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SPRINGFIELD – Building on what he describes as four years of fiscal progress, Governor Pritzker’s fifth balanced budget proposal will make transformative, generational investments in early childhood education and childcare, the teacher pipeline, higher education, and efforts to fight poverty. Please see below for links to the proposed FY24 budget as well as the Governor’s remarks as prepared for delivery. Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget Fiscal Year 2024 Capital Budget Fiscal Year 2024 Budget in Brief State of the State and Budget Address Wednesday, February 15 th , 2023 *Remarks As Prepared For Delivery* Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Leader McCombie, Leader Curran, Lieutenant Governor Stratton, our Constitutional Officers, members of the General Assembly, Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court, Cabinet Members, First Lady MK Pritzker, Second Gentleman Bryan Echols, esteemed guests — it’s a distinct honor to come before

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SPRINGFIELD - One of the top budget negotiators for the House Republican Caucus, State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) issued a statement following Governor Pritzker’s Budget Address/State of the State before members of the Illinois General Assembly: “Illinois’ budgeting process over the past four years has been conducted behind closed doors and filled with broken promises. This year I want to see a process that is transparent. "Now that a budget has been proposed by the Governor, I will work with my colleagues to advocate for a budget that is balanced without any tax increases.”

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STEVENS POINT, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point honored more than 2,350 undergraduate students for attaining high-grade point averages during the fall semester of the 2022-2023 academic year. Full-time undergraduates who earned grade points of 3.90 to 4.0 (4.0 equals straight A) are given the highest honors designation. High honor citations go to those with grade point averages from 3.75 to 3.89 and honor recognition is accorded to those with grade point averages from 3.50 to 3.74. Personalized certificates of scholastic achievement are sent to those who earned highest honors distinction. Students who received honors include: HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, HONOR Edwardsville, IL Madison Ruklic, High Honor

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O’FALLON — In recognition of February being National Canned Food Month, HSHS Home Care Illinois is holding their annual “Cram the Car” food drive this month for the Catholic Urban Program food pantry to help those struggling with food insecurity. Community members are invited to “cram” a Home Care car by donating non-perishable items. On Friday, Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a HSHS Home Care Illinois branded car will be parked on the HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital campus at the main entrance canopy (blue “Hospital” sign) accepting donations of items or monetary contributions. Some non-perishable items that the food pantry could use are: Boxed meals (Hamburger Helper, Rice-a-Roni) Pancake mix and syrup Jelly Canned fruit Pasta sauce Cereal Granola Sugar free canned fruit Low salt canned vegetables Large boxes of oatmeal …as well as any other non-perishable items. When donating, please check the expiration dat

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ALTON - Betty Davis drove 70 miles round trip, five days per week for five weeks, to receive radiation treatment. That’s 25 times between her home in Greenfield, Ill., and Alton Memorial Hospital when gas averaged $5 per gallon. On top of the stress of a cancer diagnosis and the effects of radiation, Betty and her husband, Everett, needed help to pay for gas so she could continue to receive life-saving treatment. “We live on a fixed income,” Betty said. “My husband was the first to find out about the Extra Mile program and then he told me about it.” Because of gifts from the community to Alton Memorial Health Service Foundation’s Ribbon of Strength project, the couple did not have to choose between paying for essentials and battling cancer. The Foundation provided them with a gas card to continue to drive to treatment. “There were times we didn’t know how we could pay for the gas to get back and forth,” Betty said. “The

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EDWARDSVILLE — State’s Attorney Tom Haine and Sheriff Jeff Connor are asking the public to join them in supporting the Madison County Child Advocacy Center’s upcoming fundraising event. The Child Advocacy Center’s Trivia Night is on Feb. 25 at the Madison County Fireman’s Hall, 9510 Collinsville Road in Collinsville. The CAC is accepting registration for participants and is seeking sponsors and donations for a silent auction. Haine said the CAC plays a vital role in the successful prosecution of offenders who abuse or neglect children. “In a case involving physical or sexual abuse of a child, the child’s account of what happened is a key component of the prosecution’s case,” Haine said. “The CAC provides a safe, comforting environment where child victims can talk with specially-trained interviewers about what happened,” Connor said interviews of child victims during an investigation have the potential to re-traumatize

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Lottery Grandstand will be rocking when REO Speedwagon returns to the Illinois State Fair on Tuesday, August 15. The group, which was loosely formed in the late 1960’s at the University of Illinois, has been a constant in the rock world over the last five decades. From their chart-topping rock love ballads “I Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore” and “Keep On Loving You” to rock classics like “Ridin’ the Storm Out” and “Keep Pushin,” REO will bring a catalog of songs that span generations. “REO Speedwagon always bring everything they have to the stage,” said Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark. “In the over 50 years they have been together, there has not been a year where REO Speedwagon didn’t perform live. This will be one of those performances where we will be able to hear the crowd singing along throughout the whole fairgrounds.” Their 2023 stop will

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HARDIN - Jacqueline A. Saffell, 42, of Carlinville, was arrested earlier this month for Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. She was also charged with Obstruction of Justice after additional paraphernalia was found “hidden inside a body cavity,” according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office about the incident. At 10:27 p.m. on Feb. 3, deputies with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Illinois River Road near Deer Plain, south of Brussels in Calhoun County. Calhoun deputies requested K9 assistance from the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office, which “resulted in a positive K9 alert for the odor of narcotics.” Saffell was then transported to the Jersey County Jail, “where additional suspected drug paraphernalia was discovered to be hidden inside a body cavity,” according to the release. After that discovery,

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HARDIN - Brian P. Rose, 47, of Batchtown, pled guilty on Jan. 17 to two counts of Possession of Methamphetamine and one count of Patronizing a Prostitute, charges which stemmed from multiple incidents from 2022. On August 21, 2022, a deputy with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on the Illinois River Road near Franklin Hill Road in Calhoun County. After conducting interviews, the Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant for a residence located on Franklin Hill Road, where Rose was discovered and charged. “Subsequent to the execution of this search warrant, Rose was arrested and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Soliciting a Sexual Act, and Patronizing a Prostitute,” the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a press release about the incident. On September 8, 2022, another traffic stop conducted by deputies with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office resulted in “the arrest of two suspects, a seizure

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ALTON - The winds of March are surely blowing in, with some incomparable and incredible entertainment at the Alton Little Theater Showplace. The theater group has long-awaited the mid-western premiere of William Cameron's new play, inspired by his years of research on the forensic study (and still not fully resolved case of the Lindbergh baby's kidnapping!). VIOLET SHARP, directed by Artistic Director Kevin Frakes, opens on March 3rd and runs for eight performances through March 12th, with evening performances at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees at 2 pm. The story is riveting, the writing is superb, and the timing is providential as the novel "The Lindbergh Nanny" hits the Best Seller List. For decades, the story and the lingering mysteries surrounding the young child's disappearance have intrigued the public and students of criminology. The case in 1932 captured the nation's attention and forced law officers to name a suspect as soon as possible, and in haste, the wrong person was driven

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Judges Go To School Day Circuit Judge Amy Maher and Associate Judges Veronica Armouti and Justin Zimmerman of the Third Judicial Circuit, Madison County, participated in the first annual Judges Go to School Day on Monday, February 13, 2023. The judges each read a book to a class of young students at Lovejoy Elementary and Eunice Smith Elementary schools in Alton, IL, and Lewis & Clark Elementary school in Godfrey, discussing the books’ intersection with history and the law and presenting the book to each student. Not only do the judges believe it is important to give back to the community, but also important to foster an early love and appreciation for reading. This is a project of the Illinois Judges Association aimed at children in grades K – 4 to encourage the appreciation, value, and enjoyment of reading. Circuit Judge Amy Maher said, “I think it’s safe to say most judges and lawyers develop a love of reading early in their

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EDWARDSVILLE – Several Madison County Board Members and County officials are taking issue with County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler’s appointment of County Board Member Michael “Doc” Holliday (D-Alton) to the Southwestern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission (SILEC). The controversy surrounds Holliday’s past support of the highly controversial “SAFE-T Act” passed by the Illinois legislature and signed by Governor JB Pritzker in 2021. The bill was widely criticized as weakening law enforcement and for its elimination of cash bail for most offenses. In the February 17, 2021, County Board meeting, the County Board passed a resolution by a vote of 26-1, urging Governor Pritzker to veto the hastily passed legislation. Holliday spoke out in favor of the SAFE-T Act and was the lone no vote on the resolution. Holliday also opposed a recent resolution passed by the county board condemning the “assault weapons” ban legislation recently signed

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Cougar Baja team had a great showing at the Winter Baja competition held in January. The team’s newest car, Reeba #81, placed sixth out of 42 teams, an improvement from last year’s competition. “I was happy to see that our cars are highly competitive competing against some of the best teams in the nation,” said Matthew Buchholz, a senior mechanical engineering student and president of Cougar Baja . “This continued success shows that our dedication to a quality build can help us to perform very well at a variety of events.” Cougar Baja’s Night Rider #57 had a couple of difficulties during the race, but still placed 20 th respectively. Overall, the team was happy with their performance and is looking forward to their next opportunity to compete. "Being on a team like ours shows students the practical side of engineering and management of time and other critical resources,”

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Couples names: Bri & Tanner City: Alton Date met or started dating: May 23, 2022 What makes your relationship special? Even though we’re barely 9 months in, it feels like we’ve known each other longer. We believe we’re both each others missing piece. Not only did we find lovers in each other, but best friends as well. Share a memory you have made together: We made matching hoodies, it may sound cheesy but we love being that way.

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MILSTADT, Ill. - In light of the recent house fires in Cahokia Heights, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) is reminding area residents to implement a fire prevention plan. As many as two houses have caught fire in Cahokia Heights in the span of one week killing three people. Schmidt says families should have a fire escape plan and should take other precautions both to prevent fires as well as to ensure escape should a fire break out. “These horrific fires in Cahokia Heights should serve as a reminder of the need to take fire prevention seriously,” Schmidt said. “It is important to have a plan for fires and to make sure everyone living in the house knows the plan.” The American Red Cross recommends taking these steps to prepare for a fire: Install the right number of smoke alarms . Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year. Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one. Ensu

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GLEN CARBON - Center Julia Stobie has been a mainstay for Father McGivney Catholic High School throughout the Griffins' highly successful 2022-2023 season. As playoff action begins, Stobie will be a force for the Griffins inside. She is a rebound leader for Father McGivney, averaging six rebounds a game. Stobie is a Byron Carlson Petri & Kalb LLC., Father McGivney Catholic Female Athlete of the Month. As a senior, Stobie is entering some of the final games of her high school career as the regional tournament continues for the Griffins this week. Julia and the Father McGivney girls' squad hope to move far in the post-season tournament. She stated previously the key to the team’s success is “strong offense, defense and being quick on any press.” Stobie is a force under the basket and on the defensive side for the Griffins. She says at the moment she is planning on focusing on academics in college. She is an honor student at Father McGivney. Father McGivney

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Couples names: Maraya & Christapher City: Alton Date met or started dating: August 2, 2020 What makes your relationship special? Our relationship is special because we have gotten through a deployment (11 months of being apart), having a child together, moving from place to time place, and coming out stronger despite all odds. Share a memory you have made together: A moment we have made is when Christapher came home from his deployment where he met his son for the first time.

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GLEN CARBON - The Glen Carbon Village Board of Trustees held a brief meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14, during which they passed several items including Public Works vehicle purchases, property annexation, and much more. Glen Carbon Mayor Bob Marcus also made a few announcements about some things going on around the village, starting first by saying "Happy Valentine's Day!" Mayor Marcus announced that the Village of Glen Carbon was recently recognized as one of the Green Cities in the 2022 St. Louis Green Business Challenge . Among the village’s achievements were the Tree Giveaway event last spring, during which 500 native species trees were distributed to residents, children and elementary schools. The village also received a “Trees Forever” grant to plant 14 new native trees in village parks. Glen Carbon was also recognized for their expansion of the community garden, developing an ordinance regarding Electric Vehicle charging station requirements, and investigating

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WOOD RIVER - Signs for Wood River City Council candidate, Kristen Burns, are popping up all over, so what exactly are her goals for the city? Burns, a lifelong Riverbend resident and a proud proponent of progress, has officially announced her campaign. An avid supporter of small businesses, Burns consistently volunteers in the community and works towards improving Wood River. Growing up with a local family business, Budget Signs, in Wood River, pushed Burns to use her public relations and marketing skills to help other locally owned small businesses and entrepreneurs to energize economic growth in the downtown district and other areas of town. Her main objective is for everyone to work together to create a better, more inclusive, community. Recently she has been working alongside Mayor Stalcup as a Marketing Consultant. Together they have helped bring Wood River into the technological age and continue the Mayors transparency initiative. As for her volunteer work in the community,

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CARROLLTON - Dean and Carole Mann are a married couple that will never be forgotten in their small hometown of Carrollton, IL. The two were married on November 3, 1973, in the community and have remained glued hand-in-hand for nearly 50 years. The two will be married 50 years as of November 3, 2023. Carole and Dean have always exemplified what it really takes to have a wonderful, lasting marriage to their children, grandchildren, and first and several degrees of cousins and other friends and relatives. The two started dating on May 21, 1971. Dean was drafted into the Vietnam War and they started seeing each other shortly after that. "We communicated by letters, as there were no computers or cell phones," Carole said. "Dean was discharged in February 1973 and we got married November 3, 1973 - 50 years this year! We appreciate every day together and enjoy each day together. We love to walk, bike ride, and hike at Pere Marquette. Simple things together!" Carole said she shares so many

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