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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $2.3 million in tourism funding through two grant programs, the Tourism Attractions Grant Program ($1.7 million) and the Tourism Private Sector Grant Program ($600,000). Eligible entities can apply for grants to develop and improve new and existing tourism attractions through the Tourism Attractions Grant Program as well as grants to support and attract events and festivals through the Tourism Private Sector Grant Program in an effort to boost tourism across the state and welcome more visitors. Grantees will be selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process. “Illinois is the best place in the nation to visit and our booming tourism industry proves it,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With an additional $2.3 million in funding, these grant programs will help develop and enhance attractions, support events and festivals, and

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ALTON - Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Hayner Public Library District will host the next “Puzzle Me This” puzzle competition at the Genealogy & Local History Library, 401 State St., in downtown Alton. Which four-person team will take home the prize for the fastest completion, and which team will shine through the accompanying historical trivia? Puzzlers and puzzle fans are invited to join us for the Hayner Library Fall Puzzle Competition. For this special event, Genealogy & Local History Library staff are once again collaborating with Alton High School Graphic Communication students to create a one-of-a-kind image that speaks to the history of Alton, Godfrey, and Foster Township. These puzzles will be produced only for the competition. Registered participants may arrive fifteen minutes early to settle into their tables. The competition starts promptly at 11 a.m. and ends when the puzzles are complete or at 2 p.m. Audience members are welcome to come

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Key takeaways: Pneumonia cases overall are drastically higher this year over last year Walking pneumonia cases are being seen more in young kids Severe illness in young kids with pneumonia is greater this year Normally, school-aged kids, teenagers and young adults are the more likely suspects to have what’s called “walking pneumonia.” It’s caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae ( M. pneumoniae ), a bacterium that causes respiratory tract infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports test positivity for walking pneumonia increased in late spring of 2024 and remained high. The term walking pneumonia was coined because it’s possible for someone to be walking around with the infection, and not even know it. “They're walking around school and they're not feeling that sick. They do have pneumonia but it's not putting them in the hospital typically,” says Keith Hanson, MD, the medical director of

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ALTON – Now that we’ve made our clocks “fall back” an hour, and with the holiday season fast approaching, just like the fall foliage popping up everywhere, there are some individuals that may begin experiencing those “winter blues” that are closely associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). According to Psychology Today , Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of recurrent major depressive disorder in which episodes of depression occur during the same season each year. This condition is sometimes called the "winter blues," because the most common seasonal pattern is for depressive episodes to appear in the fall or winter and remit in the spring. Seasonal Affective Disorder is estimated to affect 10 million Americans. Another 10%-20% may have mild SAD. The onset of SAD is estimated to be between the ages of 18-30. Some people experience symptoms severe enough to affect the quality of life, and 6% require hospitalization. “It

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BETHALTO - For Bethalto East Primary School Principal Christine “Crissy” Pavlinek, the decision to come to Bethalto was easy. After spending 22 years moving throughout the country with her husband, an active duty U.S. Navy servicemember, Pavlinek was eager to settle down closer to family in the Bethalto area. Now, she’s happy to be a part of the school community as principal of the district’s youngest school. Not only does it appeal to her student-centered approach, but it makes for a lot of fun days with kids who love to see her. “We’re never short on hugs and we’re never short on smiles,” Pavlinek shared. “The energy and excitement that they bring to each day just to be here and learning, to share something that they love and care about — I’m telling you, it’s a really magical place to be.” Pavlinek grew up in central Illinois, then moved to Edwardsville to attend SIUE with her sister. Her husband

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BETHALTO - Joe Ord with Piston Aviation recently shared more about their all-new online monthly flight school program, Piston Live . The all-new program offers the best of both online resources and live instruction to make piloting more affordable and accessible. Piston Aviation is a flight school serving private and sport pilots with locations in Creve Coeur, Mo. and Bethalto . Ord explained that most in-person “Ground Schools” don’t provide much scheduling flexibility, while most online flight schools offer no opportunity for live instruction. Piston Live combines the flexibility of an online flight school with the real-time guidance and clarification available from having a live instructor. “If you can’t make that two hours at one time a week, then you’re kind of behind … but a lot of people learn better in-person, so we said, ‘Well, let’s combine the two and come up with a model where we do live sessions

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EAST ST. LOUIS — The Illinois Emergency Management Agency announced that a Disaster Recovery Center will open Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, at the Clyde C. Jordan Senior Citizen Center in East St. Louis. The center will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.p.m. Survivors of recent disasters will have the opportunity to receive assistance from specialists representing FEMA, the State of Illinois, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. The services offered at the center include help with applying for federal disaster assistance, uploading necessary documents, and obtaining answers to questions in person. Additionally, attendees will learn about other forms of assistance available and ways to enhance the disaster resilience of their properties. The Clyde C. Jordan Senior Citizen Center is located at 6755 State St., East Saint Louis, IL., 62203.

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EDWARDSVILLE — A power outage impacted multiple businesses, including Target and Home Depot, on Saturday evening, November 9, 2024. The outage began around 5 p.m. and affected approximately 600 customers in the area. Ameren Illinois reported that power was restored to those customers by approximately 8 p.m. Ellie Leonard, a spokesperson for Ameren Illinois, stated that crews are currently assessing the cause of the outage. She noted that power had been rerouted and restored to the affected customers. During the outage, the Edwardsville Police Department reported some accidents in the vicinity, although it remains unclear how many were directly related to the power situation. In the aftermath of the outage, some traffic signals in the affected area were non-operational. The Edwardsville Police Department reminded motorists that, under Illinois state law, drivers are required to come to a complete stop at intersections where traffic signals are not functioning. Ameren Illinois

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November 9th has witnessed some of the most significant events in history, shaping the course of nations and the lives of millions. One of the most pivotal events that occurred on this day was the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. For nearly three decades, the wall symbolized the Cold War's division between East and West Germany and the broader ideological struggle between communism and democracy. In the late 1980s, a wave of reformist movements swept across Eastern Europe, leading to increasing pressure on the East German government. On November 9, 1989, following a botched announcement regarding travel regulations, thousands of East Berliners surged toward the wall, demanding to cross into West Berlin. The guards, overwhelmed and confused, eventually opened the gates. This moment not only marked the end of the wall but also paved the way for the reunification of Germany and the collapse of communist regimes across Eastern Europe. Fast forward to 1994, when on this day, the first

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Police Department will once again offer a firsthand opportunity to experience and learn about law enforcement from the City’s own officers. The 2025 Edwardsville Citizens Police Academy is now accepting applications for the 10-week session that will begin in January. The Police Department is encouraging anyone interested in learning about constitutional law, the rights of citizens, and the duties of law enforcement officers to consider participating. The department offers this annual series of classes to further strengthen the positive relationship between the police and the community. Academy sessions will include tours, demonstrations, hands-on activities and practical exercises that will allow participants to experience life from a police officer’s point of view. The academy will be held on Thursday nights from 6-9 p.m. beginning Jan. 9, 2025 and concluding in mid-March. Course topics will include: Law review Traffic/DUI enforcement

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JERSEYVILLE - This year's Veterans Day events will be hosted by the Jerseyville VFW Post 4528. The Veterans Day parade will start at 10 a.m. Nov. 11, 2024. The parade will line up beside Wells Norris Tire on West Prairie Street and South State Street. It will proceed to the Jersey County Courthouse and the ceremony will be at the War Memorial. The Jerseyville American Legion 492 Color Guard will do the firing and taps. Also the Jerseyville Marine Corps League Robert Windle detachment 1031 and VFW 4528 will present colors. The Jersey Community High School band will also perform. Please bring lawn chairs if needed. The American Legion 492 will have its annual Veterans Day Dinner and will begin serving at 11:30 a.m. If it rains, the parade will be cancelled and the ceremony will be moved to the big pavilion at the American Legion 492.

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ALTON - On Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024 at 6 p.m., George Provenzano will present his “The Semples of Alton” lecture at the Genealogy & Local History Library, 401 State St., in downtown Alton. In 1836, General James Semple moved from Edwardsville to Alton to take advantage of better opportunities for real estate development in what then was a very rapidly growing city on the Mississippi River. For the next fourteen years, Semple and his family lived in a large country home in Semple Town , a residential subdivision that he platted in a picturesque setting on elevated acreage just north of Alton. When he moved to Alton, Semple was serving as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives in the Illinois General Assembly. He had been elected to three consecutive terms as representative from Madison County. In two of these terms, Semple served concurrently with an awkward-looking, ambitious politician from Sangamon County named Abraham Lincoln. While living in Alton, Semple

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ALTON - The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) will host its November STREAM Series event at The Old Bakery Beer Company in Alton, giving community members the opportunity to mingle with reps from NGRREC and the Missouri Botanical Garden. It will take place from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024 at 400 Landmarks Blvd. in Alton. “Join us for a celebration of community science,” Environmental Educator Erica Doerr said. “This free event will showcase how community members contribute to vital research projects that impact our environment and public health.” The Missouri Botanical Garden will highlight its Mosquito Alert STL program. This initiative uses qualitative and quantitative research methods to understand how communities can partner with public health agencies to advance scientific understanding of mosquitoes. Participants will learn how community scientists are helping to investigate mosquito control strategies that

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EDWARDSVILLE - Enjoy the sounds of the season when Opera Edwardsville takes the stage at the Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, Thursday, Dec. 19, for its signature holiday concert. Tickets are on sale now for this festive event. The one-hour long program includes a quartet of outstanding soloists performing holiday classics and festive hits. Tickets are sold through the Wildey Theatre Box Office and can be purchased online, by phone or in person. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: www.operaedwardsville.org . Guest artists include Opera Edwardsville favorites Amy Tommey, soprano; Karen Kanakis, soprano; Emily Fons, mezzo; Limmie Pulliam, tenor; Michael Kelly, baritone; and accompaniment by Opera Edwardsville pianist and artist-in-residence Joseph Welch. SIUE music student Benjamin Moore will be the student spotlight performer. Opera Edwardsville Founder and Artistic Director Chase Hopkins will emcee the event. As part of the event, a champagne toast will be hosted

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DeKALB – More than 587 students received their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Northern Illinois University in August. Included among the graduates was Torrie Gilmore of Jerseyville, who earned a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education. About Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university with a global network of nearly 260,000 alumni. With expertise that benefits its region, the country and the world, NIU offers more than 170 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs across seven colleges: Business, Education, Engineering and Engineering Technology, Health and Human Sciences, Law, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts. Through its main campus in DeKalb and education centers for students and working professionals in Naperville and Rockford, NIU serves a diverse and international student body of over 15,400. The

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STAUNTON - During their Employee Appreciation Week celebration in October, the employees at Madison were challenged to donate non-perishable items for the local food pantries as part of a team bonding exercise. The Madison employees collected a total of 10 milk crates and multiple boxes of food. The items were then divided evenly between the Mt. Olive Care Center, the Bunker Hill Food Pantry, and the Staunton Helping Hands Center. These donations are just a small part of Madison’s commitment to care for the communities that they serve. Along with donating to the local food pantries, Madison is also sponsoring the Community Hope Center’s Christmas Toy Drive once again! Please help spread the love to a child for Christmas by donating a new and unwrapped toy for girls and boys ages 0-12. Toys will be accepted anytime until December 6th in their main office lobby located at 21668 Double Arch Road in Staunton. They thank you in advance for your generosity this holiday season!

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ALTON - The year might be winding down, but Alton Little Theater is still busy with preparations for several upcoming productions, including “A Christmas Carol,” “Sing in the New Year” and “The Exes.” Lee Cox, executive director, noted that the shows will be a lot of fun for performers and audience members alike. She is especially looking forward to “A Christmas Carol,” which premieres in mid-December at ALT. She plans to decorate the theater like a Victorian Christmas, and she can’t wait to share the holidays with the community. “I’m going to really knock myself out,” Cox said. “I want the foyer to be beautiful because I want a lot of first-time people to come and see that we’re a little different from community theaters that they may already have gone to. We’re just one little stop under professional, because we can’t pay the big bucks, but we have some true quality people.”

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Key Takeaways: Exercise doesn't need to stop during pregnancy! Cardio is great to improve cardiovascular health for mom and baby Lifting weights is still safe to do! Don't do any exercises that inflict trauma on the stomach Speak with your OB/GYN about exercise plans Gym moms, if your child is a future Olympic athlete, you’ll always be able to say you were their first-ever gym partner. Becoming pregnant doesn’t mean you have to toss your exercise plan to the side, says Mfowethu Langeni, DO, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare who specializes in obstetrics. In fact, it’s the opposite! “Whatever you are doing activity-wise before pregnancy, you can keep on doing those as far as your body will let you," Dr. Langeni says. “Early on in pregnancy, you will have that added weight and body changes. But exercising is totally normal and is actually recommended, about 150 minutes per week.” As your baby sits and kicks in the

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BELLEVILLE - Collinsville recorded a 4.3 percent unemployment rate in September 2024 compared to 4.6 percent in 2023. St. Clair County boasted a 4.7 percent unemployment rate in September 2024 compared to September 2023 and Belleville stood strong at 4.8 percent compared to 5.3 percent a year ago. East St. Louis’ unemployment stood at 7.6 percent, but was down from 8.1 percent a year ago. Granite City recorded a mark of 4.9 percent in September 2024 compared to 4.5 percent a year. O’Fallon stood strong at 4.4 percent compared to 4.3 percent a year ago. The metro areas which had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Carbondale-Marion MSA (+1.9%, +1,100), the Champaign-Urbana MSA (+1.0%, +1,300), and the Springfield MSA (+1.0%, +1,100). The metro areas which posted the largest over-the-year decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island IA-IL MSA (-1.3%, -2,300), the Danville MSA (-1.1%, -300), and the Peoria

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville’s unemployment rate dipped to 3.5 percent in September 2024, down from 3.8 percent in September 2023. Madison County posted a rate of 4.2 percent, compared to 4.4 percent a year ago, while Jersey County stood at 3.9 percent, Calhoun at 4.2 percent and Greene County and Macoupin County at 4.1 percent. Alton’s unemployment rate was 5.8 percent, compared to a year ago. Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs in the state increased in nine metropolitan areas and decreased in five for the year ending September 2024, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over-the-year, the unemployment rate decreased in eight areas, increased in five, and was unchanged in one. “An expanding labor market and job growth across the state continues to instill drive and motivation in workers and jobseekers searching for new employment opportunities,” said Deputy Governor

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