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GODFREY — Community Christmas is holding its Christmas In July Raffle, offering participants a chance to win a variety of prizes while supporting a local cause. Tickets are available for $10 and feature prizes ranging from cash to vacation stays. The raffle includes a $3,500 cash prize donated by Axalta Coatings, a seven-night stay in a two-bedroom, two-bath condo in Fort Morgan, Ala., donated anonymously, and a five-night stay in a three-bedroom cabin in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, donated by Monica, Melvin, and Nick Bristow. Other prizes include a seven-night cabin stay in Balltown, Colorado, donated by Anette Griebel; four Cardinal green seats for the August 11, 2025, Cardinals vs. Rockies game, donated by Jayne and John Simmons; one side of beef, donated by Shane and Tiffany Seller; and $1,000 cash donated by Freer Auto Body. Margaret Freer of Freer Auto Body said she hopes a lot more tickets will be purchased before the July 18 event. "These are great prizes and well worth

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EDWARDSVILLE - Two longtime administrators with Edwardsville School District #7 were recognized for their years of service and retirement during the recent June Board of Education meeting. Curt Schumacher, principal of Goshen Elementary, has served the district for 33 years. Dr. Vince Schlueter, assistant principal at Edwardsville High School, has dedicated 21 years to the district. Both are retiring after distinguished careers in education. The recognition took place at the district’s June board meeting, where Board President Bob Paty and Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton honored Schumacher and Schlueter for their commitment to the district. The district expressed appreciation for the administrators’ decades of leadership and contributions to the educational community.

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COLLINSVILLE – As part of one of its busiest construction seasons ever, the Illinois Department of Transportation is delivering several major projects in the Metro East, fueled by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. Eighteen major projects combined represent a total investment of nearly $895 million, improving safety and mobility while sustaining and creating good-paying jobs throughout the region. “Through Rebuild Illinois, we are making good on our promise to restore and transform our state’s infrastructure while promoting economic growth,” said Gov. J.B. Pritzker. “This summer, IDOT will continue to build on years of progress by undertaking construction projects that will create safer roads and bridges and provide jobs across the state. Through these projects, we are demonstrating what government is supposed to do and that’s investing in the people and communities we serve.”

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CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced that $6.3 million in grant funding has been awarded to 36 grantees through three grant programs – the Route 66 Grant Program ($4 million), Tourism Attractions Grant Program ($1.7 million), and Tourism Private Sector Grant Program ($600,000) – as part of the state's continued effort to boost tourism and welcome more visitors to Illinois. "Whether you're coming from down the road or across the globe, Illinois is the perfect destination for travelers," said Governor JB Pritzker . "Through our tourism grant program, the State of Illinois is attracting more visitors than ever and channeling their impact to support economic growth, jobs, and community revitalization." “From Route 66 to world class museums, state parks, festivals, cities, and restaurants, Illinois has some of the greatest tourism attractions on the planet,” said Lt. Governo

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EDWARDSVILLE — Gary and Karen Cain of rural Edwardsville marked their 50th wedding anniversary on June 13, celebrating a milestone that began with their marriage at the Bible Center Church in Charleston, Illinois. The couple wed in 1975, with the ceremony officiated by the late Rev. Todd Taylor of Alton. Over the years, Gary Cain has built a diverse career, retiring as a counselor from Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto. He also served as a principal at Western Military Academy's Lower School in Alton and worked as an FBI special agent in New Orleans, Louisiana. He continues to substitute teach at Civic Memorial High School and participates in the Bethalto Rotary Club. Karen Cain is a retired teacher from the Alton School District. She currently serves as organist and pianist at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Hamel and Edwardsville First Baptist Church. Additionally, she is an active member of the Alton Carillon Guild and performs carillon concerts at the Gordon Moore

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EDWARDSVILLE — Nearly 100 students in grades 5 through 12 participated in the Edwardsville School District #7 Orchestra Camp last week, showcasing their skills on violin, viola, cello, and bass. The camp, held within the district, provided instruction from a team of educators that included Victoria Voumard, Missy Banker, Maggie Patton, Phil Sgambelluri, and Lindsey Wolfford. Voumard has coordinated the successful orchestra camp for students for many years in the Edwardsville School District #7. Voumard said the event aimed to enhance students' musical abilities and foster a deeper appreciation for orchestral instruments. Voumard also described the camp as "a tremendous success, reflecting strong student engagement and commitment to the program." District officials expressed pride in the students' achievements and the collaborative effort of the instructors, highlighting the camp as "a valuable opportunity for young musicians to develop their talents."

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SPRINGFIELD — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced $1,158,009 in U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) funding for St. Louis Downtown Airport. The federal grant would go towards rehabilitating the access road to the airport’s hangar buildings. “St. Louis Downtown Airport is one of the most active airports in our region. It supports hundreds of local jobs and serves as a gateway to Central and Southern Illinois,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m excited to announce more than $1.1 million in federal funding to rehabilitate a critical access road at the airport. This is an important investment in the future of this regional hub that supports our broader goal of expanding business and development opportunities in the Metro East.” “This roadway improvement is essential to supporting and retaining several hundred good paying jobs and solidifying the St. Louis Downtown Airport’s position as

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GRANITE CITY - Finely Hatfield, a 13-year-old swimmer for the Paddlers Swim Club in Granite City, made a key contribution for her team at the Southwestern Illinois Swimming Association's Relays Meet June 23, 2025, at home and helped the Pirates finish fourth in the team standings of the meet. Hatfield swam the lead-off leg on the 150-meter butterfly relay team that finished fifth in the race., as the Pirates placed fourth with 111 points. She is a Stillwater Senior Living Granite City Female Athlete of the Month. Hatfield is looking to improve her times in her events this season, and wants to work hard to achieve her goals. The typically-hot summer weather helps motivate her to swim, plus staying in shape for another sports she's involved in. "I want to improve my times, and some," Hatfield said about her goals for the season. There's also another reason Hatfield stays involved in swimming for Paddlers. "Because it makes me stronger with fitness for the soccer season," Hatfield

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City High School 2025 graduate LilyRose Cockrum was chosen for the inaugural Alma Irene Aitch Scholarship for Madison County Illinois High School Seniors, as announced by Madison County Regional Superintendent, Dr. Robert W. Werden, along with Mannie Jackson and Dr. Ed Hightower. The $1,000 award is presented to 10 graduating seniors from across Madison County who have demonstrated high academic achievement, personal drive, and excellence throughout their four-year high school careers. The Aitch Scholarship is named in honor of Alma Irene Aitch, a former teacher at Lincoln School whose leadership and encouragement profoundly impacted her students and their future generations. Beloved for her deep love of school and community, Ms. Aitch’s legacy lives on through this scholarship. Created through the collaborative efforts of Jackson, Hightower, and Werden, the scholarship recognizes and rewards students who have demonstrated hard work and

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ALTON - According to organizers, the second year of the renewed Mississippi River Festival was once again “magical.” On Friday, June 27, 2025, the Mississippi River Festival kicked off at 7 p.m. after a delayed start due to weather, featuring vendors, interactive art installations, food trucks, beer tents, and live music at the Alton Amphitheater. The fun continued on Saturday, June 28, with a minor midday rain delay. Organizers Nick Bifano and Zack Johnson were eager to welcome the thousands of people who traveled from across the region to enjoy the shows. “This was our second year, moving into year three. It’s like, ‘Okay, what’s the best thing for this festival?’ But also, there’s this side mission of, ‘What brings the most honor to Alton, and then in turn, to the whole region?’” Bifano said. “I think we’re going to make mistakes along the way because we’re just humans trying to do cool stuff.

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COLLINSVILLE - The Collinsville Police Department has named Officer Trent Ross as its May Officer of the Month for his active role in combating criminal activity in the area. Officer Ross, along with his K9 partner Rocky, made 12 arrests within Collinsville and provided assistance to neighboring law enforcement agencies on eight occasions. The Collinsville Police Department recognized Ross’s efforts in maintaining safety not only within city limits but also in surrounding communities. “Thank you Trent for your efforts to keep the Metro East safe for all,” the Collinsville Police Department said in a statement.

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GLEN CARBON - The Lady Griffins varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams from Father McGivney Catholic High School concluded the Alton Summer League with a playoff tournament, showcasing strong performances in their respective divisions. The tournament took place recently in Alton, where the varsity team entered the playoffs as the third seed. The Lady Griffins varsity squad remained undefeated throughout the tournament, winning all four matches and every set, finishing with an 8-0 record and securing first place. The Father McGivney girls volleyball squads are Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Female Athletes of the Month for the Griffins. Meanwhile, the junior varsity team earned the highest seed among JV teams, entering the playoffs as the sixth seed. The JV squad ended the tournament in fifth place, dropping two matches to varsity teams, including one loss to their own varsity Lady Griffins. The school congratulated both teams on their successful performances and noted the tournament

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ALTON/WOOD RIVER – A man from Wood River faces five felony counts of child pornography after Alton authorities executed search warrants on his home, cell phone, and Kik account. Dane A. Grant, 31, of Wood River, was charged on June 26, 2025 with five Class X felony counts of child pornography. Grant allegedly shared multiple videos depicting child pornography via the Kik application on Jan. 26, 2025. The Alton Police Department investigation began on April 1, 2025 after the agency was “notified of three cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children involving the dissemination of child pornography via the Kik application,” according to the state’s petition to deny Grant’s pretrial release from custody. “Detectives viewed the files associated with these cybertips and determined them to involve child pornography,” the petition states. “The Internet Protocol addresses associated with some of the disseminations returne

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. — A fatal crash involving two vehicles on Interstate 44 westbound near Mraz Lane claimed the life of a 27-year-old woman late Saturday night, June 28, 2025. The accident occurred at 11:53 p.m. June 28, 2025, when a 2021 Ford Explorer, driven by a 21-year-old man from Ontario, Canada, collided with the rear of a 2011 Toyota Camry. The Camry, driven by the woman from Caseyville, was stopped and blocking a lane after an earlier, unclear incident. The female driver of the Camry was pronounced dead at the scene by the Fenton Fire Protection District. Authorities reported the driver of the Ford Explorer was using a safety device at the time of the collision, while the Camry’s driver was not. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding both crashes. No further details have been released.

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MADISON COUNTY — Five people were injured early Monday morning, June 30, 2025, in a house explosion on the 3300 block of Fairmont Avenue in unincorporated Madison County, authorities said. The State Park Fire Department responded shortly after 1:15 a.m. Monday, to the scene in unincorporated Madison County. The blast had already leveled the home by the time the fire department arrived. Five individuals, ranging from teenagers to adults, were transported to a nearby hospital with severe but non-life-threatening injuries, including burns. First responders confirmed an explosion upon arrival. The blast also ignited fires in two vehicles parked in the driveway. The home next to the damaged home was not seriously harmed. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, and it is unclear where the explosion originated within the home.

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BLOOMINGTON – Chestnut Health Systems™ has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for both Ambulatory Health Care and Behavioral Health Care and Human Services and has also achieved certification as a Primary Care Medical Home—a designation that highlights the organization’s dedication to integrated, person-centered care. These recognitions reflect Chestnut’s ongoing commitment to delivering safe, high-quality, and equitable services to the communities it serves. Chestnut has locations in Belleville, Bloomington, Granite City, Maryville, and Wood River, IL as well as in Hillsboro and De Soto, MO. Chestnut has proudly maintained continuous Joint Commission Accreditation since 1975, and its recent re-accreditation now includes its one-year-old family dental office in Bloomington, IL. This milestone enhances the dental office’s reputation as a symbol of quality and commitment to patient safety and care. Accreditation not only

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CHICAGO – Understanding that the college admissions process can be difficult for students to navigate, State Senator Christopher Belt worked to make the process easier for high school juniors, seniors and community college transfer students. “Investing in our students is by far the best return on investment the government could get,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This is essentially an automatic admissions program that students can opt in to. It will really help streamline the process for students and their families.” Belt’s law, originally House Bill 3522, offers direct admission to qualified applicants at all public universities and community colleges that participate in the program. Under the new law, students will no longer face the burden of repeated application processes or unnecessary application fees, ensuring a smoother transition into postsecondary education. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, high school students will be able to elect

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BELLEVILLE – Governor JB Pritzker continued his statewide re-election tour, celebrating our progress and making clear his commitment to keep Illinois moving forward. Day 2 included events in Belleville and West Frankfort highlighting the administration’s work to expand workforce development programs and put Springfield back on the side of working families. STOP 5: BELLEVILLE First, the Governor returned to Southwestern Illinois College. SWIC was the site of the Governor’s first official event in 2019, where he signed an executive order expanding workforce development. At yesterday’s event, the Governor highlighted the enormous progress the state has made since then, including launching a new manufacturing training academy at SWIC. The Governor was joined by SWIC President Nick Mance, Secretary Treasurer of the Southwest Illinois Building Trades Eric Oller, and Metro East leaders and supporters. STOP 6: WEST FRANKFORT Finally, the Governor concluded his

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against freedom of speech, public education, and LGBTQ+ rights in Mahmoud v. Taylor : “This is a loss for public education, freedom of speech, and LGBTQ+ rights. “LGBTQ+ stories matter. Kids deserve to see themselves in the books they read. Tragically, the same zealots who try to ban books from libraries are now trying to limit what kids can learn, read, and hear from teachers in their classrooms. “We must put love and acceptance over hate and division. As Pride Month comes to a close, it’s clear we still have a fight ahead of us.”

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CHICAGO- Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), community college presidents, and legislators to sign bills into law that will support Illinois high school students pursuing higher education. Governor Pritzker signed four bills into law that help improve college access and affordability: HB 2967, HB 3096, HB 3097, and HB 3522. During his February State of the State Address , Governor Pritzker emphasized that support for college admissions would be a priority initiative during this year’s session. “In order to ensure that every student of every background in every corner of our state gets the education they deserve, we need to leave no stone unturned and no barrier unbroken,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These bills streamline the application process for college bound seniors in Illinois, enhance support for applicants, and

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