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BUNKER HILL – The Illinois Arts Council (IAC) has awarded Bunker Hill CUSD #8 a grant of $49,600 from the Rebuild Illinois Capital Planning Fund for a one-year study about the possibility of refurbishing the gymnasium of the long-vacant Meissner School and transforming it into a functioning community performing arts center. The new community performing arts center would be for those in the Bunker Hill region. With over 100 applications requesting support of $4,500,000, the IAC awarded $500,000 in this highly competitive grant. Decisions were based on the evaluation criteria and priority focus areas as published in the application guidelines. Bunker Hill CUSD #8 is “very pleased that we received this award,” according to Superintendent Todd Dugan. “We are thrilled to put these funds to work to hopefully meet the needs of our community by providing a community school space to celebrate the arts (music, theater, etc.) We believe all students need to feel supported,

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ST. LOUIS - Get ready for a lunar celebration like no other! Drunken Fish is kicking off the Lunar New Year in style by hosting a party in honor of its 20th anniversary. Join us on Friday, February 9, 2024, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the breathtaking VUE, located within the historic Cutlery Building at 612 North 2nd Street. VUE's fifth-level event space sets the stage for this unforgettable 20th-anniversary extravaganza. With nearly a 360-degree view of downtown St. Louis, guests will enjoy stunning vistas of the Gateway Arch, the Eads Bridge and the city skyline. Drunken Fish has an exciting lineup of events planned for the year, and what better way to start than with the Lunar New Year Party. This event is all about celebrating diversity and culture. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in the spirit of Asia through a variety of all-you-can-eat Asian cuisine and live entertainment. The night will feature a Chinese Lion Dance, live DJ, kimono shot girls, live sushi chef, cash

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ALTON – Alton Steel Inc. (ASI), a leading manufacturer of high-quality steel bars, announced the appointment of Alton native Chris Ervin as the new CEO. Ervin will succeed Chief Executive Jim Hrusovsky who announced his retirement today after more than 10 years of distinguished leadership. The two leaders will work together closely during the transition until Hrusovsky’s retirement in September. After that, Hrusovsky will remain a part of the team as a consultant. “It has been an honor to serve as CEO for ASI,” said Hrusovsky. “This is a bittersweet decision for me. I’ve worked for several companies during my 43-year career, and ASI has been the most rewarding place I’ve ever worked. The people here really care about each other, they are always focused on doing the right things for the company and our customers, and they pitch in whenever and wherever they are needed. While I will miss the people of ASI a great deal, I’m also looking

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MARION - The agenda has been released and various continuing education credits have been approved for “A Trauma-Informed Courts and Community Symposium: Creating a Culture of Belonging” on Thursday, March 21 from 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center, 800 Tower Square Plaza, Marion, IL. The symposium, hosted by Illinois First Judicial Circuit Chief Judge William J. Thurston, Access to Justice Improvement Grant, Williamson County Presiding Judge Stephen R. Green, and Centerstone, features advocate, speaker and former NFL player Gaelin Elmore as the keynote speaker. To register for this free event, visit Centerstone.org/events. “Please join us for a one-day, motivational symposium as we encourage court personnel and professional communities to commit to understanding how belonging is a key element in success,” said Brenda Sprague, Office of the Chief Judge. “Whether your work includes helping court patrons navigate the legal

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ALTON - Abundant Church’s Super Sunday event promises Super Bowl fun for the whole family on Feb. 11, 2024. The church will host games, tailgate food and giveaways throughout the morning on Feb. 11 in between services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. According to Pastor Joe Banks, the goal is to bring more people to the church and provide a fun space for young families and others to enjoy on Super Bowl Sunday. “Something really unique and really special is happening at our church,” Banks said. “We’ve grown by 150 people in just the last five months, and it’s mostly young families, young adults, millennials, and it’s super cool to see what’s happening.” Super Sunday is the perfect exemplar of the church’s growth. There will be kid-friendly services and special activities for the youngest congregation members to enjoy, as well as a Field Goal Challenge and giveaways for the adults. Banks hopes these fun activities will make

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Public Safety Enforcement Group announces the arrest of 47-year-old Jamaal A. McCray of Cahokia Heights, IL for Failure to Report an Accident Involving Death (Class 1 Felony). On January 27, 2024, ISP agents were requested by the East St. Louis Police Department to assist with a hit-and-run investigation involving a pedestrian that occurred at Market Avenue and 8 th Street in East St. Louis. The victim, 42-year-old, Mario M. Poster of Cahokia Heights, IL was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. On January 30, 2024, McCray was identified as a person of interest and was taken into custody. On February 1, 2024, the case was presented to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric, and the above-mentioned charge was filed against McCray. There is no further information. ISP was assisted by the East St. Louis Police

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EDWARDSVILLE - 222 Artisan Bakery announced they will temporarily close at the end of February 2024. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, the bakery announced that their landlord decided to bring in a different business. “We signed our new lease as written by our landlord, but unfortunately they decided to go with a different business. We do understand,” the bakery said in their post. “With rent prices rising in Edwardsville, you must do what you can for your family and your family’s future. Unfortunately, we were not their choice, and we can’t hold that against them.” The bakery said they have another spot to “set up shop” but warned there may be a delay because of the time it takes to complete buildout, permits and city inspections. They added that they asked their landlord for an extension but the request was declined. “In the meantime, our biggest concern is our employees,” the bakery said. “These

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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. Congratulations to all the Civic Memorial “Eagles of the Month” and the “Teacher of the Month. "We all here at Midwest Members Credit Union wish you well in your future endeavors!" Midwest Members Credit Union has been serving your community for 89 years. To find out more information about Midwest Members Credit Union and what they are doing in your community, please visit www.midmembers.org 2024 January’s Eagles of the Month winners:

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ALTON - February is Heart Awareness Month, and Laurinda Harjai has a few tips to keep your heart healthy. Harjai, a cardiology nurse practitioner with OSF Medical Group, explained that Heart Awareness Month is a good chance to think about your health and make adjustments where needed. She encourages all patients to keep an eye on their blood pressure and cholesterol levels, to stay active, and to follow up on any concerns they might have. “I think it’s a good time to bring awareness,” Harjai said. “When was the last time I saw my primary care doctor? What has my blood pressure been? What is my cholesterol? Do I have diabetes and not know it? I think it’s really important to follow through.” Harjai explained that she always tries to get a feel for her patients’ lifestyle and family history, both of which can contribute to one’s likelihood of developing heart disease or another heart-related issue. Smoking is a major concern,

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford followed up Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, with information regarding the shooting of a 13-year-old child on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, in the 900 block of Highland Avenue. The 13-year-old is still in critical condition, Chief Ford said. "Her family is by her side as they pray for her survival," added the chief. Chief Ford said Alton Police Department Criminal Investigation Division detectives have worked tirelessly since the shooting occurred. "They continue to follow up on active leads," he said. "They will continue to relentlessly pursue justice for the victim and her family. "I have spoken with Alton’s Mayor, David Goins, Madison County’s State Attorney, Tom Haine, several area police chiefs and sheriffs, and community leaders, all of whom have pledged their full support and resources to help us seek justice for the victim and her family. "Based on interactions with the family, I believe they know we are working extremely hard to not only

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WOOD RIVER - After much anticipation the City of Wood River and the Wood River Parks and Recreation Department are proud to announce the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of the new Wood River Recreation Center, on February 17, 2024. The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and the grand opening will be held from noon until 4 p.m. “Residents are invited to the grand opening on February 17th, to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony, tour the facility, see demo gymnastics and group fitness classes and ask any questions they may have.” Jason Woody, Park and Recreation Director stated. “We are also moving all of the offices to the new facility to better serve the residents. We are streamlining most of our registration procedures and look forward to more convenient registration and more recreation opportunities for Wood River." The 30,000 sq ft. facility boasts 4 multi use rooms, including a group fitness room, gymnastics center, walking track, basketball

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JERSEYVILLE - Two individuals have been charged in separate cases with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of a stolen vehicle, and more, according to recent Jersey County court documents. Timothy G. Glenn, 25, of St. Louis, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon (a Super Class 3 felony), unlawful possession of stolen vehicle (a Class 2 felony), and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer (a Class 4 felony). On Jan. 28, 2024, Glenn allegedly stole a silver 2012 Nissan Altima with a Missouri registration number. He also possessed a “loaded Glock 22 .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with a round chambered and a 15-round magazine with an assortment of Winchester and Federal ammunition” after previously being convicted of a felony, according to court documents. Glenn was additionally charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer after driving the same stolen vehicle through the front

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ST. LOUIS - Firefighters battled a serious four-alarm fire in a five-story vacant warehouse on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at 1st and O'Fallon streets in the Near North Riverfront Area of St. Louis. The fire was also close to the Horseshoe St. Louis casino. The warehouse was destroyed in the fire and will have to be torn down. Fire officials have not released the cause of the Saturday fire. Thankfully, the fire did not damage surrounding buildings because of the firefighters' diligent efforts. The firefighters responded around 6 a.m. on Saturday and when they arrived, there was heavy fire. Ameren Missouri shut the power down to businesses in the vicinity of the fire for multiple hours. The smoke from the fire could be seen for miles away. The fire continues to be investigated. Photos by Sean Webster. For more of Webster's work, find him on Instagram: @f_a_tguywithacamera.

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s scholarship application is now available for students planning to attend in 2024-2025. Apply today at www.lc.edu/scholarships . The entire application process is online. Filling out a single application will match students with all eligible scholarships. More than 175 scholarships are available for a total value of nearly $600,000. Scholarships vary in amount, but about half cover full annual tuition and fees, approximately $4,500 for an in-district, full-time student. Available scholarships are provided by the Lewis and Clark Board of Trustees and generous donations from local community members arranged by the Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation. Each scholarship has its qualifications, including, but not limited to, items such as program of study, town or county of residence, academic success, volunteer activity, status as a non-traditional student, etc. There are opportunities for every student at L&C. “The

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ALTON - OSF Medical Group – Primary Care (Godfrey) is pleased to announce a new board-certified family medicine nurse practitioner has been added to its staff to better serve the primary care needs of Riverbend region residents. Lisa Reid, FNP-BC, MSN, BSN, is accepting new patients at OSF Medical Group – Primary Care, located at 6702 Godfrey Road, in Godfrey. Ms. Reid will see patients Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Reid’s family medicine interests include (but not limited to): Family medicine Obesity Diabetes Geriatrics Behavioral health As a current board-certified family nurse practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Reid has accumulated more than 10 years of experience in: Family medicine and pediatrics practices in Godfrey, Chatham, Alton, and Gillespie Serving as a school nurse for grades K-12 in the Mt. Olive (IL) School District #1 Long-term care (LTC) facilities in Alton and Jerseyville Oncology services

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ALTON - Alton’s Black History Month Exhibit is officially open at City Hall. From Monday, Feb. 5 to Feb. 29, 2024, visitors can view the display in the lobby during City Hall’s open hours. The exhibit covers Black history in Alton starting in the early 1900s through the present day, with information about local leaders, churches, musicians and more. “I think it’s important for this generation now to understand and know and be exposed to the history of Black legacy in this community and the wealth of Black history here, because it is endless,” said First Lady Sheila Goins, who helped organize the exhibit. Goins worked with local historian Charlotte Johnson. They compiled documents and artifacts obtained from Hayner Public Library District, as well as display items from Eva Perkins and other community members who have sponsored Black History Month exhibits in Alton in the past. Goins, Johnson and Perkins encourage community members to visit the exhibi

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan group of attorneys general, today announced a $150 million multistate settlement agreement in principle with opioid manufacturer Hikma Pharmaceuticals (Hikma) for its role in fueling the opioid crisis. Raoul’s office also announced today a $350 million national settlement with Publicis Health to resolve investigations into the global marketing and communications firm’s role in the prescription opioid epidemic. Hikma produces a range of branded and generic opioid products and sells hundreds of millions of opioid doses every year. The agreement in principle resolves claims that from 2006 to 2021, Hikma failed to monitor and report suspicious opioid orders from potentially illegal distributors, even as personnel knew their systems to monitor suspicious orders were inadequate and prone to failure. Once finalized, the settlement will provide up to $115 million in cash and $35 million in opioid addiction treatment

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a $350 million national settlement with Publicis Health to resolve investigations into the global marketing and communications firm’s role in the prescription opioid epidemic. If approved by the court, Illinois will receive $11.4 million under the settlement to help address the continuing opioid crisis. “I am proud of the work that has resulted in this settlement with Publicis Health, which builds upon the important progress we have made in our continued efforts to hold companies accountable for contributing to the opioid epidemic,” Raoul said. “I am committed to ensuring settlement resources are equitably distributed throughout the state to help fund services that help mitigate the ongoing opioid crisis.” Today’s settlement details how Publicis’ work contributed to the opioid crisis by helping Purdue Pharma and other opioid manufacturers market and sell opioids. Court documents detail

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WOOD RIVER – Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Shell of the Month” program at Roxana High School. Students from each grade level are selected each month by members of RHS faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The Seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a “Shell of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. January Shell of the Month winners are: Senior- Aidan Briggs & Aubrey Wiegand Junior- Maurice Sparks & Audrey Springman Sophomore- Trenton Hollaway & Alexis McMillian Freshman- Emiliano Sanchez & Elizabeth Clouse. Congratulations to all the recipients Midwest Members Credit Union has been serving your community for over 89 years. To find out more information about Midwest Members Credit Union and what they are doing in your community, please visit www.midmembers.org

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), today reintroduced the Proprietary Education Oversight Task Force Act, legislation that will establish an interagency committee tasked with improving coordination of federal oversight of for-profit colleges to ensure that students are not scammed out of an education and into a mountain of debt. The bill would require the committee to publish an annual report, detailing enforcement actions taken against for-profit colleges across federal agencies. It also would require the committee to publish a For-Profit College Warning List for potential students to help them make informed decisions about their options for post-secondary education. “Predatory for-profit colleges rake in billions in federal student aid rather than to provide a quality education to students, who are often drowning in debt with

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