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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced all income-eligible households can now apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to support with utility bill assistance for natural gas, propane and electricity. Applications expanded today, Nov. 1, 2024, and will be accepted through Aug. 15, 2025, or until funds are exhausted. “With temperatures dropping and the winter season just weeks away, my administration is committed to keeping every family warm and safe,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to $226 million from our Help Illinois Families Program, we’re providing crucial utility support to thousands of income-eligible households. I highly encourage all eligible families to apply and get the assistance they need to stay warm this winter.” “Every family deserves a safe, secure and warm home, regardless of income,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton.

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CHICAGO - Today is the kickoff for Open Enrollment on the Get Covered Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace, with 11 health insurance companies offering plans. Illinoisans can enroll through January 15th. "The Get Covered Illinois Marketplace has a total of 347 health plans offered throughout the state this year,” said IDOI Director Ann Gillespie. “So, we want every Illinoisan in need of health insurance coverage to know that quality, affordable, coverage is available. Our Get Covered Illinois Navigators are certified and trained to help you choose the right plan for your needs, walk you through the enrollment process, and find out if you qualify for financial assistance. Just visit GetCoveredIllinois.gov ." The Illinois Department of Insurance also released health insurance rates for the 2025 Plan Year. Plan availability and rates will vary based on where a consumer lives. In some areas of the state, consumers will see a decrease in health insurance premiums, and othe

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EDWARDSVILLE - The ebb and flow of political ramifications due to racial and economic equity gains following 1964 Landmark Civil Rights legislation, inform the need for ongoing, diligent work for civil liberties, as the country braces for the 2024 Presidential Election. The above view was held by four Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty members who made up the panel during Southern Illinois University (SIU) System’s Conversation of Understanding (COU), held Wednesday, Oct. 30 in the Morris University Center’s Legacy Room on the campus of SIUE. The topic of discission was “Delivering on Promises: The Legacy of the Civil Rights Act and Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, and the 2024 Presidential Election.” Panelists included: Anthony Cheeseboro, PhD, associate professor in the Department of History; Bryan Jack, PhD, professor and director of SIUE’s Universities Studying Slavery Initiative in the Department of History; Timothy Lewis, PhD,

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GODFREY - At 10:49 a.m. Sunday, the Godfrey Fire Department responded to a garage fire on the 3100 Block of Ron Drive. Firefighters arrived to find a fire that posed a significant risk of spreading to the adjacent home. The department reported that the fire was extinguished using only the tank water from both engines, highlighting the effectiveness of their aggressive firefighting tactics. “This fire had real potential to spread to the home, but thanks to the skill and determination of our firefighters, it was extinguished,” a spokesperson from the Godfrey Fire Department stated. The area is known for having limited hydrants, making the rapid response and teamwork crucial in preventing further damage. The department expressed gratitude for the hard work displayed by its firefighters and acknowledged the assistance of the Fosterburg Fire Department at the scene.

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Friendsgiving has become a beloved tradition in recent years, offering a chance for friends to gather and celebrate gratitude, fellowship, and, of course, delicious food. Whether you're a seasoned host or planning your first Friendsgiving dinner, this guide will provide you with all the essential tips, tricks, and inspiration to make your event memorable. What is Friendsgiving? Friendsgiving is a portmanteau of "friends" and "Thanksgiving," a gathering typically held around the Thanksgiving holiday. While traditional Thanksgiving dinners center around family, Friendsgiving allows friends to come together, share a meal, and enjoy each other's company. This celebration can take place on the actual Thanksgiving day or any day leading up to it, making it flexible and accommodating for everyone's schedules. Setting the Date and Time Choose the Right Date The first step in hosting a successful Friendsgiving dinner is selecting a date that works for everyone. Consider the following: Flexibili

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Welcome to another edition of This Day in History, where we delve into the remarkable events that have shaped our world. Today, we explore the significant happenings that took place on November 3rd throughout the years, highlighting how these events continue to influence our lives. Buckle up as we take a journey through time! 1783: The End of the American Revolutionary War On November 3, 1783, the American Revolutionary War officially came to an end when General George Washington issued his farewell orders to the Continental Army. The conflict, which had begun in 1775, had seen thirteen American colonies rebel against British rule, ultimately establishing the United States as an independent nation. Washington's leadership during the war was pivotal, and his farewell addressed not only marked the conclusion of military hostilities but also set the stage for the new nation’s governance. This event is celebrated as a turning point in history, as it ushered in a new era of democracy

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GLEN CARBON - Dr. Kristen M. Jacobs is hosting “Ooh La Las Vegas,” a casino-themed event at Ooh La La Spa, Anti-Aging & Wellness, to educate the public on how to take care of their skin. Dr. Jacobs is the Owner and Founder of Ooh La La Spa, Anti-Aging & Wellness and the author of “Live Life Beautifully (With a Little Help).” Dr. Jacobs will be offering an evening of cocktails, appetizers, demonstrations, casino games and door prizes. The event will be held at 110 Cottonwood Road in Glen Carbon on Nov. 6, 2024 from 4 to 7 p.m. Dr. Jacobs is a faculty member and instructor with Allergan Medical Institute for Facial Aesthetics as a Botox, Juvederm and Kybella trainer. Her expertise places her in the top one percent of Allergan accounts in the country. In 2023, she opened Aesthetic Resource & Training (ART) Academy to provide different levels of training in injectables and help medical professionals grow their knowledge in aesthetic medicine. About Ooh La La

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ROXANA — Tolono Unity's commanding first-half performance set the tone for a 44-31 victory over Roxana in the first round of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 3A football playoffs on Saturday at Charles Raich Field. The Rockets received the opening kickoff. Roxana's defense initially made a mark with an interception, leading to a field goal by kicker Joe Newton that gave the Shells a brief 3-0 lead. Tolono Unity quickly responded, with Garrett Richardson scoring a touchdown to put the Rockets ahead 6-3 after a blocked extra point. The second quarter saw the Rockets dominate, scoring three touchdowns and a field goal. Richardson added two more rushing touchdowns, while Tre Hoggard caught a touchdown pass, leaving Roxana trailing 30-3 at halftime. The third quarter featured a back-and-forth exchange of touchdowns. Hoggard caught another touchdown pass to extend the Rockets' lead to 37-3. Roxana's quarterback Sean Maberry then connected with Kale Hester

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As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, fall offers a perfect opportunity to refresh your home’s exterior with a seasonal touch. One of the easiest and most impactful ways to welcome the autumn season is by creating a DIY fall wreath for your front door. Not only does a wreath add charm to your entrance, but it also reflects the beauty of the season. This article will provide you with a variety of DIY fall wreath ideas, practical tips, and essential materials to create a stunning display that will impress your guests and neighbors. Why Make a Fall Wreath? Creating a DIY fall wreath allows you to express your creativity while incorporating natural elements that capture the essence of the season. Whether you prefer a rustic design or a modern twist, a homemade wreath can be customized to suit your personal style and the overall aesthetic of your home. Additionally, crafting your own wreath can be a fulfilling and enjoyable activity, perfect for individuals, families,

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November 2 has witnessed a remarkable array of significant events throughout history, spanning politics, culture, science, and more. From pivotal moments in the fight for civil rights to groundbreaking technological advancements, this day reminds us of the transformative power of human action and innovation. Let's explore some of the most impactful global events that have taken place on this date. The United States Presidential Election of 1948 One of the most surprising moments in American political history occurred on November 2, 1948, when Harry S. Truman was elected to a full term as President of the United States. This election is particularly notable because most polls had predicted a victory for his opponent, Thomas E. Dewey. The famous image of Truman holding up the Chicago Daily Tribune, which mistakenly declared “Dewey Defeats Truman,” became emblematic of the unpredictability of elections. Truman's unexpected victory solidified key policies, including the

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ALTON - Each November, the home care and hospice community honors the millions of nurses, home care aides, therapists, and social workers who make a remarkable difference for the patients and families they serve. These heroic caregivers play a central role in our health care system and in homes across the nation. To recognize their efforts, both at home and in their local communities, OSF Hospice and OSF Home Care Services, along with the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), celebrate November as National Home Care & Hospice Month. With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, the need for health care will continue to rise, and costs will continue to skyrocket. This is where home care and hospice come in. As the preferred choice for most patients, it also offers the greatest cost savings. For example, Medicare pays nearly $2,000 per day for a typical hospital stay and $450 per day for a typical nursing home stay. Meanwhile, home care costs less than $100 a day and helps

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SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) released its fall enrollment report for the state’s public universities for the fall semester of the 2024-25 academic year. Illinois public universities also achieved progress across a range of key variables including: Increased undergraduate enrollment by 2%, Increased new full-time transfer student enrollment by 5.1%, Increased African American undergraduate enrollment by 2.8%, Increased Latino undergraduate enrollment by 1.4%, and Increased freshmen enrollment by 0.6%, the fourth consecutive year of growth. There are an additional 2,993 students across all state universities this fall, which represents an overall enrollment increase of 1.6% and a total overall enrollment of 185,590 students – the highest overall enrollment in eight years. Fall 2024 undergraduate enrollment at Illinois public universities increased by 2% compared to the previous year, increasing for the second consecutive

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ALTON - The Friends for David Goins organization donated to All God’s Children Shall Have Shoes, a local nonprofit that provides new shoes and socks to area students. Mayor David Goins and the Friends for David Goins group recently sponsored the Mayor’s Ball to raise funds for Goins’s campaign and All God’s Children Shall Have Shoes. Goins noted his excitement to donate to the organization. “It’s because of the work they do and me seeing the work firsthand and being a part of it. I enjoy it. Our police officers come out to help, our police chief, fire chief, fire department. It’s just a great community event,” Goins said. “Seeing what they do and being a part of it, coming out here and watching, helping the kids, getting to be a part of it and walk around with a child to help them select shoes — when I saw how many kids were coming, we just thought that this would be the perfect charitable organization that we can donate

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SPRINGFIELD - The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) remind residents to test, inspect and replace any broken or expired smoke and CO alarms while they change their clocks this upcoming weekend as daylight saving time comes to an end. In 2023, there were 89 residential fire deaths in Illinois with the majority of these deaths occurring in homes without working smoke alarms. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that between from 2018 to 2022 nearly three out of five (59 percent) home fire deaths were caused by fires in properties with no smoke alarms, almost three out of every five home fire deaths in the U.S. resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or non-working smoke alarms. Nearly two-thirds (66 percent) of the fatal injuries from fires in homes with smoke alarms occurred in properties with battery-only powered alarms. When present, hardwired smoke alarms operated in 94 percent of the fire

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ALTON - A man from O’Fallon is the third in recent history to be charged with forgery for attempting to pass bad checks at Schwegel’s Market in Alton. Dwight R. Donley, 37, of O’Fallon, was charged once on Sept. 6, 2024 and twice on Sept. 9, 2024 with forgery, each Class 3 felonies, for attempting to pass a series of bad checks at Schwegel’s Market. The check from Sept. 6 was made out in the amount of $14,58.52, while the checks from Sept. 9 were written in the amounts of $6,000 and $2,500, according to Madison County Court documents. This marks the second time this year - and third time since 2023 - that forgery charges have been filed in relation to Schwegel’s Market. Duane A. Reams, 37, of Bethalto, and Marquitta M. Davis, 43, of Edwardsville, were both charged on July 29, 2024 with forgery for attempting to pass bad checks on two separate occasions. Reams wrote a bad check for $2,204.63 on Feb. 11, 2024, while Davis’s bad check

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ALTON/GRANITE CITY - Two area sex offenders - one from Alton and one from Granite City - have been charged with failing to register as sex offenders with local authorities. Michael K. Howard, 45, listed as homeless out of Alton, was charged on Oct. 5 with failure to report weekly with no fixed address, a Class 3 felony, and resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor. Descriptions of the charges state Howard failed to report to the Alton Police Chief on a weekly basis as legally required for a sex offender with no fixed address, and pulled his arms away from an officer who was arresting him. Howard was charged with additional counts of identical offenses - failure to report weekly and resisting a peace officer - on Oct. 18, 2024. He also has an extensive criminal history, including several past charges of burglary, criminal trespass, public indecency, and much more. Howard’s case was presented by the Alton Police Department. Madison County Sheriff’s Office

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GRAFTON - As a reminder, Pere Marquette State Park hosts its final fishing/owl night with Illinois Department of Natural Resources Fishing Coordinator Scott Isringhausen on Friday night. Isringhausen said in their last trek in the woods in this program, they heard owls close by. Fishing activities start at 5:30 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m., attendees will gather for an indoor program showcasing eight different species of owls, all presented as taxidermy specimens. After the presentation, the event will move outdoors for a two-mile guided hike aimed at calling and observing owls in their natural habitat. The hike will include five to six stops where participants will be asked to remain quiet in hopes of hearing or spotting the owls. Isringhausen noted that a portion of the hike is uphill, but they take breaks on the trek. The evening will conclude back at the visitor center, where attendees can enjoy roasting marshmallows and hot dogs by the pond. The program is expected to wrap up between

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BETHALTO - There’s a groundbreaking new way for pilots to learn how to fly. With locations in Creve Coeur and Bethalto, Piston Aviation has a new online alternative to traditional flight school. Piston Live offers online courses with live instructors, bridging the gap between traditional and online training and preparing aspiring pilots for the next step in their flight school journey. “Do you wish your online flight school was affordable and gave you access to everything you needed to know?” asked owner Joe Ord. “We’ve scoured the internet and we have found all of the resources, put them all in one place, for you, right here on Piston Live.” Ord explained that he wanted to create a ground school that’s flexible for people while giving them all the benefits of in-person instruction. The online program allows people to move at their own pace and utilize all of the resources, but it also gives them access to live instructors who

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EDWARDSVILLE — The annual Halloween parade in Edwardsville, organized by the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the City Of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon, returned with a creative twist on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024 - Halloween night. This year’s theme, "In My Favorite Era," encouraged participants to showcase various historical periods through imaginative floats and costumes. Katie Haas, a spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce, expressed pride in coordinating the event, which has become a cherished tradition for the community. “The Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce is honored to organize the annual Halloween parade and celebrate this beloved community tradition,” Haas said. “We're proud to collaborate with several entities in order to produce a large-scale event that draws thousands of participants and spectators to downtown Edwardsville each year.” The Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce said

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GRAFTON - Community members from around the Riverbend are invited to the Grafton Country Music Festival this weekend. From Friday, Nov. 1 to Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, you can see a variety of country music bands at almost every bar in Grafton. This free live music festival should bring hundreds out to Grafton to enjoy a weekend on the river. “We’re expecting a big weekend,” said Mary Jo Cote, owner of the Grafton Pub. “You can hop around and find the band you like the best. Every single place in Grafton has country music.” The fun starts on Friday evening, Nov. 1, 2024. Grafton Pub will welcome Midwest Avenue from 6–10 p.m., and The Outlaw Opry will play from 7–11 p.m. at 3rd Chute Bar & Grill. “Get off work, pack your bag and get to Grafton,” said Dan Ebbing, president of the Grafton Chamber of Commerce. The main part of the festival starts on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. Grafton Harbor/Winery/Gift Shop/Boat Rental/Riverboat/Oyster

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