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Did you know that the American flag has undergone 27 official versions since its inception, each reflecting the evolving identity of the nation? Behind the stars and stripes lies a rich history that is commemorated annually on Flag Day, a celebration that honors not just a symbol, but the ideals and unity it represents. The Origins of Flag Day Flag Day in the United States is observed on June 14, a date chosen to honor the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. The resolution that created the flag stated: “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” The idea of dedicating a specific day to the flag emerged over a century later. One pivotal figure was Bernard J. Cigrand, a schoolteacher who first celebrated Flag Day in 1885 in Waubeka, Wisconsin.

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June 14 has long been a date marked by transformative moments that have rippled across the globe, shaping societies and inspiring generations. One of the most globally impactful events that took place on June 14 happened in 1777, when the Continental Congress of the United States adopted the Stars and Stripes as the official national flag. This was more than just a design choice; it was a bold statement of unity and identity amid the struggle for independence. The flag, with its thirteen stars and stripes, represented the original thirteen colonies coming together, symbolizing hope, freedom, and the birth of a nation. Today, the American flag remains a potent emblem of resilience and patriotism, recognized worldwide. Moving forward in history, June 14, 1846, marked a significant moment in the expansion of the American frontier. The Oregon Treaty was signed between the United States and Great Britain, setting the boundary at the 49th parallel and peacefully resolving territorial disputes

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, with leaders from 21 states, filed an amicus brief supporting California’s request for a court order blocking President Trump’s unlawful federalization and deployment of that state’s National Guard. The amicus brief outlines how Trump’s action is wholly inconsistent with our nation’s founding principle that freedom depends on the subordination of the military to civilian authority. “To demand accountability from elected officials and to peacefully protest injustice are the responsibilities of every American, particularly at this extraordinary moment in our nation’s history. However, it is absolutely unacceptable for anyone to engage in unlawful activities, such as violence or destruction of property, under the guise of a protest. Those who participate in such conduct should be held accountable,” Raoul said. “Just as members of local law enforcement know how best to protect their communitie

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CHICAGO – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul today issued a statement on a decision by the District Court for the District of Massachusetts granting a preliminary injunction blocking unlawful provisions in President Donald Trump’s unprecedented elections executive order. Attorney General Raoul co-led a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the order in May. “Nothing is more fundamental to the perseverance of our democracy than the right to vote. Today’s decision by the court acknowledges that Congress and individual states – not the president – has the authority to oversee the elections process. “While serving in the state senate, I led the effort to pass the Illinois Voting Rights Act as well as a constitutional amendment enshrining the right to vote in our Constitution. These actions have ensured Illinois has some of the strongest election laws in the country, guaranteeing access to the ballot box, encouraging

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COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that Interstate 255 from Illinois 157 to Illinois 15 in St. Clair County will reopen to traffic, weather permitting, by 6 p.m. Saturday, June 14, more than six weeks ahead of schedule. Made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program, the accelerated $65.4 million project is the second of five phases to repair and improve I-255. “Since day one as governor, I’ve made it my mission to invest in the highways, streets, and bridges that support safe commutes for the people of Illinois,” said Gov. Pritzker. “Over the years, we’ve worked to speed up these projects, minimizing construction delays and saving taxpayers money. Today’s reopening is a testament to the hard work and impressive planning from the IDOT team, and I’m excited to get drivers back on the road.” By completely closing the work zone instead of accommodating

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CHICAGO – As people in Chicago, Los Angeles and cities around the nation peacefully protest unlawful policies and orders issued by the Trump administration, Attorney General Kwame Raoul today released guidance to help them do so safely. Raoul’s “ Know Your Rights Advisory: Safely Participating in Peaceful Protests in Illinois ” is available on the Attorney General’s website to help Illinois residents understand their rights and responsibilities while participating in protected First Amendment protests. Attorney General Raoul also issued a guidance summary to ensure local law enforcement officials understand key provisions of the Illinois TRUST Act, which generally prohibits state and local law enforcement from participating in federal civil immigration enforcement. “It is impossible to ignore the widespread injustice taking place around the nation at the direction of the Trump administration, and it is incumbent upon all of us to speak out and

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Congressman Seth Magaziner (RI-02), co-leads of the Congressional Labor Caucus Building Trades Task Force, joined Labor Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) and union leaders outside the U.S. Capitol to oppose efforts by President Trump and Congressional Republicans to repeal clean energy tax credits in their proposed tax megabill. The lawmakers were joined by Brent Booker, President of the Laborers' International Union of North America; Eric Dean, President of the Ironworkers; and Dean Warsh, Government Affairs Director of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Together, they warned that repealing key tax credit provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act would cause massive job losses as the bill moves through the Senate. "The clean energy tax credits enacted through the Inflation Reduction Act have been nothing short of transformative. Across the country, they have spurred massive

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SPRINGFIELD - Chris Mitchell, commissioner of the Granite City Park District, recently attended the Illinois Association of Park Districts’ (IAPD) 2025 Boot Camp. IAPD offers the educational course to elected officials and professionals at Illinois park districts. Attendees receive targeted, in-depth training on an array of topics including good governance, the Open Meetings Act; making a difference through legislative advocacy; breaking down the fundamentals and best practices of park district finances; implementing inclusivity strategies; promoting effective relationships among the board, executive director, and staff; and adhering to ethical requirements. “This content-rich program provides tremendous benefits to board members and staff and sets them on track to advance their agencies as a unified force. They gain a greater appreciation of the critical role that park commissioners play in good governance, compliance with state law, and enhancing the quality of life

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GRANITE CITY – A Granite City man with multiple prior convictions faces new felony charges after police found a firearm in his home. Timothy Johnson Jr., 32, of Granite City, was charged on May 30, 2025 with a Class X felony count of possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender and a Class 2 felony count of felon in possession of a weapon. Johnson allegedly possessed an Anderson Arms Voodoo Witch Doctor 5.56 caliber rifle after previously being convicted of aggravated robbery in a 2011 St. Clair County case, and of domestic battery in three prior Madison County cases from 2018, 2019, and 2022. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to deny Johnson’s pretrial release from custody, stating authorities found the weapon while executing a search warrant at Johnson’s residence. The rifle had been reported as stolen, according to the petition. The Granite City Police Department presented the case against Johnson, who was ordered

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COTTAGE HILLS – A man from Cottage Hills remains in custody after “headbutting” and strangling a domestic battery victim, then smashing their cell phone to stop them from calling 911. Carmen I. Landreth, 50, of Cottage Hills, was charged on June 13, 2025 with one count each of aggravated domestic battery (a Class 2 felony), domestic battery, and interfering with the reporting of domestic battery (both Class A misdemeanors). On June 12, 2025, Landreth allegedly strangled a family or household member and struck them in the face with his forehead. He was also accused of destroying the victim’s cell phone to prevent the victim from calling 911 and reporting the incident. A petition to deny Landreth’s pretrial release from custody was filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office. According to the petition, Landreth became angry with the victim for seeking an Order of Protection against him and “struck her in the eye with his head

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Justin Baker, MD, clutches a tiny koala bear as he talks about his approach to treating children facing a life-limiting or life-ending illness. The oncologist and palliative care specialist was a keynote speaker at a recent OSF Innovation showcase at the Jump Simulation & Education Center in Peoria, Illinois. Dr. Baker has also served as a consultant for palliative care at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois. The koala reinforces his message: Quality of Life for All Kids or QoLA which means embedding palliative care early and into every aspect of caring for a very sick child. Dr. Baker is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric palliative care with more than 30 years of experience and helped develop one of the country’s first integrated programs dedicated to this approach. He is now the chief of the Division of Quality of Life and Pediatric Palliative Care at Stanford Medicine. Additionally, he serves as the associate chief quality officer for Patient Experience

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You’ve probably heard the saying, “Treat your body like a temple.” Bob Weaver admits he used to treat his like a tent. The 62-year-old OSF HealthCare Mission Partner (employee) from Danville, Illinois, has had three heart stents to fix blockages. The most recent came in October 2024, something he dubbed a “last chance wake up call.” And wake up he did. During cardiac rehabilitation, Weaver lost 33 pounds, four inches off his waist and got his blood pressure and cholesterol back to a healthy level. Now, he and his care team are using the experience to educate others: how will your body change when recovering from a heart event? What’s normal, and what’s not? Things to track in cardiac rehab Tricia Herman is a registered nurse who was on the team who guided Weaver in cardiac rehab. She emphasizes that cardiac rehab isn’t a weight loss program. But, a slim down like Weaver had isn’t uncommon. “Everybody’s different,”

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COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Police Department announced in its weekly "Fugitive Friday" social media post that Alec A. Bill has an outstanding felony warrant for Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Possession of a Controlled Substance after missing a scheduled court date. The department is seeking assistance from the public in locating Bill and encourages anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact them anonymously at 618-344-2131, extension 5209. In a social media post, the police department said, “Alec! If you see this post, turn yourself in to any police department.” The post also noted that individuals who fail to appear for court may have their photos posted online as part of the department’s effort to encourage compliance. These charges and statements made herein are based upon probable cause. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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ALTON - The Alton Motor Boat Club is celebrating its 84th anniversary in the Riverbend. Established in 1941, the Alton Motor Boat Club is a community of boaters and river enthusiasts. They currently have around 420 members. Member Scott Mifflin shared that the club has welcomed “generations” of boaters over the years, and he loves watching newcomers interact with longtime members and share their love for the river. “It was the first motor boat club in the area. What we do is just provide a location and a community for boaters,” he said. “It’s pretty exciting for us to have all the traditions and customs and courtesies that we’ve tried to keep alive since back then. The river changes all the time, but the boaters don’t, necessarily, so it’s been an honor for us to be able to maintain those customs and courtesies of the river and to bring in older people and newer people. There’s new people that start boating every day,

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ALTON - The Alton Midwest Nationals F1 Powerboat Championship returns to Alton next month, and organizers couldn’t be more excited. On July 18–20, 2025, community members can enjoy the second annual powerboat races on the Alton riverfront. Tickets are available now and families are encouraged to come by, check out the local vendors, enjoy the racing and have a great weekend on the river. “Riverfront Park is an absolutely beautiful facility coupled with the amphitheater right there,” said Tim, one of the organizers. “We want to be able to get the families out there.” The fun starts on Friday afternoon, July 18, with a test-and-tune session on the river. The racers will begin testing at 2 p.m., and this is completely free to attend and watch from Riverfront Park. The testing will be followed by a meet-and-greet street party with the racers from 6:30–8:30 p.m. on July 18 at Mac’s Downtown. Kids and fans alike can interact with

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MADISON COUNTY — Christina C. Costello of Cedar Lake, Indiana, has been charged with two counts of residential burglary for allegedly impersonating an Ameren employee and stealing valuables from elderly residents in Madison County and surrounding areas. Over the past several months, suspects posing as Ameren employees have burglarized multiple homes in the bi-state region, primarily targeting elderly individuals and taking prized possessions. The incidents occurred in the 700 block of Oakwood Avenue in East Alton and the 100 block of Hilltop Place in Collinsville. Detectives from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office collaborated with Missouri law enforcement and conducted witness interviews and search warrants to identify those responsible. The cases were presented to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office on June 11, 2025. Costello faces two counts of residential burglary, classified as a Class 1 felony. She is currently not in custody. Authorities

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GODFREY — Hope Animal Rescues, a nonprofit organization founded in November 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, is seeking donations to recover from financial losses sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization, which initially cared for 17 dogs rescued from the hurricane, focuses on saving dogs from animal control facilities where they face euthanasia within 7 to 14 days. Operating without breed or age restrictions, Hope Animal Rescues collaborates with animal control centers to pull dogs at risk of being euthanized. The group opens the first kennel holding a dog scheduled for euthanasia each day, rescuing those that are friendly until reaching their daily capacity. According to the organization, it is a difficult reality that not all dogs can be saved. Since the onset of the pandemic, the rescue has experienced a decline in revenue, and with ongoing economic uncertainty, it continues to face financial challenges. The organization reports a current shortfall of $17,000

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BELLEVILLE - One local certified nursing assistant credits Midwest Career Source Professional School for putting her on the path to success. Leonna Dotson decided to enroll at MCS because she wanted to build a career, not just secure a job. She began on-the-job training, received her CNA certification, and has been recognized by Memorial Hospital/BJC for her work. Now, she has ambitions to become a registered nurse, and she believes MCS gave her the boost she needed to succeed. “ This program changed everything for me,” Dotson said. “I now have a career, not just a job. I'm confident, financially stable, and most importantly, I can be the role model my children deserve.” Dr. Sulbrena Day, RN, MSC, PhD, co-founded MCS in 2012 to help people start their careers in the healthcare industry. The school offers wraparound support, apprenticeship model training, and trauma-informed classrooms to support students. “As a vocational school, we provide job

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ALTON - Kids and adults of all ages are invited to The Old Bakery Beer Company for a magic show and balloon animal presentation this weekend. From 7–9 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2025, community members can enjoy the Magical Mayhem Show with Professor Longhair and John Johnson. The magicians promise close-up magic, standup comedy, balloon animals and lots of fun. “There’s going to be money pulled out of the air, cards all over the place, just all sorts of craziness,” said John Johnson. Tickets cost $35 and include two free drink vouchers. Johnson and the Professor encourage people to come to The Old Bakery Beer Company early to have dinner, then stop by the event room to enjoy the show. The Magical Mayhem performance is suitable for all ages. The magicians will perform two 20-minute sets each. There will be two giveaways at the end of the night. Audience members have the chance to win a 30-minute balloon art presentation or a 30-minute closeup

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EDWARDSVILLE - The NTT INDYCAR Series returns to the St. Louis region Friday and Saturday, June 14-15, for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) in Madison, Ill. Among the many attractions at this major motorsports event, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Formula SAE team will be featured on STEM Lane, showcasing their student-built race car to thousands of race fans. STEM Lane, located in the racetrack’s midway, offers interactive exhibits and hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities for fans of all ages. SIUE’s presence highlights the University’s commitment to experiential learning and its support for aspiring engineers. SIUE’s Formula SAE is a student organization that supplements classroom instruction with practical, hands-on experience in automotive engineering. Each year, the team designs and fabricates a Formula-style race car to compete in the Formula Student International

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