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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair is thrilled to announce heavy-hitting rock legends Night Ranger as the opening act for country music star Randy Houser at the special free Grandstand concert on Monday, August 11. Fairgoers are invited to enjoy an unforgettable night of music—at no cost—thanks to this exclusive Grandstand performance. Gates will open at 7:00 p.m. , with the show beginning at 8:00 p.m. No ticket needed, but attendees will go through security screening before entering the Grandstand. “The Illinois State Fair is one of our state’s greatest traditions, showcasing the very best of Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This free Grandstand concert is a way to thank fairgoers for their continued support while making world-class entertainment accessible to everyone. I look forward to seeing families and friends from across Illinois come together for a night of incredible music and celebration.” Night Ranger

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CHICAGO — Two Illinois iLottery players struck it big last night, each scoring a staggering prize of $1?million or more. One lucky online player won a whopping $1,742,056 jackpot playing Ultimate Diamond Jackpot, a FastPlay progressive jackpot game exclusive to the Illinois Lottery. The jackpot starts at $75,000 and increases with every ticket sold across the state—both in-store and online—until someone wins. This is the 10th time a player has taken home a prize of $1 million or more with Ultimate Diamond Jackpot since the game launched in May 2024. So far this year, nearly 693,000 winning tickets have been sold, awarding more than $46.2 million in prizes to players statewide. The second big iLottery winner won a cool $1 million prize playing Lotto . The winner matched all six Lotto Million 1 numbers in the Monday, August 4 drawing: 2-7-12-15-25-29. This marks the fifth time in 2025 that a Lotto player has won $1 million or more. So far this year, over four

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) , the state's college access and financial aid agency, is excited to announce its participation in the Illinois State Fair, from August 7 – 17, 2025 in Springfield, Illinois and the Du Quoin State Fair August 22-September 1. Housed in the Governor’s Tent, Booth D, ISAC’s interactive experience booth will explore Quantum Futures, The Moments that Moved Us Forward . The exhibit will offer a blend of storytelling, interactivity, and visual learning to highlight how small, pivotal moments – “quantum leaps” – can shift the trajectory of a student’s life. Students, educators, and professionals can share their stories; hear others speak to their “quantum moments;” learn more about the Illinois PaCE Framework, ISAC financial aid programs, and outreach and support services; and engage with ISAC staff who can help them explore next steps on their educational path. Th

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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 second 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, August 29, 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 –

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GRANITE CITY – A mother from Granite City is asking the community for support with medical costs as her 3-week-old daughter, Gracelyn, battles a tumor and faces a long road to recovery. Brenna Tepen of Granite City organized the GoFundMe fundraiser for Gracelyn, whose health complications were first noticed just hours after her birth. Born with a “concerning neck mass,” Gracelyn was seen by an ENT (ear, nose, and throat doctor) and underwent an MRI scan, though Tepen says more imaging is needed for doctors to determine the intensity of the tumor. “She has a tumor that goes from the base of her skull into her brain, around her spine, into her neck/throat, and down into her chest,” according to Tepen. Tepen noted Gracelyn’s oxygen repeatedly dropped while she was undergoing the MRI. She added Gracelyn has been placed on tube feeding after starting to lose weight from difficulties with other feeding methods. “We have a long road ahead of

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Municipal Band invites the community to a series of concerts this week that reflect the musical heritage of Glen Carbon and Edwardsville in the mid-20th century. The performances will spotlight the work of Anton Poneta, a longtime member of the band whose compositions were a familiar part of local concerts in the 1970s. Inspired by a program performed nearly fifty years ago, the band has reconstructed a full concert that reflects the sound, structure, and style of that earlier era. This special program includes a number of original marches and tone poems composed by Poneta himself, performed alongside works by Franz von Suppé, W.C. Handy, John Philip Sousa, and others—offering a musical portrait of what local audiences would have experienced in a typical summer concert decades ago. The event is presented in cooperation with the Glen Carbon Heritage Museum, which will also display materials connected to Poneta’s musical and personal

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 18 attorneys general, submitted comment letters to several federal agencies strongly urging that they refrain from moving forward with proposed final rules that rescind regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The rules, which take effect immediately, largely eliminate the agencies’ existing NEPA regulations and replace them with a patchwork of “non-binding” procedures. In the comment letters, the coalition argues that these rules will create significant environmental harm to communities nationwide, reduce public participation, and lead to less-informed environmental decisions. “This misguided proposal fundamentally undermines one of our country’s bedrock environmental laws, harming public health and the environment both within Illinois and nationwide,” Raoul said. “I will continue to advocate across state lines to preserve these necessary protections.&rdquo

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — An off-duty Fairview Heights police officer’s vigilance led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle and the arrest of two juveniles early Wednesday morning, July 30, 2025, authorities said. At approximately 5:30 a.m. on July 30, 2025, the Fairview Heights Police Department received a report of a stolen vehicle from Moody Park. The vehicle’s owner had gone for a morning walk and discovered the car missing after completing one lap around the park’s track. Officer Nick Hensley, who had just finished his night shift, spotted the stolen vehicle in the 9900 block of Old Lincoln Trail. Although off duty, Hensley immediately alerted dispatch and coordinated with on-duty officers. He observed two individuals, later identified as a 14-year-old female and a 14-year-old male, exit the vehicle and enter a nearby residence. Maintaining surveillance, Hensley was able to identify the exact home. Upon arrival of additional units, police established a perimeter

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COLLINSVILLE - The Collinsville Police Department announced Brian Joy as its Officer of the Month for June 2025, recognizing his proactive performance and dedication to the community. Joy has been with the Collinsville Police Department since December 2021 and has consistently demonstrated the qualities expected of its officers. The Collinsville PD aimed to bring some positivity to the announcement on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. “Please congratulate Brian Joy on being recognized for his performance in June,” the department said. “Thank you, Brian, for your service to our community!”

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Two studies out of Finland show promising results for sauna users. The research implies there could be an added benefit to sweating profusely in the controlled setting of a sauna: a decrease in one’s risk for dementia or Alzheimer’s. First, a 2016 study by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland surveyed 2,315 healthy Finnish men, age 42-60, and found that participants doing two to three sauna sessions per week had a 22% less risk of developing dementia, while the men using a sauna four to seven times a week are 66% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or dementia over a 20 year period. The second study by Paul Knekt at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, was much more widespread. It included nearly 14,000 men and women, age 30-69, and followed them for up to 39 years. Deepak Nair, MD, director of Ambulatory and Virtual Neurology Services at OSF HealthCare, studied the findings and says the results are promising. “People who were

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Perhaps no one is happier to see the arrival of summer than those pesky mosquitoes that invade our space over the next three months. Seemingly, they’re everywhere. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 3,700 types of mosquitoes around the world, wreaking havoc. They’ll try to ruin your picnic, they love it when you relax in the backyard and they feast on anything that’s happening near a body of water. According to the CDC, only female mosquitoes bite people and animals to get a blood meal, which they need to produce eggs. Adult mosquitoes live for about two to four weeks, depending on the species, humidity and temperature. But why do some people tend to be mosquito magnets while others get off scot-free? There are plenty of reasons, including blood type (most mosquitoes like Type O), body heat (female mosquitoes detect heat) and even diet (eating sweet, salty or spicy foods can draw mosquitoes). One study even suggests mosquitoes

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ALHAMBRA - The Legendary Mustang Sanctuary will host two upcoming events to raise funds for their horses. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, community members can stop by the Collinsville American Legion for a day of bounce houses, face-painting, vendors, a car show and live horses at the “Mustangs for Mustangs” event. On Sept. 28, a tea party will be held in Wood River for kids and loved ones to enjoy. Both events aim to raise money and awareness of the Legendary Mustang Sanctuary mission. “All proceeds go back to help us with the horses,” said Kathy Lewis with LMS. “We do it all. We don't just go out and say, hey, we do this. We literally do it.” The Mustangs for Mustangs event brings together classic cars and mustang horses. LMS will have two horses at the event and a cooler of carrot sticks for kids to feed them. There will also be a car show and over 20 vendors with crafts and antiques for sale. “Classic cars,

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EDWARDSVILLE — Barrel & Brü Tap House, a new establishment offering an extensive selection of beers and cocktails along with elevated bar food, opened recently at 6151 Trace Parkway Drive Suite D, in Edwardsville. Owner Aaron Coleman said the timing and location felt ideal to enter the thriving craft beverage industry, which has seen continuous innovation over the past decade. “We wanted to be part of this industry,” Coleman said. “The Tap House is about the people you meet, regular customers, and watching what you have created grow in the area. We look forward to integrating more into the community.” The tap house features 54 beers on tap, along with coolers stocked with beer, wine, seltzers, canned cocktails, and non-alcoholic beers. Bartender Brad Ziegler highlighted the variety available, noting that the establishment is dog-friendly. In addition to beer, the bar offers a full cocktail list including mocktails, beer flights, and mimosa flights.

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GODFREY – A Godfrey resident faces several felonies after allegedly firing a weapon at a fleeing domestic battery victim, leading police to search his home and find "an active cannabis farming operation." Kevin M. Buel, 47, of Godfrey, was charged on July 31, 2025 with the following offenses: Armed violence (Class X felony) Unlawful manufacture or delivery of cannabis (Class X felony) Aggravated discharge of a firearm (Class 1 felony) Aggravated domestic battery (Class 2 felony) Possession of cannabis manufacturing equipment (Class 2 felony) Reckless discharge of a firearm (Class 4 felony) Domestic battery (2 counts, both Class A misdemeanors) Buel allegedly struck the victim in the mouth and discharged a firearm in their direction on July 29, 2025. He was additionally accused of possessing over 5,000 grams of cannabis with the intent to deliver while armed with a semi-automatic handgun. According to the state’s petition to deny Buel’s pretrial

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EAST ALTON - Larry Thatcher, the long-time rink manager of East Alton Ice Arena, retired after 32 years on July 31, 2025. Thatcher was recognized at a recent East Alton Meeting for his long-time dedication to the rink and the region. Thatcher was commended for a lifetime of dedication to the community and the game of hockey by East Alton Mayor Darren Carlton in a presentation. Thatcher is a long-time East Alton resident and Navy veteran. He was a founding member of the Mississippi Valley Club Hockey Association. He coached Roxana Shells, Alton Redbirds, East Alton-Wood River Oilers, Bethalto Eagles and the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Cougars. “His passion and leadership earned him spots in both the St. Louis Hockey Hall of Fame and East Alton-Wood River Hall of Fame,” Mayor Carlton said. “We thank him for inspiring generations of players and families.”

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ALTON - The Grandpa Gang in Alton is gearing up for the holidays! Volunteers are needed to help bring Christmas Wonderland to life in 2025 and a meeting will be held Tuesday, Aug. 12 to begin planning for this family-friendly holiday favorite in Rock Spring Park. The meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Munstermann Building in Gordon Moore Park. Anyone interested in volunteering to help decorate the park is invited to attend. Please see the attached press release for more information. The holiday transformation of Rock Spring Park in Alton will begin in early September, and new Christmas Wonderland volunteers are always needed to help put together displays to ensure the holidays sparkle in 2025. An informational meeting for volunteers is planned for 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 12 at Munstermann Building, at Gordon Moore Park in Alton. The Grandpa Gang, which coordinates the annual Christmas event, is looking for volunteers to help with tasks like setting up wooden displays and hanging

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SAINT LOUIS - As summer winds down and cuffing season approaches, 612North invites guests to send off the season in unforgettable fashion at the Find Your ‘Love’ Island Party, taking place on Friday, September 5, 2025, from 8:30 PM to 1:30 AM. Designed as the ultimate end-of-summer celebration, the event will be held at 612North Event Space, at ARC venue, located on the St. Louis riverfront. Guests can expect an elevated nightlife experience with high-energy music, refreshing cocktails, and an atmosphere designed for connection. Highlights of the event include: Live DJ performance by DJ FERG, spinning throughout the night Complimentary cocktail and passed appetizers for the first 100 guests Full cash bar and VIP bottle service options Tickets available now for $15 Admission is 21+ only “Whether you’re single, taken, or somewhere in between, this party is your chance to celebrate the end of summer with great music, good vibes, and an amazing St. Louis

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SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) announced its plan to implement Senate Bill 1195, known as "Anna's Law," which was recently signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker. Anna’s Law, effective January 1, 2026, was spearheaded by Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, D- Ill., significantly enhances trauma-informed training requirements for law enforcement officers across the state, particularly concerning interactions with victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse. Anna's Law mandates that the curriculum for probationary law enforcement officers will now include a dedicated block of instruction on trauma-informed programs, procedures, and practices designed to minimize victim traumatization. Furthermore, critical trauma-informed principles will be integrated into the minimum in-service training requirements that all law enforcement officers must complete every three years. The law also requires ILETSB to conduct or approve training programs

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Amid a series of commercial aircraft emergency evacuations, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation—is demanding detailed answers from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the age and abilities of the passengers on board, whether passengers had carry-ons while exiting the aircraft and how long each of these evacuations took. In the letter, Duckworth asks the FAA to produce a study the agency was required to complete in May under a provision she secured in the landmark bipartisan FAA reauthorization law last year to ensure the FAA considers improvements to the agency’s current 90-second emergency evacuation standard that reflect the reality of flying today. Specifically, her provision directed the FAA to study improvements to the safety and efficiency of evacuation standards including real-world conditions like the presence of carry-on bags and passengers who ma

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BETHALTO - Skylar Johnson, a first baseman from Civic Memorial High School, recently concluded her career with the Eagles, sporting a .323 batting average from her freshman to senior year, 73 hits and 64 RBI. She also contributed 13 home runs. She has signed to play for Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey next season. Johnson is a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Female Athlete of the Month. She has been praised by Civic Memorial’s head girls' softball coach, Raigen Linton, for her leadership and athletic abilities. “She is a great player and another one trusted to lead the team, always a voice for all the girls,” Linton said. “Once she gets hold of the ball, she’s a great power hitter and a great first baseman with a great glove.” During the 2025 season, Johnson batted .324, recording 22 hits and 26 RBIs, along with four home runs. Linton also highlighted Johnson’s leadership qualities, describing her as an “overall good leader&rdquo

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