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SPRINGFIELD – Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced record-setting attendance totals for the 2023 Illinois State Fair. The more than 700,000 attendees over the 11-day event make the 2023 fair the most highly attended fair since industry standards were enacted. “Once again, the hard work of the Department of Agriculture and hundreds of dedicated fair staff have resulted in shattered attendance records, serving as a testament to the value of our increased Fairgrounds funding and the spirit of Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Attractions like the new Multi-Purpose Arena and our highly attended concerts drew in hundreds of thousands of fairgoers from across the state and the country, bringing our community together in an unprecedented way.” “While mother nature will always be a driving force in attendance for any outdoor event, the 2023 Fair benefited from a return of programming at the newly renovated Multi-Purpose Arena (MPA), a result of Governor

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EDWARDSVILLE – Cherese Fine, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has been appointed as the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.“We congratulate Dr. Fine on her appointment as our Faculty Athletic Representative,” said SIUE Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD. “Our student-athletes at SIUE have an impressive record of academic success. I look forward to working with Dr. Fine as she partners with our faculty, coaches, and staff to support student-athletes.” The FAR serves as a faculty voice, ensuring balance between academics and athletics for the benefit of the student-athlete. “I am honored to be selected as SIUE’s third Faculty Athletics Representative,” said Fine. “I want to thank Chancellor Minor, Director of Athletics Andrew Gavin, Deputy Athletic Director Jaci DeClue, and the past FAR Dr. Bill

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The deceased has been identified as Emmanuel Penson, 20 years of age, of the 8800 block of May Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri 63136, in a fatal motor vehicle crash in the area of Jennings Station Road and Fairhaven Drive in St. Louis County. St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives and the Accident Reconstruction Unit are investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash in the area of Jennings Station Road and Fairhaven Drive that resulted in the death of a male. On September 11, 2023, at 1:23 AM, a St. Louis County police officer from the City of Jennings Precinct observed a Kia Optima traveling northbound on Jennings Station Road at West Florissant Road. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, however, the vehicle failed to yield. The officer turned off the vehicle’s emergency equipment. Approximately one minute later, the officer observed the Kia Optima, which had crashed into a building in the area of Jennings Station Road and Fairhave

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EDWARDSVILLE - Senior striker Colin McGinnis has gotten off to a good start, with five goals and two assists for 12 points as Edwardsville High's boys soccer team has gotten off to a great start. Since losing the season opener to Springfield 1-0 in the Metro Cup showcase at the start of the heat wave that invaded the area two weeks ago, the Tigers have won five of their last six matches, including a 5-0 win over Waterloo Gibault Catholic, a match in which both McGinnis and Evan Moore each had a brace (two goals). McGinnis is a Johnston Law Firm Male Athlete of the Month for the Tigers. "I'm feeling good," McGinnis said during a post-match interview. "It was a good game, 5-0 lead. It's good for us to get a good game before our big game next week." The team has won many a big game to start off the season, having won their first three Southwestern Conference games, creating a great feeling among the players. "It feels good," McGinnis said. "We're undefeated in our conference so far,

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ALTON — The Agency for Community Transit (ACT) Board of Directors has awarded $100,000 to the City of Alton for the construction of a shared-use path. The funding was awarded under ACT’s Community Action Grants Program. The City of Alton will leverage the ACT grant against IDOT and City funding to implement Phase III of Alton’s Safe Routes to School program. “On behalf of the City of Alton, I am grateful to receive this funding that will improve the safety for all pedestrians and especially students in our community. My staff and I look forward to working with their talented staff on future opportunities,” said Mayor Goins. Improvements will include continuation of the shared-use path along College Avenue near Rock Springs Park and Alton Middle School, safety enhancements to the pedestrian crossing at College Avenue and Rock Springs Drive, as well as sidewalk improvements along Rock Springs Drive. This is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to secure

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GODFREY - Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC) invites the community to join them for an evening in the gardens at their annual Garden Festival. This year’s gardens follow the theme “Discover the Monticello Sculpture Gardens,” with several gardens spread out across the 215-acre campus. The season will culminate in the festival from 5:30–8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14 at the LCCC campus, where attendees can take walking tours, play lawn games and enjoy food and live music. “We are really excited to celebrate this year with our garden festival,” Katie Piper, LCCC’s garden designer and horticulturist, said. “It’s amazing to see so many people on campus at once enjoying all the hard work that we’ve put into it. To really see people smile and enjoy it is my favorite part.” Piper added that the festival will be family-friendly, with plenty of games and places to lounge as local band Soulshine Groove plays.

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GLEN CARBON - Together We Learn celebrated a milestone of 10 years teaching Glen Carbon area preschoolers with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce and lots of kids’ activities. “We’re having our 10th anniversary ‘birthday party,’ we’re calling it, for 10 years that we’ve been open,” Carrie Mosella, co-owner and teacher at Together We Learn, said at the event. “We’re excited to celebrate that with the community and invite all of our former families and new families in.” Together We Learn’s 10th “birthday party” was jam-packed with kid-friendly fun. Mosella said the event featured a magician, Chef Bananas, a mermaid princess with Brittain's Princess Parties, a smoothie truck, and a dedication for a new garden on the school’s playground. Mosella said the preschool has grown significantly over the years and is making some changes and improvements

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ALTON - Illinois State Senator Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon) met with Damian Jones, the Executive Director of Student Athletes Leading Tomorrow, better known as SALT, to discuss the future and importance of youth sports in and around the Metro-East area. SALT is is a sports-based youth development organization directed toward youth in underserved communities. Founded in 2019, SALT seeks to establish programs that engage children in an organic way, helping them to develop active, healthy lifestyles while ensuring their personal growth in areas of life beyond sports. The 501(c)(3) organization is based in Alton. Harriss and Jones met at Alton's new soccer mini-pitch wedged in between the Alton Middle School and Rock Springs Park. The facility was completed last October . Alton Mayor David Goins, Alton Alderwoman Rosetta Brown, and Director of Alton Parks & Recreation Michael Haynes also attended Monday afternoon's meet-up.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that he is cosponsoring U.S. Senator John Fetterman’s (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood’s (D-IL-14) Convenient Contraception Act , legislation that would improve access to contraceptive products, including over-the-counter birth control. The bill provides individuals covered by private health insurance with the option to receive up to a full year of birth control at the time their prescription is issued instead of the current three-month supply or less that is standard in many states—an evidence-based policy that improves health outcomes. “Living in a post- Roe America, it is more important than ever that we work to protect and expand access to contraception. Everyone should have the right to decide when and if they want to start a family,” said Durbin. “With the Convenient Contraception Act, we can ensure

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EAST ALTON – The upcoming September Neighbor Night at the National Great River Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) will celebrate 21 years of Water Festival. All are welcome. Community members will have the chance to share their memories and learn about all of the incredible programs Water Festival has facilitated over the years. “Water Festival takes place every year on Lewis and Clark Community College’s Godfrey campus and we are so excited to welcome the community to the station to celebrate over 20 years of fun and water science,” NGRREC Environmental Educator Erica Doerr said. At Neighbor Night, guests will be able to participate in trivia, hear from past Water Festival organizers, who helped create the successful day of learning, and get a sneak peek from the NGRREC education team on what is in store for Water Festival 2023. “Water Festival has impacted over 12,500 area fifth graders through the years,” Doerr said. “It’s

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ALTON - There is growing evidence linking heavy social media use with increased risks for anxiety and depression. These mental health issues can, in turn, impact a student’s school performance, such as difficulties focusing, studying, or even simply attending school. It’s important for caregivers and school personnel to understand what is happening on social media and how to reduce its negative impact. Virtual spaces are everywhere in today’s world and have become a constant presence in the lives of young people, offering social connectedness and the ease of instant communication. But the online world of selfies and social media also brings with it challenging situations that can have a negative impact on youth mental health. “The pressure to maintain a perfect online image, fueled by constant comparison to peers, can lead to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety,” says Staci M. Knox, LCSW, manager of psychological services at OSF Saint Anthony’s

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, along with 41 attorneys general, announced a $35 million bipartisan settlement with leasing company Tempoe LLC (Tempoe). The settlement resolves a multistate investigation Raoul and the coalition conducted into Tempoe’s advertising and leasing to consumers through retailers across the nation. The investigation revealed that Tempoe’s marketing and sales practices often misled consumers to believe they signed up for an installment plan or credit sale. However, in reality, consumers entered into a lease agreement. The complicated structure of the lease agreements, as well as the lack of required disclosures, caused confusion and often resulted in consumers paying two to three times the purchase price of the product or service. “Tempoe’s lease agreements confused Illinois consumers and made it difficult to understand important terms, including how much a consumer would have to potentially pay for the duration of the

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WASHINGTON – Following the two-year anniversary of a federal court-ordered deadline for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to complete its long-overdue review of pre-market tobacco product applications (PMTAs) from e-cigarette manufacturers, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to FDA’s Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf and a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging them to immediately address the youth vaping epidemic. Since FDA missed the September 9, 2021 deadline, an estimate of approximately two million children may have picked up vaping. Durbin has slammed FDA for its continued lack of urgency as millions of children have begun using addictive e-cigarettes. For years, FDA has failed to regulate e-cigarettes—currently falling more than two years past a court-ordered deadline to review applications from vaping companies, and refusing to enforce the law and take action against companies

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center (STIC) is celebrating its 20 th year in service to the people of Illinois. Created in 2003 as a result of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, STIC was originally formed out of a national need to improve information sharing and intelligence services specific to Illinois. Forged out of conversations between ISP, the United States Attorney’s Office, Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs’ Associations, federal law enforcement, and others, STIC has continually evolved, remaining on the cutting edge. STIC, located in Springfield, is part of a network of more than 80 fusion centers nationwide, providing public safety intelligence services to local and national partners across the country. “As Governor, there’s nothing more important to me than keeping the people of Illinois safe,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As we celebrate

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CHAMPAIGN, I.ll - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced the re-introduction of her legislation to help keep our kids safe as they travel to and from school. Duckworth, along with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are introducing the School Bus Safety Act today to implement safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to make school buses safer by ensuring there are seat belts at every seat and buses are equipped with safety measures like stability control and automatic braking systems. The bill would also create a grant program to help school districts modify school buses to meet these important safety modifications. U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) is introducing companion legislation in the House. Duckworth was joined today by Champaign Unit 4 School District Superintendent Dr. Shelia Boozer, and photos from today’s event are available here . “No parent should have to worry about the safety of their children when

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ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE - Do Good Chicken is expanding to local Target shelves, and the co-founder says his new brand can help save the planet while providing consumers with a great meal. Do Good Chicken collaborates with grocery stores to repurpose surplus food and divert it from landfills. After donations are made to food banks or other human-focused causes, Do Good Chicken upcycles the food into animal feed. The chickens are fed this more nutritious diet, and then they are processed and sold under the Do Good Chicken brand at supermarkets. The company says not only does this improve the taste of the poultry, but it also benefits the environment in a major way. “We started this company to try to help finally bring sustainability to scale and make it affordable and accessible to every consumer to actually now be a part of the solution,” Justin Kamine, Do Good Chicken co-founder, said. “The solution is solving one of the biggest problems in the food system, which is

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EDWARDSVILLE - September 11 – 15, 2023 is Disability Voters Rights Week. This week is meant to bring awareness and to celebrate the voter rights of citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “If people with disabilities voted at the same rate as people without disabilities who have the same demographic characteristics, there would be about 2 million more voters.”, according to ‘Disability and Voter Turnout in the 2022 Elections, Supplemental Analysis of Census Voter Turnout Data’, Lisa Schur, Douglas Kruse, and Mason Ameri. Madison County has recently received a small grant to purchase small ramps and signage for easier accessibility to a polling place. Curbside voting is always available for any disabled or elderly voter who cannot enter a polling place due to the structural features of the building. Curbside voting, however, should be requested by the Monday before Election Day by calling the Madison County Clerk’s Office at 618-692-6290

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Gun Club unveiled some details today about its annual event called Schutzenfest. Stephen Gilbertson, a spokesperson for the event, said, "Every year at Edwardsville Gun Club, there is this large event called Schutzenfest. It is a local kids' fishing derby. Kids from the gun club and the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area come to the lake on the gun club property. "The winners take home prizes like trophies and gift cards." I just want to see if you or one of your reporters is available on this date: October 14, 2023 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The address is: 4104 Staunton Road Edwardsville The Timeline: 11:00-12:00: Check-In 12:00-12:05 National Anthem 12:05-3:00: Derby 3:00-4:00 Counting Up Scores **DIRECTORS ONLY** 4:00: Awards Website for the fishing derby is: sites.google.com/egcfishingderby/home

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GODFREY – The Nature Institute is now offering birthday parties to families in the Riverbend area. TNI is a favorite location for many families! Now, with the addition of staff-led birthday parties, you can even come out here to celebrate in nature. With a variety of themes to choose from, our nature-based birthday parties are sure to be a hit for your outdoorsy child. Your party will take place completely outdoors with an experienced educator to assist you. Each party consists of 1 hour of staff led activities, 1 hour of self-led time (cake, gifts, playground, etc.), lodge seating for up to 30 people, and a birthday gift from TNI for the birthday child.Themes will adjust with the seasons, with winter parties taking place in our indoor classroom. Customize your birthday party by adding on a cozy campfire or s’mores experience.Birthday parties are offered mostly on Saturdays and Sundays. You will need to check our booking calendar to find dates that are available. www.thenatureinstitute.org/book-a-birthday-party/

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ELDRED - Gregory Thomas "Fuzzy" Brannan was a devoted man to his family and a life of public service. Gregory died suddenly at home on Sunday in Eldred. Gregory and what he always described as his "best friend," wife, Penny, were married for nearly 50 years. They have two children Adam and Ashley and four grandchildren. Greg also had an abundance of other family he left behind. Greg served in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War. He was extremely proud of his service time. He was also honored in the 100th Veteran Honor Flight and was a charter member of the Eldred American Legion. The Vietnam veteran returned home and eventually joined the United States Post Office where he was a fixture around the Eldred and Calhoun County area as a mail carrier. He received the Postal Service's prestigious million-mile accident-free award. One of Greg's biggest accomplishments in his post office career was delivering mail to Calhoun County in the Flood of 1993, which was so appreciated by people, his

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