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Letter to the Editor: Parents of young people in Edwardsville District 7 should be aware of plans to remove two traditional “single sex” bathrooms at Edwardsville High School – to be replaced with one “all gender” bathroom – to be used by both boys and girls – with 22 toilets, but no urinals. On Monday, as an Edwardsville taxpayer, I attended a school board “work session” at Liberty Middle School. An architect showed plans to the board and superintendent, with citizens able to listen and watch the discussion. The legislation that allows “multiple-occupancy, all-gender” bathrooms for schools was introduced by Rep. Katie Stuart (D – Edwardsville) and this legislation was signed into law by Gov. Pritzker in August 2023. Rep. Stuart is a math teacher by profession, and her husband, Dr. Steve Stuart, is the principal at Edwardsville High School. The presentation mentioned Loudoun County, Va. and St. Paul, Minn.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take swift action to update its enforcement tools to reflect the current social media platforms and tactics used to promote prescription drugs, and to prioritize the protection of children from harmful and inaccurate medical advice. With the dramatic rise in social media use—especially among youth—there has been an alarming proliferation of dangerous and misleading content promoting prescription drugs. The bipartisan pairing of Senators request answers from FDA on their actions to crack down on these targeted ads by March 27, 2024. The Senators wrote, “Studies show that patients are more likely to ask their provider for a particular medication and to receive a prescription if the patient has seen a direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisement for the drug. This can inflate demand for medications that may not be clinically

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ALTON - According to organizers, the inaugural Riverbend Wellness Festival is “for the Riverbend and by the Riverbend.” Scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2024, the festival will include over 30 vendors, 10 keynote speakers and several workshops that promote mental, physical and spiritual wellness. The festival, located at Milton Schoolhouse in Alton, encourages attendees to connect with local resources and learn about ways to take a holistic approach to wellness. “We really wanted people to be able to come and find their people, find their community,” Beth Ahlin said. “We tried to be as well-rounded as possible with the speakers and the vendors so people could shop and do some self-care that day as well as meet people that could help them on their wellness journey. And we wanted to appeal to everybody. Families, individuals, couples, it doesn’t matter. Everybody’s welcome.” Ahlin, who owns CE Ahlin Counseling

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GODFREY - Test your knowledge of history, pop culture, nature and more all while helping The Nature Institute (TNI) in their mission of education, restoration and preservation. This Trivia Night fundraiser at Godfrey KC Hall., located at 1713 Stamper Lane in Godfrey, Ill, will be held on Saturday, March 9. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and questions begin at 6:00 p.m. Tables that register and pay ahead of time cost $120 per table ($15 per person) tables that pay at the door cost $130 per table ($16.25 per person). “We are excited to host this trivia night fundraiser again this year. Working as teams to answer fun questions is a great way to spend time with family and friends all while supporting our community.” says Ramona Pollard, Director of Outreach at The Nature Institute. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top two winning teams. Guests can also win silent auction gifts. Teams are required to reserve a table up to the day of the event. Tables can be reserved at TheNatureInstitute.org

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WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Congresswomen Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Co-Chairs of the Caucus on Black Women and Girls, and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the bipartisan Protect Black Women and Girls Act. This bill would establish an Interagency Task Force to examine the conditions and experiences of Black women and girls in education, economic development, healthcare, labor and employment, housing, justice, and civil rights, to promote community-based methods for mitigating and addressing harm and ensuring accountability and to study societal effects on Black women and girls. The Protect Black Women and Girls Act was introduced by Rep. Kelly, Clarke, Watson Coleman, and Fitzpatrick in 2021 . “Simply acknowledging our country’s history of targeted discrimination, harassment and violence against Black women and girls will not correct years of systemic racism and sexism. We must leverage the full weight

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) announced two new cosponsors to their Credit Card Competition Act : U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Jack Reed (D-RI). The bipartisan pair joins U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and J.D. Vance (R-OH ) in support of the Durbin-Marshall legislation that would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market, which is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. The bill has support from a wide range of small businesses and consumer groups, as well as key unions including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). “The momentum for common sense credit card market reforms continues to grow, and I’m glad Senators Hawley and Reed are joining in their support of our bipartisan legislation. Visa and Mastercard are pushing back hard against our efforts to

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting the 33rd "Today's Challenge, Tomorrow's Reward" conference on Feb. 21 and 22 at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. Hosted by IDOT’s Office of Business and Workforce Diversity, the conference provides female- and minority-owned businesses with opportunities to make connections and develop skills to grow and succeed. “‘Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward’ can open doors that lead to new, exciting paths to grow your business and positively impact your community while helping IDOT make projects more diverse and inclusive,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “Under Gov. Pritzker and the historic Rebuild Illinois capital program, Illinois is seeing record levels of investment in transportation. Please join us in shaping and modernizing infrastructure for future generations.” “Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward” offers workshops

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and 24 of their Senate colleagues in expressing urgent support for the Administration’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages in tandem with the restoration of a mutual ceasefire agreement in Gaza. “Since the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, in which Hamas abducted more than 200 civilians — including babies, young children, and the elderly — the United States has played a vital leading role in efforts to secure the release of Americans and Israelis held in Gaza,” the Senators wrote. “On November 24th, an agreement brokered with your leadership by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt secured the release of 105 hostages — all women and children

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SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today applauded the Biden Administration’s decision to authorize Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Palestinians present in the United States. This authorization offers temporary relief from removal for eighteen months from today for eligible foreign nationals already in the United States who are unable to return safely to their home country. There is no application required for DED, but Palestinians may apply for work authorization if desired. In November, Durbin, along with U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), led 103 of their colleagues in a letter to President Biden calling on his Administration to designate the Palestinian territories for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and/or authorize DED for Palestinians present in the United States. “Today’s welcome announcement by the Biden Administration reaffirms American

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It's a good idea to keep an eye on your heart's health. Everyone. All the time. But Ash Al-Dadah, MD , an interventional cardiologist at OSF HealthCare, estimates that more than half of the patients with advanced heart disease who come through his door also have diabetes, which puts them at greater risk for heart disease and related issues. His bottom-line advice: listen to your body. Risks, symptoms Dr. Al-Dadah says people with diabetes are at a higher risk for blocked arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Blood circulation can even be impaired down into your legs. This can impair wound healing, leading to ulcers. It can also cause pain while walking. Dr. Al-Dadah says a hallmark symptom in people with diabetes is shortness of breath when doing any activity that requires effort. Chest pain is also seen. “There’s a decline in the functional capacity,” Dr. Al-Dadah explains. “You’re doing less than what you did a few months ag

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MARYVILLE - Revolution Dispensary will celebrate its grand opening in Maryville with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. The dispensary will have a soft opening beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15. The grand opening will include Maryville Mayor Craig Short and Charles Bolden, CEO of Bolden Investments I, LLC. “It’s a great thing for the community and I’m just glad that I can be a part of it and the Maryville community,” Bolden said. “Every community has its little different nuances. So we’ll be looking at those things, those niche things that make Maryville special in its own right, and try to assist them and be a voice in the community and an advocate for those who need help or are trying to do something that benefits the whole entire community.” Bolden explained that his company applied for a dispensary license as soon as Illinois’s lottery program started in 2020. They had “one of the

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ALTON - An Alton-area resident spoke up at Wednesday’s Alton City Council meeting to voice their concerns with an ordinance passed in November of 2023 to ban camping on public property within the City of Alton . Connor Shoburn took the podium and asked city officials multiple times what their solution is to address homelessness. “Just recently due to this ordinance, a homeless person set up a camp at Rock Spring Park, as they have very few places to go,” Shoburn said. “A citizen then called the police on them, and then the cops forced the citizen to take down their tent and leave the park, as per my understanding. “This person - where do you plan them to go? They don't have a home to go to, they don't have the ability to camp anywhere, so what is the solution that Alton is going to provide for those who are homeless?” Shoburn went on to say the ordinance seems to be “punishing homeless people for something that is not under thei

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EDWARDSVILLE — On Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine and Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford announced that amended charges of first-degree murder have been filed against five defendants in the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old girl. The five defendants are: • Alvin Perry III, 19, of Alton, charged with First-Degree Murder, Aggravated Battery With a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Weapon by a Felon and Aggravated Unlawful Use of Weapons. • Raysean M. Colvin, 19, of Alton, charged with First-Degree Murder, Aggravated Battery With a Firearm, Unlawful Sale or Delivery of Firearms, Unlawful Possession of Weapon by a Felon and Aggravated Unlawful Use of Weapons. • Keith A. Sanders, 24, of Alton, charged with First-Degree Murder and Contributing to the Delinquency or Criminal Delinquency of a Minor. • Vito K. Crowder, 16, of Alton, charged with First-Degree Murder and Aggravated Unlawful Use of Weapons. • Dakota M. Perry,

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BREESE — On Feb. 28 and 29, Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) will begin a virtual speaker series entitled “I Have a Dream…” to reflect on revealing and embodying racial healing for all people, thanks to a Healing Illinois grant. Healing Illinois is an initiative led by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Field Foundation of Illinois. Statewide, 184 recipients will receive $4.5 million in funding for community-based activities to advance racial healing. In Southern Illinois, this grant is awarded by the Southern Illinois Community Foundation. “At the heart of the HSHS Mission is Christ’s healing love for all people. We seek to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love in each encounter we have with patients, family members, colleagues, and community members,” said Angela Senander, HSHS system director of formation. “We look forward to the opportunity to be in dialogue with scholars and practitioners advocating

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The Batman comic book character has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, particularly with big-budget movie remakes. Fans – especially men – are drawn to one of the secondary characters, the mysterious Batgirl. Christian County can claim a piece of that popular role, as Taylorville native Yvonne Craig played Batgirl in the final season of the ABC television series Batman in 1967-68. It was a signature role for Craig, whose movie and television career spanned five decades. Born in Taylorville on May 16, 1937, Craig spent much of her first fourteen years in Columbus, Ohio, and trained to be a ballerina from the age of ten. As a high school student, she was accepted into the School of American Ballet, but later elected to tour with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. A dispute with that organization ended her ballet career in 1957, when she moved to Los Angeles. Craig landed two minor movie roles in 1957, including The Young Land that resulted in a contract with Columbia.

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A new lawsuit claims a caffeinated drink at Panera contributed to a man's death. Legalities aside, the issue of what people - especially young people - put in their bodies is something to be aware of, says Michael Broman, PhD, MD , an OSF HealthCare cardiologist. In fact, it’s one he thinks about daily. “My children are 8 and 10. I don’t allow them to have caffeine except under my supervision and only in very small doses,” Dr. Broman says. Caffeine basics Dr. Broman says energy drinks, when consumed properly, can provide the desired energy boost. A college student studying for a test, for example. But it’s caffeine consumption that you must be aware of. “Caffeine has clearly been linked to adverse events and toxicity when given at a high enough dose,” Dr. Broman says. The effects of caffeine will vary from person to person. Some will be more sensitive to caffeine due to genetics. Others may be able to break down caffeine more quickly,

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WOOD RIVER - The Easter Bunny stopped by to greet his friends at the Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery with a special delivery of goodies they had arranged to be delivered for the South Roxana neighbor's upcoming Easter Egg Hunt which will be at the Dad’s Club at 2 p.m. on March 24. South Roxana officials say thank you to Phillips 66 for contacting the Easter Bunny and contributing to make this event possible in the community for the kids.

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EDWARDSVILLE - A man from Colorado has been charged with child pornography, armed violence and more in Madison County after being stopped by an Illinois State Police trooper during a mysterious road trip across the country which involved a juvenile female, a loaded handgun, cocaine, and more. Travis J. Penman-Keever, 39, of Aurora, Colo., was charged with one count each of child pornography, armed violence, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and possession with intent or delivery of a controlled substance. According to court documents, Penman-Keever was allegedly in possession of child pornography in the form of a photograph depicting a sexual act between an adult male and a 16-year-old female. A .40 caliber Springfield XD handgun and less than 15 grams of cocaine with baggies and a “ledger” were found in his vehicle during the traffic stop, resulting in the additional charges of armed violence, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and possession with intent or delivery

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DES MOINES, Iowa - Edwardsville High grad Brynn Miracle, Zimpleman College of Business, has been named to the Deans' and President's Lists at Drake University. To be eligible for the Deans' List, students must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the Fall 2023 semester at Drake. To be eligible for the President's List, students must have earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during the Fall 2023 semester at Drake. Drake University is a midsize, private university in Des Moines, Iowa, enrolling nearly 3,000 undergraduate and more than 1,800 graduate students. Students choose from over 70 majors, minors, and concentrations and 20 graduate degrees offered through six colleges and schools. Drake students, faculty, and staff take advantage of the wealth of cultural, recreational, and business opportunities found in Iowa's capital city. In return, Drake enriches the city through its own cultural offerings, considerable economic impact, and many service-learning endeavors, which channel the talent

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EAST ALTON - Woody Peterson has seen firsthand the devastating effects of homelessness on community members, including one man who suffered severe frostbite and has undergone multiple amputations. As the leader of local charitable group The Backpack Bandits and a volunteer at his local Overnight Warming Location, Peterson is now running for East Alton Trustee. The Backpack Bandits have previously been involved in community cleanup efforts and providing NARCAN to everyone from unhoused individuals to local police departments . Peterson said they’ve had an incredible year this past year with several other charity events that have taken place throughout the East Alton-Wood River area. Unfortunately, the work Peterson does to help his community sometimes means seeing the worst case scenarios of homelessness up close and personal. He recently told the story on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com of a homeless man in the Alton and East Alton areas known as “Bear”

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