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ALTON - At the 19th annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival on Saturday, September 120, Sierra Club Illinois’ Three Rivers Project , Alton Main Street , and the Jacoby Arts Center will award three local activists with the 2025 Confluence Conservation Leadership Award. The festival organizers have recognized community members who have made significant contributions to environmental conservation in the Riverbend region since 2007. This year’s Confluence Conservation Leadership awardees include: Amy Cloud and the Three Rivers Community Farm, Jo Anna Pollock of Simmons Hanly Conroy Law Firm, and Elise Ratcliff with the National Great Rivers Museum in Alton, IL. “All three award recipients have made significant contributions to sustainable and regenerative agriculture, healthy rivers, and environmental justice and conservation in the Riverbend and are unsung heroes in our region,” said Christine Favilla, Coordinator of the Three Rivers Project of Sierra

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ALTON – OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center has received its first-ever Magnet® Recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Most importantly, this recognition comes "with distinction," making OSF Saint Anthony’s the 46th hospital in the United States to be recognized with this award. Magnet with Distinction™ recognizes hospitals based on quality patient care and nursing excellence. Fewer than eight (8) percent of hospitals in the U.S. have earned Magnet with Distinction status. Additionally, the Magnet with Distinction™ program was created as a special designation to "celebrate hospitals and health care organizations that exceed scoring thresholds required to earn Magnet designation." Receiving the “Magnet with Distinction” honor is even more impressive in the following ways: OSF Saint Anthony’s is one of only 47 hospitals internationally to have earned the "Magnet with Distinction"

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that lane closures on eastbound Interstate 64 between 15th and 25th streets in St. Clair County will begin, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, for bridge deck patching. Traffic will be reduced to one lane. All lanes are scheduled to reopen by 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22. 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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ALTON - September is National Recovery Month, and OSF St. Anthony’s has several options to help those who are struggling with substance use disorders. Charlotte, Staci and Shannon with OSF St. Anthony’s noted the importance of marking National Recovery Month and providing top-notch care to their patients. They offer counseling and compassionate nursing as well as withdrawal management. “It’s a month that we celebrate people who have taken those steps towards recovery, maybe know people who are in addiction, looking for that to kind of heighten awareness around what it is that we offer and how we’re here to help,” explained Charlotte. “Many of us have been touched by addiction in our experiences personally and professionally.” OSF St. Anthony’s partners with New Visions, located at the health center, to provide medically-supervised withdrawal management. Individuals who are experiencing mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms

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ALTON/MADISON COUNTY - The Madison County Sheriff's Office and Alton Police Department recently received a donation from MustacheMarch4PD, a volunteer-based organization that supports law enforcement and collaborates with several area police departments to foster positive community interactions. The contribution will be used to fund the addition of a third K9 unit for the sheriff’s office, officials said. "This volunteer-based organization supports law enforcement and frequently collaborates with several area Police Departments to help create positive community interactions," the sheriff's office said. "We are extremely thankful for their contribution." “We also know this wouldn’t be possible without the generous donations from the individuals, families, and businesses in our communities,” the Alton Police Department said in a statement. “We are grateful for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to making a positive impact. Partnerships lik

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Metropolitan Police lost two police officers on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, one to illness and another in a fatal car accident in East St. Louis, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has announced. District 4 Officer Malik Baker was killed in a car accident on Interstate 55 in Illinois while driving to work. The crash occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday on southbound I-55 in East St. Louis, according to the Illinois State Police. ISP said Baker was driving a Toyota SUV and was traveling behind a Ford van carrying a trailer when he collided with the back of the van. Baker was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the van was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries. Officer Baker had served the City of St. Louis for nearly four years. The police department described both officers as having served the community with honor and commitment. District 2 Sergeant James Sanders, a 31-year veteran, died after a prolonged battle with cancer. Despite

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OTTERVILLE – The 42nd annual Hamilton Primary School Festival is returning soon to the historical grounds of America’s first-ever integrated school. This year’s festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 from 12 to 5 p.m. The event will welcome visitors to the historic schoolhouse grounds at 107 E. Main St. in Otterville for a weekend of fun with games, food, live music, and more – with no cost for admission. 2025 also marks the 26th year of the festival’s famous Bake-Off and Auction on Saturday, Sept. 27. Participants are encouraged to bake their best cookies, pastries, pie, cake, or bread for a chance to win one of three cash prizes: $30 for first place, $20 for second place, and $15 for third place. Bake-Off contestants should only prepare one item per entry, unless they’re submitting cookies or pastries, in which case they should prepare a dozen of either item. All entries must be brought

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BETHALTO - A teacher at Civic Memorial High School is one of 50 Voya Unsung Hero awardees in the country. Angie Parish, who teaches Medical Careers 1 and 2 at Civic Memorial, is the only teacher in Illinois who has been recognized by Voya. Parish’s classes provide hands-on training and shadowing opportunities for students who are interested in pursuing careers in medicine. “It’s really cool to have that opportunity and for it to be able to turn into something that's going to keep impacting students long past my career,” Parish said. “It’s very cool that the kids get to do this.” As part of the award, Parish received a $2,000 grant, which will go toward the purchase of CPR manikins and AEDs. These wishlist items will allow for CPR training that is “a lot easier and a lot more realistic” for the students. Parish conceptualized and began teaching Medical Careers 2 last year. After learning the basics in Medical Careers 1,

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ALTON - Alton High School’s girls cross country team placed fifth at the Belleville West Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, with senior Sophia Helfrich leading the way in the varsity girls race. Helfrich finished 14th out of 65 runners, posting a season-best time of 20 minutes, 15.5 seconds. The meet took place at Belleville West High School, where Alton competed against eight other teams. Highland High School won the event with 41 points, while Alton scored 119 points to secure fifth place. In addition to Helfrich’s performance, senior Monica Klockenkemper finished 17th with a time of 20:31.8, and senior Aliyah Rehling placed 23rd, completing the race in 21:09.8. Junior Allison Pruitt was 30th with a time of 22:11.6, senior Morgan Jinks came in 42nd at 24:22.8, and sophomore Anna Caughran finished 46th with a time of 25:36.2. The girls’ cross country squad members are Auto Butler Female Athletes of the Month for Alton.

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BELLEVILLE - The Alton High boys cross country team had a bundle of outstanding performances in the Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, Belleville West Invite. Senior Hank McClaine led the Alton boys' cross country team with a personal record at the Belleville West Cross Country Invite, helping the team secure sixth place out of 11 teams. McClaine won the boys varsity race with a time of 15 minutes, 16.5 seconds. The meet took place at Belleville West High School, where 76 runners competed in the varsity race. Redbirds' freshman Isaiah Cooper finished 33rd with a personal record of 17:52.6. Sophomore Austin Jones placed 47th, setting a personal best of 19:10.9. Junior Elias Clark and freshman Ezra Pfleger also achieved personal records, finishing with times of 19:22.7 and 19:30.7, respectively. Sophomore Gustavo Alcazar completed the race in 20:54.2, and junior Chase Baxter finished with a time of 21:46.9. Alton's boys team scored 178 points overall, placing sixth behind Highland, which won

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Alejandro Sanz, MD , wants women dealing with breast cancer to know: a diagnosis might not mean you have to lose your breasts and the identity and confidence that come with them. The OSF HealthCare surgeon who specializes in breast surgery says if the disease is caught early, doctors and patients can review options to maintain the breasts. “Breast conservation surgery has developed significantly in the last few years. It’s an option that’s getting more and more common,” Dr. Sanz says. “With advances in screening mammograms and imaging quality, we are able to detect suspicious lesions early in their development. That’s good for breast conservation surgery because you’re dealing with less disease. That will also improve the prognosis overall.” Dr. Sanz performs breast conservation surgery that’s minimally invasive with a goal of addressing the cancer and keeping the breasts cosmetically pleasing (hiding scars, for example). “We

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CHICAGO - After successfully fighting to restore funding that had been frozen by the Trump Administration, Governor JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and the Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that $18.4 million in grants is being awarded to build 25 charging stations for electric vehicles along interstate corridors. The funding is made possible through the second round of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which is helping to invest in communities and generate economic development while advancing our goal to have a million EVs registered in Illinois by 2030. “Illinois has been at the forefront of building a clean energy economy that creates jobs and helps lower costs for consumers, and building electric vehicle chargers across the states has been core to that mission,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “I’m thankful for the quick action of our Attorney General in the fight to restore these funds that Presiden

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CHICAGO — Landmarks Illinois announced the recipients of the 2025 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards, recognizing nine outstanding preservation projects across the state that demonstrate excellence in reuse, sustainability and community impact. The awards will be presented at a public ceremony on November 7 at Theater on the Lake in Chicago. Among the honorees are projects in Granite City and Millstadt that highlight adaptive reuse and community advocacy. The Edison Ave Art Lofts in Granite City received the award for Adaptive Reuse for transforming the historic former Tri-County YMCA into a mixed-use development. Led by Rise Community Development and its partners, the project created affordable housing and community art space, including housing for veterans, while preserving the character of the nearly century-old landmark. In Millstadt, the Friends of the Old Millstadt Water Tower earned the Advocacy award for their successful, years-long grassroots campaign

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ALTON - Community members can support the Episcopal Parish of Alton’s pet food pantry through their Dawgs 4 Paws event. From 2–4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, the Episcopal Parish of Alton will host the event in their garden at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 10 East Third Street in Alton. Pets can receive vaccines and blessings while their owners enjoy a silent auction, hotdogs, live music and more fun. The event aims to raise funds and awareness for the parish’s pet food pantry, which serves over 100 animals every month. “Our faith tells us to live our faith, to live out the mission of Christ, and to care and help people,” explained Father Garron Daniels. “There are plenty of food pantries out there and other types of pantries, but we’ve really come to realize that there are no real supports present for people who have pets.” The Episcopal Parish started their pet food pantry in 2022. From 12:30–1:30 p.m. on the first

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GODFREY – As the leaves begin to turn and a crisp breeze fills the air, we invite you to embrace the beauty of the season at Forest Fest, set to take place on Saturday, October 4, in the heart of The Nature Institute. This new community event celebrates the splendor of fall with activities, food, and entertainment for all ages. This event will replace Enchanted Forest in hopes of encouraging more families to attend at a better time of day. Event Highlights Education Booths: Learn from our education partners about fish, pollinators, plants, birds, the sun, and so much more at Forest Fest. Sweet Treats: Savor the yummy confections from an ice cream truck and build your own s'more at our campfire. Children's Activities: Keep the little ones entertained with a range of fun activities, including face painting, carnival games, and scavenger hunts. Nature Walks and Trolley Tours: Join guided walks through the scenic forest trails or jump on one of our free trolley

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GRANITE CITY - Students in Mrs. Parker’s Career Exploration class at Granite City High School had an opportunity to explore the nursing profession during a visit from Alisa Richter of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Nursing on . The presentation provided an overview of nursing roles, responsibilities, and career pathways, along with details about SIUE’s nursing program and admissions process. Richter engaged students with an interactive demonstration featuring a baby simulator that allowed participants to hold a lifelike infant, listen to its heartbeat, and hear realistic cries. This hands-on experience aimed to illustrate aspects of nursing care in a practical setting. The visit offered students a comprehensive look at the nursing field and the educational steps required to enter the profession. Photos of the event were taken by Brayden Cook. Photo by Brayden Cook

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EDWARDSVILLE – Three battery cases from the Edwardsville Police Department involve two local residents accused of battering each other on a transit bus and a third accused of biting a police officer’s hand after an alleged domestic battery. Nathaniel Smith, 34, of Alton, was charged on Sept. 11, 2025 with a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery and a Class C misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. Smith allegedly struck the victim, Bijan J. Mehmadoost, about the body in a public place on Aug. 7, 2025. Specifically, he is accused of attacking Mehmadoost on a Madison County Transit (MCT) bus which was located at the intersection of East Schwarz Street and South Kansas Street at the time of the offense. Mehmadoost, a 36-year-old Edwardsville resident, was charged on Sept. 11, 2025 with a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery and a Class C misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. Mehmadoost is accused of punching Smith and pepper straying him on the same date

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BRIDEVIEW – Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) has confirmed the first human West Nile virus-related death in suburban Cook County and Illinois this year. A suburban Cook County resident, whose age is in the 60s, has died. Laboratory testing has confirmed that West Nile virus was a contributing factor to the resident’s death. West Nile virus occurs in humans when they are bitten by mosquitoes that contracted the virus by feeding on infected birds. The risk of West Nile virus in suburban Cook County remains high. Since May 11, when the surveillance period began, through Sept. 6, suburban Cook County has recorded 33 cases of West Nile virus , almost twice the number of cases from last year. Of the total 33 West Nile virus cases, 22 have been neuroinvasive, meaning that the central nervous system was affected. Last year, 19 West Nile virus cases and five deaths were reported in suburban Cook County. Overall, the state of Illinois recorded 69 human cases

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CARLINVILLE — From September 1 through October 31, 2025, drivers in Macoupin County can support adults with developmental disabilities by fueling up at four local Shell stations featuring specially marked purple pumps. The stations, owned and operated by Carlinville-based J.F. Boente & Sons, will donate a portion of sales from these designated pumps to the Macoupin Center for the Developmentally Disabled (MCDD), a nonprofit day learning center serving developmentally disabled adults in the rural community. The initiative, part of Shell’s nationwide Giving Pump program, allows consumers to contribute to a local cause at no additional cost simply by choosing the marked pump. J.F. Boente & Sons, a fourth-generation Shell wholesaler with nearly a century of history in Carlinville, is partnering with MCDD to raise funds that will help expand the center’s programs and welcome new students. MCDD, now in its 70th year, provides education, transportation, food security, an

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ALTON - Alton Main Street , the Sierra Club Illinois ’ Three Rivers Project and Jacoby Arts Center are announcing the return of the Mississippi Earthtones Festival to Alton’s Riverfront Amphitheater on Saturday, September 20th from noon until 10:00 p.m. This 19th annual free event boasts 25 environmental education exhibits, 95 eco-friendly artists and makers, and 10 culinary vendors. The popular festival attracts approximately 5,000 community members and tourists to Downtown Alton to celebrate our river through art, music, and conservation every third Saturday in September. The theme of this year’s MEF is ‘Bloom Where You’re Planted’, and Alton’s riverfront will be filled with art that reflects this message. Local artists have been commissioned to build large installations that will enhance the festival grounds and delight festival goers. The Riverbend Yarn Bombers are adding onto last year’s fantastical walk-through yarn cottage

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