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EAST ST. LOUIS - Carmillya Butler has established a GoFundMe to assist with her mother - Patrenia Butler-Turner's final expenses, including her burial. Petrenia's body was found in Pontoon Beach 10 years after she was reported missing. Patrenia's body was discovered in December 2022 when authorities had a tip of skeletal remains in a wooded area off Illinois Route 111 in Pontoon Beach. The remains were confirmed to be those of Butler-Turner. A suspect - Roger D. Sutton has been charged with murder in Butler-Turner's case. "It has been horrible waiting and not knowing what happened to her," she said. "I cannot describe the pain I am feeling knowing she was taken from me. Any help covering her final expenses would be greatly appreciated."

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EDWARDSVILLE – Metro-East Lutheran High School’s scholar bowl team went undefeated in the regional tournament on Monday to become the regional Class 1A champions. The team, which had a bye in the first round of the tournament, defeated Dupo High School in the second round to move on to the championship match. MELHS defeated Father McGivney Catholic High School with a score of 680-110 to win the regional championship. MELHS will now move on to sectionals, which will be held on Saturday at Father McGivney. This is the latest in a string of victories for MELHS. Over the weekend, the team won the Class 1A State Championship at the Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl in Bloomington, Ill., and on Feb. 25, MELHS placed second among small schools in the National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) state tournament and placed seventh among all schools statewide. “My team has worked incredibly hard for months to achieve these big end-of-season wins,” said Shanna Covarrubias,

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This is part one of a two-part story on reading food labels. Visit the OSF Newsroom later this month to read part two on reading nutrition facts. Carly Zimmer admits it’s tough. You walk down the grocery store aisle looking for healthy food. Bright colors and buzzwords like “organic” and “gluten free” catch your eye. The people who market food are good at what they do, after all. But Zimmer, a registered dietitian-nutritionist at OSF HealthCare, says when you master reading food labels, finding your desired morsels gets easier each shopping trip. “Label reading can be very tedious when you first start, especially when it goes along with a new diagnosis,” Zimmer says. “But once you get in a rhythm and know what foods are suitable for your diet, it does get easier. It becomes habit.” Front of the package Zimmer outlines some of the common words and phrases used to market food: Natural: Zimmer says the United States

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SPRINGFIELD - The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) reminds Illinoisans to test, inspect, and replace broken or expired smoke/CO alarms in their homes with new 10-year sealed battery alarms as they change the clocks this weekend. Also, if you still have functional alarms with removable batteries, now is good time to change those batteries. An Illinois law that took effect on January 1, 2023, now requires ten-year sealed smoke alarms be installed in all homes built before 1988 or that do not have hardwired smoke detectors. “Synthetic materials used in modern home construction causes homes to burn faster and hotter while producing toxic fumes limiting escape times to 3 minutes or less. This makes it vital for residents to ensure they have working smoke alarms in their homes while maintaining a fire escape plan that takes everyone’s needs into account and practice that plan,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. The time change serves a

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O'FALLON, Ill. - The National Sleep Foundation, which launched Sleep Awareness Week in 1998, says 45% of Americans report poor or insufficient sleep negatively affects their daily lives. Sleep Awareness Week, March 12-18, highlights the importance of good sleep. With everyone moving their clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 12, with the start of Daylight Saving Time, sleep schedules may be affected. “Sleep is one of the pillars of a healthy lifestyle, along with a balanced diet and regular exercise,” said Lia Turpin, a registered polysomnographic technologist at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Center. “ Sleep is when the brain and body disconnect from the senses, no longer allowing us to process information from the outside. In turn, sleep allows us to review activities and experiences from the day, which strengthens memory; gives our organs time to rest; allows our immune system to scan for infections and fight illnesses; and allows

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CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) announced today a $605,000 fine for Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, for violating the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act (NATA). Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, paid the fine and agreed to take corrective action based on the exam findings. The Department will conduct follow up exams to ensure the company remains in compliance. The Market Conduct Exam Final Report can be found here . “We are committed to ensuring that Illinois consumers have access to care and receive equitable service from the health insurance companies collecting their monthly premiums,” said IDOI Director Dana Popish Severinghaus. “The law requires health insurance companies to have a provider network that meets proper time and distance standards for consumers to receive care, as well as up-to-date, accurate

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GRANITE CITY - Juniors Nicholas Branding and Breonna Brown of Granite City High School were selected as Granite City Rotary Club Students of the Month for February. Students were nominated by teachers, and were chosen on the basis of academics, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and civic honors and awards, and organization membership and leadership. Each honoree will receive a framed certificate and a gift card, and will be recognized at the 29th Annual Mayors' Prayer Breakfast on March 14, 2023. NICHOLAS BRANDING Member of Marching Band, Ensemble Band and Jazz Band ... Drum major for Marching Warriors ... Member of GCHS Bass Fishing Team and Boy Scouts ... Volunteer candlelighter and multimedia tech at church ... Volunteer at TWIGS, Mitchell Fire Department and Special Olympics ... Eagle Scout ... Illinois Principals Award ... Member of National Junior Honor Society, Secondary Honor Society and Saturday Scholars ... Son of Nathan and Susan Branding. BREONNA BROWN

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after President Joe Biden unveiled an outline of his Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget proposal: “With this budget, President Biden has laid out bold priorities that invest in America’s future. By protecting and strengthening the bedrock promise of Medicare and Social Security, the President understands how crucial these programs are for the security and safety of millions of Americans. The budget also lays out opportunities to grow our economy from the bottom up and middle out, cut the deficit by ensuring the wealthiest Americans and corporations pay their fair share, create good paying jobs, lower costs for families, continue to upgrade our infrastructure, and much more. I’ll work with my colleagues to see the President’s vision across the finish line to deliver for American families and communities.”

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Legalization of cannabis has led to increased use by the general population, in addition to a rise in use by pregnant women. Cannabis is the most used drug during pregnancy in the United States and yet many doctors don’t talk about it with their patients who are pregnant or thinking about conceiving. One study found about 20% of pregnant women age 24 and under screened positive for cannabis. Dispensaries that sell the drug for recreational, and in some cases medicinal use, promote various strains for mood enhancement, sleep issues, loss of appetite, and in some cases, relief of morning sickness. “One study using hidden shoppers found that cannabis dispensaries were actually giving advice to pregnant women to use cannabis for their nausea and pregnancy. So that type of advice is very much concerning to us.” William Bond, MD, is a physician in the emergency department at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center and director of simulation research at Jump

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EDWARDSVILLE - SIUE Credit Union staff and board of directors made a $500 donation to the Glen-Ed Pantry. SIUE Credit Union President/CEO, Matthew Parrott, states, “We take pride in supporting our local non-profit organizations within the communities that we serve. Being a not-for-profit institution ourselves we share the same values of people helping people and improving the lives our of members through financial stability just like Glen-Ed Pantry’s value of bringing better health to our community.” Glen-Ed Pantry is a local non-profit organization that serves residents of the Edwardsville School District #7, which includes the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Hamel, Worden, Midway, Moro, Dorsey, and Prairietown. The Glen-Ed Pantry was established in 1980 and is staffed by more than 500 volunteers from our communities and serves around 200 families each month. SIUE Credit Union was founded in 1959 on the campus of SIUE University to serve the faculty and

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ALTON - Riverbend Head Start & Family Services is proud to announce that all of our Head Start centers have received the Gold Circle of Quality designation from ExceleRate Illinois, the State’s Quality Recognition and Improvement system for early childhood education and care programs. The centers are based in the following communities: Alton, Bethalto, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Granite City North and Granite City South. “Riverbend Head Start and Family Services always strives to provide the highest quality for children, families and staff,” said Veneta Wadlow, Center Operations Coordinator. “Just knowing that all six of our locations consistently are awarded the Gold Circle rating through ExceleRate demonstrates the commitment of staff, and I feel honored to work for a program that supports high standards of service.” ExceleRate Illinois uses a consistent set of standards organized into four domains: teaching and learning, family and community

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JERSEY - The Jersey Community High School (JCHS) Theatre Department is putting the finishing touches on their upcoming spring musical, "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown." The classic musical, based on the popular Charles M. Schultz comic strip, Peanuts, was written by American composer Clark Gesner in 1967. The musical centers around a day in the life of Charlie Brown and features all of the beloved characters from the cartoon. According to JCHS Theatre Director Brett Beauchamp, the production boasts great music and humor that will bring back memories of the Peanuts for those who grew up with them. "The music is incredibly charming, and the dialogue is very funny," Beauchamp said. "For those who grew up with the Peanuts, this will be a nostalgic night of theatre." He added that the show is suitable for all ages and described it as a "light" production. "It’s just enjoyable," he said. "You don’t really have to think a whole lot." The musical also provides a unique

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GODFREY - A new drone video tour highlights the improvements that have been made to Godfrey’s Glazebrook Park in recent history, including the addition of eight new pickleball courts, a splash pad, a new pavilion, and much more. Parks and Recreation Department Director Chris Logan said the department is extremely proud to offer these new attractions to the community and said there’s even more in store for the park’s future. Logan said the splash pad will fully open to the public this summer - it was completed last year, but only soft-opened toward the end of summer and early fall due to the timing of construction completion. “This summer here pretty soon we’re going to open it up to the public, and we’re really excited about that because we know people are just pumped about the splash pad,” Logan said. “Right next to the splash pad, there’s a building there with restrooms and a pavilion on the front of it with some tables

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County Building and Zoning announced today that Alton and Alton Township, Edwardsville and Edwardsville Township, East Alton, Granite City Park District, along with Wood River and multiple others have received grant approval for environmental initiatives. Madison County is awarding more than $143,000 in grants to municipalities, townships, and park districts for these initiatives in 11 taxing districts, the building and zoning office said. This is the full list and the various projects: Alhambra — $7,716 — Solar powered radar signs Alton — $15,000 — Olin Park Restoration Alton Township — $8,000 — The Wadlow Restoration Project East Alton — $15,000 — Community Recycling containers Edwardsville — $15,000 — Wastewater Treatment plant LED conversion Edwardsville Township — $15,000 —HVAC Building renovation Granite City Park District — $15,000 — Legacy Golf

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Annual Edwardsville Business Forecast Breakfast this week honored some of the backbone businesses and individuals of the city and featured details of what is on the economic horizon. Three businesses were recognized for special accolades: R.P. Lumber Company was honored as the 2022 Large Business of the Year; the Chef's Shoppe was the 2022 Small Business of the Year; Edwardsville Neighbors was the 2022 Nonprofit Business of the Year. "We had the pleasure Tuesday morning of hosting more than 200 people from area companies and business sectors, plus community groups, nonprofit organizations, students, and others for our annual Business Forecast Breakfast," Edwardsville Mayor Art Risavy said. Risavy spoke at the event, along with Chad Opel, a finance coach and advisor with Front Office Wealth Strategies who shared economic insights as the keynote speaker. James Arnold, the city's economic and community development coordinator, served as moderator. An Edwardsville

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ALTON - Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the Alton Brick Street Ordinance, but some of the city’s 10 miles of brick streets remain unprotected by the ordinance. The Alton Historical Commission held a public meeting on March 7 to discuss the possible expansion of the Protected Brick Street List. “We are having a meeting tonight to consider one, whether we have found all of the brick streets in Alton, and also, to determine whether or not the Protected Brick Street List should be expanded,” Alton Historical Commission Chair Douglas Bader said at the meeting. A few people spoke publicly at the meeting, including William Perkins, who suggested adding West 7th Street to the Protected Brick Street List - and said that according to his research, West 7th Street is the “steepest brick street in the world.” “Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania brags that they have the steepest street in the country, which is Canton Avenue,” Perkins said. “The

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ALTON - The 55th Annual NAACP Branch of Alton Freedom Fund Banquet features a special keynote speaker in May - a nationally described "Attorney for Justice" - Ben Crump. The event is Saturday, May 20, 2023, at the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Meridian Ballroom at the Morris University Center, Edwardsville. A social hour takes place from 6 to 7 p.m. that evening and dinner at 7 p.m. and the keynote speaker. Crump has handled several high-profile cases, including Trayvon Martin, Tyre Nichols, and Earl Moore. He also represented victims in the Flint, Mich., water crises, the Johnson & Johnson powder lawsuit, and the victims of the Amazon Warehouse collapse in Edwardsville. "I'm an unapologetic defender of black life, black liberty, and humanity," Crump said. "That's why I call myself a civil rights lawyer who believes that it's about these romantic notions of liberty and justice for all." The theme of this year's NAACP Freedom Fund event is "Injustice Anywhere is a Threat

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MILLSSTADT – State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) says he understands residents’ frustrations with the water and sewer problems in Cahokia Heights and is calling on the Governor and the leaders in the Illinois House and Senate to release the promised funds to the community. “People are getting sick not to mention the stench that comes with the backups during heavy rains,” Schmidt said. “The Governor promised $9.9 million in funding last August. One of the very first actions I took as a member of the General Assembly was to send a letter to the Governor asking for the money to be released. It is time for the state to fulfill its commitment to the people of Cahokia Heights.” Schmidt is also calling on city leaders in Cahokia Heights to work with him for the good of area residents. “Mayor Curtis McCall Sr. is a Democrat. I get it. But we should be working together,” Schmidt said. “The truth is the people of Cahokia Height

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the northeast and southwest corners at the intersection of Illinois 203 (Nameoki Road) and Madison Avenue in Granite City will require intermittent daytime lane closures, weather permitting, on Thursday, March 16, and Friday, March 17. The lane closures are necessary for the evaluation of pavement conditions. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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JERSEY COUNTY - Kenneth Walker, the older brother of Christy Walker, who was injured this week in an accident, has organized a GoFundMe to assist with her medical expenses. Christy was in a serious car accident on Tuesday coming home from work on Illinois Route 109 in Jersey County in front of the Do Drop Inn. Christy is now at a St. Louis area hospital. Kenneth said the following: “She has multiple broken bones. Both femurs are broken - the right one has a horizontal break and the left has two vertical breaks, both shin bones, both pelvic bones, and a broken ankle. She has a very large gash on her right upper leg just above the knee that severed a lot of blood vessels. “She has been in and out of surgeries most of the day on Wednesday. So far, they have fixed most of the broken bones in her lower half. But she will still need a lot of time to recover. Please bear with us while we try to work through this. Also please keep in mind this is a family matter.” Kenneth

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