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BLOOMINGTON – Chestnut Health Systems™ is pleased to announce that Orville Mercer, former vice president of strategy and innovation at Chestnut, has joined the board of directors. With more than four decades of dedication to Chestnut, Mercer brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and vision to this new role. Throughout his career, Mercer was instrumental in establishing Chestnut as a leader in developing and delivering exceptional health and human services. Known as an innovator, relationship builder, and strategic thinker, Mercer pairs his deep understanding of the behavioral health field with forward-thinking ideas that helped Chestnut adapt to ever-changing needs. His contributions have left an indelible mark on the organization and the communities it serves. As a board member, Mercer will offer valuable insight and guidance to help Chestnut further its mission of delivering superior health and human services. The current nine-member board approved Mercer’s

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GLEN CARBON – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) has released the following statement following today’s guilty verdict on former House Speaker Michael Madigan: "Today’s guilty verdict against former Speaker Michael Madigan not only renews calls for ethics reform but also serves as a clear call to action to confront the deep-rooted culture of corruption in our state,” said Senator Harriss. “While justice was served today, we must go further by strengthening our ethics laws to tackle the long-standing issues in state government, where backroom deals and cronyism have dictated policy at the expense of taxpayers. "My colleagues and I have introduced and sponsored legislation to reform our state’s ethics laws, and there is no better time than the start of a new General Assembly to make this a top priority.”

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HIGHLAND - GRID Solar is excited for another month of helping customers secure savings. Jason Mitchell, co-owner of GRID, recently stopped by “Our Daily Show!” with C.J. Nasello to talk about new battery products on the market and how GRID operates in the solar field. He shared that GRID works with customers to help them find the right solar system for their homes. The company is focused on helping the customer, not hawking a product. “When we show up to your house, we’re not there to sell you solar. We’re there to explain how it works, and then if you decide this is what works for you, we help you sign the papers and get the project going,” he explained. “Basically what we’ll do is we’ll just ask a bunch of questions to figure out what your goals are. We’re going to design a system based on the answers to those questions. We’re not just here to sell you a particular product. We’re going to sell you

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ALTON –State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) applauded the jury verdict on the high-profile federal court case against former longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan. Today, a jury found Madigan guilty of conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud and other charges. The jury heard evidence that former Speaker Mike Madigan used pay-to-play tactics, forced companies to hire his friends for ghost jobs, and used his position to make himself richer and Illinois poorer. “The first day I took office in January 2021 was Michael Madigan’s last day as Speaker of the House after 36 years as Speaker and 50 years in office,” said Rep. Elik. “Long before 2021, Illinois citizens began to see how dangerous so much unchecked power and influence in one person’s hands can be, and how that control can hurt our state. Today the jury recognized that Madigan’s power came from his corrupt practices and thankfully he will be punished accordingly. While I applaud

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COLLINSVILLE - The City of Collinsville welcomed three new leadership appointments within its Police Department during the City Council meeting on Tuesday night, Feb. 11, 2025. Collinsville Mayor Jeff Stehman officiated the swearing-in ceremony for the newly promoted officers, who bring decades of experience to their roles. Mark Kuechle, a 17-year veteran of the Collinsville Police Department, was promoted to the position of Assistant Chief of Police/Major. Kuechle's extensive background includes roles as Patrol Officer, Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Investigations Sergeant, and Patrol Lieutenant. He is also recognized as a decorated member of the Major Case Squad. Brad Akers, with 18 years of service, was elevated to Lieutenant. Akers has held various positions, including Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, K-9 Handler, and Patrol Sergeant, and has been a member of the Major Case Squad. Jay Edwards received a promotion to Sergeant after 16 years with the department. His experience

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06) led members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging him to reconsider reported plans to terminate more than 1,100 probationary EPA employees, including many based in Illinois. “We are deeply concerned about the negative impacts such terminations—done across the board without consideration for positional need or programmatic impact—would have on the agency’s ability to protect public health and the environment in the state of Illinois and across the nation,” the lawmakers wrote. “Though they are probationary, many of these employees are long-standing federal workers and subject matter experts with experience vital to running the EPA effectively and efficiently. They perform critical functions protecting Americans from dangers related to pesticides, waste

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (AP) — Yahya Maly, a 28-year-old resident of Ballwin, Mo., faces multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree rape and seven counts of second-degree rape, following a series of alleged sexual assaults involving five women. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced the charges on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. Maly is currently being held on a cash-only bond of $500,000. According to the probable cause statement, the alleged incidents occurred between March 2023 and February 2025. Maly reportedly met the victims through dating websites, where they believed they shared similar conservative values. In the first incident, which allegedly took place between March 1, 2023, and March 1, 2024, Maly invited a woman, referred to as Confidential Victim 1, to his apartment. After making repeated sexual advances, Maly allegedly forced himself on her despite her objections. Another victim, Confidential Victim 2, visited Maly's residence

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BETHALTO - The Bethalto Chamber of Commerce will host “Meet the Candidate” to provide village residents an opportunity to meet the candidates running for election April 1, 2025. Village Officials and Trustees running uncontested: Village President: Gary Bost Village Clerk: Sue Lowrance Trustees: Terri Keister, Brady Dugger, Jay Wright School Board Candidates: Michael Kirby Samantha Pritchett Sharon Rothe Tom Beiermann Natalie Langenfeld Dana Aronin Amanda Winn Dallas Zimmerman Desiree Potter The forum is open to the public and will take place on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 7 p.m. at the Bethalto Senior Citizens Center located at 100 E. Central in Bethalto, IL. The format of the meeting will include an informal Meet and Greet followed by each candidate having an opportunity to respond to a set of pre-submitted questions. Light refreshments will be provided. Early Voting begins on March 17 with the general election on April 1. To locate your polling place

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GODFREY - Five candidates for the Village of Godfrey’s trustees seats shared their platforms at a recent candidate forum. On Feb. 11, 2025, East End Improvement Association hosted a candidate forum for the mayoral, clerk and trustee candidates. You can read more about the mayoral candidates here . You can read more about the clerk candidates here . There are three trustee seats available and five candidates in the running. Ryan Mouser, Gerard Fischer and Nathan Schrumpf are running while Rick Lauschke and Sarah Woodman are defending their seats. The candidates began by introducing themselves and sharing more about why they decided to run. Nathan Schrumpf Schrumpf explained that he previously served on the Village Board six years ago. He grew up in Godfrey and attended Alton High School and Lewis and Clark Community College. He previously ran a lawncare business and currently works at Phillips 66, and he owns a few commercial properties in the Village. “I’m

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CHICAGO — Michael Madigan, the former Illinois House Speaker and longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history, was convicted of conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in a high-profile corruption trial that has drawn significant attention. A jury found him guilty on 10 counts while acquitting him of seven others, leaving six counts unresolved after more than 10 days of deliberation. Madigan, who held his position for over three decades and once led the Democratic Party of Illinois, was implicated in schemes involving the state’s largest utility, ComEd, and efforts to secure a state board position for a Chicago alderman. The trial, which began in October 2024, featured testimony from over 60 witnesses. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued these comments after the Madigan verdict: “ Trust in public officials is hard-earned. Public service ought to be a high calling for honest people with integrity. And those who violate the public’s

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EDWARDSVILLE - SIUE’s Dunham Hall Theater resonated with vibrant sound of jazz as the SIUE Concert Jazz Band welcomed four celebrated alumni for the 2nd Annual SIUE Jazz Alumni Concert on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. The evening brought together past and present Cougars in a dynamic showcase of jazz artistry, featuring a rotation of guest performances from four nationally recognized musicians who got their start at SIUE: Austin Cebulske, '12, saxophonist, Kara Baldus, '03, '05, pianist, Nick Jost, ‘08, ‘12, bassist, and Marty Morrison ‘09, ‘12, percussionist. The evening culminated in the dedication of the inaugural Brett Stamps Jazz Alumni Award, to guitarist Rick Haydon, professor emeritus, in absentia. Under the conduction of Garrett Schmidt, associate professor of jazz studies, the SIUE Concert Jazz Band opened with a roiling arrangement of "Fascinating Rhythm" from George and Ira Gershwin. An eight-piece set followed, featuring compositions from greats

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SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is issuing a 30-day suspension, effective Tuesday, February 11, 2025, on the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets, and auction markets in response to the ongoing threat of H5N1 avian flu. The move is intended to reduce and prevent the spread of the disease, which has been detected in commercial and backyard flocks in Illinois. “Prevention is our most effective tool to mitigate the spread of avian flu. By being proactive in biosecurity and limiting poultry movement and exposure, we are protecting the public as well as the poultry industry,” said Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA State Veterinarian. Avian flu is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds (especially waterfowl). Avian flu virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to chickens, and can spread rapidly

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DES MOINES, Iowa - The following local students have been named to the Dean's and President's Lists at Drake University. Edwardsville, IL Kenton Ausmer, Arts & Sciences, Dean's List Brynn Miracle, Zimpleman College of Business, Dean's List To be eligible for the Dean's List, students must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the Fall 2024 semester at Drake. To be eligible for the President's List, students must have earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during the Fall 2024 semester at Drake. Drake University is recognized as one of the finest national liberal arts universities. A distinctive and distinguished private university in Des Moines, Iowa, Drake enrolls nearly 3,000 undergraduate and more than 1,800 graduate students. Students choose from more than 70 majors, minors, and concentrations and 20 graduate degrees offered through seven colleges and schools. In addition, Drake offers a range of continuing education programs serving working professionals, community members, and

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) engaged with farm stakeholders during a House Committee on Agriculture hearing, addressing the potential impact of tariffs on Canada and their effect on import prices for farmers. The Committee heard testimony from four figures in the agriculture sector – from California to Illinois – who shared the challenges they are facing. Earlier this month, President Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, including a 10 percent tariff on energy imports. While the President has since instituted a 30-day pause, it is unclear if tariffs will ultimately be applied. The U.S. imports some four million barrels per day of Canadian oil, 70 percent of which is processed by refiners in the Midwest. In response to Budzinski’s questioning, the witnesses confirmed that the increased input costs caused by tariffs would hinder, rather than help, our farmers’ ability to remain competitive. Budzinski’s

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CHICAGO - Today Governor JB Pritzker joined the Aspen Institute, climate advocates, and business leaders to announce that the 2025 Aspen Ideas: Climate conference will take place in Chicago. Previously, the conference has been held in Miami Beach, Florida each year since its inception in 2022. “Illinois and our Midwestern neighbors are leading the way growing a clean energy economy that supports good-paying jobs and lowers energy costs. ? I can think of no better place to bring together clean energy and climate leaders than Chicago,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our focus on fresh water, electric vehicles, alternate energy sources, and so many other facets of sustainable infrastructure form a regional powerhouse that I’m eager to show off to climate leaders from around the country.” The Aspen Ideas: Climate conference brings together members of the public alongside climate leaders to learn about current climate issues and discuss innovative solutions.

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CHICAGO – Several trusted Illinois programs offer free income tax preparation for low-to-moderate income families and older adults who may need assistance in filing their 2024 income taxes. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), American Association of Retired Persons' (AARP) Foundation Tax-Aide Program, and the Ladder Up Tax Assistance Program (TAP), provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in select locations statewide. "It is important for Illinois taxpayers to know they can receive help from qualified volunteers certified by the IRS at various locations statewide," said Illinois Department of Revenue Director David Harris. "These individuals are ready and willing to assist taxpayers in filing their state and federal tax returns accurately and on time by the Tuesday, April 15 deadline.” How taxpayer assistance is provided and when services are available varies by region, based upon volunteer capacity. “Tax

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that will award grant money to a lead organization to develop a multi-year campaign supporting and promoting the inclusion of community health workers (CHWs) in health teams. Community health workers are trusted members of their communities, who serve as a bridge between health care and social services and the community. IDPH supports CHWs in many ways, including its ongoing work to develop and establish a certification program that will improve the quality and availability of CHW training programs and will open the door for reimbursement of CHW services through the Medicaid program. The grant funding opportunity further supports CHW programs around the state by creating a campaign to improve awareness and understanding of what CHWs do and support the effective integration of CHWs into public health, health care, and human services organizations. The campaign wil

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TROY - Hannah Schlemer is leading a fundraising effort to support the ongoing needs of 6-year-old Ace Waldeck, of Troy, who faces numerous health challenges due to complications from a premature birth. The campaign aims to raise funds for essential items not covered by insurance, including a ramp, a lift, and an accessible van. Ace was born prematurely and, at just 11 days old, suffered a bilateral hemorrhagic stroke that left him quadriplegic and nearly blind. He also lives with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy, and in 2022, he developed a blood clot that damaged one of his kidneys, leaving him with only one functioning kidney. Despite his challenges, Ace is described as a happy boy with a vibrant spirit, Schlemer said. "He enjoys listening to books and music, watching shows, and engaging with his siblings," she said. "He's an old soul," noting his ability to communicate discomfort despite being nonverbal. Schlemer expressed gratitude to the community for their generosity in providing

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GODFREY - Two Municipal Clerk candidates spoke about their platforms and their goals for Godfrey at a recent candidate forum. On Feb. 11, 2025, East End Improvement Association hosted a candidate forum for the Godfrey mayoral, trustee and clerk candidates. Current Clerk Susan Robbins and challenger Jacki Clayton had three minutes to introduce themselves and share their reasons for running. Clayton shared that she is a lifelong Riverbend resident and a graduate of Alton High School and Lewis and Clark Community College. She previously worked in the Township Assessor’s office and is currently employed by the Godfrey Parks and Recreation Department. She said customer service is her “top priority” and she enjoys working with people. If elected, she said she would obtain the recommended certifications to fulfill the municipal clerk role. She praised the current administration and Godfrey staff for their work and said she wants to be “a part of that team.”

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Did you know that more than 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year in the United States alone? This staggering figure only scratches the surface of what has become a multi-billion dollar industry centered around love and affection. Yet, beneath the glossy surface of red roses and heart-shaped chocolates lies a tapestry of history woven with ancient customs, cultural shifts, and surprising origins. What if the traditions we hold dear today are not what they seem? The Ancient Roots of Romance To truly understand Valentine’s Day, one must journey back to its early beginnings. The origins of this celebration can be traced to the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which took place in mid-February. This ancient festival was a rite of fertility, where young men would draw names from a jar to pair with women for the duration of the festival. Such practices highlight a time when love was seen as a more communal and less romantic affair. As the centuries passed,

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