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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—issued the following statement in response to the Department of Defense (DoD) Acting Inspector General Steven Stebbins announcing an investigation into Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s use of Signal, an unclassified, commercially-available messaging app, to discuss specific details about a U.S. military strike in Yemen: “Of course, this obvious leak of classified information by the Secretary of Defense himself must be investigated. Not just by the DoD Inspector General, but by the FBI and Congress as well—and I'll keep pushing for accountability from these senior Trump officials who continue to put our troops and national security at risk.” Since he was first nominated and throughout his confirmation hearing , Duckworth has made it clear that Secretary

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PONTOON BEACH – In response to the upcoming IL-111 & I-270 interchange reconstruction, Madison County Transit (MCT) will implement several service adjustments beginning Sunday, May 11, 2025, to preserve reliable, convenient transit access throughout the construction period. Construction is expected to impact travel from May through October 2025. To minimize disruption and enhance service flexibility, MCT is expanding its MCT Micro service and restructuring routes serving affected areas. These updates aim to ensure passengers can continue reaching their destinations with as much ease as possible. Building on the success of last fall’s new MCT Micro service in Collinsville, MCT will be launching MCT Micro – Bethalto | Cottage Hills, an on-demand microtransit zone creating more convenient access to transit within Bethalto and Cottage Hills, as well as the introduction of service in Rosewood Heights. Passengers will also have the flexibility to schedule rides to the Mai

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SPRINGFIELD - Patients in central and southern Illinois will now have expanded access to expert kidney care, as SIU Medicine expands its nephrology specialty services. SIU Medicine Nephrology will provide high-quality kidney care, supported by the strength of academic medicine and a team-based approach to treatment. SIU Medicine Nephrology will offer comprehensive kidney health services, including management of chronic kidney disease, oversight of dialysis treatments and referrals for transplant care. Patients will continue to receive care from their trusted providers, who were previously affiliated with Central Illinois Kidney and Dialysis: Oritsegbubemi Adekola, MD Vikram Bhatti, MD Xueguang G. Chen, MD Max Nutt, MD Nirali Ramani, MD “The integration of kidney care services with our existing service lines allows us to provide seamless, highly coordinated care to SIU Medicine patients needing specialized kidney care,” said John Flack, MD, MPH, chair of the Department

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College is excited to host its inaugural comic and pop culture convention, Blazer Con, from 1-8 p.m., Saturday, April 12, 2025, in the George C. Terry River Bend Arena on the Godfrey Campus. The event is free and open to the public. Register today at https://lcedu.jotform.com/team/blazer-con/attendee-registration to secure your limited edition Blazer Con 2025 badge and lanyard featuring student-designed artwork. Badges are required for entry. “Blazer Con is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of sci-fi, fantasy, and pop culture,” Blazer Con creator and Media Specialist Jared Smilack said. “Whether you’re a die-hard D&D enthusiast, a video game aficionado, or someone who loves great food and socializing, there’s something for everyone.” Blazer Con will feature a diverse range of vendors and activities. Attendees can enjoy a variety of food options to satisfy their cravings, providing

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Museum (ISM) is excited to announce the donation of a collection of items from President Abraham Lincoln’s extended family in Springfield. These family belongings are donated by descendants of the Hickox-Edwards families in memory of Catharine Officer Saxe Loucks. Passed down through five generations, they offer an exciting glimpse into the social and familial relationships of Lincoln’s Springfield. “These items tell the story of people who helped shape Illinois history,” said ISM Director Jenn Edginton. “The Illinois State Museum is thrilled to receive such an amazing donation. We cannot wait to share it with the people of Illinois.” The donated items represent the families of Virgil and Catharine Hickox and Ninian and Elizabeth Todd Edwards. They were passed down through the descendants of Charles and Mary Hickox Edwards, who married in 1868. Elizabeth Todd Edwards was the oldest sister of Mary Todd Lincoln;

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced six bipartisan bills to help lower the price of prescription drugs. U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement: “Families are struggling to afford their medications. Congress must take an all-options approach to lowering prescription drug prices, and the bills we advanced today embody that spirit. The legislative package will improve coordination between agencies, bring generic drugs to market more quickly, and foster competition in the pharmaceutical industry. Notably, every bill advanced today was bipartisan. There’s real momentum here, and the Senate needs to pass these bills to help make progress on pocketbook issues facing the American people.” The following bills advanced to the full Senate by voice vote: S. 527, Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2025 (Grassley, Welch, Coons,

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ALTON - Join us for our April Sierra Club Speaker Series featuring TreeHouse Wildlife Center on April 8, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. Meet some of their education animals, learn about summer internships, and a new job opening. Find out how you can help support their mission. Get all the details about their annual Baby Shower on Saturday, April 26, 2025. TreeHouse Wildlife Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife and the educational promotion of environmental stewardship and awareness. Established in 1979, TreeHouse has been serving the southwestern Illinois community for over 40 years as a professional resource for those who encounter a wild animal in need. Come early at 5:30 p.m. to join us for dinner at Old Bakery Beer Company. Questions, contact Craig Heaton at 618-345-4822 or Chris Krusa at 410-490-5024.

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ALTON - Centerstone’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) aims to prevent substance use before it starts by supporting children. Alexandria, the clinical coordinator for the Illinois RCORP, explained that the federally-funded grant program provides free mental health support for youth ages 3–18. The program also connects parents and families with other services through their coordinated care approach. “Our theory is if children receive the mental health support they deserve at an early age, they are less likely to engage in substances,” Alexandria said. “We just want to let everybody know what we are here to help, and our goal is to help each individual who connects with Centerstone to have a transformative experience so that they can thrive.” In Illinois, RCORP serves families in Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Franklin, Macoupin, Montgomery, Perry, Saline, Union and Washington counties. These counties experience higher

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BETHALTO – Riverbender.com is excited to announce the latest expansion to our live coverage of local government. Starting Monday, April 14, 2025 , all Bethalto Village Board meetings will be streamed live on Riverbender.com/video/live . The Village Board meets on the second Monday of every month at 7 p.m. As seen on the Riverbender.com Live Video page and the Village of Bethalto website , the next Village Board meeting is set for April 14, 2025 at 7 p.m. The village website also features a full meeting calendar for 2025 , as well as relevant meeting agendas and minutes . Village Trustees include Brady Dugger, Rachel Sontag, Maria Perkhiser, Tim Tweedy, Terri Keister, and Jeff Mull. As the leading source for news in the Riverbend region, Riverbender.com has long made our livestreams of local government meetings available to the public. While Bethalto is the latest municipality to join our live coverage lineup, Riverbender.com also broadcasts meetings for the Alto

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TROY — A gasoline spill occurred at the 4-0 Quick Shop on South Main Street on Saturday, April 5, 2025, prompting a swift response from multiple agencies to contain the incident and monitor environmental impacts. Rob Hancock, the Director of Public Works for the City of Troy, confirmed that the spill does not pose a threat to the public water supply. He emphasized that the city's water wells are not located in the vicinity of the spill. Officials are currently on the scene managing the cleanup efforts and ensuring safety. Residents are advised to avoid the area while crews work to address the situation. The City of Troy continues to prioritize public safety and environmental protection during this incident. A 4-0 Quick Shop representative said it is hoped the business will reopen as of Monday, April 7, 2025, but nothing definite has been determined yet. As of Saturday morning, Troy Police said all businesses and roads one block north, east and west of 804 South Main Street

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GRANITE CITY – A man from Granite City faces five felony charges after a series of vehicle break-ins. Jeremy A. Mitchell Jr., 27, of Granite City, was charged with five Class 3 felony counts of burglary and a misdemeanor count of obstructing justice on April 4, 2025. On Sept. 30, 202 3 , Mitchell allegedly entered a series of motor vehicles with the intent to commit theft, including a 2018 GMC Sierra, a 2019 GMC Sierra, a 2019 Ford F-150, a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado, and a 2022 Jeep Gladiator. Mitchell was additionally charged with obstructing justice for providing a Pontoon Beach Police Officer with a false name. The case against Mitchell was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department, and he was granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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WOOD RIVER — A 31-year-old woman from Wood River will remain in custody following a ruling by Associate Judge Emily Nielsen, who granted the State’s petition to deny pretrial release in a case involving serious drug-related charges. Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced the decision on Friday, stating that the continued detention of Valerie N. Hartkopf was necessary for public safety. Hartkopf faces multiple charges, including fentanyl trafficking, aggravated battery, and resisting or obstructing an officer. The charges stem from incidents that allegedly occurred on March 31, 2025, when Hartkopf is accused of bringing more than one gram of fentanyl into Illinois from Missouri and possessing between 15 to 100 grams of methamphetamine. In a separate incident, she is alleged to have deliberately exposed a State Police trooper to fentanyl by emptying capsules of the substance inside the trooper’s vehicle. After being taken to a hospital, Hartkopf reportedl

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, is suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of three federal agencies that provide services and funding supporting public libraries and museums, workers and minority-owned businesses nationwide. In March, the Trump administration issued an executive order that would dismantle federal agencies created by Congress that collectively provide hundreds of millions of dollars for programs in every state. As a result of this executive order, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – one of the targeted agencies – has placed almost its entire staff on administrative leave and will cut hundreds of grants for state libraries and museums. The lawsuit filed today by Attorney General Raoul and the coalition seeks to stop the targeted destruction of the IMLS and two other agencies targeted in the administration’s order that millions of Americans rely on, especially

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EDWARDSVILLE - The first week of April marks Global Asbestos Awareness Week, and in its efforts to advocate for victims of asbestos exposure, The Gori Law Firm is proud to once again partner with the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) to reinforce the importance of education, prevention and action. Throughout April 1-7, the ADAO offers unique opportunities for participation and champions initiatives that share the life-changing effects of asbestos and push for policy changes that protect everyday citizens from future exposure. This week is also a time of remembrance for victims of diseases caused by dangerous asbestos exposure, with a special candlelight vigil held on day seven to honor those individuals around the world. The 21st Annual Global Asbestos Awareness Week will also preview the launch of ADAO's new AI-powered chatbot, which will deliver on-demand, accurate, accessible and actionable information about asbestos exposure, prevention and policy in more than 100

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ALTON – Since 1958, National Library Week has been a week to celebrate the role that libraries, librarians, and library workers play in communities across the country. This year’s National Library Week theme, “Drawn to the Library," will be celebrated April 6–12, 2025. People across the country visit their local library each week, from young families stopping in for story time to seniors searching for tech help or their next page-turning read. Plot your next library visit to Hayner Library and find adventure by browsing the stacks or joining one of our book clubs. Trace your family history with our library’s genealogy resources. Make your mark and get involved with your library by volunteering or spreading the word. Whatever draws you in, the library has something for everyone! To celebrate National Library Week, Hayner Library will host a drawing contest for three age groups: children (ages 2-12), young adults (ages 13-17), and adults (ages 18+). Hayne

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and nine of their Senate colleagues who are LIHEAP champions in sending a letter urging the Trump Administration to reverse course on the recent reported elimination of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) workforce. The letter comes in response to the Trump Administration’s reduction of about 10,000 employees from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These cuts reportedly include the entire staff running the $4.1 billion LIHEAP, which helps millions of American households afford their heating and cooling bills. The federally funded LIHEAP program is a crucial lifeline that helps more than six million low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes afford their energy bills, including those who use natural gas, propane, electricity, and home heating oil. Without this assistance, many Americans

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt scored a win for Metro East manufacturing and labor with the passage of his bill to enhance career and technical education opportunities. “If we want to bring back and build up manufacturing in the Metro East, we need to build the labor pool,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Career and technical education can help a young person create a stable career, leading to a stable family and ultimately a stable Metro East.” Senate Bill 58 would expand a current program that is successful in other parts of the state to the Metro East. The program allows manufacturing companies to partner with local community colleges and high schools to set up technical training programs that would translate directly into a job. This creates a targeted labor pool that connects prospective workers with the manufacturers in their community. “We have an opportunity to uplift our young people by giving them hands-on experience, higher earning

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 19 attorneys general, today filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over an executive order President Trump signed in March, which is an unconstitutional attempt to impose sweeping voting restrictions across the country. The executive order attempts to conscript state election officials into the president’s campaign to impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements when Americans register to vote. It also seeks to upend commonsense, well-established state procedures for counting ballots – procedures that make it easier for Americans’ voices to be heard. “The authority to modify the rules Congress established for U.S. elections lies within Congress. Instead of imposing voting restrictions across the country, we should focus our efforts on encouraging more Americans to participate in the democratic process,” Raoul said. “I will continue to defend Illinois law, which

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GRANITE CITY – Senior Elijah Kolb was named the 2024-25 Granite City High School Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as announced by GCHS. Kolb will be recognized at Busch Stadium on May 6 as part of the 59th Annual St. Louis Post-Dispatch Scholar Athlete Team. In addition, he will be featured in the special section of the newspaper and online at STLhighschoolsports.com on May 6. "I am very grateful and thankful to be nominated to receive this prestigious award," Kolb said. "Receiving this award has shown me that all the hard work in the classroom and in sports pays off. A two-sport standout in football and wrestling, Kolb is attending Montana State University in the fall to pursue a degree in microbiology on a pre-med track. He is the son of Michael and Trista Kolb. "The Scholar Athlete of the Year Award is a very prestigious award and Elijah has earned this recognition through his hard work in the classroom and in athletics," said GCHS Athletic Director John Moad. " Athletic

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GODFREY - Lewis and Clark Community College will hold a community concert, April 6, 2025, in an effort to feature local talent. Among those performing are The Blancas, Greenville University’s Fusion, Rosalind-Denise Evans and the Inner Ear Youth Orchestra, Cole Tarrant and many more. Concert organizer and Blancas member Brenda Lancaster was inspired to plan the event to highlight the many talented musicians in the area. “We have many naturally gifted young black musicians in our community,” Lancaster said. “We understand from experience it takes more than a natural gift and Tik Tok to be successful in the music business.” Many types of music will be preformed, including showtunes, ballads, classical, gospel, jazz and pop. The concert will take place at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 6, in The Commons, located in the McPike Math and Science Complex at Lewis and Clark Community College. The show is free and open to the public, with a reception immediately following.

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