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CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a state-wide program to standardize soil health practices and set clear levels of achievement for farmers engaging in best practices. The program enables IDOA to implement legislation passed this year to increase use of cover crops, strip till, no till, and erosion and sediment control practices. This is another step forward in encouraging agriculture partners to capitalize on conservation practices. “Agriculture is the heart of who we are as a state, and it’s our biggest industry,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Three-quarters of our state is farmland, and as we look to the future of farming and conservation, we’re ensuring that Illinois farmers have the necessary tools to succeed. That’s why I’m proud to establish the STAR program to further support our agricultural economy, families, and community.” Saving Tomorrow’s Agricultural

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today endorsed the recommendation by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the newly FDA-approved vaccine for RSV that can be administered during weeks 32 to 36 of pregnancy to protect babies from the virus. This followed recommendations earlier this year for a preventive RSV treatment for infants up to 8 months and toddlers at high risk, and an RSV vaccine for people over 60. IDPH urges those who are pregnant to consult with their doctor about whether they should receive the vaccine while pregnant or instead provide the preventive treatment for their newborn after birth. If the vaccine is received during pregnancy, infants will be protected and not need the preventive treatment after birth. As fall begins, IDPH is closely monitoring data on COVID-19 as well as other respiratory viruses including flu and RSV. The latest data shows that new hospitalizations for COVID-19 remain at a low

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EAST ST. LOUIS – After years of pushing for a volunteer firefighter tax credit, State Senator Christopher Belt was able to secure a tax incentive for these volunteers in this year’s revenue package. Through his efforts and advocacy on the topic, Belt received an award from the St. Clair/Monroe County Fire Chiefs Association and MABAs Division 32. “Volunteer firefighters are the backbone of communities throughout Illinois,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “They selflessly dedicate their time ensuring our communities are kept safe in emergencies. Offering them a small tax incentive is just one way we can thank them and honor their service.” A tax credit for volunteer firefighters was included in Senate Bill 1963 , which passed both chambers earlier this year with bipartisan support. To qualify for the $500 tax credit, people must serve as a volunteer firefighter for at least nine months of the year and receive no more than $5,000 in compensation for their

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WASHINGTON – Today, the Seante confirmed Todd Gee and Tara McGrath to be U.S. Attorneys for the Southern Districts of Mississippi and California, respectively. On their confirmations, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement: “Mr. Gee’s and Ms. McGrath’s confirmations are a welcome breakthrough in the logjam caused by Senator Vance’s misguided hold on Justice Department nominees. These two public servants will serve with integrity and ensure justice for their respective districts, prosecuting violent criminals and protecting our communities from drug traffickers, gun violence, terrorism, and other crimes. “U.S. Attorneys are too important to be used as political pawns. That’s why I offered the junior Senator the opportunity to allow us to schedule roll call confirmation votes, even though it is standard procedure to confirm U.S. Attorneys by voice vote or unanimous

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) issued the following statement today regarding a potential government shutdown, which would occur Saturday evening if a spending agreement is not reached: "As the clock ticks closer to a government shutdown, House conservatives are fighting to end the border crisis and keep essential government services funded. The House has passed spending bills for military construction, veterans' programs, defense, homeland security, and the State Department. That's over 70% of government operations, responsibly funded. "The Democrat-controlled Senate, on the other hand, has passed zero appropriations bills. If the government shuts down, remember that House Republicans sought to restore certainty for American families, while the Washington Democrats failed to act."

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ALTON – Refabulosed Relics, 615 East Broadway in Alton, has definitely earned a “high five.” On a chilly rainy afternoon in October of 2018, Christy Hellrung opened her doors to the public for the first time. So many things have changed since this day, and yet the “little business that could” has weathered the storms. From street closures for sewer/rainwater separations to COVID, and now ongoing construction across the street and an unpredictable economy, Hellrung says her business’s survival is certainly a cause for celebration. “We are a vintage, secondhand boutique specializing in home decor, architectural salvage, fashion accessories, toys and so much more,” Hellrung said. “We’ve been serving the Riverbend area for five years now. Our mission is to re-love and reuse vintage items to keep them out of our landfills.” The idea started as a space to paint furniture in the back room, dedicating the front for pickup.

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CARLINVILLE - The Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon announced Friday that an investigation has been launched into Heinz Funeral Home/Family Care Cremations in Carlinville after he said there were incidents regarding identification of human remains. Allmon said the Sangamon County Coroner's Office and Sangamon County Sheriff's Office have launched the investigation. A press conference was held Friday about the situation, led by the coroner. Allmon said on Monday, Sept. 25, his office was contacted by a local hospital about a body that had been in its morgue for more than a month. Allmon said the family of the deceased woman had selected Heinz Funeral Home for assistance shortly after her death. "The family said they had already been provided with what they thought were the cremated remains of their mother," Allmon said. Allmon added that he had to tell the family of the woman that the cremated remains were not those of their mother and the body was still at the hospital morgue. Coroner

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TEUTOPOLIS – The Illinois State Police (ISP), Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS), Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and Illinois Department of Public Health, along with the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Teutopolis Fire Protection District, and other law enforcement, fire, and emergency management agencies in Effingham County are wrapping up the emergency response to a multi-vehicle accident involving a semi-truck transporting anhydrous ammonia. Teutopolis residents have been allowed to return home and U.S. Highway 40 is open. At approximately 9:25 p.m. on Friday, September 29, 2023, ISP was notified of a crash on U.S. Highway 40 about a half mile east of Teutopolis involving multiple vehicles, including a semi-truck leaking anhydrous ammonia. The semi-truck was carrying approximately 7,500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia at the time of the accident, of which 4,000 gallon

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GRANITE CITY – On September 30, 2023, at approximately 7:20 p.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash involving an ISP Trooper’s squad car on Interstate 270 Eastbound, just west of the Missouri state line, Granite City, Madison County. On the above date and time, an ISP Troop 8 Trooper was stationary in the right lane of Interstate 270 Eastbound just west of the Missouri state line, with emergency lights activated. The Trooper was assisting a motorist stalled in traffic, when a Toyota Sequoia struck the rear of the ISP squad car. The Trooper was inside of the squad car at the time of the crash and was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Toyota, 62-year-old Dwayne Samuel of Florissant, MO, was uninjured. Samuel was issued citations for Scott’s Law – Improper Passing of an Emergency Vehicle and Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle. So far this year, ISP has had 1

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JERSEY - The 1960 Jersey Community High School class is having its 63 rd reunion on Saturday, Oct. 7, under the tent at the Loading Dock Restaurant in Grafton. The reunion starts at noon and ends at sunset. All 1960 classmates of the original Rock and Roll generation are invited.

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LITCHFIELD - The final Litchfield Pickers Market of the season is on Sunday, October 8, 2023, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at 400 N. State Street in downtown Litchfield. This vintage and antique market is a fun, family-friendly event and is the region’s largest open-air pickers market. Arts and craft vendors will also be at this market on Monroe Street with repurposed items, furniture, jewelry, wearable art, home and garden items, pottery and seasonal crafts. After School Special, with acoustic duo Jerry Setnicky and Aasne Daniels, will perform at the Carnegie Park stage from 9 to 11 a.m., followed by The Silver Creek Bluegrass Band from 12 to 3 p.m. To make the most of your pickers market experience, it is recommended that you bring totes, wagons, carts, pick-up trucks and anything that will help haul all the great treasures you will find. You will find plenty to eat at the market with a food vendor or two parked at every intersection throughout the market. No less than eight nonprofit

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ROXANA - The Roxana High School Class of 1966 graduated with bated breath. It was difficult to celebrate with a war overseas. When Patricia Weir thinks about this time, her mind goes to the four classmates she lost in that war not long after graduation. Nearly 60 years later, the Class of 1966 wants to memorialize them on the Roxana High School campus, where they knew those four men as boys. “Many of our classmates were either conscripted or enlisted to fight the undeclared war in Vietnam,” Weir remembered. “Some came back to us wounded in body and spirit. Some did not come back to us at all.” Over the years, Weir and a few other women have made a point to visit the graves of Wayne Carnell, Bill Peyton, Terry Dallape and Duke Mason, all of whom are buried near their hometown. The women leave flowers at their headstones every few months, with special visits on Memorial Day and Christmas. But lately, Weir has noticed that they seem to be the men’s

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ALTON – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year in the United States, an estimated 240,000 women get breast cancer and 42,000 women die from the disease. Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Information, education, and mammography screenings will all be available for attendees at this year’s annual “Girls Night Out” event at OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center on Thursday, October 26, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. A limited number of mammography screenings are available during the event and appointments are necessary. Individuals wanting to schedule a mammography screening during the “Girls Night Out” event need to call (618) 474-6791. All event mammography patients will receive a small gift. Insurance information and proper ID will also be needed for those conducting mammography screenings during the event.

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GODFREY – The north entrance to Lewis and Clark Community College’s Godfrey Campus became a little brighter recently with the addition of a gleaming, 20-foot, stainless steel replica of St. Louis’ Gateway Arch. The sculpture, which was donated to L&C by Jim and Marge Weinman, of rural Brighton, sits in front of the Weber Workforce Center, home of the college’s Welding Technology program. Weinman, a veteran and retired aircraft mechanic, was asked to build the arch in the mid-1980s for an aviation convention and trade show in Atlanta, Georgia. It has been stored in his barn ever since. “I wanted it to be someplace where it would be appreciated,” he said. “I’m glad it’s here.” L&C President Ken Trzaska expressed his gratitude for the Weinmans’ generous donation. “Mr. Weinman’s artwork is not only a representation of his talent, but it is a clear demonstration of his commitment and passion to

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Chris Manson, OSF HealthCare Vice President of Government Relations and founder of US Ambulances for Ukraine, was recognized by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, during remarks made at the National Archives on September 21, 2023. President Zelenskyy was in Washington D.C. for meetings with President Joe Biden and leaders of Congress. He presented Manson and nearly two dozen others from across the country with medals or other commendations on behalf of the People of Ukraine for their humanitarian work helping those in need following the invasion by Russia in February 2022.“It was a great honor to meet the President of Ukraine. I am very humbled to receive such an honor and know that I would not be receiving this medal had I not had the support of so many people and organizations which made our effort possible,” said Manson. In early March of 2022, Manson started US Ambulances for Ukraine after his daughter asked if anything could be done to help the people

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GREENVILLE – After operating food trucks and restaurants in the St. Louis area for several years, Oscar and Ainara Farina are bringing the unique flavors of Argentinian food to Greenville, IL. Their restaurant, the Buenos Aires Café, will open Tuesday, October 3, in the first floor of the SMART Center in downtown Greenville. It will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, serving dine-in or take-out food that includes empanadas, rice bowls, salads, and several flavors of gelato. “We’re excited to bring our passion for Argentinian food to Greenville,” said Ainara, a native of Spain who moved to Florida at the age of 6. “This is a family operation – not a franchise – and we want people to sense the personal touch in our food. All our sauces are homemade, and our gelatos are made on-site.” Though they knew each other in high school, Oscar and Ainara began their food adventure together while serving in the U.S. Army. Thei

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ALTON - Marquette’s Katie Johnson has been a star for the Explorers in both cross country and track and field now for multiple years. Recently, she was the first-place individual in a girls' meet with Jersey, MCHS, Southwestern, Maryville Christian and Gillespie in a time of 22:02 for three miles. In an interview after one of her successful races, she said: "I feel really good about the season so far. In the first three meets, I dropped time." Katie is a Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire, Inc., Female Athlete of the Month for Marquette Catholic. Johnson looks to eclipse 22 minutes for three miles by the end of the season and finish high in post-season competition. "I enjoy the races, but sometimes practices can be hard," she said. "I enjoy being a leader on the team and it is my senior year, so it is really important to be a leader." Johnson is an Explorers' track star and is a fixture on the 4 x 800 and 4 x 400 relays and middle to longer distances. "I love all my teammates,"

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ROXANA - Roxana High School's Daisy Daugherty is a big key to the success of the Shells' offensive and defensive attacks in girls' volleyball. Roxana girls volleyball head coach Andrea Keller couldn't say enough about Daugherty and all her girls on the team. Other profiles of key players are to come. "Daisy is our setter and she is a sophomore," Keller said. "She is really stepping up this year and doing everything she can to be a great varsity setter. She puts in the time and effort needed to become the best she can be." Daugherty is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for the Roxana Shells. Coach Keller said Daugherty is "very coachable." "She always gives it everything and she will continue to push herself to be better," the coach added. The coach said she has high hopes for Daughtery in the future as a catalyst for Roxana girls' volleyball. Congratulations to Daisy Daughtery for her recognition as a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete selection

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GRANITE CITY - Cindy Armstrong has organized a GoFundMe for Phillip Armstrong's daughter after he lost his life on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in what she described as "a senseless act of domestic violence." "We lost a son, brother, and friend, but Chloe, at the age of 10, lost her father," Cindy said. "This is a loss of epic proportions as she was just getting to enjoy his sobriety. As a family, we plan to support Chloe in any way we can and hope to keep her memories of her dad alive for years to come. "However, we know there will be times she needs the emotional and financial support that one usually gets from their parents but he will not be there to provide for her. We cannot fill the emotional void his passing leaves, but we hope to offset some of the financial loss his absence will cause. "All funds raised will be transferred to an account for Chloe to promote her emotional, social and academic needs as she faces life without her father." To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

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CHICAGO – The Powerball jackpot has been increased from $925 million to $960 million for tomorrow night's drawing. If won, it would be the fourth largest Powerball jackpot and the ninth largest lottery jackpot won in U.S. history. Plenty of Powerball players in Illinois have already walked away with a lot of cash this year, including seven players who won $1 million each. In total in 2023, Powerball players in Illinois have claimed more than $28 million in prizes across 2.7 million winning tickets. Every Powerball ticket is a chance to win - and a chance to dream. And with $960 million up for grabs in Saturday night’s Powerball draw, Illinois residents are lining up at their local lottery stores to snatch up a ticket. There are over 7,000 Illinois Lottery retailers across the State, and players can also purchase a ticket online through the Illinois Lottery website, IllinoisLottery.com , or the Illinois Lottery app. Powerball tickets are $2 each, and players

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