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CHICAGO – Building on the administration’s funding increases for child welfare and wellbeing, today Governor Pritzker announced the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative to evaluate and redesign the delivery of behavioral health services for children and adolescents in the State of Illinois. The Governor tasked the Initiative with building a coordinated, inter-agency approach to ensure young people with significant behavioral health needs receive the community and residential services they need to thrive while providing parents, guardians, and family members with transparency and clarity in the process. The initiative will provide a transformation blueprint by the end of 2022. The Governor also named Chapin Hall child welfare expert Dana Weiner, PhD, as Director of the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative. “I’m launching the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative to evaluate and redesign th

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EAST ALTON– The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) a division of Lewis and Clark Community College, is offering paid summer internship opportunities to current college students in the greater St. Louis region. This year’s nine-week summer internship program will run from June 1 to Aug. 7. Students will have the choice to work either 20 hours or 40 hours per week, depending on their availability. “The NGRREC internship program gives undergraduate students the opportunity to explore various careers related to large rivers, water quality, conservation, education, and more,” Director of Environmental Education Sarah Fisher said. “Students do not need to have any experience coming into the internship. They are designed as entry-level positions.” This internship program is open to students enrolled in two- and four-year colleges and universities in the St. Louis area, including students enrolled at Lewis and Clark Community Colleg

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GRAFTON – Pere Marquette State Park has several employment opportunities available for people who would like to help facilitate recreational opportunities in the state park system. Pere Marquette State Park is accepting applications for the position of conservation worker. These positions have principle responsibilities of assisting in park maintenance tasks, such as grass mowing, trail maintenance, and pavilion cleaning. These positions are for a six-month term beginning May 1. Candidates should be at least 16 years old, have a valid driver’s license, and be available to work weekends. The application period concludes on April 15. Interested parties may contact the site at 618-786-3323 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

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GODFREY – Parents will have the opportunity to explore their child’s aptitude for piano and music during KinderKeys, a four-week group class offered through Lewis and Clark Community College’s Music Preparatory Department. The class will be open for children ages 5-7 and will be held from 4-4:50 p.m. each Monday, April 18 through May 9, in the Ringhausen Music Building (MB 130) on L&C’s Godfrey Campus. Barbara McHugh, a music educator with over 30 years of teaching experience in the Alton/Godfrey and St. Louis area, will teach the class. She has been involved with Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA), American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and National Piano Teachers Guild. Her piano students regularly perform in recitals and Piano Guild auditions. KinderKeys will introduce children to music through an engaging curriculum which includes songs, games, music theory, and practice assignments. This class

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The Center Square – Illinois currently has the second-highest gas tax in the nation behind only California. A report from the Illinois Policy Institute highlights how the state got here. According to AAA, diesel fuel, as well as regular unleaded gasoline, are at their highest price per gallon in the state's history. Prices in Illinois are the eighth highest in the nation at an average of $4.535 for a gallon of regular, and the state's gas tax, at 39.2 cents per gallon since more than doubling in 2019, is the second highest. Adam Schuster of the policy institute said there are many factors at play when looking at Illinois's fuel prices. However, he said, one thing stands out about the state. "There is a lot of factors going into the high price of gasoline right now, but a factor that is particular to Illinois is the recent doubling of the state gas tax," Schuster said. Illinois also is one of just seven states that assesses its sales tax on top of gas taxes. While many states

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ST. LOUIS – Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis announced a gift of $5.2M from MacKenzie Scott. This significant support is part of a larger collective gift of $281 million to 62 local Boys & Girls Clubs and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, one of the largest individual donations in the organization’s 160-year history. As one of the nation’s largest youth-serving organizations, Boys & Girls Clubs play a significant role in the lives of more than 4 million young people each year. More than 4,700 locations anchored in communities across the country create life-enhancing opportunities for kids and teens to thrive – providing safe places, caring mentors, and essential skill-building after school and during the summer. Boys & Girls Clubs are built with a foundation of inclusion and a sense of belonging, offering ways for youth to achieve their full potential in a safe environment while having fun. Clubs offer homework help, STEM learning, sports and recreation,

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LITCHFIELD – Sparklight®, along with the other Cable One® family of brands, will open spring applications for the company’s Charitable Giving Fund, which annually awards more than $200,000 in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, from April 1, 2022, through April 30, 2022. Grants will be made available across communities served by Sparklight and the other Cable One family of brands (Fidelity Communications and ValuNet Fiber) and will concentrate support in the following priority areas: Education and Digital Literacy Hunger Relief and Food Insecurity Community Development Last year the company awarded more than $200,000 to 60+ nonprofits , including organizations serving the homeless, providing child advocacy, offering senior assistance, and supplying food to those in need, to name a few. The Charitable Giving Fund is an extension of the company’s existing corporate social responsibility efforts, which include: Chromebooks for Kids, an initiativ

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SPRINGFIELD – HSHS today announced the appointment of Chris Klay to serve as President and CEO of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, IL. Klay currently serves as President and CEO of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, IL. He will begin his new role on May 1, 2022. “I am honored for the opportunity to join the dedicated colleagues, medical staff members, and volunteers of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in their successful work and look forward to serving the metro-east community,” said Klay. “Founded on our Franciscan traditions and Hospital Sisters’ core values of Care, Competence, Joy, and Respect, St. Elizabeth’s is a leader in delivering high-quality health care in the region and I am excited to support and advance this legacy.” Since joining HSHS in 2009, Chris was been responsible for various aspects of hospital operations in our western Wisconsin hospitals, including inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation

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GODFREY - The FBI’s Springfield Field Office will hold the 2022 Future Agents in Training (FAIT) Academy at Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey, Illinois, June 21-23. The FAIT Academy allows students an opportunity to get a comprehensive look into today’s FBI. Students learn from special agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff about investigative tactics that include gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and assisting with cases in an interactive learning environment. The program is free of charge and open to high school juniors and seniors who attend school within the FBI Springfield area of responsibility which includes 84 Illinois counties. Deadline for application submission is April 29 by 5 p.m. “The FAIT Academy builds a bridge of opportunity for today’s young people interested in learning more about careers in the FBI,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “Now

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ALTON - Mac's in Downtown Alton had a busy day on St. Patrick's Day with the usual massive amounts of corned beef and cabbage served and also with the first day of March Madness and sports betting. Rob Lenhardt of Mac's said it was busy all day long because of the sports betting and the St. Patrick's Day celebrators. By noontime, Mac's was filled with people, and it continued through the day and into the evening. ESPN Sports Radio broadcast throughout the day from Mac's on the opening day of March Madness and that excited Lenhardt. He said a variety of people were to make appearances throughout the day and night with the radio broadcast. "St. Patrick's Day is always one of our busiest days of the year," Lenhardt said. "The betting part also draws a lot of people in here. We are looking forward to serving everyone and having a very busy day."

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ALTON - There is an old saying that “having you for a friend means that I’ve been granted the luck O’ the Irish.” Today all around the Alton/Edwardsville area and beyond, residents are celebrating St. Pat’s Day. Area establishments were packed by 1 p.m. on Thursday and it appeared some decided to take the afternoon to celebrate the Irish holiday. It appeared nearly every area establishment was cooking waves of corn beef and cabbage on one of the most celebratory days of the year. Geno’s 140 Club in Bethalto owner Shane Cooper said today will be a great day for his popular business. “We have been packed since we opened at 11 a.m.,” he said. “We always enjoy the day. I have been Geno’s owner for seven years, my family first started it in 1983, so St. Patrick’s Day is a big tradition here for us.” The Alton Sports Tap is as busy as can be today with its annual serving of corned beef and cabbage. In fact, the

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EDWARDSVILLE - Junior Tracy Harris of Metro East Lutheran High School averaged more than 10 points a game for a strong Knights squad that finished 18-11 overall this season. Harris is the MELHS Male Athlete of the Month for his efforts on the hardwoods. Harris said he believes his best attribute is his shooting ability "especially from the arc." "I have been playing basketball for 12 years. What I like most about basketball are the places that it has taken me, the opportunities it provides, and the feeling of knowing you get better every day. "Basketball has shown me the discipline it takes to maintain a healthy lifestyle and how focused you have to be if you really want something. You can’t pick and choose what days to work hard because the outcome is not all that pretty." The MELHS junior has one more year with the Knights. He thanked his teammates for riding with him all season. "I would also like to thank my father and mother for keeping me focused on and off the court."

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SEE GALLERY: EDWARDSVILLE - Marathon Pipe Line crews continue to remove crude oil from the Cahokia diversion channel and other areas affected by the crude oil release. Marathon Pipeline said boom will remain in place for an extended period of time at several locations along the channel to contain the crude. Boats are being used on the channel to assist in the retrieval of oil from the water. “While comprehensive remediation and restoration work continues in the affected area, the public is asked to avoid the recovery zone for the safety of the responders, the community, and to limit environmental impact,” Marathon Pipeline said today. Federal agencies are conducting the investigation to determine the cause of the release. A Unified Command remains in place to respond to the Edwardsville crude oil release. The Unified Command consists of representatives from : The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, The Edwardsville

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JERSEYVILLE - 1880 Pizza Pasta House and The 80 Loft, both located at 208-210 South State Street in Jerseyville, recently announced both businesses will close at the end of the month. “We were contacted by an individual that loves the building as much as we do,” they wrote in a Facebook post . “Folks, it is plain and simple, it’s a smart business move and there are just some opportunities that God presents to us that cannot be ignored … this is one of them.” The 1880 Pizza Pasta House is an Italian restaurant, while The 80 Loft on the building’s second floor is a gift and treats shop. Both businesses’ last day of operation will be March 31, 2022, so they encourage customers with gift certificates to use them soon. “It’s definitely not goodbye, as we will be focusing on Espresso Yourself Bakery and some super exciting menu additions,” they continued in the post. Espresso Yourself Bakery is a café and

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EDWARDSVILLE – For college athletes, understanding nutrition and making healthy food choices can have a significant impact on their athletic performance. College is also a time when many student-athletes are living on their own for the first time and making their own meals. To educate student-athletes about healthy eating for enhancing athletic performance, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Department of Applied Heath have partnered on a sports nutrition program that also provides valuable learning experiences for nutrition and dietetics students. “The partnership is mutually beneficial for both our student-athletes and our nutrition and dietetics students,” said Kathy Mora, PhD, RD, assistant professor of nutrition. “We provide nutrition and cooking education to the student-athletes and coaches, while our undergraduate and graduate students gain experiential learning opportunities.” During the

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY: On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued warrants on suspect Leon Bell, 37 years of age, of the 1600 block of Helen Street in St. Louis, Missouri 63106, for four counts of Statutory Sodomy or Attempted Statutory Sodomy – Person Less Than 12 YOA, four counts of Child Molestation 2 nd Degree – Child Less Than 12 YOA, and Statutory Rape or Attempted Statutory Rape – Person Less Than 12 YOA. A mugshot of Bell is attached. Bell is being held on a $500,000 cash only, no 10%, bond. Please note, charges are merely an accusation and Defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement for Bell reads: Victim #1 reported Defendant was having Victim #1 and Victim #2 touch each other. Both victims are 11 years old. During the forensic interviews Victim #2 disclosed Defendant touched his mouth to her genitals, he had her touch his genitals with her

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GRANITE CITY - GCS Credit Union will award a $2,000 scholarship to one high school senior in early May. GCS opens their Nicole R. Thorp Scholarship for the thirteenth year. Candidates are required to submit an essay explaining why saving and budgeting are important habits to develop. GCS supports youth in growing and reaching their savings goals and wants to hear how teens have succeeded. GCS also looks for applicants who actively volunteer in the community. Nicole R. Thorp, who the scholarship is named after, was a big believer in the credit union philosophy of people helping people. Scholarship applications can be filled out and submitted entirely online at myGCScu.com under the Member Center section. Applications are due Saturday, April 30th, 2022. All GCS Credit Union members who are seniors in high school are eligible for the Nicole R. Thorp Scholarship. Not a member? It’s simple and easy to open an account online. For more information about GCS Credit Union, visit myGCScu.com

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SPRINGFIELD - While consumer prices and the price at the pump continue to rise, House Republican lawmakers, including State Representative Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg) are advocating for reforms to provide relief for Illinois families. At a press conference held inside the capitol this morning. Rep. Elik said, “I stand here today just as frustrated as every person in Illinois and every family that is outraged with the rising cost of gasoline and many other items we purchase on a day-to-day basis. Illinoisans are paying more and more while state government continues to tax everything politicians can get their hands on. Immediate relief can start today. Inflation is at an all-time high, now is the time for taxes to be reduced.” To provide relief to consumers at the pump, Rep. Elik sponsored legislation ( HB 5723 ) to cap the sales tax on gas at .18 cents per gallon for motor fuel and 80% of that amount for gasohol. In addition, to provide relief to consumers purchasing food an

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ST. LOUIS - The victim in the homicide in the 1400 block of Dunn Road in St. Louis County has been identified as Brandon Lockhart, 19 years of age, of the 3400 block of Brookshire Drive in Florissant, Missouri, 63033. At 2:20 p.m. March 15, 2022, St. Louis County Police Officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for sudden death in the 1400 block of Dunn Road, the Budget Inn. Officers discovered an adult male deceased in a room in the hotel. Further investigation revealed the death to be a homicide. The investigation is very active at this time. Additional information will be disseminated as it becomes available. Please contact the St. Louis County Police Department at (636) 529-8210 to speak to investigators if you have any information regarding the incident. To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, please contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477) if you have any information regarding the incident.

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EAST ALTON – New research findings from local Terrestrial Ecologist Lyle Guyon are changing the game for Japanese hops control and management in large floodplains. Guyon, who holds a doctorate in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is a senior scientist at Lewis and Clark Community College’s National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) and has over 15 years of experience in floodplain research. His recent paper, “Japanese Hops ( Humulus japonicus ) Control and Management Strategies in Large River Floodplains” was published in the Journal of Forestry earlier this spring. “Japanese hops is a fairly new invasive species that many individuals may not be familiar with,” Guyon said. “Unfortunately, it is spreading rapidly and can create a real problem where it takes hold.” His research findings show that the most effective long-term strategy to manage Japanese

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