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SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker joined state and local officials at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) headquarters today to announce the largest multi-year program to fix and repair infrastructure in state history: $40.99 billion over six years, showcasing the reach and impact of the governor’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. The new multi-year program is the first time in more than a decade that IDOT is releasing a comprehensive approach to invest in all modes of transportation: roads and bridges, aviation, transit, freight and passenger rail, waterways, as well as bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. “Over the next six years, we’re investing over $40 billion to improve all modes of transportation across our great state. That means better roads and bridges, modernized transit and aviation, and expanded and faster passenger rail service,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Rebuild Illinois has increased safety,

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ROXANA - Evan Wells, a senior-to-be running back for Roxana High's Football Team, will be a key contributor this coming season as the Shells look to go farther in the IHSA playoffs. Wells is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for the Shells. The Shells went 7-4 this past season and qualified for the Class 3A playoffs, defeating Hillsboro in the first round before falling in the second round to Fairbury Prairie Central. Wells ran for 874 yards and 10 touchdowns, breaking into triple figures four times in the season, and also caught 10 passes for 115 yards and another touchdown in helping the Shells to their successful season. At a seven-on-seven passing competition recently at Charlie Raich Field in Roxana, Wells felt that things were going well on that night and both he and his teammates were having fun. "They're going pretty good," Wells said in an interview during the competition. "We're able to expand our offense, keep it outside of tackles, just having

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ALTON - Alton Little Theater is preparing to kick off its 90th season later this month with its production of “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” They promise a killer bunny, Excalibur and a lot of fun. “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” a musical based on the movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” is directed by Kevin Frakes. With 12 dances and 25 songs, the show has been a chance for local actors to come together and do what they love most: perform. “In the community theater realm, most people are pretty welcoming and pretty friendly,” If you got skills, people are happy to have you,” said Therese Melnykov, who has been involved in community theater for over 20 years and will play the Lady of the Lake. In a lot of ways, the power of community theater connects to the main themes of the show itself. “Monty Python’s Spamalot” encourages audiences to find their dream and follow it. Alton Little Theater has

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SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - Everybody has a favorite Girl Scouts cookie flavor, but most people don’t know the scope of what the Girl Scouts organization does or how it can affect the lives of local young women. Loretta Graham, the CEO of the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, is hoping to change that. “We are investing in our future and in our world by investing in our girls,” Graham said. “When people think about Girl Scouts, they say, ‘Cookies, camping, crafts! That’s Girl Scouting.’ Well, there’s more. Building girls of courage, confidence, and character, that’s going to make our world a better place. And these girls, some of the projects that they have done in these communities, they’re not only going to lead our world. They’re going to change it.” Graham has spent much of her professional life with the Girl Scouts organization, working with scouts in North Dakota and South Carolina before coming to Illinois.

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JERSEYVILLE - Nathan Bishop, co-founder and EMS coordinator with the JCH Ambulance Association, recently announced an upcoming lecture series from Bob Page, who he said makes typically mundane medical topics fun, entertaining, and educational. Those classes will be held later this month and are a great way for healthcare professionals to earn several Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in just two days. Bishop appeared on a recent episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to discuss the upcoming lecture series, as well as the JCH Ambulance Association and the work they do. “Bob Page is a phenomenal educator and lecturer, he’s been doing this for four decades around the world, he’s internationally renowned,” Bishop said. “He takes two of what we might call the most ‘boring’ subjects or ‘tedious’ subjects in healthcare and makes them fun, and makes them entertaining, and makes them educational. Those two subjects are

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It seems almost everyone has a story about how long they had to wait to receive care in an emergency department due to overcrowding. In fact, research shows patient congestion is one of the main factors threatening efficiency, safety and quality of care. The pressure is even greater following the COVID-19 pandemic, as more people feel comfortable returning to hospital emergency departments at the same time many health systems are dealing with a nursing shortage. William Bond, MD, is an emergency department (ED) physician at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois. He also directs simulation research at Jump Simulation , a collaborative effort between OSF and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP). Dr. Bond and fellow researchers, including co-lead Hyojung Kang, PhD, a visiting assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), will use a nearly $100,000 Jump ARCHES grant to develop innovative models aimed

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced he has charged a 32-year-old man with felony sexual exploitation of a child and disorderly conduct in connection with the man’s actions at a water park. The charges filed Friday by Haine’s office allege that, on Thursday, July 6, 2023, Chad A. Green engaged in an act of masturbation while in the presence of children at Collinsville Aqua Park. Bail for Green, a resident of Madison, was set at $50,000 by Associate Judge Ryan Jumper. Green remained in custody as of Friday afternoon. The judge also granted a prosecution request that, in the event, Green is released on bond, Green is prohibited from having contact with anyone younger than 18. Collinsville Police Department is conducting the investigation. The case is assigned to Assistant State’s Attorney Ali Foley, head of the Children’s Justice Division. Haine asked that anyone with information about this defendant or this case contact Collinsville

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WEST ALTON - Bald Eagle 23-126 had over 100 people cheering him on as he was released into the wild at the Audubon Center at Riverlands on Friday, July 7. The World Bird Sanctuary (WBS) rehabilitated 126 over the past few months, with thousands of people following his story online. WBS worked with the Audubon Center to release him in an area where he will have access to plenty of food and perches as he acclimates to his new life. “There is never a day that we do this that it’s not just amazing,” Ryan Vinyard, who works with WBS, said. “The work that led up to this, every part of it, has been great.” Bald Eagle 23-126 was blown out of his nest during a storm earlier this spring. WBS has been caring for the orphaned bird since then. In the past several weeks, 126 has practiced scavenging, hunting and flying at the WBS facility in Valley Park, MO. All of this has prepared him to survive in the wild. He is roughly 15–16 weeks old now, which is about

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MEDORA - When Gabrielle McQuay decided to complete a Gold Project to round out her years as a Girl Scout, she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She decided to create the reading garden that late Southwestern teacher Lori Schultz had always wanted to see. “It was in my mind ever since she died,” Gabrielle said. “She always talked about it. She was really excited to get one and kept trying to convince them.” Gabrielle has fond memories of Schultz and Medora Elementary School (now Medora Intermediate School). Schultz, a Jerseyville native, spent 14 years as a teacher in the Southwestern School District. She passed away in 2015 at age 37 after battling brain cancer for nine months. Gabrielle was a student in the last third-grade class she ever taught. Now as a 2023 Southwestern High School graduate, Gabrielle is paying back some of the love that Schultz showed her students. She devoted her Gold Project — the highest honor in Girl Scouts —

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ALTON - A GoFundMe has been organized for an area family who lost their home and all furnishings. On July 4, 2023, Jimmy, Cristina and their two young boys, Niko and Gus, lost their home and all of their belongings when a fire raged through their house. They were celebrating the holiday when they got the call to immediately return home. Upon arrival, they found it was too late to salvage anything as first responders battled to put the fire out and get it contained. It was a complete loss. The GoFundMe organizers for the family made these statements: "The family had the roots of their family swept out from under them. They are now without a home and all of the things they have worked so hard to build. Jimmy and Cristina are the unsung heroes of our community. They give selflessly to people every single day in their careers and never ask for anything in return. They are who we trust to keep us safe and mend us when we’re injured. Now it is our time to give back to them. "Let u

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ALTON - Alton Main Street , the Sierra Club Illinois ’ Three Rivers Project and Jacoby Arts Center are announcing the return of the Mississippi Earthtones Festival to the Alton Amphitheater on Saturday, September 16th from noon until 10:00pm. The organizations are seeking exhibitors, vendors, artists, sponsors and volunteers for their 17th annual event. The festival attracts thousands of community members and tourists to Downtown Alton every year to celebrate our river through art, music, and conservation. Wind-powered live music will fill the air throughout the day. The entertainment line-up on the main stage will feature: Mattie Schell & Friends (Americana) from 12:00-2:00, Loftys Comet (Alternative Indie Jazz) from 3:00-6:00, Jake’s Leg (Grateful Dead Tribute) from 7:00-10:00, and between each act will be a performance by Jason “Gordo” Gordon (1-Man, 10-Piece Band) from 2:00-3:00 and 6:00-7:00. New this year, ARTICA STL will team up with the Joia World

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ALTON - At 2:49 p.m. on July 7, 2023, the Alton Police Department was contacted by a local business that has recently been the victim of several felony thefts. The business employee requested officer assistance in retrieving the stolen property. Alton Police Chief Ford said Alton Police Officers and detectives agreed to assist in the recovery of the stolen property. In doing so, they observed the theft suspect with stolen property in the 2300 block of State Street, Alton. As officers attempted to take the suspect into custody, the suspect was able to flee the area in a vehicle. The suspect then refused to pull over and instead fled in an attempt to elude officers. "A pursuit ensued with officers successfully deploying stop sticks to disable the vehicle," Chief Ford said. "The vehicle came to a stop just across the Clark Bridge in Missouri. The suspect exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot and then subsequently continued his efforts to flee by swimming in a nearby body of

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s WSIE 88.7 The Sound FM , St. Louis’ home for jazz, smooth jazz, blues and easy R&B, has been chosen as one of the top three radio stations in St. Louis according to St. Louis Magazine’s A-List poll, now for three years in a row. “It is an honor and a thrill to know that we have so many fans and supporters out there who love WSIE,” said Jason Church, general manager of WSIE. “To come in as a finalist three years in a row drives home the fact that WSIE is a staple when it comes to radio in the St. Louis region. People love this station, and it shows. We are so grateful for their support.” WSIE was also a finalist in the radio personality (Jason Church) and radio show (The Jazz Collective with Jason Church) categories. “One of our station slogans is ‘your break from the noise,’” Church added. “Our music is comprised of mostly instrumentals; it take

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EDWARDSVILLE – State Senator Erica Harriss (56 th -Glen Carbon) is pleased to announce more than $1.3 billion in highway improvement projects could soon make their way to the 56 th District as a part of a newly announced transportation improvement plan by the state on Friday. “Infrastructure is the backbone of our communities and it’s important we continue investing in critical resources like our roads and bridges but also looking at ways to improve the overall safety and scope of our roadways,” said Senator Harriss. The new $41 billion, multi-year statewide effort spans over the course of six years and is the largest in state history. The plan invests in various modes of transportation including highway, rail, transit, aeronautics, and marine. Notable projects included in the proposed plans include: I-270: $101.9 million for interchange reconstruction, 1.2 miles of pavement replacement and additional lanes, bridge replacement and bridge superstructure

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Letter To The Editor: Over the past few years, Wood River City Council meetings have been contentious. However, the last two meetings have devolved with threats to the council and comments, some of which are from non-Wood River residents, that are nothing more than personal smear attacks intended to tarnish council members including negative comments about their immediate family members. I find this behavior deeply offensive and I am extremely disappointed that the Mayor has failed to enforce decorum and gaveled such comments out of order. I have been informed that a former City Council candidate that was recently defeated in the April election has been organizing and promoting these comments on Facebook amongst her supporters. The comments made by some individuals are false and intended to mislead and smear the reputation of myself and other council members. I have known the Mayor for 40 years. He personally endorsed, promoted and campaigned with this woman. That is why I find it

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SPRINGFIELD – July is National Extreme Heat Safety Month and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) has some easy tips to keep you cool. “Illinois has many days of sweltering high heat including several 100-degree days,” explained IEMA-OHS Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. “Know the differences and prevent heat cramps, heat illness, and heat stroke.” Extreme heat is defined as two to three days of heat and humidity with successive 90+ degree days. In July 1995, a heat wave contributed to more than 700 deaths in the Chicago area. Illinois State Climatologist believe that typically over 300 people die from heat every year. Heat is responsible for the highest number of deaths every year from weather-related hazards in Illinois. Extreme heat safety awareness tips include: About 40 percent of unwanted heat buildup in homes is through windows Use awnings or curtains to deflect the sun Fans will move air around,

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ALTON - Duke Bakery has been an Alton landmark since 1951. Nearly 75 years later, the third generation of owners reflect on the love they’ve received from the community and how they repay it with donuts, pies, cakes and more. “I find it to be a great honor to be a part of so many different aspects of people’s lives, from birth to baby showers to weddings, birthdays, you name it,” co-owner Amy Hollis said. Duke Bakery was opened by Amy’s grandfather in 1951, which makes her a third-generation owner. Ben Hollis, Amy’s husband, has managed the business with her for over 20 years. The bakery welcomes a long line of loyal customers every day, with multiple glass cases filled with fresh pastries each morning. Workers often see familiar faces as well as new customers who are eager to try out the many beloved menu items. Over the years, a lot of these customers have become friends. Ben noted that Amy even keeps track of some of the annual

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CHICAGO – Lottery fever has set in across Illinois as the two multi-state lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball, reach a combined jackpot of $1.065 billion. The Mega Millions jackpot for tonight’s drawing now stands at $450 million - the third largest jackpot of 2023, while the Powerball jackpot for Saturday night’s drawing is an estimated $615 million - the 10th largest in the game’s history. As both jackpots climb, Illinois Lottery players will be hoping that their numbers come up for a chance to win larger-than-life sums of money. Just last year, a $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot - the largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois and, at the time, the third largest lottery prize in U.S. history - was won with a single ticket purchased at the Speedway gas station in Des Plaines. So far this year, five Illinoisans have won prizes of $1 million or more playing the Mega Millions or Powerball games. In total, Mega Millions and Powerball player

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Federal Court in St. Louis announced today that Jeremy P. Devaisher, 42, of Brighton, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for methamphetamine-related charges on Thursday, July 6, 2023. He was fined $200 and must also pay $100 in special assessments. Following his release from federal prison, Devaisher must complete five years of supervised release. Devaisher was arrested in Alton in January of 2022, while he was still on mandatory supervised release from the Illinois Department of Corrections for Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon. “Methamphetamine is dangerously addictive, it ruins lives, and it harms communities across southern Illinois,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “We work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure that repeat offenders face heightened penalties for choosing crime over peaceful rehabilitation.” “I am incredibly proud of the Alton Police Officers who helped put

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EDWARDSVILLE - Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is one step closer to opening in Edwardsville after the City Council gave their unanimous approval to grant a Special Use Permit for the restaurant. “This is Raising Cane’s coming to Edwardsville, which is pretty exciting,” Alderwoman Elizabeth Grant said as she introduced the item to the council. A few other aldermen expressed their excitement for the chicken chain to join the Edwardsville community. Alderwoman Jennifer Warren noted the location’s proximity to Chick-Fil-A in Glen Carbon, with Alderman William Krause joking there will be “dueling chickens” in the area. The City Council then voted unanimously to approve a Special Use Permit for the drive-thru facility, which will be constructed at 2104 Governors Parkway. No further details on a timeline for construction were available yet, but the project is set to move forward after the council gave their unanimous approval. A full

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