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O'FALLON, IL. - HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. This national distinction celebrates St. Elizabeth’s Hospital’s achievements in protecting hospital patients from preventable harm and errors. “HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is dedicated to improving patient care by adhering to the latest evidence-based safety guidelines,” said Chris Klay, president and CEO at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. “I’m very proud of the work our colleagues do to prioritize patient safety to deliver high-quality care to the communities we serve.” The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization with a 10-year history of assigning letter grades to general hospitals throughout the United States, based on a hospital’s ability to prevent medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public. Hospital

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SPRINGFIELD - State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen Ayala has announced plans to retire at the end of her current contract, which concludes January 31 st , 2023. Dr. Ayala has served as State Superintendent since early 2019, shepherding Illinois schools through COVID-19 and kickstarting their academic recovery – leading most recently to a decade-high in the state’s graduation rate. As the capstone of her nearly four-decade career in education, Ayala was the first woman and the first person of color to serve as permanent superintendent for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). “Dr. Ayala represents the highest level of dedication to public service, and over her long career she has positively impacted thousands of Illinois students,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Not only did Dr. Ayala’s steadfast leadership guide our schools through an unprecedented pandemic, but she also kick-started students’ academic recovery. Under her leadership,

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GRAFTON - All aboard Santa’s Chocolate Express in Grafton! The popular event will return on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. All participants will receive a starter bag of chocolate at registration at the Grafton Visitor Center from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. Participants will collect additional chocolate at participating businesses. Tickets are $15.00 in advance or $20.00 on the day of the event. Only a limited number of tickets will be available! The tickets include free shuttle service throughout town, a complimentary treat at each participating business, and a holiday shopping bag with a selection of chocolates and a holiday wine glass. Advance tickets can be purchased at graftonilchamber.com/ chocolate-express Stroll through Grafton and stop at local shops and businesses to sample chocolate holiday treats and also shop sales. You can take in views of the majestic bluffs and the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers or stop for a bite to eat and a beverage of your choice

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe announced the recipients of the 2022 Law Enforcement Public Service Awards on Thursday, November 17, 2022. Personnel from several federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies who contributed to the success of federal cases were recognized for their commitment to pursuing justice and public safety. These awards recognize law enforcement officers and support personnel for exceptional leadership, outstanding collaboration, investigative achievement and excellence, victim assistance, and community engagement. “Today we honor exceptional law enforcement officers and the vital public service they provide. These women and men engage in an unrelenting and often unacknowledged fight to keep our communities safe every day. It is an honor today to recognize each of you for your service and successful investigations,” said United States Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Each law enforcement partner was nominated by

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, applauded House passage of several pieces of veterans legislation this week, including his VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research (VIPER) Act. This bill will give the Department of Veterans Affairs resources to improve its research programs. “This week the House passed a number of veterans’ bills, including 4 bipartisan proposals to bolster VA medical research, expand VA cybersecurity, and improve oversight of IT projects and the community care program,” said Bost. “I am especially glad to see my bill, the VIPER Act, pass out of the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. VA has long been a leader in medical and prosthetic research, and our bill will help VA continue that mission.”

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EDWARDSVILLE - Metro East Humane Society (MEHS) announced today the kick off of its annual holiday fundraising campaign “Yappy Pawlidays” with a fee-waived Black Friday adoption event on November 25 th sponsored by Judy Streif and Trouw Nutrition USA. This is the fifth year that MEHS has been able to offer fee waived-adoptions on Black Friday, placing homeless animals into loving homes before the holidays. Yappy Pawlidays gives residents and business leaders throughout the Metro East region the opportunity to get involved and support MEHS’ mission in various ways throughout the giving season. "We're thrilled to be partnering with so many local businesses around the Metro East throughout the Holiday Giving Season. We really hope these partnerships not only bring awareness to our cause, but also greatly benefit these amazing businesses in our community," said Mady O’Reilly, MEHS development manager. The current lineup of Yappy Pawlidays fundraising events an

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BETHALTO - SIHF Healthcare is hosting a free HIV testing event on Thursday, December 1, 2022, from 8 am – 4 pm at SIHF Healthcare, 2 Terminal Drive, Suite 8, Bethalto, Illinois. “Ending the HIV epidemic requires us to first recognize and address the social challenges our patients face and to increase access to services in our communities,” says Lawrence Mayhew, Program Manager. “We are here to serve those in need of our services, by providing the tools they need to stay healthy, regardless of their HIV status,” notes Mayhew. Our team aims to be sensitive, non-judgmental, and supportive of anyone participating in this event regardless of age, gender, lifestyle, religion, or sexual orientation. Our services are completely confidential. For more information or to register for this event, call 618.258.8460.

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BETHALTO - Jared and Tabitha Kloempken came into the Bethalto Police Department today unprompted and announced that they would like to donate to the Bethalto Police Department Christmas for All event, Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said. The Bethalto Police were nearly overwhelmed with their donation of $3,150. "The Kloempkens didn’t ask for any recognition and were clearly just donating to the program to pay good fortune forward, expressing a true desire to help those in need, but I wanted to publicly tell them to thank you on behalf of all the children that will experience the true joy of the holiday season because of their generosity," Chief Dixon said. "I have said it many times before, but it can’t be said enough, we are truly fortunate to live in such a caring and giving community. This donation brings the total raised funds for this year’s event to $12,500. "Last year we raised more than $17,000 and were able to help more than 75 children i

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O’FALLON — Lung cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers worldwide, claiming more lives yearly than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. Many people consider lung cancer a “smoker’s disease” as well as assume it is mostly a cancer found in men. However, while it is true that smoking is the top cause of lung cancer by a large margin, approximately 15 to 20% of cases in the U.S. happen in people who have never smoked or have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their life. Being exposed to secondhand smoke can play a part, as nonsmokers have a 20 to 30% greater chance of developing lung cancer if they are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work. Other factors may include radon, occupational exposures to carcinogens and outdoor air pollution. Being typically considered a disease found mostly in men, recent statistics from the American Lung Association reveal that more women are getting lung cancer, even if they have never smoked.

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ALTON - Charles Hicks is Art Fahrner-Edward Jones Alton High School Remarkable Redbird of the Month. Junior Charles Hicks is this month's Remarkable Redbird of the Month. He is a student that always thinks of others first. He has been reported by several administrators as the individual who stays in the cafeteria multiple days during the week cleaning off tables because he feels it is the right thing to do. Assistant Principal Mike Brey shared during a recent conversation that Charles cleans off tables and still has the urgency to get to his next class before many of the students he has just cleaned up after. Charles also recently completed his second year as a member of the Alton High football team. He has been known for running extra sprints after games because he wanted to do everything he could be better for the next game. In talking with Charles recently he shared of this activity, “that he was pushing himself and doing it to help his team. He doesn’t want anyone t

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COLLINSVILLE – Today, Ameren Illinois announced the appointment of two new officers and the retirement of an officer. Patrick Smith, Sr. named Senior Vice President, Operations and Technical Services Smith will lead electric and natural gas field operations; including subtransmission and distribution maintenance, engineering design, safety and training, reliability planning, dispatch operations, electrical and natural gas emergency response, and construction services for Ameren Illinois. Smith's appointment is effective Nov. 16, 2022. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial and organizational psychology and an Executive MBA from Washington University. He spent more than 37 years working for Ameren's Missouri segment and most recently served as Vice President, Economic, Community and Business Development for Ameren Missouri. He led a team focused on driving energy solutions, including customer renewable energy and sustainability options, clean electrification,

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SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers returned to Springfield this week for the fall veto session and will return on November 29th to finish up work for the 102nd General Assembly. Agenda items include making clarifications to the SAFE-T Act to ensure proper implementation and new member orientation. "I was happy to see my colleagues in Springfield this week and I'm eager to get back after the Thanksgiving holiday to get some important work done for the people of Illinois," said House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch. "I'm honored by the trust and confidence the Democratic Caucus has placed in me to lead them for another two years as Speaker of the House, and I'm excited to welcome many new House members to the State Capitol." House Democrats will welcome 12 new members for the 103rd General Assembly. Next week they will complete new member orientation where they will familiarize themselves with the legislative process, the House's rules and traditions, and receive the necessary training to ensure

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ALTON - The next American Red Cross blood drive at Alton Memorial Hospital will be from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, in the AMH café meeting rooms. To register, go to https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=AltonMemorial or contact Dave Whaley in AMH Marketing & Communications at 618-433-7947 or david.whaley@bjc.org . The Red Cross is thanking all those who present with a $10 Amazon e-gift card. The Red Cross currently has about four days’ supply of most blood products. However, the Red Cross strives to keep a five-day supply of all blood types on hand at all times to meet daily patient needs and be prepared for emergencies requiring significant volumes of donated blood products. More donors are needed to help ensure the Red Cross can meet the needs of all patients, including in times of emergency. The need for lifesaving blood transfusions never takes a break. It’s important to have blood ready to go when every second counts

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Maureen Kahn, CEO of Blessing Health System located in Quincy, Illinois. In their meeting, Durbin, Duckworth, and Kahn spoke about the challenges rural hospitals face, including workforce shortages, the burnout health professionals are experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing public health threats. “Day in and day out, we rely on our health care workers, who face incredible challenges to deliver high quality care to our patients. COVID-19 will not be the last health crisis our country sees, and we must ensure that our rural hospitals are well-equipped to care for their community’s needs,” said Durbin. “It was informative to speak with Blessing to discuss how the federal government can better support rural hospitals amid the strains they face.” “I am so grateful to all of the doctors, nurses, janitors, administrators

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EDWARDSVILLE - Each semester, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) program recognizes outstanding faculty mentors and student researchers. The URCA program encourages, supports and enables undergraduate students of all disciplines to participate in research and creative activities under faculty mentorship. These experiences allow undergraduate students opportunities to engage in scholarship, interact with faculty, and fully connect in the educational process of discovering and creating. The fall 2022 Vaughn Vandegrift URCA Research Mentor of the Semester Award was presented to Carolyn Butts-Wilmsmeyer, PhD, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Biological Sciences and director of the SIUE Center for Predictive Analytics (C-PAN). “All URCA faculty mentors have to ‘try out’ each semester, and it is not uncommon to receive over 120 faculty applications for approximately

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CARLINVILLE - Miriam (Mim) Wali-Uddin, a senior Justice Administration major from Jacksonville, Illinois, has been selected to represent Blackburn College in the 48th Annual Lincoln Academy Laureates. Each year an outstanding senior from each of the four-year degree-granting institutions of higher learning in Illinois is awarded the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award and thereby becomes a Student Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. Students are recognized for demonstrating strong leadership aptitude, exhibiting a desire to make a difference in the world through civic engagement, and displaying the characteristics of Abraham Lincoln that made him someone who inspired and transformed the world for generations. Wali-Uddin said she was honored and surprised to receive this award. “I did not expect to be recognized for my involvement at Blackburn. I want to help others fall in love with Blackburn the way I have, and to better the overall campus experience in any way

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CAHOKIA HEIGHTS/SAUGET - More than 100 young women from a dozen bi-state area high schools and Girl Scout Troop 2184 learned about a variety of future careers in aviation during the Girls in Aviation Day event held at St. Louis Downtown Airport on October 28. The participants climbed into the cockpits of various aircraft for a unique vantage point and an overview of the instrumentation, and they flew planes in high-tech simulators that enabled them to safely experience the thrill of flight. Saint Louis University’s Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation Science hosted the event at the airport, which is located near downtown St. Louis and has been home to the nation’s oldest flight school for decades. “This event is a great opportunity to introduce the aviation industry to young ladies,” said Stephen Magoc, MBA, Chair of Saint Louis University’s Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation Science (SLU). “Most know it’s a male-dominated industry,

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ST. LOUIS - In celebration of the 21 st annual National Dog Show, Presented by Purina, airing on NBC at noon on Thanksgiving, Purina is hosting its very first Purina Dog Show Sweepstakes, an online game that viewers can play with friends, family and pets during the show to take on challenges and win prizes. Now through Wednesday, Nov. 23, you can visit DogShowSweepstakes.com to sign up to receive an email to register to play. Official sweepstakes registration opens on Thanksgiving morning, and those who sign up in advance will be among the first to get access to register and download your unique game card. The objective of the game is to watch and listen during the show for phrases on your card and cross off each square once it's called out. Once you have five squares crossed off in a row – vertical, horizontal, or diagonal – you win bragging rights and an extra helping of candied yams.* You don't have to get a perfect score on your game card to be entered for a chance

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EDWARDSVILLE - Trinity Lutheran Ministries in Edwardsville will be hosting its seventh annual CHRISTmas Ugly Sweater 5K on Saturday, December 10, with proceeds continuing to benefit local charities. Join the Edwardsville community for this family-friendly race! The race will continue to feature a wonderland race course filled with Christmas music and decorations, an ugly Christmas sweater competition, hot chocolate and cookies at the finish line, and a photo booth before and after the race. All race participants will be chip-timed by Final Lap Race Management. Medals are provided to all runners who participate in the race. This year's race will be held virtually and in person. While the in-person race will be held on December 10, anyone who registers can compete by signing up and logging their 5K run through a smartphone app. A portion of the race registration fees will benefit the Glen-Ed Food Pantry and Edwardsville Neighbors. Last year, both organizations were presented with

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GLEN CARBON - Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSofSI) has wrapped up the annual fall Nut, Candy, and Magazine Program for 2022. Girls in Southern Illinois crushed it this fall, selling over $500,000 in tasty treats and magazines. Let’s give a shout out to the following girls for being All-Star Entrepreneurs for their respective areas: Alvina Farley from the Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana Service Unit sold $1,369 in product Riley Isaak from the Granite City/Madison/Venice Service Unit sold $1,320 in product Dawn Jones from the Granite City/Madison/Venice Service Unit sold $1,238 in product Katelynn Norman from the Bethalto Service Unit sold $2,786 in product Beatrix Smith from the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Service Unit sold $1,208 in product Rylee Barnett from the Troy/St. Jacob Service Unit sold $719 in product Layla Basso from the Highland Service Unit sold $2,042 in product Alana Brooks from the Collinsville Service Unit sold $713 in product “Wow! The girls

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