enjoy bounce houses, games, giveaways, a petting zoo, free hotdogs and more while talking to local organizations about their resources. The event, hosted by the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce, aims to connect people to services while providing a fun night for families. “Really, most importantly, what it’s really for is to provide resources to parents over the summer for their kids, what they might need,” said Dawn Mushill, president of the Chamber. “We’ll also have a Chamber booth, so if you get through all the resources and you go, ‘I really wish so-and-so were here,’ or, ‘I really need some help with this,’ we have someone who is going to follow up for you

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GRANITE CITY - The Granite City Police Department announced the promotion of two of its officers, Lt. Tim Bedard and Sgt. Michelle Werner. The department shared the news recently, recognizing their advancement within the force. The department congratulated both officers on their achievements.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced lane closures on eastbound and westbound Interstate 64 from 15th Street to Illinois 157, beginning Monday, June 2. The closures are necessary for road maintenance and will reduce traffic to one lane in each direction nightly, Monday through Friday, weather permitting. The work is expected to continue through early summer 2025. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this 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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