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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Lance Gooden (R-TX-05) requested a comprehensive review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) detailing the federal government's interchange fee expenses over the last five fiscal years. This request highlights the exorbitant credit card interchange or "swipe" fees, a staggering burden the federal government and, in turn, American taxpayers, pay at around $240 million every year. In addition to Durbin and Gooden, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), along with Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02), Tom Tiffany (R-WI-07), and Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-At-Large-Northern Mariana Islands). The lawmakers wrote, “The Visa-Mastercard duopoly and the nation’s largest banks that issue their cards wield enormous market power in the credit card system, and they have used that power to

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SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, chair of the Illinois House Higher Education Appropriations Committee, today said the State of Illinois will soon announce a new program to fully provide public university students with free and universal test and licensure preparation classes. Illinois is the first state to offer this benefit to its public university students. The Prepare for Illinois’ Future Program offers comprehensive test preparation and professional licensure preparation at no cost to Illinois public university students. This means all students will have access to key resources, enabling them to best prepare for the required exams needed to advance to graduate school and/or professional exams vital in school-to-work pathways. The fiscal year 2024 State of Illinois budget includes $10 million for free test prep classes for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the Graduate Record Examination

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CHICAGO – An Illinois Lottery player is basking in joy after winning the top prize of $1 million on a scratch-off lottery ticket. “It’s the craziest thing to ever happen to me - I still can’t stop shaking,” expressed the lucky winner, who has requested to stay anonymous. “My wife was just saying ‘You’ve got to stop buying those things.’ So you can imagine how ecstatic I was to be able to tell her I won!” The $1 million winning scratch-off ticket was purchased at Phillips 66, located at 102 S. Lincoln Street in Philo, IL, a small town located eight miles south of Champaign - home to just over 1,300 residents. “The majority of our customers are local residents, so I can guarantee that if the winner walked into our store, we’d recognize him,” declared Umesh Patel, manager at Phillips 66 in Philo. “We are so excited that the winner is from our little city.” As part of his daily routine, the lucky

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CHICAGO, November 7, 2023 – An Illinois iLottery player has hit the jackpot in a new Fast Play game, Illinois Super Jackpot , that launched a few weeks ago. The online player was lucky enough to win $885,449 on Saturday, November 4. Illinois Super Jackpot is a $20 progressive Fast Play game. The jackpot begins at $50,000 and grows with each ticket sold statewide until the jackpot is won. Since its launch in late October, over 95,000 winning tickets for Illinois Super Jackpot have been purchased, netting players almost $4.8 million in prizes. Fast Play games can be purchased in retail, or online via IllinoisLottery.com or the Illinois Lottery app. There are currently 20 Fast Play games offered at various price points and play styles. About the Illinois Lottery Founded in 1974, the Illinois Lottery has contributed over $24 billion (since 1985) to the state’s Common School Fund to assist K-12 public schools, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars to the Capital

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Facebook whistleblower Arturo Béjar, former Director of Engineering for Facebook’s Protect and Care team, at a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law hearing entitled “Social Media and the Teen Mental Health Crisis.” “The bottom line is this. They made a decision that it is not a priority to them because of a profit motive, have they not? In terms of what it will cost them in their business model if they have to interrupt it and monitor the content.” Mr. Béjar responded by saying, “that would be a wonderful question to ask Mark and Sheryl , who is no longer there, and Adam , because they can speak to why they made these choices. I can only speak to the fact that they kept making those choices over and over again.” Durbin responded, “I would just back up what

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Name: David Stromske Hometown: Alton Years of Service: 1966-1968 Branch: Army Rank: ES War: Vietnam Medals Earned: Air Medal, Defense Medal, U.S. Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal. Message: "Dave Stromske doesn't know a stranger. He is the quintessential man, myth and legend." Submitters name: Kevin Walker

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Name: Alfredo D. Biay Hometown: Manila, Philippines Branch: United States Navy. Rank: Second Class Gunersmate Wars: Operation Desert Shield Storm Information: "My dad moved with his family from Manila, Philippines, when he was 9 years old. He has been discriminated against, and treated unfairly but that never stopped him from serving our country. He always said he would do it all over again." Submitters name: Michele Harris

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville takes the lead in BYU's latest accounting education case rankings . Three individual SIUE faculty members also rank in the top 10 of individual researchers publishing educational cases. “Creating these cases helps keep our faculty as well as our students up to date and helps us prepare our students for the accounting profession of tomorrow, as opposed to yesterday or even today,” said Jamie Hoelscher, associate professor of accounting in the SIUE School of Business. "It also helps us maintain credibility and recognition from area firms who are trying to train their new hires and workforce on similar topics.” The three faculty members in the top 10 category are Jamie Hoelscher; Andrew Gross, associate professor of accounting and chair of the department; and Brad Reed, professor and interim associate dean of accounting. Reed said of the commendation, “It is really an honor to be recognized

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EDWARDSVILLE - To a diverse crowd in the Meridian Ballroom of the Morris University Center, Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, spoke to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus community in his first State of the University Address at 2 p.m. on Thursday, November 2. The address opened with Barbara McCracken, PhD, president of the faculty senate, welcoming the full audience in attendance. McCracken introduced Geovonday Jones, assistant professor of theater, who passionately recited “Hope is the Thing with Feathers” an Emily Dickinson poem, and “Hope for Our New Beginning.” After a moving performance of prose and applause, the President of SIUE’s student government, Mackenzie Richards, took to the podium. Richards confidently introduced Chancellor Minor to an engaged audience. Minor opened his address with gratitude and a pause of recognition for “one of the great caretakers” of SIUE, former Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift, PhD.

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PIASA - Members of the Military History Club at Southwestern High School have planted a field of 115 flags for the Disabled American Veterans nonprofit in honor of Veterans Day. Jeff Eldred, history teacher and advisor of the club, said he researched the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization and suggested the club could take part in their annual Veterans Day fundraiser. For every $10 collected by the students, the club received one flag to plant in front of the school. They set a goal of $300 and raised $1,150 for DAV. “The kids were really excited to do it. And next year, now that we know what’s really going on, we hope to do even more,” Eldred said. “There were 208 organizations, schools, community organizations, etc. that were part of this, and we raised the 25th most. We’re pretty proud of what we did.” The students set up tables at volleyball and football games to collect donations. They also contributed themselves when possible,

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Name: Kevin M. Harris Hometown: Herculaneum, MO. Years Of Service: 1991-1994 Branch : United States Marine Corps Rank: Lance Corporal Wars: Somalia Submitter's name: Michele Harris

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SPRINGFIELD – Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza offered this comment following Fitch Ratings’ upgrade of Illinois’ credit rating Tuesday: “In giving Illinois our 9 th credit upgrade in the past two years, Fitch Ratings noted our progress in reducing our backlog of bills to what is now a “normalized” accounts payable that stands at $1.86 billion today – down from a high of $16.7 billion during the budget impasse. Fitch credited the state for boosting its Rainy Day fund to nearly $2 billion. That fund was down to $48,000 during the impasse. Fitch encourages Illinois to bring that fund up to a level most other states have and to make greater progress paying down our pension liabilities. That is exactly what my Rainy Day and Pension Stabilization Bill, HB2515, proposes to do and I look forward to seeing it reintroduced in the next legislative session. This upgrade is a tribute to the responsible debt management my office has undertaken in recent

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The first day of fall is technically in September, but the season really started this weekend, when my friends and I gathered to make potato soup and apple pie. After all, that’s the best part of fall: the comfort food. My best friend, who I’ve known since preschool, is one of the best cooks I know. Another best bud and I sat around her kitchen table, peeling potatoes, as her roommate fried bacon for the soup and our master chef consulted the recipe she had found on TikTok. I was on Apple Duty, standing over the table, cutting wedges as carefully as possible for the pie. The apples had been donated by another friend fresh from her farm. As a result, they were bruised and swollen with rotten spots you had to cut around and also the crispest, best I’ve ever had in my life. We snuck slices while Chef’s back was turned. These cooking nights are a lot like the Hulu show “The Bear,” except not at all, because our chef is a lot calmer than the screaming

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ALTON - The Alton Police Department reported that it was involved in a vehicle pursuit early Tuesday morning, Nov. 7, 2023. Officers located a vehicle that was reported stolen to the St. Louis County Police Department and initial reports indicated the possibility of a firearm being in the vehicle. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said an Alton Police officer attempted to stop the vehicle in the area of the 3000 block of Belle Street, however, the vehicle fled from the attempted traffic stop. Ford said a pursuit ensued throughout the Alton/Godfrey area with deputies from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office assisting. "The pursuit began with minimal traffic affected and manageable speeds, however, the pursuit was terminated when conditions became increasingly hazardous to persons involved and the public," Chief Ford said. No other additional information was available at this time on the police chase.

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COLLINSVILLE – Just days ahead of Veterans Day, when we honor all those who served in the military, Ameren Illinois employees were recognized by the Department of Defense for providing outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees who have answered their nation’s call to serve. On November 6, four Ameren Illinois employees were honorably awarded the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot Award for the extraordinary support they provide to fellow employee Darrel Eickoff, who also serves as a CW-5 (warrant officer) in the United States Army Reserve. The four supervisors – Kelly Slaughter, Paul Hardiek, Lacey Thomas and Joe West – are based in the company's Collinsville office. “The Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees who have answered their nation’s call to serve,” said Illinois ESGR State Chair Laurie

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ALTON - A resolution to add more stop signs on Alby Street in Alton is moving forward after receiving unanimous approval at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday. Over $86,000 in ARPA funds were also approved for various traffic safety improvements; all of these items go to the City Council for final approval on Wednesday. New stop signs would be placed on northbound and southbound Alby Street at East 4th Street, establishing the intersection as a four-way stop. Alderwoman Betsy Allen said these new signs are necessary to slow the heavy traffic in the area, and said other improvements may be made in the future, including crosswalks and handicap service ramps. The committee also gave their tentative approval for $86,483 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for more traffic signage and safety improvements around the city. This includes $29,381.20 for 20th and Alby Street traffic safety improvements and $57,102 for two solar speed signs in each Ward, a total of 14

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford announced on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, that the department has once again received notice that they are the recipients of a federal grant. This time, Chief Ford said they will receive $400,000 in grant funding from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) as part of the Community Policing Development-Implementing Crisis Intervention Teams program. The Implementing Crisis Intervention Teams-Community Policing Development grant is designed to expand the Alton Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team response by diverting those in need of mental health services away from jail, tracking relevant CIT data, and building a foundation for community partnerships and collaboration. “This CIT grant is going to facilitate our community outreach efforts greatly," Chief Ford said. "In partnership with Megan Tyler and her nonprofit organization, Sacred Spaces of CARE, we will engage in collaborative, trauma-informed practices

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ALTON/GODFREY - The Boys and Girls Club of Alton will sponsor their annual Tennies & Ties fundraiser as a fun way to raise money for the Club’s programs and celebrate 26 years of service. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, at the Commons at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey. Speakers will talk about youth advocacy in the Metro East area, and many Riverbend community members will be recognized for their work to help local kids. “As the name implies, attendees are encouraged to put on their favorite sneakers and ties and come ready to play games,” the Club said in a statement. “The Boys and Girls Club of Alton, Inc. serves more than 100 local youth each day…It’s our mission to inspire all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.” The Club sponsors an afterschool program and many groups to promote leadership, self-esteem, STEM

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PIASA - Southwestern High sophomore middle hitter Vivian Zurheide was recently honored with an All-Conference selection for her efforts in the 2023 season for the Piasa Birds. She is also an Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for Southwestern. Zurheide's head Southwestern High girls' volleyball coach Derek Dempsey said she was a front-row player who started as a middle hitter and moved outside to strong-side hitter about three weeks in the season. "Vivian was by far our best offensive threat in terms of hitting," the coach said. "She should show a lot of growth as a player between now and next year. She is also a solid defensive player. She is very hard to cover on the hitting side." Dempsey said Vivian simply loves spiking the volleyball and constantly hustles on the court. Zurheide is a multi-rounded athlete and last year was one of the leading scorers on the Piasa Birds girls basketball team. The future looks very bright for Zurheide in all he

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding Senate Republicans’ proposal to address border security: “For 30 years, Congress has failed to fix America’s broken immigration system, and today, our communities, businesses, and frontline law-enforcement officials are bearing the brunt of that failure. I have long urged my Republican colleagues to come to the table and negotiate on a bipartisan basis to pass immigration reform. Today’s proposal from my Republican colleagues is not a good starting point – it is not consistent with American values and it would not secure our border. It includes many of the worst proposals from H.R. 2, including a proposal to end relief for Ukrainians, Afghans, and others who have found refuge in the United States, who we should be aiding, not deporting. “I am willing to talk to anyone on either side of th

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