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WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—lead sponsor of the Access to Family Building Act , which would protect every American’s right to access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) services—issued the following statement after Alabama’s State Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created during the IVF process are “children” under state law, threatening access to IVF for those who need it to start or grow their family: “Since the Supreme Court threw out Roe v. Wade, our nation has seen a wave of Republican-led states enacting strict abortion bans to severely limit their residents’ right to access basic reproductive care, leaving many hopeful parents—and those of us who relied on IVF to start and grow our own families—worried about whether access to these important technologies could be next. The ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court—effectively labeling

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WEST ALTON, MO. - Last week, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources conducted a prescribed controlled burn within the Edward "Ted" and Pat Jones-Confluence Point State Park. Many pointed out the smoke in the air to Riverbender.com and wanted to know the cause. Quinn Kellner, a parks superintendent at Confluence Point State Park, said the prescribed controlled burn is something they have done each year in recent years. “It is one time a year and it allows us to start fresh and it helps new things grow,” he said. “This does help us control willows and cottonwoods that are prevalent on the property. We think the prescribed burn was very successful and it has helped us get the appropriate plant species that belong there.” The park official said a lot of preparatory work goes into the prescribed burn. “We have plenty of staff available to cover the necessary areas and deal with the fire conditions that may come up. Believe it or not, some folks were

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FERGUSON, MO. - St. Louis County investigators said late Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, that the fire that took the lives of Bernadine Pruessner and her four children earlier in the day appears "suspicious in nature." St. Louis County investigators said Monday there was evidence of "criminal activity" at the fire scene. Preussner was an administrator at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey and well-respected in her role. The students, faculty and other administrators are in a state of grief on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, after the tragic fire. St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives are investigating the fatal house fire that not only took the lives of the five individuals but three dogs. Elly and Ivy Preussner were 9-year-old twins who died in the fire and Jackson Spader, 5, and Miller Spader, 2, were the other two children who perished. Sgt. Tracy Panus, the St. Louis County Police spokesperson, had this statement Monday: "We don't really know

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EDWARDSVILLE - Play It Again Sports in Edwardsville invites athletes to come by for the gear you need to be successful in every sport. Located at 4 Club Centre Court, the store has new and used sports equipment for all sports. They also buy used equipment, a service that many growing athletes benefit from. You can trade in your gloves, cleats and other equipment and replace it that day at Play It Again Sports. The store will pay cash for quality used equipment, and they have all the latest styles and supplies for every sport. “No matter the season, Play It Again Sports in Edwardsville has the gear that athletes need to get in the game,” the store said. “We are your hometown sporting goods store!” As spring approaches and rec leagues begin, athletes of all ages need new equipment to start the season off right. Play It Again Sports will fit you for the gear you need to make sure you’re ready to go for your first game. Not an athlete? No worries.

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LITCHFIELD – Illinois Lottery player Lisa Tyrrell is on cloud nine. The Illinois native has always been optimistic and considers herself a dreamer. Now her dreams can become a reality, because she just won $250,000 on a scratch-off lottery ticket. “I scratched off the ticket and it showed I won $250,000. I said ‘No way, this can’t be real,’” chuckled Tyrrell. “Sure enough, I scanned it not once, not twice, but three times, and it was real after all!” The top-prize-winning $250,000 Crossword scratch-off ticket was purchased at Jumpin’ Jimmy’s, located at 517 East Union Ave. in Litchfield, IL, a small town located 40 miles south of Springfield and 60 miles northwest of St. Louis. The owner of the store recalls selling the winning ticket. “I actually sold Lisa the ticket the other day,” explained Chandresh Patel, owner of Jumpin’ Jimmy’s in Litchfield. “When I found out she won the top prize,

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FERGUSON, MO. - A beloved Lewis and Clark Community College Head of the Early Child Development and Education programs - Bernadine “Birdie” Pruessner - has been identified as one of the victims in the tragic fire in Ferguson, MO., early Monday morning, Feb. 19, 2024, with her twins, 9, a 6-year-old and 2-year-old. The fire occurred in the 500 block of North Clay Avenue in Ferguson, MO. The emergency report about the Ferguson fire came in at 4:30 a.m. to authorities on Monday. Lewis and Clark Community College President Dr. Ken Trzaska provided the following statement about the death of the 38-year-old Bernadine and her family: "Birdie was a dear colleague and friend to all. She cared so deeply about her students and about helping others. She brought an energy and illuminated such a bright light of positivity and kindness to our campus community. “We consider ourselves family at LC and we are all devastated and numbed by this tragedy. We will always carry Birdie's

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CARROLLTON - Criminal charges filed in Greene County over the past few weeks include aggravated battery, mob action, home invasion, and many more, according to the latest Jail Booking Report from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. Ian M. Cummins, 20, of Carrollton, faces seven total charges, including two counts of assault, two counts of disorderly conduct, and one count each of aggravated battery, resisting a peace officer, and speeding 35 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. All of these charges were issued by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Feb. 6, 2024, and Cummins was released with a notice to appear in court. Corey M. Hardwick, 32, and Sandra M. Hardwick, 50, both of Roodhouse, were each charged with one count of Mob Action on Feb. 2, 2024. They were arrested by the Roodhouse Police Department and were both released with notices to appear in court. Hardwick had previously been charged on Jan. 15, 2024 with one count of retail theft by the

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CARROLLTON - Several individuals have been charged with DUIs and drug-related offenses in recent weeks across Greene County, according to the latest Jail Booking Report from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. Kaleb S. Sprong, 33, of White Hall, faces three total charges: driving under the influence, leaving the scene/failure to report an accident, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. He was arrested by the White Hall Police Department on Feb. 11, 2024 and has since been released with a notice to appear in court. Cody A. Crabtree, 22, of Jerseyville, was charged with adult use of cannabis in a motor vehicle as well as possession of a controlled substance. The White Hall Police Department arrested Crabtree on Feb. 9, 2024, and he was released with a notice to appear in court. Robert L. Sprague, 50, and Sherri K. Sprague, 53, both of Roodhouse, were both charged with meth delivery, possession of methamphetamine, and mob action. Both were arrested by the Roodhouse

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Rotary Club has chosen to honor Edwardsville High School student Joshua Anoke with the Student of the Month Award for the month of February. Joshua Anoke was nominated by PE/Health teacher, Mr. Sean Saylor, of Edwardsville High School. Joshua is the son of Joseph and Juliet Anoke. He is currently in the Air National Guard – Student Flight, in addition to EHS Track and Field. Additionally, he participated in the Science Olympiad in 2022 and currently participates in the Tiger Talk Podcast Network and War Games Club Joshua’s previous achievements include being awarded the 2023 SWIL Relay Athlete of the Meet, achieving DELL Tech Crew certification, and achieving 4 th place at the Science Olympiad Regionals. In his free time, Joshua enjoys gaming, worldbuilding, reading, biking, recreational games, and debate. In the future, Joshua will attend Illinois State University and earn a degree in Computer Science with plans to continue in the Air

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Over a hundred years after its destruction, the mention of the Lusitania still evokes a shudder. With a loss of 1,201 lives, it remains among the world’s deadliest – and most influential — shipwrecks. The loss of the British Cunard liner, and the 128 American deaths on board, on May 7, 1915, helped steer the United States into World War I against Germany. There was a central Illinois connection to the tragedy, one that is mostly forgotten today. Two youngsters from Gillespie, six-year-old James McKechan and his ten-month-old brother Campbell, lost their lives from the sinking of the Lusitania, joining several dozen other children who were killed on the ship. James went down with the liner and was never found. Campbell survived the initial disaster, only to die four months later from lingering effects of the horrific experience. The boys were part of the family of Robert and Elizabeth McKechan, who were Scottish immigrants living in the Gillespie area. They were

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MILLSTADT - State Representative Kevin Schmidt honored local gymnastics sensation Colleen Costello last Friday with a special sign from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). The presentation took place at St. James Catholic Grade School, where Colleen and her mother work. The sign will be proudly displayed at two entrances to Millstadt throughout the next calendar year. Colleen Costello made Millstadt proud by winning an incredible four gold medals and one silver at the Special Olympics World Games in Germany. She excelled in categories such as all-around, clubs, hoop, ribbon, and rope, showcasing her outstanding skills and dedication to the sport. After 26 years of hard work, she achieved something truly amazing. Rep Schmidt expressed his admiration for Colleen, saying, "Colleen's achievements are a source of pride for our community. Her dedication and resilience are an inspiration to us all." Colleen, who was a last-minute addition to the Special Olympics team in

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SAINT LOUIS - The 24th annual Water Garden Pond Tour, also known as Pond-O-Rama, is once again in the works, and the St. Louis Water Garden Society is looking for local hosts to showcase their ponds. The event invites attendees to tour water gardens in the Greater St. Louis area. St. Louis Water Garden Society members have volunteered to show their gardens over the weekend of June 22 and 23, 2024. Ginny Mueller, who chairs the event, hopes to find more hosts in the Riverbend region. “I’d love to have some hosts over in Alton. That would be fantastic,” she said. “It’s really a nice community event. You have people from all walks of life, and I think that’s what makes it so interesting. It’s for everybody, the young and the old as well as everybody in between.” Mueller explained that Pond-O-Rama invites hosts to display their hard work while educating people about how to build and sustain a water garden. She remembers a couple who

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To Whom It May Concern: I write to you today with a heavy heart, echoing the sentiments of our entire community, as we mourn the tragic loss of a 13-year-old girl, Ra’Niya Steward, to a senseless act of gun violence. The recent drive-by shooting that claimed her innocent life has sent shockwaves throughout the City of Alton, leaving us grappling with grief, anger, and an urgent call to action. At the YWCA, our mission is deeply rooted in eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all persons. The devastating loss of this young girl underscores the pressing need for us to confront the pervasive issue of gun violence and its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. What makes this tragedy even more alarming is the fact that the perpetrators of this heinous act were themselves mere teenagers—16 and 19 years old. It is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the root causes of violence and provide our youth

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Centerstone will co-host, along with Illinois First Judicial Circuit, Heritage Behavioral Health and Kane County System of Care, the no-cost “The Belonging Need and Deficit for Youth Navigating Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)” webinar on March 26 from 5:30-7 p.m. CT featuring advocate, speaker and former NFL player Gaelin Elmore. CEUs will be available. “The Belonging Need and Deficit for Youth Navigating Trauma and ACEs” is geared toward professional and person caregivers of youth, however everyone is welcome to attend. To register or for more information, visit bit.ly/032624belonging . The purpose of this webinar is to help caregivers of youth erase the belonging deficit by: Understanding the vital nature of belonging for human flourishing Discussing the correlation between belonging, development, and flourishing Utilizing the CARE model to meet the belonging needs of youth Belonging is a vital component of human flourishing. However,

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ALTON - As a little kid, Madison Wells sold drawings at the end of her grandmother’s driveway. Today, her paintings are on display at Milton Schoolhouse. After a decade-long break in her art, Wells is the Artist of the Month at Milton for February and March. She said it’s been a long journey, but a great experience to rediscover her passion for art, reading, yoga and more after a divorce. She loves her son, she loves her job, and she is learning to love her art. “I guess that’s what my paintings are, just like a piece of me on paper,” she said. “When I was in that marriage, I kind of lost myself, lost my passions and things like that…It’s been very cathartic and just kind of surreal in a way because everything in my life has kind of led up to being able to rediscover it.” Her 8-year-old son Emmett has helped her to do this. Emmett also loves to draw and paint, and the two of them will often go up to Wells’s art studio

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ALTON - Senior Services Plus, Inc. (SSP) will host a presentation on Dental Hygiene, at 11 a.m. on March 15, 2024, conducted by students from the Dental Hygiene Program at Lewis & Clark Community College. Led by dedicated dental hygiene students under the guidance of experienced faculty members, the presentation will cover a wide range of topics essential for older adults on how to maintain their oral health as they age. This collaborative effort aims to promote the importance of dental hygiene among older adults and highlights the connection between oral health and overall well-being. The students will also take this opportunity to raise awareness about the Lewis and Clark Community College Paul B. Hanks Dental Clinic, which offers low-cost dental services to the community. This presentation will take place at SSP, located at 2603 N. Rodgers Avenue in Alton, IL. The event is open to the public and is free of charge. Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP to Leslie Eberlin

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - A tragic fatal house fire in the City of Ferguson has claimed the lives of five individuals and three dogs. St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives, St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson detectives, and Crime Scene Unit detectives are investigating the fatal house fire in the 500 block of North Clay Avenue in the City of Ferguson. The St. Louis County Police Department confirmed the five deceased individuals consist of one adult female and four children. "We do not have ages at this time," the St. Louis County Police Department said. "Positive identification of the deceased individuals will be made on Feb. 20, 2024. Three dogs were also located inside the residence deceased." At 4:23 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, City of Ferguson police officers responded to a call for service for a house fire. Officers were advised by fire personnel that four individuals had been located inside the residence deceased. A fifth deceased individual

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ALTON - Historian Eric Robinson led a Black History Month Alton Underground Railroad Tour on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, that was well-attended. Robinson is heralded nationwide for his work with the Underground Railroad Tours in Alton. Several young people were inspired by the glimpse at history with Robinson's tour in Alton. Lovett’s Soul Food provided meals for the tour. Alton Mayor David Goins welcomed the attendees at the start of the trek. “I greeted those for the tour at the Robert Wadlow Statue in Alton,” he said. “It was a wonderful occasion for those who attended. Eric Robinson does a great job with all the underground railroad tours in Alton." Bianca Jackson, Goins’ chief of staff, had this comment about the important day: ”As a host mom for the month of February with the Jack and Jill of America, Inc. East St. Louis Chapter, I am honored to be part of preserving and sharing Alton's rich African American history, ensuring its stories continue

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WOOD RIVER - Malyk Spiller, a 5-foot-11 senior guard for East Alton-Wood River, has been a standout for head coach Kevin Gockel's squad all boys basketball season. Spiller is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for the Oilers. He has also been a boys' soccer player as a forward/midfielder for the Oilers. Spiller is an outstanding student with a 3.5 grade point average. He extended a thank you to his family for being supportive throughout everything and taking him to and from games and making sure he was there on time and prepared. "I wouldn't of made it this far without them," he said of his family. Spiller said he is most proud of, "Keeping my grades up and trying my hardest in the sport I love to play. I have been playing basketball since the age of 4 or 5. I like all the fun that is involved with it even during the losses because it's all a part of the game. It helps build character." Spiller said his school career in sports has developed him into a mentally

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GODFREY - Kidada Miller will host her second annual Bougee Bawse Brunch masterclass to support personal and professional development for local entrepreneurs. On Feb. 24, 2024, the event located at 5800 Godfrey Road will welcome entrepreneurs from across the region to network and learn about financial literacy, CRM skills and personal/professional development. Miller said the “power-packed” lineup of speakers is sure to steer attendees toward better business in the new year. “I see people in our town and surrounding areas that just have so much potential and have great products and services, but they just can’t get the traction on it,” Miller explained. “It may be marketing, it may be the personal/professional development, it may be funding. So let’s come together, bring all the pieces together at once to give the people what they need.” The conference will include a panel discussion, networking opportunities and breakout sessions

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