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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate increased +0.1 percentage point to 4.7 percent, while nonfarm payrolls increased +6,800 in November, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and released by IDES. The October revised unemployment rate was 4.6 percent, unchanged from the preliminary October unemployment rate. The October monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from -15,000 to -17,100 jobs. The November unemployment rate and payroll jobs estimate reflect activity for the week including the 12th. In November, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month job gains included: Manufacturing (+5,400), Educational and Health Services (+3,800), and Other Services (+1,900). The industry sectors with monthly payroll job declines included: Professional and Business Services (-8,000), and Information (-100). “Today’s report

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following recent reports of heavy metals being found in baby food and food pouches for young children, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), along with several of their Senate colleagues, are leading the call for Senate Appropriators to prioritize additional resources that would help the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Maternal and Infant Health Nutrition programs, including the Closer to Zero program, better ensure the food our nation’s children consume is nutritious, safe and free of toxins. “Recent news regarding elevated blood lead levels in young children potentially linked to certain fruit puree products once again highlights why we should prioritize Federal funds to make sure that the very youngest members of our society are fed safe and nutritious foods,” wrote the Senators. “Additional funding is necessary to continue supporting and expanding the vital work FDA is undertaking

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GRAFTON - A business that has been a contributor to the Grafton Memorial - Seed to Sewn - recently made a presentation to the Grafton City Council, with plans for more support. At the Grafton City Council meeting on December 19, 2023, Joellen Sudmeier and Chris Grigsby, owners of Seed to Sewn, a direct-to-film transfer business that specializes in T-shirts, hoodies, and custom imprinted apparel, introduced themselves as the official supplier of hoodies/T-shirts sporting the logo of the National Memorial of Military Ascent (NMMA). The company was formed in April 2023 and is based in Collinsville, but Joellen and Chris also travel to venues, printing and selling customized shirts on site. “We love Grafton and are blessed to be a part of this memorial to all veterans,” Joellen said, and Chris stated that a portion of the memorial shirt proceeds will also be donated to the NMMA. Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow said the city first became acquainted with their quality work at Witches

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ALTON - The Hiram's Bar Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, was everything owner Hiram Lewis and the children who received toys could want, he said afterward. "We had a nice turnout for our toy giveaway," Hiram said. "Doing charitable events always feels great. We wish everyone a happy holiday through New Year's Day." Hiram pledged to give away 100 new toys to children right before Christmas and because of some donations, it turned out to be even more. He said he was touched because he felt many of the children who received toys may not have had one at Christmas without this giveaway. Lewis and his staff also had food, cookies and treats for those who attended. "It feels good to give back," Lewis said.

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ALTON/GODFREY - Students from Marquette Catholic High School (MCHS) were spreading community and cheer by ringing bells for the Salvation Army on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. Principal Tim Harmon explained that Mike Roberts, who teaches at MCHS and serves as the chair of the local Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign this year along with his wife Karen, approached Harmon about the project. They decided that it would be a positive team-building experience for students. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., students rang bells and the MCHS choir sang Christmas carols outside of the Godfrey Schnucks. “It a good opportunity for our kids to do some good stuff,” Harmon said. “The school’s motto is ‘serviam,’ which means ‘to serve.’ A big part of what we do is we need to be providing that service element not only within the school but also outside of the school.” Harmon explained that the students are divided into houses, which is part of a new system

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CARLINVILLE – Bald eagles have made an incredible comeback in Illinois in recent decades. The state also has some of the best fishing in the Midwest. Both topics are the focus of a free, one-hour program at the Carlinville Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 4 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Scott Isringhausen, an Urban Fishing Coordinator in Regions 4 and 5 with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, will present the program, which includes a thorough look at the bald eagle in Illinois. Isringhausen, who has been employed with the DNR since 1989, will discuss why bald eagles have made a comeback in Illinois, especially in winter. Eating habits of eagles, physical characteristics such as eyesight, predators that threaten eagles, nest size, and egg-laying habits will also be discussed, as well as how to distinguish a mature bald eagle from an immature one. Isringhausen will bring a stuffed bald eagle and other materials for an enhanced learning experience. “We’ll

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ALTON - If you need a last minute gift, Brooke Peipert has got you covered with her new business Simmer and Stitch. Peipert is a longtime artist, but she hadn’t had the opportunity to create her own art in awhile. She started making simmer pots and embroidered necklaces for her loved ones, then decided she would try selling her wares, just to see what happened. “I was hesitant to put them out there and I did, and the first batch sold in less than an hour and I thought, ‘Well, I guess I’ll make some more,’” she laughed. “That’s kind of where it all started. I spent a lot of years perpetuating the arts in other areas and for other artists in our community, so it’s been nice to get back into doing something that I can perpetuate for myself…Everything in my life is kind of made full circle with this project that I’m pursuing.” Peipert has a lot of respect for older methods. She remembers women in her family

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BUNKER HILL - The holidays are a time for community, and as a realtor, no one knows the community like Lisa Webb. Webb, owner of Third Street Realty, helped sponsor an Angle Tree and Toys for Tots drive this year, and both were wildly successful. The Bunker Hill Chamber of Commerce partnered with Third Street Realty to organize an Angel Tree with 15 families and 39 angels, and Webb joined the Riverbend Chapter of Little Black Book: Women in Business to collect over 10,500 toys for Toys for Tots. She explained that this is what her business is all about. “You’re like, ‘Well, what does that have to do with Third Street Realty?’ And it’s like, that's who we are,” Webb explained. “You partner with who has the like minds and whose missions are similar. And so when we partner with these other businesses that have the same goals and missions, then it’s not only going to help us be able to reach more in a community, it’s going to

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EAST ST. LOUIS – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) has announced the arrest of 35-year-old Cornell L. Irving of St. Louis, MO for First Degree Murder (Class M Felony). On November 10, 2023, ISP PSEG was requested by the East St. Louis Police Department to conduct a death investigation in the 4000 block of State Street in East St. Louis. A female victim, identified as 19-year-old Trenadi Bateman of Collinsville, had been shot and transported to an area hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. On December 22, 2023, after a thorough investigation, ISP PSEG agents presented the case to the St. Clair County State's Attorney, James Gomric, and a First Degree Murder charge was filed. Irving is being held at the East St. Louis Jail.

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ALTON/GODFREY - When Amanda Pennington started 3A's Sign Language Interpreting Services, her goal was to help people connect. But this connection means more to Deaf, Hard of Hearing and hearing people than she could ever realize, especially during the holiday season. The agency offers onsite interpreting services in the Alton and Godfrey area. Pennington considers herself an agent who helps connect freelance interpreters with assignments. They celebrated the end of the year with a holiday party on Dec. 14, 2023. “I had the best time, and it was so cool to just be able to hang out with my people and the community and in an unabated way, not business time,” Pennington said. “We got to have fun and be ourselves. So it was just nice that everyone came out. That means so much to me, that they use their off time to spend it with me.” The interpreters met at The Lovejoy , which also catered the event. They enjoyed candles from the new Red School Candle Company

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Apathy is easy. This was weighing on me recently when I was writing about another bad thing. Unfortunately, that’s just part of the job; there are tragedies, and we write about them. That’s an element of being in journalism, and I knew it when I signed up for the job, but it’s still impressively sad sometimes. During the Christmas season, it can feel especially heavy. I have a friend who once worked in broadcast journalism. Because he is a compassionate, gentle person, he was sitting at his desk, working on a story about something horrible, and quietly crying while he typed. A coworker stuck their head over the cubicle and noticed his tears. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it,” they promised. It was meant to be a reassuring comment, but I think about it a lot. The worst part is that it’s true. If you aren’t careful, this job becomes just like any other job; another day, another tragedy, another story, rinse and repeat. Apath

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ALTON - The Healing Haus is officially open for everyone who is ready to feel better in the New Year. The business opened in October in The Milton Schoolhouse and offers a variety of holistic healing modalities, from yoga and meditation to Reiki and sound baths. The Healing Haus will partner with Soul Sanctuary on Dec. 30, 2023, for a “Letting Go of 2023: Moon Meditation and Sound Bath” event. “When you think about holistic healing, it’s more so Eastern body, Western mind. It’s the best way I can put it,” said Latavia Jo Harley, The Healing Haus owner. “When I think of holistic healing, I think of all-natural modalities. So not necessarily looking at something that's wrong from a leaf standpoint, but what are the roots? Not really slapping a pill on it or only focusing on the symptom, but why it got there.” Harley became interested in alternative healing practices as a child as she watched family members struggle with

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Letter To The Editor: I am writing to express my passion for the Convention of States initiative and to call on our fellow citizens to join this crucial movement for the future of our great nation. In these challenging times, it is evident that our federal government needs a fresh approach to address the complex issues facing our society. The Convention of States provides a unique and constitutional solution to empower the people and restore balance to our system. Article V of the Constitution is, a solution as big as the problem! As a resident of Illinois, a state known for its rich history and diverse perspectives, I believe that we must actively engage in shaping the course of our government. The Convention of States allows us to do just that by providing a platform for state representatives to pass a State Resolution in support of a Convention of States to propose amendments to the U. S. Constitution around three specific subjects. These subject areas proposed are: 1. Get a handl

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SPRINGFIELD – This holiday season, the Illinois Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the Illinois State Police and nearly 200 law enforcement agencies, reminds the public that the annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is underway through Jan. 2. With the primary goal to keep impaired drivers off Illinois roads during the holiday season, as celebrations unfold, it becomes imperative to plan for a sober ride home before the festivities begin. “Help us spread the message: Impairment is impairment, whether by alcohol or drugs. Driving impaired is illegal and deadly,” said IDOT’s Director of Highways Project Implementation Steve Travia. “All impairing substances will lead you to a DUI if you choose to drive under the influence.” The end-of-year enforcement campaign comes as IDOT data shows crash fatalities are higher than this time in 2022. Through Dec. 14, 1,213 people have lost their lives in crashes, which

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EDWARDSVILLE – COUNTRY Financial Representative Carol Stolze is proud to support the “Soup-N-Share” community program with a donation of $3,000. The funds will be used to support the organization’s “No Child Wet Behind” diaper bank program. “The need for infants and toddlers to stay dry is extremely important,” says Stolze. “Otherwise, children may suffer from diseases of all kinds. Given the rising cost of essentials like food and supplies, purchasing diapers is another hardship facing many families and agencies in our area.” Stolze has been named the program’s 2024 Ambassador. Her donation of $3,000 will allow the non-profit organization to purchase and stock the diaper bank with 90,000 diapers throughout 2024. "A baby is a blessing from God who has entrusted us to take special care of their needs. Diapers are not just a basic need they are essential,” says Sherrie M. Hare, Executive Director, Soup-n-Share.

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ST. LOUIS - As we make our way past the busy winter holidays, and look toward the new year, let’s all remember to stop, take a breath, and enjoy the moment. It’s an accomplishment to make it through another year, and now we can enjoy the promise of 2024. For many of us, that can mean putting together some health goals for the next 12 months. And whether those goals are big or small, learning some new, stress-free tips may just prove helpful as we work toward improving our health and lowering our risk of disease. So, here are five tips that have resonated with me recently. Some are pretty specific; some are more general. But each can have important benefits now. And these benefits continue to grow as they’re repeated and become part of our regular wellness routines. Don’t forget healthy sleep . It may not be what most people think of when they think about healthy behaviors, but getting good sleep certainly qualifies. Among other conditions, poor-quality sleep

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CHICAGO – This holiday will most definitely be a very jolly one for an Illinois iLottery player after playing Fast Play Twenty 20s online and winning the jackpot prize – a whopping $880,164. The lucky online player won the big jackpot on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. This is the sixth largest Fast Play Twenty 20s jackpot won so far this year. Just five months ago, another lucky online player took home the largest Fast Play Twenty 20s jackpot ever - nearly $1.25 million. Twenty 20s is an Illinois Lottery progressive jackpot Fast Play game. The jackpot begins at $50,000 and grows with each ticket sold statewide - in-store and online - until the jackpot is won. So far this month, over 80,000 winning tickets for the Fast Play Twenty 20s game have been purchased, netting Illinois Lottery players prizes of more than $4.6 million. You could be next! Fast Play is a quick and easy draw game that can be played at any time. There are no numbers to pick, no play slip to

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ALTON - Centerstone has immediate openings in its medication-assisted treatment program in both the Alton, IL clinic and the Marion, IL clinic. MAT is an essential part of comprehensive treatment for substance misuse. FDA-approved medications are used to calm overly-active areas of the brain, reduce cravings and increase your chances of long-term recovery. We offer the following options in conjunction with individual and group counseling to support in overcoming addiction: Vivitrol Suboxone Methadone Centerstone offers methadone guest dosing. For more information about Centerstone’s MAT program, call 1-877-HOPE123 (1-877-467-3123).

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville would like to welcome David Goodwin as the new chief of the SIUE Police Department. Chief Goodwin began his service Friday, December 15. Prior to his appointment, Chief Goodwin spent more than 25 years in campus law enforcement at Washington University in St. Louis. There he rose through the ranks of the Washington University Police Department to Patrol Operations Bureau Commander (Captain) in 2019 and Assistant Chief. “I am passionate about higher education law enforcement and as a result, I come to SIUE PD with a deep-seated commitment to public safety and a passion for fostering positive relationships within the diverse community we serve,” said Goodwin. Goodwin served 34 years in both the National Guard and Army Reserves. He was twice deployed to Iraq, which was “a very nerve wracking and emotional experience,” according to Goodwin. “We lost soldiers in the second deployment. But it gav

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ALTON - The City of Alton has requested planning assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study and create a comprehensive plan for the Alton riverfront. Alton City Council members on Wednesday approved a resolution authorizing Mayor David Goins to enter into negotiation with the Corps of Engineers to participate in the “ Planning Assistance to States Program .” Under the program, the Corps of Engineers helps states, local governments, and more prepare “comprehensive plans for the development, utilization, and conservation of water and related land resources.” Alton’s Riverfront Advisory Commission recommended the city pursue this partnership with the Corps of Engineers. According to the resolution, the commission’s role is to “provide suggestions, options and feedback intended to further develop the design of the riverfront that supports, enhances, and grows the facilities, programs, and services of the City of Alton in

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