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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today endorsed the recommendation by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the newly FDA-approved COVID-19 shots for everyone over the age of 6 months. The federal agencies have given the green light for updated mRNA vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer that target the currently circulating strains of the COVID-19 virus. Heading into the fall, IDPH is closely monitoring data on COVID-19 as well as other respiratory viruses including flu and RSV. The federal guidance comes as data indicates an uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations in Illinois and the nation, with a seven percent increase statewide in the week ending September 2, the most recent period for which data is available. There are currently 12 Illinois counties at a medium level for COVID-19 hospitalizations according to the CDC national dashboard , meaning they exceed ten new cases per 100,000 population in the last week.

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CARLINVILLE - An acclaimed writer and journalist will present a free, one-hour program at the Carlinville Public Library on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m.“My Life as a Storyteller” will discuss the career experiences of Walt Harrington of Carlinville, a former journalist at The Washington Post Magazine , where he authored profiles of Rosa Parks, Carl Bernstein, Jesse Jackson, Rita Dove, and President George H.W. Bush. The recipient of numerous journalism awards, Harrington also wrote many in-depth accounts for the Post of ordinary people who live extraordinary lives. Harrington has written or edited eleven books, including Crossings: A White Man’s Journey into Black America, The Everlasting Stream: A True Story of Rabbits, Guns, Friendship, and Family , and more recently, The Detective: And Other Stories . After leaving the Post, Harrington became a professor at the University of Illinois. He and his wife, Keran, retired to Carlinville in 2022 to be nea

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Every 3 minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with a blood cancer; more than 1.3 million Americans are living with or in remission from a blood cancer. 54-year-old Hartford, IL, resident Kevin Basden is a living embodiment of that statistic. After he and his wife helped fix a neighbor’s water pipes amongst mold and insulation (because she couldn’t afford to have them fixed), that for more than a month or more, he didn’t look well, felt a heaviness in his chest and experienced low energy - and put off seeking medical attention even at the encouragement of his wife, fellow church members, and a nurse. So before bed one night, because of his strong faith, he prayed that God would provide him a sign. Kevin was awakened at 3:30 a.m. by a loud voice telling him to go to the ER. He was shaken up because the voice was very clear. He went to the hospital and his blood levels were critically low – so low that his hemoglobin levels were only at 33% normal level an

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that road repairs will require intermittent daily lane closures in both directions of Illinois 157 between St. Louis Street and South University Drive starting, weather permitting, at 7 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 18. At least one lane in each direction will remain open throughout construction. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during construction. 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. The $8.1 million project, which consists of resurfacing, ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps and intersection improvements, is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year. 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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ALTON - Calling all Alton High School and Marquette Catholic High School alum! If you graduated in the 1960s or 70s, a downtown block party is the place to be on Sept. 23. From 5–10 p.m., former Redbirds and Explorers are invited to Mac’s Downtown on 3rd Street for a night of food, music and catching up with old friends. “A lot of these people, you think you see them around town all the time but you really don’t,” organizer Dave Wickenhauser said. “I get people all the time who say, ‘I don’t go to my class reunion because I see everybody anyway.’ You don’t. Believe me, you don’t.” Mac’s Downtown owner Mac Lenhardt has taken on the costs of the space and the band, so the event is completely free for block party attendees. Wickenhauser encourages people to grab dinner at Mac’s and enjoy the restaurant’s food and drinks throughout the night. Local band Number 4 Combo will take the

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EDWARDSVILLE - State Senator Erica Harriss (56 th -Glen Carbon) is collaborating with local governments by hosting a series of Mayors’ Roundtables across the 56 th Senate District. The first roundtable event was held Tuesday at Nickel Plate Station in Edwardsville. “I was very grateful to have so many local leaders on hand to get a pulse on the important issues in their communities,” said Senator Harriss, who also serves as the Minority Spokesperson on the Senate Local Government Committee. “Our mayors offered considerable insight into some of the most pressing local concerns, and I valued their unique perspectives to help better represent our district in Springfield.” More than a dozen municipalities were in attendance to discuss local issues pertaining to homelessness, mental health and healthcare services, economic development, and transportation. Senator Harriss plans to hold several mayoral roundtable events across the district during the upcoming

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CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker announced $449 million in tobacco bonds have been retired through a defeasance, benefiting taxpayers through debt service savings and interest earnings in an aggregate of $50 million. “Today’s action reflects Illinois’ strong fiscal position and my continued commitment to responsibly manage the state’s financial resources as we pay off the lingering debts from the Great Recession,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “During my administration, we’ve eliminated the state’s multi-billion-dollar bill backlog, built up the state’s Rainy Day fund balance to nearly $2 billion, made $700 million in public pension payments above required amounts, received eight credit upgrades and worked to grow the economy to more than $1 trillion.” The bonds represent what remained of a $1.5 billion debt associated with the Great Recession, dating back to 2010, when the state was struggling with a multi-billion bill

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GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon trustees have approved a one-year extension to the site plan for the Meijer grocery store set to anchor the village’s Orchard Town Center development. The original site plan was set to expire next month, and while the building is still on track, builders need a little more time for completion. The building will still be completed sometime after the original deadline, prompting the request for an extension, but no further information about when the Meijer store is set to be completed and/or open was available at this time. Nothing else about the site plan has been changed. Director of Community Development Erika Heil wrote in a memorandum to village officials earlier this month that the Meijer site plan was set to expire on Oct. 11, 2023. According to previous correspondence contained in meeting packet documents, the civil engineer behind the Meijer project reached out to Heil at the end of August to request the extension. This will reportedly

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ALTON - Starting in October, the Alton Marina will welcome boaters from all over the world for Looper season. These boaters are traveling America’s Great Loop , a continuous route through eastern North America that takes boats down the Mississippi River, through the Gulf of Mexico, up the east coast and into Canada and the Great Lakes. The once-in-a-lifetime trip usually includes a stop in Alton, where visitors can enjoy the amenities at the Marina and prepare for winter on the water. “We get a lot of people coming through that really are impressed with and love it. The Loop is no exception,” Rob Honke said. “When they open the locks next month on the Illinois , we’re going to start seeing a lot of people coming through that are traveling.” Honke owns Seahorse Ranch Marine, Inc., which operates Alton Marina. He says that Looper season is one of his favorite times of the year and the boaters, called “Loopers,” will sometimes

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ALTON - Growing up in Alton, Shawn Banks admits he was a bit of a “class clown.” Now, the actor and stand-up comedian is returning to his hometown to emcee the upcoming Mayor’s Charity and Fundraiser Ball . “I started off being the funny guy and sort of the class clown growing up in Alton at some of the schools there, from North to middle school to Alton High School,” Banks said. “It’s an honor to have the opportunity to come back home to my city, Alton, Illinois, which I love so much, and to host the Mayor’s Ball.” The masquerade ball with a Mardi Gras twist will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7 and raise money for both Mayor David Goins’s campaign and local nonprofit the Overnight Warming Center. A silent auction and two bands will accompany the dinner and dance. The event will also honor community members and two NFL stars from Alton . Anyone who wishes to attend must RSVP by Sept. 16 at the event’s webpage

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ALTON - At the 17th annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival on Saturday, September 16, Sierra Club Illinois’ Three Rivers Project , Alton Main Street , and the Jacoby Arts Center will award three local activists with the 2023 Confluence Conservation Leadership Award. The festival organizers have recognized community members who have made significant contributions to environmental conservation in the Riverbend region since 2007. This year’s Confluence Conservation Leadership awardees include: Carla Cope, Clifford Clark, and Tim Podhorn. “All three award recipients have made significant contributions to environmental conservation in the Riverbend and are unsung heroes in our region,” said Virginia Woulfe-Beile, Co-Coordinator of the Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois. “Join us at 4:30pm on September 16 at the Mississippi Earthtones Festival’s main stage as we honor the work of these three leaders, who work tirelessly to advocate, educate,

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BETHALTO - Coming off a 1-8 campaign in 2022, Civic Memorial football is already much improved in 2023. It’s a team with weapons all over the field, and one of those weapons early in the season has been sophomore wide receiver Parker Parnell. Parnell, a speedy wideout with the football IQ to find open space, has already made his presence felt in the Eagle offense in 2023. In CM’s giant 40-7 win over EAWR on September 1, Parnell showcased his skills on an extended touchdown play, taking a screen pass to the house for six. Parnell latched onto a quick pass from Eagle QB Jack Piening, made a man miss waiting for blockers, and shot up the CM sideline to extend his team’s lead. “After getting the ball, I’m able to see the field really well,” said Parnell, on his touchdown in the EAWR game. “Once the blocking started picking up, I saw more and more open space, and found some room for the touchdown.” For his performance so far this

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GLEN CARBON - A project to convert a portion of Greenspace East in Glen Carbon into a prairie grass restoration area full of flowers and wildlife received unanimous approval from the Village Board of Trustees last night. The project is set to be completed by June 2024 at a total cost of $5,704. “We have developed a project plan to convert the current old field habitat to prairie that will be full of blooming flowers and wildlife,” Eric Wright with Heartlands Conservancy wrote in a letter to Village Administrator Jamie Bowden. “The prairie conversion will improve the Greenspace East for both people and wildlife while creating opportunities to reduce long-term maintenance costs.” Greenspace East is located between Route 159 and Old Troy Road in Glen Carbon. While the entire site is approximately 80 acres, the area slated for this prairie improvement project is only about 1.5 acres, Bowden said at the meeting on Tuesday. Wright said in his letter

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) announced today that he supports House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s decision to launch a formal impeachment inquiry into President Biden’s involvement in his son, Hunter Biden’s, foreign business dealings. “Joe Biden lied to the American people about his family’s shady business dealings,” said Bost. “His family and their associates appear to have profited $20 million, in large part because of his personal participation in dozens of meetings with foreign actors. These allegations of corruption and abuse of power are devastating and warrant a full impeachment inquiry. “The Bidens need to understand America’s security is not for sale. The U.S. presidency and vice presidency are not investment opportunities for eager foreign bidders. And no matter your family connections, you will not put the interests of the American people on the auction block. House Republicans

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GRAFTON - In memory of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, three firefighters with the QEM Fire Protection District climbed 2,200 stairs to honor 9/11 first responders. Firefighters Steven Looney and Tyler Feddersen and Firefighter Cadet Bradley Isringhausen donned their equipment and walked up and down the stairs of their three-story live-fire training facility. They logged 2,200 stairs, the equivalent of 110 stories, to recreate the experience of firefighters who responded at the World Trade Center and honor the 343 firefighters who lost their lives that day. “It’s really just to pay tribute to all of the firefighters that had fallen during 9/11,” Feddersen said. The others agreed it was a difficult experience, but a fitting tribute to their fellow firefighters. “To feel their pain, what they had to go through,” Looney added. The three climbed 2,200 stairs in about 20 minutes with no breaks. Their families watched as they made the trek

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is reminding motorists and farmers about traffic safety as Illinois enters the fall harvest season. Agriculture is one of the leading industries in Illinois and farmers across the state will be moving equipment along roadways during the harvest season, which typically begins in early September and can last into November. As farmers are traveling between fields, ISP is reminding motorists and farmers alike to share the road to help reduce crashes involving tractors, implements, and other farm equipment. ISP encourages motorists to follow these safe driving tips during harvest season: Share the road and be patient. Allow extra travel time during harvest season. Don't pass until it's safe and legal to do so. It is illegal to pass at intersections and in no-passing zones. Improper passing can be deadly. Use extra caution around tractors and slow-moving vehicles. Farm equipment is easily recognized by the orange, slow moving vehicle

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ALTON - Piasa Armory, a gun store and shooting range in Alton, is celebrating Customer Appreciation Day with nachos, a bounce house, a gatling gun, and much more this weekend on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Scott Pulaski with Piasa Armory appeared on a recent episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to talk more in-depth about the event, the Illinois assault weapons ban, and more. “We’re open at 10 a.m., and we have all kinds of fun stuff going on,” Pulaski said of Customer Appreciation Day. “We do bounce houses for kids - it’s a family event, so a lot of fun. Bring everybody down!” He said the festivities also include free tomahawk throwing, and that local businesses can set up a table for free - Piasa Armory will even provide tables. He also said they pay the necessary state fees to allow machine guns at the event, giving visitors a chance to try out some unique weapons for a fee. “We’ve got a machine gu

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EAST ST. LOUIS – In August 2023, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office (SCCSAO) filed 15 charges in Illinois State Police Zone 6 Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) cases, 14 felony and one misdemeanor charge. PSEG is a joint effort between the Illinois State Police and the East St. Louis Police Department (ESTLPD) for violent crime investigations. PSEG was created to provide more highly trained resources in East St. Louis to help solve and reduce crime. FELONY CHARGES : SCCSAO charged the following cases August. The dates listed are the dates the incident occurred. On August 27, 2022, PSEG agents responded to the 1800 block of Gaty Avenue reference a deceased female in the street. A 49-year-old was fatally struck by gunfire. On August 4, 2023, a 15-year-old male resident of East St. Louis was charged by SCCSAO with First Degree Murder and Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking. The juvenile was held without bond. On March 2, 2023, PSEG agents

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Letter To The Editor: Sign issues have been going on for more than two decades in Edwardsville. The city enjoys its power to refuse signage that in other communities would not have the same outcome. The sign in question with Edwardsville aldermen at Drunken Fish is unique and attractive. They should work to see it stay as is. Sometimes policy is just silly. This sign costs a great deal and is not a negative. Skip Schmidt Madison County Board member.

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SPRINGFIELD – State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced today that almost $800,000 in unclaimed property - more than $515,000 in cash payments and $273,000 in stock value - are on the way to the rightful owners because of his office’s outreach efforts at the Illinois and DuQuoin State Fairs. “This level of success reflects the hard work we do in my office,” Frerichs said. “A key part of my job as Treasurer is to do whatever we can to return unclaimed property to the proper owners or their heirs. My staff and I are happy to help people connect with their unclaimed property, and part of our outreach is to assist fair visitors in checking the I-Cash database so they can see if something is waiting for them.” Fair visitors made almost 800 claims on unclaimed property during the Illinois State Fair on August 10-20 and the DuQuoin State Fair on August 25-September 4. A total of 590 claims were filed at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, and 199

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