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This is my fifteenth update to the citizens of the 111 th district, as your State Representative. The state’s fiscal year 2024 budget took effect on July 1 st . The budget appropriates approximately $50.4 billion, including $9.8 billion (19.5%) towards pensions, $12.9 billion (25.6%) towards K-12 and higher education, and $10.3 billion (20.4%) towards human services. Fiscal year 2024 revenues are estimated to be approximately $50.6 billion, per the Governor’s office figures. As the House Republican Deputy Budgeteer, I had a very busy spring session, as we analyzed the Governor’s proposed budget, attended budget working group meetings, and advocated for our priorities to be included in the budget. While no Republicans voted for the budget, and three Senate Democrats also voted no, there are many worthy programs funded, such as investments in early childhood programs under the Governor’s Smart Start initiative, a new teacher retention program for districts

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ALTON - Webster Temple, COGIC, 1100 Highland Avenue in Alton will host a Vacation Bible School on Aug. 10-12. On Aug. 10-11, it will be from 6-8 p.m. and on Aug. 12, 10-3 p.m. Pastor Sancho Williams is the host pastor and Rosetta Brown is director. Ages 5 and up are welcome. "We will have children and adult classes," Brown said. "There will be crafts, food, music, lessons and fun." Please contact 618-580-2394 for more information.

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SPRINGFIELD - East St Louis District 189 will receive $50,000 in funding from a recent Illinois Arts Council Agency/Illinois State Board Of Education Grant. The Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA), in cooperation with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), announced grant recipients today. The agencies said they have awarded thirteen grants to districts and schools across the state for arts and foreign language education. The Arts and Foreign Language Education Grant Program (AFL) is designed to assist school districts and other eligible applicants with the development or enhancement of curricular programs in the arts or foreign language. "World language and arts courses are essential to a well-rounded education, yet students’ access to these critical learning opportunities is all too often determined by affluency. This grant program will allow us to expand access to arts and world language education that all of our students deserve," said State Superintendent of Educatio

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CHICAGO – The Powerball jackpot has been increased from $725 million to $750 million for tonight’s drawing - making it the sixth largest Powerball jackpot and the 10th largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. Illinois Lottery players have been lining up around the block and jumping online to grab a ticket for tonight’s draw, while some players are already celebrating after winning big in Monday night’s draw. Two lucky Illinois Lottery players matched four numbers and the Powerball to win $50,000 each in Monday’s drawing, July 10. This is also a win for the retailers that sold those winning tickets, as they will receive a bonus of 1% of the prize amount. Nearly 114,000 other prizes, ranging from $4 to $50,000, were won in Monday’s Powerball drawing. Winners have one year from the date of the winning draw in which to claim their prize. The Illinois Lottery encourages all lucky winners to write their name on the back of their ticket and keep

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EDWARDSVILLE - Sivia Law is addressing allegations of workplace religious discrimination made against the company in a recent legal case. As a company who exercises its right to publicly profess a business that aligns with principles of faith, Sivia Law stands firmly behind its practices of upholding the rights and respecting the beliefs of all employees. The case filed against Sivia Law alleges religious discrimination in the workplace, which the company takes very seriously. Some of the instances in question include: optional prayer prior to company meetings, a Bible verse being sent to all staff by a non-management employee on his/her own accord, and holding a meeting in a church common area not used for religious practices. “It is essential to note that our company firmly believes in respecting the beliefs and practices of its employees,” stated Attorney Todd Sivia. “Although our firm is founded on godly values, we have established policies and procedures

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ALTON - A vehicle crashed in the 3000 block of Brown Street in Alton at 7:40 a.m. Wednesday. The accident caused 10 customers to have their power knocked out. Ameren Illinois workers responded to the accident to restore the power. Ameren Illinois was at the scene working on the power for about three hours. The pole was replaced and the wires were repaired. There were no injuries in the accident and no other information about the cause of the crash, but Alton Police has it under investigation.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Mustang horses and service dogs will be the guests of honor at a fundraising event at Triangle H Farms this weekend. From 2–4 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, people can stop by, see the animals and help raise money for veterans. The event’s proceeds will go toward funding The Righteous Life Rescue Ranch (TRLRR), which will provide a home for dogs and mustangs. As plans for the ranch solidify, founder Matt Perella hopes that it will help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) heal through nature, equine therapy and time with service dogs. “I’ve lost so many friends to suicide,” Perella said. “It’s just really dear to me to give back to the animals that have helped me. There’s so many horses that need to be rescued and so many dogs that need to be rescued and so many veterans that need to be rescued.” Perella plans to work with mistreated mustangs and “death row dogs,” or dogs that have bitte

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WOOD RIVER - Wood River City Councilman Jeremy Plank has issued some comments about a recent city council meeting. Plank is concerned about the tone of the public comment section of city council meetings. "There is a handful of disgruntled people who are being led and organized by 4 failed candidates for city council. Unfortunately, these folks want to ignore the will of the voters and refuse to accept the results of the election. "Meanwhile, our council is focused on economic development, fixing streets and crumbling sidewalks, and investing in our parks. That's why we were elected and we won't be distracted from that." Plank said he intends to have a conversation with the Mayor about the direction of public comments so that we can turn the page toward the progress that voters want.

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ALTON – Heartland Regional Investment Fund (HRIF), a Certified Development Entity (CDE) managed by the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership) has invested $8 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) for the redevelopment of two commercial buildings in Alton. The Heartland Regional Investment Fund and the New Markets Tax Credits program support investments that create jobs and provide services in distressed communities throughout the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. The redevelopment project, led by AltonWorks, a company focused on revitalizing Downtown Alton, plans to transform the Wedge and Elfgen buildings on the 600 block of East Broadway into the Wedge Innovation Center. The center will be a hub to support startups and later-stage companies through education, mentorship, and finance opportunities. Companies located in the hub will benefit from private offices, co-working space, training events, and street-level retail and café space. AltonWorks

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JERSEYVILLE - A new Miss Jersey County and Little Miss Jersey County will be declared at 7 p.m. tonight at the Jersey County Fair. Eight Miss Jersey County contestants and 16 Little Miss Jersey County contestants will take the stage tonight at the annual Miss & Little Miss Jersey County Fair Queen Pageant. The winner will represent Jersey County for the next year. This year’s theme is “A Night of Dreams.” The 2022 Miss and Little Miss Jersey County winners, Matilynn Thornsbury and Tessa Huelskoetter, will be in attendance. Lori Hopkins will serve as the event announcer, and Jeff Bunch from Encore Sound will manage the sound. Many local businesses donated and sponsored the pageant. While the winners will be crowned tonight, the 2023 contestants have been busy at the Jersey County Fair all week. They volunteered at the Fair Kickoff Party & BBQ Contest, enjoyed the Christian Music Night and attended multiple 4-H Livestock Shows. They were also a part of the Jerse

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HIGHLAND - Illinois State Police Troop 8 has provided information about a fatal crash that involved a Greyhound passenger bus that was reported at 1:54 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12. Three reportedly died in the accident confirmed and multiple others were taken to a hospital with serious injuries, four by helicopter and at least 10 by ambulance. The crash also involved three commercial vehicles on Interstate 70, westbound Milepost 27 at the Silver Lake Rest Area in Madison County. ISP said a total of 14 were injured in the crash. No one in the commercial motor vehicles was injured. The Greyhound bus was apparently bound for St. Louis. ISP said the initial investigation indicates a Greyhound passenger bus with passengers was traveling westbound on Interstate 70 and struck three commercial motor vehicles parked on the exit ramp to the Silver Lake Interstate 70 westbound rest area. "All westbound lanes and the ramp to the rest area are open," ISP said. "This is an open and ongoing

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GLEN CARBON - Samantha Doolin, Coordinator of the Glen Carbon Heritage Museum, gave an Annual Update presentation at the Glen Carbon Village Board meeting on July 11. She said 2023 has been a great year so far for the museum, with several successful community outreach efforts, an expansion of their online presence, and much more. The museum has held or scheduled 24 new events in 2023, including Goat Yoga, Family Fun Days, Escape Rooms, and many more - Doolin added that another Escape Room event is being held this weekend at the Glen Carbon Centennial Library. “We’re really doing a lot of new and inventive things, trying to bring people out to the museum,” Doolin said. 2023 has also seen the return of 16 recurring annual events, including Ghosts of Glen, Cabin Day, field trips, and several more, as well as 11 scheduled private tours. Doolin added the museum has been “very busy this year, which is great.” Doolin said the museum has also been expandin

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MADISON COUNTY - Madison County Housing Authority (MCHA) will be accepting applications for Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8 rental assistance), and other programs, on the dates listed below. Applications for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and other programs, will be accepted at: Bernard Long Elementary School, gymnasium, located at 1003 Farrish St., Madison, IL 62060, on Saturday, June 29, 2023, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, and Alton Middle School, Annex gymnasium, located at 2200 College Ave., Alton, IL 62002, on Saturday, August 5, 2023, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Applications for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and other programs, can be accepted at the MCHA Central Office, located at 2 Eastport Plaza Drive, Collinsville, IL 62234 on Monday, August 7, 2023, through Friday, September 29, 2023, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday. There are after-hours application boxes located at the MCHA Central Office. Applications may also be accepted at any MCHA developments located throughou

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GLEN CARBON - A bid of over $2 million for a large-scale sewer project in Glen Carbon was unanimously approved by the Village Board at their July 11 meeting. The Nickel Plate Interceptor Sewer Project will extend the sewer from behind Fire Protection District Station 1 to Iron Mountain Lake Drive and reduce the pump stations in the area from four to one. Charles Juneau, president of Juneau Associates, Inc. spoke at the meeting and said the project would eliminate four existing pump stations, including the one at Meridian Road, with a proposal for a new pump station. He said the new pump station is also necessary for a developer planning a project off of Glen Carbon Road north of 270, who has agreed to contribute $100,000 toward the sewer project. “This is a very necessary project, eliminating four existing and one new pump station,” Juneau said. “It’s a very large pump station that will be sewered by gravity - that entire area of Summerset and the

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COLLINSVILLE – Cole Wendler, 23, of Edwardsville, has been charged with two counts of Aggravated Driving With a Blood Alcohol Level of .08 or More Causing Death (Class 2 Felony) and two counts of Aggravated Driving While Under the Influence Causing Death (Class 2 Felony). The Madison County State's Attorney's Office approved the charges on Monday, July 10. At 1:41 a.m. on July 8, 2023, Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 8 requested the assistance of the ISP Zone 6 Major Crimes Unit to investigate a fatal traffic crash on Interstate 55 southbound at milepost 15 in Madison County. The black Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Wendler, struck the rear of a silver Jeep Compass. The Jeep overturned ejecting the driver and front-seat passenger, who were both pronounced deceased on scene. On July 10, 2023, Wendler was placed under arrest as a result of the investigation conducted by the ISP Zone 6 Major Crimes Unit. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office approved th

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ALTON - After a few years off, Rock the Hops returns for "a celebration of music, art, and craft beer" taking place on Saturday, August 12th, from 2:00PM to 8:00PM at multiple venues in downtown Alton. Attendees can "hop" around between the 5 official venues and catch as many as 25 unique and creative music performances. The lineup will include a wide variety of genres such as rock, jazz-fusion, indie, folk, singer-songwriter, Americana, psychedelic jam bands, ambient, electronic and more. There will also be artisan booths featuring visual artworks and handmade goods available for purchase. Each of the 5 venues this year will play host to all three creative elements noted in the festival's tagline, creating a fun and celebratory atmosphere throughout the day. Ticket holders can choose from over 25 styles of craft beverages to sample, from seasonal summertime craft beers and citrusy IPAs, to refreshing ciders and seltzers. Not just a festival, the event brings awareness to, and heightens

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced today he has filed multiple charges – including felonies – against two men who unlawfully harvested several wild turkeys in the Cahokia Canal area. The charges filed by Haine’s office allege that Hunter D. Baxter, 28, of Lucedale, Miss., and Dustin D. Goldsmith, 38, of McCall Creek., Miss., unlawfully harvested turkeys in the Cahokia Canal area on multiple occasions in 2022. Both defendants are charged with a Class 4 felony count of unlawful possession of wild game. Those charges allege that Baxter and Goldsmith possessed multiple turkeys with a combined value exceeding $3,000, for profit or commercial purposes. “When people violate game laws, it’s cheating. It’s unfair to all of the ethical hunters who practice good sportsmanship and are good stewards of our natural resources, and whose fees support conservation efforts,” Haine said. “The State’s Attorney’s

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EDWARDSVILLE/GLEN CARBON - “If you knew Matthew, you loved him.” That’s what Matthew Butler’s loved ones want people to know about the former attorney who slept on the steps of the Madison County Courthouse. Butler died on Friday, July 7, after he was hit by a car the week before . Now, his family and friends are hoping to change the way people think about mental illness and homelessness by telling Butler’s story. “The thing about Matthew is that his heart was always good. I mean, his whole life, he was a sweet kid,” Chuck Youchoff said. While Youchoff and Butler were technically cousins, they were only 6 months apart in age and considered each other brothers. Youchoff explained that Butler was raised in a religious home by a single mother in Springfield. Butler rooted for the Cubs and debated baseball with Youchoff, who was a Cardinals fan. They collected baseball cards together. By high school, Butler already stood out for hi

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ALTON - Calvary Baptist Church in Alton is hosting their 2023 "Rise Up" Calvary Children's Music Camp later this summer from Monday, July 31 to Friday, August 4. They describe the camp as a great way to tune out distractions while learning about God’s word in a fun environment. Each day of the camp will run from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and registration is open for children ages 3 before September 1, 2022 through those that have completed fifth grade. Music Leader and Senior Adult Pastor Brent Syder joined Children's Pastor Mike Harrelson on a recent episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to discuss the camp and the mission behind it. One of their goals for the camp was to keep it affordable for families - the cost is $40 per child or $60 each for two children, and Snyder said the “max” cost is $75 for larger families. Harrelson said the camp includes songs and videos from Seeds Family Worship , a “music-based ministry,” which

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SPRINGFIELD - God is Alive, produced by Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, available to watch for free In a world full of selfishness, hardships, and despair, more and more people are asking, “God, are you up there?” God is Alive , an original documentary, created and produced by the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, answers that question in an adventurous, impactful, and local way. Andrew Hansen, host of the Catholic podcast Dive Deep , editor of Catholic Times , and former television personality on ABC, NBC, and FOX affiliates in Central Illinois, teams up with Father Michael Trummer, parochial vicar of St. Boniface Parish in Edwardsville and chaplain at Father McGivney Catholic High School in Glen Carbon, in a journey across Central Illinois, as they find five incredible stories of faith/miraculous events in five cities that will show God is alive and help move people to put their faith in action. “If you are full of faith, clinging to faith, o

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