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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in a Committee hearing entitled “Biomedical Research: Keeping America’s Edge in Innovation.” During the hearing, Durbin emphasized the disastrous consequences of the Trump Administration’s desire to slash federal funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), effectively grinding medical research in the U.S. to a halt. Drawing from his family’s own experience , Durbin began his remarks, “If you’ve ever been a parent sitting in a doctor’s office with a baby on your lap and heard those words that were changing about a diagnosis, you knew your life would never be the same.” “The questions that you would ask, I’ve been there, were pretty obvious. Is there a medicine? Is there a surgery? Is there a procedure? If not, is there a clinical trial? We all ask the same questions

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College and CJD E-Cycling will host a community E-Waste event from 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3, 2025, in the Tolle Lane parking lot across from the college’s Godfrey Campus. Most items will be accepted for free, providing community members with a secure, Earth-friendly option for discarding used electronics. The following is a sampling of the items that will be accepted: Servers Switches, PC towers Printers Landline phones Cable boxes Cell phones Wireless modems Servers Audio and video equipment Holiday lights Home electronics Lead acid batteries CRT, Console, Projection, Plasma, and Flat Screen TVs and computer monitors. (Please note that CRT, Projection, Plasma, Console, and Flat Screen TVs will be accepted with a minimal charge between $5 and $35 based on size; computer monitors with no tower will be accepted with a minimal charge of $5-$10.) Dehumidifiers and Refrigerators ($5-$10 each) The

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ALTON – A man from St. Louis faces a felony charge in the newest case of forgery at Schwegel’s Market in Alton. Antwayne O. Bradley, 29, of St. Louis, was charged on April 25, 2025, with one count of forgery, a Class 3 felony. Charging documents state that Bradley knowingly presented a fraudulent check to Schwegel’s Market on Feb. 21, 2025. The check, purported to have been made out by Chipotle Services LLC, was written out in the amount of $527.71 and dated Feb. 19, 2025. The Alton Police Department presented the case against Bradley, who was granted pretrial release from custody. This marks the fourth such case of forgery at Schwegel’s Market reported so far in 2025, after three other local individuals were charged with similar offenses in March. It also marks the latest in a string of similar forgery cases at the same location filed in recent years, including two individuals charged in December of 2024 , an Edwardsville

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MARYVILLE - The Village of Maryville will host their second annual Maryville MusicFest this weekend. From 1–10 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, community members are invited to Firemen’s Park in Maryville for a day of live music, food trucks and fun. There will be ten bands playing on two stages throughout the day. “It’s a music festival,” explained Dawn Mushill, president of the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce, who helped promote the event. “These guys have worked so hard, and this bandstand that they’re looking at is going to just add so much to Maryville.” Tickets to the event cost $20. Kids ages 12 and under are free. Proceeds will go to Build Maryville to build a permanent entertainment pavilion and stage at the park. “It’s an all-day event for $20,” Mushill said. “All day. You can come see all the bands.” The event itself is cash only. There will be food trucks onsite,

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WOOD RIVER – A Wood River resident faces his second charge of domestic battery against the same victim while still on probation from the previous incident. Christopher J. Huch, 29, of Wood River, was charged on April 21, 2025 with his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery, a Class 2 felony. Huch is accused of striking a household or family member in the face with his fist and knee on April 19, 2025. According to a petition to deny Huch’s pretrial release, Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies observed injuries on the victim including “dried blood near victim's nose and mouth as well as defensive wound marks on her hands.” The petition adds that at the time of this incident, Huch was already on probation for domestic battery against the same victim from a 2024 case in which Huch pled guilty and was sentenced to 24 months of probation. Huch’s latest domestic battery case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and

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TROY - The City of Troy and the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce will host their inaugural First Friday event this weekend. From 5–8 p.m. on the first Friday of the month from May until September, community members are invited to the corner of East Market and South Main Streets for an evening of vendors, live music, food, drinks and more. Dawn Mushill, president of the Chamber of Commerce, looks forward to welcoming people from across the region to Troy on Friday, May 2, 2025. “We decided that we want people in our beautiful downtown Troy,” Mushill said. “How do we get them there? We get them there with food, entertainment and beer.” Mushill encourages people to come downtown to check out the restaurants and shops that are in Troy, many of which will have discounts and deals on the First Fridays. There will also be street vendors and food trucks. On May 2, Mike Sonderegger will provide live music. There will be a few vendors

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City High School junior Brayden Cook has been honored by St. Louis Public Radio with the Best in Show and Best Sports Feature awards as part of the 2025 Teen Photojournalist Prize, the radio station announced Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Cook received the Best in Show award for his photo titled "Ashes and Rainbows," which captures Granite City firefighter Coady Sutton controlling a hose above an abandoned auto body shop ablaze on East 23rd Street on May 27, 2024. His Best Sports Feature-winning image, "Red in the Rain," shows GCHS boys soccer center back Joey Morales picking up cones after a game against Fort Zumwalt West was canceled due to a lightning threat on Sept. 23, 2024, in Granite City. The recognition includes an $800 Visa gift card for Best in Show and a $200 Visa gift card for the first-place category. In addition, Cook will participate in a master class with STLPR visuals editor Brian Munoz, have his work published on stlpr.org and STLPR social media

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SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure that would strengthen prevailing wage rules to help workers receive higher pay. “This important safeguard will help workers get a fair deal for their labor,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “We’re closing a loophole that left many workers getting the short end of the stick because that’s not what we’re about here in Illinois.” Currently, Illinois’ prevailing wage law does not apply to federal construction projects that require a prevailing wage determination by the United States Secretary of Labor. House Bill 1189 would clarify that workers must receive the highest prevailing wage – whether federal or state – in local public works projects that include federal funding. The measure intends to eliminate potential confusion when rates differ and specifically impacts projects under state or local control. The measure would codify the existing federal practice of

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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 Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced a bipartisan bill, the Comprehensive Health and Integrity in Licensing and Documentation (CHILD) Act , to amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 (NCPA) to ensure that individuals with unsupervised access to children, such as those under contract with a school, are, once again, authorized to have a national background check. U.S. Representative Russell Fry (R-SC-07) and U.S. Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23) are introducing companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives today. Since 1993, the National Child Protection Act/Volunteers for Children Act (NCPA/VCA) has made nationwide background checks available for individuals who have access to children through qualified entities. However, the Child Protection Improvements Act of 2018 (CPIA)

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in a coalition of over 100 Congressional Democrats in writing to Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) Leland Dudek to demand that he keep Social Security field offices open. This letter comes after multiple reports revealed that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) directed SSA to close field offices across the country—only to reverse course after public backlash and deny the plans altogether. Given the lack of transparency surrounding the status of field offices nationwide, the lawmakers pressed Dudek to ensure that DOGE does not close the offices that so many Social Security beneficiaries rely on for services and assistance. “eneficiaries need the opportunity to seek assistance from SSA in person…Closing

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ALTON – Two men from Alton are accused of attacking someone in public at a local grocery store. Reginald D. Hodges Jr., 28, and Devan C. Luster, 23, both of Alton, were charged on April 25, 2025 with one count each of mob action, both Class 4 felonies. Hodges and Luster allegedly acted together in striking the same victim about the head and body on March 14, 2025. By knowingly engaging in the use of force, the two are accused of disturbing the public peace, as the incident unfolded in a public place – the Save-A-Lot grocery store at 2980 Homer Adams Parkway in Alton. The Alton Police Department presented the cases against Hodges and Luster, who were both granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of la w.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville freshman Parker Owens has captured international attention over the past year by clearing a pole vault height of 16 feet, 3 inches in 2024, the highest ever recorded for a 14-year-old worldwide. Owens continues to impress this season in boys' track and field events, competing for Edwardsville High School. Parker is a Spencer Homes Male Athlete of the Month for the Tigers. On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Triad High School, Owens placed second at the Madison County Meet with a vault of 13 feet, 7.25 inches, finishing behind Triad High School’s Zane Meier . Owens previously defeated Meier at the Norm Armstrong Invite on April 12, 2025, with a vault of 15 feet, 3 inches. He also won the Winston Brown Invite on April 26, 2025, with a vault of 13 feet, 11.25 inches. Owens and Meier are friends and rivals and can be seen constantly communicating during meets they vault together. Earlier in the season, Owens posted a vault of 15 feet, 1 inch at the Edwardsville

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BETHALTO — Sophomore Glenn Collins is making a significant impact this track and field season for the Civic Memorial Eagles, earning recognition as a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athlete of the Month. Collins has posted impressive personal records in multiple events. On April 14, 2025, at the Jersey Quad Meet, he ran the 400 meters in 52.94 seconds. Two days earlier, at the Norm Armstrong Invite, he achieved a personal best of 1:58.43 in the 800 meters. He continued his strong performances by winning the Madison County Small Schools 800-meter championship on April 28, 2025, in Wood River with a time of 1:59.87. In addition to his middle-distance events, Collins has recorded a best of 4:39.72 in the 1,600 meters and 11:07.2 in the 3,200 meters. He has also contributed as a key member of the Eagles’ 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams. Reflecting on his performance at the Norm Armstrong Invite, Collins said, "I went out fast that race and thought, 'I am here and I might as

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GLEN CARBON — A large fire broke out early Tuesday morning, April 29, 2025, at the Meridian Apartments complex, a 36-unit development still under construction in Glen Carbon, fire officials said. Glen Carbon Fire Chief Jason Whitaker said on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, that lightning is a primary cause under investigation as he cited storms that were in the area at the time of the blaze's start. The fire was reported just before 4 a.m. on Tuesday at the site of the new apartment complex in Glen Carbon off Meridian Road. Chief Whitaker said the fire was contained to a single building within the complex, which was in various stages of construction. Chief Whitaker said, “Lightning is one of the things looking still due to storms in the area,” noting that investigators are awaiting data from the National Weather Service. The fire was first noticed by motorists passing the scene, who called it in, Whitaker said. Whitaker described the fire as having “a head start”

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More than one million people in the United States live with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a chronic neurological disease that affects the brain, spinal cord and nerves to the eyes. "It can present in a variety of ways like vision loss, double vision, weakness, or numbness on one side or both sides of the body,” says Tiffani Franada, DO, a neurologist with the OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute (INI) who specializes in the autoimmune disease. "Typically (multiple sclerosis) presents in young patients between 20 and 50 years of age. It's more common in women than men," Dr. Franada says. These events are called attacks or relapses, and they last a few weeks and then they get better. Patients can go awhile without anything, and then they can get other attacks down the line." The OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute has launched a clinical trial for patients with nonrelapsing secondary progressive MS (nrSPMS). Dr. Franada and her team are looking for further preventive

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GRANITE CITY — Air Methods has provided an update on the condition of its ARCH 1 team involved in an incident near the Hartford Fire Station on Monday, April 28, 2025. Air Methods is a med-evac support group that assists at the scene of a serious accident or the moment a life-threatening illness strikes. The business partners with EMS personnel and hospitals to solve the challenges of patient logistics and save lives. Two of the three Air Methods crew members aboard have been discharged from the hospital, while one remains hospitalized in stable condition and is "making progress," Air Methods said in an update. The crash took place during training exercises with the Hartford Fire Department. The company emphasized its commitment to supporting the affected teammates through their recovery and expressed gratitude for the ongoing thoughts and prayers from the community. Details about the nature of the incident have not been released.

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EAST ST. LOUIS - Calvenita Brock of East St. Louis is seeking community support to cover funeral expenses for her daughter, Kelsey Elem, 25, who was fatally shot in St. Louis County on April 24, 2025. Martino Lewis, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder in the case. The incident took place in the 5800 block of Grace Avenue in Affton. Brock said her daughter was killed around 11:15 p.m. on April 24 after a fight with a friend escalated, resulting in the friend shooting Elem in the head. “Life was at its best for my daughter because she was comfortably loving her life,” Brock said. “I was so pleased with the way that my daughter was enjoying life that was taken away way too soon.” With no life insurance or financial resources to cover funeral costs, Brock has organized a fundraiser to help with the expenses. “We were not ready nor prepared for death or funeral expenses,” she said. “I am in need of the money to do so and I'm praying

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BELLEVILLE - The safety and security of public transit remains a regional priority – and placing behavioral health providers on the system to address many of the underlying health determinants fueling problematic behavioral issues has proven to be highly impactful. This innovative effort started as a pilot program spearheaded by St. Clair County Transit District and Chestnut Health Systems™ (Chestnut) in October 2020. It has since been credited with connecting thousands of transit riders in St. Clair County, Ill., to an array of much-needed community resources. The success led to a recent investment of more than $550,000 by St. Clair County Transit District to extend its partnership with Chestnut for a fifth year. “We’ve invested more than $2 million in Chestnut since the inception of this programming and the impact on transit riders cannot be understated,” said Ken Sharkey, managing director for St. Clair County Transit District. “Behavioral health

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MARYVILLE - Natalie Head, public relations director of Anderson Hospital, released some important information on Wednesday morning, April 30, 2025. "We are proud to share that Anderson Hospital has once again been recognized by Newsweek as one of the World’s Best Hospitals for 2025!," she said. "This marks the fourth consecutive year we have earned this incredible honor." “This recognition is a true testament to the exceptional people who make Anderson Hospital what it is,” said Lisa Spencer, President of Anderson Hospital. “Our team’s commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care is at the heart of everything we do, and I am very proud of this accomplishment!” This prestigious recognition places Anderson Hospital among the top 4% of hospitals in the United States. Out of 410 U.S. hospitals named to the list, Anderson ranked at #250. Even more impressively, of the 230 hospitals in Illinois, only 21 made the list — and Anderson

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EAST ST. LOUIS — Two women from the Metro East were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a scheme involving mail theft and more than $100,000 in bank fraud, authorities announced Wednesday. Tylann J. Starks, 30, of Swansea, received a four-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, multiple counts of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to steal U.S. mail. Tiara D. Johnson, 33, of Pontoon Beach, was sentenced to 27 months in prison following her guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to steal U.S. mail. The two women, along with co-defendant Jamil Jackson, 52, allegedly stole mail from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes in the Metro East area between February 2020 and February 2023. Starks purchased a specialized postal key, known as an arrow key, from Jackson, a former postal employee, to gain access to the collection boxes. Agents later conducted an undercover purchase of

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