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SPRINGFIELD – Nearly 129,000 Illinois workers already are saving for retirement courtesy of the Illinois Secure Choice program, and now a key deadline is approaching for small employers to help even more employees do the same. Under state law, businesses that had between 5 and 15 employees last year have until Nov. 1, 2023 to help their workers access a retirement savings option by either signing up for Illinois Secure Choice or offering a private retirement plan. “There is a growing recognition that many workers understand that Social Security alone will not be enough to make ends meet after their working days are over,” said State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, whose office administers the program. “Illinois Secure Choice helps workers retire with dignity and confidence.” The Illinois General Assembly created Secure Choice in 2015 and assigned the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office to help set up the program. Lawmakers assured employers they would

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City High School Guidance Office and Saint Louis University are partnering to host a Financial Aid 101 seminar on Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 6:30 p.m. in the GCHS atrium. SLU's financial aid office will be on site to speak with families who may have questions about the process and recent changes being made to the FAFSA. Senior and junior students and parents are welcome to attend. Financial Aid 101 : Overview of the scholarship and aid process. Includes information on types of aid, how to apply, and how to cover remaining balance. We also offer a timeline for students who don't know where to start in the financial aid process. Questions? Contact GCHS Guidance Department Chair Jeff Hayes at: jeff.hayes@gcsd9.net .

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis-based and family-owned Schnuck Markets, Inc. is hosting a company-wide career fair at all 115 stores across Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin on Thursday, September 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. Schnucks plans to hire for a variety of positions offering flexible schedules, career advancement, the option to be paid after each shift, health benefits (after a qualifying period) and other teammate perks. Part-time positions and full-time department manager positions (at select locations) are also available. To expedite the process, prospective teammates planning to attend the fair should visit www.schnucks.com/careers and complete the online application prior to attending. About Schnucks Founded in St. Louis in 1939, Schnuck Markets, Inc. is a third and fourth generation, family-owned grocery retailer committed to nourishing people’s lives. Schnucks operates 115 stores, serving customers in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin and

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MT. OLIVE, Ill. - A gun battle took place on October 12, 1898, in Virden, Illinois, and this year is the 125th anniversary of that event; October 8, in Union Miners Cemetery, located at 5585 Mt Olive Rd, Mt Olive, a commemoration of the battle will be held at noon. A recap: The coal mines in IL and the region had refused to bargain fairly with their UMWA-represented workers. One of the miners' demands was an 8-hour workday. The mines all settled except for the Chicago/Virden mine, so the strike became a lockout. The mine recruited unsuspecting miners from Alabama. Their advertisement said they wanted black coal miners. Virden was not prejudiced, but companies trying to sow division among workers is a tactic that continues into modern times. It is a tactic the UMWA has faced many times. A self-appointed UMWA organizer, “General" Alexander Bradley, had a contingent of miners at Virden when the train arrived carrying the replacement workers. Nobody said who fired the first shot,

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CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and 28 Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution recognizing September as “National Voting Rights Month.” Along with Wyden, U.S. Representative Marc Veasey (D-TX-33) led the bicameral effort. “Republicans and right-wing ideologues are dead set on making it more difficult for Americans to vote nationwide. They’re gerrymandering Congressional maps, rolling back voting protections, and opposing commonsense measures like automatic voter registration, polling site closure prevention, and early and mail-in voting,” said Durbin. “Declaring September as National Voting Rights Month sends a message to all Americans that Congress must act to protect and restore voting rights for all. I will keep fighting to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to further protect

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School (MCHS) announced the 2023 Mega Raffle winner during their Homecoming Block Party on Saturday, Sept. 23. Brian Nativi is the lucky winner of the top $50,000 prize. The Mega Raffle serves as a fundraiser for MCHS. Over the past month, people could purchase a raffle ticket for the chance to win the big prize or several smaller cash prizes, including $1,000 early bird drawings every week for six weeks leading up to the block party and Homecoming dance. “The profit directly supports Marquette Catholic High School, and so it’s one of our bigger fundraisers,” said Mary Hough, Marquette’s Director of Development and raffle organizer. “I think a lot of people, when they purchase their tickets, they want to win that money for sure. But they also know they’re supporting the school. It’s a great fundraiser for us.” The other winners included: $5,000 - Mike Mancewicz $500 - Sheri Kelley $250 -

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GRANITE CITY - Sophomore running back Ryan Brokaw has been a stellar bright light for the Granite City High School football team that has played hard all season despite a now 0-5 record after a loss at Collinsville 54-0 on Sept. 22 at Kahok Stadium. Although the score was lopsided, the Warriors, as is their custom, continued to play hard throughout the game, never surrendering or giving up and giving everything they had throughout the entire 48 minutes. Brokaw was one of the leaders on the team, giving Granite hope throughout as the team looks to turn their season around. For his efforts and hard work, helping to set examples for his teammates to follow, Brokaw has been named a Stillwater Senior Athlete of the Month for the Warriors. Brokaw, who plays for head coach Kindle Lyons, knew he and his teammates gave their best effort throughout the game against the Kahoks and felt very good about their showings. "I feel great," Brokaw said in a postgame interview. "It's just a game

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EDWARDSVILLE - Friends of Leclaire will host the 31 st Annual Leclaire Parkfest from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, October 15, at Leclaire Park in Edwardsville. The annual festival, a celebration of the Leclaire National Historic District, is a long-standing fall tradition in Edwardsville. The festival will kick off with music by the Gaslight Squares, a St. Louis band with a special blend of ragtime and jazz, followed by the old-time folk music of the Lodge Brothers at the bandstand. "Cindy Reinhardt, a festival spokesperson said: "These groups have become regular favorites of the festival. On the Madison Avenue side of the park, music will be provided by the band Hallquist, followed by Mike Keller and the Greater Good. "New this year is an extended schedule with the festival opening at 11 a.m. instead of noon and a wider array of festival food. Sneaky’s Bar and Burger Joint will provide beer, wine and cocktails. Visitors are advised to bring a hearty appetite." Reinhardt said

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GODFREY - Mac's Pizza and Poker in Godfrey officially opened on Friday. Rob Lenhardt of Mac's said he was very excited to have the new business open at 3030 Godfrey Road in Godfrey. "We just opened for good," he said on Friday. Lenhardt also commended the Village of Godfrey and Mayor Mike McCormick for being so cooperative to work with for the project. "Godfrey was great during the entire process for this during the last six months," he said. The new business will be open seven days a week. During the week, it is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on weekends from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced recently a Jersey County man was found guilty after the Attorney General’s office prosecuted him for disseminating child pornography. Joshua G. Eastham, 38, of Jerseyville, was found guilty in Jersey County Circuit Court of four counts of disseminating child pornography involving victims under the age of 13, Class X felonies each punishable by six to 30 years in prison. Eastham is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 1. Jersey County State's Attorney Ben Goetten made this statement: "There’s a message with cases like this, 'Don’t do it.' You may 'think' you’re getting away with it, but you’re not. Cyber professionals are constantly monitoring online traffic for individuals who manufacture, share and distribute this sort of illegal material. You may think it’s a victimless crime because you didn’t physically come into contact with a child. But they have to remember, the images they view and share

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EDWARDSVILLE - Colin Brandt, a longtime skateboarder and owner of the Skate 618 skate shop in Edwardsville, said he would like to see a skate park built in the city and is willing to help fundraise for it. Citing a lack of skate parks in the immediate area and prime demographics between the local schools, Brandt said a skate park would provide economic and recreational benefits for the city and its residents. Brandt is a lifetime Edwardsville native and spoke during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s City Council meeting to ask council members to consider his proposal. “I’m talking tonight because I’d like to get a skate park built in Edwardsville,” Brandt said. “Edwardsville needs a skate park, and it has for a long time. We have SIU, college-age individuals - skateboarding is really popular among that group, along with our huge middle school and high school demographic. “Skateboarding is the third most commonly-reported interest

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COLLINSVILLE – Teams from East St. Louis, Peoria and Springfield represented Ameren Illinois at the 2023 National Gas Rodeo for natural gas workers – a two-day competition, Sept. 14-15, in Springfield, MO. The Gas Rodeo attracts the best natural gas workers from around the company to compete in events based on traditional tasks and skills. Ameren Missouri is sending six teams to the competition. “The Gas Rodeo is kind of like the Olympics for our gas journeymen and apprentices,” said Eric Kozak, vice president of Natural Gas for Ameren Illinois. “It’s all about competing to the best of their abilities in a safe manner. It also gives family members an up-close look at what it takes to do this type of work on an everyday basis.” The events include meter set, service installation, pipe cut and hand dig. Meter set: An assortment of fittings, service regulator, meter, meter gaskets and wrenches are in a tote bag. There is a plate/board with

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EDWARDSVILLE - A former FBI-trained hostage negotiator Scott Harvey stressed the importance of personal relationships in anything from business to serious hostage situations this week at an event in Edwardsville. Harvey spoke at the speaker series at the Outlet Event Center in Edwardsville. Harvey said he spent 20 years as a hostage negotiator and Public Information Officer and said his talk was focused on communication - specifically, how to apply the tactics he learned to the corporate business world. “People think in a crisis that it’s complicated strategies that work - it’s not,” Harvey said. “It’s very simple communication strategies that can solve complex problems … it’s not difficult, but you have to communicate your way through any situation that you find yourself in.” No matter the situation, when emotions are high, he said it’s best to wait to bring logical solutions to the table until the emotional tension

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EDWARDSVILLE - A public hearing regarding the 400 North Main Business District redevelopment plan and project in Edwardsville is set for October 17, 2023 at 6:30 p.m., just before the City Council meeting that night at 7 p.m. The project faces a long road to potential approval before its estimated 2024 completion. 400 N. Main St. was previously Edwardsville's first City Hall and was more recently used by public safety services. The redevelopment project aims to transform the site into “The Station on Main,” which the city described in a press release as “an estimated $20 million mixed-use development with residential, office, retail and restaurant space.” “Once the project is finished, which is expected in 2024, the multi-level property will include about 38 single-bedroom apartments and townhomes, four restaurants, office space for up to five businesses, and five boutique retail sites, along with on-site parking,” according to the release.

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GODFREY - East Alton's Tommy Karlas has made a gigantic name for himself over the years in Nashville and has been a No. 1 Hit music songwriter. He recently signed a contract with Sony for the coming years. Tommy may be most known for writing the No. 1 country hit "Roll With Me" by Montgomery Gentry. Karlas is releasing his new album with a homecoming concert at Lewis and Clark Community College's Hatheway Hall. Karlas has been a Nashville songwriter for more than 20 years. He will play a release show and party on Oct. 21 at Hatheway Cultural Center at Lewis and Clark Community College. During the concert, it will be a celebration of Karlas' new album - "What Matters To Her." Karlas will perform songs from his new album, as well as other favorites recorded by country artists like Blake Shelton, Randy Travis, Montgomery Gentry, Old Dominion, Trisha Yearwood, Warren Zeiders, and many more. With special guests Billy Hurst & Charlie Brown. Then join Tommy & friends at the after-party to

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BILLINGS, Mont. - Last Week, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Strengthening Antitrust Enforcement for Meatpacking Act (S.2818) to empower antitrust enforcers to break up giant meatpacking and poultry monopolies and place power back in the hands of America’s farmers and ranchers who raise livestock and poultry. R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard said his group “applauds Senator Hawley’s novel approach to addressing the untenable market concentrations faced by America’s cattle and sheep producers.” The bill would establish two thresholds for determining the market concentration in the meatpacking industry. Using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), which is a measure of market concentration presently employed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the bill would prohibit a merger or acquisition by a meatpacker if the HHI would exceed 1,800, or if a proposed merger or acquisition would increase the meatpacker’s

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EDWARDSVILLE - Crain’s Chicago Business ranked Southern Illinois University Edwardsville eighth place in the featured top 10 universities in Illinois Best Value Schools . By comparing cost of attendance to earning income post-graduation, the publication reports that these 10 institutions represent a significant return on investment. The Crain’s list was published September 15. “With this recognition, SIUE continues to prove the reality of college access and affordability as a means to successful completion,” says Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD. “ A college degree can completely change the trajectory of a family for generations to come. SIUE is committed to provide high quality, affordable degree opportunities for students from all backgrounds. ” The Crain’s criteria also included tuition, housing costs, scholarships, grants and the impact on student retention. SIUE is also recognized in Best College’s top 25 affordable

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NAPERVILLE , Ill. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) showed her support for striking United Auto Workers (UAW) nationwide by joining them on the picket lines at Stellantis’ Chrysler Parts Distribution center in Naperville, Illinois. Her visit comes after the center’s workers walked out from the facility at noon today as part of a nationwide collective effort to ensure better pay and better benefits for autoworkers. Photos from today’s visit are available here . “I’m proud to join Illinoisans on the picket lines today as they fight for working families across the nation and demand a fair, living wage for autoworkers,” said Duckworth. “These hardworking Americans sacrificed to keep the auto industry afloat when things were tough, and they deserve their fair share now that the industry is reporting record profits and already-wealthy executives are earning more than ever. Every American deserves to work in a safe, good-paying job that

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CHICAGO – The Pritzker administration today launched the application to apply to become a State-Designated Cultural District in Illinois. State-Designated Cultural Districts are communities, towns, or specific geographic areas that have a distinct shared historical and cultural identity that binds the community together. Once selected, the state plans to make $3 million available to State-Designated Cultural Districts, and through the designations, aims to uplift the unique contributions of historic cultural districts with the goal of increasing economic development opportunities. “Here in Illinois, we’re deeply proud of our many historically and culturally rich communities,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “That’s why we’re launching the State-Designated Cultural Districts application to support areas that are facing challenges preserving their unique identities. We’re proud to invest $3 million to promote greater growth, development, and

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CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, today discussed her successful efforts on the international stage to strengthen economic ties between Illinois and the Indo-Pacific and bring major investments to our state during a fireside chat hosted by City Club Chicago. Duckworth has led a series of Congressional Delegation trips to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand and more to highlight the benefits of Illinois’s major exports as well as its position as a prime location for business expansion and investment in the U.S.—touting the state’s strong workforce, educational and research institutions, and energy and transportation infrastructure. Duckworth was in conversation today with Dan Seals, CEO of Intersect Illinois. Photos from today’s event are available here . On her work to champion Illinois abroad: “As a hub of agriculture, manufacturing, transportation

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