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ALTON - Paul Lauschke Jr., a legendary Realtor/community activist, and a family man died early Wednesday morning, Jan. 4, 2023, at the age of 88. One of his sons, David Lauschke, said late Wednesday afternoon Paul had suffered from heart issues in the last months of his life. Paul was a father to six children and had many grandchildren. Several in the community considered him a mentor and someone they deeply trusted when it came to real estate matters and issues in the Alton area in general. Mac Lenhardt, an owner of Mac’s in Downtown Alton, purchased his building from Paul’s agency in 1983. He said he had only positive things to say about him. “Paul was a straight-shooter,” Lenhardt said. “You would get a straight answer from him. He was a strong man. I looked to him for advice on the first 10 of the 15 properties I purchased in Downtown Alton. I also have worked with Rick and Dave Lauschke, his sons, a lot over the years. They are all good people.”

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MADISON COUNTY - On behalf of the Circuit Judges of the Third Judicial Circuit, Chief Judge Stephen A. Stobbs announced that Emily Johnson Nielsen and Justin S. Zimmerman were elected to fill the Associate Judge vacancies in the Third Judicial Circuit. These Associate Judge vacancies were created by the retirements of Associate Judges Philip B. Alfeld and Thomas W. Chapman. Associate Judges are appointed by a majority vote of the Circuit Judges in each circuit as provided by Supreme Court Rule. Chief Judge Stobbs stated, “The Circuit Court welcomes these two accomplished attorneys to the bench, and stands ready to support them as they begin serving the citizens of Madison and Bond Counties.” Emily Johnson Nielsen has been practicing law for 17 years. She is currently employed by the Madison County State’s Attorney, Thomas Haine, as the Chief of the Civil Division. Ms. Nielsen received her undergraduate degree in 2002 from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri,

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COLLINSVILLE - Two individuals were found deceased in the parking lot in the rear of 103 W. Main St. in Downtown Collinsville on Jan. 1, 2023. Over the course of the last three days, Collinsville Police Department investigators have worked diligently on the case. The following individuals were pronounced deceased in the parking lot - Ricardo Correa, 20, of Collinsville, and Rodolfo Torres-Granado, 24, Granite City. The Collinsville Police Department said today that Edgar O. Torres Granado, 22, of Granite City, has been charged with one count of mob action, a Class 4 felony. The Honorable Judge Neil Schroeder set the bond for Granado at $50,000 - he posted the bond on Jan. 3, 2023, and was released from custody. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office has taken the case under advisement regarding any potential charges to any additional defendants at this time. The Collinsville Police Department was called to the scene at 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, with

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JERSEYVILLE - New details have emerged regarding a shooting in Jerseyville that occurred in the 700 block of Liberty Street on Christmas Day. New court filings name the victim of the shooting as well as the type of weapon that was used. Donald R. Jones Jr., 29, of Jerseyville, was charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, citing an “intent to kill” the victim, Derek L. Day. Both counts are Class X felonies for which “25 years or up to a term of natural life shall be added” to the term of imprisonment set by the court, which could be another six to 30 years. Jones reportedly shot Day with a Taurus GX4 9mm pistol. One bullet was fired through a rear window of Day’s residence and struck him, according to a press release issued by the Jerseyville Police Dept. shortly after the incident. A warrant was issued for Jones’ arrest with his bail set at $1 million. He was taken into custody on Dec. 27 at the Jersey County Jail and his

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JERSEYVILLE - New information regarding the break-in and burglary of the new The Cave location at 610 S. State St. in Jerseyville has been released. One suspect was named and issued three different felony charges relating to the incident. Kaleb G. Roth, 18, of Rockbridge, was charged with burglary (a Class 2 felony), theft between $500-$10,000 (a Class 3 felony), and criminal damage to property between $500-$10,000 (a Class 4 felony). A warrant was issued for Roth’s arrest on Dec. 29 and his bail was set at $25,000, but he had already been arrested by the Carrollton Police Department on the afternoon of Dec. 27. He was taken into custody at the Jersey County Sheriff’s Department, where he remains. His preliminary hearing is set for 1 p.m. on Jan. 4 at the Jersey County Courthouse. While the other suspect was not named in this case, Carrollton Police Chief Micheal McCartney said they are 17 years old and have since been released on bond with an ankle monitor.

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COTTAGE HILLS – Multiple fire agencies battled a serious fire in the 1300 block of Deanna Avenue in Cottage Hills around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night. A Box Alarm was activated and Cottage Hills Fire Protection District firefighters were the lead, but Bethalto, Rosewood Heights, and Meadowbrook also responded. Fosterburg Fire Protection District members had a truck at the Cottage Hills Fire Station to back up Cottage Hills firefighters. The firefighters extinguished the fire in a quick fashion, but the home was heavily damaged. The homeowners were not inside the house at the time of the fire. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

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ALTON - Television host Carson Daly is the latest celebrity to try what some call sleep divorce. Couples who sleep in the same bed but are not getting that coveted seven to eight hours of shut-eye will slumber with some degree of separation: in the same bed but with separate blankets, in separate beds in the same room or in separate rooms. Daly called the move the “best thing” for his marriage during a summer episode of the Today Show. “We both, admittedly, slept better apart,” he said. The concept is one worth exploring for couples who are kept up by snoring, restlessness, differences in sleep schedule or other nighttime issues, says Nadeem Ahmed, MD , a pulmonologist at OSF HealthCare in Alton, Illinois . But let’s get one thing straight. “I don’t like the term ‘sleep divorce’ because it tends to blame other people. It’s not a good word. It brings anxiety,” Dr. Ahmed says. “I like to use ‘sleep

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The deceased has been identified as John Hendrix, 71 years of age, of the 12400 block of Scenic Lake Drive in St. Louis, Missouri 63138, in a fatal house fire in the 12400 block of Scenic Lake Drive of the North County Precinct which resulted in the death of an adult male. Preliminary investigation has revealed the fire is believed to have been accidental. St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson detectives are currently investigating a fatal house fire in the 12400 block of Scenic Lake Drive of the North County Precinct which resulted in the death of an adult male. At 6:10 p.m. Saturday, December 31, 2022, St. Louis County Police officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for a residential house fire in the 12400 block of Scenic Lake Drive. Responding officers observed an apartment unit fully engulfed in flames with heavy smoke coming from the residence. Officers were unable to make entry through the front door due to the heavy smoke. Responding

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ST. LOUIS – The Point (105.7 FM) Radio announced The Rizzuto Show has dismissed well-known St. Louis personality Tony Patrico. The announcement was made on a Twitter page for the show, powered by 105.7 The Point. The Twitter message said: “Tony Patrico is no longer with Hubbard Radio or a member of the Rizzuto Show. The show returns as scheduled tomorrow at 6 a.m.” Patrico had been the co-host of The Rizzuto Show with Moon Valjean and the late Jeff Burton, who died last year after a battle with prostate cancer. Patrico was briefly on leave several years ago after surgery for kidney cancer. The Point and Hubbard Radio did not release any other information at this time about Patrico's situation. pic.twitter.com/Hokotifyex — The Rizzuto Show (@RizzShow) January 4, 2023

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Alliance today urged Illinois House lawmakers to pass legislation to level the playing field for licensing fees on wineries across the state. The Illinois wine industry is a major agri-tourism draw and unique set of growing small businesses in Illinois that were singled out for a 60% licensing fee increase during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Senate Bill 1001 would help provide equity for wineries compared to its counterparts in the beer and spirits industries by reducing the significant licensing fee increase. SB 1001 passed the Senate unanimously, and IGGVA members are urging House legislators to pass the bill during the lame duck session. To summarize, SB 1001 will: Reduce to pre-pandemic levels a 60% license fee increase for Illinois wineries. Reduce winery licensing fees to level the playing field in the wine, beer and spirits industry. Put licensing fees on par with neighboring states, including Missouri,

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EDWARDSVILLE – A teacher who is never too busy to help. A nurse or doctor who devotes extra time to a patient. A firefighter or police officer who always goes beyond the call of duty. These are among the “everyday heroes” the City of Edwardsville hopes to see honored as part of a new spring banner initiative. Much like the “Hometown Heroes” banners salute the service of area veterans, the spring banner program will recognize other noteworthy contributors in the community. “Our strength as a community comes from the many caring people who live and work here,” Mayor Art Risavy said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to show our gratitude to these everyday heroes.” The City is now accepting submissions for the new banners, which will adorn light posts in and around the business district each year from the beginning of April to the end of May. Honorees must have lived or worked in Edwardsville, and contributed to the community in a beneficia

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ALTON - This is my thirteenth update to the citizens of the 111 th district, as your State Representative. Happy New Year to all, I hope you had a happy and healthy Thanksgiving and Christmas season. I enjoyed spending time with my family over the holidays after a very busy 2022. I appreciate your kindness, prayers, and concern for me and my family during my first term and I am honored to serve you again for the next two years in the 103 rd General Assembly. After the General Election on November 8 th , the General Assembly went back to Springfield for the fall veto session. House Republicans met during veto session and elected Representative Tony McCombie from Savanna, Illinois to become our next caucus leader when the new General Assembly convenes on January 11, 2023. Representative McCombie will be the first female leader of either House caucus. She knows the Metro East well and she will be an excellent House Republican leader. Democrat Representative Chris Welch will again b

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PHOENIX - Illinois is the No. 49 growth state in America, according to the U-Haul ® Growth Index analyzing customer moves during 2022. People arriving in Illinois in one-way U-Haul trucks increased close to 6% over 2021, while departures rose 5% year-over-year. Overall moving traffic slowed throughout most of the U.S. but remained busy in the Prairie State in 2022. Do-it-yourself movers arriving in Illinois accounted for 49.3% of all one-way U-Haul truck traffic in and out of the state (50.7% departures). The U-Haul Growth Index is compiled according to the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks arriving in a city or state, versus departing from that city or state, in a calendar year. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 2 million one-way U-Haul truck transactions that occur annually across the U.S. and Canada. Texas paced the nation in growth for the fifth time since 2016. Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia round out the top five growth states. California

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WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), submitted a comment letter in response to a Department of Justice (DOJ) Request for Information (RFI) regarding the regulations governing federal executions. The comment letter urges DOJ to rescind all of the Trump Administration’s November 27, 2020, amendments to the manner of execution regulations. These amendments allowed former Attorney General William Barr and DOJ to bypass certain regulatory steps in ordering federal executions; expand the permissible methods of execution beyond lethal injection; and authorize the use of state facilities and personnel in federal executions, among other changes. Twenty-six co-sponsors of the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act , of which Durbin and Pressley are the lead sponsors, subsequently submitted a letter to Attorney General Garland endorsing the Durbin/Pressley comment letter and

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ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis region marked a series of major milestones in 2022 that enhanced the bi-state area’s freight network at a time when supply chain disruptions were the norm and the need for resiliency and redundancy had never been greater. From the lingering effects of COVID-19 to the historic drought that severely impacted barge traffic on the Mississippi River, 2022 underscored the importance of being able to offer shippers options when it comes to moving their goods. It also further reinforced the effectiveness of the nationally recognized approach the St. Louis region is taking to strengthen freight infrastructure. “Supply chain hurdles like the low water levels we have experienced the last few months serve as reminders of the importance of multimodal infrastructure providing redundancy and helping to resolve supply chain disruptions,” said Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President – Multi-Modal Enterprises for Bi-State Development and head of the St.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Two are in custody on $3 million and $2 million bonds and charged with murder in a homicide that occurred on Jan. 1, 2023, in Collinsville. Authorities apprehended Albert Campos, 18, and Matias L. Herrera, 26, in regard to the shooting. De-Santiago was waiting for his girlfriend at the 3300 block of Princeton Avenue in Collinsville when he was shot. Detective Captain Brian Koberna, Chief Of Madison County Sheriff’s Office Investigations and the Illinois Deputy Commander of the Major Case Squad, led a press conference at the sheriff’s office on Tuesday afternoon and announced two are in custody for the murder of 18-year-old Miguel D. Villegas De-Santiago. At 2:10 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call about a shooting and a male subject in a nearby vehicle in the 3300 block of Princeton Avenue, Collinsville. The male victim was transported to a St. Louis hospital where he succumbed to injuries. A total

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville completed 2022 Fall Commencement exercises for 1,413 eligible graduates during a series of ceremonies held Dec. 16-17, 2022. SIUE Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, conferred bestowed degrees upon students from the Graduate School, College of Arts and Sciences, and Schools of Business, Engineering, Nursing, and Education, Health and Human Behavior. The names of the graduates are categorized by state, then hometown alphabetically. View the list here. Honors for undergraduate students are indicated as follows: * Cum Laude (GPA 3.50-3.74) ** Magna Cum Laude (GPA 3.75-3.89) *** Summa Cum Laude (GPA 3.9 or higher) + Honors Scholars All ceremonies are archived on siue.edu/tv . Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high-quality education that powerfully transforms the lives of all individuals who seek something greater. A premier metropolitan university, SIUE is creating social and economic

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ALTON - At 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2023, the Alton Police Department was notified of a stabbing that occurred at 2208 Gillis St., Alton, Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said today. Officers arrived and determined that a male subject had been stabbed in the chest during an altercation with his long-time dating partner, explained Chief Ford. "The suspect was arrested at the scene," Chief Ford added. "The victim received medical treatment at a local hospital and is expected to recover from the injury." Today, the facts of the case were presented to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office. They subsequently charged the suspect, Sandra Kenshalo, with one count of Aggravated Battery and one count of Domestic Battery. The bond was set at $30,000.

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JERSEYVILLE - New Jersey County Sheriff’s Deputy Sally Arbuthnot has set her goals high in her professional life and after six years as a correctional officer, she has moved to another level as a patrol deputy. Sally has made history again as she is the first female sheriff's deputy in Jersey County. She was the first female correctional officer before that appointment. Sally said she is very excited to be in her new position, and she also was thankful for the experience she received as a correctional officer. Jersey County Sheriff Nick Manns said Sally has done everything she has been asked to become a deputy on the road. “Deputy Arbuthnot has made an effort to do extra training to reach her goal and has made it in exemplifying fashion. I am very proud of her accomplishments and the Jersey County community and others in the sheriff’s office embrace her and support her.” Sally said her boyfriend and her boyfriend's daughter, Bailee, have both been very supportive

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today issued the following statement in response to an Illinois Supreme Court stay of the SAFE-T Act’s Jan. 1, 2023, effective date. “As we have stated previously, my office filed an appeal with the Illinois Supreme Court because in this matter, only the Supreme Court’s final decision on the merits will be binding on all Illinois courts. "It is important to note that the order issued today by the court is not a decision on the merits of the constitutionality of the SAFE-T Act, and I appreciate the court’s interest in expediting the appeal. We look forward to mounting a robust defense of the constitutionality of the law and ensuring that it goes into effect across the state.” The following is a statement from the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice: "Today, the Illinois Supreme Court issued an order directing counties across our state to delay implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act until the court

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