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COLLINSVILLE - Community leaders came together to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Collinsville Area Vocational Center (CAVC) expansion. On March 25, 2025, local elected officials, school administrators, educators and students commemorated the expansion with a groundbreaking ceremony at the construction site, located at the intersection of South Morrison and Caseyville Roads in Collinsville. The new CAVC will expand career and technical education (CTE) opportunities for students at ten Metro East high schools. “This project represents the largest investment in career and tech ed in the State of Illinois since the 1970s. That is historic,” said Joe McGinnis, CAVC director. “The impact that it’s going to have on our local education, our local workforce, and for our local businesses is almost immeasurable.” The CAVC serves Civic Memorial High School, Collinsville High School, Dupo High School, East Alton-Wood River High School, Edwardsville

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EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt is highlighting nearly $1 million in grant funding to the East Side Health District. “Securing this funding for the East Side Health District is a proud moment in our continued effort to advance public health, clean energy and workforce development,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The work we’ve done with the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act is just beginning, and with initiatives like these, we are ensuring that communities in the Metro East are not left behind.” The East Side Health District received a significant boost in their mission to improve public health and the environment by advancing clean energy and workforce development, securing approximately $1 million to implement energy efficiency measures and expand solar energy initiatives across its six health clinics, serving Stites, Canteen, East St. Louis and Cahokia Heights—areas recognized as environmental justice communities. The Equitable

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EDWARDSVILLE - Students from Metro-East Lutheran High School celebrated a significant achievement on Monday, March 24, 2025, as their Scholar Bowl team secured a State Championship at Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois. The team, comprised of Dean Hemmer, Peter Curtis, Dalton Beers, Erik Neath, Andrew Maske, Logan Abbot, Evan Klaustermeier, and Grant Moss, has now claimed the title for the second consecutive year. Rob Stock, the assistant principal at Metro-East Lutheran High School, expressed pride in both the team's victory and the efforts of the students and their coach. “We are very proud of the win obviously but proud of students and coach of efforts put in for second state title in a row," he said. "It is a huge accomplishment. I know they all worked very hard." Stock also praised Coach Shanna Covarrubias for her efforts. “This is a group that put in a lot of work the last two to three years, continued to get better and better each year," Stock said.

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JERSEYVILLE – With the April 1, 2025 municipal elections just one week away, here’s a look at what Jersey County voters can expect to see on their ballots. Jersey County won’t see many contested races this election, with most candidates running for township or school board positions. Elsah Township Elsah Township will see some of the county’s few contested races. One such race is between Democrat Billy Greding and Republican Russell Wittman, both of whom are vying for Township Highway Commissioner. The winner will replace current Township Highway Commissioner Glenn Vetter, who is running as a Democrat for Township Trustee . Along with Vetter, six other candidates will compete for four Elsah Township Trustee positions. Those other candidates include Democrats Gene Heafner and Jason McDaniel, as well as Republicans Jacob Wells, Clarence Allen Davenport, Robert Corenelius, and Hubert Croxford. Village of Fieldon In Fieldon, voters will choose

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – On MSNBC, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—called on Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Marco Rubio, John Ratcliffe and every other Trump Administration official who discussed our nation’s war plans in an unclassified Signal group chat to resign immediately. During the interview with Jonathan Capehart, Duckworth underscored that this was an egregious national security failure that put the lives of our men and women in uniform at greater risk and that every single official in the Signal chat should lose their jobs. Video of the full interview can be found on the Senator’s YouTube . Key Quotes: “The fact that every single one of those people on was okay with using this non-classified product for multiple days to conduct their war plans shows a complete lack of professionalism and oversight b

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ALTON – What’s popular on Fridays during Lent? A fish fry of course. Our Mission Partners at OSF Moeller Cancer Center (2200 Central Ave, Alton, IL 62002) are sponsoring a fish fry on Friday, April 4, to benefit their Relay for Life team "Team Hope" as part of their annual fundraising efforts supporting the American Cancer Society. Meals can be purchased for: Lunch service: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Carry-out only Tickets can be purchased via cash or through Venmo Tickets are available for purchase Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. -2 p.m., through Tuesday, April 1, at the OSF Moeller Cancer Center front desk. Carry-out orders can be picked up at the back entrance to OSF Moeller Cancer Center adjacent to the main parking lot of OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center. Meal tickets are $12.00, and each meal includes: Fish Bread Pickle Chips Coleslaw Dessert Bottled water For more information or to purchase tickets, call (618) 433-7600.

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Letter To The Editor: Early voting is not off to a good start, and that’s a problem. Local elections decide who runs our cities, schools, and communities. These races impact your taxes, your roads, your safety—everything that is essential to building the American dream. When turnout is low, a small group of voters ends up making big decisions for everyone else. It’s easy to complain on social media or vent in public—we’ve all seen it, and we can all do it. Yet, when it’s time to take action—when it’s time to vote—many of those same people don’t show up. It’s sad, honestly, and reflects poorly on our city's image. Whether you're new to voting or you've voted before, it’s crucial to step up and make your voice heard. Your vote matters. On April 1st, take the opportunity to shape the future of your community. It’s the most powerful tool we have as citizens, and it starts with showing up at the ballot box.

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EDWARDSVILLE – At the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 24, the difficult decision to dismiss and not renew the employment of 16 certified non-tenured probationary teachers was made. This decision was not made lightly and reflects the district’s commitment to financial efficiency. Some of the dismissed probationary teachers' positions will be filled by existing employees who will be reassigned. There are no planned reductions to any programs, including those in special education, or high school programs such as agriculture/FFA. The district’s goal is to ensure each program remains sustainable within our available revenue sources. Additionally, District #7 remains committed to maintaining appropriate class sizes to support student learning. Each year, District #7 evaluates staffing based on student enrollment and available resources to the District, which come from various revenue sources that collectively

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Rotary Club has chosen to honor Edwardsville High School student Jackson Pender with the Student of the Month Award for March. Lincoln was nominated by Edwardsville High School teacher, Mrs. Angie VanBuskirk. Jackson is the son of Keith and Melissa Pender. He participates in advanced placement classes and consistently achieves honor roll status at Edwardsville High School. His dedication to academics earned him recognition as a Illinois State Scholar Finalist. After school, Jackson is a member of the Ma Alpha Theta, as well as the EHS Math Team. In his spare time, Jackson enjoys programming and video games. He also likes listening to music and playing games. In the future, Jackson plans to attend SIUE and receive a master’s degree or higher in either electrical engineering or computer science. Specifically, he desires to go into circuitry; he also stated that he would be open to teaching within the field someday. The Edwardsville Rotary Club

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in their lawsuit to stop the dismantling of the Department of Education. On March 13, Raoul and the coalition filed their lawsuit after the Trump administration announced plans to eliminate half of the department’s workforce. Following a March 20 Executive Order directing the closure of the Department of Education and President Trump’s March 21 announcement that, in addition to implementing layoffs, the department must “immediately” transfer student loan management and special education services outside of the department, the coalition is seeking a court order to stop the mass layoffs and transfer of services. “States, including Illinois, are already feeling the impact of the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education,” Raoul said. “Enrollment deadlines for Illinois’

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ELSAH — Marquette Catholic High School junior Karly Davenport made headlines this weekend by breaking three school records at the recent Jersey Winter Thaw Indoor Meet held at Principia College. Davenport set new indoor records in the 60-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and triple jump. Davenport is a Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Female Athlete of the Month for the Explorers. The impressive performance at the meet adds to Davenport's accolades, as she previously set the outdoor school record in the 200-meter dash last season. Her achievements highlight her continued development as an athlete and contribute to the legacy of Marquette Catholic's track and field program. Davenport recorded a time of 27.4 for 200 meters in the Jersey Winter Thaw on March 15, 2025. She had a PR of 26.9 in the 200 meters last spring and 14-9 last spring in the long jump. She triple-jumped 31-7.5 last spring. Davenport is primed for an outstanding 2025 outdoor track season with her early indoor efforts.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has named Christopher Slaten, PhD, as its new Associate Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School. A dedicated leader in graduate education and research, Slaten brings a wealth of experience in fostering academic belonging and faculty mentorship. As SIUE continues its trajectory of growth in graduate studies and research, Slaten’s leadership is set to play a pivotal role in advancing the University’s mission. Originally from St. Louis, Slaten brings extensive experience in supporting the expansion of graduate education, providing research leadership, and developing academic belonging initiatives. "I am very excited to move over to SIUE from the University of Missouri and be closer to the place I have called home for most of my life. It is the community that I’d like to engage with and advance SIUE’s mission in the St. Louis Metro and Metro East region," said Slaten. "My priority is to build a

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ALTON - Students from Marquette Catholic High School showcased their academic prowess at the Academic Challenge for Engineering and Science (ACES) competition held at Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) recently. The event featured a range of subjects, with students competing in various disciplines. The Marquette team included Isabel Downey, Isabella Tran, Peyton Crane, Jessica Eales, Karly Davenport, and Thomas Masterson. Notably, Payton Crane achieved fourth place overall in English, while Thomas Masterson secured second place in Physics. Isabella Tran also excelled, finishing second in Biology. As a result of their performances, Isabella Tran and Thomas Masterson will advance to the ACES State competition, scheduled for April 15, 2025, at Eastern Illinois University. The event serves as a platform for students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in engineering and science disciplines.

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) have announced the completion of a new report, Illinois Materials Management and Recycling Opportunities . Following the Materials Management Advisory Committee’s (MMAC) report to the General Assembly in 2021, the Illinois EPA commissioned the ISTC at the University of Illinois to conduct a 2-year study of large volume recyclables that would provide information regarding recycling and diversion efforts in Illinois as well as barriers and opportunities for further diversion. The list of materials covered in this study includes organics, textiles, plastics, metal, and glass. The report discusses generation of the materials, their impacts on landfills and recycling, the existing infrastructure and end markets for each, and more information about the materials. ISTC supplemented materials management research with written and verbal stakeholder engagement in several

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement following reports of termination of the Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, and Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman. “Congress established the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) Officer position at the Department of Homeland to ensure that civil rights and civil liberties were integrated into every aspect of the Department’s work. As we noted in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Congress also required that the Officer have sufficient resources and personnel to accomplish this vital mission. “The President’s Executive Order requires federal agencies to cut costs

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-40), Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) and Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) introduced the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act. This bipartisan legislation would improve training for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees who process and decide military sexual trauma (MST) claims and help to reduce red tape for MST survivors who file for disability benefits. “Too many of our nation’s service members come home with invisible wounds. We can’t allow our disability claims process to deepen them,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to ensure that the VA claims process does not retraumatize survivors of military sexual trauma. Together, we can reduce red tape and enact long-overdue reform to better support our veterans.” “Veterans filing MST claims already face unthinkable

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JERSEYVILLE - Wok Restaurant, a staple in the Jerseyville community for nearly three decades, has announced it will close its doors for good on April 25, 2025. The decision comes as the owner, a member of the Hong family, prepares to retire and embark on a new chapter in life. The restaurant, known for its Asian cuisine, has been a beloved gathering place in Jerseyville for locals and visitors alike. In a heartfelt message to the community, the Hong family expressed their gratitude for the support they have received over the years. “To our loyal customers, dedicated staff, and the friends and neighbors who have been part of this journey—thank you,” the message read. Reflecting on their time in Jerseyville, the Hong family noted the pride and appreciation they feel for the memories and friendships formed throughout their years of service. The closure marks the end of an era for both the restaurant and its patrons, who have shared countless meals and moments within

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Office for Accessible Campus Community & Equitable Student Support (ACCESS) hailed the late disability rights activist Ed Roberts as a hero and pioneering leader. ACCESS also praised SIUE faculty, staff and students for their part in moving access rights forward during its 6th Annual Ed Roberts Champions of Accessibility Celebration and Awards on Monday, March 17, 2025. Roberts contracted polio that paralyzed him from the neck down and required him to use an iron lung or respirator to breathe, but it did not keep him from being the first wheelchair user to attend the University of California, Berkeley. The awards ceremony was the highlight of the program. “One of the ways that we recognize people on this campus who embody the spirit of Ed Roberts is through our Defender of Equity Awards,” said ACCESS Director Dominic Dorsey. “Many times, we talk about the disability rights movement as a social justice

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ALTON - Mayoral candidate and Third Ward Alderman Ray Strebel responded to a recently circulated recording involving property owner Zachariah Yinger, calling it a "political hit job" meant to distract voters from the real issue: who is actually taking action to clean up Alton. "This recording changes nothing," Strebel said. "It's a political stunt pushed by opponents who've been silent while I've done the hard work of cleaning up Alton." Strebel reiterated that he was contacted by Yinger and spoke with him as part of his effort to get troubled properties into better hands. "I'll take any call if it helps get bad actors out of Alton," Strebel said. "And I encourage anyone to actually listen to the recording — they'll hear someone focused on helping this city, not playing politics." Strebel was the first public official to call for the revocation of Yinger's business licenses and demand that Alton send a clear message that criminal behavior won't be tolerated. "My position has

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GODFREY - Godfrey First United Methodist Church will host their annual rummage sale to raise money for their missions. From 4–7 p.m. on Friday, April 4, and 8–11 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2025, community members can stop by the church and shop the donated items. Located at 1100 Airport Road in Godfrey, Godfrey First United Methodist Church hosts this rummage sale every year to raise money for local organizations, including Oasis Women’s Center, Crisis Food Center and Dream Home Charities. “It’s clean, it’s neat, it’s reasonably priced,” said Carolyn, one of the organizers. “They turn the church into a department store, and when I say department store, I mean every area has its own space.” On Friday, shoppers donate $2 to access the church. Carolyn and Jean, who spearheaded the rummage sale this year along with Shirley, explained that they have a wide variety of items, from pots and pans to glassware to yard decorations

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