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– Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced bipartisan legislation that would strengthen National Guard units in Illinois and across America by helping to ensure our servicemembers have access to the funds needed for maintenance and readiness activities that keep us all safe. Specifically, the bipartisan Guarding Readiness Resources Act would provide a critical exemption from the Miscellaneous Receipts Act for State Active Duty (SAD) reimbursement payments, ensuring that these funds are directed back to the National Guard units that incurred the expenses and ultimately bolster readiness and operational efficiency. “The men and women of the National Guard are committed to the motto of ‘always ready, always there’—which is why it’s important our Guardsmen have the resources they need to stay mission-ready,” said Senator

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ALTON - Anne Johnson works from a place of passion. Johnson, one of the YWCA’s ten 2025 Women of Distinction, will be honored at the Y’s annual gala for her commitment to the community. Johnson is a retired teacher who taught math in the Alton Community Unit School District #11 for 31 years. Now, she spends her time volunteering and helping to make the community a better place. “After retirement, I knew that there was something I needed to be doing,” she said. “I felt like helping anyone that I can, so I started volunteering.” Johnson volunteers at St. Anthony’s Hospital three days a week. She also helps at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Collinsville and serves as a foster grandparent. At her church, Tabernacle Baptist Church, she works as an usher and volunteers for several church projects. As a former teacher, Johnson understands the value of education. She offers free tutoring out of her home and at Hayner Library. Community

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On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Governor JB Pritzker issued the following statement on the institution of President Trump’s tariff plan: “Trump’s Tax on Working Families will have a devastating impact on Illinois’ manufacturing and agriculture sectors and will hurt hardworking Illinoisans at the grocery store checkout, on their utility bills, and at the gas pump. I have spent the past few weeks talking with farmers, manufacturers, and even breweries who have been preparing to reduce production and raise prices – actions that may have ripple effects for supply chains in Illinois and across the country. “Donald Trump swore to bring down costs on Day One. Instead, he’s taxing working families while embarrassing America on the world stage. I will be staying in close contact with representatives from Canada and Mexico to emphasize Illinois’ commitment to an ongoing trade partnership, and I will not stop fighting to ensure Illinoisans get a fair

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WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke out against President Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. As of today, President Trump has instituted a 25 percent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10 percent on goods from China, bringing the total to 20 percent tariffs on China. In his remarks, Durbin underscored that the Trump tariffs would not lower prices, as he promised during his campaign, but instead spike prices for Americans. “Instead of improving the lives of or lowering prices for Americans, we are seeing policies of the Trump Administration do exactly the opposite. The President has spent his time trying to systematically dismantle the federal government, creating rifts with our closest allies, and now, imposing destructive tariffs on our biggest trading partners. The tariffs that he has unleashed… will hurt American consumers and supply chains

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ALTON - If you want to grow in your spirituality, an upcoming conversation at River Bend Yoga might be for you. “Raise Your Spiritual IQ!,” a three-part series hosted at River Bend Yoga in Alton, will cover three topics that invite people to explore their spirituality from a new perspective. At 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, 2025, community members can stop by River Bend Yoga for an hourlong discussion titled “Past Lives — Present Lessons,” which encourages attendees to “discover the secrets of karma and reincarnation to answer questions about your life today.” “Come with that open heart, and you’ll learn something,” said Sheila Aehle, one of the organizers. “It will take you further in your study. We’ll go through some of the techniques in the book, but the main focus is learning how to raise that spiritual IQ in whatever way you are guided. Aehle and Flora Van Koten practice Eckankar, the path of spiritual

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POCAHONTAS – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Pocahontas, Illinois man for allegedly producing and disseminating 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. Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Illinois State Police (ISP) and Bond County Sheriff’s Department, conducted a search of Blankley’s residence in the 600 block of Academy Street in Pocahontas on Feb. 27, 2025. Blankley was taken into custody after investigators discovered evidence of child sexual abuse material. The Attorney General’s office charged Aaron R. Blankley, 47, in Bond County Circuit Court with 10 counts of dissemination of child pornography, each Class X felonies punishable by up to 30 years in prison; and five counts of possession of

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WOOD RIVER – In an occasionally heated Monday night, March 3, 2025, meeting, members of the Wood River City Council shared dueling perspectives on alleged mismanagement of city TIF funds and agreements. Two meetings ago on Feb. 17, 2025, Councilman Bill Dettmers called for a forensic audit and independent investigation into the city , alleging city officials made unauthorized payments to developers, changed parts of TIF agreements without council approval, and much more. To address these and other concerns, Dettmers called for a special meeting to be held on Feb. 24, 2025. He was told two council members would need to request the meeting in writing; the next day, the city announced a special meeting would be held on Feb. 24. T he special meeting could not be held after Mayor Tom Stalcup and Councilmen Jeremy Plank and Scott Tweedy chose not to attend, ensuring there would be no quorum and no city business could be conducted. Stalcup and P

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WASHINGTON – Today in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that he will host Dr. Elizabeth Sokol, a pediatric oncologist and researcher from Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, as his guest for President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress tomorrow evening. In his remarks, Durbin underscored that President Trump and Elon Musk’s move to gut funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will have disastrous, long-term impacts for Americans suffering from cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and more, as well as for NIH-funded researchers like Dr. Sokol. “This annual address traces its roots back to our Founding Fathers, but I doubt they would even recognize their beloved country today. With President Trump and Elon Musk acting unrestrained, we are barreling down a dangerous path to a constitutional crisis,” Durbin said. “I’m going to have a guest at the Address tomorrow night,

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GRANITE CITY – The Rotary Club of Granite City recognized juniors Morgan Hayes and Emily Lievens as Students of the Month for February. Students were nominated by teachers, and were chosen on the basis of academics, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and civic honors and awards, and organization membership and leadership. Each honoree will receive a framed certificate and a gift card, and will be recognized at the Mayors' Prayer Breakfast on March 25, 2025. MORGAN HAYES Two-year member of girls golf team ... Saturday Scholars ... Two-year High Honor Roll ... Rookie of the Year ... Member of Renaissance, Spirit and Varsity Club ... All-Warrior Academic Award ... Chemistry worker ... Daughter of Jeff Hayes and Jamie Warren. EMILY LIEVENS Member of girls golf team ... Secondary Honors ... Alpha Peer Leader ... National Society of High School Scholars ... Member of Renaissance and Spirit Club ... GCHS Attendance Office Worker ... Volunteer at GCHS Freshman Workshop

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR); Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Chris Coons (D-DE); and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to improve America’s competitiveness throughout the African continent and in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Increasing American Jobs through Greater Exports to Africa and Latin America Act will force better coordination between U.S. government agencies and departments, establish comprehensive strategic goals, and marshal private investments to improve U.S. exports to Africa, Latin American, and the Caribbean. The legislation will help create American jobs by requiring a whole of government strategy to increase the number of U.S. exports to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean by at least 200 percent in real dollar value within ten years of enactment of the law. The legislation was included in the Senate

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ALTON — A new culinary celebration is set to take place in Alton, as Mac's 315 Belle St. hosts its inaugural Fat Tuesday Buffett on March 4, 2025. The event, running from 4 to 9 p.m., will feature a variety of Cajun favorites, including crawfish and shrimp boil, gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, southern fried chicken, fried catfish, hush puppies, fried okra, and dinner rolls. The menu will also include king cake, a traditional treat associated with the Mardi Gras season. Rob Lenhardt, one of the owners of Mac's, noted that this is the first time the establishment is hosting a Fat Tuesday event. "A couple of places around the area have done it in the past but stopped. We feel there is a market for it," Lenhardt said. Lenhardt said St. Louis is recognized for its annual Mardi Gras celebration, that is the second largest in the United States, trailing only New Orleans. With an expected turnout of 200 to 250 attendees, the Fat Tuesday Buffett at Mac's aims to attract local residents

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ALTON – Time is running out to reserve your spot for YWCA Southwestern Illinois' 34th Annual Women of Distinction Celebration on Thursday, March 13, at The Commons at Lewis and Clark Community College. This highly anticipated event will feature Mrs. Vernetta Caffey as emcee and Dr. Kathie Wuellner as keynote speaker, bringing their wisdom, inspiration, and passion to the evening’s celebration. Doors open at 5 p.m., with the program beginning promptly at 6 p.m. Women of Distinction Academy photos will be taken at 5:30 p.m. The reservation deadline is Friday, March 7. “We have an exceptional group of honorees this year—women whose dedication, leadership, and achievements have made a lasting impact in our community,” said Dorothy Hummel, Executive Director of YWCA Southwestern Illinois. “Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating their stories and supporting programs that empower women, nurture children, and advance racial and social justice.”

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GRANITE CITY - State Representative Amy Elik’s office will be hosting mobile office hours in Granite City on Friday, March 7, 2025 to meet with constituents who need help with issues concerning a State of Illinois agency. Rep. Elik’s staff will be available to meet with constituents from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Granite City Township Building, located at 2060 Delmar Avenue in Granite City. Mobile office hours are open to the public. Appointments are encouraged but not required, however scheduled meetings will take place in the order in which they were received. To schedule a meeting, please call State Representative Amy Elik’s district office at 618-433-8046.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Executive Director of the Illinois Head Start Association Lauri Morrison-Frichtl will be her guest to President Donald Trump's Joint Address to Congress as part of the Senator’s ongoing efforts to push back against Trump’s illegal funding freeze that continues to inflict needless chaos, confusion and financial pain on Head Start programs and the middle-class families they serve throughout Illinois. With over 37 years of experience with Head Start, Executive Director Morrison-Frichtl is a steadfast leader and advocate for the wellbeing of the thousands of children and families in our state who face the most significant barriers to achieving success in school and in life. Additionally, nearly 70% of Illinois Head Start and Early Head Start parents are in the workforce and rely on Head Start’s programs in order to go to their jobs—allowing them to support their families and contribute

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ST. LOUIS - The latest data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) confirms the St. Louis region remains home to the most efficient inland port district in the nation based on tons moved per river mile in 2022, the most recent year numbers are available. The data reveals that, in 2022, the St. Louis region’s barge industry handled 369,309 tons per mile, while the average tons per mile across the other eight inland port districts was 92,863. Essentially, the St. Louis Metro Ports collectively moved almost four times the average tons per mile, as compared to the other eight inland port districts in the U.S. Dan Lester, SVP, Business Development for the Infrastructure Group at Ingram, says that efficiency is increasingly important in today’s environment when barges are very expensive to build, and the number of existing barges being retired continues to increase. Ingram, the leading carrier on the inland waterways, operates eight facilities along the Missouri and Illinois

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ELSAH - Brad Winn, Historian, will present a talk, “Lewis and Clark in Illinois,” on Thursday, March 6, at 7 p.m. at Farley Music Hall, 37 Mill Street, in Elsah, Illinois. Illinois was the point of departure for the two-and-half-year journey. The team spent more time in Illinois than any other state except North Dakota. Winn taught at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois, winning Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member in History and Humanities in 2022. He also served as Superintendent of the Lewis and Clark State Historical Site in Hartford, Illinois. The program is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required. Parking is available. Refreshments will be served following the lecture. The presentation will be streamed live, with registration available on historicelsah.org . This presentation is one of this year’s Hosmer-Williams Lectures sponsored by Historic Elsah Foundation and underwritten by Liberty Bank: A United Community Bank.

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Did you know that approximately 77% of people experience physical symptoms caused by stress? While stress management techniques abound, one often overlooked yet highly effective method is journaling. This simple act of putting pen to paper can dramatically transform your mental clarity and emotional well-being. But what exactly is it about journaling that makes it such a powerful tool for mental clarity? Understanding Journaling: More Than Just Writing At its core, journaling is a form of self-expression. It allows individuals to articulate thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a private, safe space. This expressive writing can take various forms, from daily logs to reflective essays or even creative storytelling. Regardless of the style, the act of journaling serves as a mental detox, helping individuals disentangle complex emotions and thoughts. Research has shown that journaling can lead to improvements in mental health. A study published in the journal Psychological Science

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March 4th is a day marked by pivotal events that have resonated through time, influencing politics, culture, and global relations. On March 4, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established, marking a significant moment in global politics. This military alliance was formed in response to the growing threat of Soviet expansion in Europe after World War II. NATO's creation symbolized a united front among Western nations and served as a deterrent against aggression during the Cold War. The alliance continues to play a crucial role in international relations and collective security to this day. March 4, 1980, is a notable date in the realm of sports and international diplomacy. On this day, the United States announced its boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, protesting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. This decision was emblematic of the heightened tensions between the two superpowers during the Cold War. Athletes from various nations followed suit,

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Letter To The Editor: At the Wood River City Council meeting of March 3rd, the City had to admit that it had violated the terms of City agreements and ordinances that caused unauthorized payments totaling tens of thousands of TIF funds to developers. Instead of taking action to assure compliance with its agreements, ordinances, policies, and procedures, the City chose to make changes to the agreements so that these failures simply disappeared, as if nothing happened. The more important issue that an unauthorized $40,000 TIF payment to a developer after the City Manager had a TIF agreement altered without City Council approval was dismissed as irrelevant. The explanation given was that someone forgot to inform the City Council that there were additional changes to the agreement, and the City Manager was simply fixing the mistake to save the City Council the trouble of voting on the changes again. There was no explanation why the City Manager signed the agreement when only the mayor

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The End Tobacco Loopholes Act would establish a new federal e-cigarette tax, increase tobacco tax rate, & close tax loopholes WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoothi (D-IL-08), and several Senate Democratic colleagues today introduced the End Tobacco Loopholes Act, legislation that would close tax code loopholes for tobacco products to lower tobacco use and reduce health care spending. The legislation would establish a federal tax on e-cigarettes as 30 states have done, update the federal cigarette tax rate for the first time in more than 15 years to restore its public health impact, and harmonize the tax rate across tobacco products to address gamesmanship by manufacturers. Increasing the price of tobacco products has been found to be the single most effective way to reduce tobacco use, particularly among children. “Big Tobacco’s deadly profit scheme relies on

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