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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC)—and U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, legislation that would reinstate Veterans who were fired from their jobs as part of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s indiscriminate purge of federal employees. Veterans make up more than 30 percent of the federal workforce and it is estimated that Trump and Musk have already fired more than 6,000 of those men and women who have served in uniform. “Donald Trump and Elon Musk have fired more Veterans than any Administration in our nation’s history—it is a stunningly cruel betrayal of the men and women who bravely answered the call to serve our country in uniform,” said Senator Duckworth. “Veterans who choose to continue their service to our country in the federal workforce deserve our utmost gratitude, but instead this Administration

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City Police Department officers and staff recently took part in the 2025 Polar Plunge, an event aimed at raising funds for Special Olympics. Officers Eric Klumpp, Nick Zambito, Elliott Brinkmeyer, and Telecommunicator Beth Garrison represented the department during the event. The Polar Plunge, which encourages participants to brave cold waters for a charitable cause, has become a popular way to support athletes with intellectual disabilities. The Granite City Police Department's involvement underscores its commitment to community engagement and support for local initiatives. "Thank you to each of them for representing the Granite City Police Department," the department said in a statement acknowledging their participation. The event not only raises funds but also fosters a sense of camaraderie among participants and supporters.

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 38 attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), proposed a final package of remedies to end Google’s illegal monopoly over internet search engines and restore competition to the benefit of consumers. The revised proposal is similar to the robust package of remedies the coalition and DOJ offered in November . Raoul and coalition have worked closely with the DOJ to offer a comprehensive and legally sound proposal that promises to tear down barriers to entry, restore competition, and invite renewed innovation and consumer benefits in the monopolized markets. “Our remedies included in this revised proposal ensures Google cannot maintain its monopoly as an online search engine,” Raoul said. “Consumers deserve to have alternatives to Google’s platform and to have confidence their online searches are returning results that best meet their needs. I will continue

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EDWARDSVILLE - The City of Edwardsville and the Illinois Secretary of State are teaming up once more to offer a Mobile DMV service in the city. It will take place at the R.P. Lumber Center on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. The Mobile DMV is part of an effort by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office to provide some of the basic Illinois Department of Motor Vehicle services, including REAL IDs, at easily accessible community sites. It’s an additional and alternative option to visiting a traditional DMV location. This service of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office has been offered in Edwardsville several times since last year. “We are happy to host the Mobile DMV’s return to Edwardsville to offer an additional way to access Illinois Secretary of State services,” Mayor Art Risavy said. The Mobile DMV will operate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the community rooms at the R.P. Lumber Center, 6289 Tiger Drive. No appointments are necessary. Services to

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Beginning in April, commemorating the start of Autism Acceptance Month, veteran Nashville based music producer and podcast host Tony Mantor will launch Humanity Over Handcuffs: The Silent Crisis, a special series on his chart topping Why Not Me the World podcast on autism. During his recent address to the U.S. Congress President Trump cited the rising prevalence of autism diagnoses which have risen from one in 10,000 children, to one in 36. More specifically, how Autistic people have been historically treated in the legal system will be Mantor’s specific focus on the special series launching in April. Autism and the legal system is undoubtedly a relative topic and societal challenge that has been recently reported on by NPR, Salon, The Marshall Report and ABA Journal. Mantor’s new series seeks to revitalize a conversation around the highly sensitive topic to bring about solutions. “The series purpose is to refrain from assigning blame,

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general, is seeking a temporary restraining order against numerous federal agencies, asking that a federal court order them to cease the illegal mass layoffs of federal probationary employees, and to reinstate those who have been fired. Today’s motion comes after the coalition filed a lawsuit against the agencies over the illegal firings last night. The motion , seeking immediate relief, is necessary because the mass firings by federal agencies are causing irreparable harm to Illinois and the other plaintiff states. The ongoing and sudden mass firings are straining state resources to support recently unemployed workers and to review and adjudicate claims of unemployment assistance. In the two months since the president’s inauguration, approximately 446 terminated federal employees in Illinois have applied to the state for unemployment benefits. That number is almost as many claims as were

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ALTON - Mustache March 4PD will host their eighth annual “Back the Blue” event. On March 28, 2025, at Bluff City Grill in Alton, community members are invited to enjoy food, live music, raffles, a mustache contest and more. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $30 and all proceeds benefit MM4PD’s mission to support local police departments. This year, they hope to raise $80,000. “Our whole goal is to build that community between police and citizens because they both have a view of each other that might not be exactly what is happening,” explained Wesley, one of the event’s organizers. “If we can be that bridge that shows that, hey, these officers are normal people, husbands, wives, just like anybody else, they have kids and problems and everything. And then show the police that there is a community that does care for them, and it’s not just the 1% they deal with on a daily basis, there’s a lot

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GODFREY – In celebration of Women’s History Month, Lewis and Clark Community College’s Diversity Council will present “Melting Stereotypes: Women in Welding” with Netflix and YouTube star Stephanie Hoffman. The event takes place at 11 a.m., Monday, March 10, at the Reid Memorial Library on the Godfrey Campus. Stephanie Hoffman, a renowned welder, educator and advocate for women in skilled trades, has gained national recognition for her work in promoting diversity and inclusion in welding. As a former cast member of Netflix’s Metal Shop Masters and a prominent YouTube personality, she has been instrumental in challenging industry norms and empowering the next generation of tradeswomen. “Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of women across all industries, and we are honored to have Stephanie Hoffman join us to shed light on the importance of gender equity in the workforce,” L&C History Professor Kelly

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a Fayette County man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. The Attorney General’s office prosecuted Izacc A. Logue, 41, of St. Elmo, Illinois, who was sentenced by Fayette County Circuit Court Judge Chad Miller after pleading guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography and one count of unlawful possession of cannabis over 5,000 grams. “Individuals who prey upon and exploit children must be held accountable for the trauma they have inflected upon survivors and their families.” Raoul said. “My office’s partnerships with law enforcement agencies are helping us investigate and obtain

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), along with U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), introduced bipartisan legislation to boost workload at U.S. Army arsenals, including Rock Island Arsenal. The Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act would incentivize private industry to partner with arsenals by giving preference to public-private partnerships in Army contracting. As no workload requirement currently exists for Army arsenals, the legislation would provide arsenals with a more predictable, sustained workload throughout the year and allow them to keep costs low while remaining competitive with private industry in the manufacturing or procurement of defense products. The bill would have a direct impact on Rock Island Arsenal, helping the arsenal to maintain existing union jobs, attract new projects and workers, and keep costs down. “Outfitted to manufacture

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SPRINGFIELD – New results from two statewide surveys show Illinois’ educator shortage crisis is easing. The Illinois State Board of Education attributes the progress to comprehensive statewide efforts to address teacher shortages, which include the largest-ever state investment in addressing teacher vacancies. The state’s Teacher Vacancy Grants provided $45 million per year in FY 2024 and FY 2025 to the 170 districts with the greatest numbers of unfilled teaching positions. Grantee districts have utilized the funds to implement evidence-based strategies to address local challenges to teacher recruitment and retention. Early results have shown improved recruitment and retention in the state's most understaffed school districts, including the hiring of nearly 5,400 new teachers, the retention of approximately 11,000 additional educators, and support for approximately 1,500 non-certified staff to pursue licensure and 450 certified staff to pursue further endorsements.

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Letter To The Editor: I strongly recommend that you vote for Carolyn MacAfee for 2nd Ward Alderwoman. She has done an excellent job as Alderwoman and as many know, she has excelled in focusing on the many details of the city, including working tenaciously to help the city maintain our parks, so that they are inviting to our citizens and the tens of thousands of visitors, Alton has each year. She is well respected in our community and has become the city of Alton, Mayor Pro-Tem. Ms. MacAfee also serves on the Park Board, has been a 35-year member of "Pride" and serves as co-chair of Alton's "Pride" awards. She was a devoted volunteer with the past Caravan resale sale shop which benefited the Oasis Women's center. Ms. MacAfee was the past chairman of the city beautification and clean city commission. This is a woman who you frequently see every day, walking in her ward and other areas of the city, picking up litter and communicating with residents. She is very dedicated and focused

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ST. LOUIS – The Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri (GSEM) are proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Saint Louis University (SLU) to provide a new scholarship opportunity for Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri who wish to pursue higher education as part of the ADVANCE HER© Leadership Movement Program. Starting in fall 2026, the scholarship program will provide opportunities for GSEM Girl Scout high school graduates who enroll at SLU to receive a minimum of a $30,000 renewable scholarship. This is GSEM’s fifth collegial partnership and largest scholarship opportunity to date available through the Girl Scouts’ newly implemented ADVANCE HER© Leadership Movement Program to promote academic and professional development to succeed in college and beyond. To be eligible for the GSEM-SLU renewable scholarship award, students must: Meet SLU’s admission standards Maintain full-time student status (completion of at least 24 credit hours annually) Maintai

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MARYVILLE - Dan Rojek, Director of Surgical Services, is excited to announce the addition of the Da Vinci 5 robotic surgery system to its cutting-edge surgical technology lineup. The Da Vinci 5 is the most powerful and fully integrated system to date, designed to deliver better patient outcomes while lowering the cost of care. Anderson Hospital launched the new system last week with general surgeon, Dr. David Chung, having the honors of being the first surgery case. With the third busiest single robot surgery program in Illinois, Anderson Hospital has been at the forefront of minimally invasive procedures, offering advanced care to the communities we serve since September 2010. The addition of the Da Vinci 5 expands the capabilities of our robotic surgery program, further enhancing our robotic volumes. “This investment in state-of-the-art technology reaffirms our commitment to providing the highest level of care,” said Rojek. “The Da Vinci 5 will allow us to continu

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ALTON - Community members have the chance to meet the candidates for the Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education. The Alton School Board Candidates Forum will be held tonight, March 10, 2025, at the YWCA in Alton. Starting at 7 p.m., the forum will introduce each candidate and allow them to answer questions ahead of the consolidated election on April 1, 2025. The forum is hosted by the YWCA and the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). “School board elections play a crucial role in shaping policies that affect students, teachers, and families,” YWCA and NCNW said in a statement. “This forum gives voters the opportunity to engage with candidates, ask questions, and make informed decisions at the ballot box.” There are four ACUSD11 Board of Education seats up for grabs. Current Board members Christina Milien, Tiana Gipson and Barry Macias are defending their seats. Jack Cox, Aline Russell and Jason Harrison are the challengers. Th

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ST. LOUIS – The American Red Cross is partnering with St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the St. Louis Cardinals on a blood drive in honor of local area first responders on Thursday, March 13, from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Busch Stadium, Cunningham Corner, 700 Clark St., in St. Louis (Gate 4). In 2022, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) teamed up with the Red Cross to host a blood drive in honor of SLMPD officers Colin Ledbetter and Nathan Spiess, who were injured in the line of duty. Both were shot while on duty and needed blood transfusions due to their injuries, with Officer Ledbetter needing 39 units of whole blood to save his life. Ledbetter and Spies both recovered. Since the incident, Ledbetter has become a regular blood donor as his way to give back to the community. “I saw firsthand how blood donation can save lives,” said Ledbetter. “39 people I don’t know donated blood used to save me. Blood saves lives. It save

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) seeks individuals or families interested in starting their own garden to raise fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers in a community setting. The IDOA’s Community Garden is located on the infield of the Illinois State Fair Grandstand racetrack and features 200 garden plots. Of those plots, 100 are designated for organic gardening, and the remaining 100 plots are assigned for non-organic gardening. “We are excited to offer space on the Illinois State Fairgrounds to people interested in growing their own food,” said IDOA Director Jerry Costello II . “This is a low-cost solution for those with limited yard space who still want to plant a garden.” Each plot costs $20 and can be tilled for you for an additional charge. The Department will supply water and compost free of charge. Those interested in participating in the 2025 growing season are encouraged to fill out a garden application on the

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is partnering with Wooden It Be Lovely for an exhibit of six refurbished chairs at the Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site in Springfield during March for Women’s History Month. The chairs were hand-painted by the women at Wooden It Be Lovely , which offers transitional employment, housing and support to women healing from poverty, addiction, and abuse. The organization also offers jobs, mentoring, recovery tools, education, networking and a safe community. The women in the program are employed to refurbish and sell donated wooden furniture, sew unique products and craft hand-poured candles. This transitional employment empowers women to move toward economic stability and enhanced well-being for themselves and their children. “Wooden It Be Lovely is so honored to be invited to show some of our work at the Dana-Thomas House,” said the Rev. Margaret Ann Jessup, executive director of Wooden

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Did you know that tourism accounts for around 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions? As the world becomes more aware of climate change and its effects, the travel industry is taking significant steps towards sustainability. Travelers are increasingly seeking out eco-friendly destinations that not only minimize their carbon footprint but also contribute positively to local communities and ecosystems. If you're looking to travel responsibly this spring, consider these top eco-friendly destinations that promise both adventure and a commitment to conservation. Costa Rica: A Green Paradise Costa Rica has long been celebrated for its extraordinary biodiversity and commitment to sustainability. With over 25% of its territory designated as protected areas, this Central American gem is a pioneer in eco-tourism. Visitors can explore lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and active volcanoes while participating in conservation activities like turtle nesting programs and reforestation projects.

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SPRINGFIELD – Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is celebrating one hundred years of providing services to people of all faiths throughout the 28-county Springfield Diocese in Central Illinois. On March 1,1925, Bishop James A. Griffin hired a social worker, Miss Elizabeth Kuhlman, as the first and only Catholic Charities employee. Miss Kuhlman was charged with bringing help and relief to the suffering in the Springfield community. In addition, Ms. Kuhlman was elected president of another new organization started by Bishop Griffin, the Society of Ladies of Charity. The sole mission of the Ladies of Charity was to provide material support to the new Catholic Charities office. The Ladies of Charity provided blankets and clothing to be given to the needy and paid monthly dues of ten cents to provide financial aid to the poor served by Catholic Charities. It was Bishop Griffin’ desire to establish Catholic Charities in the City of Springfield and

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