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WASHINGTON PARK – A trio has been officially charged with a homicide in Washington Park that occurred last Friday. On September 12, 2023, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney, James Gomric, charged 22-year-old Deantae Hoskins of Madison with First-Degree Murder (Class M Felony) and Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X Felony), a 16-year-old juvenile of Madison with First Degree Murder (Class M Felony) and 26-year-old Cheyennea Hoskins of Hartford with Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 4 Felony) and Aggravated Assault (Class A Misdemeanor). The state's attorney said at 3:47 p.m. on September 8, 2023, the Washington Park Police Department and ISP Zone 6 Major Crimes responded to 47th Street at Caseyville Avenue in Washington Park for reports of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found a male victim who had been struck by gunfire and was pronounced deceased on scene. The victim was later identified as 36-year-old Peter Hester Jr. of East Carondelet. ISP said

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EDWARDSVILLE – The City has launched a forgivable loan program aimed at helping homeowners make improvements to Edwardsville’s older houses. The Single Family Residential Rehabilitation Program offers forgivable loans of up to $25,000 to eligible residents for a variety of improvements. High-priority projects include roofing, electrical wiring, windows and doors, heating and air conditioning systems, foundations and more. “This program is a step in the right direction to help homeowners reinvest in some of our older housing stock that could be so lovely with just a little TLC,” said 6th Ward Alderwoman Jennifer Warren, who brought the idea for the housing rehabilitation program to City staff. Funds for the approved home projects will be provided to the homeowner as a five-year forgivable loan. If the homeowner sells the property or converts it to a rental unit within five years, the funds must be paid back on a pro-rated monthly schedule for the time remaining

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BETHALTO - The 27th annual Wings-N-Wheels Fly-In Festival takes flight on Saturday, Sept. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 1, each from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Louis Regional Airport in Bethalto. Featuring free flights for kids, tours of planes on the airport tarmac, a car show, food trucks, a Farmers Market, and much more, the weekend is jam-packed with family fun at no admission cost. Danny Adams, general manager of the St. Louis Regional Airport, said on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com that they enjoy opening to the public to showcase the airplanes and the airport itself. “It’s a nice community event. We like showing off the airport, we love showing what we do,” Adams said. “We like showing the airplanes off and that’s our prime opportunity to do it.” On Saturday, Sept. 30, the festival kicks off with tours on the airport tarmac of several different types of aircraft, including local pilot planes, a jet from West Star Aviation, a B-25 bomber

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The U.S. District Court in St. Louis today announced that a man - Vallie F. Zeller - had been sentenced by a judge for Attempted Enticement of a Minor, Travel with Intent to Engage in Sexual Conduct with a Minor, and Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor after evidence presented at trial showed he was conversing online with an alleged 15-year-old girl with the intention of having sex with the minor, and then traveled to Illinois to meet her. The judge in the case sentenced the 46-year-old St. Louis man to spend nearly 34 years in federal prison following his conviction by a jury for several attempted sex offenses involving a purported minor. In March 2023, a jury convicted Zeller. Following the federal prison sentence, Zeller will serve the rest of his life on supervised release. “The defendant is a child predator, and our communities are better off with him spending time in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “This operation

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ALTON - The Robert Logan Memorial Tennis Invitational will occur on Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Andy Simpson Tennis Center at Lewis and Clark Community College, Alton High School, Gordon Moore Park’s Simpson Tennis Center, and Civic Memorial High School. The tournament is named for the former boys and girls tennis coach at Alton High School who died after a brave battle with cancer in 2016. He was only 30 years old at the time of his death. Alton High Coach and Tournament Director Jesse Macias said: “We are blessed to host this event and celebrate Robert Logan's life. He was a special coach and person and is a guardian of our tennis community. This tournament is a tribute to him and allows his family and friends to get together to remember everything he meant to us.” As for the 2023 competition, Coach Macias is excited about the field. “The tournament is absolutely loaded this year," he said. "Cor Jesu, Lafayette, Effingham St. Anthony, Triad, and Highland hav

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GODFREY - The Great Godfrey Maze opens on Friday, Sept. 15 for a month of family fall fun. From Sept. 15 through Oct. 28, you can enjoy the Great Godfrey Maze and other activities every Friday and Saturday at the Robert E. Glazebrook Park in Godfrey. This year’s theme, “Family Game Night,” has attractions for kids of all ages — and some spooky fun for the older crowd, too. “The team here is incredible, and we have a lot of pride in what we do,” Chris Logan, the Godfrey Parks and Recreation Director, said. “I know everyone that works here enjoys doing it and is just so happy to do it. It’s all worth it when you see families come out and have fun.” Logan says the maze is the main attraction, but families can also take a ride on the hay wagon, swim in the Corn Crib, hop on the Jumping Pillow and check out the new Vortex Tunnel. Younger kids can also try the Mini Maze and take a 5–7 minute ride on the Cow Train. The Corn Crib

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ALTON - Illinois American Water’s work to separate the Alton combined sewer system and install new sanitary sewers continues. Below is information about upcoming/current road closures – Sept. 14, 2023 Belle Street south of Hamilton Street to 10th Street remains closed to all traffic, with blocks north of Hamilton Avenue closing in the coming weeks. Please use US 67 and/or Alby Streets to the east to traverse north-south in lieu of using Belle Street. A major road closure will start on September 18th with the closure of the intersection of State Street and Madison Avenue. Southbound State Street traffic will be asked to use the detour of Jefferson Street to Grand Avenue to State Street. Alternatively, southbound traffic that previously used State Street can also utilize US 67 or Alby Streets to head south through town. The closure of this intersection is expected to last several weeks. More detailed information regarding access to Bo’s Hardware and Maher Automotive

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JACKSONVILLE - State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) is inviting everyone in the 100 th District to participate in his photo contest to help update the decor in his Capitol office in Springfield. People of all ages are encouraged to take a picture of a place, object or an event in the 100 th District and email the picture with contact information to RepCDDavidsmeyer@gmail.com . Information to include with submissions: First Name, Last Name, Mailing Address, E-mail Address, and Phone Number. “We are fortunate to have many amazing people, places and fun events throughout the 100 th District,” commented Rep. Davidsmeyer. “With many mobile phones having camera capabilities these days, it is easier to capture images of nature or places you come across unexpectedly that help tell the history and story about Illinois. I receive great comments about the photos from many visitors to my Capitol office from around the state and across the country.”

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate increased +0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent, while nonfarm payrolls were almost unchanged, down -100, in August, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. August total nonfarm payrolls remained above the pre-pandemic number of total nonfarm payroll jobs. The July revised unemployment rate was 4.0 percent, unchanged from the preliminary July unemployment rate. The July monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +11,200 to +3,400 jobs. The August unemployment rate and payroll jobs estimate reflect activity for the week including the 12th. In August, the industry sectors with the largest over-the-month job gains included: Educational and Health Services (+4,400), Leisure and Hospitality (+800), and Manufacturing (+400). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll job decline

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GRANITE CITY - Sophomore Tulio Zampieri is proving to be a very promising runner for the Civic Memorial High boys cross country team and in the 50th running of the Pete Robinson/Harry Lang Granite City Invitational meet, Zampieri ran a personal record 17:08.2 in helping the Eagles to a seventh-place finish in the meet. Zampieri is a very hard worker who, as a freshman, was also a key component of CM's 4x800 meter relay team that qualified for the IHSA Class 2A state meet this past spring in Charleston. Zampieri is a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athlete of the Month for CM. "Tulio had a very solid race for him," said CM cross country coach Jake Peal. "He picked up a lot of confidence in qualifying with the 4x800 team." The confidence Zampieri gained in during the track season has crossed over into the cross-country season as well. "He's done a great job in cross country," Peal said, "but also was very good in track in both the 400 and 800 meters. He's definitely going to buil

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AMES, Iowa – Cottage Hills native Travis Jumper earned his Doctor of Philosophy, Agricultural Education, recently from Iowa State University. Iowa State awarded degrees to 607 graduates this summer. Students earning degrees during the summer have the opportunity to participate in fall or spring commencement ceremonies. Travis is an Associate Professor/ Coordinator at Lewis and Clark Community College.

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jerseyville Police Department’s T.E.E.N.S. Program is hosting a two-day pickleball tournament fundraiser coming up on Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24 at Lions Club/Wittman Park. Officer Seth Tefertiller with the Jerseyville Police Department appeared on an episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to discuss the pickleball fundraiser and more about the T.E.E.N.S program. The pickleball tournament is open to all ages, but Officer Tefertiller said those ages 16 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. The event kicks off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23 with women's doubles, followed by men's doubles at 12 p.m. Mixed doubles will be played on Sunday, Sept. 24 starting at 9:30 a.m. There are already seven women’s teams signed up for Saturday, and 17 teams signed up for the mixed doubles on Sunday, Officer Tefertiller said. Team registration is $70 ($35 per player), or $10 individually. Registration is open until this Friday

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Tim Decker, Chair, President, & CEO of The Home Depot, to discuss the impact of credit card swipe fees. Earlier this year, Durbin and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) introduced their Credit Card Competition Act , bipartisan legislation that would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market, which is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. The legislation is estimated to save merchants and consumers $15 billion each year and this week, Durbin urged the Senate to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. “Visa and Mastercard set the fees on behalf of thousands of banks and tell merchants to take it or leave it. Merchants have no real choice but to accept the outrageous fees,” said Durbin. “In 2022 alone, U.S. merchants and consumers paid $93.2 billion in credit card interchange fees to line the pockets of the

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GLENVIEW— Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced today that UPSIDE Foods – a leading cultivated meat, poultry and seafood company will locate its first commercial-scale production facility in Glenview. As the first cultivated meat company to receive FDA approval, UPSIDE’s new Glenview facility marks a major milestone for cultivated meat production – supporting Illinois’ ecosystem and adding to the state’s dominance in the food processing industry. Bolstered by one of the first EDGE for Start Ups agreements, the company will invest at least $141 million and create a minimum of 75 new jobs. “On behalf of the State of Illinois, we are excited to welcome UPSIDE Foods to the Land of Lincoln and are committed to supporting their growth in the cultivated meat industry,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Here in Illinois, we are a hub for tech and innovation, thanks to our talented

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nomination of April Perry to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois: “We are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced the nomination of April Perry to serve as the next U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. She was highly regarded by our screening committee and brings strong qualifications and a wealth of experience from her time in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and in the private sector to the position. “While we would hope for quick consideration of Ms. Perry’s nomination by the full Senate, one Republican Senator continues to hold up Department of Justice nominees, including critical federal law enforcement officers—who prosecute violent crime, terrorism, and

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COTTAGE HILLS - Led by Cottage VFW Post Junior Vice Commander Tim Brown, the organization will host a Veterans Festival and the Global War on Terrorism Wall will be present for the event. Brown, who served in Iraq in the Army, has strong convictions about the wall and its meaning to veterans. He was a key person behind the event last year at St. Louis Regional Airport. The Cottage Hills VFW is the sponsor in 2023. Brown said the wall experience be “emotional, humbling and healing" for those who attend. He said the names of those lost in the Global War on Terrorism are on the wall, along with firefighters and police who died at the World Trade Center in New York City on the fateful Sept. 11, 2001, day. The U.S. recently marked the 22nd anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center. A total of 2,996 died in the attacks, including 19 hijackers who committed murder-suicide. Thousands were injured and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center took the brunt of the attacks.

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TROY - Troy Police Chief Chris Wasser announced that at 1:30 a.m. on September 13, 2023, the department responded to a welfare check in the 600 block of Lower Marine Road and discovered a 60-year-old female inside the residence, unresponsive and not breathing. “The victim presented obvious injuries not consistent with a natural death,” Wasser said. “Officers immediately began life-saving measures until Troy EMS arrived and all life-saving attempts failed and the victim was pronounced deceased on scene." Wasser continued and said: “Our investigators are following up on every detail. We anticipate the release of more information once the autopsy is complete.” If anyone has any additional information about the incident investigators can be reached at (618) 667-6731.

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ALTON - The proposed Route 3 and Buckmaster Business District in Alton is moving forward after a public hearing about the proposal was held on Wednesday night. The city’s goals for the district are to incentivize development and fill vacancies in the area while generating more sales tax revenue. The new district is set to be bordered by Homer M. Adams Parkway to the north, Buckmaster Lane to the west, Oakwood Avenue to the south, and to the eastern edge of the property currently occupied by Big Lots and Goodwill. Planning & Development Director Greg Caffey said potential new tenants have been identified, and while he couldn’t disclose them publicly yet, he said he expects the district to be at full occupancy. City Clerk Cheryl Ingle said at the public hearing that “the goal of installing this business district is to provide an incentive for a developer to renovate a shopping center within the district boundary and bring the property back to full occupancy,

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EDWARDSVILLE - After 19-year-old Adam Behrhorst’s passing, his loved ones knew they needed to do something in his honor to help other families dealing with pediatric cancer. They came up with the Go Gold Kid’s Fest for Childhood Cancer, a fun fall morning with tons of activities. From 9 a.m. to noon on Sept. 16, families are invited to Liberty Apple Orchard in Edwardsville, where Adam used to work. Proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society (ACS), with funds specifically directed to childhood cancer research. “I think I can safely say that cancer has touched everyone, in one way or another,” said Patty Barney, senior development manager for ACS in the Metro East area. “It’s really important to grow this event and for people to come and have fun and really make it child-centric and really have the kids out there. Last year, they had a great time.” Liberty Apple Orchard , located at 8308 Kuhn Station Road, will sponsor games, food,

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Engineering (SOE) celebrated a classroom dedication recognizing the founding chair of the Department of Construction Luke Snell, PE. Snell, a leading lecturer and specialist on concrete, contributed $100,000 to the Department of Construction in the SOE. The dedication ceremony and unveiling took place Wednesday, Sept. 13 in Engineering Building, Room 1008. “SIUE had a lot of faith in me and supported me with a lot of research possibilities when I was coming there to start the program,” said Snell. “This is a way of saying thank you for supporting me. I had several graduate students working with me on projects and the University supported a lot of the travel for the students. SIUE became a well-known group because of their successes. That got me well known in my professional societies.” Snell began the day of celebration with a lecture to the CNST210 class available to both in-person

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