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CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, met with community leaders at the Ukrainian Culture Center to provide an update on his recent trip to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. During the meeting, Durbin highlighted what was discussed at the summit, including an easier pathway for Ukraine to ultimately join NATO, congressional support for the transatlantic relationship, and continued Russian aggression in the region and Putin’s efforts to undermine allied security and democracy. During the meeting, Durbin praised Lithuania for its notable leadership in the NATO alliance and steadfast commitment to democracy. He also highlighted the strong NATO alliance amid Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. “The NATO alliance is stronger now more than ever, and we are united in our determination to stop Putin’s ruthless invasion of Ukraine,”

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ALTON - A steamboat docked near the Argosy Casino today in downtown Alton to load up on supplies and pick up additional crew members. The boat is with American Queen Voyages , a cruise line that offers river tours throughout North America. Over the next week, they will travel up the Mississippi River to Red Wing, Minnesota. “It is definitely nice to be able to travel for work, to be able to see all the different sections of the country that you wouldn’t normally be able to see on a road trip or by flying, even,” Alex Schuchter, one of the ship’s watchmen, said. “Getting to see things that most people aren’t going to see, the scenery and the nature; when we get up toward Minnesota, the cliffs and the mountains that we go through, and down towards Mississippi, all the plains and the forests and all that.” Like during any cruise, passengers stay in hotel rooms on the steamboat and enjoy amenities like buffets, open bars and live entertainment.

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ALTON - Cherry Von Doom, otherwise known as Brittny Wheeler, took home the prize this weekend as the winner of the Kittenz of the Kulture Social Klub’s pinup contest. “This is such an empowering group of women. If you have self-confidence issues or anything at all, come and join this group,” Von Doom said of the ladies social club. The Kittenz of the Kulture Social Klub sponsors pinup contests across the Riverbend area. These contests are usually held alongside car shows. The All-Wheels Drive-In Car Show, held in downtown Alton on July 16, had over 200 classic vehicles on display for visitors to admire. The pinup contests pay homage to women’s culture and style of the 40s, 50s and 60s. Von Doom was dressed in a pink dress in honor of “Barbie,” a Warner Bros. Studio movie based on the Barbie doll franchise, which will be released on July 21. But for Von Doom and the other contestants, the social club and pinup contests aren’t just

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GODFREY - The Village of Godfrey has been made aware of solicitors going door-to-door in several area neighborhoods without permits/registration from the Village Clerk’s Office. It has also recently been reported by homeowners that a St. Louis-based control company has been operating contrary to the Village of Godfrey’s solicitor’s ordinance and employing questionable practices. Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick said: “If interested in what’s being offered, ask for everything in writing and don’t sign anything without assurance that you’ll receive a copy,” McCormick said. “And don’t feel pressured to open the door to people who aren’t familiar.” When dealing with door-to-door salespeople, it’s always recommended to ask to see the solicitor’s Village of Godfrey-issued permit, which they are required to carry on their person. “You can also call the Village Clerk’s office at (618) 466-3381 to verify

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred in the 14300 block of Ocean View Court which resulted in the death of a juvenile male. On Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 1:26 PM, St. Louis County Police Offices from the North County precinct responded to a call for service in reference to a shooting in the 14300 block of Ocean View Court. When officers arrived, they located an unresponsive male inside a residence suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. A juvenile male suspect is in custody and has been referred to Family Court. St. Louis County Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons detectives are conducting the investigation. The investigation is ongoing. Additional information will be disseminated as it becomes available.

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ALTON - As the Alton Pride organization prepares for its Sept. 9 festival, they’re planning several events to garner funds and support. “It’s not just about a one-day party,” Michael Paynic, the vice president of Alton Pride, said. “It’s all about giving back to our community. It’s all about teaching the children how to…be able to be themselves.” The Alton Pride organization was started in 2018 by Paynic, current President Nicci Kincer and a few other devoted board members. Their original goal was to start an annual Pride event in Alton, which they fulfilled last year with an estimated 1,500–2,000 attendees. As the organization has grown, they’ve expanded their sights to focus on local LGBTQ+ youth. They host a monthly youth group for high school students where teens can socialize, with a licensed therapist present as an extra resource. Alton Pride has seen how vital this support can be. “They meet

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ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis region has its advantages - especially for companies looking to ship goods anywhere in the country and beyond. Between the city’s centralized location in the U.S., strategic spot on the Mississippi River, six Class 1 railroads, and four interstate highways, St. Louis continues to invest in its infrastructure as preparations are made for even more freight traffic. Terminal Railroad Association President Brent Wood and Mary Lamie, executive vice president of Multi-Modal Enterprises for the St. Louis Regional Freightway, appeared on an episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to discuss the region’s many advantages and multimodal infrastructure. In St. Louis, the number of manufacturing/logistics employees per mile is about 366, which Lamie said is “one of the higher numbers in the nation.” “When you compare that to other regions, no one really is within that threshold,” Lamie said. “What that really mean

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting that all 102 counties in the state remain at a low level for COVID-19 hospital admissions, according to the new rating system introduced after the declared state and national public health emergencies expired in May. Counties are considered to be at a low level of COVID-19 transmission when hospitalizations are below 10 per 100,000 population. The CDC and IDPH will continue to monitor COVID-19 trends by measuring the presence of the virus in wastewater in addition to other existing surveillance methods. In Illinois, the data is posted by the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System , which tracks the levels of COVID-19 and influenza in wastewater at 76 locations throughout the state. “I am very happy and relieved to report that COVID-19 cases remain low as we continue the summer season,” IDPH Director Dr. Sameer

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ALTON - Phae Morrissey has always loved the Milton Schoolhouse. This month, Milton is returning that love by featuring her art throughout the building. The Milton Schoolhouse is home to a number of businesses. Every month, they invite a local artist to arrange their work in the main hallway, so almost everyone who enters Milton will walk past it. For Morrissey, the opportunity to display her art is made twice as special by her personal connection to the people who spend time at Milton. “Having my pieces up in a space that I already love means a lot to me,” Morrissey said. “And then getting that positive feedback from my friends and heroes and just the random folks off the street has been really uplifting.” Morrissey spends a lot of time at Milton, chatting with the regulars at Maeva’s Coffee and her partner, who works behind Maeva’s counter. But when she’s not at Milton with her loved ones, she can be found either searching for new materials

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COLUMBIA, MO. - Marilyn Hope Lake, PhD., a 1960 Alton High School graduate and one of five valedictorians of that class of 485, has been selected as a finalist in the 2023 Missouri Writers Contest for Best Non-Fiction. Her Best Poem entry is also a finalist. A finalist in the contest applies for first, second, and third place and honorable mentions. Winners of the contest for each category will be announced at our conference in Colombia on Saturday, September 23, 2023. Marilyn Hope (Waide) Lake was born in Alton Marilyn was also was Best Thespian of the Year, 1960 in Alton. She lives in Columbia and has a new book, "Our Mothers' Ghosts and Other Stories" in pre-publication at Meadowlark Press and Books, Emporia Kan. The expected publication date is the fall of 2023.

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MARION - The Life;Story 5K Walk and Run will aim to prevent suicide and raise awareness about Centerstone, a mental health and addiction treatment service in the Riverbend area. The 5K will take place on Sept. 9 in Marion, though there are also Centerstone locations in Alton, Carbondale and other towns across the country. All proceeds will help Centerstone patients. Other health and wellness organizations will be there on the day of the event, and speakers will talk about their experiences with suicide. “The purpose of Life;Story is to bring about awareness for suicide prevention,” Erin Camfield, Centerstone’s Director of Advancement, said. “The semicolon represents that there’s more to come. There’s more to your life, and there’s more to your story.” This is the first Life;Story 5K in Illinois. Centerstone’s Florida location has sponsored the event for 21 years with thousands of participants each year. Camfield hopes

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EDWARDSVILLE - Former SIUE Chancellor Dr. Vaughn Vandegrift died Tuesday, July 11. He was 76. Dr. Vandegrift served as SIUE's seventh chancellor from 2004-2012. He was a visionary leader, a dedicated educator and a true Cougar at heart. Vandegrift was the major player in SIUE graduating to the highest level of intercollegiate competition. His vision would lead SIUE to begin the transition to NCAA Division I status after the completion of the 2007-08 season. He also would forge SIUE into the Ohio Valley Conference , leading the intercollegiate program that would help increase its connection to alumni and the surrounding community. During his tenure, he spearheaded numerous initiatives which elevated the visibility of the University. He led SIUE to national recognition as one of U.S. News & World Report's up-and-coming universities and facilitated numerous construction and infrastructure projects — paving the way for the University to reach its largest enrollment in the history

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SPRINGFIELD - The homicide victim in Springfield has been identified as Emma Shafer, 24, Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon announced on Friday. Shafer, 24, of Springfield, was discovered deceased in her home just before midnight on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Police confirmed that Shafer was discovered deceased with multiple stab wounds at her 1000 block of South 8th St. address. The Springfield Police received a tip from a person to check on her welfare because they believed she may have been harmed. Today, Gabriel P. Calixto, 25, received an arrest warrant in connection with Shafer's death. Calixto has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, along with aggravated domestic battery and has a bond total of $3 million.

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced on Friday announced the filing of charges against an Alton man accused of using a social-messaging platform to disseminate child pornography. Haine and Raoul announced that five Class X felony counts of child pornography have been filed against Steven C. Garrison, 44. Those counts allege that, between Feb. 1 and Feb. 4, Garrison used the Discord social-messaging platform to disseminate videos containing child pornography. Associate Judge Ronald Slemer set bail for Garrison at $500,000. Garrison remained in custody as of Friday afternoon. The judge also granted a prosecution request that Garrison be prohibited from having contact with anyone younger than 18 in the event that he is released on bond. “Child pornography is appalling, and these types of cases are very concerning,” Haine said. “As prosecutors, we must always go above and beyond to protec

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State Police and the St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office announced that Wednesday, July 12, 2023, St. Clair County State’s Attorney, James Gomric, charged 42-year-old Cermen L. Toney of East St. Louis with First-Degree Murder. ISP recalled that at approximately 1:38 a.m. on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, the East St. Louis Police Department and the ISP Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) responded to the 1400 block of Gaty Avenue in East St. Louis for reports of a shooting. Officers found Lonnie D. Johnson had been struck by gunfire. Johnson was transported to an area hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. On July 10, 2023, Toney turned himself into PSEG agents. Toney is currently being held at the St. Clair County Jail on a $1,000,000, 10% to apply bond. No further information is available. All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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ALTON - The 26th annual All-Wheels Drive-In Car Show is back on for this Sunday, July 16, after being rescheduled earlier this summer due to rain. The free public event will bring hundreds of classic cars, motorcycles, and more to downtown Alton. The car show will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with vehicles lining 3rd Street between Piasa and State Streets. Registration for show cars is open from 8 a.m. to noon. The fee to display a car is $10, and dash plaques and goodie bags will be given to the first 125 participants. Trophies will be awarded in 38 classes, including Stock, Street Rod, Modified, and several more in age brackets ranging from 1900-present. Six specialty awards - including Best Paint, Best Engine, Best Interior, and more - will also be presented at 4 p.m. The fee to enter the judging is $15. Number4Combo will be performing live music from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by a Pin-Up Contest from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The day’s festivities will also include a 50/50 drawing, vendor

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ALTON - Local businesses have been working around the Illinois American Water project for a few years now. Schwegel’s Market at 901 Alby Street reflects on the difficulties they’ve faced throughout the construction. “It’s been quite a hassle,” co-owner Mike Schwegel said. “It’s been a bite.” The Illinois American Water project aims to separate the combined Alton sewer system. They are installing a new sewer system that will be safer for the community. But the project has taken its toll on small businesses like Schwegel’s Market. Road closures throughout downtown Alton have been common over the past few years due to the construction. With 9th Street closed, Schwegel’s Market has been losing customers since the beginning of the project around November 2021. “We had 15–17,000 customers a month, and last month I had 11,200,” Schwegel said. He believes that the store’s newly opened video gaming section

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BETHALTO -A former Bethalto resident, Gabriel P. Calixto, 25, is facing three counts of first-degree murder and aggravated domestic battery with a bond of $3 million in an arrest warrant that has been issued by Sangamon County State's Attorney Dan Wright. Springfield Police, the U.S. Marshals Service and other agencies are searching for Calixto. Sangamon County Dispatch said they received a phone call from a Bethalto woman at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday that her brother might have injured his girlfriend who resided in Springfield. Springfield Police immediately responded to the 1000 block of South 8th St. to check on the girl and found a 24-year-old woman deceased with multiple stab wounds at the residence. The Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon said the woman appeared to have sharp force injuries and recommended the death be investigated as a homicide.

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ALTON - The Illinois American Water project to improve Alton’s wastewater system continues, with updated road closures and a progress report. Illinois American Water has been working to separate the combined Alton sewer system for several years now. They are also installing a new sewer system that will be safer for the community. “These closures are necessary for investments to the wastewater system to be completed in a safe manner,” a recent press release from Illinois American Water said. As part of this construction, new road closures began on July 6. Belle Street south of Hamilton Street to 10th Street is still closed. The stretch of 10th Street from west of U.S. 67 to Belle Street is closed, and workers have started pavement restoration work. Construction on 9th Street is moving north. Asphalt paving is complete on Belle Street, 9th Street and 8th Street. Construction crews are currently in the process of pavement striping these streets. All businesses remain

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CARLINVILLE - At 3:47 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, 2023, Shawn M. Evans, 36, was taken into custody by the Carlinville Police Department. Evans was captured with the joint efforts of the Macoupin and Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Illinois State Police, Illinois Secretary of State Police, U.S. Marshals Service and the Macoupin County State's Attorney's Office. Evans is facing first-degree murder charges in the death of Dana Morgan, Jr., 37, who died of gunshot wounds in a shooting in Carlinville on Wednesday night. A $2,000,000 warrant was issued by the Honorable Joshua A. Meyer in the case. Members of the public are reminded that the allegations are not proof of the defendant's guilty. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government's burden to prove his or her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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