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SPRINGFIELD – Higher education leaders across the state applaud Governor JB Pritzker’s budget announcement, which includes a fiscal year 2025 higher education budget of $2.55 billion. The budget includes a $10 million increase for the Monetary Award Program (MAP), a $24.6 million increase for public universities, and a $5.9 million increase for community colleges. The governor’s budget builds on the historic funding of higher education over the last several years, which included the largest investment and the largest increase in higher education in two decades in fiscal year 2024’s higher education budget. Continuing to build on historic higher education investments from the last several years is key to removing barriers and ensuring all students have equitable access to higher education. “The governor’s investments proposed in this budget build on his previous historic higher education investments and allows us to continue the progress we have

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – During her official visit to Sweden and the Netherlands on the eve of the two-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees—reaffirmed our nation’s steadfast commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and all its members after Donald Trump’s latest swipe at the alliance. After the U.S. Senate recently passed strong bipartisan legislation that would provide additional aid to Ukraine, Duckworth also underscored how important it is for the United States and the free world to remain united in support of Ukraine as they fight against Vladimir Putin’s continued aggression, which threatens global security. Photos of Duckworth during her official visit to Europe can be found on the Senator’s website . “As we reach the two-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Erica Harriss (56 th -Glen Carbon) has released the below statement following the Governor’s 2024 State of the State and State Budget Address: “As a strong advocate for working Illinois families, I believe that today’s budget address failed to meet the needs of our state’s residents. I am disappointed not to see one cent of property tax relief, yet the Governor has proposed over $2.2 billion in new spending with $1.1 billion in tax hikes. While this administration is focusing on funneling billions of dollars to migrants coming to our state, my focus remains on the citizens of our state and our hard-working Metro-East families.”

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BETHALTO - Bethalto Police Department announced today on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, that on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, officers assisted the Department of Children and Family Services with an investigation into a minor child in the 500 block of Mill Street. Bethalto Police Chief Jason Lamb said during the investigation, the parent of the child identified as Jeremy M. Calvert, 34, of the 500 block of Mill St., became physically combative with officers. "He was arrested on scene and later charged through the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office with Aggravated Battery, Resisting a Peace Officer, and Obstructing a Peace Officer," Chief Lamb said. "Calvert, who is currently on parole for Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer, was also being held in the Madison County Jail pending an IDOC revocation warrant." It should be noted that all parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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EDWARDSVILLE - A man from Edwardsville faces multiple criminal charges after fighting the guests of a party he was asked to leave and allegedly biting one of the victims’ legs. He fled the scene when officers arrived, elbowed one officer in the face, then threatened to kill multiple officers at the scene. Nathan S. Medsker, 25, of Edwardsville, was charged with aggravated battery, threatening a public official, and battery on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. A petition filed to deny Medsker’s pretrial release describes the incident as follows: “Defendant was identified as the suspect who appeared at a party very intoxicated and, upon being asked to leave, fought with party guests,” the petition states. “When officers arrived, he attempted to leave the scene despite being lawfully detained. “As officers attempted arrest, he elbowed one officer in the face, then threatened to kill multiple officers.” Medsker faces a Class 2 felony for aggravated

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ALTON - Christina Foster Beegle knows grief. She has lost three brothers to suicide and a best friend to a drug overdose. Beegle herself was once homeless and struggling with substance use. Today, Beegle is 26 months clean, and she has decided to do something with her pain. She started Foster’s Light in the Dark, an organization that aims to bring awareness to suicide and overdose deaths while commemorating the loved ones who are lost. Foster’s Light in the Dark has a goal to eventually create a memorial park for people who die by suicide or overdose. “Me helping others helps me in my grief,” Beegle explained. “I can show people that, look, I've been through three suicides. All my mom's sons are dead by suicide and a best friend to a drug overdose. If I can try to help the next person, so can anybody, because we need to get through this together. We need to be a voice for people that can’t." While it’s a big goal, Beegle knows how much

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GRANITE CITY - The Granite City Police Department provided information about a response at 12:17 a.m. on Feb. 23, 2024, in the area of Leonard Avenue at Myrtle Avenue about a caller who reported hearing gunshots. The Granite City Police said upon arrival, officers encountered a subject who had sustained at least one gunshot wound which is non-life threatening. "A person of interest has been identified throughout this investigation," Major Gary Brooks, assistant chief of police of the Granite City Police Department said. "This investigation is currently ongoing and no further information will be released at this time."

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CHICAGO – Today, Carol Moseley Braun, the former U.S. Senator from Illinois and Ambassador of the U.S. to New Zealand, published an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune about how this Black History Month, Democrats are celebrating – and making – Black history. Ambassador Mosely Braun is a history maker herself as the first Black woman and first Black Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate. She highlights the progress the Biden-Harris administration has delivered for Black communities, what’s at stake in 2024, and how Democrats are continuing to make history leading up to this year’s Democratic National Convention. Key Excerpts: Black history can’t be confined to just one calendar month. It’s an integral part of our national identity that deserves far more than just an annual commemoration. But every year, marking February as Black History Month feels more and more essential. In a country where extremist forces and Republican politicians are fighting

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Public Safety Enforcement Group is requesting assistance in identifying a person of interest. On December 5, 2023, ISP agents were requested by the East St. Louis Police Department to assist with a homicide investigation that occurred in the 600 block of South 15 th Street. The victim, 47-year-old, Dariell Braddix of East St. Louis, IL., was pronounced deceased. The photos below and the video link here are of a person of interest. Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers at 314-725-8477 (TIPS) or ISP Special Agent Shaun Dannenbrink, 618-301-0807. Witnesses can remain anonymous. The public is reminded that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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ST. CHARLES COUNTY, MO. - St. Charles County Police announced Thursday that a murder charge was filed against a Godfrey man - Clyde E. Young - who is alleged to have killed his girlfriend Thursday morning, Feb. 22, 2024, around 3:15 a.m. in the 1000 block of North Service Road in Foristell, Mo. Police said that the 28-year-old Godfrey man contacted dispatchers at 4:40 a.m. Thursday to inform them a woman was deceased at the North Service Road location. When officers arrived at that location, they discovered a female shot to death in a Freightliner semi. Young and the female were involved in a romantic relationship, police said. The St. Charles County Police Department said Young contacted them again and stated he would turn himself in to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. However, he changed his mind and said he would surrender to St. Charles authorities. Young confessed to police that he and the female argued the previous night and he then grabbed his shotgun and shot the woman

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EAST ALTON - A man from Cottage Hills faces several counts of battery and more after allegedly striking two family members in the head and kicking an officer in the chest on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. Joshua S. Foutch, 39, of Cottage Hills, was charged with six total counts, including three felony counts of aggravated battery and three misdemeanors: two for domestic battery and one for resisting an officer. According to a petition to deny Foutch’s pretrial release, he was identified by officers as “the suspect who battered his elderly mother and stepfather.” Once officers arrived at the scene to intervene, court documents state Foutch pulled his arms away to resist his arrest and kicked an officer in the chest. Foutch reportedly struck one victim in the head, causing lacerations, and the other in the face, causing bruising. Both were 60 years or older at the time of the offense. Foutch’s case was presented by the East Alton Police Department. Court documents

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WOOD RIVER - The Wood River City Council on Tuesday approved a three-year $75,000 commitment to financially support the “Wood River Business Alliance,” an Illinois Main Street organization formerly known as Wood River Economic Development. The final vote was cast after much discussion and debate, when the organization’s legitimacy was called into question by community members. The item appeared on Tuesday’s agenda as a “resolution offering financial support for the next three years to the Wood River Business Alliance, a Main Street Organization, as submitted by the City Manager,” Steve Palen. As previously reported on Riverbender.com , the city’s financial obligation to the organization amounts to $25,000 per year for three years, totaling $75,000. The item had been tabled twice by Councilman Bill Dettmers - once on Dec. 18, 2023 and again on Feb. 5, 2024 - in an attempt to give local businesses in and out of the organization more

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ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School students were spotted picking up trash in Alton on Feb. 22, 2024. Principal Tim Harmon explained that service is an important part of the house system that Marquette implemented earlier this school year, which promotes connection and faith within the school community. The school’s motto, serviam, means “to serve,” another reason why Marquette is eager to participate in more community service opportunities in the area. “Honestly, it's one of the most important things that we do here,” Harmon said. “I think that is the main message that we want our kids to be taking away, along with their faith, is that we are here to serve. And so if we can be doing that out in the community, fantastic.” Harmon said the idea to pick up trash was suggested by the students. Half of the juniors and seniors picked up trash on Feb. 22 and the other half will be out on Feb. 23, 2024. “We didn't want to try and

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BUNKER HILL - A student from Bunker Hill High School has signed with the Central Illinois Cougars semi-pro football team. Drake Rose, a running back on the Bunker Hill team, will begin playing with the Cougars in the fall 2024 season. Drake is the son of Keith and Keri Rose from Bunker Hill. “We are so proud of what Drake has accomplished in his football career,” Keith said. “His coach has said that he sees Drake making it even further than this.” Drake’s coach, Kenny Miles, noted that Drake is “one of the best athletes” he has seen at the high school and that he might make it as far as the NFL. Drake will primarily play offense with the Cougars, but Keith said he will also use his skills on defense. “Drake is looking forward to putting Bunker Hill on the map,” Keith added.

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ALTON - Phone and internet service has been spotty for most people in the Riverbend region throughout the morning on Feb. 22, 2024. This is largely due to an AT&T outage that has affected customers nationwide. Jarvis Swope, the IT support person for the City of Alton, said most people are using cellular data to complete work at City Hall. “Unfortunately, we are still one of the affected sites,” he said. “We’re managing. It put us down a little bit, but there’s enough things that people can do to keep working.” He said the fire department does not currently have internet, but it is not affecting calls for service. FirstNet, a broadband network for first responders, is already back up and running. Swope said the “hearsay” is that a semi-truck hit a telephone pole and “broke the fiber,” which would cause widespread outages like the Riverbend is experiencing. “We just have to just unfortunately deal with what

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said the Clark Bridge has reopened after a St. Charles County Police standoff with a suspect ended late Thursday morning, Feb. 22, 2024. The police chief recommended that people avoid the area if possible until normal traffic conditions resume. Alton Police blocked the Clark Bridge entry point during the St. Charles Police investigation that occurred Thursday near the West Alton, Mo. The suspect was shot and died in the incident. St. Charles Police had not announced whether or not the person shot himself or was shot by police. The St. Charles Police investigation into the case continues.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Tensions were high at the Madison County Board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, when the Board voted to publicly censure County Chairman Kurt Prenzler following allegations that he had been campaigning on county time and property . “This is a lynching with no due process” Prenzler said during the meeting. Prenzler allegedly handed out campaign cards to a vendor and an assistant state’s attorney on two separate occasions while on county time and property. Upon investigation, Prenzler was found in violation by Ethics Advisor Bruce Mattea, based on concerns that he was electioneering on county time and property. In an earlier meeting on Feb. 21, 2024, the Executive Committee voted to recommend a censure to the County Board. Bobby Ross and Ryan Kneedler were the lone “no” votes, with Chris Guy and Dalton Gray absent from the Executive Committee meeting. During the meeting of the full County Board, Mick Madison, Chairman Pro Tem

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FORISTELL, MO. - St. Charles County Police reported Thursday morning, Feb. 22, 2024, that they are investigating an early-morning homicide that occurred in Foristell, MO. A person that St. Charles County Police was attempting to talk to in the case was shot and killed near West Alton, MO., later in the morning. Police said law enforcement was called to the 1000 block of North Service Road around 3:15 a.m. after a caller reported hearing gunfire. When responding officers arrived, they located a woman deceased in a vehicle. The vehicle was parked in a trucking company lot, police said. Police also confirmed the shooting did not appear to be random. The investigation by St. Charles, MO., Police continues at this time. For more information, read this article on Riverbender.com .

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ST. CHARLES COUNTY - A man was shot and killed during a police standoff Thursday morning in West Alton area in St. Charles, Mo., the St. Charles Police confirmed. St. Charles County Police said they are still checking to see if the man shot himself or was shot by police in the standoff. Both the Lewis and Clark Bridges were closed during the police operation. Police had the presence centered around the Phillips 66 at 14700 U.S. Route 67 in West Alton. St. Charles County Police said the situation started when officers tried to speak with the man about a homicide that occurred in Foristell, MO., earlier in the day. Police said the man refused to converse and became agitated. Officers continued to negotiate with him until the shooting occurred. Several agencies were involved, including the Alton Police Department, St. Charles County Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and a regional SWAT team.

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ST. CHARLES COUNTY - The St. Charles County Police Department announced Thursday morning, Feb. 22, 2024, that it has a large police presence in the area of the Phillips 66 (14700 U.S.-67 West Alton. Both the Lewis and Clark Bridges are blocked to thru traffic. “Do not come to this area,” the St. Charles County Police Department said in a statement. “Stay tuned to our social media for updates.” Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said his department has been requested to assist the St. Charles County Police in the operation. He said the Clark Bridge was closed around 7:45 a.m. on Thursday and as of 11:30 a.m. it remained closed. He said there are Alton Police cars and officers on the Alton side of the Clark Bridge. “The Clark Bridge will be closed until they give us word it is safe to open back up,” he said. “We are helping in any way we can.”

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