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EAST ALTON — A cooking fire on the fifth floor of "The Olin Home" prompted a swift response from the East Alton Fire Department at approximately 2:06 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. Fire crews were dispatched to the location at 310 Smith Ave. following reports of a fire alarm activation. Upon arrival, firefighters from Engine 4311 and WR Truck 4233 found no visible signs of fire from the exterior of the building. However, the building's alarm system indicated multiple activations on the fifth floor. Firefighters quickly located the source of the alarm, identifying a cooking fire in an apartment with significant smoke present. East Alton Fire Chief Tim Quigley said he appreciated the response of his department's firefighters and all the others involved, including the Roxana and Wood River fire departments. He said his firefighters are used to working in high-rise situations because there are two in East Alton. The chief also said he greatly appreciated the assistance of

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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today the opening of the next round of funding for the Illinois Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate Program. The General Assembly appropriated up to $14 million to Illinois EPA for the EV Rebate program for the current fiscal year. Rebates will be issued to eligible applicants subject to availability of funds. “Through our nation-leading Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, the Illinois Electric Vehicle Rebate Program is making EV ownership more accessible and affordable for Illinoisans,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “A clean energy future depends on ensuring sustainable technology is within reach for everyone, and my administration is committed to making that a reality. From EV rebates to workforce programs that support clean energy jobs, we’re positioning Illinois as a leader in the fight against climate change.” “Through the Illinois Electric Vehicle Rebat

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ST. LOUIS, MO. — The American Red Cross encourages donors to give blood or platelets now to help protect the blood supply from the ongoing impact of severe winter weather and wildfires. Donors of all blood types – particularly type O negative blood donors and those giving platelets – are needed to help save lives this month . As dangerous snow and ice continue to sweep across the country, and wildfires in Southern California continue to burn and impact air quality, Red Cross blood drive cancellations have grown into the hundreds. Collectively, this has resulted in about 15,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations in January. More winter storms are forecast for this week − including in areas of the U.S. that do not typically experience significant snowfall − which could further strain the blood supply. Additionally, hazardous weather conditions have the potential to make it tougher to move vital blood products across the Red Cross network,

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CHICAGO – Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) announced today that disaster tax relief will be available for individuals and businesses in southern California affected by the wildfires and straight-line winds that began on Jan 7, 2025. Affected taxpayers now have until October 15, 2025, to file various state individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. "My administration is committed to supporting those communities across southern California as they recover from the extensive damage caused by the wildfires,” said Governor JB Pritzker. "Residents who live or have businesses in the affected areas won't need to worry about incurring penalties and interest on their tax deadlines until October. This additional time will allow them to gather essential paperwork without added stress." IDOR is offering relief to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) . Currently, individuals and households that reside

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CHICAGO - The State of Illinois African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission (ADCRC) announces the fourth stop on its nine-part series of statewide public hearings. ADCRC is hosting public hearings to discuss reparatory actions for Black Americans in Illinois who are descendants of American Chattel Slavery. The next public hearing will take place in Evanston on Saturday, February 8, at Northwestern University. For those unable to attend in person, the hearing will be livestreamed on the ADCRC YouTube page: www.YouTube.com/@IllinoisADCRC . Through these public hearings, the commission aims to gather vital recommendations on reparations from the general public for policymakers and key stakeholders. Featured speakers—including Robin Rue Simmons, Nick Cummings, and Afrika Porter—will present the intergenerational impact of Housing Segregation, Separate and Unequal Education, and Racism in Environment & Infrastructure. Subsequent hearings will occur throughout Illinois

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ALTON - Community members and elected officials gathered at City Hall for the unveiling of a historic painting. On Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, Chair of the Alton Historical Commission Douglas Bader and Third Ward Alderman Ray Strebel unveiled the painting in its new spot on the second floor of City Hall. The painting of the Lucy Haskell Playhouse, done by artist and preservationist Ruth Means, is freshly restored thanks to the help of the Alton community. “It’s amazing because when I found it, I thought it was a death sentence,” Strebel said. “For it to sit on the wall this quick and the support of the community is kind of overwhelming. I’m so happy that it’s done.” A few months ago, Strebel discovered the painting in storage at City Hall. It had four rips in the canvas and the paint was beginning to flake off. He contacted Bader, and the two of them were faced with a decision. “We really had a choice at that point: either stic

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STEVENS POINT, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point honored more than 2,600 undergraduate students for attaining high grade point averages during the fall semester of the 2024-2025 academic year. Edwardsville's Madison Ruklic earned the Highest Honors recognition for the fall. Full-time undergraduates who earned grade points of 3.90 to 4.0 (4.0 equals straight A) are given the highest honors designation. High honor citations go to those with grade point averages from 3.75 to 3.89 and honor recognition is accorded to those with grade point averages from 3.50 to 3.74. Personalized certificates of scholastic achievement are sent to those who earned highest honors distinction.

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SPRINGFIELD — Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a leading Catholic health ministry with operations in Illinois and Wisconsin, announced today that Leanne M. Yanni, MD, MHCM, FACP, has been named President and CEO of Illinois Physician Enterprise for HSHS. Dr. Yanni will begin March 17. In this role, Dr. Yanni will have strategic and operational responsibility for HSHS Medical Group, Prairie Cardiovascular, Physician Clinical Integration Network, LLC (PCIN), HSHS ACO, LLC, and Prairie Education & Research Cooperative (PERC). Dr. Yanni is a collaborative physician executive with over 20 years of progressive leadership experience in navigating change and transformation in matrixed organizations. She comes to HSHS from the Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH) system, where she most recently served as the Market Ambulatory Chief Medical Officer for the Bon Secours Richmond Market in Richmond, Virginia, with seven hospitals and 400 employed providers. Concurrently, she has been serving

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, today introduced the bipartisan Drug-price Transparency for Consumers (DTC) Act , a bill that would require price disclosures on advertisements for prescription drugs in order to empower patients and reduce Americans’ colossal spending on medications. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that prescription drugs advertised directly to consumers accounted for 58 percent of Medicare’s spending on drugs between 2016 and 2018, while a 2023 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that two-thirds of advertised drugs offered “low therapeutic value.” By requiring direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements for prescription drugs to include a disclosure of the list price, patients can make informed choices when inundated with drug commercials and pharmaceutical

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones released the “State of Public Safety 2025” report, highlighting the all-hands-on-deck approach that has led to the lowest number of homicides in the City of St. Louis since 2013, a 15% reduction in all crime, and a clearance rate far outpacing the national average. “This report gives the public a clear understanding of our crime reduction efforts and goes into detail about why they work,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “We will continue to use these methods to reduce crime even further in 2025. This year, we will train and hire more officers, and we will stay laser-focused on our commitment to the residents of St. Louis to improve their safety every day. We will invest and act on what works: prevention, intervention, and enforcement.” Despite the clear improvements to public safety in the City of St. Louis, politicians in Jefferson City will today discuss taking away local control of the St. Louis Metropolitan

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Parental instincts and quick reaction time led to two Central Illinois parents saving their child’s life. It started at home when the parents noticed something was extremely wrong with their 2-year-old son. They performed CPR and resuscitated him. He was transported to OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria where it was determined he had suffered sudden cardiac arrest and had a malignant heart condition known as Brugada syndrome. What is Brugada syndrome? Brugada syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that causes heart arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. “Most kids that go through that, unfortunately, don’t survive,” says Harma Turbendian, MD, a pediatric cardiac surgeon with OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois. “So, this was fast-acting parents who knew what they were doing, then EMS, followed by our team here in the ICU.” Meet the team The medical team at OSF Children’s Hospital who treated the toddler

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ALTON - Community members are invited to the first Block Party for Good of 2025. From 2:30–4:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, community members can receive free groceries, a hot meal and health screenings at Soulcial Square, in the parking lot adjacent to Morningstar Baptist Church at 1 E. 6th Street in Alton. There are no income or residency requirements to utilize these services. “Our Block Party for Good is more than just sharing food — it’s about building community, fostering connection and creating hope,” said John Michel, President of Food is Love. “We’re committed to ensuring everyone in Alton has access to nutritious food and meaningful fellowship.” Food is Love, a nonprofit that works to eliminate food insecurity, hosts the monthly Block Party for Good. Last year, they hosted six block parties in Alton and served over 1,000 meals while providing free groceries to over 2,000 family members. Michel and the Food is Love

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Key takeaways: Mixing coffee and bananas is a healthy alternative to your morning joe Bananas are rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants Bananas can replace coffee creamer and sugar Add milk and dates in for added nutrition, creaminess Some social media users are going bananas over a different take on your morning cup of joe. While many “health” trends have no substance at all, this has promise, according to Gabrielle Haskell, a clinical dietitian for oncology at the OSF Cancer Institute. The recipe calls for one to two frozen bananas, one cup of coffee, 1/3 cup of milk and two pitted dates. Mix it together in a blender and you have a frappe to enjoy. So… why bananas? “Bananas have fiber in them, which helps keep you fuller for longer. Fiber is good for blood sugar management and for management of your cholesterol,” Haskell says. “They also have added vitamins and minerals, like Vitamin C, that can really help boost your

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today issued updated guidance to state, county and local law enforcement agencies to clarify the role of Illinois’ law enforcement agencies and the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The guidance details the provisions of the Illinois TRUST Act and the Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors (VOICES) Act. Both were enacted to increase trust and cooperation between immigrant communities and police departments generally by prohibiting law enforcement agencies from participating in federal civil immigration enforcement, and by creating procedural requirements to support immigrants who have been victims of violent crime or human trafficking. “Civil immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government. State law does not grant local law enforcement the authority to enforce federal civil immigration laws. This includes participating, supporting or assisting in any capacity with federal

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On January 24, 1925, the moon eclipsed the sun. In Alton, the eastern skies were partly cloudy, but the sun broke through the clouds just after 8 a.m., right when the eclipse here was at its peak. With a totality of 86% in Alton, a crescent was still visible, and some residents expressed their disappointment that it was not truly dark. “Daylight came as usual, and the light was better at time of greatest totality than on many recent mornings when a heavy haze has shrouded the early rays of the sun.” Altonians viewed a partial eclipse, but parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island experienced totality. New York and New England saw the eclipse under ideal conditions, but in Michigan and Ontario, clouds and low visibility made it difficult to observe. In New York City, “was the spectacle magnificent. When the moment arrived and a blackness of midnight at 9:11 a.m. was accompanied by the beautiful sigh

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EDWARDSVILLE — Hi-Pointe Drive-In is hosting a fundraiser for the Overnight Warming Locations on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. The event will take place at the restaurant located at 6147 Trace Parkway Drive in Edwardsville. High-Pointe Drive-In aims to support local efforts to provide shelter for those in need during the winter months. Hi-Pointe will donate 15 percent of each customer's check on that day to the Overnight Warming Locations. Patrons who order online or through the Hi-Pointe app can contribute by using the code "fundraiser" at checkout. Hi-Pointe's marketing department highlighted the restaurant's commitment to community involvement. "Here at Hi-Pointe, we pride ourselves in not only serving the best burgers and chef-inspired creations in the galaxy but also giving back to our community," the restaurant's marketing coordinator Danielle Frisse-Stanley said in a statement. "The restaurant engages in various charitable initiatives, including a dine-to-donate program, monetar

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EDWARDSVILLE - Community members gathered at SIUE to hear from Donzaleigh Abernathy, a speaker, actress, writer, activist, and the goddaughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, SIUE hosted its 42nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Luncheon. Abernathy, the keynote speaker, spoke about her memories of “Uncle Martin” and her parents Rev. Dr. Ralph David and Juanita Jones Abernathy, leaders in the Civil Rights Movement. She urged audience members to speak up for what’s right and continue to fight for justice. “If I have to lay down and die, I will die for my freedom, because we’re not going back,” she said. “Courage is not when you’re brave and going on out there anyway because you want to go. Courage is when you’re timid…but you summon up the strength anyway. That's courage.” Abernathy said her father issued the call for the Civil Rights Movement after Rosa Parks was arrested.

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JERSEYVILLE – Jersey County Treasurer Katie Abbey is currently under investigation for allegedly misappropriating public funds, though few details are publicly available. Jersey County Board Chairman Gary Krueger read the following statement at the last Jersey County Board meeting on Jan. 14, 2025: “In late summer of 2024, the Jersey County Sheriff received allegations that the Jersey County Treasurer was misappropriating public funds. Due to obvious conflicts, an outside law enforcement agency and forensic examiner were brought in to investigate. A criminal investigation is ongoing at this time. “As with any ongoing investigation, confidentiality is critical and often required by law to ensure the integrity of the investigation and evidence collected. All of us understand the importance of transparency in government, but we are respectfully asking the public to be patient and respect the investigative and judicial process in this matter. When appropriate to do

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GRANITE CITY – Ameren Illinois customers driving in and around Illinois Route 203 from World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison to Granite City near U.S. Steel facilities in Madison County will see energy at work now and throughout July as the company upgrades a major natural gas transmission pipeline to comply with enhanced federal transmission pipeline regulations established in 2019. Ameren Illinois is replacing 1960s era pipeline along a six-mile stretch with new steel pipeline, while adding three new regulator stations and two new control valve stations as part of the Ameren Illinois' multi-year plan for all of its gas transmission pipelines to comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation's 2035 deadline for overall completion. Ameren Illinois is working with IDOT and Madison County to control traffic near the construction area. Weather permitting, this project should be completed by early July. "These proactive steps will ensure the continued safe, reliable deliver

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ST. LOUIS — The National Museum of Transportation was vandalized early Friday morning, Jan. 10, 2025, causing an estimated $20,000 in damage to two historic trolley artifacts. The incident occurred at approximately 6 a.m. on Jan. 10, and involved graffiti being painted on the trolleys, which are integral to the museum's operations during its operating season. The National Museum Of Transportation is located at 2933 Barrett Station Road, St. Louis. National Museum Of Transportation Executive Director Terri McEachern expressed her dismay over the incident, stating, "We are heartbroken by this careless, selfish, and senseless act. Our volunteers work extremely hard to restore these priceless artifacts and return them to operating conditions for our guests to enjoy." The trolleys affected are the 1914 St. Louis Waterworks Railway #10 and the 1947 Southern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority #2740. The museum, a non-profit organization, relies on community support for its preservation

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