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EAST ST. LOUIS – A Venice man admitted guilt in federal court on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, for his involvement in a scheme to commit arson on residential properties and collect fraudulent insurance benefits. Rufis A. Jefferson, 47, pleaded guilty to 14 federal felony charges: one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, 10 counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit arson. U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe said the following: “Under federal law, intentionally igniting residential buildings to file insurance claims for the damages and collect benefits is committing fraud, and law enforcement is working to prosecute offenders of these hazardous crimes." According to court documents, Jefferson admitted to being paid off by a family member to burn her St. Louis apartment on December 31, 2022, so that she could collect insurance money. In addition to the New Year's Eve fire at Spanish Lake Apartments, Jefferson admitted to conspiring

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ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE - The Overnight Warming Locations in Alton and Edwardsville are gearing up for several days of activation to keep unhoused community members alive through the cold temperatures. With predictions of snow and temperatures in the single digits , the Overnight Warming Locations (OWL) will activate every night when the temperature is forecasted to drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. From 5 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., unhoused community members can come to Deliverance Temple in Alton or First Baptist Church in Edwardsville to have dinner, shower, spend the night and eat breakfast with volunteers. “I think most people agree that everybody deserves a warm place to stay,” said OWL operations director Tyler Dreith. “Sometimes we argue on proximity and where that location should be, but over the last four-plus years now we’ve identified a good place in our community and we’ve had some good partnerships with neighbors and organizations to come alongsid

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EAST ST. LOUIS – U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe announced on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, that a former elementary school teacher appeared in federal court today to plead guilty to soliciting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from minors. Jonathan C. Villmer, Jr., 25, of New Baden, Illinois, was charged via criminal complaint in August 2023. Prior to his charge, Villmer was a teacher at New Baden Elementary School and coached girls’ sports teams for Wesclin Community Unit School District 3. “We know child predators lurk in our communities, but it’s especially disturbing when a former first-grade teacher and coach admits to asking minors for inappropriate images,” said Crowe. “I highly commend the several law enforcement departments who contributed to this investigation and identified an extremely dangerous individual working directly with minors.” The case was initiated by an otherwise unrelated investigation by the Carmi Police Department

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumni, families and friends will fill the Cassidy Cool Zone and stands along the first baseline as the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Miami Marlins during opening weekend of Major League Baseball Spring Training. The Cardinals play their Opening Day game at Roger Dean Stadium on Saturday, February 24 at 1:05 p.m. EST in Jupiter, FL. SIUE is proud to be the premier sponsor. “We are thrilled to continue the annual tradition of gathering with our alumni and friends for a Cardinals Spring Training game,” said Cathy Taylor, Senior Director of Alumni and Donor Relations. “Beyond the excitement of the game, this weekend presents an opportunity for our alumni to reconnect, reminisce about their time at SIUE, and establish new connections.” For years SIUE fans have traveled many miles to attend the St. Louis Cardinals spring training. In 2023 Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, threw out the first pitch. He is

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford provided a follow-up story about a criminal investigation into the Jan. 1, 2024, shooting death of a 17-year-old, Jaiden L. Dahl. Terrance R. Johnson, 18, of Alton, was charged with several charges. Johnson has been charged with the following: Count I: Involuntary Manslaughter Count II: Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon Count III: Obstructing Justice As a result of the follow-up investigation, the facts of the case were presented to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office today. Johnson is currently in custody at the Alton Police Department. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Thursday that a woman has been charged with felony child endangerment in connection with the fentanyl overdose of her child. Hanna N. Forgy, 25, of Alton has been charged with endangering the life or health of a child, which is a class 3 felony. The charge alleges that on July 12, 2023, Forgy knowingly caused or permitted the life or health of her 16-month-old child to be placed in danger, in that she allowed the child access to a substance containing fentanyl, resulting in the death of the child due to fentanyl intoxication. Rescue personnel in Wood River responded on July 12 to Forgy’s former residence in the 500 block of North Wood River Avenue for a report of an unresponsive child. The child was transported to Alton Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. The Wood River Police Department initiated an investigation, in conjunction with the Madison County Coroner’s Office and

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GODFREY - Jeff Carver with Carver’s BBQ in Godfrey recently discussed the restaurant as part of a North Alton-Godfrey Business Council Spotlight as Carver’s marks its 25th year in business. Carver’s is located at 2716 Grovelin St. in Godfrey. While he described the location as a little “tucked away,” Carver said he’s always liked the restaurant’s location and that their prominent flame-covered signage helped increase visibility from the road. “Being tucked away in the shopping center, there was a time I was going to buy a couple locations, but I think being between Steak N Shake, Quick Trip, Schnucks, at 5 o’ clock on the beltline is chaos - so the traffic flow was there, visibility maybe not so much, and that’s why we several years ago put money in that signage,” Carver said. “We’re kind of tucked away, which, I kind of like that. I always tell people it’s the best-kept secret.”

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ALTON - Centerstone, a nonprofit health system specializing in mental health and substance use disorder treatments, will host a free, virtual Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) training on January 31 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. CT. CEUs are available. This training will discuss ACEs, provide practical information on how these experiences can impact individuals’ wellness throughout the lifespan and review risk factors associated with ACEs and the role of protective factors. “The ACEs study is groundbreaking and gives us a better understanding of how common ACEs are and how they impact lifelong physical and mental development. Join us for the webinar to learn how ACEs do not determine your destiny,” said Hannah Chapman, Centerstone Trauma, Treatment and Training grant coordinator. Objectives of the training include: Discuss the groundbreaking ACEs study Gain a deeper understanding of how common ACEs are Learn how ACEs impact brain development Discuss how building

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today led a coalition of 14 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit to reverse a lower court’s decision preventing New Jersey from enforcing a state law intended to protect the health and safety of immigrants by closing private detention facilities. In the brief filed in CoreCivic Inc. v. Murphy, Raoul and the coalition urge the Court of Appeals to reverse the lower court’s decision arguing that states should be able to enforce state laws that protect residents’ health and safety without the federal government’s interference. “States have a responsibility to protect the health and wellness of our residents, and private corporations should not be exempt from those laws because they have federal contracts,” Raoul said. “I am urging the Court of Appeals to reverse the lower court’s decision because states should be allowed to enforce laws

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CHICAGO - The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), through its Rev Up EV! Community College Initiative has awarded $9.4 Million to 25 Illinois community colleges to help support the state’s growing Electric Vehicle (EV) industry through job training and technology development programs. Overall, the funding will promote the development and growth of training programs that prepare individuals for careers in EV technology and EV-specific advanced manufacturing fields, with a priority focus on programs and training in areas that are most in demand by EV businesses and industry partners. “Thanks to Governor Pritzker’s leadership, Illinois is at the forefront of change to vehicle electrification and continues to attract new EV industry companies. This funding will allow our community college system to increase the trained workforce and create new technology that will support the growing needs of the industry for years to come,” said ICCB Executive Director Bria

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CARTERSVILLE — Governor JB Pritzker visited the Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) Cancer Institute today to announce a $10M grant to Southern Illinois Healthcare for their recent expansion of the SIH Cancer Institute in Carterville. The grant is made possible through the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois plan to improve infrastructure statewide. “As Governor, there is nothing more important than the health and safety of Illinoisans — no matter their zip code or income status,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I couldn’t be prouder to announce that we have awarded the SIH Cancer Institute $10 million in Rebuild Illinois grant funding to help cover the cost of this recent project. After years of planning, design, and construction, each and every one of those patients, and many more, will have access to the modernized healing spaces and the quality, holistic care they deserve.” The 10M general investment, will be utilized for upgrades to facility furniture,

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (“IDFPR”) announced today that adult use cannabis sales set a new annual record in 2023, exceeding $1.6 billion. Records were also set in sales to in-state residents and the number of items sold, with that total increasing more than 15% compared to 2022. Sales taxes collected at Illinois adult use cannabis dispensaries totaled $417.6 million in 2023, per the Illinois Department of Revenue. “From day one, my administration has put equity first to build the most accessible cannabis industry in the nation,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our work will continue to repair past harm while providing opportunities for communities across the state and creating a more prosperous future.” “The legalization of adult use cannabis was the start of uplifting the communities most impacted by the failed war on drugs,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “The benefits

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ALTON/WEST ALTON - The annual Eagle Ice Fest brought nearly 1,000 attendees to FLOCK, the National Great Rivers Museum and the Audubon Center at Riverlands on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Attendees could enjoy live music, eagle ice carvings, raptor meet-and-greets and more at Saturday’s festival. The event encouraged people to learn more about the wildlife in the area and engage with nature by utilizing local resources. “It’s a combination of a bunch of different organizations bringing free resources to people so that not only are they getting an education, especially about eagles, but they’re learning about all these resources that they have in the area that they can go out and hike here or they can go learn about the dam,” explained Ashley Lockwood, an educator with the Audubon Center. There were two eagles spotted in the trees outside the Audubon Center, and Lockwood joked that the eagles greeted people as they entered the center. She said Eagle Ice

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DeKALB - Northern Illinois University announces its fall 2023 Dean's List students. To earn this distinction, students must meet a minimum semester grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology or a minimum of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale in the colleges of Business, Education, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts. Students from your area who achieved this honor include: MaKena Mueller, of Granite City, who is majoring in Acting. Mueller is a graduate of Granite City Senior High School. Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law.

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EDWARDSVILLE – Ahead of a frigid blast of cold weather, the City of Edwardsville is encouraging residents to pay attention to weather advisories, to avoid safety risks and to take steps to remain warm as the temperatures drop. The City of Edwardsville is working in cooperation with the following facilities to provide warming stations throughout the winter. Whenever the temperatures drop below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit) the following facilities will be available as warming stations during listed hours: Edwardsville Public Library, 112 S. Kansas St. -- (618) 692-7556 Hours: Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday: 1-5 p.m. (The library will be closed on Monday, January 15, for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.) Main Street Community Center: 1003 N. Main St. – (618) 656-0300 Hours: Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (The community center will be closed on Monday, January 15, for the Martin Luther

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ALTON - The Riverbend Wellness Festival has been rescheduled for March 2, 2024, due to weather concerns. Organized by Beth Ahlin and Stella Webb, the Wellness Festival will promote spiritual, physical and mental/emotional wellness with keynote speakers, vendors and workshops. The festival, originally scheduled for Jan. 13, will now take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 2, 2024, at Milton Schoolhouse in Alton. “For Beth and I both, we really do support that wellness for our community,” Webb said. “We see clients on a daily basis, but to expand that out even further. The reason we’re doing this event is because of the community.” Webb owns Soul Sanctuary , which is based in Milton Schoolhouse. She has collaborated with Ahlin, who owns CE Ahlin Counseling , to plan the festival with local speakers and over 30 vendors. A few practitioners will offer breakout sessions, including a mental health workshop and spiritual health workshop. Web

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ALTON - The Alton City Council amended the City Code on Wednesday to grant a new local business a liquor license in addition to passing several items approved by the Committee of the Whole earlier this week . According to the ordinance amending the City Code, the city “wishes to amend its number of Class I Liquor Licenses to accommodate The Bells and Whistles on Belle Street, LLC to serve alcoholic beverages at its place of business.” No further information was provided about the business. Additionally, Mayor David Goins and the City Council “find that amending the City's regulations on the number of Liquor Licenses will encourage the City's continued healthy economic growth.” The City Council also moved several more items forward that had been approved earlier this week by the Committee of the Whole. Alderman Raymond Strebel was absent from Wednesday's meeting. Among the other items passed were expanded zoning classifications and slightly altered

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ALTON - The Alton Community Boxing Club celebrated another win, keeping their undefeated streak and highlighting the benefits of the club in the Riverbend community. The club recently had their second fight, with 12-year-old boxer Ju’coby Womack knocking out his opponent in the first round. Coach Joshua Young noted that he is proud of his boxers, and he hopes to raise community support to purchase equipment and keep the club going so it can continue to empower the kids. “It’s just the beginning and if this is any indicator of what can occur, then we can really bring the entire city together. That really feels good,” Young said. “We’re definitely wanting the community’s support. We’ve just got such great things in our plan. It’s really becoming an awesome thing and how the community has started to come forward.” Following a RiverBender.com story about the boxing club , a GoFundMe was started by Alton Middle School

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EDWARDSVILLE — A Wood River man has been charged with three felony counts in connection with an alleged domestic dispute and subsequent shooting. Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, that Alec A. Sabatino, 28, has been charged with aggravated battery with a firearm (class X), aggravated domestic battery (class 2) and aggravated battery (class 3). Haine’s office has filed a petition asking that Sabatino be denied pretrial release while awaiting trial. Shortly after 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 26, 2023, Wood River Police responded to a woman’s report of a domestic battery that occurred at a residence on Mildred Street. The woman making the report had fled to the nearby home of her parents. Minutes later, police received a report of shots fired on Sixth Street near Acton Avenue. At the Sixth Street location, police found two men with gunshot wounds: Sabatino and the woman’s father. The woman’s father has a license to

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EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt announced over a dozen school districts around the Metro East area have received nearly $30,000 to provide resources to libraries through books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual materials, technology and programs. “Libraries play a major role in students’ academic success at all age levels,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This funding will empower our school districts to strengthen their library resources, allowing new and updated learning and technology opportunities for students.” Funding for the School District Library Grant Program originates from the General Reserve Fund and is appropriated for this purpose by the Illinois General Assembly. Some school districts receiving funding include: Belleville Township High School District 201 - $4,199 East Saint Louis School District 189 - $3,559 Mascoutah Community Unit District 19 - $3,473 O'Fallon School District 90- $3,370 Cahokia

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