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AUSTIN, TEXAS - Tesla announced earlier this month that the first production-model Cybertruck has officially been built at the company’s “Giga Texas” factory. Nearly two million people have already paid to reserve their Cybertruck once Tesla begins mass production - are you one of them? Let us know in the polls throughout this story. Tesla made the announcement on Twitter (currently rebranding as “X”) on July 15 with the caption, “First Cybertruck built at Giga Texas!” Nearly 2 Million Reservations Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted in 2019 that there were 250,000 Cybertruck reservations placed just one week after it was first announced. An online reservation tracker estimates the current number of reservations to be 1,943,876. Each reservation requires a $100 deposit, totaling over $194 million so far. Tesla claims the Cybertruck will have “better utility than a truck with more performance than a sports car”

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WASHINGTON COUNTY – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) on Thursday announced the arrest of three Belleville men - 44-year-old Kevin Loucks, 57-year-old Milton Robinson, and 45-year-old Arrion Sanders - for First-Degree Murder (Class M Felony). The arrests come after an exhaustive investigation into the murder of 44-year-old Montez Pearson. On July 19, 2023, Pearson was located deceased near Lunte Creek Road in Washington County. Loucks was taken into custody on July 23, 2023, after a search warrant was executed at his residence in Belleville. Robinson was taken into custody the next day, while Sanders was taken into custody on July 27, 2023, both in Belleville. The ISP was assisted during the investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Belleville Police Department. All three suspects remain in custody at the Washington County Jail with bond set at $1,000,000, 10 percent to apply. No further information will

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ALTON - Four local parents are joining forces to provide backpacks and school supplies for kids who need them. The group will host its third “Back to School Fish Fry and Backpack Giveaway” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5 at Alton Middle School. Families can come to enjoy a free lunch and get the school supplies they’ll need for the school year. “We have five children of our own,” Jiuana Evans, who started the event, explained. “It hasn’t always been easy being able to get supplies for everybody and get them all set to go back to school. But we’ve been blessed to be able to do that now for our own children, so I’m just happy now that I’m in a position to be able to give back.” A child must be present to receive a backpack. In addition to backpacks and school supplies, the event will also provide a few computer spaces so that parents can register their kids for school. Employees from the Alton school

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JERSEY - Brendan Schultz recently completed an outstanding athletic career at Jersey Community High School. Brendan was a depth person on the track and field squad, the Panthers' Head Coach Harold Landon said. He is a Sparklight Internet Male Athlete of the Month for JCHS. “He ran the 4 x 100 relay, the 4 x 200 relay and pole vaulted,” the coach said. “He got fifth in the conference in the pole vault.” Coach Landon said at times Brendan was almost like an assistant coach, working with the pole vaulters if the pole vault coach wasn’t there. “He helped me coach the younger kids at the meets, too,” Coach Landon said. “He also was a National Honor Society student and just a good young man.” Brendan is also a national-level water ski participant and has brought home many medals in that sport. Not only was Brendan a strong athlete, but he also was on the high honor during his final quarter at JCHS.

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ST. LOUIS - Over the summer months, many outdoor activities and events often include alcohol. But with the extreme heat, a drink can become dangerous if you don’t take proper precautions to stay hydrated. The Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) has issued tips to stay safe if you plan to drink alcohol during the excessive heat warning that’s currently in effect through the Greater St. Louis area. “Hot, humid summer days cause fluid loss through sweat, and alcohol consumption causes fluid loss through frequent urination; together, these can be a deadly combination and can quickly dehydrate even the healthiest individual,” the ILCC said in a press release. Dehydration, heat stroke and heat exhaustion are very common in extreme heat but potentially deadly if you don’t treat them immediately. If someone is feeling dizzy, lightheaded, nauseous or otherwise unwell, the National Weather Service recommends drinking water and seeking out a cooler environment

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WEST FRANKFORT — Centerstone, a national leader in behavioral health and addiction services, has named Jennifer Thomason, LCPC, as regional chief operating officer for its Illinois operations, effective August 7. As Centerstone’s Regional COO, Thomason’s day-to-day will entail providing statewide leadership and management to the organization’s $52 million operations in Illinois, which provides outpatient mental health counseling services, suicide prevention and crisis care, vocational training programs for special needs populations, residential and supportive housing services, and comprehensive outpatient and residential addiction treatment programs to more than 12,000 people annually. “Jennifer’s experience in different realms of behavioral health, plus her leadership skills, will ensure the expertise Centerstone needs to grow operations in Illinois while ensuring we are continuing to deliver care that changes people’s lives,” said

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EDWARDSVILLE – Paris Somerville, Evergreen Hall resident at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has been selected as the recipient of the 2023-2024 James R. Anderson Housing Scholarship. The scholarship is given annually to an academically motivated student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who has demonstrated civic leadership in community service and housing activities. “I would like to thank SIUE for giving me this scholarship to assist me in pursuing my academic goals and education,” said Somerville. “I am very grateful for this offer to receive a scholarship.” The Chicago native will be graduating in May 2024 with a degree in computer science and mathematics. She hopes to pursue a master’s degree in computer science or management information systems upon graduation and hopes to secure a job as a software engineer or in the information technology field. Somerville has stayed involved on campus as a student-athlete on the Women’s

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EDWARDSVILLE - Main Street’s 222 Artisan Bakery doesn’t just offer coffee, pastries and sandwiches, though that is a big part of their menu. This spot in the heart of downtown Edwardsville is a refuge for residents to connect every morning. “The coffee is fantastic. The company is good,” Edwardsville Alderman Will Krause said. “It’s a downtown staple. Just a place to feel welcome when you come in…You don’t get that sitting at a Starbucks.” That’s what owner Kim Goodner has always aimed for. Krause, who sits at the window and drinks coffee every morning, calls Goodner “the mom of Main Street.” With several regulars and an endless supply of hot coffee, 222 Artisan Bakery has become a second home to many people in the Edwardsville community. Goodner owns the bakery with her son, Trevor, who used to work there as a barista. The duo knows almost all of their regulars by name. Goodner can point to each table and

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ALTON - Alternative solutions to the problem of “vicious” cats and dogs in Alton were brought before the City Council on Wednesday, prompting a discussion which turned heated when one resident criticized Public Works Director Mike Parsons for referring to animals as “things” at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday. Resident Bill Gilbreth introduced himself as a “lifelong pet owner” and said he took offense to Parsons saying that “things have to be euthanized so you can make room for other things” at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday. “You don’t have an opinion about considering animals to be ‘things’ to be euthanized?” Gilbreth asked the City Council members. He said he’s called the Mayor’s office to ask his opinion on the comment, but hasn’t received any response. “I have an opinion about ‘things,’ I sure do.” Parsons replied. When Gilbret

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ST. LOUIS - The deceased in a recent homicide in St. Louis County has been identified as Latoya Brown, 36, of the 10200 block of Ashbrook Drive in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Mo., 63137. St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred in the 10200 block of Ashbrook Drive in Bellefontaine Neighbors which resulted in the death of an adult female. On July 25, 2023, at 10:51 PM, police officers from the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors responded to a call for service for a shooting in the 10200 block of Ashbrook Drive. Arriving officers located an adult female suffering from an apparent gunshot wound inside a residence. The female was transported to an area hospital for life-saving treatment but succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased. City of Bellefontaine Neighbors officers requested St. Louis County Police Department assume responsibility for the investigation. Preliminary investigation has revealed this shooting

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JERSEYVILLE - Got Faith? Steve Pegram does, and he invites everyone to join him at one of the upcoming events organized by the nonprofit Got Faith? based in Jerseyville. These events are designed to raise money for the organization so they can help local people in need. Got Faith? has many additional programs that are available to anyone in the St. Louis metropolitan area. “It’s God at work. That’s all I can say,” Pegram said. The Got Faith? website explains that their mission is to “Feed and Inspire the Hungry.” With several Christian support groups and programs that aim to serve the community, the nonprofit is growing. They have a busy few weeks ahead as they prepare for a few of their major annual events. The focus is currently on the upcoming 500 Men Breakfast. This event will start at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 5 at the Jerseyville Walmart, with free breakfast and coffee available. Pastor Tim Ezell will give a sermon. “I talked

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PIASA - Austin Stanton qualified for state this past spring with his teammate Collin Robinson in the 100 meters. Stanton is also an Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month. Austin made his first appearance at the state meet. The last time this happened at Southwestern High was in 2010, when Ethan Hanold and Donny Garrett finished one-two in the 800m. Austin was able to run below the qualifying time in the 100 meters at the Gillespie Invitational. Collin broke the qualifying threshold in the 400 meters at Gillespie as well. Austin was a football starter in the offensive line and played outside linebacker on defense. Austin had a huge overall impact on the Piasa Birds track and field program. "Both boys were seniors and have given a great deal to the program," boys track and field coach Matt Hasquin said. "When Collin qualified in the 400 meters last season, it became a catalyst for the rest of the team," the coach added. "We had a lot of success from 2009

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MADISON - A victim in the Tuesday, July 25, 2023, shooting in Madison has been identified by the Major Case Squad. The victim is identified as Jaylen I. Woods, 19, of the 1700 block of Edwardsville Road in Madison. Deputy Major Case Squad Commander Nick Novacich said at 1 p.m. on July 25, 2023, the Madison Police Department was dispatched to the 1700 block of Edwardsville Road, Madison, Illinois, in reference to a report of shots fired. "Upon arrival, officers located a male victim lying in the backyard of a residence with multiple gunshot wounds," Novacich said. "The victim had unfortunately succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene." Novacich added: "This is an ongoing investigation and therefore no further information can be released at this time. We would like to express our condolences to the family of the deceased and ask that the community do the same." If anyone witnessed this incident or has information related to this investigation, please contact

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced its support of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the atrocities committed in Ukraine: “For more than a year, the world has borne witness to the unspeakable horrors that Putin and his forces have inflicted on the Ukrainian people: bombing maternity wards, beheading prisoners, raping women, torturing and executing civilians, and abducting thousands of Ukrainian children. Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General has documented more than 92,000 war crimes, and the number continues to grow with each passing day. “Ensuring that the United States is doing all that it can to hold the perpetrators of atrocities in Ukraine accountable

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation is reminding the public that the roadside mowing period is underway, requiring drivers to slow down, avoid all distractions and proceed with caution when encountering equipment and personnel. The heaviest mowing operations will continue until Aug. 15. “Keeping our roadsides maintained during the summer and protecting the environment are both vitally important,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman . “As we enter our peak mowing season, please remember to reduce your speed, drop the devices and drive extra carefully if you encounter workers. At the end of the day, we want everyone to get home safely.” During the summer, IDOT conducts two primary types of mowing. Safety mowing occurs directly adjacent to the road as needed. Maintenance mowing, which lasts for approximately six weeks and started July 1, includes areas next to culverts, ditches, traffic control devices and other structures,

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EDWARDSVILLE - In May of 2022, SIUE was mentioned in several media reports following former graduate student Maggie DeJong’s lawsuit alleging that her First Amendment rights to free speech were violated. At that time, SIUE asserted our commitment to free speech. SIUE recently settled this case, but I believe it is important to underscore our institutional values and our unwavering defense of free speech. I trust that most people who care about these issues will see beyond the sensationalism of click-bait, media reports, and headlines in search of a more complete understanding of the facts. SIUE is unequivocally committed to protecting First Amendment rights and does not have policies that restrict free speech nor support censorship. SIUE remains committed to free speech, popular or unpopular, offensive or affable, in an environment that embraces the exchange of diverse views on every aspect of human society. For decades, universities have embraced the challenge of vigorously

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GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois proudly recognizes Lindsey Lankford from Glen Carbon, Illinois. She is a member of the 2023 Girl Scout Gold Award class and recipient of a $10,000 scholarship from Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) for her work on providing sensory support to students with disabilities. Lindsey worked in the special education classroom at her school for six years. She also joined Key Club, which planned community events – including events for students with disabilities. Lindsey noticed some struggles that students with special sensory needs faced, so she centered her Gold Award project around making these students feel supported. Nationally, GSUSA is recognizing nearly 3,200 members of the 2023 Gold Award Girl Scout class who identified issues in their communities, took action, and found or created solutions to earn their Gold Awards. This year’s class of world-changers raised $2.5 million of support for their projects and invested over 300,000

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ALTON - Alton Municipal Band will wrap up its 133rd concert season this week. Director Jennifer Shenberger leads the program called “Dynamic Duos.” Back by popular demand, vocalist Willa SGne will join the band, with performances of jazz and hits from Broadway. SGne is making her second appearance with the band and is quickly becoming an audience favorite. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 27, at the Alton Amphitheater. It will then repeat at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 30, at Haskell Park. Auditions for the 134th concert season will take place in May of 2024. Follow “Alton Municipal Band” on Facebook for updates about the 2024 season, or visit altonmunyband.org . "We hope that lots of audience members can come out and have some fun before back-to-school season starts," Adam Rodgers, board chair of the Alton Municipal Band, said. "We are so thankful for our local media in Alton who graciously cover the band and have helped us as we navigated

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WOOD RIVER - Anika Bella has dreams of being on Broadway, but in the meantime, she’s heading to Las Vegas. Anika is competing in the U.S. National Finals for the World Karaoke Championship, with hopes of making it to the World Finals later this year. “To be a young aspiring artist coming from such a small town, to come and represent them in Vegas is going to be a huge opportunity,” Anika said. “Even if I don’t make it to the World Finals, just getting my name out there and being able to say good things about our area and the people that brought me up.” Unlike other singing competitions, karaoke competitions are for people who have “natural raw talent and need a way to get out there, and can’t afford to put themselves out there,” Anika explained. It’s not necessarily for professional singers or people who have an extensive background in music. Participants in karaoke competitions are running on passion and practice. &ldquo

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is adding another tool in its toolbox to help reduce and solve violent crime in the Metro East. Earlier this year, ISP began coordinating the installation of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) in the Metro East. Already, 45 ALPRs have been installed and are operational along Interstate 55, Interstate 70, and Interstate 64 in the Metro East. ISP will continue to work with Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to install more than 30 additional ALPRs along highways throughout the Metro East area before the end of the year. “This force-multiplying technology is a game changer in deterring and solving crime,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “We have seen the impact license plate readers have made in Chicago through the reduction of expressway shootings and we anticipate seeing similar crime reduction in the Metro East.” ALPRs are specialized cameras that take still photographs of

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