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SPRINGFIELD – As high school seniors finalize their postsecondary education plans for the upcoming school year ahead of College Decision Day on May 1, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) is enlisting the help of Illinois high school principals, counselors, and teachers to warn college-bound students and their families about the risks associated with attending for-profit colleges. In the past few years, the U.S. has experienced workforce shortages across various industries. Illinois is projected to face a shortfall of nearly 15,000 nurses this year—with half of nurses in Illinois age 55 and older. The Illinois State Board of Education had nearly 3,900 unfilled teaching positions, as well as an additional 3,600 unfilled school staff positions as of October 2024. Without a trained workforce, Illinois will continue to face labor shortfalls across these crucial sectors. As a result, the U.S. is poised to see negative economic consequences. In his letter, Durbin encouraged

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor’s (IDOL) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (IL OSHA), in collaboration with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), Illinois Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA) and Mutual Aid Box Alarm System-Illinois (MABAS-Illinois) have developed a sample incident command, accountability, and mayday standard operating guideline (SOG) for structure fires. While IL OSHA requires fire departments that perform interior firefighting to have an incident command, accountability, and mayday policy, IL OSHA does not require use of this specific SOG. The sample SOG was developed using the following goals: To provide a basic SOG (it is three pages) that fire departments without an incident command, accountability, and mayday SOG can easily adopt and implement. To provide an SOG that could be adopted verbatim, adopted with modifications, or used as a tool to compare a department’s

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COLLINSVILLE – Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 announced Philip Carter has been named an assistant principal for Collinsville High School beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Carter grew up in Collinsville and is a 2010 magna cum laude graduate of Collinsville High School. He is currently an assistant band director at O’Fallon Township High School. “CHS is thrilled by the addition of Mr. Philip Carter as an assistant principal,” said next year’s CHS principal Bobby Wright. “Mr. Carter's experience in leadership in his previous roles will be a welcome addition to our administrative team. We are excited to work together on finding innovative solutions to our ever-changing world of education. There is no doubt that as an alumnus of Collinsville High School, Mr. Carter will encourage and inspire others to represent the Kahok Family well!” Carter received his bachelor of music education degree from Illinois State University, master

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JERSEYVILLE – The newest class of Jersey County CEO student entrepreneurs are almost ready to show the community what they’ve been working on. "This is our largest CEO group we've ever had with 14 students,” CEO Facilitator Liz Duggan said. “They have worked hard all year preparing for this moment to showcase their businesses." The public is invited to see what each student-run business has to offer at the next annual Trade Show, running from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at Farm & Home Supply in Jerseyville. Nearby Fritz's Meat & Processing will also be hosting a cookout near the entrance. "Each year, I look forward to seeing students shocked by the amount of support people show them at the Trade Show,” Duggan added. “We hope this year is a record attendance year!" The following students will be showcasing their businesses at the 2025 Trade Show: Jadyn Johnson: “Jersey County Run for the Roses” - A Kentucky Derby

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GRAFTON - The City of Grafton will once again host its Sip, Sample and Stroll event. On May 10, 2025, community members can come to Grafton for a spring day of fun and food. This event encourages people to walk through the city and sample drinks and snacks from different restaurants. Mary Lillesve, secretary of the Grafton Chamber of Commerce, hopes to see many new and familiar faces enjoying Grafton that day. “When you come to Grafton with your ticket, there are 14 businesses ready to welcome you,” Lillesve explained. “What they’ve prepared for you is a sample of their signature beverages and their signature food.” This is Grafton’s fifth annual Sip, Sample and Stroll event. Tickets cost $30 and must be purchased by May 5, 2025. You can purchase tickets online . On May 10, attendees must stop by City Hall between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to receive a wristband. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. and runs until 5:30 p.m. that day. Participating

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CHICAGO — Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 39 attorneys general, sent a letter to congressional leadership urging them to pass an act that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies. “PBMs have opted to focus on driving up their own profits at the expense of patients,” Raoul said. “Their control of an outsized share of the market has led to patients having fewer choices and paying higher costs. I join my fellow attorneys general in calling on Congress to reign in PBMs, and I will continue to advocate for reforms that ensure prescription pricing is transparent and reduce the financial burden on patients.” PBMs are third-party administrators of prescription drug programs for health plans. Over the past few decades, horizontal consolidation and vertical integration have transformed PBMs from useful administrative service providers into market-dominating behemoths that control the

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is notifying the owners and operators of 21 Community Water Systems (CWSs) that there has been a detection of one or more Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the most recent water sampling of those specified CWSs at levels exceeding newly enacted groundwater quality standards. The Illinois EPA is also notifying owners and operators of 26 connected CWSs that obtain water from CWSs that had one or more PFAS exceedances. Existing state Right-to-Know laws require a CWS to notify all end users when groundwater contamination poses a threat of exposure to the public above the Class I groundwater quality standards. This law establishes methods of notification and strict time frames for providing notice. PFAS are a group of several thousand human-made chemicals that are manufactured for their oil and water-resistant properties. Since the 1940s, PFAS have been used in a wide range of consumer products,

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SPRINGFIELD - Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration: Employment Security Advisory Board Patrick Devaney will continue to serve as a Member of the Employment Security Advisory Board.* Devaney is the Secretary Treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO and former President of the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois, a role he held for over a decade. He served more than 2o years with the Champaign Fire Department and held various leadership roles on the Executive Board of the Champaign Firefighters IAFF Local 1260. In addition to his service on the Employment Security Advisory Board, Devaney has served on the State Fire Marshal Advisory Board and the Pension Consolidation Task Force. Devaney earned a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Northeastern Illinois University Board of Trustees Anna Meresidis will continue to serve as a Member of the Northeastern

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today announced the cancellation of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC). Following a thorough line by line review of each of these Biden era partnerships, it became clear that the majority of these projects had sky-high administration fees which in many instances provided less than half of the federal funding directly to farmers. Select projects may continue if it is demonstrated that a significant amount of the federal funds awarded will go to farmers. We continue to support farmers and encourage partners to ensure their projects are farmer focused or re-apply to continue work that is aligned with the priorities of this Administration. With this action, USDA is cutting bureaucratic red tape, streamlining reporting, lowering the paperwork burden on producers and putting farmers first. Additionally, we have reformed and overhauled the Biden-era Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities initiative

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Donald Trump’s pick for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine (retired), possesses an extraordinary record of service—in Iraq, in special access programs and in the National Guard. There is no question of his capacity to lead, devotion to our country, character, courage or competence. But those aren’t the qualifications required by law to be the senior-most military officer in our Armed Forces. Federal law requires the chairman to be active duty and have served in any of three senior roles: vice chairman, service chief (except the Coast Guard) or commander of a combatant command. Caine fails to meet one of these. The president can waive most of the qualifications if he determines it is in our "national interest." But the only justification that President Trump has stated for waiving these legal standards in this instance is that he remembers Caine stating he "loved" Trump, would "kill" for Trump and

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ALTON - You can learn more about who you are at an upcoming free conversation about spirituality. At 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025, community members are invited to River Bend Yoga in Alton for “Soul Travel Explorations,” the final installment of the three-part “Raise Your Spiritual IQ!” series. This final conversation will talk about who you are as Soul, an “eternal, creative spark of God,” explained organizers Sheila Aehle and Chuck Frasher . “Soul travel is a unique experience that each of us can have,” Frasher said. “We’re Soul. We’re not just this physical body that we’re in right now. We’re in the physical universe experiencing many different things, but ultimately, we’re meant to learn to find our way back to God. We are sparks of God. We are divine in that we can connect to divine love, which emanates from God and flows back to God. Soul travel is that experience of finding a way to trave

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Did you know that in 2020, the IRS processed nearly 150 million individual income tax returns? This staggering figure not only highlights the scope of Tax Day but also underscores its integral role in the American economy and society. Tax Day, which falls on April 15 (or the next business day if it falls on a weekend or holiday), is a date that resonates deeply within the fabric of American life. But why does this day command so much attention, and what is its historical significance? The Origins of Tax Day The roots of Tax Day can be traced back to the early 20th century. While the U.S. government had collected taxes in various forms since its inception, the modern income tax system began with the 16th Amendment in 1913. This amendment authorized Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states based on population. Initially, the tax was aimed at the wealthiest Americans, with rates that started at just 1% but quickly escalated during World War I to fund military

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April 15 is a date that has witnessed some of the most significant events in history, spanning various domains such as politics, arts, disasters, and advancements. Let's turn to 1947, when Jackie Robinson made history by breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. On this day, Robinson played his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers, forever changing the landscape of American sports and society. His courage and talent paved the way for future generations of athletes of color, and he became an icon of the civil rights movement. Robinson's legacy extends beyond baseball, as he exemplified the struggle for equality and social justice, inspiring countless individuals to fight against racial discrimination. In 1961, another pivotal moment occurred when the United States launched its first manned space mission, the Mercury-Redstone 3, also known as Freedom 7. Astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space, albeit for a brief 15-minute flight, but it was a crucial step

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EAST ST. LOUIS - Multiple fire departments responded early Tuesday, April 15, 2025, to a large fire at a pallet recycling company in East St. Louis. The call came in at 1:30 a.m. for a fire at Eco Recycling Solutions, located at 225 S. Main St. in East St. Louis. The company processes pallets by splitting them up and recycling the usable lumber, while unusable wood is mulched. The building was filled and surrounded by pallets, which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Firefighters from more than 10 departments, including East St. Louis, Cahokia, Worden, Fairmount City, Sauget, Freeburg, Scott Air Force Base, Marine, Grantfork, Washington Park, Hollywood Heights, Alhambra, Prairietown, Holiday Shores, and other area departments, worked to contain the blaze. Some of the company’s trucks, trailers, skid steers, and mulching equipment were damaged, and there was a reported explosion involving one of the trucks. No injuries have been reported. The State Fire Marshal’s

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ALTON — Early Tuesday morning, a single-vehicle crash left a car stranded on railroad tracks near the old Amtrak station on College Avenue, prompting a response from local authorities and Union Pacific officials. At 4:58 a.m. on April 15, 2025, the Alton Police Department was alerted to the incident in the 3300 block of College Avenue, where a vehicle had crashed through a protective fence and become stuck on the tracks. Officers arrived quickly and notified Union Pacific to halt rail traffic in the area. Despite these efforts, Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said an Amtrak train carrying approximately 35 passengers struck the vehicle. He added that authorities believe the vehicle was unoccupied at the time of impact. The Alton Fire Department confirmed no passengers or officers were injured, and the train did not derail. The driver of the vehicle has not yet been located, and the investigation remains active. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Alton Police

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MASCOUTAH - After receiving submissions from across the 114th District, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) was proud to select Donna Mae's Beauty Salon to be his “Business of the Month” for April. Rep. Schmidt presented the owner of Donna Mae's Beauty Salon, Donna Mae Schlueter, with an official certificate in recognition of a local small-business who’s been serving the community for over sixty years. “Donna Mae's Beauty Salon has been committed to serving locals with salon services and products for over sixty years,” said Schmidt. “Donna has exemplified her dedication to the community of Mascoutah by carrying on four generations of salon services. She deserves recognition for operating a “hometown” salon, but also for her service to the community through positive engagement.” Donna Mae's Beauty Salon opened in 1965 offering salon services to the community, including those who served in Vietnam. Over the years,

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BRIGHTON — Dustin M. Kraushaar, a 33-year-old resident of the 15000 block of Humbert Road in Brighton, has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals following an incident involving a cat. The Madison County State's Attorney's Office said the charges stem from an incident on March 19, 2025, where Kraushaar intentionally shot a one-year-old black and white cat named “Lil Bit” with a compound bow arrow, resulting in the animal's death. The incident occurred in the 3700 block of East Doerr Avenue in Alton. The Alton Police Department investigated this case, the Madison County State's Attorney's Office said. The charges were officially filed against Kraushaar on April 14, 2025, in the Third Judicial Court of Madison County. The case highlights ongoing discussions about animal welfare and the legal consequences of animal cruelty.

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ILLINOIS - A national ambassador with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is sharing more about MADD’s resources during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Erin Rollins stopped by “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello to share her experience with MADD and the ways the organization has helped her. Rollins was paralyzed from the waist down after she was hit by a drunk driver. She emphasized that drunk driving is a “100% preventable crime.” “MADD believes in justice, and they believe in connecting individuals to resources, and they help advocate for resources and support,” Rollins said. “For me, it was vital.” This year, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week ran from April 6–12, 2025. Rollins explained that MADD uses the week to shed light on the crime of impaired driving. Though she believes many people take drunk driving lightly, Rollins and MADD remind folks that it is a crime, and it can have devastating

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JERSEYVILLE - Students of a quilting class offered by Joan and Meredith Dougherty with the Jersey County Arts Council successfully learned the fundamentals of creating large block quilts and T-shirt quilts. The class took place at the First Presbyterian Church in Jerseyville, each Monday night throughout March 2025. The program, designed to introduce participants to the art of quilting, attracted a diverse group of students eager to develop their sewing skills. "The class has been a great opportunity for community members to come together and learn a new craft," said Joan Dougherty.

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EDWARDSVILLE – In recognition of Mother’s Day and the essential needs of families in the Metro East, State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) is proud to announce the launch of her 3rd Annual Mother’s Day Diaper Drive, taking place from April 14 to May 9, 2025. The drive aims to collect essential childcare items for local mothers and children in partnership with Safe Families for Children Metro East. “This initiative is about lifting up the incredible mothers in our community who are working hard every day to care for their children,” said Senator Harriss. “We want to ensure they feel supported and appreciated this Mother’s Day.” Members of the public are invited to contribute by donating new, unopened items. Requested items include diapers (sizes 3, 4, and 5), pull-ups (boys and girls, 2T–5T), sippy cups, baby wipes, toddler-sized socks and underwear, toothbrushes and toothpaste for toddlers, shea moisturizing shampoo

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