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ILLINOIS - Ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is urging all post-9/11 Veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service to apply for free healthcare and benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)’s one-year special open enrollment period. These new, expanded benefits for post-9/11 Veterans discharged more than 10 years ago were established under the PACT Act . A video of Senator Duckworth urging Veterans to apply can be found here. “After bravely serving our nation, too many Veterans come home to discover years later that their service has left them with respiratory and neurological issues due to burn pits or other toxic exposure, making them more vulnerable to serious illnesses,” said Duckworth. “The impact of toxic exposure can show up years after service, so I encourage all eligible Veterans — even those who think they do not have symptoms — to take advantage

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ST. LOUIS - Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and actress Stephanie Mills will receive the Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis’ Salute to Women in Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award on Sept. 30, 2023 at the annual Salute to Women in Leadership Gala. The gala will be held at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel starting with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Mills will be celebrated alongside actresses Kym Whitley and Victoria Rowell and veteran network journalist Michelle Miller. The Urban League will also celebrate 14 local women leaders whose leadership and community service have left indelible marks on our region. The 2023 Salute to Women in Leadership honorees are: Marie-Hélène Bernard, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) President and CEO; Yemi Akande-Bartsch, Focus St. Louis President and CEO; U.S. Congresswoman Cori Bush-Merrits; Patricia Coleman, Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Alberici; Julie Erickson, President

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ALTON - Anne Montgomery was one of the first women to be a sportscaster on television. Through her long and varied career as a sportscaster, youth-level sports official, teacher and author, she learned how to literally and metaphorically pick herself up from a fall - whether she was trying to stand in a pair of hockey skates or accomplish her goals when others doubted her. Montgomery said her career overall has been “a bit of a rollercoaster ride” on an episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . Early on in the twists and turns of her career, it became clear she was one of few women in the field at the time. “When I wanted to be a sportscaster in the 1970s, there weren't any women sportscasters anywhere - there might have been one or two regionally, but I had never seen any,” Montgomery said. After telling her mother she wanted to be a sportscaster when she grew up, she said her mom told her, “Don't be ridiculous.” However, Montgomery

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ALTON - The late Reverend George Humbert was a beloved figure in Alton. His legacy will be honored at the second annual Alton Mayor’s Charity and Fundraiser Ball next month. “He just loved Alton,” Lynna Humbert, George’s wife, said of her husband. “He did a lot for Alton. He participated in a lot of things ... He had no judgments against people for whatever. I think he was just a good man.” George moved to Alton as an adult to raise his family and serve as the pastor of the College Avenue Presbyterian Church, a role he held for 31 years. He always looked for ways to help people in the community, and he volunteered with the AIDS Interfaith Network and the Oasis Women’s Center for years. Throughout his life, George continued to work with Oasis in various roles. He spent several years as the board president and volunteered from when the center opened in 1978 until his passing in May. “He was supportive of Oasis Women’s

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GODFREY/ALTON - The North-Alton Godfrey Business Council (NAGBC) is as busy as ever, and they invite you to join them as they advocate for the community. NAGBC is made up of individuals and businesses in the Riverbend region. They meet once a month to network and update each other on local happenings and how people can get involved in volunteer efforts or boost their businesses. “It’s a little different dynamic than most of the other organizations in the area, and I think that has been the magic formula,” Martha Morse said. “When you go to that meeting, it opens your eyes to other things that are going on in the area that maybe you can participate in. You need to know those things. You need to understand the dynamics of our area and stay on top of it.” Morse is the NAGBC Chair of the Membership Committee and represents 1st MidAmerica Credit Union . NAGBC currently has around 150 members who meet once a month at luncheons led by President Zek

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SPRINGFIELD – The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has acquired an original photograph that Lincoln gave to a man who had been gravely injured while preparing for a rally during the historic 1858 U.S. Senate race. Charles Lame was nearly killed when a cannon went off prematurely the day before a Lincoln political rally in in Pittsfield, Ill. The next day, Lincoln arrived, held his rally and then tried to visit Lame. The doctor would not allow visitors, but Lincoln arranged for Lame to receive a photo that had been taken that day. Lame recovered, and his family held onto the photo for generations. Now his descendants have donated it to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum so that it will be protected and shared with the public. It will be displayed in the museum’s Treasures Gallery starting Monday, Oct. 2. “Original images of Abraham Lincoln are extraordinarily rare, and images with a fascinating back story like this are even more rare

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Representative David Trone (D-MD-06) to urge the Biden Administration to more closely scrutinize and oversee over $50 billion in opioid settlement money. State and local governments will receive this money over the next 15 years as a result of settlement agreements with the opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies that fueled this epidemic. This settlement funding includes $26 billion from the 2021 settlement agreement involving Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, Cardinal Health, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen. The lawmakers urged the Biden Administration to enhance transparency efforts to ensure that these funds are appropriately distributed to the communities directly harmed by the opioid epidemic. These purposes include initiatives such as expanding access to naloxone, increasing funding for substance use disorder treatment programs, and youth prevention

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GLEN CARBON - Orchard Town Center in Glen Carbon is making steady progress, according to Tim Lowe with The Staenberg Group, who gave a presentation at Tuesday’s Glen Carbon Village Board meeting to update trustees on where the project stands now. With the new Troy Road entrance to Chick-fil-A now open, he said Phase 1 is almost complete as the project transitions into Phase 2. Lowe said bringing “new-to-market” tenants to Glen Carbon was a key priority for the Orchard Town Center project. “We stayed true to what we originally promised, which was new-to-market tenants,” Lowe said. “We didn’t want to recycle tenants, we didn’t want to move people around in Glen Carbon, we didn’t want to steal people from Edwardsville. These are all new-to-market tenants.” He said the Orchard Town Center project was split up into two phases to accommodate the traffic in the area. “Phase 1 had most of the traffic improvements to

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ALTON - Students, staff and community members gathered outside of Alton High School for their annual “Prayer at the Poles” on Wednesday morning. As per the tradition, the group circled the flagpoles in front of the high school and kicked off the school day with a prayer on Sept. 27. They thanked God and prayed for healing, safety and unity in all schools and communities. “It’s really a representation of the kids in our school,” student Bekah Calaway-Habeck said. “There’s over 1,000 kids that go to the school, and so I don’t see most of them most of the day and I don’t know who’s a Christian and who’s not and I don’t feel that impact on a day-to-day basis. So I think when you have a group calling like this and you call them all out here, then I feel like you get to see how many there really are and you can feel that impact.” The morning began at 6:30 a.m. with a “pre-rally unity march” around th

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SPRINGFIELD – The use of unmanned aircraft, or drones, for any aspect of hunting or recovery of wildlife is unlawful, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is reminding the public. “Not only is drone use for hunting unlawful in Illinois, it goes against the spirit of fair chase and widely accepted hunting ethics,” said Jed Whitchurch, director of the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement. “Illinois Conservation Police officers will be monitoring for drone use during the fall and winter hunting seasons. We encourage all hunters to familiarize themselves with the Wildlife Code, abide by the law, and have a safe and successful hunting season.” The fall hunting season kicks into gear on Sunday, Oct. 1 with the opening of archery deer and turkey seasons throughout Illinois. IDNR and Illinois Conservation Police have received several inquiries from the public about the use of drones for scouting and tracking animals. The unlawful use of drones for hunting

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias released a report today that recommends adjusting the age requirement for mandatory driving tests from 75 to 79, making Illinois more consistent with other states. For the past dozen years, Illinois has been the only state in the nation that requires senior drivers to have their behind-the-wheel skills tested on a regular basis. The last two states that mandated driving tests for seniors did away with them in 2011 (New Hampshire) and 2005 (Indiana). “As Secretary of State, road safety is a top priority of mine,” Giannoulias said. “Statistics show that seniors are among the safest drivers of any age category. This change would make Illinois driving standards for senior drivers more consistent compared to other states while keeping Illinois as one of the strictest states for license renewals.” Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) statistics in 2022 included a full year of data relating to the emergenc

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MARION, Ill. - Centerstone, a national leader in behavioral health and addiction services, is officially relaunching its Recovery Transitional Housing in Marion, Illinois, on Monday, October 9. Centerstone’s Recovery Transitional Housing (CRTH), located on Main Street next to Centerstone’s Marion Main Street office, offers 16 beds for men and women, age 18 and older, needing additional support in a recovery-based, integrative environment. A transitional living facility for those who are new to recovery and are committed to a full life away from addiction, the CRTH offers treatment for individuals who are medically stable and in need of longer-term recovery housing. “The CRTH has undergone many changes since operations were suspended in early 2023, including redesigning of the extended are program and hiring and training team members dedicated to delivering care that changes people’s lives,” said Stacy Seitz, Centerstone Statewide Addiction Treatment Service

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ALTON - Bring your furry friends to the Canine Carnival at the Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market on Saturday, Sept 30 th from 8 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. Rescue agencies will be holding an adopt-a-thon, so if you are looking for a new best friend come meet some loveable dogs who need a good home. Features of the event include a Pet Parade at 10 a.m., and a costume contest which will be voted on via social media. Bring your dog dressed to impress, because the winner of the costume contest will receive a $20 gift certificate to Petco. 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,

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ALTON - The Junior League of Greater Alton (JLGA) is looking for women who are interested in growing their leadership potential and making a positive impact in their local communities through volunteerism and service. JLGA’s Retro Recruitment Event will be held from 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 5, at the Alton-Wood River Sportsmen’s Club Trap House event space in Godfrey. The event is free, with appetizers and drinks provided. “Junior League is a great professional organization for women to network, build lasting friendships, and support our local communities,” said 2023-2024 President Beth Wiemers. “We look forward to meeting women who are interested in joining or learning more about our organization.” Attendees will take a trip through 70 years of memorable foods, beverages and milestones with JLGA, which was founded in 1952, and will spend time getting to know some of JLGA’s current members. Women must be at least 21 years old to join

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a group of six Senate colleagues in introducing the Stop Arming Cartels Act. The bill would stem the “iron river” of firearms trafficking from the United States to Mexico, enabled by weak American gun laws and gun industry practices. The deadly stream of firearms trafficking exacerbates violence, enables cartels who smuggle migrants to our southern border, and facilitates the illicit trade of narcotics across the border back into the United States. According to a recent study from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), 70 percent of crime guns recovered from Mexico and submitted for tracing are U.S.-sourced. “At the hands of the NRA and the gun lobby, our country’s lax gun laws have created a deadly, vicious cycle of firearms trafficking that’s riddled with violence, illicit narcotics, and chaos. Our gun laws

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WASHINGTON — U.S Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR), along with U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), today introduced the bicameral Tobacco Tax Equity Act of 2023. The bill would close tax code loopholes for tobacco products by establishing a new federal tax on e-cigarettes, updating the federal cigarette tax rate to restore its public health impact, and harmonizing the tax rate across tobacco products to address gamesmanship by manufacturers. Establishing tax parity will generate significant federal revenue, reduce health care spending, and address one of the greatest public health challenges by lowering tobacco use, especially among youth. According to public health experts, increasing the price of tobacco products is the single most effective way to reduce tobacco use, particularly among children. “We have made historic progress over the years to reduce the suffering from tobacco use. Our most

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois Department of Agriculture has confirmed the first detection of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma deliculata) in Illinois. Following a report of a live adult on Sept. 16, state, federal, and local officials coordinated a site visit near the area of the report and identified a moderately populated area of spotted lanternfly (SLF) on Sept. 18. Specimens were collected and submitted for identification, and confirmatory results were received on September 26. The spotted lanternfly does not present any human or animal health concerns. “If there is a silver lining associated with spotted lantern fly in Illinois, it is that we have no reason to believe that widespread plant or tree death will result from its presence,” said Scott Schirmer, Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Nursery and Northern Field Office Section Manager. “This is likely going to be a nuisance pest that interferes with our ability to enjoy outdoor spaces and may have some

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COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that emergency repairs by the Illinois Central Railroad Company to a crossing on Illinois 13 (South Belt East) between South Jackson Street and South Charles Street will require a full closure starting, weather permitting, Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 6 a.m. A posted detour will be in place to safely guide motorists around the closure. The work is expected to be complete by 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to detour signs in 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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CHICAGO - It’s Life Insurance Awareness Month, and the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) has already helped life insurance consumers collect more than $8 Million this year from lost or unclaimed policies, using our Life Policy Locator . It’s a free tool available on the IDOI website that anyone may use to find out if they are the beneficiary of a deceased relative’s lost or missing life insurance policy or annuity contract. “Families deserve to receive the benefits that their deceased loved one provided for their financial security,” said IDOI Director Dana Popish Severinghaus. “In Illinois, insurance companies must attempt to find the beneficiaries of deceased policyholders when life insurance or annuity proceeds remain unpaid, and our life policy locator service helps simplify that search process. We urge consumers to follow the instructions available on our website to begin the search for their share of unclaimed insurance benefits.”

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that road repairs will require lane closures in both directions of Interstate 270 between Illinois 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri starting, weather permitting, Friday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m. One lane will always remain open in each direction. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 2. 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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