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ALTON - AP Cigar continues monthly cigar events in Downtown Alton and Thursday afternoon, April 24, 2025, is the next one. The AP Cigar event at 202 State Street in Alton is slated from 3 to 6 p.m., then the event moves over the Mac's in Downtown Alton from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for a nightcap. The events have been a smash, organizers said on the "Our Daily Show!" with C.J. Nasello. Tony and Mike appeared on C.J. Nasello's "Our Daily Show!" recently and said both have a big passion for the cigar industry, which they view as extremely important in the industry. The cigar event at Mac's last month was very well-attended and it keeps getting "larger and larger,” the two men said, recalling that last month’s event was “filled with cigar enthusiasts.” Mike observed that many of the “70, 80, 90-year-olds turn out for the early event at AP Cigar, then others follow for the evening at Mac's. Last month, Mac's smoking area had many who demonstrated their

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WOOD RIVER - An area National Day of Prayer service is set at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the Wood River Roundhouse. Organizer Debbie Ward said the event will take place outside at the bandstand if weather permits, or inside the building if conditions are unfavorable. Meteorologist Mike Roberts will serve as the master of ceremonies for the event. The Passion Painter, known for creating live artwork during performances, will also participate, Ward said. Community leaders will lead prayers focused on seven areas of influence in the nation: government, family, church, education, business and workplace, arts, media and entertainment, and military and first responders. Ward expressed gratitude to those involved and said she views the National Day of Prayer service as very important for the region.

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GODFREY — The Godfrey Fire Protection District expressed gratitude to the North Alton-Godfrey Business Council and Godfrey Meat Market for providing lunch to firefighters following a morning of training on Thursday, April 24, 2025. The North Alton-Godfrey Business Council generously supplied lunch for all three shifts at the Godfrey Fire Department. The meal was prepared by Godfrey Meat Market, a local business that holds sentimental value for the firefighters, as their former fire station was located next door to the market. In a statement, the fire district said the meal was “not only delicious, but it brought back memories” of the old station. The department added that being close to the local business is something they “truly miss.” The Godfrey Fire Protection District thanked the business council and the meat market for their support, noting that their kindness means a great deal to the department and its crews.

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HARTFORD – The Lewis and Clark State Historic Site will commemorate the 221st anniversary of the start of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with the annual Point of Departure Commemoration May 10 and 11. Visitors can interact with military demonstrators, historic artisans, and hands-on history displays at this free event, which takes place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Artisans will exhibit historic skills including candle making, leatherworking, tanning, gunsmithing, spinning, woodworking and more. The event offers an opportunity for visitors to experience how things were made in the past and what life in the Illinois Country was like. Frontier medicine of the early 19th Century will be explored with a display of medical instruments and common treatments. Military reenactors will portray soldiers of the Lewis and Clark Expedition's Corps of Discovery. Interpreting the "White Pirogue" replica of the Expedition's boat, these reenactors will reveal the grueling task of navigating

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EDWARDSVILLE - In the spirit of promoting health, wellness and physical activity, Edwardsville Township will be hosting open gyms/pick-up games for adults at Township Community Park starting May 1st. Tennis Thursdays will be held at the tennis courts from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Soccer Sundays will be held at the soccer fields from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Sundays. “We hope these events will promote overall healthy habits in our community, both physical and mental health,” said Township Supervisor, Kevin Hall. “Loneliness and isolation for adults, especially young adults have become a major issue the past few years. This idea sprang up at one of our recent Lunch and Learn events and we hope it will provide some quality social experiences to some in our community.” In addition to these soccer and tennis events, several other options are available we want to highlight: Yoga - Glen Carbon Centennial Library – Thursday April 24th at 10

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MADISON COUNTY — Authorities are investigating after a body was found Thursday morning, April 24, 2025, in Granite City. Police responded to a report of a body discovered near Alton Street at Pontoon Road shortly before 9 a.m., officials said. Multiple units remain on the scene as investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding the discovery. Details about the incident have not been released. Authorities have not confirmed the identity of the deceased or the cause of death. More to come.

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On April 26, 1925, Alton’s own Rip Van Winkles baseball team played a game at Sportsmans Park against Negro National League team, the St. Louis Stars (originally the St. Louis Giants). Sportsmans Park was built in the early 1900s on the north side of Broadway, where the Alton Plaza Shopping Center now stands. (An earlier Sportsmans Park was built in the 1880s on the south side of Broadway, but the land was sold to Illinois Glass Works around 1906.) The Rip Van Winkles was a social club for married people in Alton, and they often threw dancing parties. The St. Louis Stars planned to bring an impressive lineup: John Reese in center, Wilson Redus at shortstop, Candy Jim Taylor at third, Percy Miller at first, Sam Bennett as catcher, and George Brown, Deacon Myers, and possibly George Womack (listed in the Alton Evening Telegraph as Warmack) as pitchers. Cool Papa Bell was on the 1925 St. Louis Stars roster but is not listed as one of the players at the game against the Rip

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SPRINGFIELD - State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) welcomed Barbara Sparkman and Wendy Granger from Millstadt to the “Women to Watch" Leadership Conference in Springfield. The event, hosted by House Republicans, consisted of breakfast and conversations, keynote speakers, networking lunch, and an informational seminar. “I am honored to have Barbara Sparkman and Wendy Granger as my guests at this year's conference and celebrate their well-deserved recognition for their work supporting our community,” said Schmidt. Barbara serves as the Millstadt Food Pantry's treasurer, and Wendy serves on the pantry board in addition to various other functions ranging from picking up food, packing bags for clients and distributing holiday food throughout the year. The Millstadt Food Pantry began years ago in a small garage with a big mission. Today, the pantry continues to exceed local annual donations and helps to feed less fortunate families across the Millstadt

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ALTON - Visitors flocked to Christmas Wonderland in Alton in record numbers during the 2024 holiday season and that success means the volunteer organization was able to increase its donations to local organizations. Nearly $73,000 in donations has been distributed to over 70 civic organizations courtesy of the Grandpa Gang and Christmas Wonderland, a direct result of strong holiday seasonal visitors to the landmark Alton attraction. Christmas Wonderland, spearheaded by the volunteer Grandpa Gang, features more than 4 million lights strung throughout Rock Spring Park and also includes the Enchanted Forest and visits with Santa Claus. “The financial support we received in 2024 means we can help others in our surrounding communities and that is the true meaning of the holiday season,” Dick Alford, of the Grandpa Gang, noted. The “Grandpa Gang”, a group of retirees and volunteers, organizes and designs the Christmas spectacular of cascading lights, tunnels

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MARINE – A man from Marine faces multiple felonies after a police search of his home yielded various stolen items and a pipe bomb. Chad W. Vaughn, 40, of Marine, was charged with possession of explosive or incendiary devices (a Class 1 felony), unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon (a Class 2 felony), residential burglary (a Class 1 felony), and theft (a Class 3 felony). Charging documents state that on April 9, 2025, Vaughn knowingly possessed an explosive compound in the form of a “pipe bomb.” His possession of the explosive carried additional penalties as a felon previously convicted in 2021 of unlawful possession with the intent to deliver methamphetamine, also in Madison County. Vaughn was additionally charged in this case with offenses stemming from Oct. 23, 2024, when he is accused of burglarizing a residence in Marine and stealing “assorted tools, musical instruments, appliances, and assorted home goods” worth over $500 from the residence.

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BUNKER HILL - A local cafeteria worker is advocating for free school lunches for all kids. Shelly Wuellner, Food Service Director at Bunker Hill Community Unit School District #8, recently traveled to Springfield, Illinois, and Washington, D.C., to speak with legislators about providing free meals for all students. She serves as the Illinois Public Spokesperson for Healthy Meals for All and as a member of the School Nutrition Association. “Kids do matter and school food matters,” Wuellner said. “Come to school, eat your food, be full, enjoy it. How are we going to educate our kids if we’re not setting them up to be educated?” BHCUSD8, Wuellner’s district, participates in the Community Eligibility Provision, which provides free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of their ability to pay. She said some districts make it into that program “by the skin of their teeth,” and she believes it’s a great resource for

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford reported two separate crashes in Alton on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, occurring within 10 minutes of each other. The first incident took place at 3:25 p.m. on Wednesday at the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and West 10th Street. According to Chief Ford, there were no injuries, and the crash caused minimal traffic disruption. A citation was issued to the at-fault driver for failure to reduce speed, with no other citations issued. Shortly after, at 3:36 p.m., a second crash occurred in the 3000 block of Brown Street. A 60-year-old female driver, determined not to be at fault, was transported by ambulance for minor injuries. The driver found to be at fault received a citation for failure to reduce speed, with no additional citations issued. Chief Ford’s statements highlight speed as a common factor in both crashes, emphasizing the importance of cautious driving to prevent such incidents.

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MADISON COUNTY — Hayley A. Ditzler, 18, and Olivia J. Brown, 18, have been charged with a Mob Action Class 4 felony for allegedly participating in an incident on April 18, 2025. According to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office, both defendants are accused of forcibly dragging the victim into the woods and repeatedly punching and kicking her in multiple areas of her body. The charges, filed on April 23, 2025, state that Ditzler and Brown acted together without legal authority, using force or violence that disturbed the public peace. The official charge reads that the defendants knowingly engaged in this conduct in violation of Illinois law, specifically 720 ILCS 5/25-1(a)(1). The incident is under investigation by local authorities, and no further details have been released at this time. Both defendants are expected to appear in court for proceedings related to the charges.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting the first confirmed measles case of 2025 in Illinois. The case, involving an adult in far southern Illinois, was confirmed through laboratory testing on April 23. This is the only case IDPH is aware of and this is not considered an outbreak at this time. IDPH will update the public should there be any notable developments. The risk of community transmission for the general public in Illinois remains low. IDPH is working with local health officials to identify all potential exposure locations. The clinic in southern Illinois where the patient sought care is working to identify any possible exposed patients and check immune status of those individuals. All exposed healthcare staff were wearing masks and are considered immune. Anyone exposed and not immune to measles should stay alert for any signs and symptoms of measles such as rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, and notify their

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 12 attorneys general, today filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s illegal tariffs. The case challenges several executive orders that claim the power to increase tariffs without congressional action. The lawsuit filed by Raoul and the coalition challenges the Trump administration’s executive orders calling for higher tariffs on most products worldwide. These tariffs impose a 145% tariff on most products from China, a 25% tariff on most types of products from Canada and Mexico, and 10% tariffs on most products from the rest of the world. Raoul’s lawsuit also challenges the administration’s plan to raise tariffs on imports from 56 other trading partners on July 9. “International trade is essential to states’ economies, and the administration’s tariffs will make it more difficult for our residents to purchase the basic goods they need at affordable prices,”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Patty Murray (D-WA) and 10 Senate Democratic colleagues in condemning the Trump Administration’s cuts to federal funding that for decades helped address child labor, forced labor and human trafficking globally. “These cuts are inconsistent with bipartisan laws passed by Congress providing federal funds to combat child labor, forced labor, human trafficking, and enforce labor standards in over 40 countries,” the Senators wrote in a letter to Labor Secretary Lori M. Chavez-DeRemer. “Cancelling all existing cooperative agreements will only harm American workers, lower international labor standards, and hurt children.” The Senators continued, “ILAB grants level the playing field for American workers and ensure businesses cannot profit from labor abuses by stopping the problems at their source. Offshoring work will only drive down wages, incentivize

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced a series of measures against El Salvador in response to its role in aiding the Trump Administration’s defiance of court orders and violations of due process. As laid out in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, no one should be deprived of life and liberty without due process of law. However, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was legally residing in the United States, did not receive any due process before the Trump Administration illegally deported him to El Salvador -- even though the first Trump Administration granted a withholding of removal order in 2019. Additionally, the Trump Administration admitted it sent Abrego Garcia to El Salvador because of an administrative error . Despite a unanimous decision from the Supreme Court of the United States ordering the Trump Administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return because of his wrongful deportation, he continues to be held in illegal

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DECATUR - Governor JB Pritzker joined TCCI Manufacturing today to announce the grand opening of its Clean Energy Innovation Hub . The new state-of-the-art hub is a $45 million project which strengthens the North American supply chain by onshoring critical electric vehicle (EV) component manufacturing, providing training and cutting edge research opportunities. As part of the project, TCCI invested more than $20 million to revamp their Decatur facility, creating 50 new jobs in the process. TCCI is the first recipient of the state’s groundbreaking Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) incentive program. “From workforce development to innovation to manufacturing expansion, we are building an engine of opportunity. That starts with strategic projects like the Clean Energy Innovation Hub,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This has been years in the making, and it took collaboration to get here — collaboration between a company committed to

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ELSAH – To build stronger communities and positive relationships with law enforcement, the Illinois State Police (ISP) is hosting three, Team Illinois Youth Police Camps (TIYPC) this summer in Carbondale, Elsah, and Romeoville. Each week-long, overnight camp is geared for teenagers 13-17 years and focuses on providing personal development opportunities to challenge young people to reach their full potential. The TIYPCs are based upon a military model and attendees, or cadets, learn military drills and participate in physical fitness exercises. Cadets also attend classroom instruction on leadership development, substance abuse resistance, team building principles, and other life enhancing skills. TIYPCs promote positive rapport and interactions between law enforcement and attendees. The Metro East TIYPC will be held at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois from July 13-19, 2025. More than 900 cadets have graduated from this camp since 2006. Local sheriff and police departments,

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SWANSEA — State Senator Christopher Belt announced that school libraries across St. Clair and Madison counties will receive more than $30,000 in state grant funding. “School libraries are a safe place for many kids to expand their knowledge and prepare for their future,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The funding will help our school libraries keep up with times by helping them upgrade to new technology used to help kids learn.” The grants, awarded throughout Illinois, included annual per capita grant funding, public library construction grants and newly created technology grants to help libraries most in need upgrade their technology infrastructure. School districts receiving funding in the 57th Senate District include: Belle Valley School District 119 - $850 Belleville Township High School District 201 - $4,072 Cahokia Community Unit School District 187 - $2,374 Dupo Community Unit School District 196 - $850 East Saint Louis School District 189 -

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