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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, hosted the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, to discuss continued Congressional support for Ukraine and the need to strengthen the NATO alliance ahead of the incoming Administration. Senate Armed Services Chair Jack Reed (D-RI) also joined the meeting. “ More than two and a half years after Putin began his brutal, criminal invasion, Ukraine remains on the frontlines of democracy,” said Durbin. “As the United States Congress prepares for a new Administration, I reiterated to Ambassador Brink that we stand with our Ukrainian allies. We must continue bipartisan support for the NATO alliance and to reject Russian tyranny.”

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BETHALTO - A beloved teacher at Trimpe Middle School in Bethalto has died. Marissa Banovz was a sixth and seventh grade math teacher at Trimpe, where students and faculty alike knew her as a kind, smart and dedicated individual. Banovz died on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, following a battle with metastatic breast cancer. “When she was sick in the hospital, she was making videos for her students on how to figure out test corrections or how to do a problem. She was still working,” remembered Laura Gipson, principal of Trimpe Middle School. “She was such a fighter, always had a positive attitude, no matter what. On days she wasn’t feeling well, you would have never known.” Banovz became a math teacher and technology coach at Trimpe in 2001. She was quickly deemed the “go-to person” for any questions about technology or scheduling. Gipson explained that the middle school’s schedule can be “very tricky,” and Banovz would

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The Joe Lawrence Flying Circus performed on Sunday, November 16, 1924, at Hugh F. Poag’s field in South Roxana. There were stunts, fancy flying, a parachute leap from the plane a mile high, wing walking, skating in the air, and a break-away, in which a man or woman jumps from a wing end to a rope ladder swinging beneath the plane. All stunts were announced and explained by megaphone and were performed without safety measures. Admission to the field was 25 cents. Passenger airplane trips cost $3, with half fare for children under 12 years old.\ The following week, to advertise their upcoming shows on November 23 and 27, the Joe Lawrence Flying Circus planned to do something no one had ever done before. On Thursday, November 20, at 12:30 p.m., pilot William F. Spencer and stunt man Roy Johnson attempted to fly under the Alton Bridge, with Spencer piloting and Johnson on top of the plane. Hundreds of people gathered on the Alton riverfront to watch. The plane took off from

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EDWARDSVILLE - A new local business is creating well-rounded, holistic, healthy meals for dogs. Pup Kitchen, based out of Edwardsville, is a family business that focuses on all members of the family, including the four-legged ones. The company sells homemade, AAFCO-certified nutritious dog food. Owner Marc Fussell noted that his dogs’ health has improved since he started feeding them Pup Kitchen meals, and he hopes to help other dogs get the same benefits. “With humans, you hear many times, 'Let food be thy medicine.' And I think even with dogs, if you feed them a healthy diet, a well-balanced diet, that’s going to be what they need to have longevity,” Fussell said. About 20 years ago, Fussell became interested in nutrition and began cooking healthy, whole-food meals for his family. He soon realized how much better he felt, and he started to wonder if better food could have the same effect on his pets. At first, Fussell and his wife Christie bought

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EDWARDSVILLE - Steven Moore, Jr. was one of the key offensive players for the Edwardsville football team that finished the season at 6-4, combining with fellow senior Gavin Yates to form a lethal one-two backfield punch that was very hard to stop on many nights. In the game where the Tigers officially clinched an IHSA playoff berth, a 20-10 win over Belleville East on Oct. 11 at Tiger Stadium, Moore ran for 47 yards and Edwardsville's first touchdown in the second quarter, a comeback win for the Tigers that put Edwardsville's record at the time at 6-1. For the season, Moore ran for 711 yards and eight touchdowns, also catching 18 passes for 130 yards and two more touchdowns. Moore also had 16 receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns. After the win over the Lancers, Moore felt the Tigers played well in gaining a great and important win. "We just came as a team, played together, and got the win," he said. "It all started in practice the day before the game, and it all translated

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GRANITE CITY - Senior offensive lineman Matt Fetrow had one of the most important jobs on the football gridiron this past football season for the Granite City Warriors – he was starting center on the offensive line, and a play couldn't start without him. Besides being the center, Fetrow served as the engine that kickstarts the Warrior offense. Fetrow enjoyed the 2024 season under Warriors' head football coach Steve Roustio. "We've had more positivity and worked hard, I feel, from this year to last year," Fetrow said. Fetrow also feels that this past season will give the Warriors a chance to turn the Warriors' program around with several young players coming back for next year. "We're headed in the right direction for the future," the lineman said. Fetrow was also excited to have Steve Roustio as his new head coach, and he enthusiastically endorsed Roustio. "I think he's great," Fetrow said. "He's brought in some charity, and he's been better than the last few coaches.

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ALTON - Alton Redbirds boys golfer Sam Ottwell's time on the golf courses around the region will not be forgotten for years in the future. Alton's Ottwell at the IHSA Large Schools State Championship achieved a two-day score of 151 for 24th place at The Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington. Ottwell is an Auto Butler Male Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds. Earlier in the season, Ottwell achieved a school record by shooting a 65 to win the Collinsville Class 3A Regional at Arlington Greens in Granite City. He also finished as the runner-up in the Decatur MacArthur Class 3A Sectional at Hickory Point Golf Course, where he matched par on his last 11 holes, finishing at 1-under 71. Dylan Dudley, head boys golf coach for the Alton Redbirds, expressed pride in Ottwell's accomplishments. “To see him break through and win a postseason championship is special. He represents our school program better than almost anyone; he’s a coach’s dream,” Dudley said. Dudley praised

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) today applauded President Biden for signing into law their Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act, legislation that extends funding for public health efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve childhood survival rates, prevent premature death and disability, and increase quality of life for the two-and-a-half million Americans living with congenital heart disease (CHD). Heart defects are the deadliest and most common form of birth defects—every 15 minutes a child is born with a heart defect. The bipartisan legislation builds upon the law Durbin and Young passed in 2018 to expand CDC’s research and awareness efforts for CHD. “Heart defects are the most common birth defect, and if you ever get the devastating news that your precious little one has a serious medical condition, you hope there’s a treatment or care option for them,”

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and a bipartisan coalition of 38 attorneys general in announcing a robust package of remedies to end Google’s unlawful monopoly over internet search engines and restore competition to benefit consumers. “For too long, Google has maintained a monopoly as an online search engine. The remedies included in our proposed final judgement will ensure increased competition for consumers who have been left with few alternatives to Google’s platform,” Raoul said. “Consumers deserve to have a choice and the confidence that they are getting the best search results. I will continue to work to increase options for consumers and reign in anticompetitive behavior wherever it occurs.” In 2020, Raoul and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Google alleging that Google illegally maintains its monopoly power over general search engines through anticompetitive

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BETHALTO - Civic Memorial High School's Landon Kearbey is making a name for himself in the world of cross country, showcasing significant improvement as he approaches the final year of his high school athletic career. The junior runner recently competed at the IHSA Class 2A Boys State Cross Country Meet, where he finished 74th with a time of 15:36.30. For his tremendous time at state and the regional and sectional meets for CM, Landon is an individual Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athlete of the Month. Kearbey's journey has been marked by consistent progress. As a freshman, he recorded a time of 19 minutes, but his dedication and hard work have transformed him into a highly competitive athlete, clocking in at 15:19 as a best this season. His coach, Jake Peal, highlighted Kearbey's commitment, stating, "He had a really good summer and worked really hard. The miles you put in year after year add up to be when you dive into developing your craft." Kearbey's recent performances include

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) motions to discharge S.J.Res.111, S.J.Res.113, and S.J.Res.115, which would suspend the sale of $1 billion in certain U.S.-made weapons to Israel: “I believe passionately that Israel has not only the right to exist, but the right to defend itself in the dangerous neighborhood of the Middle East. The terrorist attack of October 7 was truly horrific and the Hamas terrorist group, which is dedicated to the destruction of Israel, should be eliminated. I have consistently voted for military assistance to Israel throughout my congressional career to protect it from the threats which it faces on a daily basis. “I voted today to suspend three specific arms sales to Israel. My reason is very straightforward. It is reported that more than 43,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict in Gaza—60 percent of them have been

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BETHALTO - Civic Memorial High School freshman Olivia Wiley has made a notable impact in her inaugural season on the girls cross country team, demonstrating significant improvement and potential under the guidance of head coach Jake Peal. At the Madison County Championship Meet, Wiley recorded a time of 22:16.8, followed by a performance of 21:37 at the Mississippi Valley Conference Meet. She continued to show her progress at the Jacksonville Regional, finishing the three-mile race in 21:42. Olivia is a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Female Athlete of the Month for CM. CM Head Girls Cross Country Coach Peal expressed his pride in Wiley's development as a runner. "I love to see her closing the gap," he said. He noted that Wiley, along with other freshmen, has shown growth since her middle school career and is adapting well to the high school training regimen. "I think with all of our kids as freshmen, we see a lot of growth and potential at the high school level," he added. Peal

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BUSHNELL- Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), local leaders, and Marshalltown Hammer Company leadership to announce new investments in Bushnell. In support of the project, the State of Illinois provided a $5 million grant to enable Marshalltown Hammer to acquire and establish operations in the former Vaughan & Bushnell facility. “Economic prosperity for the working families of Illinois ought to be our state’s North Star,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Today, we celebrate an important milestone, securing jobs, facility improvements for this storied institution. Thanks to the collaboration of State and local partners, the resilience of the people of Bushnell, the great folks at Marshalltown Hammer, and an assist from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity – the city will continue to prosper, and the families of this region will have an opportunity to thrive.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement following Matt Gaetz withdrawing from consideration to be Attorney General: “A qualified nominee for the highest position in law enforcement in America must be honest and complete in disclosing his background. Mr. Gaetz did not meet that standard. “It’s time for Donald Trump to put forward a serious nominee for Attorney General who will fight for equal justice for all Americans. The Senate must uphold its constitutional responsibility of advice and consent on this critical position.”

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EAST ST. LOUIS – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging the former Wayne City police chief with selling forfeited items confiscated by the department for his personal benefit. Anson Fenton, 46, of Belle Rive, is facing one count of misapplication of property from federally funded programs and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. “Officials in positions of power must be held to the highest ethical standard, and those accused of defrauding the public will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. Asset forfeiture is a legal process to confiscate the means or proceeds of a crime and can apply to a range of property, including money, vehicles, and real estate, among other assets. Wayne City stores forfeited items at the Wayne City Police Department until city officials pass an ordinance to authorize the sale of the property. “During our investigation, the ISP Special Investigations Unit found evidence

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A beloved actress from one of America’s most popular TV shows has shared the story of her breast cancer journey with the world. Jenna Fischer, widely known as Pam from “The Office,” announced on social media she was diagnosed with Stage 1 Triple Positive breast cancer in December 2023. The 50-year-old’s cancer journey unknowingly began after her routine mammogram in October 2023. She tells The Today Show’s Hoda Kotb that her doctor called with the results, saying they were fine, but that there were a few spots that were difficult to see. The doctor added that Fischer has very dense breast tissue. Fischer went in for a follow-up breast ultrasound and received the news on her patient portal while on a hike by herself. “I checked the portal on the hike, and that’s when I saw words like ‘invasive,’ ‘ductal,’ ‘carcinoma,’ ‘malignant,’” Fisher told Kotb. “And I was like, ‘Those word

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) reintroduced their legislation to clarify that victims of discrimination can seek damages for emotional harm under federal law—after the Supreme Court curtailed their ability to do so in its devastating April 2022 ruling in Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller . The Clarifying Civil Rights Remedies Act of 2024 ensures that people who suffer emotional harm because of discrimination they experienced are able to recover damages under federal anti-discrimination statutes—recognizing that while discrimination may not cause a financial loss, it can and often does cause lasting emotional distress. “Discrimination can leave a lasting mental impact on those who experience it. That’s why the Supreme Court’s decision in Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller is so harmful. It prevents those who have suffered emotional distress

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ST. LOUIS – Today, the City of St. Louis released its plan for providing additional shelter to the unhoused during the coldest months of the year. “I am grateful to our Department of Human Services, which has collaborated with community partners to ensure that more shelter beds will be available for our unhoused neighbors this winter than a year ago,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “My administration is committed to finding sustainable long-term solutions, but we also have a responsibility to step up our efforts in the winter, and that’s what we’re doing.” The Jones administration’s recent efforts to support unhoused individuals include launching an employment program specifically for the unhoused, this week’s signing of legislation that makes it easier to open shelters and transitional housing, and the mayor’s leadership in creating a regional approach to address homelessness through the East-West Gateway Council of Governments.

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Office of Tourism today released its annual Illinois Made Holiday Gift Guide , highlighting 16 small businesses statewide that are part of the Illinois Made program, just in time for Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30th. The 2024 guide features a variety of handcrafted items and homemade goods, each reflecting the diversity of Illinois’ local businesses. From artisanal candles and essential oils to savory treats and seasonal coffee blends, this guide celebrates the unique craftsmanship of small businesses across the state. “Small businesses are the backbone of Illinois’ economy, and through this annual guide we’re helping both visitors and residents discover the incredible Makers in every corner of our state,” said Kristin Richards, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) . “By discovering the items featured in the Illinois Made Holiday Gift Guide, holiday shoppers can support

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EDWARDSVILLE - Two individuals from out of state face the same set of felony charges in two separate but related cases of money laundering. Michael J. Reese, 40, of Moreno Valley, Calif., and Lester A. Vega, 47, of Fort Worth, Texas, were charged with two counts each of money laundering, all classified as Class 1 felonies. On Nov. 13, 2024, the two allegedly drove a Freightliner tractor-trailer through Madison County, Illinois. The vehicle was reportedly carrying approximately $255,000 in U.S. currency which was placed “in heat-sealed bags hidden behind a refrigerator.” According to court documents, the currency had been “criminally derived” and was concealed in an effort “to avoid a transaction reporting requirement.” The charges against both individuals were filed on Nov. 15, 2024. Both have since been granted pretrial release from custody. The issuance of charges is based solely upon probable cause and is not an indication of guilt.

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