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ALTON – Simmons Hanly Conroy , one of the nation's largest mass torts firms and a national leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families, is pleased to announce that the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms® (formerly known as U.S. News – Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms”) has awarded the firm with a Tier 1 national ranking in the practice area of Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs. In addition, the firm received 10 metropolitan rankings in Tier 1 (the highest recognition level) and three additional metropolitan rankings across its offices. Now in its 14th year and compiled by the legal peer review publication company Best Lawyers, the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms includes rankings in 75 national practice areas and 127 practice areas across metropolitan regions. Best Law Firms rankings are based on client/professional reference feedback, information provided by firms through the formal submission process,

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced today that his office charged a Franklin County man with possession of child pornography. The Benton, Illinois resident is also facing separate federal child pornography charges. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online. Austin W. Lee, 29, was charged today in a Franklin County Circuit Court with 10 counts of possession of child pornography, Class 2 felonies, each punishable by up to seven years in prison; and five counts of sexual contact/sexual conduct with an animal, Class 4 felonies, each punishable by up to three years in prison. He is currently detained at the Franklin County Jail and his next court date is Nov. 15. “Child pornography is a horrific crime that can leave life-long scars on victims and their families, and we

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that bridge repairs will require a weekend closure of southbound/westbound Interstate 55/70 between Illinois 203 and Exchange Avenue starting, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3. A posted detour will be in place to direct motorists to I-255 and I-64. The work is expected to be complete by 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6. 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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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 19 attorneys general, today supported a Maryland board of education’s efforts to create a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ children and students. The amicus brief, filed in Mahmoud v. McKnight, supports the Montgomery County Board of Education (MCBE) in a challenge to its policy of providing LGBTQ+ inclusive reading materials in its language arts curriculum. “Inclusive classroom environments ensure all students feel valued and respected and allow everyone to thrive,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work with my fellow attorneys general to push back against coordinated efforts to attack LGBTQ+ youth and ensure all students are supported in the classroom.” In their brief filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, Raoul and the coalition explain the importance of providing safe and inclusive school environments for all children and argue that policies such

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GRAFTON - Get your boots and hats ready for Grafton’s first annual Country Music Festival, which is quickly approaching from Friday, Nov. 3 to Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, at several venues around Grafton. With a full lineup of live musical acts, the festival will also feature a cowboy hat contest, dance contest, karaoke, and much more. Free live music will be performed by several acts throughout the weekend. The festivities will kick off with three bands at three different venues around Grafton on Friday evening from 6 to 11 p.m., with the Best Cowboy Hat Contest being held that night at 9 p.m. at the Grafton Pub. Saturday will start off with the “Eatin’ To The Oldies” breakfast and brunch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bobby G’s Martini Bar. In addition to even more live music at several more venues, Saturday will also feature the Mr. and Mrs. Grafton Contest from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Grafton Pub - participants are asked to wear their “Best Country Attire.”

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ST. LOUIS - The Illinois Center for Autism (ICA) helps hundreds of families every day, and now you can help them by supporting one of their many upcoming fundraisers, complete with bands, vendors, raffles, a fashion show and plenty more. On Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, the music festival “Tracy’s Song 2.0” at The Heavy Anchor in St. Louis will serve up four bands and plenty of basket raffles from indie St. Louis shops. Then on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, ladies can lunch at the center’s “Women, Wine and Wardrobes” event with special guest speaker Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski. All proceeds from both events will go toward the programs at ICA, which have been helping families across nine Illinois counties for 45 years. “We’re kind of a hidden gem,” explained Rachel Newsome, ICA’s communications officer. “Unless your family is experiencing the challenges of autism, a lot of times you might hear the name but you don’t

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WOOD RIVER - East Alton-Wood River High offensive/defensive lineman Aiden Wright has had a long career with football that started in his eighth grade year in the JFL. He has played a key role for the Oilers since his entry on the varsity team. Wright said if he had to thank anyone in regards to support in his football career, it would be "friends and family who have supported me" through his journey, especially his mom and dad because "no matter what happens they’d still encourage me to do better." Garry Herron is Wright's head coach for East Alton-Wood River High. Wright is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for EA-WR. Wright said his best qualities are: "Just being active and diligent throughout the school year helps me focus on my academics. If there was anything I love more about football it's the friendships you have with your teammates and where they bring happiness to you in life in and out of football." He says he spends his free time "hanging ou

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ALTON - Alton High School had a big sendoff recently for six girls' varsity volleyball players: the seniors - Grace Carter, Karen Lewis, Ella Artis, Tayen Orr, Aleigha Snipes and Lanee Miller. The AHS senior volleyball girls are Auto Butler Female Athletes of the Month. Alton head girls volleyball coach Phil Hamilton said the varsity Redbirds are led by their star outside hitter, senior Grace Carter (No. 14). "Grace has been on the varsity team for four years and plans to play in college," Coach Hamilton said. "The team leader, on and off the court, is No. 16, Karen Lewis, a 5’10’’ senior middle blocker," Hamilton said. "She also plans to play in college." Senior setter Ella Artis (No. 17) has played for the varsity team for three years. Hamilton described Artis as "a very gifted setter and aspires to be an aircraft pilot." No. 12, senior outside hitter Aleigha Snipes, has substantially improved her attacks. She plans to play in college, Hamilton said. Senior

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CARROLLTON - Several individuals are facing charges filed recently in Greene County, ranging from criminal sexual assault of a minor, child pornography, home invasion, and many more, according to the county’s latest jail booking report. Jacob D. Haynes, 25, of Roodhouse, was charged with one count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under 13 years of age. Haynes was also charged with two counts of child pornography and one count of grooming. He was arrested by the Scott County Sheriff’s Department on Oct. 25, 2023, and remains in custody. Jarrod R. Campbell, 39, of White Hall, has been charged with home invasion and aggravated battery. He was arrested on Oct. 28, 2023, by the White Hall Police Department and remains in custody. Nicholas K. Bridgewater, 39, of Roodhouse, was charged with one count each of assault and reckless conduct. Bridgewater was arrested by the Roodhouse Police Department on Oct. 28, 2023, and has since been released on time served.

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ALTON - Alton Little Theater (ALT) welcomed over 100 kids at their first ever Halloween trunk-or-treat. On Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, ALT invited the community to stop by their parking lot at 2450 Henry Street in Alton to celebrate Halloween with the ALT Board of Directors. Kevin Frakes, the theater’s artistic director, explained that they wanted to provide a fun and safe evening for the kids who live near ALT. “We loved the kids and we had a great time,” Frakes said. “We just basically did it for the community and for the kids in our area, because a lot of the kids in our area, they don’t even have sidewalks. So we thought we would do something like that this year just for the safety of it, and just for the awareness of the theater and that we’re very much community-minded.” This was ALT’s first year sponsoring the trunk-or-treat. Frakes teased there is a “good chance” they’ll do it again following the huge response.

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ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE - There is no doubt about it, Alton and Edwardsville communities take Halloween seriously. East End Improvement Association sponsors the annual Alton Halloween Parade and it is nearly a year-long undertaking. The same holds true for the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce Halloween Parade. Included here are a variety of photos that display the characters who were out on the streets of Alton and Edwardsville on Tuesday. Displayed are all ages from young to elderly. It was a jovial day for many in the region and those pictured enjoyed themselves! If you have photos from the big day you want to share send them here with the story on Facebook.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Megan Knobeloch is a senior player for the Edwardsville High girls' volleyball team who emerged as one of the Tigers' key players for the 2023 season. Knobeloch played a key role in the Tigers' 25-17, 25-23 win over Quincy in the playoff opener at Alton's Redbird Nest on Oct. 24 with 13 assists in the semifinal of the Class 4A Alton regional. In the team's season finale against Belleville West on Oct. 19, Knobeloch scored four points with two aces in the Tigers' 25-19, 25-20 win. The win on the Tigers' senior night was a great way to round out Knobeloch's career at Edwardsville and in her post-match interview, she was very happy, indeed. "We had a lot of fun this year," Knobeloch said, "and I'm glad we got to finish it out winning first in our conference (going 12-0 in the Southwestern Conference), and I got to finish my season out with all the people I started it with." Knobeloch is a Johnston Law Firm Female Athlete of the Month for the Tigers. The out-of-town road

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that road 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, Nov. 3, 2023. One lane will always remain open. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. 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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SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director John J. Kim today announced the opening of the next round of funding for the Illinois Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate Program. Applications are being accepted starting November 1 and must be postmarked no earlier than November 1. Individuals can access and complete an application for a rebate under Illinois’ EV Rebate Program at: https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/ceja/electric-vehicle-rebates.html . Rebates will be issued to eligible applicants subject to availability of funds. The General Assembly has appropriated up to $12 million to Illinois EPA for the EV Rebate program for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Actual funding amounts will be determined by the amount of money available in the Electric Vehicle Rebate Fund. Due to the substantial interest in the program, Illinois EPA anticipates the available funds being depleted in advance of the close of the application window on January 31,

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ALTON - In honor of Veterans Day, veterans can receive comprehensive dental care for no fee through the SIU School of Dental Medicine on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. “There are way more veterans than you would anticipate that are without a dental provider or dental insurance,” explained Dr. Katie Kosten, the school’s Director of Community Dentistry. “So that’s an unmet need in that population, and we’re positioned to be able to give back in that way, so we try to take that day to do that for them.” Veterans can contact the school at 618-474-7200 to schedule their appointment for Nov. 9. Third and fourth-year dental students will see patients that day, under the faculty’s supervision. They will complete as much dental work as possible for every veteran who walks in the door. “This is a service we’ve provided for the last several years where we invite veterans to come to SIU School of Dental Medicine to receive, basically, a

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ALTON - People come from across the region to have a great time at Fast Eddie’s Bon Air . But during the Alton Halloween Parade , the Fast Eddie’s staff are the ones who are partying. Every year, the bartenders, servers and their families gather outside the bar to tailgate and watch the Halloween Parade. Angie Rook explained that the party, thrown by Fast Eddie’s owner Eddie Sholar, is a chance for the staff to spend time together and enjoy the parade with their kids, a fire and plenty of snacks. “This is more of a family-friendly party that they throw for us,” Rook said. “We’re having hotdogs and chili and snacks and fire to keep us warm. The kids are having fun. It’s something to do away from work, something to get together with our kids and our families outside of work and have fun and watch this great parade and not think about work for the evening.” But Rook is quick to note how much she enjoys working at Fast Eddie’s.

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JOLIET— Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) were joined today by local officials and community leaders to celebrate several important milestones on the $1.3 billion overhaul of Interstate 80, setting up one of the cornerstone projects in the governor’s Rebuild Illinois capital program to be almost fully under construction in the spring. Entering next construction season, an estimated $385 million worth of projects just on I-80’s mainline lanes will be underway on almost 12 miles of the corridor, signaling the start of a major new phase. “Illinoisans deserve infrastructure built for the modern era, with the highest standards of safety and reliability, and a little less congestion and frustration,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “That’s why the General Assembly and I dedicated $1.3 billion of our road modernization plan — the largest single allocation — to the rebuilding and restoration of I-80 through

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ALTON - A local organization will celebrate the birthday of the late Police Officer Blake Snyder with a food drive to benefit Alton food pantries. On Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, you can stop by Alton Physical Therapy , located at 3550 College Avenue, to drop off donations and participate in raffles, games and giveaways. The food drive, sponsored by Mustache March 4 PD (MM4PD), aims to honor Snyder and help the community by collecting 4,100 pounds of food to celebrate Snyder’s 41st birthday on Nov. 7. “After Blake was killed in the line of duty in St. Louis, there was a group of us that wanted to get a better connection with the community and the police officers,” explained Tina Bennett, vice president of MM4PD. “And Blake was the kind of person, the kind of police officer we hope all police officers are. He was very generous with his time, helping people, always a very good husband and father and churchgoer, family man. To have him

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ALTON - For Cole Kribs, the Alton Halloween Parade isn’t just fun; it’s business. Every year, Cole and his family set up shop outside Town Club Bar and Grill , located at 2400 E. Broadway in Alton, and sell hot chocolate to the parade participants as they wait for the parade to start. The bar is owned by Cole’s father, Mark Kribs, and they are happy to invite people in for a few minutes of warmth and a hot drink. “It’s cold tonight,” Cole noted as he waited for the parade to start on Oct. 31, 2023. “I would think that would help.” It’s also a tradition. Cole and his brother have spent every Halloween Parade at the bar with their parents. The parade participants usually line up along Broadway, so they always get a sneak peak of the floats and bands before the parade officially starts. While they decided to stick to hot chocolate this year, they usually have crock pots full of hot chocolate and hotdogs to boost spirits

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Jack Lew to serve as the United States Ambassador to Israel: “The recent terrorist attack in Israel and ensuing overlapping challenges in the region are a reminder of the importance of having top American diplomats at our embassies. Unfortunately, some Republican Senators have continued to block the confirmation of highly qualified U.S. ambassadors from key posts around the world. I was pleased to support Jack Lew’s confirmation and hope he will work with urgency to bring home the remaining American hostages, provide humanitarian relief for innocent civilians in Gaza, and pursue a long term two-state solution that brings a desperately overdue path out of continued conflict in the region.”

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