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"I’m very optimistic about the future of tourism in our region. In 2022 we welcomed millions of visitors to the Metro North Region of southwest Illinois. Those visitors spent hundreds of millions of dollars at our local restaurants, businesses, retail establishments, hotels and visited our parks, sites, and attractions in record numbers. Visitor spending produced millions more in local and state tax revenues used to protect our citizens, keep our streets safe, and fund much-needed public works projects. New products opened including the Aerie’s Alpine Coaster in Grafton, Flock Food Truck Park in Alton, and Herald Square in Collinsville. New hotel projects are underway in Alton and Edwardsville. Speaking of Edwardsville the city’s food scene continues to explode with more variety and experiences. The bureau invested $1 million dollars in creating new product and developing new experiences along the Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in Illinois from Virden to Collinsville.

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CHICAGO — Today Governor JB Pritzker joined local, state, and community leaders to release a new report from the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative, which will redesign the delivery of behavioral health services for Illinois youth. The goal of the Initiative is to transform statewide systems to provide clear, consistent, and comprehensive guidance to families seeking behavioral or mental health services for children and adolescents. “Nearly a year ago, I announced the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative, which builds on the substantial progress made by Illinois agencies to ensure that every young person experiencing mental or behavioral health problems can access needed services,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Through rate increases, community networks, and inter-agency collaboration, we are taking a multi-faceted, comprehensive approach to establish the number one children’s behavioral healthcare

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DUPO - A standoff after a shooting that lasted several hours ended Monday morning. The shooting suspect Reginald Allen, 40, was discovered dead in his garage from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, law enforcement reported. A person was shot to death in the situation and a police officer was injured. A neighborhood in Dupo was locked down for several hours. Law enforcement around the region was called to the situation and visible. Law enforcement said Allen barricaded himself inside a McBride Avenue in Dupo home near Interstate 255, and killed a person, and shot a Dupo Police officer. The initial call to law enforcement came at 1:18 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023.

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DUPO - The Illinois State Police announced Sunday afternoon that a police officer had been wounded and a second person was shot and reported deceased Sunday afternoon in Dupo. There was a standoff in a neighborhood just outside Dupo in the 400 block of McBride Avenue. State Police reported the shooting occurred at 1:15 p.m. Sunday. Dupo Police Department, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, and Illinois State Police are at the scene. State Police said the suspected shooter is believed to be barricaded in a residence in Dupo. More to come.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – Illinois State Police (ISP) Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) arrested 53-year-old Mark Booker from East St. Louis, IL for Aggravated Battery (Class X Felony), Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X Felony), and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 2 Felony). On February 21, 2023, at approximately 4:39 p.m., the ISP PSEG agents and the East St. Louis Police Department responded to a report of a person shot at the 1400 block of Missouri Avenue in East St. Louis, IL. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of his injuries. After a thorough investigation, PSEG agents were able to identify Booker as the suspect. On February 22, 2023, the St. County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges for Aggravated Battery, Armed Habitual Offender, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon. PSEG, along with the U.S. Marshal’s Service, apprehended Booker without incident. Booker is being held on $500,000 bond with 10% t

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ALTON - Metro East Humane Society’s (MEHS) Riverbend Pet Food Pantry is teaming up with Senior Services Plus (SSP) in Alton to provide pet food for more families in Madison County through SSP’s Meals on Wheels program. The partnership is set to begin in late March and will distribute pet food to an additional 40 families in the Metro East. "Senior Services Plus is excited to continue growing its Meals on Wheels pet food program through this new collaboration with the Metro East Humane Society,” said Emily Jackson, Development Director for Senior Services Plus. “Many Meals on Wheels recipients live on a fixed income and have reported sharing their meals with their pets. We hope to increase both senior and pet food security through the pet food program." According to MEHS Executive Director Anne Schmidt, the humane society approached Senior Services Plus with the offer to supply pet food through the MEHS Riverbend Pet Food Pantry when the program was restructured

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair is excited to announce new theme and discount days for 2023. Changes have been made from theme days in years past. County Fairs and Horse Racing Day will start it all off on Thursday, August 10 with gates opening at 7 am. This change will provide a full day of horse racing, county fair celebrations, free entertainment, carnival rides, all of your favorite fair food, traditional kick-off activities, and the annual Twilight Parade. Agriculture Day moves to Friday, August 11, allowing for more livestock exhibitors and youth in agriculture participants to be on the grounds to celebrate our state’s number one industry. The move to the first Friday will also help minimize the impact of school starting for some districts. A new theme day “Twosday” will feature $2 admission for seniors and adults on Tuesday, August 15. To enhance this family-friendly promotion, North American Midway, the fair’s carnival operator, will also

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ST. LOUIS - City Winery, the culinary and cultural experience for urban wine enthusiasts and live entertainment venue, opens in St. Louis Saturday, March 18 at City Foundry STL with a full schedule of live performances. City Winery will offer its signature intimate concerts and live performances, food and wine experiences, private event spaces, upscale dining options, and a fully functioning winery. For a limited time, those who sign up for the City Winery newsletter at www.citywinery.com/stlouis are entered to win a Golden Ticket -- two tickets to all 2023 shows. The winner will be announced before the March 18 grand opening. “Opening City Winery in St. Louis is something that I have wanted to do since I started the brand in 2008,” says Michael Dorf, City Winery founder and CEO. “Having spent several years living in the city while I was in college it feels right to once again join this incredible community within the historic building of City Foundry STL.”

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine and Pontoon Beach Police Chief Chris Modrusic announced Friday the filing of first-degree murder charges against a man accused of intentionally hitting a woman with his pickup. Richard D. Mayor, 60, of East St. Louis, has been charged on Tuesday in connection with the death of Lisa M. Dunnavant-Polach, who was 46 and also from East St. Louis. The two murder counts filed against Mayor allege that he intentionally hit the victim with his truck on Illinois 111 near Bel Air Drive. Modrusic said the defendant and the victim had been involved in a relationship at times. “This was not a random act of violence,” Modrusic said. The victim was struck on Tuesday afternoon as she attempted to get into the cab of a semi, whose driver had stopped on Illinois 111 to see if she needed assistance. Pontoon Beach Police arrived within minutes at the scene and quickly developed information about a suspect vehicle. The suspect

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COTTAGE HILLS - Authorities have reported that a Shipman woman has died after an incident and the Madison County Sheriff's Office has a suspect now in custody from Cottage Hills. Macoupin County Sheriff's Office and Madison County's Sheriff's Offices worked together on this case to find the suspect in this case. The shooting suspect was apprehended near 2 p.m. Saturday in Cottage Hills by Madison County officers. A man at the scene in Shipman where the woman died also was transferred to a St. Louis hospital after the incident.

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GRANITE CITY – Prather Early Childhood Coordinator Marci Dodds has been named the 2023 Early Childhood Teacher of the Year by The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), as announced Thursday by ISBE. Dodds was recognized Thursday with an assembly at Prather, and ISBE will celebrate the awardees at a banquet on April 29. Out of almost 500 applicants, Dodds was selected for this honor because of her commitment to the students and staff at Prather. You can read more about Dodds and the entire cohort of 2023 Teachers of the Year on ISBE’s program page . "I am grateful to be a part of a child's first experience with school. Being part of the team that can show them that this is a safe place where they can learn new skills and meet new friends," said Dodds. "Being able to assist parents with the transition to their child being at school. It's just amazing to be able to be a part of so many firsts for families." Dodds is in her 18th year in the in the Granite City Community

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CARBONDALE - Southern Illinois University President Dan Mahony made the following comment about Gov. J.B. Pritzker's recent announcement of funding for the SIU campuses. “Across Southern Illinois University’s campuses, we sincerely thank Governor JB Pritzker for proposing continued investment in higher education with a recommended, historic across-the-board seven percent operations funding increase, totaling $100 million for all of higher education in the upcoming fiscal year," Mahony said. "If adopted, this could provide roughly $14 million more for the SIU campuses. This investment is very much appreciated news as we continue to provide a great education for our students and serve as a critical economic driver for central and southern Illinois." Mahony continued and said beyond expanded operations support for the SIU campuses, it’s great to see proposed new increases in funding for MAP grants by $100 million. "These dollars, which provide need-based aid covering

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced lane closures in both directions of Interstate 270 between Illinois 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, weather permitting. One lane in each direction will remain open throughout the weekend. The lane closures are needed to accommodate pavement patching. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m., Monday, Feb. 27. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County is offering grant opportunities to non-profit and local government providers in an effort to combat the opioid epidemic. The Madison County Mental Health Board is accepting request for proposals until March 17 on its opioid remediation settling funding. “This is a part of monies that are flowing from settlements with big drug companies," Mental Health Board Director Deborah Humphrey said. In November 2022, State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced that Madison County would receive and estimated $3.7 million in funding as its share of the settlement on behalf of local governments across the country in litigation against three distributors of opioids — AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson — and one manufacturer of opioids, Janssen. Haine said the companies agreed to pay $26 billion to litigants over 18 years. In 2022, Madison County received its first two installments, totaling $243,323. “Pursuant to the settlement

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Friday that a driver in a crash that claimed three lives has been convicted of aggravated intoxicated driving and sentenced to 17 years in prison. The driver, 19-year-old Blake A. Jones of Worden, pleaded guilty Friday to three counts of aggravated driving with a blood-alcohol level 0.08 percent or more resulting in death. The charges stemmed from a crash on Aug. 13, 2021, at the intersection of Bethalto Road and McCoy Road. The crash resulted in the deaths of John A. Cafazza, 55, his wife Melissa R. Cafazza, 52, and their youngest son, Dominic Cafazza, 12, all of Bethalto. “First and foremost, our prayers and concerns remain with the Cafazza family,” Haine said. “This is a tragedy all around. Drinking and driving destroys lives and wrecks futures. Here, a young man’s reckless choices and blatant disregard for others took three beloved lives at once, and he now faces many years in

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ALTON - Today marks the 105th birthday of Alton's Gentle Giant Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man. Wadlow grew to 8 feet 11.1 inches tall until he died from a foot infection on July 15, 1940. Robert was born on February 22, 1918. Robert was born on this day in 1918, to Harold Franklin and Addie May Wadlow, and was the oldest of five children. At age one, he was already 3-foot-5 inches tall and weighed 45 pounds. By the age of 5, he was 5-foot-4 and wore clothes intended for an average 17-year-old. By the time he graduated from Alton High, he was 8-foot-4 inches tall in 1936. Alton's Ruth Mitchell often heard experiences from her mother - Helen Edwards Mitchell about the famed Alton giant. Helen was in Robert's Alton High graduating class in January 1936. The two are both in the photo above, Robert on the far left, and Helen on the far right. Helen died in 2005, Ruth said. "I heard about Robert all my life," Ruth, who now is one of the Alton Museum of History & Art Board members

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner responded to a legal warrant to remove her from office by saying at a press conference she has no intention of stepping down after political backlash has mounted over her office's handling of different cases. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed the quo warrant to remove her and gave Gardner until noon to resign, but she did not. Amid calls to resign and a legal filing to remove her from office, Gardner said Thursday that she has no intention of stepping down. Gardner defended her actions in prosecuting Daniel Riley, 21, a robbery suspect who got into a crash last weekend that has sparked the Missouri attorney general's legal warrant action. Riley is charged with speeding in Downtown St. Louis while still on bond and has been accused of causing an accident at 8:40 p.m. last Saturday that critically injured Janae Edmonson, 17. Edmonson was visiting St. Louis from Nashville, Tenn., participating in a volleyball tournament. Edmonso

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 held an informational meeting at Lincoln Middle School on Feb. 16, during which they discussed the possible upgrades that could be made to District 7 schools if the zero-tax-rate-change bond referendum on the ballot for the April 4 election passes. In January, the Board of Education voted unanimously to put a $100 million zero-tax-rate change bond referendum on the ballot this spring. If it passes, District 7 would be able to issue $100 million in bonds for safety and security upgrades, critical maintenance, and more, including but not limited to: Double-entry doors for improved safety and security at seven schools, which would bring double-entry to all 13 District 7 schools Renovation and reconstruction of the 1925 Lincoln Middle School building Remediation of asbestos and construction of a new wing of classrooms at Hamel Elementary School Safe and accessible playgrounds at all primary and intermediate schools

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ELSAH - Internationally acclaimed artist, architect, and filmmaker Alfredo Jaar will present a free lecture open to the public titled “It is difficult,” during which the artist will discuss his art, ideas, and studio practice. The lecture will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Wannamaker Hall, on the Principia College campus in Elsah, Illinois. Jaar was born in Santiago, Chile, in 1956, and has lived and worked in New York City since 1982. Considered one of the most important artists in the contemporary international art world, Jaar is known for using a wide range of media - including photography, film/video, sculpture, installation, and public interventions - to bring attention to difficult and often tragic events such as genocide, displacement of refugees, various social and racial injustices, and the imbalances of power among nations and peoples. He received the Hiroshima Art Prize in 2018 and the Hasselblad Award in 2020, became a Guggenheim Fellow in

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EAST ALTON - Helmkamp Construction continues to grow with the addition of Brandon Lange to their project management team. Lange joins Helmkamp as a 2014 civil engineering graduate from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with nine years of project management experience. He will be mainly focused on serving Helmkamp’s clients in building and life science markets. When asked why he decided to join Helmkamp Construction, he said, “I have the desire to expand my construction knowledge, and the diversity of work types Helmkamp delivers will help me to do that.” Helmkamp President and Owner Rob Johnes said, “I am pleased to announce Brandon as the most recent addition to our team. Brandon’s experience compliments the rest of the team’s, which will help us continue to move forward with providing a reliable, consistent, and quality construction experience on our client’s larger and complex projects.” Lange says he looks most forward

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