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What if a simple scoop of ice cream could transform a neighborhood? Beyond its role as a sweet treat, ice cream has an uncanny ability to bring people together, sparking conversations and creating memories. Hosting an ice cream social offers a unique opportunity to strengthen community ties, foster new friendships, and create a welcoming atmosphere for neighbors of all ages. The Power of an Ice Cream Social Social isolation remains a growing concern in many communities. According to a 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center, nearly 36% of Americans report feeling isolated from their neighbors. Events like ice cream socials can counteract this trend by providing informal, enjoyable settings for people to connect. Unlike formal meetings or structured events, an ice cream social's casual nature lowers social barriers and encourages spontaneous interaction. Planning Your Ice Cream Social: Key Considerations 1. Choosing the Right Venue The venue sets the tone for your event. Common

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August 4th has long been a date marked by moments that have shaped the course of history across the globe. One of the most impactful events associated with this date happened during World War I. On August 4, 1914, the United Kingdom declared war on Germany, officially entering the conflict that would engulf much of the world. This declaration came just days after Germany’s invasion of Belgium, breaching Belgium’s neutrality and prompting Britain’s involvement under treaty obligations. This marked a turning point in the war, signaling the expansion of hostilities and the beginning of a prolonged and devastating global conflict. The impact of Britain's entry into World War I had profound consequences for the geopolitical landscape, influencing the eventual outcome of the war and setting the stage for major political changes in Europe and beyond. Going further back, August 4, 1776, holds a special place in American history. Though the United States celebrates Independence

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Today's high will reach 79 degrees with a low near 65. Expect partly sunny skies with more humidity building through the afternoon. A thunderstorm is likely in spots this afternoon and evening, so keep an eye to the sky if you're planning outdoor activities. The allergy index shows moderate mold levels and low grass, ragweed, and tree pollen counts. The UV index is very high, so don't forget your sunscreen. Tomorrow's outlook calls for a high of 82 and a low of 65. It will be humid with partial sunshine and a stray afternoon thunderstorm possible. Morning fog may linger early on, so drive carefully. If you're out and about today, be prepared for a few showers and possible thunder. Stay hydrated and consider bringing a light raincoat or umbrella just in case. For sun protection, wear sunscreen and sunglasses. For more details, visit https://riverbender.com/weather .

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CALHOUN COUNTY — Premium parking spots near the arenas for the Tractor and Truck Pulls and Demolition Derby at the 2025 Calhoun County Fair are now available through an online auction, fair officials announced. The auction offers attendees a chance to secure reserved parking for three of the fair’s biggest events, scheduled for September 5, 6, and 7. The reserved spots will be located just steps from the arenas, allowing visitors to avoid the usual search for parking and arrive close to the action. Bidding for the parking spaces ends at 7 p.m. on August 24, 2025. The auction is hosted online at https://hanoldauctioneering.hibid.com/ , where interested bidders can find the available spots and place their bids. Proceeds from the auction will support the fairgrounds and events. “This is your chance to upgrade your night at the fair,” organizers said, emphasizing that the premium parking offers guaranteed proximity to the shows and contributes to supporting the

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ALTON, Ill. — Treiden Schleicher, a 20-year-old powerboat racer and recent competitor at the Alton Midwest Nationals Powerboat Championships, died Tuesday morning, July 29, 2025, in a boating accident at Champions Park Lake in Springfield, Ohio. Schleicher, a fan favorite who raced in the Formula Lite division along the Mississippi River in Alton just weeks earlier on July 19 and 20, lost control of his powerboat during the 2025 Stock, Mod, and Junior Nationals racing event. Officials reported that he experienced problems that caused his boat to become tangled, leading to the crash. At the Alton event, Schleicher had placed second behind Shelby Love, who is also his girlfriend. Known for his passion for speed and competition both on land and water, Schleicher was admired for his adventurous spirit. When not racing, he enjoyed fishing, a pastime that brought him peace and created lasting memories. Clover Construction, Schleicher’s race team, "On behalf of Clover Racing,

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EAST ALTON — The 7th annual back-to-school event took place Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, at the East Alton Keasler Complex, providing East Alton children with free school supplies, clothing, and other essentials ahead of the new academic year. Organizers offered a range of items, including haircuts, new clothing, hygiene products, backpacks filled with grade-appropriate supplies, tennis shoes, socks, underwear, coats, jackets, and laundry soap. East Alton school teachers and volunteers assisted children as they selected items, all at no cost to families. “We have many organizations and businesses that came together to help supply and support the needs for these children,” said Robin Carlton, an event organizer. After shopping, children and their families enjoyed activities such as a bounce house, snow cones, and lunch outside the East Alton Recreation Department. Numerous community groups and individuals contributed to the event’s success, including House of Victory

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GRANITE CITY — Peddlin' Paras, a group of paraprofessionals from Granite City Community Unit School District #9, will hold a memorial bike ride Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, to honor Logan Williams, a senior at Triad High School who died in a car accident on July 8, 2025. Williams, 17, was driving westbound on Illinois Route 100 near Duncan Hill Road around 5:15 a.m. when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree, according to the Illinois State Police. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Williams was an Eagle Scout and an organ donor whose donations through Mid-America Transplant saved multiple lives. The 10-mile round-trip ride will begin at 7 a.m. at Triad High School, located at 703 E. U.S. Highway 40 in Troy, and proceed to Williams’ home at 8641 Blackjack Hollows Lane, Troy, before returning to the school. The event aims to pay tribute to Williams’ memory and show support for his family and community. Williams’ parents, Todd and

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ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis Fire Department engine was struck by a car Sunday morning, Aug. 3, 2025, while responding to an earlier crash on Interstate 44 near Jamieson, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. First responders were assisting at the scene of a vehicle collision when a second crash occurred. Police reported that a car traveling on Interstate 44 failed to slow down or move over for the emergency personnel and collided with the rear of the fire truck. A spokesperson for the police department said only minor injuries resulted from the incident. The investigation into the circumstances of the crash is ongoing.

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August 2 and 3 have long been days marked by transformative events that have shaped the world in significant ways. In the 19th century, August 2 marked a critical moment during the Franco-Prussian War. In 1870, the Battle of Mars-la-Tour unfolded, where Prussian forces clashed with the French army. Despite being outnumbered, the Prussian troops managed a strategic victory that played a key role in the eventual unification of Germany. This battle exemplifies the shifting balance of power in Europe during the era and the complex dynamics that led to the continent's political landscape in the 20th century. Another notable event occurred in 1934, when Adolf Hitler was appointed Führer of Germany following President Paul von Hindenburg's death. This consolidation of power marked a dark turning point in world history, leading to the establishment of a totalitarian regime and eventually to the outbreak of World War II. Understanding this moment is crucial to comprehending the causes

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bipartisan legislation introduced by combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) that would help expand leave benefits for the devoted health professionals serving in the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). Despite being responsible for leading our nation’s emergency response to dangerous public health crises and natural disasters, PHS officers are still the only federal entity—civilian or uniformed—without access to essential leave benefits, including extended parental leave, emergency leave, court appearance leave and rest and recuperation leave. The Senators’ Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act would rectify this issue by ensuring PHS officers have access to the same authorized leave that is available to members of

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – C ombat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in reintroducing legislation to help make it easier for our Veterans who struggle with infertility to build their families . Their Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2025 would expand the fertility treatments and family-building services that are covered under servicemembers’ and Veterans’ health care to include—among other things—in vitro fertilization (IVF) and adoption assistance for servicemembers and Veterans who are unable to conceive without assistance and the option for individuals to freeze their eggs or sperm ahead of deployment to a combat zone. This legislation was previously included as part of Senator Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act , which Senate Republicans blocked not once , but twice last year. “After all the tremendous sacrifices our brave women

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CHICAGO — Today, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Heidi Mueller, legislators, DCFS staff, caregivers and students gathered to celebrate this year’s scholarship recipients at the department’s annual scholarship luncheon. This year, 347 current or former youth in care received scholarships provided by the Illinois DCFS Scholarship Program, including up to five consecutive years of tuition and mandatory fee waivers valid at Illinois public universities, community colleges and vocational schools. The program also provides student recipients with financial assistance for books and school supplies, a monthly grant payment to supplement other expenses and an Illinois Medicaid card. “As governor, I am committed to uplifting the next generation of Illinoisans, particularly those young people who have faced great adversity with grace and grit.” said Governor JB Pritzker. “From textbooks to tuition, students must be afforded

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York co-led a multistate lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict access to medically necessary health care for transgender and nonbinary youth. Raoul and the coalition of 14 other attorneys general and the governor of Pennsylvania, filed the lawsuit targeting recent federal actions aimed at deterring providers from offering medically appropriate care to transgender individuals under age 19, even in states like Illinois where such care is legal and protected. The lawsuit argues the administration has overstepped its authority by using threats of criminal prosecution and federal investigations to pressure health care providers. The coalition is asking the court to block these actions and protect access to care for patients who need it. “Medically necessary health care for transgender youth is lawful, essential and lifesaving

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WOOD RIVER - The Original Quarter Auction is celebrating its 16th anniversary with a Sweet 16 bash. On Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, community members can come by the Wood River Moose for a quarter auction featuring 25 vendors and plenty of fun. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the auction starts at 7 p.m. Organizer Andrea, who invented the quarter auction, can’t wait to celebrate its 16th year. “The more you bid, the more you win,” she said. “It’s been fun.” Sixteen years ago, Andrea attended a Tupperware party where attendees were bidding on items using quarters, but she felt it was “so disorganized.” She spent the next two weeks workshopping a new kind of event that would eventually become the quarter auction. Quarter auctions have since gained popularity across the Midwest. When attendees arrive on Aug. 6, they will purchase a paddle for $1. The live auction will begin at 7 p.m., and Andrea’s daughter, Anna Lynn, will call the 100

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GLEN CARBON - In Illinois, families shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on the table and filling a prescription. Yet every day, that’s exactly the choice too many parents, grandparents, and caregivers are forced to make. Not because they’ve done anything wrong, but because a powerful, hidden middleman known as Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) has made it nearly impossible to keep up. Most people have never heard of PBMs, but they feel their impact every time they stand at the pharmacy counter and wonder why a much-needed medication suddenly costs so much. PBMs are the secretive middlemen between drug manufacturers, insurance companies, and local pharmacies. They negotiate drug prices, decide which drugs your insurance will cover, determine how much your neighborhood pharmacy gets paid, and then benefit from the savings that should be going to you. Illinois families work hard, budget carefully, raise kids, and care for aging parents, yet too often, they

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA), the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the Illinois State Fair invite veterans and their family members to enjoy a free day at the Illinois State Fair on Sunday, August 10, 2025. This celebration marks the 250th Birthdays of the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. The speaking program will include readings and music relevant to the histories of the branches, and period clothing displays. The all-day veterans resource fair features representatives from veteran service organizations from across the state to provide valuable information and resources to veterans. The annual Veterans Day parade through the fairgrounds will conclude the celebration. A complimentary lunch is offered to veterans and their immediate family. “This is a special year for Veterans and Gold Star Families Day as we celebrate the birthdays of the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps,” said IDVA Director Terry Prince.

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SPRINGFIELD — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced that Champaign County will receive $6.4 million in Head Start and Early Head Start funding. The competitive grant will serve 269 children and 111 infants and toddlers across the county. This announcement follows a letter of support that Budzinski, alongside Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), sent in December 2024 to secure this necessary funding. “Head Start programs provide vital educational and developmental support to working families in Central and Southern Illinois,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m pleased to announce that after our advocacy to secure these dollars, Champaign County has been awarded $6.4 million in Head Start and Early Head Start funding. Supporting early childhood education is one of my top priorities, and I’m going to keep fighting to protect programs like these that ensure every child is set up for success.” “Providing

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today that 25 more license types are now available for licensure via the Department’s new online licensing system, CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment) . Today’s announcement marks the successful completion of CORE’s Phase 2, during which IDFPR added 88 license types to CORE. The license types added today are: Athletic Trainer Continuing Education Sponsor Optometry Continuing Education Sponsor Barber/Cosmetologist/Esthetician/Nail Technician Continuing Education Sponsor Prescribing Psychologist Clinical Rotations Program Canine Handler Training Course Professional Counselor Continuing Education Sponsor Dental/Dental Hygienist Continuing Education Sponsor Psychologist Continuing Education Sponsor Dietitian/Nutrition Counselor Continuing Education Sponsor Respiratory Care Practitioner Continuing Education Sponsor Environm

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA)—co-chairs of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus— issued the following statement after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced his proposal to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding , a landmark determination that requires the EPA to address greenhouse gas emissions and pollution because of the threat that climate change poses to public health and welfare. By rescinding the endangerment finding, the Trump administration will effectively declaw the EPA, giving big businesses a green light to pollute our air and devastate environmental justice communities. “Once again, the Trump Administration is sacrificing our children’s future to protect polluters in the present. Trump and Zeldin are annihilating the key legal foundation that requires our government to act on climate change because it threatens the

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EAST St. Louis - Three people were shot outside a nightclub in East St. Louis early Saturday morning, according to authorities. East St. Louis police received a report of gunfire with a man down at 2:37 a.m. at Another Level nightclub, located at 600 Martin Luther King Drive. Officers responded along with agents from the Illinois State Police’s Public Safety Enforcement Group. Upon arrival, they found three victims who had been shot, the Illinois State Police said in a news release. All three victims were transported to a local hospital. There was no immediate information available about their conditions or the circumstances that led to the shooting. The Illinois State Police said the case remains under investigation. They are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to contact ISP at 847-294-4400 or email ISP.CrimeTips@Illinois.gov.

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