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ALTON - Ray Strebel believes he is the best choice for Alton. Strebel, the current Third Ward alderman, has challenged incumbent David Goins and former mayor Brant Walker for the mayor’s seat, creating a three-way race. He explained that he has accomplished a lot as an alderman, and he shared his plans if elected on April 1, 2025. “When I’m a mayor, I can help everybody in our community,” Strebel said. “I’m very excited about that.” Strebel is an environmental chemist by trade. Born in Alton, he previously worked in waste management and consulted for municipalities. While living in Kankakee, Strebel and his wife, Elyse, bought a fixer-upper. Using carpentry skills he learned from Elyse’s grandfather, Strebel renovated the house himself, which introduced him to a new passion for restoring old homes. When the family returned to Alton, they restored their own Queen Anne Victorian, and Strebel began restoring old homes throughout

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ALTON — David Goins, the first African American mayor of Alton, is seeking a second term as he reflects on his accomplishments and the challenges faced during his initial years in office and looks ahead at the future. Elected on April 6, 2021, and sworn in on May 12, 2021, Goins said he has focused on addressing financial deficits, improving community relations, and empowering the youth of Alton. Goins, who previously served in various roles within the Alton Police Department and as a community leader, emphasized the importance of making himself accessible to residents. "I have tried my best to be a mayor for all people," he said, highlighting his commitment to serving diverse groups, including youth and seniors. Upon taking office, Goins said he inherited a financial deficit, but through strategic financial management, he reported turning that around, with what he described a $7.7 million surplus by 2024. "We put the oxygen masks on ourselves first so we could start breathing,"

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ALTON — Brant Walker, who served as the Mayor of Alton from 2013 to 2021, is campaigning to return to office in the upcoming municipal election on April 1, 2025. Walker is focusing his campaign on economic development, public safety, and infrastructure improvements. Walker, who founded Lighthouse Hiring, highlighted his experience in the private sector and his commitment to the community during a recent candidate forum hosted by the East End Improvement Association. "We are knocking on a lot of doors and getting a lot of positive responses right now," Walker said. He emphasized the need for leadership that delivers results, citing his previous accomplishments, including freezing the property tax levy, securing millions in grant funding, and helping 189 families achieve homeownership through the City’s previous HOMEownership Program. During the forum sponsored by the East End Improvement Association earlier this week, Walker addressed what he said he views as key issues

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DUPO — The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis has made significant progress in the investigation of the Feb. 3, 2025, homicide of 37-year-old Cody Rhodes, resulting in the arrest of three suspects. The investigation, which exemplifies the Squad’s effective bi-state collaboration, involved extensive coordination between law enforcement agencies across Illinois and Missouri. On the day of the incident, Dupo Police Department officers responded to reports of gunfire around 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 3 in the 100 block of N. 2nd Street. Upon arrival, they discovered two individuals with apparent gunshot wounds. Both victims were transported to local hospitals, where Cody Rhodes was pronounced dead. In the wake of the shooting, Dupo Police Chief Dennis Plew recognized the complexity of the case and activated the Major Case Squad, which mobilized quickly to assist in the investigation. The Squad, led by Sergeant Justin Biggs of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, comprised 18

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ALHAMBRA - Legendary Mustang Sanctuary will host a Valentine’s Music Trivia night to raise money for their horses and programs. On Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, community members are invited to the Wood River Moose Lodge for an evening of music trivia, an open bar and plenty of fun. Tickets cost $25 or a table of eight costs $200. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the trivia starts at 7 p.m. Kathy Lewis, who oversees the sanctuary, said it’s the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day while helping a good cause. “What else do you do with your sweetheart?” Lewis asked. “Take your sweetheart, come to the trivia, bring your own little snacks, have a good time.” Lewis explained that Legendary Mustang Sanctuary rescues wild mustangs and burros from kill pens and rehabilitates them at their location in Alhambra. Their ultimate goal is to help these horses get adopted into loving families. They need funds to care for the horses and rescue as many as possible.

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Respiratory illnesses like influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are leading to many people being seriously ill, overwhelming hospitals and health care providers across Illinois. Flu remains the dominant virus “We're seeing a lot of patients be positive with the flu. It makes you feel really bad with headache, body aches, chills, cough and fevers to name a few,” says Sarah Overton, chief nursing officer of OSF Medical Group, Home Care and Employee Health. “But we're also seeing some COVID-19 and RSV. RSV attacks very young children and older adults." All the viruses spiking at the same time have been "somewhat crippling" for healthcare providers, Overton says OSF HealthCare hospitals are seeing high inpatients counts, with many people coming in sick with respiratory illnesses through the emergency department. Across Illinois, nearly 20% of emergency department visits were for acute respiratory illness, according to the Illinois Department of

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RIVERBEND - As the Riverbend gears up for Super Bowl Sunday, one concerned mother is reminding people to plan a ride home and avoid impaired driving. Sheila Lockwood, a national ambassador with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), explained that the “Take a Minute. Make a Plan” campaign encourages community members to take 60 seconds to plan how they will safely travel after drinking. She emphasized the importance of this campaign during holidays and occasions where alcohol is prevalent, such as the Super Bowl. “Whatever you do this Sunday as you’re celebrating and watching the game, make sure that you get a safe ride home,” she said. Lockwood shared that her son, Austin, was killed by a drunk driver in 2018. She got involved with MADD and has dedicated her time to preventing drunk driving and creating consequences for those who drive under the influence. “Since that time, obviously my life was turned upside down,” she said. “I

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GRANITE CITY – An 18-year-old from Cahokia faces felony charges after invading a Granite City home and stealing electronics at gunpoint. Demetriz Hill, 18, of Cahokia, Ill., was charged with home invasion and armed robbery, both Class X felonies, and aggravated unlawful possession of weapons, a Class 4 felony. On Jan. 28, 2025, Hill allegedly entered a Granite City residence without authority while armed with a Glock .40 caliber handgun. Knowing the home was occupied, he reportedly threatened the occupant with “the imminent use of force,” according to court documents. Hill is also accused of stealing a PlayStation gaming console by threatening the use of force. A petition to deny Hill’s pretrial release states an Xbox was also taken from the home after a violent confrontation. He had no valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card at the time of the offense. “Victim reported that an unknown subject entered her room with a firearm, demanding

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Here’s something new to bring up the next time you visit your health care provider: Should I undergo a CT calcium score screen to take stock of my heart health? It’s not for everybody, but it could mean the difference between a long, healthy life and finding yourself on an operating table. “The number one killer in the United States is heart disease,” says Ash Al-Dadah, MD , an interventional cardiologist at OSF HealthCare. “We have to do a better job. “This calcium scoring is a screening where we may say ‘Hey, you need to exercise more’ or ‘Hey, we just found out you have high blood pressure. Let’s control that.’ or ‘Hey, you’re a smoker. Maybe you need to quit that,’” he adds. “We go after the risk factors that precipitate and lead to heart disease. It’s a wake-up call. Getting ahead of things so you’re not coming in with a heart attack and damage to the heart muscle. At tha

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EAST ST. LOUIS - Kenneth Taylor, a senior at East St. Louis Senior High School, was honored Thursday afternoon, Feb. 6, 2025, with the SIUC Chancellor’s Scholarship, a prestigious award valued at $107,000. The announcement came during a surprise gathering attended by his family and several staff members from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, including Vice Chancellor Williams, as well as school officials such as Principal Dr. Green and Associate Principal Ford. Taylor is among 34 students selected from a pool of over 600 high school students across Illinois for this scholarship, which covers full tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and food for four years. The scholarship is renewable annually, provided that Taylor maintains a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. In addition to his high school studies, Taylor is dually enrolled at East St. Louis Senior High School and is also earning his Associate's degree from Southwestern Illinois College through the Running Start program.

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O'FALLON, Ill. — Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) has partnered with East St. Louis High School to sponsor a Healthcare Day for students in the Certified Nurses Assistant class of the Career Technical Education program. The event took place this week at HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital, providing students with a unique opportunity to explore various career paths in healthcare. During the event, students engaged in hands-on experiences and received insights into the diverse roles available within the hospital setting. HSHS expressed its enthusiasm for the initiative and said: "Students had an incredible day exploring the diverse career options available at HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital." The partnership aims to inspire and prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals, highlighting the importance of early exposure to career opportunities in the medical field. HSHS St. Elizabeth's Foundation has been actively involved in promoting such educational initiatives in the

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City High School had a pair freshmen place in the top-10 of the 2024 Fall Qualifier Microsoft Office Specialist Illinois State Championship, as announced by Certiport, the leading provider of performance-based IT certification exams that accelerate academic and career opportunities for learners. Cristian Marquez placed seventh in the Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint category, while freshman Eli Prange was eighth in the Microsoft Office Specialist Excel category. Marquez and Prange competed against students from across Illinois to earn this coveted placement. In addition to placing in their designated categories, both students earned the title “Microsoft Office Specialist” by obtaining certification in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. To compete in the Fall Qualifier, students aged 13 to 22 were eligible to participate in one of six competition tracks by submitting a qualified, passing score on the Microsoft Office Specialist

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CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker visited two Chicagoland companies that do business with Canada to tour their facilities and meet with leadership about their business concerns regarding Trump’s Tax on Working Families. “As Governor, growing the Illinois economy and protecting our State’s businesses is always a priority,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “If Trump’s Tax on Working Families remains in effect, it could ultimately force businesses and supply chains to pass higher costs onto Illinois consumers. I heard directly from Illinois businesses owners and leaders today about how this would negatively impact their businesses, and I reassured them that together we will work to reduce the effect on them and on their customers.” International trade is an anchor of the Illinois economy, and ours is the single largest exporting state in the Midwest and fourth largest exporter in the United States. Many of Illinois’ jobs and economic

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that a lighting improvement project on Interstate 55/64/70 will require lane restrictions during the weekends beginning, weather permitting, Saturday, Feb. 15. The project start has been moved because of the prediction of inclement weather next week. To complete the work, lane restrictions in both eastbound and westbound directions of I-55/64/70 from the Mississippi River to east of the Interstate 64 (Tri-Level) interchange will start on Saturdays at 5 a.m. and continue until Sundays at 5 p.m. The $8.85 million project, which involves removing the existing light towers and light poles and installing modernized LED streetlights along the interchange, is anticipated to be completed in summer 2026. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senate Democrats’ 30-hour protest opposing Project 2025 architect Russell Vought’s nomination to serve as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under President Donald Trump. Holding the floor, Duckworth delivered an impassioned speech slamming Trump and unelected billionaire Elon Musk’s ongoing illegal power grabs—including his unlawful federal grant freeze and his shuttering of USAID—that are inflicting pain on middle-class Americans and endangering our national security. Video of Duckworth’s opening remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube and her full speech can be found on the Senator’s Twitter/X and Facebook . Key quotes: “Decades before I ever considered a career in politics, when I was just starting out in the Army, I raised my right hand and took an oath. I swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United

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ALTON - New Frontiers Home and Garden Furnishings Company is celebrating its 47th anniversary in Alton with a major sale through the month of February. Ed, Barb and Cathie, representatives with New Frontiers, stopped by “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello to talk about their experience with the store and how they’ve seen it grow over the past several decades. “It’s a testament. After 47 years, you wouldn't get there by not doing all the right things,” said Cathie. “I love what I do. When you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. I don’t go to work. I love my job.” Ed, the New Frontiers owner, explained that he started out by making adirondack chairs in his dad’s garage. He opened the original store on Broadway in Alton in 1978, selling only unfinished wood furniture. New Frontiers eventually broadened their offerings to finished pieces and soft goods like sofas. When they moved to 101

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Imagine walking into your office to find a workspace cluttered with stacks of papers, an array of pens that never seem to work, and a desktop so chaotic it feels like a puzzle. How does that make you feel? Overwhelmed? Distracted? Now, consider this: studies suggest that individuals who maintain organized workspaces can boost their productivity by as much as 30%. The difference between a cluttered desk and a tidy one isn’t just aesthetic; it profoundly impacts our ability to focus and perform. The Psychological Impact of Clutter Clutter can have a significant psychological toll on individuals. The brain processes visual stimuli constantly, and when our workspace is inundated with disorganized items, it becomes harder for us to concentrate on the task at hand. This phenomenon is known as “visual noise,” which can lead to increased stress and anxiety levels. In fact, a study published in the journal “Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin” found tha

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February 7th has witnessed a myriad of significant events throughout history, shaping the world as we know it today. February 7th has been marked by important cultural milestones. On this day in 1964, The Beatles arrived in the United States for the first time, igniting a cultural phenomenon known as 'Beatlemania.' Their arrival not only changed the landscape of music but also influenced fashion, social norms, and youth culture in America and around the world. The Beatles' impact continues to be felt today, as their music remains timeless and influential. Looking back further, in 1940, Walt Disney's animated classic 'Pinocchio' premiered in Los Angeles. The film, based on the Italian children's novel by Carlo Collodi, became an instant classic and is celebrated for its innovative animation techniques and memorable songs. 'Pinocchio' not only entertained audiences but also conveyed important moral lessons, making it a beloved staple in children's entertainment. In the realm of

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) re-introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier for veterans to access the benefits they’ve earned. The Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to eliminate overcomplicated language from written communications with veterans. Budzinski introduced the legislation with Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) and Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (IL-12). Budzinski introduced this legislation last Congress and it successfully passed out of the House. However, it did not receive a vote in the Senate. “Every day, my office hears from veterans who are struggling to access the benefits they’ve earned due to confusing processes and complicated paperwork,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m proud to be working with my new colleague, Congressman Barrett, to streamline the VA’s communication with our veterans

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ALTON — Two juveniles were taken into custody on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, after an Alton Police officer observed them fleeing at the sight of a marked police vehicle in a known area of recent criminal activity. At approximately 9:48 p.m., Alton Police Lt. Jim Siatos was patrolling the vicinity of 9th Street and Hamilton Street when he noticed the two individuals, both with concealed faces, who appeared to be evading the police presence. Earlier, the officer had seen them walking improperly in the roadway, which contributed to his decision to pursue them on foot. During the encounter, one of the juveniles was found to be in possession of a stolen firearm. Both males were identified as juveniles, and under Illinois law, their identities cannot be released. Following the incident, one of the juveniles was taken to the Madison County Juvenile Detention Home, while the other was released to a guardian. The proactive approach taken by Lt. Siatos has been acknowledged by the police

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