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SPRINGFIELD, IL – Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois State Fair officials unveiled the 2025 Butter Cow in the Dairy Building today. Inspired by this year’s fair theme of “Adventure Awaits,” sculptor Sarah Pratt’s creation captures the spirit of the fair through the eyes of an adventurer. While the Butter Cow is the undisputed star of the show, the cow has a delightful companion – an adventurer seeking hidden treasures across the fairgrounds. As in years past, 13 hearts have been hidden between the two displays to signify the 13 essential nutrients found naturally in milk. Pratt was joined this year by her husband and twin daughters, Hannah and Grace, 21. “My daughters would always find heart-shaped rocks and hidden treasures in everyday life, and that is what this year’s sculpture is all about,” said Sarah Pratt, Illinois State Fair butter cow sculptor . “With our additional sculpture located across from the dairy cow,

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GODFREY - Evangelical United Church of Christ invites the community to come out for a special back-to-school service where you can meet Evangelical School’s teachers, tour the school, and praise God. At 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, the service will commission the school’s teachers and staff members. The church will also vow to once again serve alongside the school. Intentional interim minister Reverend Tim Darmour-Paul expressed his excitement to share the service with members of the school community and beyond. “We commission for their ministry to the school and the students for the upcoming year,” he explained. “They will all come forward in front of the congregation, and they will promise to serve God and serve the kids and serve the families. And we will, as a church, promise to serve with them and support them.” Past and present students and their families, teachers, staff members and congregation members are invited. After the

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TROY, IL – The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that the community’s first-ever National Night Out was a tremendous success. Held on Tuesday, August 5, at Tri-Township Park, the event drew hundreds of families who came out to enjoy an evening of safety demonstrations, interactive displays, delicious food, and family fun. “Celebrating National Night Out was our goal – and the outcome exceeded our expectations,” said Dawn Mushill, President/CEO of the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce. “Our community truly came together to support this event.” The evening showcased an impressive lineup of first responders, including the Troy Police Department, Troy Fire Department, Troy EMS, Madison County Sheriff’s Office SWAT vehicle, Illinois State Police, DEA, and the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) Command Post. Additional touch-a-truck participants featured ADR, Truck Centers,

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ALTON - Ameren has issued a statement after a helicopter crashed Thursday morning, Aug. 7, 2025, after striking a barge on the Mississippi River near the Melvin Price Lock and Dam in Alton, resulting in two fatalities. Ameren officials said the crash occurred on Aug. 7, 2025, during repair work on tower lighting and marker balls on power lines. Ameren said the work was being conducted by an Ameren Illinois contractor and its subcontractor. In a statement, Ameren expressed sorrow over the incident. "We are saddened about today’s tragic incident. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the victims’ families and colleagues. We will cooperate with the investigation," the company said. Officials confirmed there were no power outages related to the crash. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision between the helicopter and the barge.

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SPRINGFIELD — Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined Illinois community college leadership and education advocates to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), which created the Illinois Community College System. Held on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, the event brought together educational and industry leaders as well as community college mascots from across the state to kick off a year-long celebration of learning. “Illinois is home to one of the best community college systems in the nation and I’m proud to be celebrating 60 incredible years of the ICCB,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to our investments in higher education, we have made transformational progress in breaking down barriers to affordability and access, allowing virtually all students at or below median income to attend any Illinois community college tuition-free. We look forward to building upon that progress for years to come in every corner of our grea

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ALTON - Gary Chronister, a former Missouri inmate, continues to seek public assistance to manage advanced liver cirrhosis that he said was caused by untreated hepatitis C contracted during his incarceration. Chronister, in a message this week, said his funding situation is dire and he has a GoFundMe page to assist him in his moment of crisis. In a public appeal on a GoFundMe page , Chronister described his situation as a fight for survival and dignity. “I’m terrified of losing my home while I’m still trying to fight this disease,” he wrote in an update posted Aug. 1, 2025. He emphasized that donations would directly support housing costs, utilities, and urgent medical needs. Chronister urged those who believe in second chances and justice to consider contributing or sharing his story to help him maintain stability and focus on his health. “Even $5 or $10 makes a difference,” he said, expressing gratitude to those offering support. Chronister

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GODFREY - Godfrey officials have announced a temporary closure of Ridgedale Drive starting Monday morning, Aug. 11, 2025, to allow Illinois American Water and its subcontractor, Loellke Plumbing, to relocate a water main line. The closure is part of preparations for a future roundabout construction project at West Delmar and Homer Adams. The road will be closed to through traffic from West Delmar to Juniper Drive beginning at 7 a.m. and is expected to last at least one week during normal working hours. Staggered Type III barricades will be placed at both ends of the closure, with a full closure at the excavation site. A signed detour route using Juniper, Wannamaker, and West Delmar will be in place, and traffic control and signage will be established prior to the closure. Chris Sichra, Godfrey’s Public Safety Administrator and Emergency Manager, said that local first responder agencies, mutual aid partners including fire, police, and EMS, as well as local bus companies and the

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GRAFTON - Pere Marquette State Park has a variety of fall programs and activities for community members to enjoy. Lev with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is eager to share the park with the community at all of their upcoming free events. He encourages people to reach out with any questions and get ready for a great season at Pere Marquette. “I’m really excited about what’s going on at the park,” Lev said. On Aug. 15, 2025, the fun will start with a movie night to celebrate the 100th anniversary of IDNR. Families can come by Pere Marquette for a screening of “The Bee Movie” under the stars, complete with free s’mores. This event will go on rain or shine, and Lev encourages people to bring blankets and snacks. At 1 p.m. on Aug. 23, Lev will be teaching a “Wild Edibles: Forage, Learn, and Taste at Pere Marquette” class. Participants will learn how to identify common edible plants, and Lev plans to mak

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ALTON — Two people died Thursday morning, Aug. 7, 2025, when a helicopter crashed while working on power lines near the Melvin Price Lock and Dam, officials said. The crash occurred around 11:30 a.m. in the river near the dam, according to emergency responders who arrived on the scene after reports of a downed helicopter. Responders observed a large clump of smoke and accessed the crash site by boat, where they found a small helicopter submerged in the water. “All we know now is we have a small helicopter that is down and we do have two occupants on board who were deceased,” Alton Fire Department Deputy Chief Matt Fischer said. “We are waiting on FAA and NTSB to arrive. It is still early in the investigation and we don’t have much more information than that.” Officials confirmed the two deceased were the helicopter’s occupants. Access to the crash site was difficult due to its location in the river, requiring watercraft to reach the wreckage.

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ALTON — A helicopter installing marker balls on power lines clipped a power line and crashed into a barge in the Mississippi River near the Melvin Price Lock and Dam on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, officials said. The helicopter then caught fire. The helicopter ended up striking the barge, and two occupants are deceased. The incident prompted a multi-agency response, including Alton Police and Fire, East Alton Fire Department, St. Louis City and Black Jack Fire Departments, Wood River Fire Department, Alton Memorial Ambulance, Illinois State Police, Ameren Illinois, and the U.S. Coast Guard. and other agencies. Several fire boats were also deployed to the scene. Authorities confirmed the helicopter struck the power lines during the installation process before crashing into the river. The crash occurred directly across the river from the Melvin Price Lock and Dam. The cause of the crash was not immediately available. Emergency responders remained on scene, managing the situation.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – Illinois State Police (ISP) conducted a violent crime suppression detail on July 29-30, 2025, in St. Clair and Madison counties, focusing its efforts on East St. Louis and neighboring Metro East communities. The operation utilized intelligence and technology to target known high crime areas, violent offenders, and structured criminal groups in the communities of the Metro East. Detail Results Arrests: 7 Felony Charges: 7 Criminal Charges: 13 Firearm Related Charges: 8 Firearms Seized: 7 Stolen Vehicles Recovered: 1 There were several notable events and arrests during the detail. On July 29, 2025, troopers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for Illinois Vehicle Code (IVC) violations. A probable cause search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a firearm and ammunition. One subject was taken into custody. Charges are pending. On July 30, 2025, a trooper located and recovered an unoccupied, stolen vehicle with no registration parked

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SPRINGFIELD - Bipartisan legislation drafted by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias designed to improve security at libraries and enhance safety for librarians was recently signed into law. The measure, which was approved in the General Assembly this spring, allows the Secretary of State’s office to issue funding grants to increase security measures at public, school and academic libraries. “I firmly believe that libraries should serve as welcoming places for life-long learning and community engagement, but, unfortunately, they have faced increased threats of violence and acts of intimidation in recent years,” Giannoulias said. “Meanwhile, the personal safety and welfare of many librarians has been placed at risk for simply doing their jobs. Their personal safety at work should not be their primary concern.” The legislation, which was signed into law last week by Governor JB Pritzker and takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026, was sponsored by

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EAST SAINT LOUIS - Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School offers a “Peacemaker” approach to life and education for its K–8 students. As the school prepares to welcome back students and new principal Kenny Nance, staff members are looking forward to another great year of education. Roberta Trost explained that the community is more of a family than a school, and they are eager to share their lessons and their love with the students. “It’s a caring and loving and positive, disciplined approach to education and life,” Trost said. “There’s so many things that we do that help to shape the minds and the hearts of these young boys and girls.” Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School is the only remaining Catholic school in East St. Louis. Trost explained that they provide “a holistic approach to education,” with a focus on music and the arts. Every student plays violin, and there are opportunities for students to participate in

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 50 attorneys general, sent a comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday urging action to address the rampant spread of illegal offshore gaming operations across the country. In their letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Raoul and the coalition stressed the need for action to combat harm to the rule of law, consumers and the economy from unprecedented growth in illicit online gambling. “Illegal gaming operations fuel criminal enterprises and prey on vulnerable adults and young people,” Raoul said. “These operations also increase the tax burden for all taxpayers, as states are forced to make up for billions in lost gaming revenue. I urge the DOJ to prioritize enforcement against illegal offshore gaming operations, upholding the rule of law and protecting states and our residents in the process.” Illegal online sports betting and gaming operations are largel

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GRANITE CITY – Three individuals from around the Riverbend have been charged in separate cases with burglarizing local homes and a Granite City business. Dustin W. Thebeau, 37, of Granite City, was charged on July 31, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of burglary. Thebeau reportedly entered a Granite City residence on June 24, 2025 without authority and with the intent to commit a theft. The Granite City Police Department presented the case against Thebeau, who was granted pretrial release from custody. In a separate case, 38-year-old Jimmy L. Harrison of Collinsville was also charged with a Class 2 felony count of burglary on July 31, 2025. Harrison reportedly entered a Wood River residence with the intent to commit a theft on June 26, 2025. He was also ordered released from custody pending trial in the case presented by the Wood River Police Department. Dennis M. Sinskey, 60, of O’Fallon, Ill., was charged in another separate case on Aug. 1, 2025 with one count of

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EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt announced that 24 school districts across the Metro East will receive over $6 million in evidence-based funding, in addition to the base funding that the state provides. “Investing in our public schools means investing in the future of Metro East students,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This evidence-based funding gives our local school districts the resources they need to deliver quality education our communities expect and deserve.” The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors. School districts

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ALTON - Whether you want houseplants, plant accessories, or yoga classes, GreenLens in Alton might be the spot for you. Located at 2511 B State Street in Alton, GreenLens opened in March. The experience has been “transformative” for owners Hunter and Katie, who expressed their appreciation for the Alton community and their excitement to continue growing the business. “It’s a very aesthetic business,” Hunter said. “We try to have things look good and feel good in the shop. We put a lot of effort into creating a nice, cool space.” A year ago, six team members came together to start GreenLens. They have a major online presence at their website , and they also host live sales on the Palmstreet app. But people can always pop into their shop in Alton, browse, and meet Katie, Hunter and their “beloved” store mascot, Carl the golden retriever. Katie noted that people come from far away to check out the store for themselves,

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CAHOKIA — Construction of the new Cahokia High School is advancing with significant progress on the building’s exterior and structural elements, officials said recently. Precast wall panels and steel roof structures have been installed for the theater, main gym and auxiliary gym, marking a visible milestone in the project. These sections of the building, visible from the nearby highway, utilize precast concrete panels made off-site to provide a cost-effective, durable, and aesthetically distinctive design, according to FGM Architects, the firm overseeing the project. Steel framing is also being erected for the central commons, library, cafeteria, kitchen, gym lobby and weight room. Meanwhile, underground utility installation and grading work continue for the athletic fields and the north parking lot. Inside the classroom and career and technical education wings, walls are being framed and utilities roughed in. Exterior sheathing and air barriers are being applied t

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ALTON - Logo It has been in the Alton community for years, and owner Carley is gearing up for another busy back-to-school and wedding season. Logo It creates personalized clothing, water bottles, koozies, and plenty of other items for community members, schools, sports teams and businesses. Carley shared that the business is entering its busiest time of year, but she loves every minute of their work. “Really anything and everything that you can personalize, ,” Carley said. “My wedding was a personalized nightmare. Everything had our name on it. But it was great to see everything we could do.” Logo It recently purchased the private label water business from Folsom Distributing in Wood River. This means they can now personalize water bottles in-house. Logo It can make a case of water (24 bottles) or a couple of pallets for your next event, and Carley said this new side of the business has been “great.” While she loves the back-to-school

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Did you know that the average American family spends over $600 annually on back-to-school clothing? Beyond the financial strain, this consumption contributes to the fashion industry’s significant environmental footprint, including textile waste and carbon emissions. Organizing a back-to-school clothing swap not only alleviates financial pressures but also promotes sustainability and community engagement. This article explores how to successfully plan and execute a clothing swap that benefits families, schools, and the environment. Understanding the Benefits of a Clothing Swap A clothing swap is more than just a thrift event—it’s a strategic approach to reduce waste while fostering social connections. For families preparing for the school year, it offers an opportunity to refresh wardrobes without the expense of new purchases. Additionally, it encourages mindful consumption and introduces children to the value of sharing and recycling. Research indicates that textile

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