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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation on June 30 designed to improve care for people who suffer from strokes in Illinois. HB 2238 authorizes the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to recognize a new level of certification that hospitals can voluntarily seek for treating stroke victims. The measure will help ensure patients who need care during or after a stroke can be sent to hospitals that provide the appropriate level of care. The bill was sponsored in the House by State Representative Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora), Assistant Majority Leader, and in the Senate by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville). “Strokes kill thousands of Illinoisans each year and can cause debilitating damage for those who survive them,” Governor JB Pritzker said. “This legislation will encourage our world class hospitals to upgrade the care they provide for stroke victims with the goal of saving as many lives as possible and helping patients recover and continue

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Foundation (ECF) is proud to announce its 2023 scholarships, which include 51 individual scholarships for District 7 high school seniors to continue their education. The total amount awarded this year is $109,400. Each year, ECF manages the selection and distribution of numerous scholarship funds on behalf of generous donors whose charitable gifts make these awards possible. ECF thanks individual donors, businesses, and organizations for their generous contributions. “All of ECF’s scholarship awards are a direct result of donors who want to positively impact local students' education,” Pamela Farrar, ECF executive director, said. “We’re so appreciative of their generosity.” “It's comforting to know that there are people in my community who understand how important learning is, and provide resources for students to have more autonomy in affording their education. It helps rebuild that space to learn

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Wednesday, July 5, 2022, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect Antonio Speed, 46 years of age, of the 100 block of Jendale Court in St. Louis, Missouri 63136, for Murder Second Degree, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, one count of Assault First Degree, one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and one count of Receiving Stolen Property. A booking photo of Speed is attached. Speed is being held on a $2,000,000.00 cash only, no 10% bond. Please note, charges are merely an accusation and Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The probable cause statement reads: On July 4, 2023, male Victim, decedent, and a female were walking to a barbecue event on Jendale Court. Male and female saw Defendant yelling, Defendant ran out from his residence and started firing a handgun at the male and female. Male Victim is struck multiple times

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WOOD RIVER – Entrepreneurs and new business startups are invited to compete in the 2023 Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 10th annual regional business plan competition. The MESC is organized by the Illinois Small Business Development Center ( SBDC ) for the Metro East at SIUE. The purpose of the challenge is to identify, encourage and support entrepreneurs and business startups across the SBDC’s service area, including Jersey, Calhoun, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe, and Randolph Counties. The competition continues to expand its reach, adding Fayette and Montgomery Counties in 2021. This year, the MESC is again extending its reach to include Macoupin County. The first-place winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize. Second, third, and fourth place winners will receive $6,000, $4,000, and $2,000, respectively. The four prize winners will also receive an array of in-kind professional service

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GLEN CARBON - The Madison County Sheriff's Office released information about a missing person from Glen Carbon on Thursday afternoon. At 3:27 p.m. on Thursday, the sheriff's office reported that Holly Souder had been found "safe and sound." Souder, a female, 32 years of age, with brown hair (shaved head), 6 feet, 135 pounds, blue eyes, and wearing a blue dress was reported missing to the sheriff's office earlier. The sheriff's office said Holly left her Glen Carbon residence sometime last night and may be experiencing a medical issue. Holly may be driving an aqua color, four-door, 2009 Toyota Camry, Illinois License plate DE26738.

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CHAMPAIGN – Two interns from the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, who are also Lewis and Clark Community College alumni, presented their research at the 59th Annual Meeting of the Illinois Chapter of the Wildlife Society (ICTWS) in Champaign, Illinois, this past April. Addis Moore and Jacob Decker are currently attending Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, but both earned their associate degree from Lewis and Clark. Moore and Decker are prime examples of L&C students making the most of the unique professional development opportunities that L&C and NGRREC have to offer. Decker started as an intern with NGRREC’s Habitat Strike Team in Spring 2021 and was later hired as a Strike Team Junior Assistant. He has also conducted research with NGRREC’s Conservation Program Manager Justin Shew on wildlife habitat associations using trail cameras to detect wildlife ranging in size from white-tailed deer to squirrels. Furthermore, Decker, along

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department made 2 impaired driving arrests, issued 38 seat belt citations, 6 distracted driving citations, and issued 13 other citations during the recent Independence Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High Get a DUI” and “Click It or Ticket” safety campaigns. The Edwardsville Police joined forces with more than 200 other state and local law enforcement agencies to take impaired drivers off our roads, encourage seat belt use, and enforce speeding and other traffic laws. The effort featured high-visibility enforcement combined with a variety of outreach activities including a media campaign titled, “It’s Not a Game.” The enforcement period was funded by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

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EDWARDSVILLE/TROY - No need to travel to Europe for authentic Italian cuisine. Mio Osteria and Mio Trattoria will bring Italian favorites to Edwardsville and Troy within the next few weeks. Mio Osteria, which translates to “my tavern,” will offer sandwiches, steak, fish, pasta dishes and more. The restaurant is slated to open in Edwardsville in three weeks. Mio Trattoria, or “my restaurant,” will open in Troy a few weeks later, with a similar but larger menu. Co-owner Micah Hopkin said the restaurants will feel like Italian sandwich shops in the daytime and Italian eateries at night. “We’re excited to be in both locations and happy to see all the new faces,” Micah said. Micah and his wife, Aerica Zimmerman Hopkin, have spent most of their lives in restaurants. Micah’s parents owned a restaurant with seven locations during his childhood and teenage years, and his mother is still involved in the industry. Aerica has always wanted t

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ALTON - The Alton Dispensary's highly anticipated grand opening is set to begin at 10 a.m. Friday with a variety of festivities throughout the day. The Alton Dispensary is located at 1400 E. Broadway in Alton. The business has been operating on soft opening status for a period of time, but today is the official opening. "We are proud of Alton’s rich history and heritage and even more proud to be a part of that heritage as we open The Alton Dispensary," Alton Dispensary officials said. "We are excited and honored to be the first to bring cannabis legalization to Alton, Illinois." General Manager Brett Followell said earlier about the Dispensary: "The company has put a ton of work and effort into this establishment and it shows. It is gorgeous and really look forward to leading the team." One of the first patrons of the Dispensary Brihana, shown below, said: "I am beyond happy to have it here. Now having it here in Alton, it is beautiful. We won't have to travel outside."Today,

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XENIA - Darren Bailey officially announced his bid Tuesday for Congress in the 12th District and a battle against Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Bost. Bost has been a five-term incumbent. "I'm ready to continue our fight for hard-working families in Southern Illinois," Bailey said in a statement. "I'm running to fight for you in Congress by representing Illinois' 12th District. This district is my home, where my family is, and where we own and operate our family farm. "I will always listen to the people and be a strong voice for our communities and conservative values. Help us restore our voice and join the fight to take our country back." Bailey served in the Illinois State House and Senate and lost the Illinois race for governor to J.B. Pritzker in 2022.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is planning to open a location in Edwardsville. The fast food chain specializes in chicken tenders, fries, and “Cane’s Sauce,” and this would mark their second location in the Metro East. The new location will be built as a drive-thru restaurant on the corner of Troy Road and Governors Parkway, on the far side of the BJC Outpatient Center parking lot. The site at 2104 Governors Parkway previously belonged to a gas station that stood when the BJC Outpatient Center building was occupied by Shop N Save. The Edwardsville Administrative and Community Services Committee approved both a Special Use Permit and Variance last week, green-lighting the plans for a Raising Cane’s drive-thru restaurant and sending it to the full City Council for a vote on Thursday, July 6. The variance reduces the typically-required minimum front setback of 50 feet for the structure. While the building itself adheres to the 50-foot setback

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ALTON - Alton Alderwoman Rosie Brown today announced the Fourth Ward Picnic is from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at Hellrung Park on Union Street in Alton. Brown said everything is free, games for the children and adults, free food, drinks, prizes, bounce houses. "This is a way to unify families in our community and to know who our neighbors are," she said. "Also to get to know what churches, businesses and organizations are in our neighborhoods. Come out and lets get to know each other, let's mingle and have a great time!" Call Alderwoman Rosetta Brown at 618-433-9976 with any questions.

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JERSEYVILLE - The Jerseyville Public Library (JPL) is a great place to visit to cool down. JPL is open to everyone whether they have a library card or not and there is plenty to do when you need a break from the heat. The two newest clubs for Teens and Junior readers are really taking off. Tweens and Teens are welcome to join JPL staff member, Jolye, on Saturdays at 3:00 pm for an hour of book discussions, puzzle play and other activities and children reading at a Junior level are welcome to join staffer, Emma, for book discussions, coloring, games and treats on Thursdays from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Summer Gaming Club is ongoing on Wednesdays at 3:30 pm for kids and teens to hang out and play board games, video games or lawn games depending on the weather. Participants are encouraged to bring friends to combat boredom and see what fun they can find at the Library. JPL will be offering “Food for Fines” during Fair Week, July 9-16, where those who may have a fine at JP

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that road repairs will require lane closures in both directions of Interstate 270 between Illinois 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri, weather permitting, starting at 9 p.m., Friday, July 7. One lane in each direction will remain open at all times. All lanes will be opened by 5 a.m. Monday, July 10. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. 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. 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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EAST ALTON - West Star Aviation broke ground on a new hangar today at the St. Louis Regional Airport. Hangar 67 will be completed in April 2024. West Star Aviation, an aircraft maintenance company, already has a facility at the St. Louis Regional Airport, but this new hangar will expand its facility to over 500,000 square feet. Contegra Construction has partnered with West Star on the project. “For us, this signifies more than just a couple of new buildings that we’re going to build around here. It’s the realization of our vision for growth and our vision for reinvesting in West Star Aviation,” Mike Zada, Vice President of Project Management at West Star Aviation, said. “We’re extremely proud to be a part of this community.” Brian Bauwens, the general manager of the East Alton facility, explained that the expansion will include the 40,000-square-foot Hangar 67 and additional back shop space, which will house offices and storage. The airport’s

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Is your toe sore to the touch? Is the skin around the nail puffy or red? An ingrown toenail may be to blame. Marc Leonard, MD , an OSF HealthCare podiatrist, says it’s an issue he sees frequently, but it’s one that’s easily preventable.Dr. Leonard says an ingrown toenail is when the nail grows into the skin on the nail’s side. Some people get ingrown toenails due to a family history of the problem. They may just have wide toenails, in other words.For others, it’s a product of how you take care of your feet.“Bicyclists wear very tight shoes. They clip onto the bike. The shoes are very unforgiving.” Dr. Leonard says as an example. “The person is getting extra pressure on the side of the toes. It can definitely contribute to ingrown nails.”Dance shoes sometimes have the same effect, he says.Another culprit: clipping your toenails too low toward the side of the toe. Instead, trim straight across using clippers with a straight, not curved,

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois State Fair announced today that American rock band The Doobie Brothers will headline the Illinois State Fair Grandstand Saturday, August 12. For over five decades, The Doobie Brothers have been known for delivering mind-blowing, roots based, harmony-laden, guitar-driven rock and roll – all of which recently culminated in an induction into the 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Boasting one of the most loyal fan bases in music, selling more than 48 million albums, and winning four Grammy Awards, The Doobie Brothers continue to write and record new material and tour the world. Their No. 1 singles “Black Water” and “What a Fool Believes," both gold, lead a catalog of indelible songs that include: “Listen to the Music,” “China Grove,” “Jesus Is Just All Right,” “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” “Long Train Runnin’,” “Take Me In Your Arms,” "Takin’ it to

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EDWARDSVILLE - Aaron Fricke grew up in O’Fallon, IL and spent so much of his time in Edwardsville with his cousins that it became a second childhood home for him. After spending 20 years in Texas, Fricke, his wife and two children (14 and 17) moved to St. Louis and opened their first Nothing Bundt Cakes in Fairview Heights to be closer to Fricke’s childhood home. The family opened the Edwardsville location as a passion project, making a long-time dream finally come to fruition. “Bundt cakes mean family to me,” Fricke says. After his youngest overcame a very rare form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Fricke and his wife wanted to start this business as something they could build for their children. The family is looking forward to celebrating their grand opening, including appreciation days, a ribbon cutting, free Bundtlets for a Year giveaway, and a benefit day to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (see details below). GRAND OPENING EVENTS Monday-Thursday,

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GLEN CARBON – The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a public informational meeting to discuss traffic management for the proposed intersection reconstruction of Illinois 162 at Illinois 157 in Glen Carbon. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 25 from 4-7 p.m. at the Glen Carbon Senior Center located at 157 N. Main St. The project involves the realignment of the west leg of Illinois 162 to tie in with the east leg of Illinois 162 at a proposed traffic signal, thus eliminating the offset intersections of Illinois 162 with stop control. The project also involves reconstruction of the bridge that carries Illinois 157 over Judy’s Branch, construction of a new bridge to carry Illinois 162 over Judy’s Branch and construction of a pedestrian bridge parallel to Illinois 157 over Judy’s Branch. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss traffic management for the project during construction. Handouts and display boards will be available for public review,

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ALTON - The 22nd annual Vintage Voices walking tours will be held in the Alton Cemetery (5th and Vine Streets, Alton IL 62002.) Mark your calendars for the first two weekends in October: 7, 8, 14, 15, 2023. The hour-long walking tours will begin at noon all four days and leave from the main gate on Vine Street in Alton every 15-20 minutes. Tickets are on sale now online at eventbrite.com . Pricing is $15 for adults and $10 for students with ID. A non-walking performance returns this year at a new location. Join us on Sunday, October 15, 2023. The one-hour performance begins at 5:00 pm at Lovejoy Event Center, 401 Piasa Street in Alton IL. Seating is limited to 60 people. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at eventbrite.com . Volunteers are needed to be tour guides. Sign up at http://bit.ly/3PJD48W . Follow the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/vintagevoicestours , and Instagram page, https://www.instagram.com/vintagevoicestours , for actor announcements. For more information,

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