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GLEN CARBON – On Friday, bipartisan legislation by State Senator Erica Harriss (56 th -Glen Carbon) and State Representative Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) to help victims of human trafficking pursue a normal life after their trauma was signed into law by Governor Pritzker. House Bill 2418 creates a pathway to expunge criminal records for victims of human trafficking as they seek to recover from the trauma they have experienced; human trafficking victims are often forced to participate in unlawful activity by their traffickers. “The signing of this bill now creates a pathway to expunge criminal records for victim survivors of human trafficking as they seek to recover from the trauma they have experienced and seek to pursue a better life,” said Senator Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon). “It’s incredibly important we do more in our state to further protect victims, especially those who have experienced the unimaginable.” “It is so crucial we assist

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MOUNT OLIVE - Friday, June 2, 2023, officially marked the first time in ninety three years that an Irish flag flew over the grave of Mother Jones, located at the intersection of Mt. Olive Road and Reservoir Road in Mount Olive. Mother Jones was a prominent advocate and organizer for workers, particularly miners. The Mother Jones Museum explains why Mother Jones is buried in Mount Olive on their website : “Mary Harris ‘Mother’ Jones wrote a special request to the miners of Mt. Olive in 1923 asking to be buried in the Union Miners Cemetery in, ‘the same clay that shelters the miners who gave up their lives on the hills of Virden.’ Her request was granted.” The Union Miners Cemetery Perpetual Care Committee and Friends of Mother Jones Museum in Mt. Olive decided to fly the Irish flag over the gravesite to indicate Jones’ Irish Heritage. On April 30, the twelve mid-state Irish Consulate General Kevin Byrne visited the gravesite, and

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District Launches Monthly Pop-Up Library in Foster Township Event Takes Place the Second Wednesday of the Month from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Foster Township Museum. Hayner Library is taking its library services on the road— the form of a pop-up library in Foster Township. From 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, Hayner Library staff will take library books, DVDs, audiobooks, children's materials, and other library items to the Foster Township Museum at 4810 Fosterburg Road, Alton. Patrons who visit the pop-up library can check out and return library materials. Library staff will register eligible patrons for Hayner Library cards. The library will also bring a hotspot for Wi-Fi access to assist patrons with Cloud Library, Libby, and Biblio+, the library's e-book, audiobook, and streaming video services. The library hopes to promote its services, programs, and collections to new patrons and make it convenient for current

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This is the Father McGivney Catholic spring high honor roll and honor roll. High Honor Roll is a weighted GPA of 3.60 and above. Honor Roll is a weighted GPA of 3.0-3.59 Grade 12 High Honor Roll: Elisabeth Antonini, Christopher Apotheker, Callie Barks, Mary Elizabeth Benware, Wyatt Biermann, Alexis Bond, Emma Bukovac, Madeline Burkart, Madeline Burnett, Samuel Chouinard, Keira Cope, Mallori Dempsey, Caroline Foppe, Tanner Garner, Daniel Gierer, Katie Gilbertson, Olivia Gray, Taylor Haerr, Aislin Hall, Katherine Hand, Mary Harkins, Jacob Huber, Autumn Hutson, Amelia Hylla, Sophia Ivnik, Ava Jackson, Megan Jamruk, Lauren Jones, Reece Kleinschmidt, Margaret Klusas, David Lowe, Abigail Madura, Emma Martinez, Ashton Mersinger, Kaleigh Pekarik, Abigail Piechocinski, Jackson Rodgers, Ellie Ronzo, Abigail Root, Evan Rybak, Gretchen Rybolt, Evan Schrage, Abigail Shearer, Ainsley Siekmann, Melinda Smith, Adelyn Speight, Claire Stanhaus, Julia Stobie, Riley Strack, Alyssa Terhaar, Sophia Tutt,

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The City's Water Division has lifted its precautionary boil water advisory issued following Friday's break at Chippewa and Donovan in St. Louis. Repairs on the 20" main were completed Saturday afternoon.

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DEKALB - Edwardsville student Calvin Soldan and Glen Carbon student Joseph Somner have been named to Northern Illinois University's spring 2023 Dean's List. To earn this distinction, students must meet a minimum semester grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology or a minimum of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale in the colleges of Business, Education, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts. Calvin Soldan, Soldan is a Chemistry-Biochemistry major from EHS and Sommer is a Mechanical Engineering major, who also graduated from EHS.

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that road repairs in both directions of Interstate 270 between Illinois 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri will require lane closures starting, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, June 9. One lane in each direction will remain open at all times. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, June 12. 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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EDWARDSVILLE - Associate Judge Reappointments Chief Judge Stephen Stobbs announced today that, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 39(c), the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts have tabulated the results of the reappointment ballots for associate judges of the Third Judicial Circuit for the term commencing July 1, 2023. It has been certified that at least three-fifths of the judges voting on the question have voted in favor of reappointment of the following associate judges who are, therefore, declared reappointed for a term ending June 30, 2027. Veronica L. Armouti Ronald S. Motil Andrew K. Carruthers Emily J. Nielsen Angela P. Donohoo Neil T. Schroeder Ronald J. Foster, Jr. Maureen Schuette Janet R. Heflin Ronald R. Slemer Anthony Ryan Jumper Justin Zimmerman Martin J. Mengarelli. Judge Stobbs stated, “On behalf of the Circuit Judges, we congratulate all of our Associate Judges on their re-appointment to a new four-year term. "We are very proud of the work

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EDWARDSVILLE — Nearly 90 percent of participants who enter Madison County’s Veterans Court successfully complete the program, according to new data. The data is part of an evaluation conducted by a team led by Dr. Jeremy Jewell, a professor of psychology at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Jewell’s evaluation was conducted for the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance, which provides a grant for the Veterans Court. The evaluation covered a four-year grant period, from 2019 to 2022, and found that 88.5 percent of the Veterans Court’s participants successfully complete the program. Madison County’s Veterans Court is a specialized type of diversion court, geared specifically toward military veterans. Jewell said most diversion courts, also known as alternative-treatment courts, achieve a graduation rate of about 50 percent. “To achieve a graduation rate in our Veterans Court of almost 90 percent is really astonishing,” Jewell said. “It’s

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ST. LOUIS - The City Of St. Louis Water Division has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for portions of its service area due to low water pressure caused by a 20” water main break earlier this afternoon. The Water Division has not detected any contamination to the water supply but asks customers in the affected area to boil their tap water when utilizing drinking and cooking. The precautionary boil water advisory will remain in effect until water quality samples confirm the water is safe for consumption. The duration of the precautionary boil order advisory can be 24 - 48 hours. The affected neighborhoods under the precautionary boil water advisory are as follows: Area 1 • Bevo Mill • Boulevard Heights • Carondelet • Dutchtown • Holly Hills • Mount Pleasant Area 2 • Lindenwood Park Boil Advisory Boundary Area 1 • Mississippi River west on Robert to Morganford • North on Morganford to Delor • Eas

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GILLESPIE - Jimmy D. Byrd Jr., 44, of Gillespie, has been formally indicted by a grand jury in Madison County on 12 felony counts including child pornography and sexual assault of a child. All 12 of the charges against him are Class X felonies, half of which carry a sentence of up to 60 years in prison. His bail was set at $750,000. Court records state Byrd committed these acts in June of 2022 and was indicted by the jury on June 8, 2023. Court records state the victim was “under thirteen (13) years of age when the act was committed,” but their exact date of birth indicates they were 6 years old at the time of these offenses. The full list of charges against Byrd includes six counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child (each enhanced Class X felonies carrying 6-60 year sentences) and six counts of Child Pornography (Each Class X felonies). On June 1, 2022, Byrd was charged with one count of Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child. Byrd was additionally charged

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EDWARDSVILLE - A new Edwardsville ice cream spot has arrived just in time for summer. Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery celebrated its opening on Friday, June 9, with fresh flavors and a packed house. The Creamery, located at 6185 Bennett Drive in Edwardsville, is the newest addition to the Bennett Drive area, which will be welcoming many new restaurants and businesses in the coming months. This is the first Clementine’s Creamery to open in Illinois. The creamery has seven locations in the Greater St. Louis Area, where it has already built a reputation for boozy treats and unique flavors. Retail Director JulieClaire Lane explained that Edwardsville was chosen in part because it’s a college town. She said the city’s sense of community also influenced Clementine’s decision. “If you go into each one of our shops, even though you’ll see a lot of the same things…we look like the communities we’re in,” Lane

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ALTON - The City Of Alton today announced that private contractors will have East Broadway closed to thru traffic from East Third Street to Henry Street for water and sewer line work. The City of Alton said the road closure will begin at 7 a.m. Monday, June 12, and is expected to continue through the week, reopening Friday evening, June 16. "Please be patient and use caution," advised the city officials. "Do not attempt to move or drive around traffic control. Violators may be cited and prosecuted."

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WOOD RIVER - Firefighters were busy Thursday night trying to contain a spread-out brush fire that Wood River Fire Chief Wade Stahlhut said extended from W. 7th Street in Hartford to the Wood River Dome. Stahlhut said the fire appeared to be caused by a spark from a rail train that went through that vicinity. Stahlhut also pointed out that with the dry conditions, this is a very dangerous time when brush and tree remnants catch fire. The fire chief said rail traffic was held up for more than two hours while firefighters worked to contain the spots of fire. He also said Wood River, Hartford, South Roxana, Roxana and Rosewood Heights firefighters battled the blazes. He added that the fire call came in at 6:15 p.m. Thursday. Chief Stahlhut commended the fire agencies who participated in battling the fires. "The fire spread quickly," Stahlhut said. "It is very dry right now. All the firefighters did a wonderful job Thursday night."

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine on Friday announced that a murder case involving the 2010 death of a man whose body was discovered in Alton has been transferred to St. Clair County for prosecution. “I thank St. Clair County State’s Attorney Jim Gomric and the other authorities in St. Clair County for their prompt action and cooperation in this case,” Haine said. Odilon Villagran-Gudino, 55, formerly of Washington Park, was charged in Madison County with robbing and fatally stabbing an acquaintance, 52-year-old Jose “Pee-wee” Randolfo Pagoada, and concealing the death. The Madison County charges were filed in 2018 under seal because Villagran-Gudino was not yet in custody. The charges remained under seal until May 19, 2023, after Villagran-Gudino was returned to Madison County from Mexico, where he had been taken into custody. The investigation continued after Villagran-Gudino’s return to Madison County, resulting

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ALTON - A motorist struck the concrete median near a flood gate on East Broadway Friday morning. Alton Deputy Police Chief John Franke said it was a single-vehicle accident. "There were no significant injuries and a few cuts on the arm, and no one went to the hospital," Franke said. The cause of the accident was not yet released, but it did disrupt traffic to one lane, while police and fire addressed the accident.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School has released its list of High Honor Roll and Honor Roll recipients, acknowledging the academic excellence of students spanning from 9th grade to 12th grade. This commendation highlights the dedication and hard work exhibited by the students at Edwardsville High School. 12th Grade High Honor Roll: Nhyira Adu-Affum Alayna Ahlers Selin Aktuna Ashley Alexander Mariam Amer Axton Anom Caden Archer Jayce Ayres Olivia Baca Andrew Bagby Ammar Bahrainwala Kain Barker Natalie Becker Tyler Blair Colbrin Blanchette Abigail Bledsoe Simona Bodo Mya Boeser Mackenzie Boyen Francis Bradley Sarah Brase Chloe Brinkman Abigail Brown Lauren Bruss Livia Budwell Riley Bukovac Abigail Burroughs Zoe Byron Sadie Campbell Hector Chaidez Victor Chaidez Sofia Cilloni Ryan Coffey Benjamin Cole Ella Cook Zachary Coons Lily Cooper Caeleb Copeland Caidyn Crouch Maddax Crump Richard Dacus Joshua Daly Madison Deck Luke DeConcini Aurora

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ALTON - A grand jury on Thursday formally indicted an Alton man - 56-year-old Raymond Moore - on charges of burglary of a crucifix and a theft under $500 from a place of worship. The charging documents provided by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office state that in count one, a Class 1 burglary charge, the defendant knowingly and without authority entered a place of worship, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 525 E. 4th St. in Alton with the intent to commit therein a theft, in violation of 72- ILCS 5-16-1(a). The other count, Theft Under $500 from a person of a place of worship, reads as follows: "The said defendant knowingly exerted unauthorized control over property of St. Mary’s Church, being a crucifix and ceremonial cloth, having a total value of $500, and the theft was committed in a place of worship being St. Mary’s Church, in violation of 720 ILCS 5/16-1(a)(1)." Bail has been set at $75,000 for Moore’s case. Brian Brueggemann, communications

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JERSEYVILLE - Jersey County Sheriff Nick Manns recently announced his Sheriff’s Office is utilizing various tools, programs, and partnerships in an effort to combat drug abuse among Jersey County Jail inmates. Manns said in a public service announcement on June 7 that these efforts are meant to “put them on a better path.” “Jersey County Jail has a purpose. It is used to incarcerate those who violate the laws of our society,” Manns said. “Still, for those inmates who do not end up in prison, if there are opportunities to put them on a better path, it is our belief that we should try. If we could right the path of even one inmate out of fifty, we would likely prevent future crimes and make our county even safer. That is the goal.” Manns added that state laws and the current political climate call for “a more comprehensive approach” to law enforcement. He said illegal drug distribution, use, and abuse is “perhaps the most

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JERSEY - Jersey Community High School has announced the High Honor Roll and Honor Roll recipients for its Freshman through Senior classes, recognizing students for their outstanding academic achievements. The school also recognized students from the 8th Grade who made it to the High Honor Roll and Honor Roll for the fourth quarter, highlighting their commitment to academic excellence. These achievements reflect the dedication and hard work of the students and the school's commitment to fostering a culture of academic success. High Honor Roll - Senior Class of 2023 Abbott, William A. Anderson, Mary A. Antoine, Chloe E. Ayres, Tyler J. Beiermann, Emily S. Bohannon, Molli M. Breden, Cate A. Brunaugh, Tanner J. Buck, Madalyn R. Crawford, Ryan M. Croxford-Stone, Breeya A. Davenport, Moriah G. Davis, Kendal I. Delp, Lillian P. Dohrn, Bernard J. Dohrn, Jack C. Dublo, Samuel D. Elliott, Jacob D. Fickle, Alexis M. Fink, Anna C. Fritz, Lucy M. Goetten, Drake K. Golley,

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