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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), U.S. Representative Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03) and their colleagues in reintroducing the Child Care for Working Families Act, comprehensive legislation to ensure families across America can find and afford the high-quality child care they need. “For most working parents, affordable child care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity,” said Duckworth. “Donald Trump ran on a promise to lower costs for working families—and yet, he and Republicans are prioritizing tax breaks to their billionaire donors, leaving families to fend for themselves. If Republicans really cared about lowering costs and supporting middle-class families, they’d help us pass this legislation to help solve our child care shortage and make quality, affordable care more accessible to every family who needs

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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced that her bipartisan, bicameral legislation – the Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTs) Act – has been successfully included as an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. The BOOTs Act would strengthen existing uniform requirements to ensure that combat boots worn by U.S. servicemembers are fully manufactured in the United States using American-sourced materials, including those in the 13th District. “As China continues to flood the market with low-quality imports, we cannot afford to compromise troop safety or support for local manufacturers – like the Belleville Boot Company in my district,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “This legislation is a crucial step to not only protect good-paying manufacturing jobs at home, but ensure our troops receive the highest quality gear while serving our great nation. I’m proud to have worked

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CHICAGO - Today, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in Illinois will continue to provide mental health support services for LGBTQIA+ youth, after the federal government ended funding last month for specific support on the 988 Lifeline. “The Trump Administration’s decision to end these specialized services is a cruel reversal of proven practices,” said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. “Unequivocally, in Illinois, we stand side by side with each member of the LGBTQIA+ community, including transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming youth. If you need help and you call 988, you’ll be met with the compassion, competence and respect.” After its launch in 2022, the 988 Lifeline developed a subnetwork of crisis counselors trained to work with LGBTQ+ youth and adults under 25 who are disproportionately at risk for suicide and other mental health struggles. Suicide is the second leading cause

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MARYVILLE - The Home Builders and Remodelers Metro East Association (HBRMEA) is hosting a raffle to support their work in the community. Community members can buy a raffle ticket for $20 or six tickets for $100 for the chance to win $1,500 cash. Second place will take home $500 and third place will win $250. Shannon Stelling with the HBRMEA explained that proceeds from the raffle will support the organization’s work to help the local housing industry. “There’s so many good things that the HBR is doing to help support the housing industry in our local community,” she said. “You’re helping support the local association, and that money goes toward things like helping us with legislation, helping us fight regulatory issues, helping us fight unfair practices when it comes to inspections or getting permits. All of those things we’re working on the forefront of. And then we’re also working with several communities on infill programs.”

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ST. LOUIS — The American Red Cross urges all donors to give blood or platelets now to keep the blood supply strong this summer. Type O blood products are most needed on hospital shelves – especially in the face of summer challenges that can quickly cause blood and platelet reserves to drop. In addition to summer fun and holidays, severe summer weather can have a sudden impact on the ability to collect blood and platelets.?Scheduling and keeping donation appointments are crucial this month to ensure blood products are constantly available in the weeks to come for all patients, including those in trauma situations that may require several lifesaving transfusions. All blood types are needed, and donors who don’t know their blood type can learn it after donation. Book a time to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org , calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. For those who come to give July 15-31, 2025, the Red Cross will say thank

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ALTON - Dustin Terry captured the pole position in the main Formula 1 category, while Mark Schmerbauch won the pole in the F-Light division, and Cole Wehring won the pole in the Tri-Hull class in the qualifying races at the Alton Midwest National Powerboat Races on Saturday afternoon along the Alton riverfront. The main events all take place on Sunday, July 20, 2025, on the Alton riverfront in all three classes. In earlier qualifying races, in the main F1 class, Chris Rinker won the race, with Jeremiah Mayo coming in second, Dylan Anderson was third, Andrew Tate came in fourth, Spencer Love placed fifth, Terry came in sixth, Jared Jensen was seventh, Aiden Bennett finished eighth, Grant Schubert was in ninth, and Travis Yates was 10th. The average lap time for Rinker was 37.732 seconds for 13 laps. In the F-Light class, Shelby Love won the race with an average time of 35.281 seconds, with Schmerbauch coming in second, Treiden Schleicher was third, Brandon Bobalik came in fourth,

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BETHALTO — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a police response to a fire and assault at an apartment complex in Bethalto. Bethalto Fire Department and Bethalto Police Department Saturday morning, July 19, 2025, to a report of a truck set on fire and a victim who had been battered at an apartment building in the 300 block of Grant Street. Firefighters arrived to find the truck engulfed in flames and quickly brought the fire under control. Officers located a victim who had sustained injuries from an assault. As a precaution, the apartment complex was evacuated. During the investigation, police learned that a suspect was barricaded inside the building. Bethalto Police used a loudspeaker to order the individual to exit. For safety reasons, the Metro East S.W.A.T. team was called in to assist. The S.W.A.T. team entered the building and peacefully removed the suspect, who was then taken into custody by police. The situation concluded around 2 p.m. The Bethalto

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MADISON – A Madison man with an extensive criminal past has been ordered detained after a domestic stabbing on July 4, 2025. Nathaniel Pryor Jr., 66, of Madison, Ill., was charged on July 7, 2025 with one count each of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, and his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery, a Class 4 felony. Pryor allegedly stabbed the victim in the wrist with a knife on July 4, 2025. The victim in this case was a household or family member of Pryor. “Victim reported that defendant became angry and approached him, cutting his wrist with a knife,” according to the state’s petition to keep Pryor in custody. “Officers located the defendant nearby and recovered the knife. The defendant has a history of prior domestic incidents.” A report of Pryor’s criminal history shows he had been previously been convicted of aggravated domestic battery in a Madison County case from 2019. He had also been convicted of domestic battery

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WOOD RIVER — Authorities arrested John Davis early Friday morning, July 18, 2025, after a standoff at an apartment near the Wood River Police Station, following a tip that he was wanted in connection with a homicide in Cahokia Heights. The Wood River Police Department responded to reports that Davis was inside an apartment in the 500 block of Madison Avenue, directly across from the police station. An alert had been issued indicating that Davis could be armed and dangerous. Police contacted the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) tactical team for assistance, and the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office was consulted during the operation. Davis eventually surrendered without incident. “We took the necessary precautions and established a perimeter to make sure everyone was safe. It started about 12:30 a.m. and ended by 5:30 a.m.,” Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said. Davis and another man, Jovon Hamburgh, are wanted in connection wit

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SPRINGFIELD - Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration: Illinois Finance Authority Arlene Juracek will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Finance Authority.* Juracek is the former Mayor of the Village of Mount Prospect, Illinois. During her tenure in city council, she was appointed Chair of the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission, Chair of the Northwest Suburban Municipal Joint Action Water Agency, and President of the Northwest Municipal Conference. Previously, Juracek served as Acting Director of the Illinois Power Agency, and was responsible for power and energy procurement and planning for the state’s two major electric utilities, ComEd and Ameren. Juracek received a Bachelor of Science from Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago and a Masters of Management from Northwestern University. Steven Landek will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois

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CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker alongside a bipartisan group of nine governors from across the country, issued a letter to PJM Interconnection, the grid operator for Northern Illinois, urging the group to implement governance reforms to meet the ongoing energy affordability crisis and ensure power grid reliability for Illinois working families and businesses. “Illinois has long been a national energy leader and is committed to delivering clean, reliable, and affordable energy to working families and businesses,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “But PJM undermines our efforts and lacks meaningful accountability to the very states it serves. I’m joining Governors from red and blue states to call for reforms that give states a real seat at the table, ensures transparency, and listens to working families and businesses. PJM must evolve and embrace reforms if it is to remain a credible partner and responsible steward for the region.” The letter comes

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) issued the following statement after voting no on the President’s proposed package that slashes more than $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – jeopardizing over 1,500 locally owned public television and radio stations across the country. "With this vote, House Republicans have officially abdicated Congress's constitutional duty to appropriate federal dollars, effectively surrendering that authority to the Executive Branch. Let’s be clear: the funding they just voted to slash was passed with bipartisan support and signed into law. Walking away from those commitments isn’t just irresponsible — it’s reckless. These cuts jeopardize local public broadcasting, strip access to critical healthcare, gut lifesaving emergency programs, and undermine our support for global allies. It doesn’t make us stronger — it makes us weaker.” In addition to gutting fundin

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor’s (IDOL) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (IL OSHA), in partnership with the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), launched an on-demand training course, "Defenses for Firefighters," to help firefighters navigate the challenge of balancing personal safety with effective emergency response. This online training course delivers actionable guidance developed from real-world incidents and highlights the importance of continually assessing and controlling risk. Whether new to the firefighting or a seasoned chief officer, the course empowers learners with the mindset and strategies needed to identify hazards, defend against injury or death, and make risk-informed decisions. “The entire course takes only fifteen minutes. I would encourage all fire departments in Illinois to put their staff through it and then continually reinforce the principles,” said IL OSHA Chief Erik Kambarian. “The goal is clear:

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BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL – As part of one of its busiest construction seasons ever, the Illinois Department of Transportation is delivering several major projects in the Bloomington-Normal area, fueled by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. Five major projects combined represent a total investment of nearly $83.1 million, improving safety and mobility while sustaining and creating good-paying jobs throughout the region. “Through Rebuild Illinois, we are making good on our promise to restore and transform our state’s infrastructure while promoting economic growth,” said Gov. Pritzker. “This summer, IDOT will continue to build on years of progress by undertaking construction projects that will create safer roads and bridges and provide jobs across the state. Through these projects, we are demonstrating what government is supposed to do and that’s investing in the people and communities we serve.” Of the

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ALTON - On Monday, July 13, 1925, two men were rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Alton with heatstroke. William F. Morris died that evening. John Zink succumbed the next day. The high temperature in Alton hovered around 100 degrees Fahrenheit that week. John Zink, an employee of the James Fortin Construction Company, was overcome by heat near Roxana at noon on July 13 and was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital. William F. Morris collapsed on East Broadway near Main Street at 1:30 p.m. Dr. O.E. Carson, township physician, had been called in to attend Zink and was already there when Morris arrived. Dr. Carson tried to save both men, but their temperature on arrival at St. Joseph’s was 109 degrees Fahrenheit. Body temperature above 106.7 degrees is hyperpyrexia, a life-threatening emergency. Morris, 45, of 324 Main Street in Alton, worked as a lather. Bystanders noticed him staggering near the interurban car barns and he was likely on the way to his home on Main Stree

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WOOD RIVER - The Riverbend East Rotary Club has selected Cleary’s Shoes and Boots as its 2025 Business of the Year. Riverbend East Rotary Club President Mark Smith (center) makes the presentation to Cleary’s owners Andrew and Stephanie Hagopian. Riverbend East Rotary Club is located at 48 East Ferguson Ave., Wood River.

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BETHALTO — The Mail Box Store has joined U-Haul Co. of Illinois, Inc. as a neighborhood dealer to provide moving and storage services to the Bethalto community. Located at 333 W. Bethalto Drive, Suite C, The Mail Box Store will offer U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, and moving supplies. The store’s hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Customers can reserve U-Haul products by calling (618) 377-2907. Owner Charles Moore expressed pride in partnering with U-Haul, a leader in do-it-yourself moving and self-storage, to better serve the needs of Madison County residents. Unlike franchises, U-Haul neighborhood dealers like The Mail Box Store do not require a financial investment. These small businesses allocate a portion of their lot space for U-Haul equipment and dedicate time to assist local customers with their mobility needs.

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ALTON — The Midwest Nationals Formula 1 Powerboat races began Friday afternoon with practice sessions along the Alton Riverfront. The day’s activities started at 1 p.m. with Formula 1 boats conducting test runs, followed by Formula Lights at 2 p.m., and Tri Hull boats at 2:45 p.m. Spectators were able to watch the testing free of charge, and despite the heat, several people turned out to observe the high-speed runs. After the practice sessions, some of the boats were paraded downtown to Mac’s Downtown, where a meet and greet event allowed attendees to get up close with the boats and speak with crews and drivers. Entertainment was provided by Flip the Frog, who played music during the gathering. Families were among those who visited the downtown event. One child described the experience as “awesome” and said it was “neat to see how fast they go” during the practice runs. "F1, Alton, the sponsors and all of Mac’s staff did a fabulous

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GODFREY — Freer Auto Body hosted its annual Christmas in July fundraiser on Friday, July 18, 2025, raising $74,000 to support community initiatives in the holiday season in December. Once again, Christmas in July was an enormous success and will help many who need it in the holiday season. While the total fell slightly short of last year’s haul, Margaret Freer, one of the owners of Freer Auto Body, rated the event highly successful. The fundraiser featured a variety of prizes awarded to winners from across the region. Winners $3,500 - Nick Howell Fort Morgan Trip - Matt Lewis Pigeon Forge - Joli Downer Ballton - Diana Copley Green Seats - Hannah Tonsor Side of Beef - Annie Eads $1,000 - Pamela Ditterline Top Ticket Sellers Tina Bennett - 247 - Dinner for 6 Gentelins Shannon Fraley - 189 - Dinner for 8 Bella Milano Doc Halliday - 179 - VanHoy’s Cardinal Tickets Margaret Freer, who organized the event, expressed gratitude to the community for thei

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BELLEVILLE — On July 17, 2025, Belleville Police Department detectives presented the case to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office, which filed charges against both - Kathy M. Bledsoe and Tynika R. McKinzie - after a recent dispute at McDonald's in Belleville. Belleville Police said Bledsoe faces one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony. McKinzie was charged with one count of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, and one count of mob action, a Class 4 felony. Bledsoe remains in the custody of the Belleville Police Department and will be transferred to the St. Clair County Jail pending a detention hearing and further court proceedings. A dispute at a McDonald’s restaurant escalated into a shooting Wednesday afternoon, July 16, 2025, resulting in charges against both a manager and a customer, according to Belleville Police Department officials. At approximately 4:45 p.m. on July 16, 2025, officers responded to a disturbance

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