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July 14 is a date steeped in history, marked by moments that have shaped nations, inspired revolutions, and propelled humanity forward. One of the most iconic moments in global history occurred on July 14, 1789, with the Storming of the Bastille. This fortress-prison in Paris was seen as a symbol of the oppressive monarchy and royal authority. When revolutionaries seized the Bastille, it marked a pivotal point in the French Revolution—a dramatic struggle for liberty, equality, and fraternity that profoundly influenced political thought worldwide. The event ignited a chain reaction leading to the fall of the Ancien Régime and inspired democratic movements far beyond France’s borders. Fast forward to July 14, 1790, when the Fête de la Fédération was celebrated in France. This grand festival was held to commemorate the unity of the French nation following the initial upheaval of the revolution. Thousands gathered on the Champ de Mars in Paris to

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ALTON - Following recent shootings, community members gathered for a candlelight vigil to raise awareness about gun violence. On July 13, 2025, community members and leaders came together on Oakwood Avenue in Alton for the second annual Gun Violence Awareness Event. In addition to the candlelight vigil, speakers prayed for healing and discussed the impact of gun violence on the community, including the July 4, 2025, shooting that killed 17-year-old Shabrya Hudson. “Let's work together to foster a safer, more compassionate world where violence is never the answer and where hope and healing can prevail,” said Mayor David Goins. “Every effort we make towards peace and empathy can help save lives and create a brighter future for all.” The event was organized by Patricia Brown and Alton United. Brown shared that Goins’s wife, First Lady Sheila Goins, encouraged her to organize the first Gun Violence Awareness Event last year to teach kids about gun

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ALTON — A body was discovered just after 1 p.m. Sunday, July 13, 2025, in a wooded area around Piasa Street and Market Street in Alton, prompting an investigation by local authorities. The Alton Police Department responded to the scene and immediately called in detectives from the Investigation Division. The Madison County Coroner's Office was also contacted to assist with the case. A nearby neighbor discovered the body and contacted the police, who responded. Alton Police officers set up crime scene tape around the wooded area. Officials have not released further details about the identity of the deceased or the circumstances surrounding the discovery. The investigation remains ongoing. More to come.

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BELLEVILLE - Belleville Police are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred early Sunday morning, July 13, 2025, on the 500 block of North 40th Street. At approximately 12:55 a.m. on July 13, officers responded to a disturbance involving a person who had been shot. Upon arrival, officers found a 50-year-old man in the front yard of a residence suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite first aid administered by officers and the arrival of emergency medical services, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives and the Crime Scene Unit processed the area and launched an investigation. One individual was taken into custody at the scene and is currently being held at the Belleville Police Department as authorities continue their inquiry. The investigation remains active and ongoing. Officials have stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.

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ALTON — The Madison County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a disturbance and gunfire at 3rd Chute Bar & Grill II early Sunday morning, resulting in one person being fatally shot. At 1:05 a.m., multiple 9-1-1 calls were received reporting a disturbance at the establishment located in the 2200 block of Fosterburg Road in unincorporated Alton. As deputies were en route, additional information indicated gunshots had been fired. Upon arrival, law enforcement officers from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and surrounding police departments found a person who had been shot. That individual was later pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect involved was detained without incident. Authorities confirmed the incident was not random, noting that the parties involved were known to each other. The investigation remains active, and no further details have been released at this time.

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July 12 and 13 are days marked by pivotal moments that have rippled across history, influencing politics, culture, science, and society worldwide. One of the most significant events occurring on July 12 was the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. This battle, fought in Ireland, was a decisive clash between the forces of the deposed King James II and William of Orange, who had taken the English throne during the Glorious Revolution. The victory of William’s forces not only secured his reign but also had lasting implications for the religious and political landscape of Ireland and the British Isles. The battle is commemorated annually, reflecting the deep historical and cultural impact it has had, particularly in Northern Ireland. On a different cultural note, July 12 also commemorates the birthday of notable figures such as Henry David Thoreau, born in 1817. Thoreau was a renowned American essayist, poet, and philosopher, celebrated for his reflections on nature, civil disobedience,

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that following his lawsuit as part of a coalition of 16 attorneys general, the Trump administration has committed to exempting the plaintiff states from its illegal plans to distribute thousands of machine-gun conversion devices (MCD) into communities across the United States. The devices, which turn semi-automatic firearms into machine-guns, are illegal under Illinois law. According to Raoul, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made submissions in the litigation expressly confirming to a judge that it will not return forced reset triggers (FRTs) in Illinois or the other plaintiff states. In addition, Rare Breed Triggers, the country’s largest purveyor of FRTs, has confirmed in court filings that it will not sell any FRTs in the plaintiff states. As a result of the critical concessions, the coalition is withdrawing its motion for a preliminary injunction based on a notice that lays out these

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement today after the Trump Administration announced plans to indiscriminately fire hundreds of civil service and Foreign Service Officers: “Once again, Trump’s illegal, chaotic actions are putting our servicemembers at greater risk, undermining our national security and making all Americans less safe. It was Trump’s first Secretary of Defense, Jim Mattis, who said ‘If you don’t fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition…’ “Our diplomats are the first line of defense around the world, anticipating crises and providing invaluable expertise to help prevent conflicts from exploding into catastrophes. By deciding to indiscriminately fire hundreds of these devoted patriots without regard for their merit, expertise, Veteran status or years of experience, Trump is guaranteeing our nation’s response to foreign threats will be les

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CHICAGO – CNBC today released its 2025 Top States for Business rankings, with Illinois earning the 13th best state for business—its highest position ever and a significant rise from 30th place in 2019. The climb highlights Gov. Pritzker’s leadership to grow the Illinois economy and make it the best state to do business, get an education, and raise a family. Illinois also climbed in other key categories CNBC tracks: Illinois is #3 for education (up one spot from 2024) Illinois is in the top 10 rankings for the infrastructure (#8), technology and innovation (#6), and access to capital (#5) categories Illinois is in the Top 20 rankings for the workforce #19 (up 18 spots from 2024) and cost of business #19 (up 13 spots from 2024) categories “Since taking office, I have been on a mission to attract more businesses to Illinois, grow our economy, and give us a competitive edge for years to come. The latest rankings from today are a testament to the progress

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WESTMONT, IL – Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery issued the following statement in response to President Trump's announcement that he is excluding undocumented children from Head Start programs. “Let’s call this what it is: racism directed at children. The Trump administration’s decision to exclude undocumented children from Head Start programs is a cruel and calculated act rooted in xenophobia. This policy targets the most vulnerable kids in our country, who deserve care, stability, and the chance to learn. Instead, the Trump administration is punishing them for their immigration status and using early childhood education as a weapon to advance a racist, anti-immigrant agenda. "Numerous studies have shown that Head Start enhances learning and improves futures for children, particularly those who need it most. Without this program, many more kids are likely to need additional supports and services as they continue through school and ente

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced national settlements worth approximately $720 million with eight pharmaceutical manufacturers whose opioids worsened the nationwide opioid crisis. The companies have agreed to proceed with a sign-on period for local governments. Once the settlements are finalized, Illinois could receive more than $23 million. “As long as Illinois families continue to experience the devastating impacts of opioid addiction, my office will continue to work with other attorneys general to hold companies responsible for fueling the opioid crisis,” Raoul said. “I am proud of the resources we have obtained to help families and communities mitigate the impacts of opioid use disorder, which are not limited to any one state, community or socioeconomic group.” Attorney General Raoul and a coalition of state attorneys general negotiated settlements with the following manufacturers that will pay to address the opioid crisis: My

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Committees on Armed Services (SASC) and Veterans’ Affairs (SVAC)—along with U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL-07) reintroduced legislation that would improve access to prenatal care for military families. Specifically, the Improving Access to Prenatal Care for Military Families Act would create a Department of Defense (DoD) pilot program to designate pregnancy as a Qualifying Life Event under the TRICARE program, empowering servicemembers and their spouses to choose a health care plan that meets their needs during pregnancy. “After all the sacrifices they make for our nation each and every day, our military families should never have to face arbitrary, needless barriers to access prenatal care,” said Senator Duckworth. “Our commonsense legislation would help make it easier for our brave servicemembers

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker laid out the ongoing impact of Trump and Congressional Republicans’ budget bill, which defunds crucial support for working families in favor of tax cuts for Trump’s wealthy friends – including substantial programming cuts that eliminate education opportunities in America. The bill targets program funding, hurts working families with school-age children, and holds back student loan borrowers of all ages. “Since my first day as Governor, I’ve worked to make education across our state more affordable, more accessible, and more equitable—providing Illinois students with the opportunities needed to become the leaders of tomorrow,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This destructive bill is a major setback for students across the nation and will create further barriers to success for students at all levels—from kindergarten to grad school. Here in Illinois, we’ll do everything in our power to protect

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) grilled Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, Dr. Anjani Sinha, at his confirmation hearing today, exposing how deeply unqualified he is for this critically important role. During the Senator’s line of questioning, Dr. Sinha failed to answer several basic, important questions, proving he doesn’t know the first thing about maintaining not only the U.S.-Singapore partnership, but any of our relationships with ASEAN nations. Duckworth’s remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube . “Dr. Sinha is deeply unprepared to effectively lead our nation’s mission in Singapore,” said Duckworth. “This is not a role you can pick up on a whim or because you might think it will be glamorous. Singapore is too important to the United States, ASEAN and the entire Indo-Pacific region for someone as unqualified as Dr. Sinha. His lack of understanding and preparedness

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ROXANA – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that intermittent lane closures will take place on Illinois 143 between Illinois 255 and Bender Road in Roxana beginning, weather permitting, Wednesday, July 16, 2025 for resurfacing work. Flaggers will maintain two-way traffic. 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. The closures are expected to continue through mid-October. 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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WOOD RIVER - The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) will open an office in Wood River at Riverbend Family Ministries. Located at 144 E. Ferguson Avenue in Wood River, Riverbend Family Ministries houses several nonprofits. NAMI SWI will be their newest nonprofit, with plans to move into the building on July 21, 2025. “That connection, that community — this is amplifying that,” said Kaleigh Peery with NAMI SWI. “Actually, it’s a huge deal.” NAMI SWI offers resources and support to community members who are experiencing mental health challenges. They host several support groups, give presentations, and offer peer counseling services out of their current location in Granite City. Peery expressed her excitement to move into Riverbend Family Ministries (RFM) and collaborate with the other organizations within the building. She said RFM has donated the space to NAMI SWI, and she looks forward to working with th

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is taking action to prevent the national spread of measles in Illinois. A total of eight measles cases, all linked to one another, were identified in Southern Illinois in April and May. In addition to the eight Southern Illinois cases, two additional, unrelated cases were identified in Cook County around the same time. Those did not constitute an outbreak, and there was no further indication of any additional spread beyond those two individuals. No new Illinois cases have been diagnosed since May 22nd; two full incubation periods (42 days) have elapsed since the last confirmed case, allowing the Department to declare the outbreak over. The Illinois measles cases came as the nation is facing the largest number of cases nationwide since measles was officially eliminated from the U.S. in 2000. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported the highest number of annual cases across the nation

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COLLINSVILLE - The Collinsville Police Department hosted a Motorcycle Reconstruction course this week, providing advanced training to law enforcement officers and private sector investigators from Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The course, offered by the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, focused on enhancing skills for investigating serious and fatal motorcycle crashes. The training took place at Fairmount Park Casino & Racing, whose facility was used for the sessions. Participants learned advanced concepts and materials aimed at improving the effectiveness of crash investigations, which require specialized knowledge and resources. Collinsville Police Department expressed gratitude to the course instructor, Andrew Thomas, as well as to Sgt. Jerrod Leckrone of the Illinois State Police Motorcycle Division for their support. The Collinsville Police also acknowledged the students who attended, emphasizing the value of such training in benefiting

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EDWARDSVILLE – Last weekend marked an exciting milestone for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as some of the newest Cougars move onto campus for the 2025 Summer Success Program (SSP) . “The five-week residential initiative is designed to help incoming first-year students make a smooth transition from high school to college,” said SSP Director Kelly Atkins, EdD. “Through academic enrichment, community building, and intentional mentoring, the program is one of SIUE’s key efforts to promote student success and retention.” The program runs July 5-Aug. 8. “The Summer Success Program not only prepares students for the rigors of college coursework, but it also introduces them to the core values that shape the SIUE experience,” added Atkins. “From hands-on workshops in time management and writing skills to service projects in the Metro East community, participants are immersed in the University’s commitment to Civic

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WICHITA, KAN.- More than 1,950 students completed a total of 2,122 degrees and certificates at Wichita State University in spring 2025. Jerseyville's Jessi L Ruyle received a Bachelor of Science, Dental Hygiene-Completion. The breakdown of degrees and certificates granted includes: Undergraduate: 1,430 degrees and certificates for 1,340 undergraduate students Graduate: 692 degrees and certificates for 611 graduate students About Wichita State University Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

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