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SPRINGFIELD – As summer traveling season approaches, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies today announced the "Click It or Ticket" campaign to crack down on seat belt law violators and impaired drivers. “Throughout Illinois, Memorial Day means the start of summer road trips and an increase in traffic,” said IDOT Director of Highways Project Implementation Steve Travia. “With additional vehicles on the roads, it’s more important than ever to take standard safety precautions. Make seat belt use an automatic habit. It’s not just the safe thing to do – it’s the law.” During the Memorial Day campaign, which runs through May 30, law enforcement will step up traffic safety efforts, reminding drivers and their passengers of the importance of buckling up and the potential consequences of not wearing a seat belt. The increase in traffic that accompanies summer

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SPRINGFIELD – The Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (Serve Illinois) is accepting applications for the Governor’s Hometown Awards (GHTA) program. GHTA gives formal recognition to those who contributed to projects that improved their community’s quality of life. Nominated projects must be sponsored by units of local government, include strong volunteer support, and made a positive impact in the community. “Since its inception in 1983, the Governor’s Hometown Awards have celebrated the local heroes in our communities who have made a difference through selfless service—from Decatur’s youth-led ‘Young Leaders in Action’ to Macon County’s volunteer-run community food drive,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Here in Illinois, we are home to the kindest, most generous people. And with applications for this year’s Governor’s Hometown Awards opened once again, I couldn’t be more

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O'FALLON - ISP Zone 6 Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced Sunday night that an officer-involved shooting occurred and authorities were called at 1:34 p.m. on May 28, 2023, to the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and Old Collinsville Road, O'Fallon, in St. Clair County. The Preliminary indicated the following: "ISP DCI agents responded to the above location for an officer-involved shooting," ISP said. "O'Fallon Police Department and Fairview Heights Police Department attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle wanted in connection with a felony offense out of St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, armed and dangerous. The driver exited the vehicle, armed with a firearm, and fled on foot. The driver fired at the officers and the officers returned fire. The driver continued running approximately 100 yards where he was found with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The driver was airlifted to a regional hospital and pronounced deceased. No officer

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ALTON - Chad Sibley and Angie Able with Alton VFW Post 1308 discussed their work with the post and their perspectives on Memorial Day and the meaning behind it on a recent episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . Sibley, who works with the post’s Auxiliary and Rituals Team, said they actually start Memorial Day with a ceremony at Killion Park on the Saturday before Memorial Day. He added they hosted the opening ceremony there last year and will return to host it again this year. On Sunday, Sibley said the Rituals Team goes to Fosterburg Cemetery to do a ceremony and seven-gun salute, which he described as one of the team’s longest-running events. Then on Memorial Day, they get started early by putting up flags at the post starting at 6:30 a.m., visiting four cemeteries around the city for more ceremonies, then departing for the Memorial Day parade at 10 a.m. He said it’s “an honor” to still be here to remember his fallen brothers and

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GODFREY/BETHALTO - The Dugout is a CBD, Delta 8, vape and smoke shop with locations in Godfrey and Bethalto. Owner and Founder Kelsey Clark said The Dugout offers a wide range of products and has “something for everyone.” Kelsey started the business after her husband, Bradley, was badly injured at his job and tried CBD products to treat his pain. Seeing how they helped him inspired her to share those and other products with the rest of the community. “Instead of using pain medicines or anything, he used CBD products and so we started getting into that, and kind of just wanted to do the same thing to help other people,” she said. Bradley added that The Dugout stands out from some of the other CBD, Delta 8, and vape shops around the area with their knowledgeable staff and partnership with a hemp farm. “Most of the smoke shops in the area, they’re mainly just smoke shops … we carry a large variety of CBD products, not just smoke shop

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ALTON - Wayne Able, Desert Storm veteran and Post Commander of the Alton VFW Post 1308, appeared on a recent episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to reflect on his years of service as his term comes to a close and Memorial Day 2023 approaches. Able said his career as Post Commander has been “rewarding.” “It’s been rewarding. got to meet a lot of new people,” Able said. “I got to go out and meet with other VFW posts, and it’s surprising how many posts are willing to meet and greet and work with you.” Able added that he’s seen more collaboration over the years between local VFW posts working together to host Veteran’s Day and other events. While he’s proud of the work he’s down at Post 1308, he said it’s important for the post’s survival to pass the reins on to someone who can continue its success. “It was time for me to step down and let new, fresh minds be put in and new

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BETHALTO - The Bethalto Police today released information about an investigation into an incident, which may have involved a subject who was impersonating a police officer. The department took a delayed report of the incident that reportedly occurred on Interstate 255, just north of Illinois Route 140 at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023. The Bethalto Police said the complainant reported being stopped by an unmarked white sport utility vehicle (SUV), that had emergency lights inside of the vehicle, near its visors. Once stopped the driver approached the complainant, telling her that she was speeding. The subject purportedly told the driver that he was “a cop” without being asked, and asked the driver if she believed that he was a cop. The subject wore a black collared shirt with a yellow circle or emblem on it, but he was not wearing a vest, duty belt, gun, or departmental logos/patches on his shirt. The subject released the driver with a warning for th

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SPRINGFIELD - Local advocate for common sense and political transparency. IL legislators are hard at work creating a sexless society. Using sex-neutral terminology, they are creating and changing legislation to remove any distinction between males and females. Moreover, they are trampling on advancements in our society for women’s rights and lawful protections, while endangering some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Recently, IL legislator Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy (D-14) sponsored HB 2350: INS-PAP TESTS/PROSTATE SCREEN. The legislation says that insurance will pay for “individuals” to get prostate exams and pap smears. Any reference to “men” or “women” is now replaced with “individual.” There are obvious medical consequences for taking sex specific terminology out of medicine. Medical staff would need to know one’s sex to accurately diagnose and treat patients with sex specific diseases and conditions (such as testicular

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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is encouraging families to open an Illinois 529 college savings plan or make an additional contribution in honor of the upcoming date of May 29, known as 529 Day and National College Savings Day. Frerichs’ office also is working with Illinois museums to create special opportunities for families to learn more about college savings plans and to visit the museums at a discounted price. “Opening a college savings account and making contributions are great ways to send positive messages to young people. If a child knows he or she has a college savings plan, that child is three times more likely to attend college,” Frerichs said. “529 Day is a fun designation that reminds children and families about the crucial role that a 529 account can play in children’s future success.” During the next several weeks, the State Treasurer’s Office is teaming up with select Illinois children’s

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GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois celebrated outstanding volunteers and Girl Scouts who earned awards for their achievements at our second annual Recognition of Excellence ceremony. These standouts exemplify our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The ceremony was held on Sunday, May 21 at the DoubleTree Inn in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Girl Scouts, volunteers, and their families from the 40-county jurisdiction gathered together to celebrate this year’s award recipients. “Our volunteers are an integral part of this organization, and I want to commend each and every volunteer for all that they do for Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois,” said Loretta Graham, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. When reflecting on the girl members who received their Girl Scout Silver and Girl Scout Gold awards this part year, Graham added “Our Girl Scouts continue to show up in big ways. These girls

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O’FALLON, BREESE, HIGHLAND & GREENVILLE, IL — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage skin in as little as 15 minutes. With Memorial Day marking the “unofficial” start of summer and May being Skin Cancer Awareness Month, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Breese and Highland are encouraging sun safety awareness and reminding everyone to protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), approximately 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. The good news is that skin cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers. Following guidance from the AAD and the CDC, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s, HSHS Holy Family, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospitals

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LINN, MO. – State Technical College of Missouri would like to congratulate those students who achieved the Dean’s List during the 2023 spring semester. To be placed on the Dean’s List, a full-time student must earn a semester grade point average between 3.5 and 4.0 on a 4-point scale. HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME Jerseyville, IL Ryan Eickoff

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy’s (SOP) Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program has received reaccreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). ACPE is the only accrediting body for schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States. “Accreditation of the Doctor of Pharmacy program by ACPE reflects the continued commitment that the SIUE School of Pharmacy has in providing a program of learning that includes quality assurance as well as quality improvement,” said Mark Luer, PharmD, FCCP, dean of the SOP. “Receiving the stamp of approval through accreditation, we know that what we are currently doing and how we are planning for the future are both on target and relevant,” continued Luer. “In turn, this process helps the School of Pharmacy stay on course to assure that our students will continue to be practice ready upon graduation and importantly, germane to the ever-changing

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SPRINGFIELD – With the traditional start of the summer boating season just around the corner, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Police are reminding people to wear life jackets anytime they’re on the water and to only operate boats while sober. National Safe Boating Week is May 20-26, the week leading up to the Memorial Day holiday weekend, to raise awareness of boating safety. “Life jackets save lives, period,” said Illinois Conservation Police Lt. Curt Lewis, the state’s boating law administrator. “Everyone who heads out on the water should wear a life jacket, regardless of whether they’re on a motorboat, a kayak, a canoe, or a stand-up paddleboard. We want you to have fun, but most importantly, we want you to be safe.” In 2022, there were 52 reportable boating accidents on Illinois waters, resulting in six fatalities and 40 injuries, according to statistics compiled by the Illinois

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ALTON - Alton Police reported that at 11:53 a.m. on Friday, May 26, 2023, the department received a 911 call concerning an adult male stabbing a victim in the 700 block of Hoffman Street, Alton. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said the victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for further treatment. He was later transferred to a St. Louis area hospital for additional medical treatment and is expected to survive. "Alton Police Officers located a person of interest near the scene who was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit," Chief Ford said. "Preliminary investigation has revealed both individuals know each other. This incident has been determined not to be a random act and there is no reason to believe there is any existing threat to the public." The investigation is ongoing at this time. Additional information may be released at a later time.

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford announced today that Mexican authorities have transferred a suspect in a cold case investigation for First-Degree Murder that dates back to 2014. On August 5, 2014, officers from the Alton Police Department responded to 2142 Seminary Road, Alton, Madison County, Illinois, in reference to suspected human remains being located inside an abandoned vehicle. Chief Ford said Alton Police Officers located the abandoned vehicle inside an open-air car port that was attached to an enclosed garage on the Northwest corner of the property at 2142 Seminary Road. Officers observed what appeared to be highly decayed human remains inside the rear seat and trunk area of the vehicle. "Due to the decomposition of the suspected human remains, Dr. Lindsey Trammel, a Forensic Investigator and Anthropologist with the St. Louis County, Missouri, Office of the Medical Examiner was summoned to the scene to assist the Alton Police Department and the Madison County Coroner’s

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Since the first decade of the 20th Century, Black Greek-lettered organizations have worked to protect the interests and Constitutional rights of African Americans on college campuses and in the communities they serve. Now, more than 100 years later, the 2.5 million+ members of the nine National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations find themselves standing vigilant against Jim Crowesque attacks from those who seek to undermine the foundational freedoms of Black people and marginalized communities across our United States. Emboldened by divisive white nationalist rhetoric from prominent American political leaders and influential media figures, state and local officials have introduced and adopted laws that target efforts to diminish and/or erase diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at public institutions. For example, Florida’s governor recently signed legislation that bans the state’s public colleges and universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion

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GREENVILLE - The following students were placed on the Dean's List at Greenville University for the Spring 2023 semester. Alton, IL Elizabeth Sutton, senior Bethalto, IL Megan Belangee, senior Janie Edel, senior Carrollton, IL Hannah Stringer, senior East Alton, IL Bryan Copeland, senior Stephanie Kamp, senior Edwardsville, IL Madelyn Stephen, senior Glen Carbon, IL Hannah Beck, senior Godfrey, IL Hope Wind, senior Granite City, IL Grace Phillips, senior Jerseyville, IL Kaylee Fisher, senior Molly Heitzig, senior Samantha Tallman, senior Wood River, IL Chance Foss, senior Jacey Trask, junior To qualify for the Greenville University Dean's List, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 12 hours for the semester. Freshmen (0-29.5 credits) must have a semester GPA of 3.5 or above. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors must have a semester GPA of 3.7 or above. Greenville University is an accredited Christian liberal arts

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SPRINGFIELD – State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is encouraging young Illinois photographers to submit photos for the 2023 Cream of the Crop Photo Contest so they can be eligible to receive scholarship prize money. The contest, for students ages 8 to 18, offers an opportunity for young people to display their skills and imagination to highlight agriculture in our state. The Treasurer’s Office is accepting electronic submissions for the contest until the entry deadline of June 12. Bright Start scholarship funds will be awarded to the top winners in each of the three age categories. First-place winners will receive $1,000, second-place winners will receive $500, and third-place winners will receive $250. “Our 2023 Cream of the Crop Photo Contest provides a great way for students to showcase their creativity and to help others appreciate the strength, diversity, and beauty of Illinois’ rich agricultural landscape,” Frerichs said. “We encourage all

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Senate passed a revenue package Wednesday containing a number of tax credits and tax emptions, including two measures championed by State Senator Christopher Belt that provide tax incentives to electric vehicle manufacturers and aircraft engine suppliers and manufacturers. “The electric vehicle industry showcases the potential for the future of our state,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Not only do these measures incentivize growth of the electric vehicle and aircraft engine industries, but also it will drive economic prosperity in Illinois while reinforcing the state’s commitment to fostering a sustainable business environment.” The Aircraft Engine Sales Tax Exemption exempts materials, parts and equipment used in the modification, replacement, repair and maintenance of aircraft engines from sales tax. Belt, as chair of the Senate Appropriations-Public Safety and Infrastructure Committee, was actively involved in budget

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