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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker joined local and state leaders today to celebrate the ribbon cutting of Eli’s Cheesecake expanded facility. The $10 million investment and 42,000 square-foot expanded facility will increase space for packaging lines and bakery operations for the famous Chicago cheesecake company while creating 50 new jobs for the area. “A family-owned bakery — three generations strong, Eli’s Cheesecake is an iconic Chicago-staple,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to a $10 million investment and competitive hiring incentives from our EDGE tax credit program, Eli’s Cheesecake was able to complete a 42,000 square foot expansion—bringing this facility size to a whopping 104,000 square feet. And, of course, more capacity brings jobs for the people of Illinois. More jobs, more customers, more cake: it doesn’t get much better than that.” “With more than three decades of serving communities, the expansio

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that bridge repairs will require a weekend closure of northbound/eastbound Interstate 55/70 between the I-64 and I-255 interchanges in St. Clair County starting, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13. A posted detour will be in place to direct motorists to I-64 and I-255. The work is expected to be complete by 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and all detour signs prior to the work zone, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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The Cookie Factory, doing business as Maverick Ventures, LLC of Troy, NY, is recalling 2,367 packages of 6 oz. Chocolate Chip Cookies because they may contain an undeclared macadamia nut allergen. People with an allergy or sensitivity to macadamia nuts are at risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. The Cookie Factory product was distributed to Stewart’s Shops stores throughout New York and in nine Stewart’s Shops in Vermont. The products were sold in a 6 oz. clear plastic tub “clamshell” container with a Best Before date of 10/13/23 printed on the sticker that secures the package. The UPC is also on the sticker that secures the package. The recalled product was distributed in packaging that does not reveal the presence of macadamia nuts. A customer who purchased a package noticed a substance that was later identified as a macadamia nut. An investigation determined the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown

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EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt recently announced a total of $400,000 in funding for two outdoor trails in the 57 th District through the Illinois Bicycle Path Grant Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. “There is nothing better than to see frequently used outdoor spaces receive funds to improve their accessibility for residents,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Spending time outdoors has been proven to enhance our health and well-being, and it’s great we are allowing this to happen by making spaces like this more convenient and safe for everyone.” The funds for the program come from a percentage of motor vehicle title fees, providing a maximum grant award of $200,000 per project for development projects, with no maximum grant award limit for land acquisition projects. Madison County Transit District will receive $200,000 for the creation of a new trail, the Chain of Rocks Shared Use Path, which will

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ST. LOUIS, MO. - MetroLink will operate on a single track evenings at several locations on the light rail system in the City of St. Louis this week to allow for construction and maintenance work. MetroLink customers may experience brief delays during their evening commutes. The impacted stations are: Laclede’s Landing Station Convention Center Station 8 th & Pine Station Stadium Station Starting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Oct. 10-13), MetroLink will single track to accommodate crews working in the Downtown St. Louis tunnel. This single track operation will impact riders at the Laclede’s Landing, Convention Center, 8 th & Pine, and Stadium Stations. The Blue Line trains will only run between Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station and the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 Station after 6 p.m. Westbound riders should board Red Line trains at any station between the Fairview Heights Station and the Central West End Station and then transfer to

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BETHALTO – Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Eagles of the Month” program at Civic Memorial High School. Senior students are selected each month by members of the Civic Memorial faculty to represent each department. All students are awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. Two seniors (1 female student and 1 male student) that were selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $500.00 “Eagles of the Year” scholarship each at the end of the school year. 2023 October’s Eagles of the Month winners are as follows: Math - Lucas Naugle Visual Arts - Akkadia Allsman Social Studies - Christian Strader P.E./Health - Elijah Gruen Choir - Madelyn Fitzgerald Band - Shelby Quick Science - Serenity Bell English - Aidyn Pellazari CTE - Jude Breyer. Teacher of the Month - Special Education teacher Ashley Wallis Congratulations to all the Civic Memorial “Eagles of the Month” and the “Teacher

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GODFREY – The RiverBend Growth Association has selected its October 2023 Small Business of the Month award recipient as Post Commons, whose mission is to serve as the community’s most welcoming living room and gathering place. Located in the old post office structure at 300 Alby Street in Alton, Post Commons started with a mission of “simply creating a space for people in the community to use,” notes owner Hugh Halter. “It later developed into the idea of providing a space reminiscent of a living room for our city. That includes welcoming hospitality, an atmosphere that makes people feel at home, a place of connection and conversation. “We’re lucky to steward a space that hosts a variety of experiences that will stay with people – whether that’s a wedding, a surprise birthday party, or making a random connection with someone while enjoying a coffee,” Halter adds. “The products we offer – coffee, food, pastries,

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CHICAGO – The Powerball jackpot has skyrocketed to a whopping $1.725 billion for tonight’s drawing after no big winner was drawn Monday night. If a lucky ticket holder scores the jackpot on Wednesday night, it would be the second-largest prize won in U.S. lottery history behind a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot won in California last November. Monday's winning Powerball numbers were 16-34-46-55-67 and Powerball 14. In Illinois, the drawing produced nearly 290,000 winning tickets totaling nearly $2.6 million in prizes, including four $50,000 winners. The four lucky players matched four numbers and the Powerball to win $50,000 each in Monday’s drawing. This is also a win for the retailers that sold the nearly 290,000 winning Powerball tickets on Monday, as they will receive a bonus of 1% of the prize amount. Winners have one year from the date of the winning draw in which to claim their prize. The Illinois Lottery encourages all lucky winners to write their name o

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ALTON - The Webster Temple Church of God in Christ at 1100 Highland and Webster, Alton will be hosting its Annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct 14, 2023, from 11 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The host Pastor is Eld Sancho Williams and First Lady Allyssia Williams. This is an annual event to invite the community to come out, have fun, enjoy activities and to learn more about what we do as a church in our community. There will be a bounce house, vendors, free hotdogs and chips, music, games and a lot of fun and fellowship. The community is welcome. If you have questions, please contact Rosie Brown at 618-580-2394

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State Police (ISP) conducted Operation Raven October 2-5, 2023 in St. Clair and Madison counties. The operation utilized intelligence and technology to target known high crime areas, organized violent offenders, and structured criminal groups in the communities of the Metro East. Troopers from SAVE (South), SAVE (North), Highway Interdiction Team (Central East), Fatal 4 (South), Troops 1,5,6,7,8,9,10, ISP Air Operations, and the Zone 6 Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) participated in the multi-day operation. The Firearms Investigations Unit (FIU) and Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois (MEGSI) provided additional support during the operational period. Operation Raven Results Arrests 83 Felony Charges 70 Criminal Charges 121 Firearm Related Charges 44 Firearms Seized 30 Cannabis Seized 2,661 grams Controlled Substance Seized 509.9 grams

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ELSAH - A lecture, Tuskegee Airmen: Brothers in Arms, will be given by John Williams, former president and professor of Political Science at Principia College at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, at Farley Music Hall, 37 Mill Street, Elsah. Williams is well-known as a popular and entertaining speaker on the local lecture circuit, a lawyer, journalist, and experienced world traveler. The Tuskegee Airmen all-black squadron was formed in January 1941, and trained at segregated Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama, months before American entrance into World War II. The Airmen were fighter pilots, later bomber pilots, active in the Mediterranean, Italian, and southern France campaigns. Williams will tell the story of Arnold and George Cisco, brothers growing up in Jerseyville and graduates of Jersey Township High School in the 1930s. Highly decorated, they died tragically in military accidents after the war. The presentation is free and open to the public, free parking

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Madison County Clerk’s Office Voter Registration Reminder EDWARDSVILLE – The Madison County Clerk’s Office initiated the biannual Voter Registration "clean up" in mid-August. You should have received your Voter Registration card by now. If you have received a card of a deceased family member or a card of a person who previously lived at your address, it is important to take the following steps: Deceased member : Either come to the office and/or send a letter to the office to notify us in writing so we can cancel their registration. Non-residing family member : Send us notification in writing stating that this voter has moved out of our county, and we can cancel their registration. All others: Return card via post office or to our office so we can send out a second notice (Address Verification Form) to our office. If we do not receive a response for this second notice the voter is placed on inactive status for 2 Federal Elections. They are cancelled after

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WOOD RIVER - East Alton-Wood River sophomore Hailey Handler continues to get recognition as an athlete as both a tennis and basketball star. Kaylynn Buttry, her doubles teammate, is also a basketball standout in the winter and a softball player in the spring. The pair have been solid in doubles play all season for the Oilers. The Handler-Buttry doubles combination is being recognized as Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athletes of the Month for the Oilers. The EA-WR sophomore Handler thanked her mom and dad for always taking time out of their busy schedules to make it to her games and practice pick-up. Mary Broadway is Handler's girls' tennis coach. Handler said her and doubles partner Kaylynn Buttry's ability to read each other and work together goes a long way in how they play as a combination. Handler has been playing tennis for about a year and has already developed a love of the sport. She says when she is not playing a sport, she enjoys reading, playing with her dog,

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GLEN CARBON - The Glen Carbon Road shared use path project has taken another step forward after trustees approved a resolution with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to conduct right-of-way and design engineering for Phase 1 of the path’s construction. The village has agreed to pay $60,000 in Motor Fuel Tax funds to IDOT for capital improvements under the Illinois Highway Act. These improvements will be made to 0.28 miles of Glen Carbon Road from Oakdale Lake Drive to Lakewood Drive. Public Works Director Scott Slemer said at the meeting that design on the project will occur in 2024, with construction anticipated to follow sometime in 2025. In other village business, trustees also approved the appointment of Leslie Rice to the G.L.E.N. Committee. Her term will run from October 10, 2023 to April 30, 2026. Mayor Bob Marcus added Rice approached the village “excited and eager” to volunteer for the G.L.E.N. committee and recommended her

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WOOD RIVER - A dedication ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Oct. 26, 2023, to commemorate the life of Tyler Timmins and the renaming of a Wood River road to “Tyler Timmins Drive.” Timmins, a Pontoon Beach police officer who was killed in the line of duty on Oct. 26, 2021, grew up in Wood River. The dedication ceremony will mark the second anniversary of his passing. The event will officially rename Old Alton Edwardsville Road and will be held at the intersection of Rock Hill Road and the new Tyler Timmins Drive. “He’ll get the recognition — a little bit of the recognition — that he deserves,” Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup said. The Wood River City Council voted unanimously to rename the road during their meeting on Aug. 21, 2023. Stalcup explained that Wood River has been developing the east side of town, and many businesses are interested in moving in that direction. Tyler Timmins Drive will be a prominent street for residents and visitors

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WOOD RIVER - As the cooler weather settles in, the City of Wood River invites the Riverbend region to enjoy fall-themed fun at several events in the coming weeks. “We’ve got lots of things happening downtown and we’ve got new businesses opening a lot, so this just gives us an opportunity to show off what we’re doing,” Kristen Burns said. Burns is a community leader and member of Wood River Economic Development, an organization that promotes growth in Wood River. The organization’s second annual Chili Cookoff will start the spooky season. This free event is scheduled for 2–6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. Families can listen to bands, check out local businesses and judge the city’s best chili. The band Money Shot will play throughout the afternoon. The Chili Cookoff event will be centered in the downtown district along E. Ferguson Avenue. Team can compete for $40 to see who has the best chili. Check out the Wood River Economic

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that repairs on westbound Interstate 270 between Illinois 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri will require lane closures starting, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13. One lane will remain open at all times. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined bipartisan group of 13 attorneys general from Arizona, California, Delaware, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia, to release the following joint statement on the current situation in Israel and the attacks launched by Hamas. “We are aghast and outraged at the wanton, calculated attacks on civilians going about their daily lives. The carnage, perpetrated by Hamas and its supporters, has directly led to the loss of hundreds of innocent lives and horrific kidnappings. We grieve with our Israeli siblings, and with the loved ones of all those innocent lives lost in Israel and Gaza because of this surprise attack. The targeting of civilians by Hamas as well as the thousands of rockets it has fired indiscriminately at civilian targets are acts that cannot be tolerated or rationalized. Violence and terror are not the ways to achieve a lasting an

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BELLEVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that pavement repairs on Illinois 159 from North Douglas Avenue to Alexa Drive will require intermittent overnight lane closures beginning, weather permitting, at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15. One lane will always remain open in both directions, with the help of flaggers. All lanes will be open by 5 a.m. each morning. The project is expected to be completed by the end of November. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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ROXANA - Raelee Kimbro has developed into a strong runner this season for the Roxana girls cross country squad. Kimbrow, a senior, recently posted a time of 20:51.7 for third place in the Madison County Small Schools Invitational in Granite City. She broke 20 minutes in the Granite City Invite with a time of 19:53.8 and medaled with a top 30 performance. She also recorded a time of 19:55.0 in the Peoria High School Invite for 56th place. She was ninth in the Belleville West Invite on Sept. 9 with a time of 20:22.2. Kimbro is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for the Shells. Kimbro, interviewed after one of the meets, said she has felt "good" about her performances so far this season and is looking forward to the postseason. "I tried to get in the top 30 and medal at Granite City and did it," she said, speaking of one of her year's highlights to date. As a senior, Kimbro has become a leader for her Shells team. She plans to run track in college and not play

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