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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statements after the family of Mark Frerichs, an Illinoisan held hostage for more than two and a half years after being abducted in Afghanistan in 2020, announced that Mark has been freed from Taliban custody: “It’s a profound relief that Mark Frerichs, a Navy Veteran who served our nation honorably, is now safely back in American hands after being kidnapped in Afghanistan more than two and a half years ago,” said Duckworth. “I’m thrilled that his family, who have long been Mark’s champions, will get to reunite with him. I applaud President Biden, who I spoke with personally about the need to get Mark home, for taking the steps necessary to prove that we do not leave Americans behind.” “I am deeply heartened by Mark’s long overdue release and the relief it will bring to him and his family. The tragic and cruel use of him

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CHICAGO – Illinois joined six other Midwestern states in announcing the development of the Midwest Hydrogen Coalition, an agreement that will boost the state’s decarbonization efforts. In addition to Illinois, the coalition includes Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. “Innovative solutions to fighting climate change require collaborative efforts. Through the partnership of the Midwestern Hydrogen Coalition, Illinois will play a major role in fostering a healthy economic environment for the hydrogen production market in the Midwest, creating more clean energy sector jobs and lowering carbon emissions in the manufacturing and transportation sectors across the state and region,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Additionally, this landmark multistate agreement empowers the state’s world-class colleges and universities to form working relationships with their counterparts in neighboring states, enhancing the research and development

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ALTON - Bring your furry friends to the Canine Carnival at the Alton Farmer’s & Artisans’ Market on Saturday, Sept 24 th from 8:00 a.m. until Noon for a morning full of fun just for them. At this free event organized by Alton Main Street and Hope Animal Rescues, there will be many activities to enjoy and pet-related vendor booths to browse. Plus, you can learn about many local animal welfare charities and services for your pets. Features of the event include a Pet Parade at 10:00 a.m. and a Costume Contest at 10:30 a.m. Bring your dog dressed to impress, because the winner of the costume contest will receive a $20 gift certificate to Petco! Rescue agencies will be holding an adopt-a-thon, so if you are looking for a new best friend come to meet some loveable dogs who need a good home. There will be face painting, balloon animals, and activities for pets and families. Vendors will be selling pet-related products such as handmade dog treats, toys, bandanas, clothing, collars

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce is again spearheading the community’s award-winning restaurant week dining campaign, SAVOR 2022©, to be held from Saturday, October 1 through Monday, October 10. Several locally owned restaurants including foodie favorites like 1818 Chophouse, Bella Milano, Cleveland Heath, and Chava’s Mexican Restaurant are busy crafting their restaurant week specials. This year’s initiative will also feature brand new destinations like 1818 Offshore, Twisted Biscuit, and Creations by Kiki. Specially priced offerings – at convenient price points of $15 for lunch and $30 or $60 for dinner - will be highlighted by each participating establishment in addition to the regular menu. “SAVOR 2022© is a salute to our community’s restaurateurs, cuisine, and diners, and a celebration of the delicious fare that makes our region a culinary hot spot,” said Desiree Bennyhoff, Ed/Glen Chamber president

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MADISON - World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) solidified its standing as a premier motorsports venue as NASCAR officials today confirmed the 1.25-mile oval’s second year as a host track on the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. “Our inaugural race in June delivered a sold-out crowd and fantastic racing,” said Curtis Francois, WWTR owner, and CEO. “We are thrilled to have NASCAR return, along with our title and presenting sponsors – the Illinois Department of Tourism and TicketSmarter – to deliver another epic weekend of racing.” Details on the inaugural race weekend attendance and events are featured in the WWTR Impact Report . The start time will be announced at a later date, as will details related to the Confluence Music Festival, which entertains fans throughout race weekend with live music and STEM-related activities. The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Toyota 200 will add to the weekend of racing and take the track on Saturday, June

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MARYVILLE — State Senator Kris Tharp is launching a listening tour in the Metro East to address concerns with the SAFE-T Act. “My family and I have worked in law enforcement our entire lives,” said Tharp (D-Bethalto). “My priorities remain ensuring our communities are safe, keeping criminals off our streets and providing law enforcement with the tools to do their job. The goal of my listening tour is to make sure these vital concerns are addressed and heard in Springfield.” Newly-appointed Tharp does not support several provisions in the SAFE-T Act and is working with the law enforcement community to file new legislation to address concerns about: Ensuring those accused of violent offenses are kept behind bars until trial to keep communities safe; Providing an appropriate amount of judicial discretion while trying cases and; Clarifying the definition of flight risks to ensure it is clear and address the issues created by individuals who fail to

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GILLESPIE - I know there are massive numbers of coffee drinkers in the world. After crude oil, coffee is the most sought commodity in the world. My parents are coffee drinkers. They start - and end- each day with coffee. They drink it with breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert... or just because. And they drink it black. According to the website for Gotcha Latte Cafe in Gillespie, no one knows exactly how or when coffee was discovered, though there are many legends about its origin. Coffee grown worldwide can trace its heritage back centuries to the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau. Legend says the goat herder Kaldi first discovered the potential of these beloved beans when he noticed that after eating the berries from a certain tree, his goats became so energetic that they did not want to sleep at night. Kaldi reported his findings to the abbot of the local monastery, who made a drink with the berries and found that it kept him alert through the long hours of evening prayer.

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ALTON - Homecoming Week has now come to a close for Marquette Catholic High School and was capped off by the crowning of the school's Homecoming king and queen. The Explorers Homecoming Court took part in a short parade Friday evening before the football game. The students met at McKinley St. in Alton, looped around past Johnson’s Corner, and went up State St. toward Public School Stadium. They were also all introduced during the game’s halftime. The Homecoming Court consisted of Aiden O’Keefe, Kylie Murray, Jack Spain, Serenity Eldridge, Hayden Sherman, Kailey Vickrey, Myles Paniagua, Hanna Marshall, Charlie Fahnestock, Nia Ballinger, Max Cogan, Livy Kratschmer, Nathan Bennett, and Olivia Byrd. It was two seniors who took home the honors Saturday night. Aiden O’Keefe was crowned king and Hanna Marshall queen. The two are both student-athletes and quite popular at school.

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GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois held their annual United We Lead Gala on Saturday, September 10 in O’Fallon, Illinois. The event was a tremendous success, raising nearly $120,000 for the organization. The United We Lead Gala, themed The Girl Scout Difference this year, brings together a wide range of people who share a common goal – to empower today’s girls to become tomorrow’s leaders. Guests were entertained by musician Erin Bode, enjoyed a delicious meal, listened to first-hand experiences from current Girl Scouts, participated in various auctions, and heard from recent U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Sandra Magnus. Dr. Magnus is a former Girl Scout and a very decorated astronaut who hails from Belleville, Illinois. She spoke of her pre-college plan to eventually work for NASA and how her path to that goal evolved, discovering previously unknown opportunities along the way. Dr. Magnus commended Girl Scouts for providing girls

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ST. LOUIS - Today, GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning musician, singer, composer, legendary live performer, and multi-platinum best-selling artist, Harry Connick, Jr., announces “A Holiday Celebration 2022 Tour.” As 2022 draws to a close, Harry is inviting fans to celebrate the holidays with him and his band as he crosses the country in concert this holiday season. Connick Jr. will appear at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4, at Stifel Theatre in St. Louis Beginning November 18th in Hershey, PA at Hershey Theatre, the tour will make stops across the U.S. including Washington, DC’s famed Kennedy Center (November 21st), back-to-back nights at DPAC in Durham, NC (November 22nd and 23rd) and at New York City’s esteemed David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center (November 27th & 28th); along with two nights in Mesa, AZ at Mesa Arts Center (December 12th & 13th), a three-night stand at Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles (December 15th, 16th, & 17th), and two nights at Seattle’s

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LITCHFIELD - Some people grow a garden simply for its beauty. Some people grow a garden to produce food. But have you ever grown tools in your garden? There are some plants out there that can provide you with tools rather than just a pretty flower to enjoy or a bite to eat. For examaple, you can grow luffa sponges in your garden? That's right! Luffas are actually a gourd. The plants get huge and grow wild at the end of the season. They produce 10” gourds that you allow to dry on the vine. The fibers inside form the luffa sponge. Once the gourds are dry, peel the skin off and allow the sponge inside to dry completely. You can then shake the seeds out and rinse the gourd. Once the gourd is clean, you can use it as a great shower luffa or kitchen scrubby. They have natural antimicrobial properties preventing them from stinking and molding. I cut one luffa up into three pieces and used those three sponges all year long to wash dishes before they finally wore out. They never got stink

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CARLINVILLE - One of the larger music festivals in small-town Illinois music festival returns this year with an array of musical genres. The 2022 SamJam Music and Brewfest will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24 from noon until 10 p.m. at the Macoupin County Fairgrounds, just north of Carlinville. The event will feature everything from R&B to country and rock and roll, jazz, and American folk. SamJam was created in 2014 to honor Sam Oswald, who has endured years of struggle with neurofibromatosis (NF), which affects 1 in every 2,500 worldwide. NF is most often noticed in childhood or early adulthood, and appears equally across sexes, races, and ethnic groups. “We’ve become known for top-quality music,” said Sam’s father, Peter Oswald, who has spearheaded the SamJam events. “Every year, our fans tell us how good our music is, and how much they enjoy listening to it. Creating that type of fan experience is really important to us, and every year new people come

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The arrival of the steamer Talisman in 1832 brought excitement to Springfield and other cities along the Sangamon River. However, the joy was short-lived. Though area settlers hoped the Sangamon was suited to boat traffic, the river proved unnavigable, a blow to the economic prospects of the area. The Talisman, described by historian Benjamin Thomas as “a small cabin steamer,” first made news in the area in early 1832. That January 19, an advertisement in the Cincinnati Daily Gazette announced that “the splendid upper cabin steamer Talisman will leave for Portland Landing, Springfield, on the Sangamo River and all the intermediate ports and landings,” including Beardstown and Naples. St. Louis papers also carried the same ad. The boat was under the sail of Capt. Vincent A. Bogue, who also owned the cargo, and operated by master J.M. Pollock. Settlers hailed the announcement with great enthusiasm, and the population spiked almost immediately. New towns were laid

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LITCHFIELD— HSHS St. Francis Foundation will host the Robinson Brothers Homecoming Concert III for two performances on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8, 2022. The Robinson Brothers, Robby and Rex, two of central Illinois’ rock ‘n’ roll legends, return to their native Litchfield accompanied by an all-star band. The theme of this event is “Together We Can Beat Cancer.” Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. with the concert starting at 7:30 p.m. The Robinson Brothers are from Litchfield and graduated from Litchfield High School. The brothers are excited to return to their hometown and stated, “Cancer affects us all. We are 100 percent behind this cause. Come enjoy some great music and let’s make this happen.” “It’s going to be an awesome event this year and will be held at the beautiful Litchfield Community Center. Our heartfelt thanks to Robby and Rex and their all-star band. I also want to thank everyone who is helping

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Photos may be purchased for personal use at: https://www.randymanning.com/Mississippi-Earthtones-Festival ALTON - As expected, Saturday's Mississippi Earthtones Festival attracted thousands to the Alton riverfront. The festival was a free event held at the Liberty Bank Amphitheater with live music, local food and drink options, artisan craft vendors, and much more. The live entertainment included Indie jazz band Loftys Comet, Jason "Gordo" Gordon, Nonstop Reggae Band, and Grateful Dead tribute band Jake's Leg. There was an art playground that included live painting, dance and flag performances, aerial arts, hoop spinning, pole acrobatics, stilt walkers, hydro dipping, and free body painting. Sara McGibany, executive director of Alton Main Street, said the festival attracts a wonderful group of attendees. "We have music and art, crafts, and everything from jazz, and reggae to the Grateful Dead," she said. "We are thrilled to be back at the Amphitheater. We thank the City o

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Jerseyville's Ellen Kangas received her white coats for nursing in a ceremony on September 9 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mount Mercy University is the regional Catholic, Mercy University that promises students of diverse backgrounds, ages, and faiths a challenging, practical education that inspires them to discover knowledge, build community, and live their values. Mount Mercy provides a forward-thinking, future-focused education, offering baccalaureate and graduate education to 1,600+ enrolled students and uniquely blending a quality liberal arts education with career-focused professional preparation.

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LITCHFIELD - Brothers Robby and Rex Robinson will return to their native hometown of Litchfield for two benefit concerts on Friday, October 7, and Saturday, October 8 at the Litchfield Community Center. The two brothers bring with them an all-star band comprised of musicians from across the country. Robby Robinson is a keyboard whiz and Hammond organ artist with a career spanning 50 years. From Liza Minelli, Eddie Harris and The Chicago Symphony Orchestra to Albert King, The Ventures, the Commodores and Tom Jones, Robby is best known as the music director/keyboardist for Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons since 1978. Rex Robinson has more than 40 years of experience playing the low notes and keeping the foundation for such superstars as Peggy Lee, The Beach Boys, Liza Minelli and The Four Tops, just to name a few. He played bass and sang bass for Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons for more than 20 years. Additional guest stars include Sara Niemietz, who has been referred to as one

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CARLINVILLE - A landmark in American public utilities was the Rural Electrification Act, which brought power to farm homes and small towns in the midst of the Great Depression. The REA is credited with electrifying millions of rural homes and giving rise to the electric power cooperatives that still dot the nation. The 1920s and early 1930s were hard times for American agriculture, and farm households lagged in basic technology. Though 79.5 percent of Illinois farmers owned cars in 1936, only 40.8 percent had radios, and 19.8 percent had running water. Electric service was even more scarce. In 1925, a mere three percent of American farms had electricity, a number that grew to only ten percent in 1931. As the Depression hammered rural life, only eleven percent of American farmers enjoyed central station electricity by 1935. Much of the problem stemmed from the refusal of established power companies to expand, fearing a loss of profits. As a result, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

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ST. LOUIS – Multi-platinum, progressive rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) - today announced the dates for its highly anticipated 2022 winter tour, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve – the Best of TSO & More.” After its first year off the road in more than two decades, TSO made a triumphant return to touring in 2021 with a 25th anniversary celebration of Christmas Eve and Other Stories. For 2022, TSO brings a completely updated presentation of the unforgettable, multi-generational holiday tradition, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” to 60 cities across the nation. This year’s tour kicks off on Wed., Nov. 16 with performances in Green Bay and Council Bluffs, and will conclude after 101 shows on Fri., Dec. 30 (see full itinerary below and www.trans-siberian.com). Presales for TSO fan club members will be held on Thurs., Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. local time and Fri., Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. local time. The public on sale is set to begin on Fri., Sept. 16 at

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O’FALLON, IL — September is National Cholesterol Education Month and serves as a reminder to increase efforts to address one of the biggest risk factors for cardiovascular disease: high cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body uses to build cells and make vitamins and other hormones. It’s not necessarily bad, but too much cholesterol can pose a problem. Cholesterol comes from two main sources: the liver and animal products. Foods high in saturated and trans fats also contribute to raising cholesterol by causing the liver to create even more. High cholesterol is one of the leading factors of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Keeping your numbers in check can go a long way toward preventing cardiovascular issues. “Know your numbers and what to do about them,” said Dr. Scott Marrus, Prairie Heart Institute cardiologist. “If there is an issue, oftentimes small lifestyle changes can bring your numbers in line, but if that’s

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