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WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Trump administration and Elon Musk attack public education in America by closing offices and laying off 1,300 workers at the Department of Education, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and 35 of their Senate colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon expressing outrage at the administration’s reckless and illegal firing of half of the workforce at the U.S. Department of Education, which will devastate America’s public education system and impact students across the country. “At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, when 60 percent of people live paycheck to paycheck, millions of Americans cannot afford higher education, and 40 percent of our nation’s 4th graders and 33 percent of 8th graders read below basic proficiency, it is a national disgrace that the Trump Administration is attempting to illegally abolish

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JERSEY - The Jersey Community Middle School wrestling team has concluded a historic season under the leadership of Head Coach Ron Linenfelser, Assistant Coach Tad Strauch, and Assistant Coach Tommy Leslie. The team, which recorded an 8-5 season, achieved significant milestones in various tournaments and competitions throughout the year. The boys are Sparklight Male Athletes of the Month for their tremendous efforts. Competing in the Jon Davis Tournament in Edwardsville, the team secured a seventh-place finish, earning six medals. The Jacksonville Crimson Invite Tournament saw JCMS excel further, as they finished in third place and garnered a total of 16 medals and ribbons. Notably, the tournament featured an All Girls Division, where all seven of the JCMS female wrestlers placed. Skylee Howell and Charlotte Hinkson stood out, finishing 1st and 2nd in their respective classes. In a landmark achievement, JCMS won its regional for the first time, amassing a total of 394 points,

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GRANITE CITY - Kyridas Orr, a junior reserve guard for the Alton girls' basketball team, was a valuable sixth player who could come off the bench and provide a spark to the Redbirds when they needed it most in the 2024-2025 season. She's proven it time and again, and during Alton's second-place state finish, she was a key cog. Orr is an Auto Butler Female Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds. Orr has come off the bench and contributed mightily to the Redbirds' success this season, having scored six points against Granite City and two points against Quincy, as the Redbirds won Granite's regional handy, then in the Alton sectional, after another good game against O'Fallon, stepped into a starter's role when two regular starters were sick, and hit for nine points, including seven in the opening quarter, to help the Redbirds go on to a 63-36 win over Pekin in the final on Feb. 27. She averaged about 3 points a game and 2.6 rebounds a game for the Redbirds. "A lot of fundamental

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EDWARDSVILLE - Senior Jacob Kober will be one of the top pitchers and players for the Metro-East Lutheran High School baseball team this spring, as he transitions to the field from a very successful basketball season. Kober is a BJ's Printables Male Athlete Of The Month for MELHS. Last baseball season, Kober was 1-1 with a 5.92 ERA in 12 appearances for the Knights, pitching a total of 13 innings, and allowing 17 walks while striking out 13, also recording two saves. Kober had only been with the baseball team for a week following the basketball team's elimination in the sectional final loss to Greenfield Northwestern, but things have gone very well for him and the Knights in preseason practice and opening games. "Things are going pretty well for the short amount of time I have been here," Kober said in an interview. "I have seen guys work, and just want to improve." Kober relies on two pitches to help him out when things aren't going well. "I have my fastball or like my slider,"

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EDWARDSVILLE - Alexis Weber will be a key player for the Metro-East Lutheran softball team this spring, as the senior, along with her twin sister, Taylor, will form a potent one-two punch. She is a BJ's Printables Female Athlete of the Month for MELHS. "I think I've seen a lot of improvement," she said during a recent interview. "Like, most of the girls here, who have come back from last year have left off right where they were from last year. I think we're going to be pretty strong this year." Alexis and her sister, Taylor, will be considered the key players for Metro-East this season, and it's a role that she's relishing as the new season begins. "Well, I think we're young," Alexis said. "We're definitely both key players, and we're just going to do what we do, take every opportunity, and try to help out our team as much as we can." Alexis feels that her best pitch may be her curve ball, but also relies on a change-up to get batters out. "I just started getting into my curve,

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O'FALLON – HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital received unanimous approval March 18, 2025, from the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board (HFSRB) to build an outpatient surgical treatment center and medical office building on the current campus in O’Fallon, Illinois. St. Elizabeth’s applied for Illinois’ required Certificate of Need to move forward with this important project last fall. “We are excited to be able to bring much-needed, local health care resources to our community,” said Chris Klay, President and CEO of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s. “This investment illustrates HSHS’ and St. Elizabeth’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality health care for our patients and the region.” The three-story, 70,000-square-foot building will include an outpatient surgery center with four operating rooms, two procedure rooms, along with post-acute care unit rooms and prep and recovery stations. The medical office

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GRANITE CITY – A Granite City woman remains in custody after admittedly setting a house on fire and telling the owner to “file an insurance claim.” Kayla R. Hood, 29, of Granite City, was charged with a Class 2 felony count of arson on March 12, 2025. On Dec. 23, 2024, Hood allegedly set fire to a residential property on Lee Avenue in Granite City. A petition to deny Hood’s pretrial release states she admitted to setting the fire before contacting the homeowner. “Defendant was identified as the subject leaving a residential property that was found by police engulfed in flames,” the petition states. “The fire investigator determined that the fire was of human origin. Defendant was located and admitted to being in the house prior to the fire, leaving a cigarette near some old rags and then contacting the homeowner to tell him to file an insurance claim.” The petition to keep Hood detained was granted, with a detention order clarifying

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GRANITE CITY – A Granite City man faces a new domestic battery charge after multiple prior convictions for the same offense. Dennis W. Narvaez, 43, of Granite City, was charged with his fourth offense of domestic battery, a Class 3 felony, on March 10, 2025. Narvaez is accused of striking a household or family member in the face on March 8, 2025. A petition to deny his pretrial release states the incident occurred in an alleyway and was overheard by a nearby witness. The victim told officers Narvaez struck her in the mouth, and she sustained a small laceration to the face. Narvaez had previously been convicted of domestic battery in 2008, 2012, and 2020, each in Madison County. At the time of this latest incident, he was on mandatory supervised release from the Illinois Department of Corrections. Madison County court records indicate Narvaez was released from the Madison County Jail to be held at the Illinois Department of Corrections. All individuals charged are presumed

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ST. LOUIS - It's a miraculous birthday celebration Antwoinne Vinson will never forget. Vinson, a natural gas supervisor for Ameren Illinois, and his family had just placed their drink orders at a steakhouse in St. Louis on Friday, March 14, when he noticed a woman and her husband were in distress. "I heard the hustle and bustle and when I glanced over to their table I saw the husband giving his wife the Heimlich maneuver. My family and I watched for a second and we all said, 'she is choking,'" Vinson says. "I asked my nephew, who was sitting next to me in the booth, to move out of the booth and then I sprinted into action. "I went over to the table. The husband was still performing the Heimlich again, but her airwave was still blocked. I asked if I could help. She looked at me and the husband tried the Heimlich one more time and then she pointed to me. I asked if she could breathe, and she never responded. When she didn't respond I knew she still was choking." Vinson says, he

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Wednesday, March 19, 2025, that a jury has returned a guilty verdict in an aggravated assault case prosecuted by two assistant state’s attorneys who have been licensed for less than a year and a half. The trial, which began Monday in Circuit Court, was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Jerren Fulcher and Assistant State’s Attorney Zac Cato. After just two hours of deliberation, the jury found the defendant guilty of aggravated assault for pointing a firearm toward a juvenile, without justification. While felony cases often make headlines, Haine emphasized that his office is committed to developing trial experience at all levels of prosecution. “We are dedicated to providing our attorneys — whether they are new to the practice or seasoned professionals — with real opportunities to handle cases in court. Even recent graduates, like Fulcher and Cato, are ready to

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced today that a Madison man has received a 30-year prison sentence after being convicted of first-degree murder. Chauncy D. Lucas Jr., 24, received the sentence after pleading guilty Tuesday, March 18, 2025, to one count of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Tyrone Williams, 20. The shooting happened May 10, 2023, in the area of Rock Springs Drive in Alton. Alton Police responded to a report of a shooting and located the victim, who later died at a St. Louis hospital. “Our prayers remain with the family and loved ones of Tyrone Williams,” Haine said. “Our hope is that this conviction and sentence can begin to offer them closure.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Luke Yager, who is assigned to the Violent Crimes Unit at the State’s Attorney’s Office, and Assistant State’s Attorney Gina McNabnay. Haine commended Alton

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GLEN CARBON - Izzie Vernasky, a 5-foot-8 senior at Father McGivney Catholic High School, has earned recognition as a special mention member on the Illinois Coaches Basketball Association IHSA Class 1A team and as a first-team selection for the All Gateway Conference team. She is a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Female Athlete of the Month for McGivney. Throughout the basketball season, Vernasky emerged as a leading scorer for the Griffins, showcasing her abilities as a strong rebounder and defensive player. Her contributions on the court were noted by her coach, Jeff Oller, who praised her performance, and said, "Vernasky was a fantastic player and did a great job all season for the Griffins." Oller expressed pride in her achievements, highlighting her all-conference and all-state selections. In addition to her basketball accolades, Vernasky is also recognized as a standout athlete in other sports. She has made significant contributions to the volleyball and softball teams at McGivney

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GRAFTON - On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, three motorcyclists were cited for excessive speeding along State Highway 100 near Grafton, by Jersey County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Kevin Ayres. The individuals were clocked at speeds of 142 miles per hour and 130 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone, leading to their arrests for Reckless Driving. The motorcyclists were subsequently transported to the Jersey County Jail, and their motorcycles were towed. The Jersey County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement emphasizing the dangers of high-speed driving. “If you lose control of any vehicle while traveling at such speeds, you will not survive. Moreover, anyone you hit, that person will not survive,” the statement read. The JCSO reiterated the importance of adhering to traffic laws, urging drivers to exercise caution and consider the safety of themselves and others on the road. “We respectfully ask that everyone obey our traffic laws and use common sense, and respect

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BETHALTO - Tom Beiermann is proud of the Bethalto school district. Beiermann, one of nine candidates running for a seat on the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8 Board of Education, shared more about who he is and what he stands for. He has served on the school board for approximately 35 years, and he has more to give to continue building the Bethalto community. “The school district maybe is the most important thing to this community,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of industry and we don’t have a great deal of retail, but I think we do have a very good school system, and I think people appreciate that. Of course, nothing’s more important than their kids, and we try to take care of them as best we can.” Beiermann met his wife at Civic Memorial High School when they were students. He was a business owner in Cottage Hills for several years, with an auto repair business and a salvage yard, as he raised his three children in the Bethalt

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BETHALTO - Michael Kirby wants to give back to the community that gave so much to him. Kirby, one of nine candidates running for a seat on the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8 Board of Education, shared more about who he is and what he stands for. He noted that he always puts the kids first, and he has done a lot to contribute to the community. He wants to combine these ideals as a member of the school board. “I feel I have an awful lot to offer, and I feel I can certainly make an impact upon the leadership of our school district,” Kirby said. “I want to be a part of that continued educational and social growth, and I want to do so while representing all the needs of our community and not just a select few.” Kirby is “lifelong police officer/investigator.” He previously worked as a patrolman for the Bethalto Police Department, then transferred to the Alton Police Department, where he also served as a founding member of the Alton

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SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) continues to fight to protect the rights of parents to choose the best educational experience for their children. HB 2827 , the “Homeschool Act,” was heard in committee today and passed over the objection of tens of thousands of families choosing home or private school for their children. This bill mandates that non-public elementary and secondary schools register annually with the Illinois State Board of Education, and also requires homeschools to fill out a Homeschool Declaration Form or risk truancy, which could lead to fines and even imprisonment. It further requires administrators to submit personal information about themselves and their students to state and local authorities. “Illinois should empower parents to place their children in education environments that help them learn and succeed,” said Rep. Amy Elik. “Bureaucrats in Springfield have bigger problems to solve than tracking

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ALTON - The inaugural Alton Art Expo is going to be weird, and organizer Charles Mooneyham wouldn’t have it any other way. Mooneyham, owner of Mooneyham Art , has spent the last six months planning the expo, scheduled for 12–7 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 and 12–5 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at Milton Schoolhouse. He and co-organizer Stephen Scordias are excited to launch the event to benefit Centerstone , an organization located in Alton that combats mental health and substance use disorders, while also celebrating all the authenticity of Milton Schoolhouse and the artists who have come together to make the expo happen. “Can you get any more Velvet Underground than this place?” Mooneyham said. “It is so Warhol. And that’s been my goal, just to make it Warhol. Keep it freaking Warhol.” Mooneyham “came into this town loud” a few years ago, working as crisis hotline clinician while his husband, Jon Ross-Mooneyham

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SPRINGFIELD – At a Capitol news conference Tuesday, Assistant Republican Leader C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) joined his House Republican colleagues to highlight a legislative package focused on stopping illegal immigration in Illinois. Under the Biden Administration’s Open Border policy, the United States and the State of Illinois were unable to keep up with the flood of migrants coming into the country. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, Illinois is home to the fifth most foreign nationals in the country, with at least 530,000 illegal immigrants residing across the state. “The surge of illegal immigrants into Illinois has led to a string of horrific crimes, endangered public safety, and has blown a huge hole in our already-strained budget,” Rep. Davidsmeyer said. Representative Davidsmeyer is sponsoring legislation ( HB 1317 ) to repeal the Illinois TRUST Act, a misguided law that prohibits law enforcement agencies from working with

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ALTON - The Ninian Edwards Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held the 72nd annual award ceremony on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Asbury Village in Godfrey. DAR Good Citizenship Award is given to seniors based on their involvement in extra-curricular activities; contributions to the community; scholarship; and demonstration of the good citizen qualities of dependability, honesty, leadership, and patriotism. This year’s winners are: Alton High School: Jacobi Solomon Civic Memorial High School: Carlie Pritchett East Alton-Wood River High School: Kelsey Moore Marquette Catholic High School: Rodger Zawodniak Mississippi Valley Christian School: Herbert Gray Sapp III Roxana High School: Meredith Pitchford In the essay portion of this award, Carlie Pritchett’s essay was picked to advance to district competition. She was given a $100 gift card for being chosen.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) continues to combat trafficking, including human trafficking. ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly, along with key stakeholders representing human trafficking survivors, law enforcement, and support service providers, will appear before the Senate Criminal Law Committee today to speak to Senate Bill 2323 . The proposed legislation includes development of a strategic plan to improve the victim-centered, trauma-informed law enforcement response to individuals who have been trafficked, as well as developing training standards for detection, investigation, and response to human trafficking. “Human trafficking can come in many forms, from commercial sex acts to forced labor,” said Director Kelly. “Because human trafficking has many faces and can happen almost anywhere, it is important to have a comprehensive, statewide trauma-informed response that encompasses those who may come in contact with individuals who are

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