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SOUTH CHINA SEA — The USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and flagship of Carrier Strike Group ONE, is currently engaged in routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The carrier has been conducting these operations since February 5, 2025, as part of ongoing efforts to maintain a presence in the strategically significant waters of the South China Sea. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Tanner Hurt, hailing from Troy, Illinois, was photographed welding an arresting gear cable aboard the carrier on the same day operations commenced. The image, captured by Seaman Apprentice Pablo Chavez, highlights the maintenance and operational activities essential to the carrier's mission. The operations conducted by the USS Carl Vinson are part of the U.S. Navy's broader strategy to ensure maritime security and freedom of navigation in the region, which is critical for international trade and stability. The ongoing presence of U.S. naval forces

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SPRINGFIELD - Fans of Abraham Lincoln lore can now look at a historic ledger at the downtown Springfield site where the future U.S. president did his banking. Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs and JPMorganChase officials on Monday unveiled the reproduction of a ledger that contains records of Honest Abe’s banking activity ahead of Lincoln’s Birthday, which is Wednesday. “President Lincoln stood up for what was right at a time his nation needed his leadership the most. His courage, vision, civility, and perseverance are admired to this day,” said Frerichs during the unveiling at the former Marine Bank Building that’s now home to the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office at 1 East Old State Capitol Plaza. “We are honored and pleased to work with JPMorganChase to provide this viewing opportunity to anyone who visits our building.” "JPMorganChase is proud to collaborate with the Illinois Treasurer's Office to share a copy of the ‘Lincoln

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ST. LOUIS, MO. — The American Red Cross urges donors to give blood or platelets in February to help build up the blood supply after thousands of donations went uncollected last month. People of all blood types – especially those with type O negative blood – are encouraged to make and keep their donation appointments so hospitals can continue to ensure critical care for patients this winter. Since the beginning of the year, hundreds of blood drives have been canceled and more than 15,000 blood and platelet donations have gone uncollected due to severe winter weather and wildfires. As February continues, so does the potential for additional weather systems to disrupt blood drives. Flu and other seasonal illnesses are spreading, which could also force more people to cancel scheduled donation appointments, compounding the impact to collecting lifesaving blood products. Give with your whole heart this month. To book a time to give blood or platelets, use th

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will deliver remarks on the Senate floor as part of Senate Democrats’ protest opposing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to serve as the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under President Trump. In her remarks, Duckworth will underscore just how unqualified Kennedy is for the job and how his long-held, well-established extreme views would put programs and services that millions of middle-class Americans rely on—like Medicaid—at risk.

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ROXANA – High school seniors interested in pursuing a technical school or university degree in science, technology, engineering or math with aspirations for a career in energy, chemicals or manufacturing are invited to apply for one of the 66 scholarships that Phillips 66 is awarding this spring. Students pursuing a technical school education are eligible for a $2,000 scholarship, and students pursuing a four-year college degree are eligible for a $5,000 scholarship. Awards are automatically renewed each year through graduation, as long as the student is full-time and continues to meet the minimum GPA requirements. The application portal at https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/phillips66-community/ for the STEM Scholarship Program is open now for a maximum of 1,000 applicants. Applications are due by Monday, March 3 at 3 p.m. CST. Phillips 66 is promoting the opportunity alongside several longtime community partner organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club Alton, the

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GLEN CARBON – A new pension plan is now available for retired police officers looking to re-join the force with the Glen Carbon Police Department. Village trustees on Tuesday unanimously approved the adoption of a National Public Pension Fund Association (NPPFA) 401(a) Money Purchase Plan. Police Chief Todd Link shared more details of the plan at this week’s Village Board meeting. Link described the plan as a “pension solution to any police officer currently receiving a pension benefit from the Downstate Pension Fund, or in the alternative, any police officer with 10 or more years of credible service with a different municipality in the Downstate Pension Fund.” He added the plan requires no minimum contribution from employees and a contribution from the village worth 7.5% of the officer’s base salary, which goes into a 401(a) account. With one recently hired officer currently eligible for the new pension plan, Link said it would retroactively take effec

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City Elks Lodge #1063 recognized Granite City High School seniors Faith Teets and Ryan Rash as Students of the Month for January. The Elks Student of the Month Program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for achievements in school and community life-fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry and farming. Nominees are judged on multiple achievements including leadership skills, good moral character, community involvement, extracurricular activities, honors and award and scholastic ability. Each student receives a $100 U.S. savings bond and an Elks certificate of achievement.

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ALTON - On a recent episode of “You’re Beautiful” with Brian Trust , Antione Williams spoke about trusting in God and finding peace through faith. Williams shared that he recently lost his mother, and he has found a lot of comfort in his faith. He relies on God to help him through difficult times. He encourages everyone to develop that relationship with God and noted that it goes a long way in building a happy, full life. “You’ll have such peace,” he explained. “You’ll have such love. You’ll have such a relationship, and I’m not talking about religion, I’m talking about a relationship. You’ll have such a relationship with God that in the midst of good days, bad days, happy days, sad days, you’ll have that peace, the confidence, that God is with me and I am with God and everything is going to be okay.” Williams often relies on Proverbs 3:5–6 — “Trust in the Lord with

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BLOOMINGTON – Chestnut Health Systems™ is pleased to announce that Orville Mercer, former vice president of strategy and innovation at Chestnut, has joined the board of directors. With more than four decades of dedication to Chestnut, Mercer brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and vision to this new role. Throughout his career, Mercer was instrumental in establishing Chestnut as a leader in developing and delivering exceptional health and human services. Known as an innovator, relationship builder, and strategic thinker, Mercer pairs his deep understanding of the behavioral health field with forward-thinking ideas that helped Chestnut adapt to ever-changing needs. His contributions have left an indelible mark on the organization and the communities it serves. As a board member, Mercer will offer valuable insight and guidance to help Chestnut further its mission of delivering superior health and human services. The current nine-member board approved Mercer’s

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GLEN CARBON – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) has released the following statement following today’s guilty verdict on former House Speaker Michael Madigan: "Today’s guilty verdict against former Speaker Michael Madigan not only renews calls for ethics reform but also serves as a clear call to action to confront the deep-rooted culture of corruption in our state,” said Senator Harriss. “While justice was served today, we must go further by strengthening our ethics laws to tackle the long-standing issues in state government, where backroom deals and cronyism have dictated policy at the expense of taxpayers. "My colleagues and I have introduced and sponsored legislation to reform our state’s ethics laws, and there is no better time than the start of a new General Assembly to make this a top priority.”

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HIGHLAND - GRID Solar is excited for another month of helping customers secure savings. Jason Mitchell, co-owner of GRID, recently stopped by “Our Daily Show!” with C.J. Nasello to talk about new battery products on the market and how GRID operates in the solar field. He shared that GRID works with customers to help them find the right solar system for their homes. The company is focused on helping the customer, not hawking a product. “When we show up to your house, we’re not there to sell you solar. We’re there to explain how it works, and then if you decide this is what works for you, we help you sign the papers and get the project going,” he explained. “Basically what we’ll do is we’ll just ask a bunch of questions to figure out what your goals are. We’re going to design a system based on the answers to those questions. We’re not just here to sell you a particular product. We’re going to sell you

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ALTON –State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) applauded the jury verdict on the high-profile federal court case against former longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan. Today, a jury found Madigan guilty of conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud and other charges. The jury heard evidence that former Speaker Mike Madigan used pay-to-play tactics, forced companies to hire his friends for ghost jobs, and used his position to make himself richer and Illinois poorer. “The first day I took office in January 2021 was Michael Madigan’s last day as Speaker of the House after 36 years as Speaker and 50 years in office,” said Rep. Elik. “Long before 2021, Illinois citizens began to see how dangerous so much unchecked power and influence in one person’s hands can be, and how that control can hurt our state. Today the jury recognized that Madigan’s power came from his corrupt practices and thankfully he will be punished accordingly. While I applaud

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COLLINSVILLE - The City of Collinsville welcomed three new leadership appointments within its Police Department during the City Council meeting on Tuesday night, Feb. 11, 2025. Collinsville Mayor Jeff Stehman officiated the swearing-in ceremony for the newly promoted officers, who bring decades of experience to their roles. Mark Kuechle, a 17-year veteran of the Collinsville Police Department, was promoted to the position of Assistant Chief of Police/Major. Kuechle's extensive background includes roles as Patrol Officer, Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Investigations Sergeant, and Patrol Lieutenant. He is also recognized as a decorated member of the Major Case Squad. Brad Akers, with 18 years of service, was elevated to Lieutenant. Akers has held various positions, including Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, K-9 Handler, and Patrol Sergeant, and has been a member of the Major Case Squad. Jay Edwards received a promotion to Sergeant after 16 years with the department. His experience

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06) led members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging him to reconsider reported plans to terminate more than 1,100 probationary EPA employees, including many based in Illinois. “We are deeply concerned about the negative impacts such terminations—done across the board without consideration for positional need or programmatic impact—would have on the agency’s ability to protect public health and the environment in the state of Illinois and across the nation,” the lawmakers wrote. “Though they are probationary, many of these employees are long-standing federal workers and subject matter experts with experience vital to running the EPA effectively and efficiently. They perform critical functions protecting Americans from dangers related to pesticides, waste

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (AP) — Yahya Maly, a 28-year-old resident of Ballwin, Mo., faces multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree rape and seven counts of second-degree rape, following a series of alleged sexual assaults involving five women. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced the charges on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. Maly is currently being held on a cash-only bond of $500,000. According to the probable cause statement, the alleged incidents occurred between March 2023 and February 2025. Maly reportedly met the victims through dating websites, where they believed they shared similar conservative values. In the first incident, which allegedly took place between March 1, 2023, and March 1, 2024, Maly invited a woman, referred to as Confidential Victim 1, to his apartment. After making repeated sexual advances, Maly allegedly forced himself on her despite her objections. Another victim, Confidential Victim 2, visited Maly's residence

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BETHALTO - The Bethalto Chamber of Commerce will host “Meet the Candidate” to provide village residents an opportunity to meet the candidates running for election April 1, 2025. Village Officials and Trustees running uncontested: Village President: Gary Bost Village Clerk: Sue Lowrance Trustees: Terri Keister, Brady Dugger, Jay Wright School Board Candidates: Michael Kirby Samantha Pritchett Sharon Rothe Tom Beiermann Natalie Langenfeld Dana Aronin Amanda Winn Dallas Zimmerman Desiree Potter The forum is open to the public and will take place on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 7 p.m. at the Bethalto Senior Citizens Center located at 100 E. Central in Bethalto, IL. The format of the meeting will include an informal Meet and Greet followed by each candidate having an opportunity to respond to a set of pre-submitted questions. Light refreshments will be provided. Early Voting begins on March 17 with the general election on April 1. To locate your polling place

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GODFREY - Five candidates for the Village of Godfrey’s trustees seats shared their platforms at a recent candidate forum. On Feb. 11, 2025, East End Improvement Association hosted a candidate forum for the mayoral, clerk and trustee candidates. You can read more about the mayoral candidates here . You can read more about the clerk candidates here . There are three trustee seats available and five candidates in the running. Ryan Mouser, Gerard Fischer and Nathan Schrumpf are running while Rick Lauschke and Sarah Woodman are defending their seats. The candidates began by introducing themselves and sharing more about why they decided to run. Nathan Schrumpf Schrumpf explained that he previously served on the Village Board six years ago. He grew up in Godfrey and attended Alton High School and Lewis and Clark Community College. He previously ran a lawncare business and currently works at Phillips 66, and he owns a few commercial properties in the Village. “I’m

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CHICAGO — Michael Madigan, the former Illinois House Speaker and longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history, was convicted of conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in a high-profile corruption trial that has drawn significant attention. A jury found him guilty on 10 counts while acquitting him of seven others, leaving six counts unresolved after more than 10 days of deliberation. Madigan, who held his position for over three decades and once led the Democratic Party of Illinois, was implicated in schemes involving the state’s largest utility, ComEd, and efforts to secure a state board position for a Chicago alderman. The trial, which began in October 2024, featured testimony from over 60 witnesses. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued these comments after the Madigan verdict: “ Trust in public officials is hard-earned. Public service ought to be a high calling for honest people with integrity. And those who violate the public’s

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EDWARDSVILLE - SIUE’s Dunham Hall Theater resonated with vibrant sound of jazz as the SIUE Concert Jazz Band welcomed four celebrated alumni for the 2nd Annual SIUE Jazz Alumni Concert on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. The evening brought together past and present Cougars in a dynamic showcase of jazz artistry, featuring a rotation of guest performances from four nationally recognized musicians who got their start at SIUE: Austin Cebulske, '12, saxophonist, Kara Baldus, '03, '05, pianist, Nick Jost, ‘08, ‘12, bassist, and Marty Morrison ‘09, ‘12, percussionist. The evening culminated in the dedication of the inaugural Brett Stamps Jazz Alumni Award, to guitarist Rick Haydon, professor emeritus, in absentia. Under the conduction of Garrett Schmidt, associate professor of jazz studies, the SIUE Concert Jazz Band opened with a roiling arrangement of "Fascinating Rhythm" from George and Ira Gershwin. An eight-piece set followed, featuring compositions from greats

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SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is issuing a 30-day suspension, effective Tuesday, February 11, 2025, on the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets, and auction markets in response to the ongoing threat of H5N1 avian flu. The move is intended to reduce and prevent the spread of the disease, which has been detected in commercial and backyard flocks in Illinois. “Prevention is our most effective tool to mitigate the spread of avian flu. By being proactive in biosecurity and limiting poultry movement and exposure, we are protecting the public as well as the poultry industry,” said Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA State Veterinarian. Avian flu is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds (especially waterfowl). Avian flu virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to chickens, and can spread rapidly

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