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SPRINGFIELD – The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) are visiting and inspecting haunted houses to ensure they’re safe before the doors creak open and screams are let out. “Inspectors with IDOL’s Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Division, along with other State and local partners, walk through, inspect and permit haunted houses before they’re open to the public,” said Illinois Department of Labor Carnival Manager Brian Fox. Haunted houses in Illinois are required to be inspected prior to operation, though haunted houses operated by not-for-profit religious, educational, or charitable organizations can apply for an exemption from IDOL inspection. These haunted houses, however, must still be inspected by local authorities and/or the State Fire Marshal's office. “Haunted houses are a fun and scary activity many enjoy during the Halloween season,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal

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ALTON - As September comes to a close, the “Alton Flyway Mural” at 136 Front Street is taking shape. Robert Fishbone with On the Wall Productions started work on the mural two weeks ago. He originally predicted it would take about a month to complete. The two prime coats have been applied and the design is laid out on the wall. Over the past few days, Fishbone has been applying the first coat of paint. “One of the things that distinguishes the work that my company does is everything we do is site-specific. That means it’s geared toward the community and the history of the people,” Fishbone explained at a “What’s Up Downtown” information exchange in August . The “Alton Flyway Mural” is a recreation of a painting by Elsah artist James K. Schmidt. Fishbone has adjusted Schmidt’s painting so that it fits on the eastern wall of 136 Front St. and nothing is obscured by the building’s windows or piping. Above

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GODFREY/ALTON - On the surface, Helen Shelby’s career seems like a regular story. Shelby is retiring on Sept. 29 after 58 years as a hairdresser in salons across Alton and Godfrey. She speaks fondly about her customers and coworkers, recounting their loyalty and her gratitude for their friendships. If you ask Shelby, it’s been a good career, though nothing special. Her friends and customers would disagree. “One said to me, ‘You have no idea how you’ve touched my life.’ And let me tell you, that just got to me,” Shelby said. “You don’t think, maybe, you’re helping someone. But I’ve had things and people that affect me like that too, so I know what that feels like.” Some of these people are women that Shelby has seen once a week for over 50 years. They sit in her chair and chat about their lives, their families, and their stresses. They tell her things they haven’t been able to tell anyone else. “They

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ALTON - Dave and Marla Thomas may have Grammys hanging on their wall, but they’re normal people who, like all of us, must cope with the extraordinary, devastating and mundane parts of love. In their family, that includes navigating their relationship with adult children with severe mental illness. And because Dave is a part of the famous a capella gospel group Take 6, they’ve done all of this while in the spotlight. Now, the couple is working to make that fight easier for other families. “Mental illness kicked the door to my house open and snatched out what was most valuable: two of my three children,” Marla said. “The decision platform that has to deal with the things that are most sensitive in our family is one that we landed on ... I didn’t choose this. I’m responding to it. But I’m responding to it responsibly and in truth and transparency.” Dave and Marla met in the second grade and became high school sweethearts.

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ALTON - Alton firefighters were joined by East Alton and the Madison County Rehab Unit to battle a very serious fire with a call-out at 6 a.m. Friday at 20th and Alby. Alton Deputy Fire Chief Matt Fischer said the fire occurred at 1912 Alby and declared the blaze "a total loss." He said when firefighters arrived, flames were shooting through the second floor. The firefighters had to battle the blaze from a "defensive standpoint" for safety. All occupants of the structure were reported out of the structure, the deputy fire chief said. Fischer said the structure had been added to and was cut up on the inside, which made it even more difficult to fight. He praised his firefighters and the others for their efforts and said an Alton shift change handled the transition seamlessly. As of 8:50 a.m. on Friday, the firefighters were still out at the scene fighting the fire and that area on Alby is also blocked off to traffic, the deputy chief said.

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ST. LOUIS - Audiences and critics alike have been singing praises for Union Avenue Opera’s 29th Festival Season, which closed last month, setting box office records with their run of Flaherty and Ahrens’ "Ragtime" that was hailed as “astonishing!” “perfectly sung,” and brimming with “excellence and deep talent.” Union Avenue Opera (UAO) is back this fall with a special 30th Anniversary Season Announcement Concert which will feature the return of soprano Marsha Thompson who sang the role of Abigaille in the company’s 2018 production of "Nabucco ." On Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m., Artistic Director Scott Schoonover will announce UAO’s highly anticipated 30th Anniversary Season line-up in a not-to-be missed concert celebrating the start of this momentous year. Joining Ms. Thompson on the UAO stage will be Meroë Khalia Adeeb (Governess) and James Stevens (Peter Quint) from this summer’s production of "The Turn o

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GRANITE CITY/EAST ST. LOUIS - Kyla Gerhardt of Granite City was crowned the Miss Illinois Juneteenth for 2023 on June 3, 2023. She will represent the state of Illinois in the National Miss Juneteenth Pageant, which will be held in October of 2023. Kyla, an 18-year-old 2023 graduate of Granite City High School, is a freshman at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville majoring in Early Childhood Education. An accomplished vocalist, Kyla won the talent and essay competitions to win the title of Miss Illinois Juneteenth 2023. She has sung across the country and recently performed at Carnegie Hall. Kyla uses her voice not only to entertain, but to educate, advocate and be a voice for children without a voice. She believes that musical therapy is the perfect way to give voice and to communicate with nonverbal children. In addition to being the 2023 Miss Illinois Juneteenth, Kyla is Fox Teen Talent Finalist and a Silver winner for the National ACT-SO Competition, where sh

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ALTON - Alton Memorial Hospital’s College Avenue entrance will be closed starting Monday, Oct. 2, and is expected to remain closed approximately a month for renovation work. The main objective of the project is for renovation and widening the entrance to allow for better traffic flow into and out of the hospital campus. Entrances to the Alton Memorial campus from Rock Springs Drive and Brown Street will remain open at all times. “We very much appreciate generous gifts from our community over the years to enhance and modernize our beautiful campus,” said AMH President Dave Braasch. “We thank our patients and visitors in advance for their cooperation during this project. The end result will be well worth it.” Patients and visitors are asked to turn south onto Rock Springs Drive from College Avenue and use the Memorial Drive entrance from Rock Springs to the hospital campus. The contractor will have a sign at the College/Rock Springs intersection

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WASHINGTON DC - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $1,008,750 in federal funding to Kaskaskia Regional Port District, located in Red Bud, IL, and one of the largest inland ports in the country. Today’s federal investment through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Maritime Administration’s America’s Marine Highway Program will support the purchase of eight shuttle cars to make cargo movement more efficient and reduce congestion. “Located on the Mississippi and Kaskaskia Rivers, Kaskaskia Regional Port District serves as a critical part of Southern Illinois’s economy,” Duckworth said. “Today’s announcement will help ensure they have the resources needed to increase operations and improve their infrastructure, as well as to lower carbon emissions. I was proud to support this project and will continue working to secure investments that help us rebuild our state’s infrastructure

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ALTON - Alton Little Theater (ALT) invites you to come to the final performances of “Beer for Breakfast,” a fun PG-13 show with local brews available for any audience members who want to get in the spirit of the play. The “very funny show” kicks off the theater’s 90th season and tells the story of five friends grappling with middle age. After last weekend’s performances were delayed when two cast members fell ill, the show is back with performances scheduled on Thursday, Sept. 28 through Sunday, Oct. 1. “Come and sit in the dark, have a beer — we bought all this extra selection of beer because it’s called ‘Beer for Breakfast’ — and come enjoy this funny, funny show,” director Lee Cox said. Cox and her fellow director Gail Drillinger arranged for the theater to offer an increased selection of beers and brews, including a breakfast stout, during the “Beer for Breakfast” run. Not only is

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GRANITE CITY - Illinois State Representative Amy Elik served as "Principal for the Day" at Maryville 1-2 Education Center in Granite City on Sept. 22. Elik read to 1st and 2nd grade students and also visited with staff. "I have loved my visit at Maryville Elementary. I don't actually get to spend a lot of time in schools, so anytime I do, I absolutely love to see the kids," Elik said. "The kids were polite, respectful, happy, excited and going about their day-to-day. Everyone should feel just so grateful for all the teachers here that spend their days teaching our kids. They do a wonderful job of it."

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SHIPMAN - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that his office filed charges against a village trustee who formerly served as a village treasurer in Macoupin County for allegedly misusing village funds by collecting pay she was not entitled to and spending funds on personal expenses. Raoul’s office charged Elizabeth Robinson, 45, of Shipman, with two counts of Class 1 felony theft, each punishable by up to 15 years in prison; one count of Class 2 felony theft, punishable by up to seven years in prison; one count of Class 3 felony forgery, punishable by up to five years in prison; and one count of Class 3 felony wire fraud, punishable by up to five years in prison. In addition, Raoul’s office charged Robinson with 10 counts of Class 3 felony official misconduct, each punishable by up to five years in prison. These misconduct charges are related to her alleged acts of theft, forgery and wire fraud. Robinson’s next court date is scheduled for Oct. 16. “Government

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MARYVILLE - Anderson Hospital is proud to honor and celebrate the extraordinary leadership, dedication and selfless service of Anderson Hospital Board Member Frank Flanigan, who has volunteered tirelessly for an incredible 55 years. In recognition of this milestone, Flanigan was honored with a plaque dedication and reception at Anderson Hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. "Today, we gather to express our deepest gratitude and admiration for Frank’s exceptional service to Anderson Hospital,” said Keith A. Page, Anderson Healthcare President and CEO. "Over the course of five and a half decades, he has played an integral role in shaping the hospital's success and growth, embodying the spirit of volunteerism and community service.” Flanigan’s unwavering commitment began long before the doors of Anderson Hospital opened. His determination to bring a hospital to the area began in 1966. In the years that followed, he played an essential role in all aspects of

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ILLINOIS – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) issued the following statement after voting last evening, Sept. 27, to cut security assistance to Ukraine in the Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations bill: "At a time when we're fighting to restore fiscal sanity here at home, we can't continue sending hundreds of millions of dollars to Ukraine with little accountability for how the money's spent. The needs of the American people must come first. For that reason, I voted to cut security assistance to Ukraine in the Defense Appropriations bill. “I believe in fiercely defending America's national security interests at home and abroad. We must stand firm against our adversaries' aggression; but we must do so smartly, demanding transparency for every penny of taxpayer money. If, as the world’s leading superpower, we have to make future investments to protect our national security overseas, there must be accountability and a clear plan for how that money

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ALTON - The annual Vintage Voices tours, held in the Alton Cemetery, are returning on the following dates: Oct. 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2023. Tours will leave the cemetery gate every 15-20 minutes between noon and 2:30 p.m. The non-walking performance will be held on Oct. 15, 2023, at Lovejoy Event Center. Vintage Voices is produced by a volunteer committee and volunteer actors who bring the history of Alton to life. The tours are an important cultural event in our community. Alton Cemetery is located at 5th and Vine Streets, Alton IL 62002. This year the tours will have nine stops with actors portraying: Anna Jenkins and Ron Abraham will portray Elizabeth "Mother" Clarkson and William Netzhammer who will discuss their opposing views on Prohibition. Diana Kay will portray Lottie Coleman with Annalynn Abbott and Reigh Thompson portraying Lottie's nieces Eleanor and Lottie Jaeger. Lottie Coleman ran a successful boarding house, the Myrtle Hotel. Clarence Graves Sr. and Lillian Knight Graves

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ALTON - Whether you’re in the “Spooky Season” spirit or just looking to take in some beautiful fall colors, there’s a lot going on in the Riverbend region this fall. Cory Jobe, president and CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, said there are plenty of frights and fall fun to go around with several events happening in and around Alton as the leaves change and Halloween season approaches. In Grafton, Fall Foliage and History Shuttle Tours will be held starting in the parking lot of the Grafton SkyTour at Aerie’s Resort. The three-hour trip includes a “fall color drive” on the Great River Road, stops at the Elsah General Store, a guided tour of the Principia College grounds, and a tour of Pere Marquette State Park featuring panoramic views of the fall foliage. “We’ve been recognized by the Farmer’s Almanac, MSNBC, MSN Travel, as one of the top fall foliage drives in the country,” Jobe said. Fall

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WASHINGTON DC - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and a former Army Blackhawk pilot who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years—met with the commander of Air Mobility Command (AMC), General Mike Minihan, to discuss how we can best implement our air mobility strategy at home and abroad. In addition to reiterating her commitment to supporting AMC, which is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Duckworth also discussed how she can help improve partner training in aeromedical evacuation and AMC’s organic contingency response capabilities across the Indo-Pacific region. Improving on these air mobility capabilities bolsters our U.S. joint force and supports our allies and partners worldwide. Photos from today’s meeting are available here . “When it comes to remaining competitive with our rivals and making sure the airpower in our military is ready for the next fight, there’s no suc

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general, today opposed a new law in Indiana that targets transgender youth by blocking access to lifesaving gender-affirming care. The amicus brief supports the plaintiffs in K.C. v. Indiana who are suing to block Indiana’s Senate Enacted Act (S.E.A.) 480, which prohibits healthcare professionals from providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth. “Across the country, we are seeing increased attempts to block access to vital health services for transgender youth,” Raoul said. “These laws have not only medical implications for transgender youth but also exacerbate mental and emotional trauma. I will continue to ensure transgender youth have access to the gender-affirming care that they deserve.” Enacted in April 2023, Indiana’s S.E.A. 480 is aimed at blocking transgender minors’ access to medical treatment such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers tha

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe to discuss fortifying electric vehicle infrastructure and maintaining Illinois’ position as a leader in electric vehicle production. During their meeting, Durbin also urged Mr. Scaringe to support any unionization efforts taken up by the more than 7,800 Rivian employees as UAW members nationwide strike for better pay and benefits. Durbin has been a steadfast champion of unionization efforts, showing his support for UAW workers by visiting a picket line in Bolingbrook, Illinois , earlier this week. “Rivian took a chance on Normal, Illinois, and it has paid off. Illinois is a leader in electric vehicle production, but only because of the unrelenting efforts of Rivian and its employees,” said Durbin. “In meeting with Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe today, I reiterated my support for the company’s mission while reminding Mr. Scaringe that Rivian employees deserve

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WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on the Senate to take action on bipartisan bills that would protect child safety online, including his bipartisan STOP CSAM Act . Durbin’s bipartisan STOP CSAM Act – which advanced unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year – would crack down on the proliferation of child sex abuse material online, support victims, and increase accountability and transparency for online platforms. Regulations reigning in Big Tech companies have since gone into effect in the European Union. “A few weeks ago, regulations enacted in the European Union went into effect that cover more than a dozen of the world’s biggest tech platforms. This includes online marketplaces, app stores, and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram … This shows that Big Tech can be regulated. It

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