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MT. GREENWOOD - It’s that time of year. Cold winter weather and dry air are here. When you think about the winter season, you can’t help but remember those mornings waking up with a dry mouth, sore throat, and sinus congestion. Of course, we are on high alert for COVID-19 and the flu . Still, other factors play a role in those unpleasant symptoms that are not directly related to infection, particularly when it comes to your sinuses. Environmental allergies and dry winter air can also cause sinus congestion . What happens The nose warms and humidifies the air inhaled with moisture that evaporates from the lining of the nasal passage. When exposed to cold and dry air, the lining of the nose becomes irritated and inflamed, and it produces more mucus, resulting in nasal congestion. The excessive mucus drips into the throat and irritates it, causing a cough . The excess mucus can also obstruct the sinuses and become trapped, encouraging bacteria to grow. If it’s

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URBANA – As prime tornado season approaches, know what a tornado warning means and what to do. The National Weather Service issues a tornado warning under two conditions, says Duane Friend , University of Illinois Extension natural resources educator: rotation is indicated by weather radar, or rotation has been observed by trained spotters. If a warning is issued for the area, it means residents in the warning area are in the projected path. Bulletins often discuss the potential impact damage from the tornado. What to do during a tornado warning "First thing to do when a tornado warning is issued for your area is to take cover immediately," Friend says. "Do not go outside to look for the tornado; it may approach quickly with little time to get to safety." Damage from downed trees and flying debris may also occur. Tornado warnings may include these cautions: "life-threatening situation," "flying debris may be deadly," or “damage is likely to occur to buildings, with

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville, Hamel, Roxana, South Roxana and Holiday Shores Fire Departments responded to a brush fire that spread to a large shed in unincorporated Madison County Saturday afternoon. Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford said the call came in at 2:45 p.m. and burned approximately 2 acres of trees and brush before firefighters extinguished the blaze.

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JERSEY COUNTY - An upcoming exhibit at the Jersey County Historical Society museum will dive into the history behind the Jersey County Courthouse, displaying original artifacts and law books salvaged from inside the building. Connor Ashlock, Historical Society board member and overseer of this project, said someone from the courthouse approached him when they were preparing to get rid of the courthouse’s old law library - they had no need for it since cases have been logged into computers. To avoid throwing away anything of historical significance, they asked Ashlock to take one last look. “They said, ‘Would you want to come in and take what you want for the Historical Society?’ and I said, ‘Absolutely,’” Ashlock said. “Whenever I first started taking those books, I’m thinking to myself, ‘I know that we’re going to give these to the Historical Society somehow, I just don’t know how I’m going to incorporate

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ST. LOUIS - National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This year’s theme, “Celebrate a World of Flavors,” encourages trying new foods from various cultures to bring different flavor combinations to healthy eating. Food patterns are influenced by family history and culture, but also by geography, budgets and taste preferences. Many cuisines offer dishes that contain foods from each food group, including dairy; making it possible to plan nutritious, well-balanced meals that are bursting with flavor. “The wide variety of milk and dairy foods provides endless options to meet personal needs, tastes, and preferences within a variety of cultures,” states Maggie Cimarolli, Registered Dietitian with St. Louis District Dairy Council. Eating healthy does not have to be complicated or boring, thanks to versatile dairy foods that easily pair with meals and snacks from across the globe. Familiar ingredients

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ALTON - Antonia Phillips recently won the IHSA state girls wrestling championships title at 140 pounds in Illinois. Her historical achievement is being widely recognized by more than just the high school, who is proud to have her as a student. A well-attended celebration was held for Antonia on Friday afternoon at Alton High. She is the first wrestler in the history of Alton High School to take home the title of state champion. After talking with those involved in her athletic accomplishments, it’s apparent that she can zero in on what she needs to improve at in every aspect of her life. During this event, there were multiple speakers including a few of Antonia’s coaches, the Alton superintendent, the school principal, and the town’s mayor. Alton Mayor David Goins made a surprising announcement that Antonia’s achievement will be displayed on signs all across the town. To be positioned at all road entrances, a sign will read “Welcome to Alton, Home o

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EVERGREEN PARK - March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. For years, colon cancer was believed by many to be an “old person’s disease.” A recent study , however, revealed that young patients ages 20 to 29 have seen the highest spike in rates of diagnosed colon cancer cases. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 18,000 people under the age of 50 will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year in the United States. Many of these cases are being diagnosed at late stages, which is believed to be happening in large part because many young people brush off symptoms as being nothing out of the norm. “I think there is a misconception that when you are young, your risk of colon cancer is smaller. What ends up happening is a lot of people just discredit it as something they ate, or needing to be on a better diet or other issues that have been going on. But when you talk to these people who have had colon cancer who are younger, they typically have been having

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 10,462 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including an increase of 272 deaths since February 25, 2022. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 3,037,199 cases, including 32,926 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Since February 25, 2022, laboratories have reported 750,521 specimens for a total of 55,089,500. As of last night, 843 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 153 patients were in the ICU and 77 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from February 25 - March 3, 2022 is 1.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from February 25 - March 3, 2022 is 1.6%. A total of 21,157,960 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as o

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GRANITE CITY - Mayor Michael C. Parkinson and his new administration are busy these days trying to obtain as much funding and new programming as they can for the City of Granite City. One of the very first things Mayor Parkinson did was to hire a grant writer to help him grow Granite City and support the local economy and community. According to city hall administration, the city had not had a grant writer for at least 20 years, and Parkinson knew he could not do it alone. “I wanted someone on the team who knows the community and how to find a needle in a haystack, in terms of funding, I wanted a person who is as passionate about revitalizing Granite City as I am,” the mayor stated. Enter Paula Hubbard, lifelong resident of GC and a retired educator. As a former neighbor growing up, and someone who changed his diapers (Yes, you are reading this right), Mayor Parkinson knew she could fill the bill. While working in his campaign, Paula had been talking with mayoral candidate

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URBANA - We talk a lot about relationships in February. Romance is front and center around Valentine’s Day, with hearts and flowers everywhere you look. Friendship, however, doesn’t get nearly the same recognition. And yet, few things have a greater impact on our mental and physical health than our friends. Research shows that people with strong social connections have greater longevity, have lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and faster recovery from illness. They also have an increased life-satisfaction and sense of belonging. In fact, a 2018 journal article called The Anatomy of Friendship states, “Friendship is the single most important factor influencing our health, well-being, and happiness.” So how can we increase our social connections and get the most out of our friendships? Or, perhaps more importantly, how can we be good friends to others? Take (a little) Time – It doesn’t have to be a lot! Just a few minutes can make a big difference

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The Conversation — Behind some of the most fascinating scientific discoveries and innovations are women whose names might not be familiar but whose stories are worth knowing. Of course, there are far too many to all fit on one list. But here are five profiles from The Conversation’s archive that highlight the brilliance, grit and unique perspectives of five women who worked in geosciences, math, ornithology, pharmacology and physics during the 20th century. Marie Tharp with an undersea map at her desk. Rolled sonar profiles of the ocean floor are on the shelf behind her. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and the estate of Marie Tharp 1. Revealing and mapping the ocean floor As late as the 1950s, wrote Wesleyan University geoscientist Suzanne OConnell , “many scientists assumed the seabed was featureless.” An illustration of Marie Tharp’s mapping process. (a) Shows the position of two ship tracks (A, B) moving across the surface. (b)

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ST. LOUIS REGION – For the third consecutive year, World Wide Technology Raceway’s Jr. Dragster Thunder and Jr. Dragster Lightning championships were won by a brother-sister duo. The siblings from Pevely, Missouri, kept the streak alive when Kennedy Hale won the Duell Enterprises Jr. Dragster Lightning title and brother Cohen earned the Jr. Dragster Thunder crown. Sam and Sarah Stewart of Washington, Missouri, won both Jr. Dragster classes in 2019 and again in 2020. The Hale Family trophy shelf is full this year. Kennedy has two points race wins, in addition to an ADRL victory and a pair of Mid-West Series visits to victory lane. Cohen, not to be outdone, scored four points races and capped the season with a victory at the NHRA Division 3 Race of Champions at Indianapolis. Cohen is 13 and started racing one year before Kennedy, who is 15. He entered the Jr. Dragster arena in 2016 and won the championship in 2018. For Kennedy, the 2021 season was her first championship.

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ST. LOUIS - Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), Metro Transit, St. Clair County Transit District, Bureau of Transit Police, Metro Transit Public Safety, Chestnut Health Systems ™ , University of Missouri–St. Louis and AARP in St. Louis are teaming up to host FREE, pop-up health fairs at the Emerson Park and North Hanley Transit Centers – on Friday, March 11, 2022 . These events are part of a joint effort encouraging transit riders, and the community at large, to “Step into a Healthier You in 2022 with Transit” by providing access to an array of health and wellness resources and reinforcing how the region’s interconnected public transit system gets residents where they need to go – including doctors’ offices, hospitals, pharmacies, dentists, workout facilities, grocery stores and other establishments that promote health and wellness. The pop-up health fair at the Emerson Park Transit Center (929 15 th Street, East St. Louis, I

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URBANA – Exceeded only by floods, lightning is the second largest killer associated with storms. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , over 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes occur each year. Duane Friend, University of Illinois Extension natural resources educator, says the number of lightning deaths has been steadily declining over the last 10 to 15 years. "Lightning kills by stopping the heart and damaging the nervous system," Friend says. "In non-fatal cases, people suffer permanent disabilities, such as short-term memory loss, distractibility, irritability, and personality change." There are several considerations for avoiding being hit by lightning. As a storm approaches, move indoor before the rain begins. "If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough that it could strike your location at any moment," Friend says. "Lightning originating near the top of a storm can reach as far as 10 to 15 miles away." Do not stand under

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PEORIA - Cardiologists hope that by raising awareness of heart disease, risk factors and prevention methods, the public can charge into the year ahead armed with new heart health knowledge. Heart disease is a leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 659,000 Americans die from heart disease each year – that is one in every four deaths. According to Dr. Tinoy Kizhakekuttu, an OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute cardiologist, thousands of these deaths can be prevented. “Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S.,” he says. “Most people die from heart disease, but it doesn't have to be that way. It's a preventable death in my opinion. Follow the ‘simple seven’ of life. What I always say is stop smoking, number one, exercise every day, eat healthy, lose weight, control your cholesterol, control your blood pressure, and control your blood sugar.

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GODFREY - It has been three years today, March 5, that Godfrey Fire Capt. Jake Ringering died while battling a blaze on Culp Lane in Bethalto. Jake was 37 at the time when a wall collapsed on March 5, 2019, killing him and injuring three other firefighters. Firefighter Luke Warner was the other most seriously injured suffering two broken legs but did return to duty after a long recovery. Chris Stratton has a fund-raising plan for today that involves a 40-mile, 40-pound ruck, with Jake being 40 years old this year. For those who don't know, Rucking is just walking with a weighted rucksack (aka backpack). This is what Stratton had to say about his fund-raising plan for Backstoppers Inc. and FOB Rasor: “This year, in honor of my brother Jake Ringering some folks and I will be completing a 40-mile, 40-pounds ruck. Jake would of been 40 years old this year. Every penny that's donated will be given to BackStoppers Inc and FOB Rasor. I will be pledging $10/ Mile tha

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Letter To The Editor by Local Business Entrepreneur Jason Harrison The unfortunate truth of owning and running a business. Running a business is really hard. What they don’t tell you is that it can cause severe stress and anxiety, and drains you mentally to the point of depression in even the most laid-back people. People will talk about you, compare you to others, use you, they will view you as a service and not a person anymore. Some close to you will expect discounts and people will value you and your hard work less than a big chain store. You have to worry about if you forget to email/message someone back, are they going to think it was on purpose? Did you disappoint them? Will they hold that against you? When in reality you just can’t get to everyone’s messages and emails. Starting up and running a successful business puts incredible strain on personal lives and relationships, many of which fail because there is just often no work-life balance. You need

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ST. LOUIS – On March 2, 2022, United States District Court Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk sentenced Antwan Jones to eight years in federal prison for his role in a carjacking, weapons charges and assaulting a federal officer. Jones had previously pleaded guilty in November 2021. According to the plea agreement, Jones and his co-defendant stopped their SUV next to the victim on January 15, 2020. Jones approached the victim at gunpoint and demanded her purse. The carjacking victim surrendered her purse, which contained the keys to her car. Jones and his co-defendant drove around the area and used the victim’s key fob to locate her Mercedes Benz. Once they found the car parked nearby, they used the victim’s keys to drive her car away. Later that night, police tracked the victim’s phone to East St. Louis, Illinois. There, police discovered the SUV originally used by Jones parked in the 1800 block of Boismenue Avenue with the victim’s purse still inside. According

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Thursday, March 3, 2022, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued warrants on suspect Devon Gibson, 28 years of age, of the 6800 block of Georgeland in St. Louis, Missouri 63134, for one count of Murder First Degree, three counts of Armed Criminal Action, one count of Assault 1 st , one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. A mugshot of Gibson is attached. Gibson is being held on a $750,000 cash only, no 10%, bond. Please note, charges are merely an accusation and Defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement for Gibson reads: On February 25, 2022, the Defendant arrived at the Liquor Doctor in a 2019 Nissan Altima and pulled alongside the Victim’s vehicle in the parking lot. The Defendant, utilizing a .40 caliber handgun, shot from his vehicle into the Victim’s vehicle striking both occupants, killing Victim and causing

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Executive Order Returns Schools to Normal Operating Procedures for Infectious Diseases CHICAGO– With Illinois continuing to see vast improvement in recent weeks of COVID-19 hospitalizations and transmission, today Governor Pritzker released an updated executive order lifting the school exclusion requirements, shifting schools back to the ordinary processes for handling infectious diseases. The executive order was initially put in place to standardize CDC requirements for schools and alleviate the burden on overwhelmed local health departments from having to provide individualized recommendations. Now that the COVID-19 surge has subsided, schools and local health departments can return to exercising their longstanding authority to address infectious disease cases among students and staff. The CDC and IDPH continue to strongly recommend that students, teachers, and staff stay home when they have a confirmed case of COVID-19 or have signs of any infectious illness, including

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