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GODFREY - On March 27, 2025, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a report alleging that a minor was sexually assaulted approximately seven years ago at a residence in Godfrey. The report prompted an investigation by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit and Digital Forensics Division. Madison County Deputy Sheriff Marcos Puldio said over the following month, investigators conducted multiple interviews, executed several search warrants, and examined numerous items of digital evidence related to the case. The investigation culminated in charges being filed against Andrew S. Masiero, 47. Masiero faces four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, classified as Class X felonies; two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, classified as Class 2 felonies; and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, classified as Class 4 felonies. He is currently in custody at the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The case has bee

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ALTON/GRANITE CITY – Residents of Alton, Granite City, and more have been charged in separate cases with burglarizing properties and vehicles around Madison County. Richard A. Schrader, 42, of Granite City, was charged with a Class 2 felony count of burglary on April 28, 2025. Schrader allegedly entered a building which was property of Morrissey Construction Company in the 700 block of Washington Avenue in Alton, knowingly and without authority, with the intent to commit a theft. The Alton Police Department presented the case against Schrader, who was granted pretrial release from custody. Kienny Pierson, 49, of Alton, was charged on April 30, 2025 with a Class 3 felony count of burglary. Pierson reportedly entered a 2021 Jeep SUV without authority, intending to commit therein a theft, on March 15, 2025. He was granted pretrial release from custody in the case presented by the Alton Police Department. Oscar K. McGee, 47, of St. Louis, was charged with a Class 1 felony count

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SPRINGFIELD — Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois issued more comments with excitement on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Springfield, celebrating the election of Pope Leo XIV as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV (Robert Prevost) is the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from America. He and Paprocki are both natives of South Chicago and also White Sox fans, which was a plus to Paprocki. “With profound joy and deep gratitude to God, the universal Catholic Church celebrates the election of Pope Leo XIV, our new Holy Father,” Bishop Paprocki said. “This moment fills the hearts of the faithful with renewed hope, as the Church receives a new Vicar of Christ, a shepherd to lead us in truth, charity, and love. We give thanks for Pope Leo XIV’s humble acceptance of this sacred responsibility.” The bishop called on Catholics to pray for Pope Leo XIV’s wisdom, courage and compassion as he begins

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ALTON - Alton Main Street will kick off their Alton Farmers and Artisans Market this weekend. From 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays starting on May 10 and running through Oct. 18, 2025, community members can stop by 501 Landmarks Boulevard in Alton for the market. Sara McGibany, executive director of Alton Main Street, said the 100-plus vendors who will be in attendance are excited to welcome the community back for another season of fun. “It sounds cliché, but we really are a big family down there,” McGibany said. “Everybody’s really excited, making new products for the year, and it’s just really a cool thing.” McGibany said that last year’s farmers market maxed out at 163 vendors, and they expect similar numbers this year. All of the vendors must create or grow their own products. “We are truly a farmers and artisans market. Everything sold has to be handmade or homegrown by the person operating the booth,” McGibany

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COLLINSVILLE - Collinsville Police have two felony warrants for Demarco Q. Robinson on charges of financial institution fraud, alleging he committed check kiting resulting in losses exceeding $65,000 at UMB Bank in Collinsville. The Collinsville Police released information on May 9, 2025, as part of their Fugitive Friday highlighting these charges. Check kiting is a form of bank fraud where an individual exploits the time it takes banks to process checks between different accounts to create a false balance and obtain unauthorized, unsecured loans. It involves depositing a check with insufficient funds and withdrawing money before the check is processed, creating a temporary illusion of available funds. For several months, investigators from the Collinsville Police Department and UMB Bank have been tracking Demarco’s activities across the Metro-East area. The warrants, issued by Collinsville Police, charge Demarco with financial institution fraud involving amounts between

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ST. LOUIS — Early Friday morning, May 9, 2025, police responded to a shooting on the 5100 block of Wells, resulting in multiple fatalities, including the suspect, authorities said. Just after 4 a.m., officers arrived at the scene following a ShotSpotter activation and found an adult man shot on the front porch of a residence. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Homicide detectives were called in and requested assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Officers and detectives secured the perimeter of the home while awaiting a search warrant. Around 7 a.m., a man inside the residence briefly spoke with detectives before reentering the home. Moments later, the same man emerged armed with a rifle. An exchange of gunfire occurred between the suspect, a 28-year-old St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) officer with three years of service, and an ATF agent. The suspect then retreated back inside the residence. SWAT officers entered

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GRAFTON - Local author Jackie Duty will give away prizes, baskets and 100 free books at a reading in Grafton this weekend. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025, community members can stop by Grove Memorial Park for a free “party in the park,” Duty said. Every kid in attendance will receive a free copy of “Dash the Dachshund.” A Disney princess and local screenprinter will also be in attendance. Parents can enter to win basket items and tickets to Worldwide Technology’s upcoming Father’s Day drag race. “You can hang out all day in Grafton,” Duty said. “Bring the kiddos to the park in the morning, do the Sip, Sample and Stroll — that’s going to be so much fun — and then the Blues Festival. There’s something for everybody in Grafton this weekend. Bring the kiddos, get a free book, win some fun prizes, and let’s go party in the park.” Duty explained that she has published

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MURPHYSBORO – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) launched his campaign for re-election at Thursday evening’s Monroe County GOP Century Club Dinner with the full endorsement of President Donald Trump. Bost, a two-time Illinois co-chair of Trump’s campaign, has earned Trump’s endorsement in five consecutive election cycles. “President Trump is saving our nation for the second time, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have his endorsement as we work together to advance the America First agenda,” said Bost. “In a short time, we’ve made historic strides in protecting American workers, ending the border crisis, and advancing our conservative values, but our work is far from over. This Marine isn’t finished fighting for the incredible people of Southern Illinois.” In a Truth Social post announcing his endorsement of Bost Thursday evening, Trump said, “Congressman Mike Bost is a Tremendous Champion

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CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after President Donald Trump fired Dr. Carla Hayden as the Librarian of Congress: “To fire Dr. Hayden, a highly respected professional who has done an upstanding job as our nation’s Librarian of Congress, in a two-sentence email shows the depravity of this administration. The heartlessness of this President knows no bounds. “The Library of Congress is America’s library — not Donald Trump’s. The next Librarian of Congress must emulate Dr. Hayden’s example of expanding the Library for all and not embolden Donald Trump’s efforts to whitewash history and restrict Americans’ access to knowledge, information, and culture.” Dr. Hayden was appointed as the 14th Librarian of Congress by President Obama in 2016, and had overseen the library through President Trump’s first term. She started as a librarian in Chicago in 1973

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Did you know that happiness is not just a fleeting feeling but a measurable state influenced by biology, behavior, and environment? Research in positive psychology reveals that up to 40% of our happiness is within our control, shaped by daily habits and choices. This insight challenges the common belief that happiness depends mostly on external circumstances or luck. By understanding the science behind happiness, we can adopt practical strategies to enhance our well-being and cultivate a more positive outlook. Understanding Happiness: More Than Just a Feeling Happiness is often perceived as a spontaneous emotion triggered by good news or pleasurable experiences. However, scientists define happiness more broadly as a combination of life satisfaction, frequent positive emotions, and a sense of purpose or meaning. Neuroscientific studies have identified key brain regions involved in happiness, such as the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system, which regulate positive emotions and rewar

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May 9th is a day rich with history, marked by events that have shaped nations, inspired generations, and propelled humanity forward. Going back to the 19th century, on May 9, 1877, the first official use of the telephone in the United States occurred when Alexander Graham Bell successfully transmitted speech over a wire. This breakthrough ignited a communication revolution that transformed how people connect across distances, laying the groundwork for the interconnected world we live in today. Continuing with innovation, May 9, 1950, was the day when French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community, an idea that eventually evolved into the European Union. The Schuman Declaration aimed to foster economic cooperation and prevent future conflicts in Europe by pooling key industries. This initiative is widely regarded as a foundational step toward the unprecedented peace and unity experienced in Europe in the decades since. On a different

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ALTON - Over 300 Alton Community Unit School District #11 students recently enjoyed a sensory-friendly sports day. On Friday, May 2, 2025, the district hosted Autism Sports Day, a free event for kids in the special education program to enjoy bounce houses, face-painting, pony rides, games, food, a petting zoo and more. Tammy Wood, one of the organizers, explained that the students could have a fun day while still getting their needs met. “We have it worked out to where we can provide them an opportunity to have fun but also in an environment that’s safe and comfortable for them,” she said. “These students, a lot of them do have autism or other special needs. It just gives them a chance to do some fun things in a comfortable atmosphere where we’re looking out for some of the needs that they may have, where a bigger setting with more students can kind of be overwhelming.” Wood noted that the event commemorates Autism Awareness Month in April.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)—underscored to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and other artificial intelligence (AI) leaders how important Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory are to accelerating scientific breakthroughs in fields such as particle physics, AI and cancer research, as well as how pivotal the labs are to Illinois and our nation’s economy. During her remarks, Duckworth also condemned Donald Trump and Elon Musk for taking a chainsaw to federal research funding, which threatens to set our country back decades and hurts our capacity to be a world leader in scientific breakthroughs. Video of Duckworth’s remarks can be found on her YouTube . “Illinois is the proud home of two crown jewels of scientific innovation and research—Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory—and there’s nothing more important than sustaining

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NASHVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that one lane in each direction of Interstate 64 will be closed from 1 mile west of CH 11 to the Jefferson County line in Washington County starting, weather permitting, at 7 a.m. Monday, May 12, for pavement patching. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. The project expected to be completed by mid-summer. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com .

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) today demanded answers from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for eliminating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) team responsible for making sure people who are trying to become parents have the information they need to thoughtfully and safely grow their families—despite Donald Trump’s broken promise to support families seeking IVF treatments. “Because IVF is a complicated and expensive process, the American people deserve access to the best information possible to inform their family building journey. Unfortunately, hollowing out National Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Surveillance System capabilities and capacity is consistent with Donald Trump’s deceitful and disingenuous rhetoric on IVF,” the Senators wrote in a letter to HHS Secretary Kennedy. “Your

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EDWARDSVILLE – New and returning elected officials for the City of Edwardsville were officially sworn in at the May 6, 2025 City Council meeting. Sworn in on Tuesday were Mayor Art Risavy, Ward 2 Alderman Adam Hanna, Ward 4 Alderman SJ Morrison, and Ward 6 Alderwoman Jennifer Warren (each pictured above). City Clerk Michelle Boyer, who was absent from the meeting and due to be sworn in this week, will be sworn in at a future meeting. Madison County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Carruthers administered the Oath of Office for each elected official. While each alderman ran in uncontested races during the latest round of Madison County municipal elections, this will only be one official’s first term. Hanna is serving his first term as Ward 2 Alderman, following the ward’s former alderman, Hal Patton. Returning for their second terms are Risavy, Warren, and Boyer, while Morrison has secured his third term. The newly sworn in council members also made a series of appointments

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SPRINGFIELD — Governor JB Pritzker signed Executive Order 2025-02 on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, affirming Illinois’ commitment to protecting the civil rights, human rights, and data privacy of autistic residents. The order restricts unauthorized data collection and sharing by state agencies and requires that autism-related information be handled only when necessary and with informed consent. The executive order was issued in response to growing national concerns about federal efforts to create autism registries or databases without clear legal safeguards or accountability. It prohibits state agencies, contractors, vendors, and grantees from collecting or disclosing personally identifiable autism-related data unless it is required for care, legal compliance, or program eligibility. All disclosures must follow strict privacy and data minimization rules and be limited to the minimum information necessary, with anonymization applied where feasible. “Every Illinoisan deserves

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WOOD RIVER — The Wood River Fire Department and Wood River Police Department responded to a traffic crash at the intersection of Wood River Avenue and Madison Avenue Thursday afternoon, May 8, 2025. First responders arrived to find two vehicles involved in the collision. Alton Memorial Ambulance dispatched two ambulances to the scene, two people were transported by ambulance. Traffic was disrupted while first responders handled the crash. Bill and Joe’s towing service removed the vehicles from the site. The Wood River Police Department is currently investigating the incident.

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College is meeting the changes and challenges in the growing real estate field by offering classes to help individuals enter that career field as brokers. An individual must pass a total of 75 hours of instruction to take the Real Estate Broker’s licensure exam. Lewis and Clark is offering three different classes of Real Estate, all of which are needed for the exam: Real Estate Brokerage (Two sections available) (REAL 135-T60) – 7 - 9:40 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, May 28 – August 13, 2025 (REAL 136-T60 ) – 7 - 9:40 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 29 – August. 14, 2025 Real Estate Transaction Applications (REAL 137 – T1) 4:10 – 5:25 p.m., Monday, June 2 – August 11, 2025 All three classes are in-person or online via Zoom on the Godfrey Campus and will be taught by local real estate professional Kevin Botterbush, ABR, MRP, C2EX, REP4V. Students must be 18 years old to take the Illinois

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Honorable Judge Ronald J. Foster, Associate Judge in the 3rd Judicial Circuit Court, will administer the oath of office to the newly elected Edwardsville Township officials on Monday, May 19, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at the Edwardsville Township Hall located at 300 West Park Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025. The following were elected on April 1, 2025 in the Consolidated Election and will be taking their respective seats upon taking their oaths: Township Supervisor-Janet Haroian, Clerk-Dave Schwind, Highway Commissioner-Danny Picarella and Trustees-Bethany Behrhorst, Yolanda Crochrell, Mandy Darr, and Daniel Rees. While the Township Assessor, Jennifer Hegel was elected at the Consolidated Election, the term for the Assessor begins in January 2026, and she will take the oath of office at that time. The Deputy Clerk, R. Andreya Ayers, will also take the oath to continue to serve in that capacity on the 19th. The outgoing Township Supervisor, Kevin Hall and Trustees, Matthew

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