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ALTON - The Wedge and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) are proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership that will transform the economic landscape of the greater Alton Metro Region. The collaboration, branded as "The Wedge Powered by SIUE," will create a dynamic ecosystem for innovation, education, and community development when The Wedge officially begins operations on April 7, 2025. This strategic alliance builds upon AltonWorks' community revitalization efforts and leverages SIUE's academic excellence to catalyze regional economic transformation. The Wedge will serve as a 55,000-square-foot social impact hub, research lab, thinktank, and workspace that drives innovation across Illinois and Missouri and ultimately extend across the Midwest. "This partnership represents a pivotal moment for our region," said John Simmons, AltonWorks CEO. "By bringing together SIUE's research capabilities and educational programming with The Wedge's innovative workspace, we're creating

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EAST ST. LOUIS — The body of a 19-year-old man was discovered in an alley in East St. Louis on Sunday, March 9, 2025, prompting an investigation by Illinois State Police. The victim, identified as Byron E. Gettis Jr., was found in the 1700 block of Gay Avenue and had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. He was pronounced dead at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. The Illinois State Police confirmed it was called to the scene by the East St. Louis Police Department at 6:33 p.m. on Sunday to investigate. Byron Gettis Jr. was the son of former Major League Baseball player Byron Gettis Sr., who played for the Kansas City Royals in 2004. Following his baseball career, Gettis Sr. transitioned into coaching football and has been a prominent figure in the local sports community. Earlier this year, Gettis Sr. celebrated his son’s enlistment in the U.S. Army and said at that time he was very proud of his son's entry into the U.S. Army. The investigation

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ALTON – Today, Madison County Circuit Clerk Patrick McRae and Madison County Auditor David Michael announced their endorsement of Ray Strebel for the 2025 Alton mayoral race. As respected local leaders committed to fiscal responsibility and regional progress, both officials lauded Strebel’s unwavering integrity, demonstrated leadership, and common-sense plans for Alton’s future as the driving forces behind their enthusiastic support. “Alton needs an innovator,” said Circuit Clerk McRae, “a Mayor with a clear vision who is ready to lead. Ray Strebel is ready to hit the ground running. As you know, Ray has an impressive resume as an entrepreneur, businessman, and in real estate. Alton needs a Mayor like Ray, a family man with a proven record of success. It’s time to send an innovator to the mayor’s seat.” Auditor David Michael echoed McRae’s sentiments, adding: “With the high cost of living, residents can’t afford

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) led 159 members of Congress in a letter to President Trump expressing concern over his proposal to fire the United States Postal Service's (USPS) Board of Governors and merge the Postal Service into the Department of Commerce. The members write , “Any attempts to privatize the Postal Service would be a betrayal to the more than 640,000 postal employees who work tirelessly every day to ensure mail is delivered to every corner of the country. It would also hurt American consumers and businesses who rely on the Postal Service daily for mail and package delivery. These changes would be especially devastating for rural Americans, where the potential elimination of the Postal Service’s universal service obligation would result in skyrocketing delivery costs for less populated regions of the country, where reliable service is most needed.” Congresswoman Budzinski has been a staunch advocate o

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ALTON/ST. LOUIS - An Alton High School senior has been nominated for a regional theater award. Nadja Kapetanovich received a St. Louis Theater Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama for her performance in “The Whale” with St. Louis Actors’ Studio. Kapetanovich said that her experience with the St. Louis Actors’ Studio was “like none other,” and she is proud of the nomination. “I have always loved the idea of playing a role and getting to tell a story to an audience,” she said. “I specifically found a deep passion for dramas, which is the reason why I decided to audition. I love the experience of getting to emotionally connect and move audiences through a heartbreaking story.” Kapetanovich began acting at age 8 and has been “hooked ever since.” She is currently preparing to play the Baker’s Wife in Alton High School’s production of “Into the Woods,” se

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SPRINGFIELD - Tax season is well underway, and with the documents and number-crunching come con artists looking to steal your money. “As you prepare to file your state and federal income tax returns, it’s important to protect your personal information,” says Comptroller Mendoza. “Scammers use this time of year as an opportunity to take advantage of people just trying to get their paperwork done.” Most commonly, con artists will pose as an IRS employee, contacting people by text, email or phone and asking for personal information or even offering a refund. Some calls may be threatening, saying the taxpayer needs to send money right away or click on a link to correct a problem on their return. The IRS’ preferred method of communication is mail through the USPS so be suspicious of any other contact. What’s even scarier is that scammers are now using AI to replicate the voice of a trusted accountant or tax preparer so if you feel like something

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is hosting its first ever all-women recruitment event to encourage women to explore the many career paths available both as sworn police officers and as civilian employees. The ISP Academy will be open to the public for the free event on March 18, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ISP will share employment information and provide opportunities to meet professionals in various law enforcement specialties, including forensic science, investigations, telecommunications, crime scene services, patrol, and more. ISP is committed to increasing the number of women at ISP and is participating in the 30X30 Initiative , a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations who have joined together to support and advance the representation, experiences, and well-being of women in policing agencies. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, about 14% of full-time sworn officers and 11% of first-line supervisors across local

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC)—and U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, legislation that would reinstate Veterans who were fired from their jobs as part of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s indiscriminate purge of federal employees. Veterans make up more than 30 percent of the federal workforce and it is estimated that Trump and Musk have already fired more than 6,000 of those men and women who have served in uniform. “Donald Trump and Elon Musk have fired more Veterans than any Administration in our nation’s history—it is a stunningly cruel betrayal of the men and women who bravely answered the call to serve our country in uniform,” said Senator Duckworth. “Veterans who choose to continue their service to our country in the federal workforce deserve our utmost gratitude, but instead this Administration

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City Police Department officers and staff recently took part in the 2025 Polar Plunge, an event aimed at raising funds for Special Olympics. Officers Eric Klumpp, Nick Zambito, Elliott Brinkmeyer, and Telecommunicator Beth Garrison represented the department during the event. The Polar Plunge, which encourages participants to brave cold waters for a charitable cause, has become a popular way to support athletes with intellectual disabilities. The Granite City Police Department's involvement underscores its commitment to community engagement and support for local initiatives. "Thank you to each of them for representing the Granite City Police Department," the department said in a statement acknowledging their participation. The event not only raises funds but also fosters a sense of camaraderie among participants and supporters.

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 38 attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), proposed a final package of remedies to end Google’s illegal monopoly over internet search engines and restore competition to the benefit of consumers. The revised proposal is similar to the robust package of remedies the coalition and DOJ offered in November . Raoul and coalition have worked closely with the DOJ to offer a comprehensive and legally sound proposal that promises to tear down barriers to entry, restore competition, and invite renewed innovation and consumer benefits in the monopolized markets. “Our remedies included in this revised proposal ensures Google cannot maintain its monopoly as an online search engine,” Raoul said. “Consumers deserve to have alternatives to Google’s platform and to have confidence their online searches are returning results that best meet their needs. I will continue

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EDWARDSVILLE - The City of Edwardsville and the Illinois Secretary of State are teaming up once more to offer a Mobile DMV service in the city. It will take place at the R.P. Lumber Center on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. The Mobile DMV is part of an effort by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office to provide some of the basic Illinois Department of Motor Vehicle services, including REAL IDs, at easily accessible community sites. It’s an additional and alternative option to visiting a traditional DMV location. This service of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office has been offered in Edwardsville several times since last year. “We are happy to host the Mobile DMV’s return to Edwardsville to offer an additional way to access Illinois Secretary of State services,” Mayor Art Risavy said. The Mobile DMV will operate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the community rooms at the R.P. Lumber Center, 6289 Tiger Drive. No appointments are necessary. Services to

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Beginning in April, commemorating the start of Autism Acceptance Month, veteran Nashville based music producer and podcast host Tony Mantor will launch Humanity Over Handcuffs: The Silent Crisis, a special series on his chart topping Why Not Me the World podcast on autism. During his recent address to the U.S. Congress President Trump cited the rising prevalence of autism diagnoses which have risen from one in 10,000 children, to one in 36. More specifically, how Autistic people have been historically treated in the legal system will be Mantor’s specific focus on the special series launching in April. Autism and the legal system is undoubtedly a relative topic and societal challenge that has been recently reported on by NPR, Salon, The Marshall Report and ABA Journal. Mantor’s new series seeks to revitalize a conversation around the highly sensitive topic to bring about solutions. “The series purpose is to refrain from assigning blame,

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general, is seeking a temporary restraining order against numerous federal agencies, asking that a federal court order them to cease the illegal mass layoffs of federal probationary employees, and to reinstate those who have been fired. Today’s motion comes after the coalition filed a lawsuit against the agencies over the illegal firings last night. The motion , seeking immediate relief, is necessary because the mass firings by federal agencies are causing irreparable harm to Illinois and the other plaintiff states. The ongoing and sudden mass firings are straining state resources to support recently unemployed workers and to review and adjudicate claims of unemployment assistance. In the two months since the president’s inauguration, approximately 446 terminated federal employees in Illinois have applied to the state for unemployment benefits. That number is almost as many claims as were

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ALTON - Mustache March 4PD will host their eighth annual “Back the Blue” event. On March 28, 2025, at Bluff City Grill in Alton, community members are invited to enjoy food, live music, raffles, a mustache contest and more. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $30 and all proceeds benefit MM4PD’s mission to support local police departments. This year, they hope to raise $80,000. “Our whole goal is to build that community between police and citizens because they both have a view of each other that might not be exactly what is happening,” explained Wesley, one of the event’s organizers. “If we can be that bridge that shows that, hey, these officers are normal people, husbands, wives, just like anybody else, they have kids and problems and everything. And then show the police that there is a community that does care for them, and it’s not just the 1% they deal with on a daily basis, there’s a lot

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GODFREY – In celebration of Women’s History Month, Lewis and Clark Community College’s Diversity Council will present “Melting Stereotypes: Women in Welding” with Netflix and YouTube star Stephanie Hoffman. The event takes place at 11 a.m., Monday, March 10, at the Reid Memorial Library on the Godfrey Campus. Stephanie Hoffman, a renowned welder, educator and advocate for women in skilled trades, has gained national recognition for her work in promoting diversity and inclusion in welding. As a former cast member of Netflix’s Metal Shop Masters and a prominent YouTube personality, she has been instrumental in challenging industry norms and empowering the next generation of tradeswomen. “Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of women across all industries, and we are honored to have Stephanie Hoffman join us to shed light on the importance of gender equity in the workforce,” L&C History Professor Kelly

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a Fayette County man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. The Attorney General’s office prosecuted Izacc A. Logue, 41, of St. Elmo, Illinois, who was sentenced by Fayette County Circuit Court Judge Chad Miller after pleading guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography and one count of unlawful possession of cannabis over 5,000 grams. “Individuals who prey upon and exploit children must be held accountable for the trauma they have inflected upon survivors and their families.” Raoul said. “My office’s partnerships with law enforcement agencies are helping us investigate and obtain

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), along with U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), introduced bipartisan legislation to boost workload at U.S. Army arsenals, including Rock Island Arsenal. The Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act would incentivize private industry to partner with arsenals by giving preference to public-private partnerships in Army contracting. As no workload requirement currently exists for Army arsenals, the legislation would provide arsenals with a more predictable, sustained workload throughout the year and allow them to keep costs low while remaining competitive with private industry in the manufacturing or procurement of defense products. The bill would have a direct impact on Rock Island Arsenal, helping the arsenal to maintain existing union jobs, attract new projects and workers, and keep costs down. “Outfitted to manufacture

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SPRINGFIELD – New results from two statewide surveys show Illinois’ educator shortage crisis is easing. The Illinois State Board of Education attributes the progress to comprehensive statewide efforts to address teacher shortages, which include the largest-ever state investment in addressing teacher vacancies. The state’s Teacher Vacancy Grants provided $45 million per year in FY 2024 and FY 2025 to the 170 districts with the greatest numbers of unfilled teaching positions. Grantee districts have utilized the funds to implement evidence-based strategies to address local challenges to teacher recruitment and retention. Early results have shown improved recruitment and retention in the state's most understaffed school districts, including the hiring of nearly 5,400 new teachers, the retention of approximately 11,000 additional educators, and support for approximately 1,500 non-certified staff to pursue licensure and 450 certified staff to pursue further endorsements.

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Letter To The Editor: I strongly recommend that you vote for Carolyn MacAfee for 2nd Ward Alderwoman. She has done an excellent job as Alderwoman and as many know, she has excelled in focusing on the many details of the city, including working tenaciously to help the city maintain our parks, so that they are inviting to our citizens and the tens of thousands of visitors, Alton has each year. She is well respected in our community and has become the city of Alton, Mayor Pro-Tem. Ms. MacAfee also serves on the Park Board, has been a 35-year member of "Pride" and serves as co-chair of Alton's "Pride" awards. She was a devoted volunteer with the past Caravan resale sale shop which benefited the Oasis Women's center. Ms. MacAfee was the past chairman of the city beautification and clean city commission. This is a woman who you frequently see every day, walking in her ward and other areas of the city, picking up litter and communicating with residents. She is very dedicated and focused

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ST. LOUIS – The Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri (GSEM) are proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Saint Louis University (SLU) to provide a new scholarship opportunity for Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri who wish to pursue higher education as part of the ADVANCE HER© Leadership Movement Program. Starting in fall 2026, the scholarship program will provide opportunities for GSEM Girl Scout high school graduates who enroll at SLU to receive a minimum of a $30,000 renewable scholarship. This is GSEM’s fifth collegial partnership and largest scholarship opportunity to date available through the Girl Scouts’ newly implemented ADVANCE HER© Leadership Movement Program to promote academic and professional development to succeed in college and beyond. To be eligible for the GSEM-SLU renewable scholarship award, students must: Meet SLU’s admission standards Maintain full-time student status (completion of at least 24 credit hours annually) Maintai

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