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ST. LOUIS - The Saint Louis Zoo announced today that effective Monday, May 23, it will no longer limit attendance and guests do not need reservations. Extended summer hours also currently are underway and we hope that you enjoy the next Zoo visit. Now through May 22, reservations can be made up until 15 minutes before the scheduled Zoo closure on the day of your visit, if the date is not sold out. Please note the Zoo's closing time on the day you wish to visit before making your reservation. If reservations are sold out, please check back periodically, as additional reservations may become available. The Zoo made a statement that said: "We don’t want to turn anyone away from enjoying the Zoo whenever they want to visit." Zoo officials also said visits to the legendary institution will remain free of charge. The Zoo will release a limited amount of reservations approximately one hour prior to posted opening time on sell-out days to best accommodate guests unable to secure

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WOOD RIVER - Wood River Police Department again paid tribute to officers who lost their lives or have been disabled in the line of duty on Friday, May 13, 2022. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said Peace Officers Memorial Day falls on May 15 each year to pay tribute to the brave local, state, and federal peace officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. "Falling in Police Week, the day is marked with a memorial event in Washington D.C., a candlelight vigil, and speeches commemorating officers past and present," Chief Wells said. "On Friday, May 13, 2022, members of Wood River PD and Mayor Tom Stalcup laid wreaths at the gravesite of Chief Samuel Thompson and Officer John Phipps who both died in the line of duty for the City of Wood River. "We also laid a wreath at the gravesite of Officer Tyler Timmins who lost his life in the line of duty in Pontoon Beach, Illinois, last year. Tyler was Police Cadet in the City of Wood River before becoming

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SPRINGFIELD - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced $4 million in grant awards for various projects across the state designed to spur tourism, bolster educational opportunities, and support an increase of Electric Vehicle (EV) travel – which will create and modernize attractions along the Mother Road leading up to the 100th Anniversary of Route 66. This grant – which was open to Illinois' Certified Convention and Visitor Bureaus (CVBs) – was awarded to Great Rivers and Routes CVB, Heritage Corridor CVB, Visit Oak Park CVB, and Springfield CVB for innovative projects that span Route 66 throughout the state. “Route 66 in Illinois is a driver for both national and international travelers and these state grant funds will go a long way towards reinvigorating our Mother Road tourism products in southwest Illinois. We applaud the forward-thinking of Governor Pritzker and state legislators who

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SPRINGFIELD - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced $4 million in grant awards for various projects across the state designed to spur tourism, bolster educational opportunities, and support an increase of Electric Vehicle (EV) travel – which will create and modernize attractions along the Mother Road leading up to the 100th Anniversary of Route 66. This grant – which was open to Illinois' Certified Convention and Visitor Bureaus (CVBs) – was awarded to Great Rivers and Routes CVB, Heritage Corridor CVB, Visit Oak Park CVB, and Springfield CVB for innovative projects that span Route 66 throughout the state. “Route 66 in Illinois is a driver for both national and international travelers and these state grant funds will go a long way towards reinvigorating our Mother Road tourism products in southwest Illinois. We applaud the forward-thinking of Governor Pritzker and state legislators who recognize

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ALTON - The Marquette Catholic High School girls soccer team won their 12th Regional Championship in school history on Friday (May 13) when they defeated the Greenville Comets 7-1. Helping out and scoring two goals in that game was junior midfielder, Caroline Stephan. She scored in the 15 th minute to make it a 2-0 game after she tapped the ball in off a cross sent in by her teammate freshman forward Ella Anselm. Her other goal came in the 39 th minute. She crossed half field and ran onto a through ball. She only had to beat one defender which she did before she buried the ball in the back of the net. She’s now scored eight goals this season. Stephan is a Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Inc. Female Athlete of the Month for the Explorers. Stephan mentioned that in the preseason, winning a regional title wasn’t exactly an expectation, but once her team saw the schedule, they kind of knew they could. “Once we saw the schedule, I think we did expect to get this

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College will celebrate its Godfrey Campus’s long history of providing high quality educational experiences by welcoming Monticello alumnae Linda Nevlin and L&C alumnus MiKeith Teague to speak at the 51 st Annual Commencement, Wednesday, May 18. The two will address more than 150 graduates planning to participate in this year’s ceremony, to take place at 6 p.m. at Alton’s Public School Stadium. More than 800 students earning associate degrees, certificates, or both make up the Class of 2022. “This year, we’re reflecting on the rich history of our campus, while at the same time, looking down the road to how we can build on that foundation and make the next 50 years at Lewis and Clark the best that they can be,” said President Ken Trzaska. “We are honored to welcome these two speakers representing that foundation, and celebrate with the Class of 2022, who represent our future.” Nevlin grew up

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HARDIN - Jerry Sievers and Calhoun Entertainment Company have provided a great touch of culture and exposed theater for many in the county over the years. Ellie Nolte played the part of Ariel in the spring “Little Mermaid” production, which was a rousing success. Scotty Browning played Sebastian and Craig Johnson was King Triton. Nora Delaney and Sophie Cotner were Flotsam and Jetsam and Emma Godar was Ursula. Anna Eberlin played Flounder and Teresa Goetten was Scuttle. the lead male, Jackson Cotner was the lead male and played Prince Eric. Sievers started his quest with the entertainment company in 1989. “Little Mermaid sold out every night except the first night,” he said. “We had a great cast and the show was amazing. We started this group as an outlet for adults and then kids to perform." “Musicals are once a year at the Center for Archaeology, the old Kampsville Grade School, a Christmas concert at the Hardin Presbyterian Church Hall on th

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LITCHFIELD – Illinois State Police (ISP) District 18 Commander, Captain Mark Gillock, announces the results of a Roadside Safety Check (RSC) held in Greene County from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on April 24. The RSC was conducted at IL-267 @ IL-108, by District 18 officers. Violations Enforcement Activity Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Citations 0 Other Alcohol/Drug Citations 3 Occupant Restraint Offenses 2 Registration Offenses 8 Driver’s License Offenses 1 Insurance Violations 0 Total Citations/Arrests 8 Total Written Warnings 23 Alcohol and drug impairment are factors in more than 30% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois, and throughout the U.S., nearly 10,000 people die each year due to alcohol-impaired driving. RSCs are designed to keep our roads safe by taking dangerous DUI offenders off the road. This project was funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation.

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WEST FRANKFORT – Centerstone, a not-for-profit health system specializing in mental health and substance use disorder treatments, will host a free, virtual Road to Resiliency training on May 25 from 10-11:30 a.m. While learning the definition of resilience and how trauma impacts our ability to be resilient, participants of this webinar will take a dive into assessing their resilience traits and the five strategies for building their inner strengths. Objectives of the training include: Define the concept of resilience and assess our own resilience traits Look at how trauma exposure impacts our ability to be resilient Gain a deeper understanding of resilience characteristics and traits Learn five key strategies for building on your own inner The presenter of the training will be Amber Anderson, the prevention specialist with Prevent Child Abuse Illinois. This training has 1.5 hours of continuing education approved for IL LCPC / LPC, IL LCSW / LSW, and IL Nursing (LPN,

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URBANA – Every spring, magnolia trees across the Midwestern landscape offer some of the most spectacular flowering displays of any woody plant. These beautiful ornamental trees, native to Asia, are some of the first landscape plants in our area to deliver such a showy display; truly one of the most endorsing signs that spring is finally here. Most of Illinois’ native, deciduous trees are primarily wind-pollinated and many bloom even earlier than magnolias, although often unnoticed by many of us says University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Ryan Pankau . Their strategy is to produce a lot of pollen in the hopes that wind dispersion will spread their genes far and wide. Wind pollinated species do not need a showy display to attract pollinating animals or human attention. They typically lack aroma and nectar which, along with color, are the primary means plants use to attract pollinators to their flowers. “Since most of our native trees, like oak, ash,

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BLOOMINGTON - Health officials are working to learn more about a concerning outbreak of the serious liver disease in children in Europe and the United States. Reported cases of “acute hepatitis of unknown origin” in young children continue to climb. According to the latest data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, there are 450 reported cases worldwide, which is nearly double the 228 cases the World Health Organization reported last week. This includes three cases in Illinois. So far this outbreak has resulted in dozens of hospitalizations around the globe and has required liver transplants in some children, while 11 have died. The children’s ages range from one month to 16 years old. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently working with health departments across the country to identify children with hepatitis of unknown cause. Researchers are scrambling to find the cause of this illness,

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COLLINSVILLE – Residents will soon have an even greater opportunity in shaping what their neighborhoods look like and how to make them stronger. The Collinsville Community Development Department plans on rolling out a new program focused on proactively strengthening the residential neighborhoods through the Neighborhood Planning and Improvement Initiative. Senior Planner Andi Yancey explained the Neighborhood Planning and Improvement Initiative started in 2020, but due to COVID and other circumstances, it was sidelined. Now in 2022, Yancey said it is time to revisit the project and start moving it forward. “What we’re looking to do is really empower people to take initiative, identify the problem, communicate that to the appropriate staff so that we can be more proactive in our service efforts, code enforcement, and our other outreach efforts,” Yancey said. The project seeks to have city departments working more closely together, increase the ability to

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CHICAGO – Teachers will be able to take excused mental health days under a measure supported by State Senator Christopher Belt that was signed into law Friday. “It’s clear that our teachers have had to overcome a number of challenges, especially throughout the pandemic,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “They have continued to perform their jobs well in unprecedented times and often put their students before themselves.” Belt serves as a chief-cosponsor of Senate Bill 3914, which requires the school board of each school district to include mental health as part of their current negotiated sick days for full time employees of the district. The new law allows teachers to use two of their days as mental health days, and that if a teacher needs three or more mental health days, the school district would require a note from a mental health professional. “The mental health of teachers is vital for them to continue inspiring our youth,” Belt said. “The

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ALTON - The Alton Farmers' & Artisans' Market features a special activity every Saturday morning at the corner of Landmarks Blvd. & Henry Street in Downtown Alton, and on May 21st shoppers will enjoy a delicious new concept in the adjacent parking lot called “Brews & Brunch”. From 8:00 a.m. until Noon, you can pick up tasty beverages and hot breakfast food items from the following vendors: The Old Bakery Beer Company will serve Tofu Quiche with Caramelized Onion and Kale (Vegan), Egg Quiche with Spinach and Mushroom (Dairy-Free), Herbarium Sparkling Lavender Lemongrass Tea, Beermosas (Citrus Wheat + Orange Juice), and the following beer selection: Citrus Wheat, Blueberry, Late Addition IPA, and Oh Yeah! B&C Concessions will serve biscuits & gravy, breakfast burritos, and strawberry shortcake. Big Boys Q will serve shrimp & grits, ham egg & cheese sandwiches, sausage, egg & cheese sandwiches, and breakfast hash. The Rivers Vedge will serve vegan biscuits & gravy, and lavender

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ST. LOUIS – On the heels of her triumphant headlining return to the iconic Stagecoach Festival, 8-time GRAMMY® Award winner and 3-time ACM Entertainer of the Year, Carrie Underwood, announces her new arena tour, THE DENIM & RHINESTONES TOUR, with dates in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023. The new tour, promoted by AEG Presents, will kick off on October 15 in Greenville, SC, making stops in 43 U.S. cities including New York’s Madison Square Garden, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, and L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena before concluding in Seattle, WA on March 17. Underwood will be joined on THE DENIM & RHINESTONES TOUR by special guest Jimmie Allen on all dates. After teasing fans about the impending announcement on social media and on last night’s episode of American Idol , Underwood made the official reveal this morning. Allen will join Underwood’s THE DENIM & RHINESTONES TOUR as his star continues to rise, following his first GRAMMY Award nomination for Best

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To The Editor: State Senator Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) is backing Jennifer Korte for State Representative in the 112 th District because of her authenticity, her strong ties to the region, and her commitment to conservative values. “Jennifer Korte is a hard worker and I know she will be a strong and independent voice for the residents of the 112 th District,” Plummer said. “Jennifer is a wife, a mother, a life-long resident of Madison County, and a passionate advocate for many important issues that impact our neighbors and our communities. We need more citizen legislators in Springfield and I am excited about Jennifer’s campaign because she is not a politician and she is not beholden to anyone. We need more people like that in Springfield if we are going to fix our great state.” Korte said she is honored to have the support of Senator Plummer. “Jason Plummer has served our region well and has been a consistent, conservative leader i

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MONROE COUNTY - These are details of two-vehicle fatal crash in Monroe County on May 14, 2022. WHAT: Two-Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash WHEN: May 14, 2022 at approximately 5:15 p.m. WHERE: Illinois Route 3 at Old Route 3, Monroe County VEHICLES: Unit 1- 2001 Chevrolet Truck \Unit 2- 2021 Ford Bronco DRIVERS: Unit 1- Rhonda Schaefer, 57-year-old female from Red Bud, IL – Transported by family to an area hospital with minor injuries. Unit 2- Ryne Fithian, 25-year-old male from Sparta, IL – Transported by ambulance to a regional hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. PASSENGERS: Unit 2- Allison Flynn, 22-year-old female from Sparta, IL – Flown to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Unit 2- Destiny Gillhan, 20-year-old female from Batesville, AR – Transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Unit 2- Chance Karnes, 20-year-old male from Herrin, IL - Deceased PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative

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Background: Over six miles of sanitary sewer main is being installed in the Turner Tract, Shields Valley and Piasa Valley areas of Alton. Work kicked off in February 2021 and will continue to progress until 2023. When Illinois American Water acquired the Alton Regional Wastewater system the company made a commitment to address requirements set forth by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to remedy combined sewer overflows. The projects in Turner Tract and Shields Valley will address 1.69 miles of sanitary sewer main. These projects will continue into early 2022, depending on the location. The project area will change based on the progress of work. Signs will be placed ahead of construction work to notify customers of upcoming closures. The work in Piasa Valley began in the spring of 2021. This project includes almost five miles of sanitary sewer main. Work is expected to continue for over two years. This does not mean work will occur in one area for

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SPRINGFIELD - Today, Governor JB Pritzker took the following bill action: Bill Number: HB2991 Description: Requires DVA to contract for a market research analysis of veterans’ field services, subject to appropriations Action: Signed Effective: January 1st, 2023 Bill Number: HB3124 Description: Requires the City of Chicago to maintain a rotational tow list. Action: Signed Effective: January 1st, 2023 Bill Number: HB3465 Description: Amends the Unified Code of Corrections to provide that each institution or facility of the Department of Corrections shall hire a reentry specialist to assist with the reentry of offenders into the community. Action: Signed Effective: January 1, 2023 Bill Number: HB4089 Description: Requires a school district to provide a plant-based school lunch option to students. Action: Signed Effective: August 1, 2023 Bill Number: HB4284 Description: Applies a tax at the rate of $15 on a transfer of a motor vehicle from trust t

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WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and five of their colleagues in urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address extremely high levels of corporate concentration in the infant formula marketplace following the recent news of infant formula shortages nationwide. “The infant formula industry has reached an alarming level of corporate concentration with four companies–Abbott Nutrition, Mead Johnson, Gerber, and Perrigo–controlling nearly 90% of the infant formula market. Abbott Nutrition, the manufacturer of products currently under recall, alone controls around 40% of the infant formula market,” the Senators wrote in a letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack. “This level of concentration has created a fragile system unable to adequately respond to shocks in the supply chain. Unfortunately, this puts our most vulnerable populations at risk, and disproportionately

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