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Illinois Becomes Third State in the Nation to Guarantee Paid Leave CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker today signed SB208 into law, making Illinois the third state in the nation, and the first in the Midwest, to mandate paid time off to be used for any reason. The historic legislation provides employees with up to 40 hours of paid leave during a 12-month period, meaning approximately 1.5 million workers will begin earning paid time off starting in 2024. “Working families face so many challenges, and it’s been my mission to alleviate those burdens in every way I can. Today, we will become the third state in the nation to require paid time off, and the first among the largest states,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “Employers benefit from allowing employees to tend to the urgent personal matters of their lives. Workers’ productivity increases, and they often gain greater passion for their job when they can manage the stresses they face outside work.

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VIENNA – A southern Illinois man who operates a “high-fence” shooting facility in Johnson County has pleaded guilty to poaching white-tailed deer following an investigation by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources conservation police and other agencies. Jerry Stafford, 58, of Vienna, who owns Samson’s Whitetail Mountain, entered a negotiated plea on Jan. 6 to one count of unlawful take in connection with the illegal harvest of 8-point and 12-point wild white-tailed deer. He also pleaded guilty to one count of open dumping for improper disposal of animal carcasses. Both are Class A misdemeanors. Stafford operates a “high-fence” shooting facility, where customers pay money to shoot raised or imported game mammals in a fenced area, which runs counter to the principles of fair-chase hunting. Illinois Conservation Police began investigating after learning he was advertising “low-fence hunts” in conjunction with Illinois’ official

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis CrimeStoppers has again posted a request for tips on the fatal shooting of Nicholas Kapusniak, a St. Louis College of Pharmacy student. This is a long-unsolved case. He was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting at about 1 a.m. on the morning of March 1, 2014. The shooting occurred in the rear yard of a home in the 2700 block of Accomac in St. Louis County. The victim was standing with a group of acquaintances when he was struck by gunfire from a passing vehicle. Witnesses say an unknown subject started shooting from inside of a white sedan as it traveled eastbound in the south alley of Accomac. The white vehicle continued east out of sight. If you have any information about this Homicide please call the CrimeStoppers Tip Hotline at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477). If your tip, called into CrimeStoppers, leads to the felony arrest of the subject(s) responsible for this homicide, you can receive a reward of up to $5,000. All tips called into CrimeStoppers are completely

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ALTON - The Alton High School Robotics Team has had a great season in 2023. Recently, team members competed in the first Robotics Competition at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Members of the highly competitive team are: Clara Velloff Will Dickson Andrew Owen Andy Hatch Jordan Hasty Reyna Loftis Hayden Markert Xavier Carter Kyle Yinger Team mentors are: Brian Bergin Tyrone Stevenson

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ALTON - Nicholas Trefny was the winner of Marquette Catholic's Mr. Irresistible competition on Saturday night. Parker Macias was the runner-up to Trefny and Max Cogan was judged the crowd favorite. The Mr. Irresistible evening attracted a large, interactive audience, normal for each year. Above is a video from the presentation and some photos are below.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is accepting applications now until April 17, 2023 for Fiscal Year 2024 grants to local law enforcement agencies interested in a collaborative effort to reduce and prevent illegal possession and use of firearms, firearm related homicides, and other violent crimes. Law enforcement agencies that are members of the Violent Crime Intelligence Task Force are eligible to receive grants from the State Police Revocation Enforcement Fund . Funding would help agencies conduct enforcement operations for individuals whose Firearm Owner's Identification Cards (FOID) have been revoked or suspended but have failed to comply with the Firearms Owners Identification Card Act. The enforcement details focus on individuals who have become the subject of a Firearm Restraining Order or Clear and Present Danger, or received a criminal conviction, among other reasons. Funding would also help agencies enforce the Firearm Concealed Carry Act and Firearm

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ALTON - Due to overwhelming demand for the first session, OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center (1 St. Anthony’s Way, Alton) Psychological Services Department will be hosting a second Healthy Workplace Lunch & Learn program offering free NARCAN training. This new “lunch & learn” program will be held on Friday, March 31, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the hospital’s Perpetual Help Center and led by Karen Tilashalski, community health specialist, Chestnut Health Systems. The training program is free and lunch will be provided, but registration is required. Registration can be completed by visiting http://HealthyWorkplaceNarcanTraining.eventbrite.com . NARCAN® Nasal Spray is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose emergency. Attendees will also learn about the opioid epidemic in southwestern Illinois including: Local overdose data What happens when a person overdoses How to recognize an overdose How t

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair is excited to announce Old Dominion will headline the Illinois Lottery stage on Friday, August 11th. The 5X CMA and 5X ACM Award winning band is coming off a record-breaking fifth consecutive win for “Vocal Group of the Year” at the 2022 CMA Awards, where they were also nominated for “Album of the Year.” Since breaking onto the music scene in 2014, the band has notched eight number one singles including: Break Up with Him, Hotel Key and One Man Band . In 2021, Old Dominion received two GRAMMY nominations for their song “Some People Do,” including “Best Country Song” and “Best Country Duo/Group Performance.” The band wrapped up 2021 by releasing their fourth studio album, Time, Tequila & Therapy , featuring the smash summertime single I Was On a Boat That Day . The song was named one of the “100 Best Songs of 2021” by Billboard and was certified Platinum.

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ST. LOUIS - James Turman died after he sustained multiple puncture wounds to both legs and his abdomen in an incident where St. Louis County Police officers were called to the scene at 2 p.m. on March 30, 2014. The case remains unsolved and St. Louis Crime Stoppers is seeking information. When officers arrived, Turman was lying in the reclined front passenger's seat of a 1980s Chevy Iroc Camaro parked at 8933 Riverview Boulevard in St. Louis. The victim was unconscious and sustained multiple puncture wounds to both legs and his abdomen. An initial scene investigation indicated that the victim parked at this location when he was approached by the suspect. An argument ensued and the suspect shot the victim with a "dark-colored" handgun. The suspect then fled southwest from the location on foot. If you have any information about this homicide, please call the CrimeStoppers Tip Hotline at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477) If your tip, called into CrimeStoppers, leads to the felony arrest of the subject(s)

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SPRINGFIELD – The 2023 Illinois spring trout fishing season will open Saturday, April 1, at 58 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state. An early opportunity at selected trout sites – the spring catch-and-release fishing season – will open March 18. No trout may be kept during the catch-and-release fishing period, but anglers can keep trout after the opening of the regular season beginning April 1. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the spring season. An additional 80,000 trout will be stocked for the fall trout fishing season, which begins in October. The Illinois Catchable Trout Program receives funding support from those who use the program through the sale of Inland Trout Stamps. For the 2023 spring trout season, no trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites from March 13 until the season opens at 5 a.m. April 1. Anyone attempting

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SPRINGFIELD - Today Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) announced the release of emergency medical supplies to support long-term disaster relief efforts in Turkey and provide humanitarian medical aid following the February 6 earthquake in the Mediterranean. “The recent earthquakes in the large Kahramanmaras region have had a devastating impact on countless families and communities,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “Here in Illinois, we lend a helping hand whenever we can, and we are proud to have medical supplies that can directly serve those in affected areas with immediate life-saving results.” Working through the non-governmental organization MedGlobal who specializes in international humanitarian crisis and is located in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, the State of Illinois can now directly support survivors in marginalized communities throughout the disaster-affected areas. The transfer of medical supplies will include

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Dear Community Leaders, Organizations and Businesses, We have some exciting news to share. We are hosting our 2 nd Annual Alton Area Community Easter Egg Hunt. For our inaugural event we had over 400 in attendance. On Saturday, April 8, 2023 from Noon to 4 p.m. at Rock Spring Park . This event is free and open to the public. At this community event there will be food, games, activities and giveaways. We are looking for sponsors to help fund the Alton Area Community Easter Egg Hunt We are accepting monetary and in-kind donations. There are three levels of sponsorship: Gold - $500.00 and UP – supports 50 children or more Silver - $300 and UP – supports 30 children Bronze - $100 and UP – supports 10 Please make checks payable to Mr. Everything, 211 East Elm Street, Alton, IL 2002 To contribute to this community event please contact one of the community members listed below: Leon Smallwood-Bey Rosie Brown President, 100 Men Movement 4 th Ward

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ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Regional Freightway is inviting students and educators to sign up now to take advantage of curated riverboat cruises in 2023 that will provide tours through a portion of the Ag Coast of America. Offered the first Wednesday of the month beginning in April 2023, the cruises will be open to high school and college student groups, educators and educational administrators, and others interested in learning about the Ag Coast and the many career opportunities available in the region’s transportation, manufacturing and logistics industries. The cost per person varies based on age, group size and whether the group is participating in a regularly scheduled tour or a private, chartered tour. Participants will get an up-close look at critical elements of the region’s multimodal freight network, including roads and bridges, rail and barge facilities and multimodal freight transfer services and ports, all of which have garnered recognition for a 15-mile

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O'FALLON – HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is now accepting applications for a four-week paid registered nurse (RN) internship to be held May 22 through June 17, 2023. The RN internship program is designed for nursing students to gain real-life experience in a health care setting during their summer break. Interns will be paired with nurse preceptors full time to work on nursing skills and documentation while learning clinical and professional skills. The program also offers candidates opportunities to be hired in their areas of interest and specialty units upon completion of this internship. This internship opportunity provides practical work experience for clinical students in an environment that emphasizes patient-centered care, while exposing the interns to innovative and emerging concepts in health care practice. “We are excited to once again be able to offer this paid RN internship,” said Julie A. Gordon, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, nurse manager of education, RN Residency

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GREENVILLE - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced the Attorney General’s office has charged a Vermilion County man with alleged possession of child pornography. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online. Raoul’s office, with the Bond County State’s Attorney’s office, charged Arturo Rebollo Jr., 20, of Hoopeston, Illinois, in Bond County Circuit Court with 15 counts of possession of child pornography, all Class 2 felonies, which are punishable from probation up to 28 years in prison. Rebollo is being held on a $750,000 bail. “Those who prey upon innocent children must be held accountable. I remain committed to protecting children from exploitation that can potentially leave life-long emotional scars,” Raoul said. “The collaboration of my investigators

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Prostate cancer isn’t a pleasant topic to think about. But at the same time, it’s a cancer that many of us are, unfortunately, familiar with. It’s likely impacted people in our lives, whether it’s family members, friends or those we know through school or work. So, whether it’s for ourselves or those we care about, it is important to better understand the disease and steps that may help protect against it. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in the U.S., just behind breast cancer, but it is the most common cancer in men, with close to 290,000 cases diagnosed each year. And like many other health issues, prostate cancer doesn’t impact everyone equally – with African American men much more likely to develop and die from the disease than other groups. So, what is the prostate, exactly? It’s a gland about the size of a ping pong ball that’s part of the male reproductive system. It sits just below the bladder, circling

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Model and media personality Hailey Bieber recently revealed that she has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from a stroke in 2022. “It was so terrifying, so jarring, so discombobulating in every single way that you could imagine,” Bieber told Vogue. PTSD is often associated with veterans, but it can affect anyone, says Ari Lakritz, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at OSF HealthCare in Alton, Illinois . It describes the development of symptoms following a traumatic event, either through firsthand or secondhand exposure. Secondhand exposure is usually not as simple as, for example, watching news coverage of a violent crime. A more appropriate example, Dr. Lakritz says, is a police officer who routinely investigates those crimes. Dr. Lakritz describes what may trigger the beginning of a PTSD diagnosis: “Memories of the event. Dreams or flashbacks. Avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma.” Those symptoms then change the

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JERSEYVILLE - One of Baylee Crawford’s dreams recently came true on March 7 when she officially opened Glam Beauty Bar, a new beauty/hair salon located at 212 1/2 S. State St. in Jerseyville. She said it’s the first salon in town to offer a complimentary alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink as you get your hair done, and that they also have a coffee bar, snacks, and plans to offer more services in the future. “Honestly, having my dream come true has been absolutely amazing, I love walking into my own space every morning,” Crawford said. “The support of the community in just a few days of being open has been so amazing, and I can’t put into words just how grateful I am.” Crawford said she “definitely wouldn’t be here” without the support of her family and clients, and that the space on State Street fell into place at the perfect time for her. She’s had years of experience doing hair at a couple of different places and

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DIETERICH – The Illinois House Judiciary Criminal Committee today advanced legislation State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dietrich) is sponsoring to make remote testimony for victims under 13 years of age the standard practice in cases where abuse is alleged. House Bill 2607 establishes a presumption that the testimony of a victim who is a child under 13 years of age shall testify outside the courtroom and the child's testimony shall be shown in the courtroom by means of a closed circuit television. The presumption could only be removed if the defendant proves the child will not suffer emotional distress by providing testimony in the courtroom. “I introduced this bill because I find it incredulous that we expect children who are the victims of sexual assault to testify in open court,” Niemerg said. “Sexual predators who sexually abuse children use their roles as adults to intimidate and silence their victims. There is no question testifying in open court about

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As Americans prepare to spring forward on March 12 for Daylight Saving Time, health experts are issuing a wake-up call to Congress to make the change permanent. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says public health and safety would benefit from eliminating Daylight Saving Time in favor of standard time. The AASM says the switch to permanent standard time would more closely align with the body’s internal clock – our circadian sleep-wake cycle – instead of disrupting the body’s natural rhythm. There is also evidence that Daylight Saving Time can take a toll on your heart, specifically increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke. The AASM recommends getting at least seven hours of sleep before and after Daylight Saving Time begins while shifting your bedtime 15-20 minutes earlier each night before the change. Dr. Frank Han is a cardiologist with OSF HealthCare who specializes in pediatric and adult congenital heart disease. He says poor sleeping

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