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ALTON - Two individuals have been charged with deceptive practices for presenting bad checks at Schwegel’s Market in Alton, marking the fifth and sixth criminal cases involving bad checks at the location since 2023. James W. Holland, 58, of South Roxana, and Lora M. Benson, 49, of Carrollton, were both charged with Class 4 felony counts of deceptive practices. On Sept. 24, 2024, Holland allegedly delivered a check written in the amount of $479 to Schwegel’s Market while “knowing the check would not be paid by the depository,” according to court documents. One week later on Oct. 1, Benson allegedly did the same with a different bad check written out for $416.74. Both cases were presented by the Alton Police Department, and both Holland and Benson were granted pretrial release from custody. These two similar cases follow a series of forgery cases involving several individuals attempting to pass bad checks at the market. These include an Edwardsville

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Flag Commission selected its Top 10 finalists for the state flag redesign contest with public voting slated to begin in January. Members of the commission could select up to 10 of their favorite designs – from the nearly 5,000 submissions – prior to their December 9 meeting where they narrowed their choices to 10 overall. “Having received nearly 5,000 entries, I appreciate the creativity and passion reflected in all the submissions,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, whose office convened the Flag Commission meetings. Starting in January, the public will have the opportunity to vote online at www.ilsos.gov/stateflag for one of the new designs, or one of three former flag designs, including the current state flag, the 1918 Centennial Flag and the 1968 Sesquicentennial Flag. After the public voting period, the commission will report its findings and recommendations to the Illinois General Assembly by April 1, 2025,

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PEORIA – Sister Agnes Joseph Williams, O.S.F., chairperson of OSF Healthcare Ministries, has announced that Bob Sehring, chief executive officer, has shared his intention to retire in April of 2026. To facilitate a smooth transition, Michelle Conger will assume the role of president of OSF HealthCare on January 1, 2025, and will then succeed Sehring as chief executive officer when he retires. “It is with deep gratitude that we honor Bob’s extraordinary contributions to OSF HealthCare. Under his leadership, our Ministry has achieved remarkable milestones, including strategic growth through mergers and acquisitions serving 17 communities with hospitals, providing care for more than 1 million patients this past year, demonstrating strong leadership through the pandemic and the post impacts on our health system, advancements in oncology services including the opening of the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute in Peoria earlier this year, and an unwavering commitment to

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CHICAGO - Today Governor JB Pritzker announced Beth McElroy Kirkwood as his appointment to fill the vacant seat on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners. Kirkwood has spent more than a decade in public service in Orland Park across multiple city departments. Kirkwood will fill the vacancy left by Mariyana Spyropolous, who was elected Clerk of Cook County Circuit court in November. “Beth McElroy Kirkwood is an example of someone who has made serving her community a lifelong priority, and I’m proud to appoint her to continue this legacy of service on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board,” said Governor Pritzker. “The MWRD serves a crucial role in ensuring the greater Chicagoland area has access to clean and safe water, protecting millions of Illinoisans.” Kirkwood was appointed Orland Township Committeeperson in 2021. Kirkwood also serves on the Moraine Valley Community College Board of

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today warned four voice service providers that they have been transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic on their networks on behalf of one or more of their customers. Raoul is a member of the bi-partisan, 51-attorney general Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, which has been investigating these providers. In the warning letters , the task force informs the providers that it has shared the findings of its investigations with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which will consider appropriate next steps. “These letters should serve as a warning to others who attempt to profit off robocalls that cost consumers time and money and violate their privacy,” Raoul said. “My office will continue to work closely with the FCC to reduce illegal and intrusive robocalls that plague consumers in Illinois and across the country.” The letters warned that if these providers continue to transmit robocalls and

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EDWARDSVILLE - With their commitment to assisting students to advance academically, it is not surprising that these staff members, working in a program designed to empower students, are doing the same. Three employees of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s TRIO Upward Bound (UB) Programs will graduate with master’s degrees from SIUE on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. Graduating are Christopher L. Cooper Sr., Upward Program director; Jasmeen Finn, UB counselor/data specialist; and Jurre Loveless, UB counselor. “This degree offers the necessary skills to manage public programs, lead teams and navigate the complexities of government agencies, non-profits and other public service organizations,” said Cooper, who will receive a master’s in public administration (MPA). “I am deeply passionate about positively impacting my community, and this MPA degree equips me with the tools to address critical social issues like poverty, healthcare, education and

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Director James Jennings today announced a new funding opportunity to assist communities where there are currently no wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities. Illinois EPA is making $1 million available for grants through the Unsewered Communities Planning Grant Program, which will assist small and disadvantaged communities in developing a project plan that identifies a solution to wastewater collection and treatment needs. A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been posted to the Illinois EPA website . “We know there is a real need for the upfront engineering and planning costs before a community can even consider construction of wastewater infrastructure,” said Director James Jennings. “Funding is a significant hurdle for many communities without access to modern wastewater systems, and this opportunity is an investment in their future and our environment.” The Unsewered Communities

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GODFREY – The yard waste drop-off site available to Godfrey residents will be closed on Tuesday, December 24th and Tuesday, December 31st due to the holidays. Saturday operations of those weeks will continue. The site, located at 1433 Stamper Ln. west of Glazebrook Park, is normally available on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – noon. Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick initiated this service as a courtesy to Godfrey residents in August of 2023, when pick up of yard waste by area trash haulers became less attainable. “This program has been very successful,” said McCormick. “The number of bags of leaves, grass, and small branches dropped off by Godfrey residents has reached over seven thousand.”

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CHICAGO – Illinois Lottery players have another shot at becoming a Mega Millionaire as the Mega Millions jackpot is now a whopping $619 million for tonight’s drawing. If won, this would be the tenth-largest Mega Millions jackpot won in U.S. history. Two people have won a Mega Millions jackpot this year: In March a player in New Jersey won a life-changing $1.28 billion; and in June an Illinois Lottery player won an astonishing $552 million playing Mega Millions on the Illinois Lottery mobile app – the largest prize ever won by an online lottery player in the U.S. So far this year, seven Illinois Lottery players have won prizes of $1 million or more with Mega Millions. Anyone could be next - all you need is a ticket to dream! There are over 7,000 Illinois Lottery retailers across the state and the Illinois Lottery also offers tickets on its website at IllinoisLottery.com or on the Illinois Lottery app. And if you have the good fortune to win a life-altering

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FRAMINGHAM, MA AND EDWARDSVILLE – Ameresco, Inc. , (NYSE: AMRC), a leading cleantech integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, today announced that its newly formed joint venture with Republic Services (NYSE: RSG), a leader in the environmental services industry, has achieved commercial operation at their landfill gas (LFG) to renewable natural gas (RNG) plant located at Republic Services’ Roxana Landfill in Edwardsville, Illinois in November. The Roxana RNG facility captures naturally occurring landfill gas and processes it into pipeline-quality RNG, a low-carbon transportation fuel. This project beneficially uses previously flared LFG to create RNG that will displace fossil fuel in a nearby Energy Transfer natural gas transmission pipeline. The facility, which is one of the largest of its type in North America, is designed to process 6,000 SCFM (standard cubic feet per minute) of raw landfill gas per minute. It is estimated that the

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SPRINGFIELD — Brad Jacobs, a retired firefighter from Alton, is making his name known for his pickleball talents after recently qualifying for the national tournament following his success at the Illinois Senior Olympics. Jacobs, who served in the Alton Fire Department from 1970 to 2000, took up the sport after a fellow coach encouraged him to try it out post-retirement. Jacobs, now an active member of the pickleball community, credits his doubles partner Bob Biarkis, an experienced player from Edwardsville, for introducing him to the competitive side of the sport. “I never played in a tournament before, but Bob asked if I would like to join him in Springfield, and we ended up going undefeated and winning the gold,” Jacobs said. The Illinois Senior Olympics took place in Springfield, where Jacobs showcased his skills in the 3.5 skill level category. Beyond his achievements in pickleball, Jacobs remains committed to charitable work, particularly focused on youth

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor previewing tomorrow’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “How Mass Deportations Will Separate American Families, Harm Our Armed Forces, and Devastate Our Economy.” The hearing will examine the consequences of President-elect Donald Trump’s plan for mass deportations, as well as stress the need to shift our focus toward sensible solutions that would bring order to the border and provide a path to citizenship to longtime residents with no serious criminal convictions. Durbin said, “Millions—some 13 million—undocumented immigrants live in this country, and many have been here for a decade or longer. These immigrants have become our nation’s health care workers, teachers, farmworkers, entrepreneurs, police—you name it. And many grew up alongside our own kids with the same hopes and dreams of getting

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ALTON - Glisson Law, a personal injury law firm, is thrilled to announce the return of its beloved Annual Glissmas Social Media Giveaway, a festive multi-day event designed to bring joy to the community and celebrate the holiday season. This year, we are once again spreading cheer while supporting the fantastic local businesses that make the Alton region so special. From now until the holidays, Glisson Law invites everyone to participate for a chance to win incredible prizes. Participating is simple: Follow Glisson Law on Facebook and Instagram. Like our Glissmas Giveaway posts. Tag two friends in the comments of any giveaway post. Publicly Share the Glissmas posts. Bonus Entry : Follow us on Instagram for an extra chance to win! Winners will be announced on December 23rd on Glisson Law’s official Facebook and Instagram pages, and prizes can be picked up at the office located at 111 E. 4th St. Suite 400 in Alton, IL. “This giveaway is our

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GODFREY - Lisa M. Jacobs has been charged with one count of aggravated battery, a Class 3 Felony, for a recent incident at St. Ambrose Catholic School in Godfrey. Jacobs was a pre-kindergarten teacher at St. Ambrose Catholic School. The charge filed by the Madison County State's Attorney's Office reads as follows: “In that said defendant, a person who is at least 18 years of age, in committing a battery in violation of 720 ILCS 5/12-3, knowingly caused bodily harm to (a female child under the age of 13 years DOB 10/04/2021), in that the defendant picked up and dropped her to the ground from approximately five feet in the air, in violation of 720, ILCS 5/12-3.05 (b) (2). Father Steven Janoski released the following statement about the situation: December 7, 2024 Dear Parishioners and School Families of St. Ambrose, "One of the most difficult things a Pastor must do is share bad news with the people he serves. Yet, that is the purpose of this message. This past Tuesday

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O'FALLON - Students from O’Fallon Township High School (OTHS) have made significant strides in the world of music, achieving a rare distinction as members of an elite group of musicians nationwide. This December, the OTHS Panther Bands announced that several of their members have participated in prestigious events, including the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Midwest Clinic, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. These accomplishments highlight the dedication and talent of the students involved, who have successfully navigated their high school careers while performing at these renowned venues. Participating in any one of these events is considered a notable achievement in the music community, and being part of all three during their four years of high school is a remarkable feat. The students' involvement in such high-profile performances not only reflects their individual skills but also showcases the strength of the OTHS Band program. As they continue to make their

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COLLINSVILLE - Madison County Sheriff's Deputies and detectives are investigating a home invasion that occurred at 9:43 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, in the 8900 block of Rene Avenue, unincorporated Collinsville. The incident involved a suspect who forcibly entered a residence while armed with a firearm, discharging at least one shot during the encounter. According to preliminary investigations, the suspect fled the scene in a gray Toyota pickup truck. A Madison County Sheriff's Deputy spotted the vehicle as it was leaving the area, prompting a pursuit that began on Illinois Route 111 near Horseshoe Lake Road. The suspect evaded capture, leading to the involvement of additional law enforcement agencies, including the Pontoon Beach Police Department and several neighboring police departments. The pursuit continued into Missouri, where officers from various jurisdictions, including the St. Louis City Police Department, joined the chase. During the pursuit, the suspect reportedly began firing

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ALTON - A roadway improvement project coming to Milton Road in Alton got an $11,308 boost in funding this week, adding to a grand total of over $1 million allocated as the project enters its first phase. Aldermen meeting as a Committee of the Whole on Monday unanimously approved a supplement to their standing agreement with Sheppard, Morgan and Schwaab, Inc. (SMS) for Phase 1 of the Milton Road Improvement Project. According to the resolution, two land parcels of right-of-way (publicly accessible roads/paths on private property) belonging to the same property owner were discovered after the project was designed. The developer would need to acquire both parcels, but the original agreement didn’t have any provisions in place for right-of-way acquisition. To cover the cost of acquiring both parcels - including record research, title work, appraisals and more - the city and SMS have agreed to add $11,308 to the original agreement for the firm’s engineering services

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EDWARDSVILLE - Recently, Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) student and third year environmental science major Emma Prott spent time on the Rio Grande along with Adriana Martinez, PhD, Full Professor in Geography & GIS and Environmental Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Martinez is continuing her research along the Texas border, and enlisted the assistance of Prott who joined Martinez during the November holiday break. Prott is currently Martinez’s URCA assistant where she is conducting an up-close examination of the impact of the anti-immigration buoys on river processes. Prott worked with Martinez on the Rio Grande to collect sediment samples in order to examine the impact of a 1,000-foot string of buoy barriers meant to deter undocumented immigration. The team’s work included drone flights and time in the water at the buoys on the Rio Grande to gather sediment samples and measure water velocity. According to Martinez, th

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GODFREY – At Lewis and Clark Community College, educators like William Ellington are leading the charge to combat issues with persistence and completion among the adult education population. Ellington is an instructional coordinator in L&C Adult Education. Over the past year, he has been one of six professionals across the country participating in field research through the Innovative Research and Improvement Group (IRIG), affiliated with ProLiteracy, an organization leading the advancement of adult literacy in the United States and worldwide. He recently presented his work and findings at a ProLiteracy conference and hopes to have his work published in the Adult Literacy Journal, an academic journal for adult and continuing education. Ellington identified retention as an issue among students working to obtain their Illinois High School diploma (formerly GED). He said many students stop attending after 18-20 attendance hours. “His project tested the efficacy

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ALTON – Mississippi Valley Christian School, founded in 1974, has been a ministry of Faith Baptist Church for 50 years. This year marks a new beginning as the school separates from Faith Baptist Church and moves forward as a newly established 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under new leadership. This separation brings many changes and one big challenge, this final year is not fully funded. While there is an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward Faith Baptist Church, completing this school year is in jeopardy. "There is a desperate need for donations to both complete this school year and facilitate a relaunch. My hope is that the Christian community will come together for the children of the Riverbend. At Mississippi Valley, our focus is on academic excellence, character development, and creating confident Christian leaders. Our students test at or above grade level compared to national standards and read at college levels by high school. "We must support our Christian institutions

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