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ALTON - Maya and Alex Stephan have emerged as pivotal players for the Marquette Catholic girls' soccer team during their successful 2025 campaign. In a recent match against Roxana, both sisters contributed to the team's victory by scoring goals, showcasing their skill and teamwork. The match occurred last week, further solidifying the Explorers' strong season. The Stephan sisters are Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Female Athletes of the Month for Marquette Catholic. Maya, reflecting on her journey, expressed her long-standing desire to play for Marquette Catholic. "I remember Alex and I watching them win in penalty kicks in the playoffs," she said. "I've been fortunate to have played with great teammates, but to share the experience with my sister for two years is something I will always be grateful for." Alex also shared her sentiments about playing alongside her sister. "I really enjoy playing with Maya. I'm definitely going to miss her when she graduates, not just the

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TROY - Make plans to spend the First Fridays in Downtown Troy this summer. Enjoy live entertainment, local food, market vendors, and shopping while exploring Market and Main Streets. The first event will be held May 2, 2025, with three more held the first Friday of June, August and September. The musical lineup for this summer at First Fridays in Downtown Troy is sensational. Standout area musician Mike Sonderegger of Mike Sonderegger Music will kick off the season with his always entertaining acoustic performance on May 2. On June 6, 2025, Dawn Mushill, President/CEO Of the Troy/Maryville/St. Jaob/Marine/Marine Chamber of Commerce said: "We go country with one of the best country bands in the area, Shotgun Creek. "We take a break for July 4th, then Lanny & Julie (a local staple) will join us on August 1st. Finishing the season, we have The Dude Abides Duo in September, which is guaranteed to rock the night. All concerts run 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. "People are encouraged to

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City High School senior Itzel Villalba, a second-year cross country runner and spring track athlete, continues to make strides in her athletic career by setting personal records at recent meets. Villalba is a Stillwater Senior Living Female Athlete of the Month for the Warriors with her efforts on the track team, this past fall's cross country season and in the classroom. The Warriors' Villalba competed in the Lady Knight Invitational, where she recorded times of 3:10.25 in the 800-meter and 6:56.01 in the 1600-meter events. She also participated in the FCHS Wiseman/Henning Invitational on April 14, 2025, where she achieved a personal record of 6:52.80 in the 1600-meter, finishing in 20th place. In the same meet, she placed 22nd in the 800-meter with a time of 3:11.84. Reflecting on her progress, Villalba said, “I like to accomplish my goals.” As she approaches the remainder of her senior year, she aims to continue improving her performance in track

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WOOD RIVER – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced lane restrictions will be encountered on IL 143 in Wood River on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, weather permitting. The right lanes will be closed in both directions from Enviro Way to Locks and Dam Way to allow IDOT District 8 Operations crews to perform needed emergency bridge deck repair work. All lanes are expected to re-open on Thursday, April 17. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. 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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GODFREY/EAST ALTON – Two local men have been charged in the latest case of copper theft reported in the Riverbend. Chad E. Gill, 44, of Godfrey and a 35-year-old East Alton man were both charged with Class 3 felony counts of theft on April 8, 2025. The East Alton man allegedly stole between $500-$10,000 worth of copper wire from Alton Materials on Feb. 5, 2025. On the same day, Gill received the copper wire under such circumstances that he knew it was stolen, according to court documents. The cases against the East Alton man and Gill were presented by the Alton Police Department, and both were granted pretrial release from custody. This comes just one week after two other local men were charged with stealing over $10,000 worth of copper products from Wieland in East Alton. More details about that case are available in this story on Riverbender.com . All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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PONTOON BEACH – This May, to celebrate National Bike Month, Madison County Transit (MCT) will host the MCT 2025 Trail Summit – Exploring Trail-Oriented Development (TrOD), a virtual event focused on the economic and community benefits of trail-based development. Additionally, MCT is collaborating with St. Louis-based nonprofit BWorks and several local libraries to collect used bicycles to be distributed to individuals in need. MCT 2025 Trail Summit: Exploring Trail Oriented Development The MCT 2025 Trail Summit is a free virtual event that will take place on Wednesday, May 14, from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM. This online event will bring together experts to discuss how trails can drive economic growth and enhance community development. SJ Morrison, MCT’s Managing Director, will moderate the discussion featuring speakers with firsthand experience in trail-oriented development: Dan Tripp , Co-Owner, Good News Brewing – Greater St. Louis Area David Kennedy

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SPRINGFIELD, IL — This week, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) will kick off a tour of hospitals and community health centers across Illinois' 13th district to raise awareness about the devastating impact of proposed Medicaid cuts by Congressional Republicans. Last week, House Republicans passed a budget reconciliation framework that would require an $880 billion reduction to Medicaid, aimed at funding tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations. These cuts threaten the vital support that health centers rely on to provide care to local communities. The tour will begin on Thursday, April 17th, with a visit to the Carlinville Area Hospital in Carlinville. From there, she will head to Granite City to tour the Chestnut Clinic. On Friday, April 18th, Budzinski will visit the Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, before wrapping up the tour with a stop at Crossing Healthcare in Decatur. WHAT: Budzinski Kicks off District Tour to Protect Medicaid WHO: U.S. Congresswoman

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ALTON - Cervical cancer is a concern for anyone with a cervix, but fortunately, it’s possible to detect and treat it early. Dr. Dennis Sands, Chief Medical Officer with OSF Healthcare, recently stopped by “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello to talk about cervical cancer. Sands explained that most cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection that can be easily detected in a pap smear. “One of the great things about finding that or making that discovery is we’re able to just simply do a pap smear, which is a screening test,” he said. “The main thing is just if people get their paps like they need to, then they’re able to catch the precursor lesions, which are caused by the HPV virus, and then we’re able to treat them before they actually ever develop cervical cancer.” Sands explained that the pap smear is a “super sensitive” screening that only

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NORMAL - Award-winning poets Victoria Chang and Ali Beheler will visit Bloomington-Normal for the annual Spoon River Poetry Review (SRPR) Lucia Getsi Poetry Reading on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The poetry reading begins at 7 p.m. at the Normal Theater in Uptown Normal. A book signing will follow the reading. Chang has received several awards for her poetry, including the Forward Prize for Best Collection of Poetry, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in Poetry, and the PEN/Voelcker Award, among others. Ali Beheler is the winner of the 2024 SRPR Editors’ Prize for her poem “Everything Is Prep Work.” The SRPR Lucia Getsi Poetry Reading is made possible by the Harold K. Sage Fund and the Illinois State University Foundation, Lucia Getsi, SRPR, the Publications Unit, the Department of English at Illinois State University, and the Department of English at Illinois Wesleyan University. Established and endowed in 2013 by longtime

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SAINT LOUIS — Celebrate the women who inspire us every day with an elevated brunch experience at 612North Event Space + Catering . Join us on Sunday, May 11 , with reservation time slots beginning at 9:00 AM , for a special Mother's Day event overlooking the stunning St. Louis riverfront. Located inside the historic Cutlery Building at 612 North 2nd Street , 612North offers a sophisticated atmosphere paired with breathtaking views of the Gateway Arch, the Mississippi River, and downtown St. Louis. Our Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet features some of the best brunch staples you can imagine. Indulge in our prime rib carving station and fried chicken & waffles . For those who love classic breakfast favorites, we’ve got you covered with scrambled eggs , biscuits & gravy , bacon , sausage links , and a veggie crustless quiche . But that’s not all—guests can also enjoy house salads , assorted fruit displays , bagels with a variety of spreads

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SPRINGFIELD – Members of Lewis and Clark Community College’s chapter of FBLA Collegiate brought home 24 awards from the Illinois State Leadership Conference in Springfield this past week, including advisor of the year. “The competition showcased the exceptional business acumen and leadership skills of our LC students,” said Advisor Christina Wickenhauser. “We were recognized as the largest FBLA Collegiate Chapter in the state of Ilinois. Nicc Edwards, our club president, was awarded the Dr. Tina Dierkes Sponsorship his second year in a row for his active contributions. And I was very humbled by the recognition I received as Advisor of the Year.” The conference, held March 29-30, gathered students for a weekend filled with leadership development, networking and competition. Nine participants, including eight current LC students and one alumnus, competed in 32 different events spanning objective tests, presentations, and case studies. The chapter's

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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and Illinois film industry leaders today to announce film production expenditures of $653 million in 2024 – the second-highest expenditure total in state history – along with estimated wages of $351 million and 18,200 estimated hires in the industry (excluding extras). The high expenditures demonstrate Illinois’ ability to bounce back in the wake of the strikes that halted production in 2023. “Through the Film and TV Workforce Program, we have invested in the future of the industry – increasing diversity and building out a qualified pipeline of hundreds who are equipped to serve on film crews and making it possible for us to attract major productions,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our success is a testament to our hard work and partnership as well as the undeniable charm of Illinois and our people that makes us a prime creative destination.”

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SPRINGFIELD – As high school seniors finalize their postsecondary education plans for the upcoming school year ahead of College Decision Day on May 1, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) is enlisting the help of Illinois high school principals, counselors, and teachers to warn college-bound students and their families about the risks associated with attending for-profit colleges. In the past few years, the U.S. has experienced workforce shortages across various industries. Illinois is projected to face a shortfall of nearly 15,000 nurses this year—with half of nurses in Illinois age 55 and older. The Illinois State Board of Education had nearly 3,900 unfilled teaching positions, as well as an additional 3,600 unfilled school staff positions as of October 2024. Without a trained workforce, Illinois will continue to face labor shortfalls across these crucial sectors. As a result, the U.S. is poised to see negative economic consequences. In his letter, Durbin encouraged

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor’s (IDOL) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (IL OSHA), in collaboration with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), Illinois Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA) and Mutual Aid Box Alarm System-Illinois (MABAS-Illinois) have developed a sample incident command, accountability, and mayday standard operating guideline (SOG) for structure fires. While IL OSHA requires fire departments that perform interior firefighting to have an incident command, accountability, and mayday policy, IL OSHA does not require use of this specific SOG. The sample SOG was developed using the following goals: To provide a basic SOG (it is three pages) that fire departments without an incident command, accountability, and mayday SOG can easily adopt and implement. To provide an SOG that could be adopted verbatim, adopted with modifications, or used as a tool to compare a department’s

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COLLINSVILLE – Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 announced Philip Carter has been named an assistant principal for Collinsville High School beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Carter grew up in Collinsville and is a 2010 magna cum laude graduate of Collinsville High School. He is currently an assistant band director at O’Fallon Township High School. “CHS is thrilled by the addition of Mr. Philip Carter as an assistant principal,” said next year’s CHS principal Bobby Wright. “Mr. Carter's experience in leadership in his previous roles will be a welcome addition to our administrative team. We are excited to work together on finding innovative solutions to our ever-changing world of education. There is no doubt that as an alumnus of Collinsville High School, Mr. Carter will encourage and inspire others to represent the Kahok Family well!” Carter received his bachelor of music education degree from Illinois State University, master

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JERSEYVILLE – The newest class of Jersey County CEO student entrepreneurs are almost ready to show the community what they’ve been working on. "This is our largest CEO group we've ever had with 14 students,” CEO Facilitator Liz Duggan said. “They have worked hard all year preparing for this moment to showcase their businesses." The public is invited to see what each student-run business has to offer at the next annual Trade Show, running from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at Farm & Home Supply in Jerseyville. Nearby Fritz's Meat & Processing will also be hosting a cookout near the entrance. "Each year, I look forward to seeing students shocked by the amount of support people show them at the Trade Show,” Duggan added. “We hope this year is a record attendance year!" The following students will be showcasing their businesses at the 2025 Trade Show: Jadyn Johnson: “Jersey County Run for the Roses” - A Kentucky Derby

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GRAFTON - The City of Grafton will once again host its Sip, Sample and Stroll event. On May 10, 2025, community members can come to Grafton for a spring day of fun and food. This event encourages people to walk through the city and sample drinks and snacks from different restaurants. Mary Lillesve, secretary of the Grafton Chamber of Commerce, hopes to see many new and familiar faces enjoying Grafton that day. “When you come to Grafton with your ticket, there are 14 businesses ready to welcome you,” Lillesve explained. “What they’ve prepared for you is a sample of their signature beverages and their signature food.” This is Grafton’s fifth annual Sip, Sample and Stroll event. Tickets cost $30 and must be purchased by May 5, 2025. You can purchase tickets online . On May 10, attendees must stop by City Hall between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to receive a wristband. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. and runs until 5:30 p.m. that day. Participating

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CHICAGO — Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 39 attorneys general, sent a letter to congressional leadership urging them to pass an act that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies. “PBMs have opted to focus on driving up their own profits at the expense of patients,” Raoul said. “Their control of an outsized share of the market has led to patients having fewer choices and paying higher costs. I join my fellow attorneys general in calling on Congress to reign in PBMs, and I will continue to advocate for reforms that ensure prescription pricing is transparent and reduce the financial burden on patients.” PBMs are third-party administrators of prescription drug programs for health plans. Over the past few decades, horizontal consolidation and vertical integration have transformed PBMs from useful administrative service providers into market-dominating behemoths that control the

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is notifying the owners and operators of 21 Community Water Systems (CWSs) that there has been a detection of one or more Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the most recent water sampling of those specified CWSs at levels exceeding newly enacted groundwater quality standards. The Illinois EPA is also notifying owners and operators of 26 connected CWSs that obtain water from CWSs that had one or more PFAS exceedances. Existing state Right-to-Know laws require a CWS to notify all end users when groundwater contamination poses a threat of exposure to the public above the Class I groundwater quality standards. This law establishes methods of notification and strict time frames for providing notice. PFAS are a group of several thousand human-made chemicals that are manufactured for their oil and water-resistant properties. Since the 1940s, PFAS have been used in a wide range of consumer products,

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SPRINGFIELD - Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration: Employment Security Advisory Board Patrick Devaney will continue to serve as a Member of the Employment Security Advisory Board.* Devaney is the Secretary Treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO and former President of the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois, a role he held for over a decade. He served more than 2o years with the Champaign Fire Department and held various leadership roles on the Executive Board of the Champaign Firefighters IAFF Local 1260. In addition to his service on the Employment Security Advisory Board, Devaney has served on the State Fire Marshal Advisory Board and the Pension Consolidation Task Force. Devaney earned a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Northeastern Illinois University Board of Trustees Anna Meresidis will continue to serve as a Member of the Northeastern

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