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GRANITE CITY – Today, Joe Hackler, candidate for State Representative in the 112 th district, announced his endorsement from the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police. As Democrats cast votes to make our communities less safe, supporting law enforcement and first responders is more critical than ever before. With this key endorsement, police voiced their support for Hackler as the candidate to represent them in Springfield. “I am honored to have the support of our policemen and women and will fight every day to support them as they keep our communities safe,” said Hackler. “As crime skyrockets, I will continue to stand with law enforcement and take down the Democrats’ radical pro-criminal, anti-police agenda.” About the Fraternal Order of Police The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FO

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) today issued the first pre-construction permits to social equity licensees established under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, which clears the way for the businesses to begin construction. The Department issued permits to Galaxy Labs, Mint Cannabis, and Star Buds Illinois. • Galaxy Labs, located in Richton Park, is 100% Latino and Black-owned • Mint Cannabis, located in Forest Park, is 51% Latino-owned • Star Buds Illinois, located in Rockford, is 66% Black-owned The cohort of craft grow licenses of which this group is a part, issued in August of 2021, is 88% Social Equity by ownership and 80% identify as nonwhite. “When Illinois legalized cannabis, it was essential that we do what no other state has done – make sure the most impacted communities benefited,” said Governor Pritzker. “I’m pleased to see that these diverse businesses are clear to start construction, and

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ROXANA - The Bacus family recently presented the Fourth Annual Shine Like Spencer Kindness Award to graduating Senior Sharlee Mason. The $500 award was established in memory of their son, Spencer Bacus who died in 2018 from a rare form of cancer. Spencer was described as a 2012 graduate of Roxana High School and known as "an extremely kind and caring young man who was a friend to all," Debbie Bacus said. When Spencer was three days old, we were told by doctors at Children's Hospital in St. Louis that most children born with his rare skin disorder (Giant Congenital Nevus) don't live past five years old. He certainly kept living - happily, joyfully, robustly – day after day, year after year, and inspired countless amounts of students and residents in his community and at SIUE. Spencer Bacus, 24, was an SIUE junior in the Department of Applied Communication Studies; Fine Arts Fellow, honor thespian, accomplished actor and performer, versatile musician – pianist, woodwinds,

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CARLINVILLE - On Saturday, May 14, 2022, Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL held commencement ceremonies on the campus’ Hudson Quad honoring 86 graduates from the class of 2022. These events marked the 153rd Commencement exercise for the College. The Blackburn Alumni Association presented its Outstanding Graduate Award at commencement. This year, two deserving seniors - political science major Blake Meyer of Greenfield, and elementary education major Brianna Milich of Washington, IL. - shared that distinction. During commencement, academic and leadership awards were presented to the graduating class, and one recognized Emily Fleck, a psychology major from Athens, IL, as class valedictorian. Dr. Mark L. Biermann, president of Blackburn, shared remarks and welcomed families and friends to celebrate a return to regular graduation activities on campus. “Gathering as we are today gives us a singular opportunity to pause, take stock, and think about what we have experienced,

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ALTON - St. Mary's Catholic School graduates are listed below: Corbin Barnard Michael Beaber Austin Brunaugh Alex Campbell Lucille Cassenti Olivia Certa Mackenzie Cochran Lucas Davis Isabel Downey Sharon Dugas Jackson Ehrman Laci Fischer John Hornsey Carson Jones Sofia Lamere Reese Livingstone Melanie Marshall Noah Menke Braden Nash Alexander Noll Owen Page Olivia Prediger Annie Rea Jack Rea Samuel Rea Stephen Stobbs Josephine Strack Joseph Ventimiglia Caleb Wade Madelyn Waters

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ALTON – Although Alton Memorial Hospital was unable to hold its annual Employee Awards Banquet again this year because of the pandemic, the hospital was still able to honor several of its top staff members during the recent Health Care Week. Cathy Wagner, manager of Surgical Services and the Cardiac Cath Lab, won the 2021 Leadership Award, as voted on by AMH senior leaders. “Cathy checked many of the boxes in 2021,” said AMH President Dave Braasch. “She demonstrated characteristics in getting results, integrity, continuous improvement and building customer-focused teams. During the most recent COVID surge, she routinely jumped in to lend a hand in staffing where needed. With all the disruptions, Cathy dealt fairly with everyone and listened to everyone’s input before making the final decision. Her response was poised and deliberate, always putting the patients first.” Wagner said that winning the award was a surprise to her because of all the grea

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CHICAGO – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced the return of more than $43,000 in unclaimed property to St. Andrew Ukrainian Church in Bloomingdale. The Treasurer’s Office recently found the unclaimed money and reached out to church officials to return it. The gorgeous Ukrainian Orthodox church, which is a cultural and religious center for Chicago’s west suburban Ukrainian community, has stepped up its charity work in Ukraine following the unprovoked and immoral Russian invasion. Unclaimed property, also known as I-Cash, refers to money or accounts within financial institutions or companies in which there has been no activity for several years. Unclaimed property includes forgotten bank accounts, unpaid life insurance benefits, the contents of safe deposit boxes and other items. In the case of St. Andrew, the Treasurer’s Office discovered the church was owed the money while conducting unclaimed property compliance audits of companies.

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ST. LOUIS - The transit advocacy organization Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) has announced plans for its next virtual “Talking Transit” event, which is set for Thursday, June 9, at 8:30 a.m. via ZOOM. This event will highlight new initiatives underway through Metro Transit to expand accessibility and further improve safety and security on the St. Louis region’s public system, which is comprised of MetroLink light rail, 59 MetroBus routes, and the Metro Call-A-Ride paratransit fleet. The event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required and can be completed online at www.cmt-stl.org . Those in attendance will learn about the latest plans associated with the Northside-Southside MetroLink Study with St. Louis City and St. Louis County, the new Secure Platform Plan and the service profile of the organization moving forward. The panel discussion will feature Taulby Roach, President and CEO of Bi-State Development which operates Metro Transit for the

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ST. LOUIS - The CEO of St. Louis-based ProCare Health, a leader in the bariatric supplement market with a focus on after-surgery nutritional needs, is announcing the launch of a new supplement website. Nick Wiegand is one of four founders of WellRabbit, an e-commerce site dedicated to selling only physician-vetted products from qualified manufacturers. “I’ve launched several brands from the ground up. This gave me insight into just how many companies there are that offer counterfeit, substandard, or even dangerous supplements. There had to be a safe place for consumers,” said Nick Wiegand, the President of WellRabbit. “There are two goals for WellRabbit. We protect the consumer by giving them a high-quality product, and we protect the industry by making sure only authentic goods are sold.” WellRabbit was founded out of CEO Dr. Jeffrey Hendricks’ desire to help his sister, Teresa, beat breast cancer and live a healthier life. By taking integrative

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MARYVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation announces a right lane closure on I-55/70 WB between Illinois 159 and 13-mile marker in Maryville Thursday, May 19, 2022, weather permitting, between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. These restrictions are needed to allow access for the weigh-in-motion vendor to perform repairs to the weigh-in motion sensors at the Weigh Station on I-55/70 in Maryville. Warning Lights of Southern Illinois will be providing traffic control. Full access will be restored by 5:00 PM. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, the use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow IDOT on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on

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ALTON – The YWCA of Southwestern Illinois will once again host Free Girls Circle programs at its location at 304 E. Third Street, Alton. This program focuses on the promotion of growth within the youth, families, and the community. "The program places emphasis on generating, re-establishing, and encouraging the continuance of healthy relationships," YWCA of Southwestern Illinois Executive Director Dorothy Hummel said. "The topics that are discussed relate to everyday issues that girls may have experienced or will possibly encounter in the future. This program consists of a knowledgeable facilitator that is equipped in providing guidance and preparing the girls with useful information for shaping their future." For many years, girls have been faced with discrimination, put down because of their physical appearances, challenged emotionally, and judged on their choices and opinions by society, Hummel said. "The 'Being a Girl' unit highlights the advantages of being a girl," sh

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GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois celebrated the outstanding volunteers and Girl Scouts who exemplify our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place at the first annual Recognition of Excellence ceremony. The ceremony was held on Sunday, May 15 at the DoubleTree Inn in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Girl Scouts, volunteers, and their families from the 40-county jurisdiction gathered together to celebrate this year’s award recipients. “What a day to celebrate! Days like today make me very proud to be a Girl Scout,” said Loretta Graham, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. “These amazing volunteers and girls truly represent what Girl Scouting is all about – being a champion of girl ambition and making the world a better place,” Graham added. Seventeen Girl Scouts wer

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COLLINSVILLE - After a distinguished 20-year career in the energy sector and 45 years of business and civic leadership, Richard J. Mark, chairman and president, of Ameren Illinois, announced his intention to retire on Aug. 1, 2022. Upon reaching a final decision, Ameren leaders will announce Mark's successor. "Richard has been a difference-maker for our company, having served in leadership positions for both Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois," said Martin J. Lyons, Jr., president and chief executive officer, of Ameren Corporation. "He has always focused on doing what's best for our customers and I extend my gratitude for his many contributions to Ameren and our communities." Mark was promoted to president of Ameren Illinois in 2012 after 10 years in executive leadership for Ameren Missouri. Since joining Ameren Illinois, he has helped shape constructive regulatory policy that has modernized the energy sector in the state. Under his direction, Ameren Illinois has undertaken a transformative

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THE CONVERSATION - The Atlantic hurricane season starts on June 1, and the Gulf of Mexico is already warmer than average . Even more worrying is a current of warm tropical water that is looping unusually far into the Gulf for this time of year, with the power to turn tropical storms into monster hurricanes. It’s called the Loop Current , and it’s the 800-pound gorilla of Gulf hurricane risks. When the Loop Current reaches this far north this early in the hurricane season – especially during what’s forecast to be a busy season – it can spell disaster for folks along the Northern Gulf Coast, from Texas to Florida. If you look at temperature maps of the Gulf of Mexico, you can easily spot the Loop Current. It curls up through the Yucatan Channel between Mexico and Cuba, into the Gulf of Mexico, and then swings back out through the Florida Strait south of Florida as the Florida Current, where it becomes the main contributor to the Gulf Stream. The

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JERSEYVILLE – On May 24th, at 5 pm, the City of Jerseyville, in partnership with local community donors and the national consulting organization known as the National Fitness Campaign (NFC), will be unveiling the City’s new Fitness Court® at Jerseyville’s Lions Club Park. The construction of this recreational innovation has reached completion at the corner of North Jefferson and East Spruce streets, also known as Lion’s Club Park. This is a free-of-charge community resource featuring seven functional training zones as well as a supporting mobile app and will offer locals and visitors alike with a no-cost option to work on their health and wellbeing. The free app, “Fitness Court,” is available for both iOS and Android and affords users with a coachin-your-pocket style platform adaptable for all fitness levels. On this evening we invite the public to join the City Council, Jerseyville Parks and Recreation Department, Representatives from Jersey

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ST. LOUIS — Baseball season is in full swing, and that means it’s once again time to roll up a sleeve to help save lives. Join the Cardinals, Bally Sports Midwest, and the American Red Cross at the 19th annual St. Louis Cardinals Blood Drive June 14-16 at 22 locations in the St. Louis, Greater St. Louis, Metro East, and Southwestern Illinois areas. Everyone who attempts to donate will receive a limited-edition St. Louis Cardinals ‘Knock It Outta The Park’ T-shirt and bonus item while supplies last. The Cardinals Blood Drive always comes at a critical time of year. The last two years presented new challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and over the last month presentation of donors has continued to decline. Those who have a desire to help save lives can step up to the plate and participate in this year’s event. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 16,500 blood donations have been collected at the Cardinals Blood Drive. This year our goal is to collect

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There has not been a confirmed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District since 2015, with the previous administration never putting forward a nominee to fill this role. WASHINGTON – Tonight, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Rachelle L. Crowe to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement on her confirmation: “We are pleased that the Senate has confirmed Rachelle Crowe to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Illinois. After seven years without a confirmed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, Ms. Crowe has the qualifications, integrity, and judgment to serve with distinction.” Ms. Crowe’s biography from the White House is included below: Rachelle L. Crowe: United States Attorney Nominee for the Southern District of Illinois Rachelle L. Crowe has served

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ALTON - Take in the breathtaking views from 150-feet high at the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower, 435 Confluence Tower Dr., Hartford, which re-opens for the season Thursday, May 19. The Tower will be open to the public Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guided tours are available every 30 minutes from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Tower will be open from May 19 through Oct. 30. It will reopen again for Eagle Season 2023 in January and February. The Confluence Tower is operating under a partnership between the Village of Hartford and the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. “The Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower is a popular attraction for the Village of Hartford and it really welcomes people to the first part of the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. We look forward to welcoming visitors back to Hartford and the Tower,” Hartford Mayor Bill Robertson said. The Confluence Tower was built to commemorate the bicentennial celebration of the historic

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SPRINGFIELD – The State of Illinois is taking a series of important steps to help families get the safe formula they need in response to the current, nationwide infant formula shortage. In coordination with the USDA Food & Nutrition Service, Illinois retailers are being encouraged to set aside formula for low-income families enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has also trained caseworkers to assist families with formula questions IDHS Help Line at 1-800-843-6154. The Help Line is designed for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and WIC customers primarily but is open to all residents of Illinois. “The ongoing formula shortage has brought undue stress into the lives of new parents, and my administration will do everything in our power to help families maintain access to formula,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We’ve partnered

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BETHALTO - A new Scooter’s Coffee location is coming to Bethalto. Peter Gariepy, who co-owns the Bethalto location with his wife Karishma, said he hopes for construction to be complete in mid-July. The Bethalto Scooter’s location will be built on the former site of the Amoco gas station - its address will be 102 W Bethalto Drive once construction is completed later this summer. “This location was actually identified Scooter’s Corporate as a high-growth and very promising location. My wife and I, we live across the river … we had been working with Scooter’s and absolutely loved the concept and we wanted to work with them in the St. Louis area,” Gariepy said. “Scooter’s said, ‘Hey, there’s this location in Bethalto that we think will be absolutely perfect. It’s at a high-traffic intersection … and we think that you should check it out.’” At only 630 square feet, Gariepy said customers

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