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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced the bipartisan National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act to reauthorize relief for an additional four years for qualifying members of the National Guard and Reserves experiencing financial hardship. The legislation would protect a long-standing bipartisan carveout from means-testing restrictions in Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases. “Declaring bankruptcy is a difficult choice for any American, and that option should be assessed using an accurate depiction of a person’s income and financial standing,” said Durbin. “Our National Guard members and reservists must not be penalized for any active duty pay should financial calamity force them to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This bipartisan legislation ensures that they won’t be.”

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CHCAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with 10 attorneys general, today filed comments in support of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) regarding changes to the H-2A program. The H-2A program allows agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers to bring nonimmigrant foreign workers to the U.S. to perform temporary agricultural work. The proposed regulations would strengthen worker protection measures for H-2A agricultural workers and the DOL’s capability to monitor compliance and take enforcement actions. “Individuals who come to the U.S. to fill critical workforce shortages deserve to be protected from abuse and unsafe workplaces,” Raoul said. “The Department of Labor’s proposed rule strengthens its H-2A program to enhance the department’s ability to protect vulnerable workers as they play important roles enhancing our nation’s economy.” The H-2A program, and agricultural

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is proud to announce the promotion of Rebecca Hooks from Lieutenant Colonel to First Deputy Director, effective immediately. First Deputy Director Hooks is the first female to achieve this position within ISP since its inception in 1922. As the First Deputy Director, Hooks is second in command to Director Brendan F. Kelly. “First Deputy Director Hooks is an outstanding example of the kind of grit, intelligence and integrity found within to ISP,” said Director Kelly. “With First Deputy Director Hooks, the ISP will continue to move sharply forward into our second century!” First Deputy Director Hooks is not a newcomer to the realm of ISP Command. Prior to her recent promotion, she was the Chief of Staff for the Office of the Director. First Deputy Director Hooks has served with ISP for more than 21 years, beginning her career in 2002 as part of Cadet Class 105. Her first assignment was patrol in the

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New data-driven state investments will provide shelter to those at police stations and airports, speed transition to independent living CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker announced today that the State will invest an additional $160 million via the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis presented by the arrival of over 24,000 asylum seekers from the U.S. Southern Border. The State, alongside our local partners, has led a comprehensive data driven analysis of the ongoing asylum seeker response, rooted in not only data but also input from frontline partners and new arrivals, which identified several “bottlenecks” where services and resettlement tended to slow. These bottlenecks included delays in initial intake at landing sites, access to shelter, and the transition to independent living. This has led to backlogs and capacity issues, most visible in individuals sleeping outside police stations, but more broadly acros

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ALTON - For Our Daily Show! host CJ Nasello, every morning from 9–11 a.m. is a chance to share the community he loves. Our Daily Show! has amassed over 1,000,000 views since Jan. 1, 2023, on the hundreds of interviews that CJ has done with Riverbend community members. Now, he’s looking back on how it all got started, his favorite interview ever (the answer may surprise you) and what’s next for the hyperlocal community talk show. “So many people have an awesome story,” CJ said. “Think about it. You drive by Hayner Library every day, but you don’t realize all the really cool stuff and genealogy and distribution they’re doing. We drive by buildings all the time. I thought, well, heck, let’s start focusing on those and really exploring that. We all have history here, but it’s never really talked about. So that’s what the whole point was.” CJ is a natural in the studio, but he didn’t start out with the goal

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GODFREY - Every Evangelical School student wore a smile and a turkey hat during their annual Thanksgiving feast tradition on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2023. Parents and students came together to cook a Thanksgiving meal in celebration of the holiday. The students helped prepare the meal, and older students helped the youngest kids get ready for the feast by making hats and placemats. Principal Amanda Macias noted it’s a fun tradition for the school. “They get to do all this stuff together and really enjoy it. The kids have been kind of anxious for it all week long,” Macias said. She explained that parents shop for a week before the feast and spend two days preparing the food. Each class joins the parents in the school kitchen so students can help make the meal. Kids might stir brownie batter, combine ingredients for stuffing or complete another task depending on their age. Jamie Milligan, who co-chaired the event with Michelle Sowders, said this is an important

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ALTON - Rosetta “Rosie” Brown, Alderwoman of Alton’s Fourth Ward, invites everyone to join her for a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Circle in Alton. At 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, community members will gather at State House Square, also known as the Circle, where College Avenue and Central Avenue intersect at the roundabout in Alton. This will be the third year that a Christmas tree is displayed. “One of my platforms was beautification, and I’m seeing that at that location,” Brown said. “And some people are going through a lot right now, and just being able to come out and look up and see the beautiful lighting of the Christmas tree just brings joy and a great beginning of the Christmas spirit.” The City of Alton will provide the tree, and the Alton Parks and Recreation Department will be present to oversee the lighting of the tree. A few Fourth Ward residents will be invited to flip the switch on the lights. The

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EDWARDSVILLE — A judge has denied pretrial release for a defendant charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a man in Collinsville, according to Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine. Haine had filed a petition seeking pretrial detention of Carlos G. Mosley, 23, of Belleville. Mosley was charged Thursday, Nov. 9, with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of Tyrese L. Owens, 21, of Collinsville. Owens was found unresponsive in a ditch near his residence on Loop Street in Collinsville on the morning of Nov. 8. He died of a knife wound. Haine’s petition to deny pretrial release argued the defendant poses a threat to the community and is a flight risk. At a detention hearing held for the defendant on Tuesday, Assistant State’s Attorney Luke Yager argued successfully in support of detention. Associate Judge Ryan Jumper granted the prosecution’s petition to deny pretrial release and remanded the defendant to the Madison

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GLEN CARBON - Phase 1 of the development of Orchard Town Center in Glen Carbon is officially complete, and village trustees gave the project’s first phase their official approval at this week’s meeting. Phase 1 mainly included traffic improvements on the north side of the site and the center’s initial tenants, while Phase 2 will include a pocket park, additional tenants, and more. Phase 1 traffic improvements were completed along Plum Street, Governor’s Parkway, and Troy Road, including both entrances to Chick-Fil-A, the site’s first tenant which was steadily busy even before both entrances were open. Phase 1 also included work on the interior roadways, stormwater drainage, as well as securing tenants like Olive Garden and Plaza Tire Service, which are nearing completion themselves. Phase 2 will include several more tenants and improvements to the site which seek to increase connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians. Tim Lowe with The Staenberg

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ALTON - Lindsey Copley of Case Management, holding the plaque, is the Alton Memorial Hospital Employee of the Month for November. Lindsey received the honor on Nov. 15 from Case Management Supervisor Darla Wilfong (far left), AMH President Dave Braasch and Case Management Manager Meredith Parker. The nomination from Darla says that “Lindsey has embraced her new role as the Emergency Room nurse case manager. She works hard to assist with complex patient needs. Lindsey has adapted to a new environment for her and communicates well. She works to reduce costs to help decrease readmissions. She is a great asset to Case Management and to her patients. Lindsey is a valued employee for Alton Memorial Hospital.”

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GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon Police Chief Todd Link recently gave a presentation on the importance of police wellness to the Glen Carbon Village Board of Trustees at their meeting this week. He said the health and safety of the village depends on the health and safety of its police officers. “My job, in short, is to make sure that I protect the lives and property of all the residents in our village,” Link said. “To do that, I must first lead the way for wellness in our police staff.” The chief said the term “Police Wellness” applies not only to sworn police officers, but also to the more than 40 dispatchers and other civilian employees within the department. He added the Glen Carbon Police Department is fortunate to not be facing any lawsuits or staffing issues. “We’re fully staffed and we’re very effective at all levels,” he said. “If we damage our relationships, if we have problems with compassion, fatigue, an

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ALTON - Riverbend Head Start & Family Services received a $20,000 donation from Delta Dental to go toward dental care for their students. Riverbend Head Start & Family Services provides early childhood education for income-eligible families. CEO Gene Howell noted that a lot of their work is funded by Head Start, a program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. But Riverbend Head Start & Family Services also assists with health and dental care, which they must fund themselves. The Delta Dental donation will make it possible for them to help more children. “If you can imagine a 3-year-old with three or four or five or six exposed nerve roots, that’s a lot of pain. You can’t learn when you come into a classroom in that kind of pain,” Howell said. “Delta Dental allows us to connect that kid with a local resource…It makes a world of difference for these kids. And when they come in after getting the surgery done, you see the smiles,

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JERSEYVILLE - The Hollow Avenue improvement project in Jerseyville continues to make progress, with Phase 1 getting closer to completion and the City Council recently approving an agreement to commence with Phase 2. The project includes repaving, widening, ADA-compliant sidewalks, and more. The Jerseyville City Council recently approved a professional surveying/engineering/land acquisition services agreement with Bartlett & West Inc. regarding Phase 2 of the Hollow Avenue Roadway Improvements project. Jerseyville received $1,000,000 in grant funding from the Federal Highway Administration for these improvements to Hollow Avenue. The city was one of only ten recipients of the grant, which was awarded as part of the administration’s Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) funding initiative. These improvements are just one component of the city’s long-term Capital Improvement Plan, which among other things, prioritizes “the safe and efficient movement of residential

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ROXANA. - Riverbender.com is proud to once again live-stream the Roxana Shells' football playoff journey for those wanting to avoid the crowds or just watch from the comfort of their own home. The 12-0 Shells host the 11-1 Mt. Carmel Golden Aces on Saturday afternoon in the IHSA Class 3A state semifinals. The game is set to kick off at 3 p.m. from Charles Raich Field in Roxana. The game can be viewed on either Riverbender.com or EdGlenToday.com as well as on Facebook and YouTube . Riverbender.com would like to thank the outpouring of community support and the many sponsors who made live-streaming this game possible. A special thanks to our Playoff Game Sponsors: Werts Welding & Tank Service Chris Slusser for Madison County Board Chairman Tom McRae Madison County Circuit Clerk Phillips 66 Rosewood Chiropractic Clinic BJC - Alton Memorial Hospital Roberts Motors Sherry Gilleland - Dream Home Reality Center Fowl Commit Apparel & Accessories Circui

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education held a special meeting on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. Among other topics, they discussed the changing demographics of the district. Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton and Curriculum/Instruction Director Tara Fox presented data from Illinois Report Card — a program that breaks down how each school in a district is performing on an academic and social level — to the Board. The school report card shows how the district compares to other Illinois schools. There is also data about the district’s racial/ethnic diversity, the number of low income and unhoused students, and students with individualized educational plans (IEPs). Racial/ethnic diversity has been a topic of discussion at board meetings over the past several months. As Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton demonstrated to the Board how to navigate the Illinois Report Card website , he noted how these demographics have shifted

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EDWARDSVILLE - Earning a perfect score on the ACT exam is rare, but EHS senior Margaret Paty has done just that. A perfect ACT score of 36 is quite an accomplishment. Less than half of one percent of students who take the test nationwide attain a perfect score. “I remember that day I opened the score and I saw that the super score was 36, then saw the composite score, and it was just crazy.” Paty was taking the test for the second time in July after scoring a 34 in April. “My science score was lower than the other sections and with the schools I wanted to apply to, I wanted to get my score up.” The ACT combines tests in English, mathematics, reading and science. Each test is scored on a scale of 1-36, with a student’s composite score the average of the four test scores. The perfect score did not happen automatically, Paty said. Instead, it was the result of countless hours of studying. Paty studied at the College Preparation Station in Maryville,

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GRANITE CITY - Coolidge 8th-grade Special Education Social Studies Teacher Gayla Bennett has been selected as one of Emerson's 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award recipients. Bennett, who is in her 25th year of service in Granite City Community Unit School District #9, all at Coolidge, is among more than 80 teachers from across the St. Louis metropolitan area who are being recognized this year through the program as examples of truly outstanding educational excellence. "What I love most about my job is building bonds with students! 8th grade is such a pivotal year for students, and I love being there to help them through this important time," Bennett said. "My goal in my classroom every year is for students to feel welcome, cared for, and supported. I start day one showing them respect and that I’m on their side." The Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards, now in its 34th year, is one of the St. Louis region’s most recognized teacher recognition programs. Emerson is prou

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois President Stephen Harris to discuss how the insurance provider can ensure the drug to help prevent RSV in babies is available with no cost-sharing, as well as the Senator’s priorities of reducing negative maternal health outcomes and health inequities, especially for Illinoisans of color and Illinoisans with disabilities, who too often experience barriers to care. “It was good to meet with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and discuss how together, we can work toward a future where more Illinois families can easily access the healthcare they need, when and where they need it,” Duckworth said. “I’ll keep pushing to help make healthcare more accessible and equitable for communities across Illinois.” Duckworth has long been a champion for public health, especially for children. She recently urged America’s Health Insurance Plan

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent oversight letters to three companies – DentaQuest, Envolve, and Avesis – that administer dental benefits for Medicaid managed care companies (MCOs) in Illinois to seek answers on barriers to providing dental care to Medicaid enrollees. Durbin’s letters raise concerns and investigate certain insurance practices that can limit and discourage provider participation in Medicaid, which exacerbate existing reimbursement rate challenges, resulting in an estimate of only 24 percent of Illinois dentists accepting Medicaid. As a result, Medicaid enrollees, including children and people with disabilities, have difficulty accessing adequate dental care—often facing extensive wait lists for necessary treatment. “I write today regarding significant challenges that oral health providers are facing in their engagements with Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) in Illinois, which is hampering

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BENTON – Mario L. Delgado-Lopez, 42, originally from Puerto Rico, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison by a U.S. District judge on Nov. 9, 2023. Lopez was apprehended after a four-year manhunt by federal law enforcement officials. Lopez appeared in court for his sentencing hearing on Nov. 9, 2023, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute in 2018. “The defendant was responsible for trafficking large amounts of illicit narcotics into southern Illinois and then fled the country,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle A. Crowe. “As a fugitive of justice for several years, this federal prison sentence is appropriate for his conduct.” According to court documents, Delgado-Lopez admitted to federal charges for conspiring with codefendants to distribute more than 850 grams of fentanyl and more than 550 grams of heroin in

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