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ALTON - The Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois is calling for volunteers to help work as “greeters” or “hosts/tour guides” at the Urban Farm Tour on Sunday, June 25. After a three-year hiatus, the Three Rivers Project is bringing back the Urban Farm Tour to showcase various gardens and farms across the Riverbend region. Community members interested in volunteering at the event as a greeter or host/tour guide can sign up via bit.ly/urbanfarmtour . “We’re excited to bring back the Urban Farm Tour to offer neighbors an opportunity to see firsthand how community members are transforming their yards into edible and sustainable oases,” said Three Rivers Project co-Coordinator Christine Favilla. “We need help from local volunteers to make this event possible. The Urban Farm Tour is self-guided, so we need community members to greet tourists at each yard, home garden, or community garden along the tour. We’re looking for hosts/tour

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City Community Unit School District No. 9 is partnering with Chestnut Health Systems to host a Back to School Physical and Immunization Clinic on Friday, July 21 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the parking lot near the Granite City High School Football Field at 3148 Fehling Road. This event will be held to help protect students and others by meeting vaccination and school physical requirements. All incoming kindergarteners, 6th graders and high school freshmen are required to have a school physical and updated shot records. WHEN Friday, July 21 - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. WHERE Granite City High School Parking Lot, 3148 Fehling Road INFORMATION Who is eligible: Preschool-12th graders Limited time slots available - call for an appointment Medicaid and private insurance accepted Uninsured patients welcome Sliding fee scale available WHAT TO BRING: Completed GCSD9 forms Parent/Guardian ID Immunization Record Insurance Card (s) RESERVE A SPOT Cont

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ALTON - Centerstone, a national leader in behavioral health care, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office received a grant that will provide behavioral health care to those in custody of the Madison County Jail. The $127,000 grant will fund an on-site, full-time, qualified mental health professional at the Madison County Jail. A clinician, contracted through Centerstone, will develop individualized treatment plans, provide and/or coordinate services with community treatment resources for stabilization, treatment, and support for those in custody struggling with an opioid-use disorder, substance-use disorder, and mental health disorders. “We are honored that the Madison County Sheriff’s Office wanted to partner with us on this grant and we are excited to begin a journey of healing and recovery with those in custody at the Madison County Jail,” said Taylor Marks, Centerstone grant program implementation manager. “Many people in custody are experiencing

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SPRINGFIELD – As America celebrates Juneteenth, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will give everyone a chance to see a rare copy of the document that played a key role in this historic day of freedom, the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation, which bears the signature of Abraham Lincoln, will be displayed June 19-23 and June 26-30 in the ALPLM’s library building, where there is no charge for admission. The address is 112 N. Sixth Street in downtown Springfield. The library is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The ALPLM will also launch a new online tool letting people around the world explore the proclamation, its meaning and its impact on history. Just click on key words in the document and up pop boxes full of helpful information. The site will include educational resources for teachers and parents, a photo gallery and links to other sources of information about the address. The site will be available at www.PresidentLincoln.Illinois.gov/EmancipationProclamation

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CARROLLTON - Several individuals have been charged with drug and alcohol-related crimes in Greene County over the past few weeks, according to the latest Jail Booking Report from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. Shanna L. Smith, 42, of Manchester, was charged with delivery of 15-100 grams of meth, meth possession, aggravated delivery of meth in a protected area, as well as using a vehicle/structure/property for meth distribution. She was arrested by the Scott County Sheriff’s Department on May 26 and remains in custody. Brandi L. Defrates, 39, of Greenfield, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence with a passenger under 16 years of age, driving under the influence of drugs, driving under the influence with no insurance, and having no rear license plate light. She was arrested on April 16 by the Greenfield Police Department and has since been released on bond. Landry J. Medlock, 21, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was charged with possession of a controlled

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City High School Principal Daren DePew announced that 561 students from GCHS earned Honor Roll accolades for the second semester of the 2022-23 school year. Students who obtained a grade point average of 5.0 or higher during the second semester earned high honors, while students with a 4.2-4.999 GPA with no D earned was named to the honor roll. All GPAs are based on the current semester GPA (not cumulative). To view the complete list of honorees, click below: High Honor Roll - 236 honorees Honor Roll - 325 honorees For more information about Granite City School District #9, visit www.gcsd9.net .

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ALTON - Alton High School announced its second semester Honor Roll and High Honor Roll lists. To view the lists, please click the links below. Honor Roll High Honor Roll

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois State Fair announced today a new promotion that will give fairgoers a way to double their fun during the 2023 Illinois State Fair. Anyone who pays for parking on the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Thursday, August 10, which is County Fairs and Horse Racing Day will receive a voucher for free parking to be redeemed on either Tuesday, August 15, Wednesday, August 16 or Thursday, August 17. Thursday, August 10 will be jam packed with fair fun. The official ribbon cutting for the Illinois State Fair will take place at 10am followed by carnival rides opening at noon, livestock shows and of course amazing fair food! Other festivities include: Grandstand Entertainment 11:00am - Harness Racing 5:00pm - Harness Racing Main Street 5:30pm- T wilight Parade Grand Central Stage 7:00pm- Cooper Alan Multi-Purpose Arena (Grand Re-Opening) 7:30pm- Monsters of Destruction “Our goal is to offer an affordable way for families to attend the Illinoi

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EDWARDSVILLE - From gas station to dentist’s office, the West End Service Station in Edwardsville has had its share of milestones. On June 9, the station celebrated its reopening as a Route 66 tourist center. Route 66, the classic highway from Chicago to California, originally ran through Edwardsville. As a tourist center, the West End Service Station will pay tribute to this national and local history. “We want people who live in Edwardsville to know where we came from,” Edwardsville Mayor Art Risavy said. “The West End Service Station will preserve a piece of history, which is so important as we move forward.” The center has interpretive panels with information about Route 66, Edwardsville and the station. Guests can visit the station and its gift shop free of charge. The West End Service Station opened in 1927 as Springer’s Madison Oil Co. It was renamed and rebuilt in the 30s; today’s building has been standing since 1939. When

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EDWARDSVILLE – Last month the Madison County Auditor’s Office officially filed the County’s fiscal year ending November 30, 2022, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report with the Illinois Comptroller’s Office and the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). This is Madison County’s official audited annual financial report. “State law requires that all general-purpose local governments publish within six months of the close of each fiscal year a complete set of financial statements presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a firm of licensed certified public accountants,” Michael said. “I am very pleased to report to the taxpayers of Madison County that the county received a clean (unmodified) opinion from our external auditor, Scheffel Boyle.” The goal of the independent audit is to provide reasonable assurance that the financial

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GRANITE CITY – Governor JB Pritzker joined the departments of transportation in Illinois and Missouri to celebrate the start of construction on the new Interstate 270 Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River, part of a combined $531.6 million investment to improve one of the country’s critical freight corridors. The project, made possible by Gov. Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program, will improve safety and mobility while creating good-paying jobs in an area experiencing strong industrial and commercial growth. “This isn’t just an investment for the Metro East region — it’s an investment for our entire nation. This major freight corridor connects our ports and railways — essential to maintaining a steady supply chain for Illinoisans, Missourians, and all Americans alike,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Up and down the Metro East region, we’re restoring and rebuilding, creating good-paying

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ST. LOUIS - Schnuck Markets, Inc. and the St. Louis Cardinals are teaming up to bring customers and fans a special treat to cool them off on warm summer days - Schnucks Cherry Cardinals Crunch Ice Cream. The new frozen confection is a cherry and vanilla flavored ice cream swirled with coated cookie pieces and is now available at most Schnucks stores across the Midwest. "Schnucks Cherry Cardinals Crunch ice cream is sure to be a fan favorite that Cardinals Nation will only find at their local Schnucks store,” said Schnucks Brand Manager of Media & Sponsorships Zach Collins. “This collaboration is possible because of a strong hometown partnership between the St. Louis Cardinals and Schnucks’ best-in-class ‘Own Brands’ team dedicated to bringing our customers high-quality, exclusive items that deliver great value." The 48-ounce carton will be featured in a three-day sale Wednesday, June 14 - Friday, June 16 for the special sale price of $3.49 (regularly

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CHAMPAIGN - For 155 years, Busey has helped identify and bridge the needs of the communities we serve. One way we accomplish this is by supporting prospective homebuyers with unique financing options and investing in low-to-moderate-income neighborhoods to ensure holistic community development. As of May 2023, the Busey Bank MyCOMMUNITY Home Loan Program, which started in 2014, has now provided over $100 million in home loan funding for over 850 families. “We could not be happier with the success of the MyCOMMUNITY Home Loan Program,” said Sandy DeMond, Senior Vice President – Director of Community Banking for Busey. “In 10 years, we’ve been able to help over 850 families who, without the assistance provided by this program, would not have been able to purchase a home. At Busey, we strive to make a positive impact on the communities we serve, and the MyCOMMUNITY Home Loan Program has empowered us to do just that.” The MyCOMMUNITY Home Loan Program

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Durbin secured nearly $1.7 billion in federal funding for the high speed rail implementation project WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today applauded the Illinois Department of Transportation’s new schedule changes for Amtrak’s Lincoln Service trains following the successful implementation of the Chicago-to-St. Louis high-speed rail project. Having supported the testing and implementation of high-speed rail for more than two decades, Durbin secured roughly 80 percent of the project’s nearly $2 billion cost, including $1.66 billion in funding from an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant that was awarded in 2010. The project, which broke ground in 2010, was completed in 2018, but went through several years of test runs before today’s announcement. The schedule changes for Lincoln Service trains will enable passenger rail service to reach 110 mph. With this new high-speed schedule

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ALTON - The Alton committee of the Whole has given their preliminary approval for a few items including city employee pay raises, two new solar installations, Gordon Moore Park Restroom Renovations, and more. The full Alton City Council will vote on these items at their next meeting this Wednesday, June 14. Committee members voted 6-1 to approve a 3% salary increase for non-union city employees, effective April 1, 2023 for Fiscal Year 2023. The resolution passed with Alderwoman Carolyn MacAfee casting the sole “no” vote. A resolution entering the City of Alton into a Ground Lease with Alton Landfill Solar LLC was approved unanimously. This lays the groundwork for the new solar farm to be built on the Old Alton Landfill site. Ameresco, Inc. announced their partnership with the city to develop and install the solar project back in February . In a similar resolution, the committee accepted a proposal from GRP|WEGMAN to develop and install a solar energy array at th

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WASHINGTON – In observation of World Day Against Child Labor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today reintroduced legislation to protect child workers from the dangers of exposure to tobacco plants, including nicotine poisoning. The Children Don’t Belong on Tobacco Farms Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to prohibit children under the age of 18 from working in tobacco fields and coming into direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves by deeming this type of work as oppressive child labor. “Kids as young as 12 can be recruited to work on tobacco farms where they are exposed to serious health risks like nicotine poisoning and other long-term health effects. Putting a stop to this disgraceful labor practice is common sense,” Durbin said. “I’m hopeful that with the Children Don’t Belong on Tobacco Farms Act , Congress can finally act to protect these kids before

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CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation today announced schedule changes for Amtrak’s Lincoln Service trains, following the successful implementation of the Chicago-to-St. Louis high-speed rail project and enabling passenger service to reach 110 mph. Effective June 26, the changes will eliminate approximately 15 minutes from existing 90 mph runtimes and 30 minutes from the initial 79 mph schedule. “After many years of construction and testing for a nearly $2 billion investment, I couldn’t be happier to announce that our transition to 110 mph rail service for the Lincoln Service trains has been completed,” said Gov. Pritzker . “From saving residents precious time to improving the reliability and safety of our transit system, this milestone makes it clear to the rest of the nation that Illinois is a leader in transportation, infrastructure, and innovation.” In addition to increasing speeds, the $1.96 billion

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QUINCY - Quincy University released its Dean's List for the Spring 2023 semester. Honorees must earn a semester grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) to be included in the biannual Dean's List. In total, 359 students received the honor during the Spring 2023 semester. Alton's Renee Raglin, Godfrey's Alaina Nasello and Jerseyville's Ryleigh Jones were all recognized on the Dean's List. Founded in 1860 by Franciscan friars, Quincy University is a small Catholic university emphasizing the sciences, liberal arts and the professions. Quincy University offers undergraduate, graduate and adult education programs integrating practical experience and Franciscan values. Faculty and advisors work with students to design customized success plans to help them graduate on time, find their passion and prepare them for life. QU is a member of NCAA Division II for intercollegiate athletics. For more information, please visit www.quincy.edu or contact the Office of Community Relations

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CARLINVILLE - Jayden Serafini of Bethalto, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business with Management Emphasis from Blackburn College during the institution's 154th Commencement ceremony in May 2023. Founded in 1837, Blackburn College is a four-year, Presbyterian-related, liberal arts college located in Carlinville, IL. One of ten federally-recognized Work Colleges, Blackburn has the only program in the nation exclusively managed by students. The College allows students to develop essential skills and build a complete resume while earning four-year degrees. U.S. News & World Report has recognized Blackburn College as one of the best colleges in the Midwest region for 2023. Blackburn has also been named a Top Performer for Social Mobility in their Best Colleges guide for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. The Washington Monthly ranked Blackburn first in Illinois for performance by students receiving Pell Grants in 2023 and twice previously named Blackburn as the best baccalaureate

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SPRINGFIELD - Landmark legislation to prevent book banning was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced today. This new law sets a nationwide precedent in the fight against book bans, as libraries and librarians face unprecedented censorship of books and resources, including in Illinois. The bill passed the Illinois House in March and the Senate in May. Giannoulias, who also serves as the State Librarian, initiated HB 2789 after extremist groups – including the far-right nationalist group, the Proud Boys – targeted Illinois libraries, divided communities and harassed librarians, despite that the books are not required reading. “The concept of banning books contradicts the very essence of what our country stands for,” said Secretary Giannoulias. “It also defies what education is all about: teaching our children to think for themselves. This landmark law is a triumph for our democracy, a win for First Amendment

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