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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Brad Schneider (D-IL) to introduce the Continued Waiver of Interest on State Unemployment Loans during the Pandemic Act . This legislation would extend the waiver of interest payments on federal unemployment loans during the pandemic to help Illinois and other states financially as they support their constituents and respond to the dual economic and health crises. The bill would extend the period of interest-free loans from September 6, 2021, to September 30, 2022. The provision is set up to be contiguous with the date of the lapse of the interest-free waiver, meaning there would be no gap in the relief to states. It would operate retroactively as if the interest-free nature had never expired. A further extension of the waiver on unemployment loan interest will improve state and business recovery in many states. “Illinoisans

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Rotary Club honored Edwardsville High School student Gavin Walls with the Student of the Month Award for the month of February. Gavin was nominated by Mr. Kelsey Pickering. Gavin is an Illinois State Scholar and achieved High Honor Roll. He also plays both football and soccer at Edwardsville High School. In his spare time, Gavin enjoys weightlifting and kicking footballs. Gavin plans to attend the Missouri State University after graduating from EHS. The Edwardsville Rotary Club recognizes a student each month September through April. Each May, Edwardsville High School staff chooses one of the monthly winners to receive the $1,500 Edwardsville High School Rotary Scholarship. The awards have been given since 1996 and the Edwardsville Rotary Club has given out over $28,000 in scholarships to date.

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– U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after President Biden and the Department of Homeland Security announced that Ukrainians in the U.S. can receive Temporary Protected Status (TPS): “I’m glad that President Biden made this important decision that I called for to ensure Ukrainians, with their homeland under attack from Russia, can safely remain in our country. This is yet another sign that our nation remains united with the people of Ukraine and the rest of the free world against Vladimir Putin’s unjustified and unjustifiable war of choice.” Earlier this week, Duckworth called on the Biden Administration to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians in the U.S. following the Russian military invasion. She also spoke on the Senate floor to express her support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian community in Illinois and abroad amid Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine.

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EAST ALTON – Volunteers are needed to help to remove bush honeysuckle at Piasa Bird Park in Alton, Illinois from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Thursday, March 24. Free lunch and necessary tools will be provided to volunteers. The volunteer day is being hosted by the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC SM ) in partnership with the Lewis and Clark Community College Restoration Ecology program, the Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois and the City of Alton. This project is supported by Trees Forever. Normally a spot to enjoy the river, experience local wildlife and learn the history of the legendary Piasa Bird, Piasa Bird Park is currently overrun with bush honeysuckle, an invasive plant species that hinders the growth of native trees and shrubs. “Participants will learn about habitat restoration efforts taking place in the local community,” Director of Environmental Education Sarah Fisher said. “Cleaning up the Piasa Park an

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URBANA – Any homeowner who has suffered from flood waters in the yard will find getting the lawn back can take some time. Several factors impact the amount of damage and the recovery, including what kind of grass, what season, and how long the area stayed flooded. Temperature and tolerance Water temperature controls how long grasses can stay submerged and survive, according to Bruce Branham, University of Illinois professor and faculty Extension specialist. “Spring flooding with cold water often results in minimal damage. Summer flooding with warm water can cause rapid turf death if submerged more than a day or two. Turf grasses vary significantly in their tolerance to flooding. Fine fescues have poor submersion tolerance and can be killed in as little as a day of submersion under warm water. On the other hand, creeping bentgrass has excellent submersion tolerance and can tolerate several days of flooding. Kentucky bluegrass has medium submersion tolerance while perennial

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SPRINGFIELD - The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois announced March 1, plans to establish The Evermode Institute, a new center for Catholic spiritual and intellectual formation in Springfield, and that the institute will include priests from the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael’s Abbey, who will establish a new community there. In what will be located at the site of the former Chiara Center on the grounds of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis in Springfield, The Evermode Institute will focus on formation for Catholics, offering programming for both ordained and lay teachers of the faith such as catechists, Parish School of Religion teachers (PSR), Catholic school teachers, and other groups who teach the faith. Several priests from the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael’s Abbey, based in Orange, Calif., will move to the property with the necessary preliminary steps being taken this summer. Serving at The Evermode Institute will be their primary apostolate. A date for when

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SPRINGFIELD - The Pritzker administration applauds the federal announcement of new nursing home accountability measures that President Biden highlighted during his State of the Union address on Tuesday. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has been working with Illinois nursing home associations, organizations representing workers and other interested parties for more than two years on long-needed nursing home rate reform that directly ties new money for long-term care facilities to their performance and the quality of care for residents. HFS pays for the care of about 45,000 Illinoisans in nursing homes across the state and believes their care and safety is of utmost importance. The federal push for increased accountability underscores how urgently change is needed. As President Biden’s proposal highlighted, public funds continue to flow to nursing homes while too many of these facilities are providing a poor quality of care and are understaffed, which can mea

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ST. LOUIS - Sew Hope STL, a new and first-of-its-kind community sewing room is opening in North County on March 4. The 2,600 square foot creative space is a place where kids and adults can come learn how to sew, quilt, and explore their creativity. The idea is to create a gathering space for individuals of various ages, and backgrounds to come together under one commonality (creating things with their hands) and learn from each other. The investment amount was $15,000.00 in start-up funds and over $3,000.00 donated of fabric, sewing notions, and supplies by area sewing nonprofits. Owner Kacie Starr Long says of the space, “We often hear about food deserts in urban communities but what about creative deserts? We have lacked vibrant spaces where people can create, interact and explore their creativity by using their hands and God-given talents. With the introduction of Sew Hope, we now have that space." The new attraction will employ (will employ one Executive Director and b

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ST. LOUIS - Temps are rising, days are getting longer, people are getting back out and about – and Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) and AARP in St. Louis announced registration is now open for the CMT Ten Toe Express®. This award-winning program helps older adults and other interested individuals lead healthier lives by linking activity, sociability and exercise with the use of MetroLink and MetroBus. The spring session is 12 weeks long, running from April 6 through the end of June and costs $10 to participate. Registration can be completed at www.cmt-stl.org or at one of the many in-person registrations events being held community wide. The Ten Toe Express® program features weekly guided Ten Toe Express Walking Tours, allowing walkers to be part of a group as they become familiar with the transit system and how to utilize it to get to attractions regionwide. These walks, led by trained, volunteer walk leaders, range in length from 0.3 to 5 miles, depending on the group

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PONTOON BEACH/ALTON/GODFREY - Ameren Illinois customers in and around Madison County will see energy at work firsthand throughout the spring and well into the fall as crews replace vintage steel pipeline and natural gas services with modern, corrosion-resistant polyethylene material. Crews working on behalf of Ameren Illinois will replace more than five miles of natural gas pipeline and nearly 375 individual customers' natural gas services. The total investment for these projects is $8.2 million and all should be completed by the end of the year, weather pending. Communities include: Pontoon Beach – Crews will start working in July at the Gateway Tradeport to upgrade a high-pressured natural gas pipeline to provide additional capacity to the natural gas system to meet current and future development for the Pontoon Beach area. Total project investment is $3.1 million. Alton – In March, crews will begin work in two neighborhoods starting on State Street. They will

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COLLINSVILLE – The Collinsville Police Department (CPD) requested the Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 6 to investigate an officer-involved shooting (OIS) in the 100 block of Arnold Street in Collinsville. Illinois State Police said on Thursday that at approximately 8:36 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, Collinsville Police Department responded to a residence in the 100 block of Arnold Street location for a reported home invasion. When officers arrived, they observed Kevin C. Steinhauer, a 45-year-old male from East Carondelet, Illinois, inside the residence with a firearm. "Reportedly, after repeated orders from the officers to drop the weapon, Steinhauer opened the door and fired at the officers," ISP said. "Officers returned fire and struck Steinhauer. Officers attempted to render aid, however, Steinhauer succumbed to his injuries at the scene. No officers were injured in the incident. ISP said the investigation is still ongoing and

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY - Illinois State Police District 11 has released information about a single-vehicle fatal traffic crash in St. Clair County involving an Ava, IL., man. The incident occurred at 7:35 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Jason C. Mayes, 47, died from injuries suffered in the crash. The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by the Illinois State Police District 11: WHAT: Single-Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash WHERE: I-55 northbound milepost 20, near Collinsville, St. Clair County WHEN: 7:35 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, 2022. DRIVER: Unit 1 – Jason C. Mayes, a 47-year-old-male of Ava, IL – Fatally Injured VEHICLE: Unit 1 – Red 2005 GMC Truck pulling a trailer PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling northbound on I-55 at milepost 20, near Collinsville. Unit 1 left the roadway to the right for unknown reasons, struck a light pole, and rolled multiple times. The driver

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SPRINGFIELD – The indoor mask mandate has expired in Illinois and State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) along with State Representatives Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur); and Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) are calling on House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch to end the mandate on the House floor. “Today, we again entered the Illinois House chamber without a mask and again we were escorted off the House floor. While the indoor mask mandate in Illinois is over; it is very much alive in the Illinois House of Representatives. We are told the indoor mask mandate is no longer necessary and so it is being lifted statewide, and according to the CDC, mask requirements are no longer necessary for most of the country. So, why is the Illinois House keeping the mask mandate in place? The reason is simple. Control. The authoritarian leftists have turned masks into a symbol of subjugation. They are keeping the mask rule simply because they can. The majority party has no data to back

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EAST ALTON - The East Alton 13 School District Board of Education has appointed Mario D. Sherrell as the district’s next Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Sherrell, currently the Executive Director of Educational Improvement for the Mascoutah School District will begin his tenure with East Alton on July 1, 2022. The Board of Education retained the Illinois Association of School Boards to lead a nationwide search for the next superintendent. The Board, assisted by the Association, conducted a thorough vetting process which included stakeholder input and interviews by the staff, community, administration, and all Board of Education members. At the conclusion of its process, the Board unanimously (7-0) approved Mr. Sherrell. Kim Handler, school board president, had the following to say about Mario: “Our district is thrilled to welcome Mario Sherrell. We believe his experience, education, and passion make him the perfect fit for EASD13. We look forward to his leadership.”

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Letter To The Editor: In late January, Macoupin County IL Democratic Party voted unanimously to support a proposed change to the IL State Constitution which reads: "WHERAS, the proposed Section 25: Workers’ Rights would state: (a) Employees shall have the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work. No law shall be passed that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively over their wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and workplace safety, including any law or ordinance that prohibits the execution or application of agreements between employers and labor organizations that represent employees requiring membership in an organization as a condition of employment.” MCDP Chair Pam Monetti said, “We

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Nonprofit, fully online university to provide Amazon’s hourly employees access to 10 business and IT degree programs ST. LOUIS – WGU Missouri today announced it has been selected as an education partner for Amazon’s Career Choice program, providing Amazon’s hourly employees throughout the state with full tuition toward select undergraduate degree programs in information technology and business. The goal of the program is to connect Amazon employees with opportunities to learn new skills for career success, whether that be at Amazon or elsewhere. “WGU is honored to be selected by Amazon as an education partner, and we look forward to providing the company’s hourly employees with access to career-boosting education that will help them grow their skills and advance their careers,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri. “Both Amazon and WGU are committed to providing adults who might otherwise not be able to earn a degree

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ST. LOUIS – To help customers communicate with friends and family impacted by the conflict in Ukraine, Spectrum today announced it is waiving charges for all calls to Ukraine for Spectrum Voice® and Spectrum Mobile™ customers through the end of March 2022. Standard SMS text messages to Ukraine already are included at no extra charge with Spectrum Mobile service. Customers don’t need to do anything; the fees will be automatically waived from their monthly bill. About Spectrum Spectrum is a suite of advanced communications services offered by Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 32 million customers in 41 states. Over an advanced communications network, the company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet ® , TV, Mobile and Voice.

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ST. LOUIS – Today, Multi-platinum pop icons New Kids on the Block released “Bring Back The Time,” the feel-good instant hit sure to get everyone smiling. Joined by their upcoming Mixtape Tour 2022 tour mates, Salt-N-Pepa, Rick Astley and En Vogue, New Kids on the Block are bringing fans the high-octane anthem that they all need right now. A historic first, the song marks the only time the artists have all collaborated on music together. “Bring Back The Time” is accompanied by an epic music video, which premiered exclusively on Billboard.com this morning. To celebrate the release, New Kids on the Block sat down with Good Morning America this morning for an exclusive interview and to make the performance debut of “Bring Back The Time” with special guests Salt-N-Pepa, Rick Astley and En Vogue. Co-written and co-produced by Donnie Wahlberg the song aims to uplift and inspire listeners. The song embodies the feel-good sentiment of their upcoming

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s College of Arts and Sciences has announced a new Professional Leadership Strategies Post-Baccalaureate Certificate within the Department of Public Administration and Policy Analysis (PAPA), which can be completed online in less than one year. The certificate is designed to prepare administrators to become better leaders regardless of where they are in their careers or organization, and offers leadership training that has applicability for professionals in any field through a series of specially designed courses offered in a compact format. “Too often professionals will find themselves being promoted or appointed into a position of leadership without having been prepared to lead,” said Drew Dolan, PhD, program director and professor in the Department of Public PAPA. “The Professional Leadership Strategies certificate is constructed to train individuals to be prepared to lead in current positions

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BELLEVILLE – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) accepted an award for his sustained support and meritorious service to Illinois fire services from the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Foundation on Wednesday. “Firefighters risk their lives every day,” Belt said. “I’m honored to receive this award and I will continue to support measures that benefit all Illinois firefighters.” The award comes in response to Belt’s support of legislation that would assist fire protection agencies and statewide associations, like Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, in pursuing donations designed to build a stronger and more sustainable fire, EMS and special team statewide intergovernmental cooperative system serving all municipalities during crisis and disaster level events. Existing law allows law enforcement agencies and their statewide associations to conduct raffles, while fire protection agencies and their statewide associations are not listed in current law

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