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CHICAGO – Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking down the federal government’s student loan debt forgiveness plan, Attorney General Kwame Raoul is urging student loan borrowers preparing for the return to repayment to be aware of scam calls, emails and letters from fraudsters pretending to be loan servicers or promising debt relief. The court’s decision ends the repayment pause, which means federal student loans begin accruing interest Sept. 1, and payments resume in October. Loan servicers will send consumers a notice of payment at least 21 days before their payment is due. Many borrowers may face confusion following today’s Supreme Court decision striking down the federal government’s student debt relief plan to forgive $10,000, or $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients, of eligible student loan borrowers’ federal loan student debt. Attorney General Raoul encourages borrowers who have questions about their student loan repayments,

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EDWARDSVILLE – State Senator Erica Harriss (56 th -Glen Carbon) will be extending her office throughout parts of the 56 th District to better serve the constituents by hosting traveling office hours. “This is a great way for my team to assist you with a wide variety of services, including navigating state agencies, and connecting you with available resources on any state government related issue you may have,” said Senator Harriss. Sen. Harriss and her staff will begin traveling office hours in July. The dates are as follows: Thursday, July 13, 2023 Fairview Heights Library 10017 Bunkum Rd, Fairview Heights, IL 62208 1PM – 4PM Thursday, July 20, 2023 Six Mile Regional Library District 2001 Delmar Avenue, Granite City, IL 62040 1PM – 4PM Thursday, July 27, 2023 Mississippi Valley District Library 408 W Main St, Collinsville, IL 62234 1PM – 4PM For more information on Senator Harriss’ traveling office hours, call her

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COLLINSVILLE - Round two of the several storms weather pattern hit the region again around 4 p.m. on Saturday and delivered another strong punch. In Collinsville, several encountered tree limb damage after the storm, while some were without power. The worst spectacle was in the middle of Illinois Route 159 in the downtown area. Police had traffic blocked going into Collinsville after the roof from Home Furniture was blown off. The remnants went several feet away. The storm packed heavy rain, lightning and wind gusts estimated as high as 70 mph in Illinois and Missouri. The punch of the winds in Collinsville was very destructive, then the storm smacked Maryville, Glen Carbon and Edwardsville and onward. More on the Edwardsville storm situation in a separate story.

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GLEN CARBON - A portion of the walls going up on the new Olive Garden in Glen Carbon was knocked down Saturday afternoon. Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford confirmed the walls were struck during the heavy windstorm. However, he said the main part of what had been constructed did remain intact. Whiteford also said his department fielded 18 storm-related calls today. "Anderson Rehab is on backup power," Whiteford said. "YMCA Godsen is also on backup power." Some in the Edwardsville vicinity are without power and have been told it may be Monday, July 3, before their power is live again. Many Ameren employees were dispatched up north because of the storm there, Ameren Illinois officials said on Saturday.

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JERSEY COUNTY - At 3:52 a.m. on Friday, June 30, 2023, the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office, QEM Fire Department, Jerseyville Fire Department, and Jersey Community Hospital Ambulance responded to a house fire in rural Jersey County. Upon arrival at the property, Jersey County Deputies and the Sheriff found the house fully engulfed in flames and could not enter. Jersey County Sheriff Nick Manns said QEM and Jerseyville Fire Department personnel arrived and worked in difficult conditions to put out the fire and protect the surrounding property. One occupant of the residence was able to escape, but another, a 12-year-old child, was found deceased inside. "The cause of the fire remains unknown, and an investigation is being conducted by the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, in conjunction with the Jersey County Coroner and Sheriff’s Offices," Manns said. "The Jersey County Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank the dispatchers, firefighters, first responders, neighbors,

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WOOD RIVER - Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup announced recently that renovations to the Roundhouse recreation center have been completed, and the new pickleball courts at East End Park are getting plenty of use. The completed renovations to the Roundhouse and bandstand include: A new roof Tuck-pointing New siding New paint Sealed floors These renovations were made to “guarantee our citizens a well-kept and comfortable recreation hall for all to use,” Mayor Stalcup said. The City of Wood River is now accepting reservations to use the newly renovated space at the Roundhouse. To make a reservation, Mayor Stalcup asked residents to call the city’s Parks and Recreation Department at 618-251-3130. Stalcup added that the city’s new pickleball courts are also proving popular, and are “and are “being enjoyed by all getting a good workout while having a good time playing pickleball.” The new pickleball courts are located at the East

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ALTON - YWCA, in conjunction with Scholars on the Rise Tutoring, is again offering free community tutoring sessions on Thursdays July 6 - August 10, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at YWCA, 304 E Third Street in Alton. The program structure includes Math and Reading instruction for grades K-6, lunch, a fun enrichment activity and a snack. Class sizes are limited to no more than 10 students to maximize learning. In addition, the session is deliberately scheduled after summer school is complete. Content builds upon previous session instruction, so attendance at each session is highly recommended. Sessions are designed to focus on the development of Math and Reading skills as well as social emotional skills. Research shows that students lose approximately 1 to 2 months’ worth of reading and math skills over the summer, with the loss being greater in math than reading. Recent data shows that math scores for 13 year olds are the lowest in decades. The Covid pandemic contributed

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CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced Atiera Coleman, Ph.D. will join his administration as Chief Diversity Officer. Dr. Coleman is a distinguished social equity leader and scholar committed to creating more equitable environments within organizations. She will officially assume the role on July 17, 2023. “Atiera Coleman brings with her a wealth of experience and accomplishments, and I’m thrilled she is joining my administration to lead Illinois’ equity, inclusion, and diversity efforts,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Throughout her career, Dr. Coleman has held leadership roles in both non-profit and academic settings, making remarkable contributions that have transformed these institutions into spaces of greater inclusion and equity. I am looking forward to working collaboratively with her to continue making Illinois a more equitable and welcoming state for all.” "I am thrilled to accept the position and eager to join the team t

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EDWARDSVILLE - A large tree fell on a home in the 600 block of Roosevelt in Edwardsville, along with several other trees down and power out through much of the city in a storm that struck around 9:44 p.m. Friday. Edwardsville firefighters and public works personnel were dispatched to the scenes, along with Ameren Illinois personnel. Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford said much of the northern part of Edwardsville was without power. Several street lights were also off and much of the city was dark in a tour through the city in the 11 p.m. range Friday. Illinois Route 143 was closed just after Ridgeview because a large tree was over the roadway. There were power lines and tree limbs down across the city of Edwardsville. Granite City and Pontoon Beach also suffered storm damage. Whiteford said the storm was strange because it ripped through in "spotty" fashion around the city and the power outage was substantial.

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GRANITE CITY — Madison County officials honored a good Samaritan who came to the aid of his neighbor and saved her life. Chairman Kurt Prenzler and County Board member John Janek of Granite City presented Billy Eugene Taylor with a Certificate of Recognition on Friday, June 30 for his heroic efforts in saving the life of Barbara Hayes around 3 a.m. on April 25 at 2128 Miracle Avenue, Granite City. Haye’s reached out to the county and said she felt Taylor deserved recognition because if it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t be here today. Janek said Taylor’s actions went above and beyond as a neighbor. “Thank you for your heroic efforts in saving the life of Ms. Barbara Hayes,” Janek said. Taylor said he would do what any neighbor would do. He said it’s about looking out for one another. He said a loud pop woke him up and when he walked outside he saw the house two doors down exploded and caught Hayes house on fire. “Her carport

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BELLEVILLE - In reference to the June 26, 2023, incident that occurred in the first block of Garnette Drive, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office has reviewed the case presented by Belleville Police. The following charges have been filed in the case: Deonta Rodgers, Sr., 44, of Belleville (photo above), was charged with one count of Attempted 1st Degree Murder, class X Felony; one count of Aggravated Battery Discharging a Firearm, class X Felony; two counts of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, Class 4 Felony. Rodgers’ bond was set at $1,000,000. Rodgers remains in custody at Belleville Police Department. Rodgers will be transferred to St. Clair County Jail after arraignment. Demarco A. Davis Case Update In reference to the June 24, 2023, incident involving the death of Demarco A. Davis, the 16-year-old male remains in juvenile custody, Belleville Police said in a statement. The matter has been referred to the juvenile court. No further information

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WOOD RIVER - Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said a driver indicated the throttle of a vehicle stuck and went out of control, and it struck a pole on Wood River Avenue in Wood River on Friday. Chief Wells said after the motorist hit the power pole, Wood River Avenue in Wood River had to be closed for a period of time, while the area was cleaned up and work done to the power pole. The chief said the driver was taken to an area hospital for a non-life-threatening injury.

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EDWARDSVILLE - A very serious accident occurred Friday morning in the 1600 block of Troy Road in Edwardsville and a male pedestrian walking southbound on the shoulder of the roadway was injured and airlifted from the scene. The incident took place at 7:26 a.m. Friday, Edwardsville Police Chief Mike Fillback said. "A male pedestrian was walking southbound on the shoulder of the roadway when a vehicle drifted to the right and struck him," the chief said. "The white in color 2019 Chevy Cruze was driven by a juvenile that was traveling southbound in the same block. "Witnesses contacted 911 and the first responders arrived quickly and the pedestrian was flown by air to a St. Louis area hospital and is in serious condition. The investigation remains under investigation." Chief Fillback said the driver is a juvenile who was uninjured and his name will not be released. The name of the pedestrian is not being released until the family can be contacted.

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ILLINOIS - Three major Supreme Court rulings have garnered mixed reactions across the country. Many state and local politicians in Illinois and Missouri have responded with statements. All three rulings were divided along partisan lines, with the Court’s six conservative justices voting opposite the three liberal justices. Much of the response seems to reflect this division. Most conservatives support the Supreme Court rulings while liberals are speaking out against them. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION On June 29, the Court ruled on Students for “Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College” and “Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina.” They voted 6–3 to end affirmative action programs, which means race will no longer be considered for college admissions. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker called this decision “a travesty” and said that Illinois “will continue to uplift our students of

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser is reminding taxpayers that the first installment of their tax bill is coming due. “With the holiday weekend approaching I want to remind everyone that the first of four tax installments will be due July 6,” Slusser said. “The Treasurer’s office is open for business Mon-Fri from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., but will be closed for Independence Day on Tues July 4. Slusser reminds taxpayers of all payment options: at one of the participating collector banks or credit unions throughout the county, by mail, through your financial institution’s online bill pay service, the Treasurer’s website at www.madcotreasurer.org , by phone at 1-844-919-4300, or in person at the Treasurer’s Office in Edwardsville. If paid by mail, letters must be postmarked on or before July 6. “No penalty will be applied for payments mailed and postmarked by the due date,” Slusser said. “I would encourage taxpayers

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During his 14-year career in the NFL, Deion “Prime Time” Sanders was known for his silky moves on the football field. But now the 55-year-old college football coach has been slowed, due in large part to blood clots he’s suffered over the years.Sanders was back in the news recently due to surgery he had on blood clots in both legs. It’s not his first go-around with this serious health issue. In 2021 he had two toes amputated due to clots. Blood clots can happen to anyone. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot located in a deep vein, usually in a leg or arm. A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot that has traveled from a deep vein to a lung. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 900,000 people suffer from a blood clot each year and 100,000 people die. About 30% of people who have had a DVT or PE are prone to a recurrence.“It is a serious problem. It's something that you're going to want to seek medical care for," says

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The letter follows Durbin’s op-ed in The Hill this week, highlighting the continued bipartisan efforts to stop the exploitation of kids online WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a bipartisan group of ten Judiciary Committee members in a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, Chairman and CEO of Meta, regarding recent reporting that Instagram’s algorithm promotes and facilitates sexual interest in and activity with children, including the production and sharing of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The letter was also signed by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). “We are gravely concerned that Instagram’s failure to prevent this perverse

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HAYTI HEIGHTS, MO. - A Missouri State Highway Patrol Amber Alert was canceled this morning after a child last seen in Illinois had been found in Troop E Area - Hayti Heights, Mo. The child was found safe and sound, Missouri State Police reported. The Amber Alert was canceled at 7:25 a.m. The child - Violet - a 9-year-old, was last seen after allegedly being taken by her non-custodial father. The vehicle sought was a black Dodge Charger. The Amber Alert notified individuals throughout the region but thankfully ended with the child safe and the suspect in custody.

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ST. LOUIS - For the people who are involved with the Metro Trans Umbrella Group, it’s more than just a resource. It’s a life-saver. The Metro Trans Umbrella Group, or MTUG, is a nonprofit that serves transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals throughout the Greater St. Louis area. The organization has a variety of services and support groups, as well as opportunities for people to connect with one another. “It saves lives, just having the space to exist with others who are like you,” Ramona Riley, MTUG’s volunteer coordinator, said. “It’s a common story that I hear, that people get up to the point where they’re going to start transitioning, and it is literally a choice between transitioning and dying…That is how crucial these things and these spaces are to trans people.” MTUG offers a range of free services, including a food pantry and STI testing. They provide assistance with legal name changes, and they also distribut

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GODFREY - Family Fun Fest is returning to Glazebrook Park in Godfrey for 2023 on July 4 starting at 5 p.m. The event will feature food trucks, live music, a watermelon-eating contest, and much more family-friendly fun, capping off with a fireworks show at 9:15 p.m. Chris Logan, director of the village’s Parks and Recreation Department, gave more details on the event on an episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . “All of our vendors will be set up, BB the Clown’s going to be there, there’s going to be some face-painting, we’re going to have some more inflatables again - quite a few inflatables, actually - a big slide, obstacle course, these kids really like them,” Logan said. “We’re going to have a dunk tank, we’re going to try and get some of our baseball and softball coaches in there.” Logan added that at 5:30 p.m., the design for the Great Godfrey Maze will be revealed at the event. He said the maze will

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