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EAST ST. LOUIS - Wren Crawford, a senior attending Alton High School was recently celebrated as the winner of the Judge Ora Polk Oratorical Contest. Crawford competed against three other contestants Willis Wright, Jr. (Belleville East High School), Isaac Rameriz (Cahokia High School) and Van O’Neal (Belleville West High School). Crawford spoke from the oratorical theme, “The Preservation of Teaching Black History in The Classroom: A Charge We Must Keep.” Her powerful speech set the tone of why Black History must continue to be taught in the classroom. She received thunderous applause for her thought provoking oration. She received a $350.00 check for her winning and later during the program a surprise announcement was made that she will receive a $500 scholarship upon her completion of high school. In 2003 during the leadership of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s 14th Chapter President Reginald Riddle-Young, the Delta Epsilon Lambda Chapter spearheaded the Judge

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Shawn Singer, a 31-year-old resident of St. Louis, faces charges of Assault Motivated by Discrimination in the fourth degree following an incident that occurred on February 21, 2025, at a local grocery store. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced the charges on February 22, stating that Singer is being held on a cash bond of $40,000. According to the probable cause statement, police responded to a report of a fight at the Dierbergs market located at 12595 Olive Boulevard around 5:57 p.m. on the day of the incident. Upon arrival, officers identified Singer as the assailant. He initially declined to provide further information, and said, “It was just me. I'm not saying anything else.” However, after being placed in handcuffs, Singer made several remarks, including expressing frustration with immigrants and their perceived impact on the economy. He stated, “I'm tired of foreigners, man. Walking all over the

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ALTON - Alton Main Street’s quarterly information exchange, called “What’s Up Downtown”, will be held on Wednesday, February 26th at 5:30 p.m. at the iMerge Community Center, located in the Riverbender building at 200 W. 3rd Street in Alton, Illinois. The public is invited to learn the latest news regarding developments in Alton’s historic downtown district, including updates from new & existing businesses, news on real estate transactions and details of upcoming events and projects. You’ll be in the know on topics from the evening’s featured speakers, including: - Alderwoman Betsy Allen, inviting the public to attend an open house on flood mitigation in the downtown district at Alton City Hall on Thurs, Feb 27th from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. - Chantel Morrigan sharing updates on the new location of Jacoby Arts Center at 208 State Street - Megan Tyler will speak about the important work Sacred Spaces of CARE is doing to support people experiencing

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Did you know that the average American household contributes approximately 7.5 tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere each year just through energy consumption? This eye-opening statistic highlights the profound impact our living environments have on the planet. As awareness of environmental issues grows, so does the interest in making eco-friendly choices in our homes. Not only do these upgrades benefit the Earth, but many can also provide significant financial savings over time. Let's explore how you can make your home more sustainable while reaping the rewards. Understanding the Financial Benefits of Eco-Friendly Upgrades Before diving into specific upgrades, it’s essential to understand the potential financial benefits. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, energy-efficient homes can save homeowners up to 30% on their utility bills. Additionally, many eco-friendly upgrades qualify for tax credits or rebates, making the initial investment easier to swallow. The long-term

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Did you know that a staggering 90% of patented inventions in the United States were developed by individuals of European descent? While this statistic reflects a historical imbalance in recognition, it also underscores the remarkable contributions of Black innovators who have often been overlooked. This article dives into the groundbreaking inventions by Black inventors that have not only changed lives but also shaped industries and inspired future generations. The Legacy of Black Innovation From the early days of American history to the present, Black inventors have made significant advancements across various fields, including agriculture, transportation, medicine, and technology. Their inventions often emerged from the necessity to solve problems faced by their communities, showcasing creativity and resilience in the face of adversity. The stories behind these inventions reveal not only the ingenuity of their creators but also the cultural and social contexts that motivated their

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Welcome to this day in history, where we take a closer look at significant events that have shaped our world on February 24th across various years. Let’s rewind to February 24, 1968, when the first-ever video game console, the Magnavox Odyssey, hit the market in the United States. This moment marked the dawn of a new era in entertainment, introducing families to the concept of playing games on their televisions. Although it featured simple graphics and limited capabilities compared to today’s standards, the Odyssey set the stage for the video game industry, which has since evolved into a multi-billion dollar global phenomenon. On February 24, 1991, the world watched as the final Soviet troops left Hungary, marking a pivotal moment in the decline of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. This event was part of a larger trend of political transformation in the region, which ultimately led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union later that year. The withdrawal of Soviet forces

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MARYVILLE — The Maryville Police Association is set to host its second annual Donut Dash 5K run/walk on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Drost Park in Maryville. This community event aims to raise funds for local families facing challenges. Participants can register for the event online, with an early registration fee of $35 available until April 26, 2025. After the April 26 date, the race price will increase to $40. Proceeds from the Donut Dash will directly benefit the Maryville Police Association, which was established to support families in need within the community. For more information and to register, interested individuals can visit the event's website. To sign up, click here: https://runsignup.com/.../Maryville/MaryvillePoliceDonutDash

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ST. LOUIS - Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), in partnership with AARP in St. Louis and the St. Clair County Transit District, has revamped its Ten Toes walking program which is widely recognized for helping more than 10,000 older adults integrate walking and public transit use to explore area attractions in a social setting. The program, now known as Ten Toes + Transit, has a new name and look – as well as new features – yet will continue to serve as a great way for participants to stay active, make new friends and become better familiarized with MetroLink and MetroBus. Registration is now open and can be completed at TenToes.CMT-STL.org , by calling 314-231-7272 or attending one of the six, in-person registration events scheduled for March. The 2025 spring session gets underway with a kick-off walk on Wednesday, April 2, at 9:30 a.m. at the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 Transit Center. Participants will take the MetroLink to the Grand MetroLink Station and Scott Avenu

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for instructors for 2025 summer fishing clinics at locations throughout Illinois for the department’s Urban Fishing Program. Fishing instructors are the department’s boots on the ground at free clinics hosted in communities throughout Illinois. These are temporary positions not to exceed six months, making them perfect for teachers, retirees, students, and others who are eager to help people learn about fishing skills and ecology. “Fishing is a great way for families to spend time together outdoors, and our clinics give thousands of young people an opportunity to experience the fun of fishing every summer,” said Mike McClelland, chief of fisheries for IDNR. “There’s no better way to spend the summer than teaching children and adults about the joys of fishing and the importance of conservation.” Available spots are based in Boone, Champaign, Jackson

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Despite claiming to support IVF, Senate Republicans blocked an amendment led by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) from being included in the Senate’s budget proposal that would mirror their Right to IVF Act and help lower the costs of IVF treatment for the millions of middle-class Americans who need it to have children. This comes days after President Donald Trump signed an overly vague, toothless executive order requesting policy recommendations to ensure reliable access to IVF as Republicans continue to claim to support IVF treatment nationwide. “Senate Republicans once again had a chance to put up or shut up and prove that their self-proclaimed support for IVF is more than just lip service,” said Senator Duckworth. “Instead, they voted to block our amendment that would help lower costs for middle-class Americans who depend on it to build their families—after blocking our Right to IVF Act twice last year.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after voting against Senate Republicans’ disastrous budget proposal that would fund tax cuts for billionaires—while doing nothing to help middle-class families struggling with rising costs: “In the dead of night, Senate Republicans rammed through a budget to greenlight massive tax cuts for billionaires at the expense of middle-class Americans who are struggling to get by due to rising costs. Worse yet, Republicans plan to pay for their handouts to the ultra-wealthy by putting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid on the chopping block. “Republicans’ early-hour billionaire budget comes as Trump and unelected billionaire Elon Musk are already illegally inflicting needless pain on the middle class by ripping away programs and funding that Americans rely on. “This vote makes it clear once again that Republicans don’t care about making government work better

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in support of federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) employees who were told by the Trump administration and Elon Musk to stop working on cases investigating deceptive and abusive conduct by companies. The coalition submitted an amicus brief in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in support of CFPB workers who have helped return more than $20 billion to defrauded consumers, slashed junk fees, and stopped predatory auto and mortgage lenders. This is the second action Attorney General Raoul has taken this week to defend the CFPB. “The CFPB expanded upon the work of states and federal partners to become the primary agency setting national rules to reign in the unfair and deceptive mortgage lending and servicing that directly led to the Great Recession,” Raoul said. “My office has successfully partnered with the CFPB regularly to protect Illinois

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PIASA - Shelly Robinson, a dedicated educator at Southwestern High School in Piasa, is making strides in technology education and career preparation for students in grades 9 through 12. With 31 years of teaching experience, Robinson has established herself as a leader in the field, particularly in computer science and business education. Robinson is a finalist for the Golden Apple Award For Excellence in Teaching. She is one of 30 finalists throughout the state for the honor. Robinson is committed to preparing students for careers in education, having developed the Foundations in Education course that offers hands-on classroom experience. This initiative is complemented by her Education Experience class, which helps students explore various career options within the teaching profession. Recognized for her contributions to educational technology, Robinson played a pivotal role in the district's adoption of platforms such as Schoology and Seesaw. These tools have enhanced communication

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Letter To The Editor: I love my patients, my hospital community, and my job as a mental health nurse. I am Toni Holly, RN, Alton. While every single day we must remain calm amidst life-or-death situations and potential bodily harm from our patients, I am grateful to be living my purpose as a nurse. But unfortunately, as much as I love my community and my career, I am at risk of not being able to afford being a public employee in a profession I love so much. In order for public servants to continue to dedicate themselves to essential worker roles like nurses, teachers, and firefighters, it’s imperative that we fix the broken Tier 2 pension system in Illinois and pass the Fair Retirement and Recruitment Act. In 2010, the state of Illinois created a “Tier 2” of pension benefits for public workers. More than half of all teachers, firefighters, nurses, and other public employees are in Tier 2. Many Tier 2 employees do not receive Social Security and cannot retire wit

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EDWARDSVILLE — Students in Riah Martin’s fifth-grade class at Cassens Elementary School began a science project recently that allows them to explore and teach their classmates about the properties of matter. Working in groups of three to four, each team is responsible for presenting a lesson that includes a demonstration or experiment related to their assigned property. One group focused on electrical conductivity and engaged their peers with a hands-on experiment designed to determine which materials could conduct electricity. Following their presentation, classmates participated in testing various objects, including a metal spoon, a plastic spoon, and aluminum cans — both filled and empty — to observe how well each material allowed electricity to flow. This interactive approach aims to enhance students' understanding of scientific concepts through practical application and collaboration. By encouraging students to work together and engage in experiments,

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JERSEY - Students at Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 showcased their skills recently at the FCCLA Section 8 competition, marking a significant milestone for the newly established chapter of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). Students competed in various categories, including Fashion Display, Apparel Construction, Children's Toys, and Cake Decorating. Ten students achieved individual scores in these competitions and will represent their school at the Illinois FCCLA State Competition in April. The newly formed FCCLA chapter aims to provide students with opportunities to develop leadership skills and engage in community service. Starting next year, the club will be open to all students currently enrolled or previously enrolled in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) coursework, broadening participation and involvement in the program. The announcement of the chapter and the success at the competition highlight the district's commitment to

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ST. LOUIS – The Gateway Apprenticeship Hub has reached a major milestone, enrolling its 390th apprentice, exceeding the halfway point toward its goal of 750 apprentices. This achievement highlights the Hub’s mission to enhance career opportunities and address workforce needs in education, healthcare, and bioscience throughout the St. Louis region. Launched in 2022 with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Gateway Apprenticeship Hub connects individuals to sustainable career pathways through Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) in the healthcare, bioscience, and education fields. The Hub focuses on meeting workforce needs and has been particularly successful in recruiting participants for its education programs, which account for approximately 63% of all apprentices. Given the increasing number of vacancies in education roles, this trend is especially encouraging to employers. “Every apprentice is an investment in the future of our community,”

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CHAMPAIGN — Roxana's Lyndon Thies earned a second-place finish in the Class 1A State Finals at the 165-pound weight class on Saturday, falling to Bowden Delaney of Tremont in a closely contested match that ended with a score of 7-4. Thies began the tournament with a narrow 9-8 victory over Ayden Larkin of Hoopston in the preliminary round. He then advanced to the quarterfinals, where he secured an 11-3 major decision against Brock Finch of Coal City. Thies is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for Roxana. In the semifinals, Thies continued his strong performance with an 11-6 decision over Arkail Griffin of Chicago Hope, setting the stage for the championship match against Delaney. Earlier in the season, Thies demonstrated his skill by winning his regional title with a pin over Granger Motch at the 2:21 mark. He advanced to the state finals after winning by medical forfeit at the Carterville sectional. Last year, Thies finished fourth in the same

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CHAMPAIGN - Civic Memorial High School wrestler Bradley Ruckman finished second at the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Wrestling Finals, held over the weekend. Ruckman faced off against Deven Casey of IC Catholic in the championship match, where he lost by a score of 10-1. Ruckman began his journey to the finals with a solid performance, securing a 5-0 decision against Isaac Mayora of Montini in the preliminaries. He continued his strong showing in the quarterfinals, achieving a technical fall with an 18-1 victory over Jackson Palzet of Deerfield. Ruckman is a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athlete of the Month for Civic Memorial. In the semifinals, Ruckman edged out Tommy Banas of Providence Catholic with a narrow 4-3 decision, which set the stage for the final match against Casey. Prior to the state finals, Ruckman demonstrated his skill at the regional level, where he claimed first place in Bethalto. In the championship match, he pinned Jordan Kholian

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CHAMPAIGN — Drake Champlin of EAWR has claimed the title of Class 1A 215-pound IHSA State Champion after securing a 7-3 decision over Jeremiah Luke in the championship match held over the weekend. This victory marks Champlin as the first state champion for EAWR since Zac Blasioli won the title in 2017. Champlin is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for the Oilers. Champlin's path to the championship began on Thursday, where he showcased his skill with a dominant 16-0 technical fall win against Brody O’Connor of Clifton in the first round of the finals. He continued his strong performance in the quarterfinals, pinning Ryan Darnell of Quincy Notre Dame at the 4:52 mark. In the semifinals, Champlin defeated John Keigher of Cole City by an 8-1 decision, setting up the final match. Before reaching the state finals, Champlin triumphed in both the regional and sectional competitions. He won the sectional championship in Carterville by technical

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