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ALTON - State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) wants to inform the public of several new and notable laws set to take effect on January 1 st , 2023. One of these laws establishes a robust and comprehensive safety standard for drivers who transport children and families for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Public Act 102-795, sponsored by Rep. Elik, requires service agencies under contract with DCFS to make sure drivers are properly trained on how to install and operate a child restraint system, ensure they possess a valid driver’s license, have a clean driving record and a properly maintained vehicle, and create lines of communication during the scheduled transport. “It is absolutely unacceptable that children and families had to rely on transportation providers who were late, or didn’t show-up at all. When one of my constituents brought this to my attention, I knew it needed to get taken care of ASAP,” said Rep. Elik. “This

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ALTON - The Alton firefighters are known for their efforts to protect area homes and those injured or in need of rapid health assistance. Another tradition the firefighters have established is a special turkey giveaway in conjunction with the Crisis Food Center. The event was held Saturday afternoon. "We hope to provide many families with food to have a nice Christmas holiday meal," said Battalion Chief Derek Richardson, one of the coordinators. "The Alton Firefighters Local 1255 is committed to giving back to the community that we live and work in. "Our community supports us and we support our community by giving back."

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GLEN CARBON - The Glen Carbon Police Department/Glen Carbon Police Association's Annual Community Christmas Program was once again a big success thanks to generous donations. "Each year, through financial contributors, the Glen Carbon Police Association provides Christmas Gifts for several struggling families within our community," the Glen Carbon Police said. "This began as Project Candy Cane in 2017, but with the unprecedented stress of 2020, we knew the need would be much greater and we would need a creative way to meet those needs. "We reached out to Lowe’s in Glen Carbon, who provided our 12-foot LED pre-lit tree, which is displayed in our lobby allowing members of the community to leave unwrapped gifts and household needs. The tree has now become the beacon of our Community Christmas." This year, Community Christmas partnered with the Glen Carbon Fire Protection District at their annual Fill-The-Truck event at Glen Carbon Walmart. "We were overwhelmed!," the Glen Carbon

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford provided a brief update today on the 14-year-old area juvenile who was shot on Friday afternoon and transported to a St. Louis Hospital. This was the statement from Chief Ford: "One of our detectives spoke with a family member today and confirmed that he underwent surgery and is still listed as critical at a St. Louis area hospital. No other additional information can be provided at this time." At 3:48 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2022, the Alton Police Department was notified of a gunshot wound victim at Alton Memorial Hospital. Officers and detectives arrived at the hospital and determined the gunshot wound victim to be a 14-year-old area juvenile. The juvenile was airlifted to a St. Louis area hospital. The juvenile is in critical condition at this time and continues to undergo ongoing medical care. Detectives with the Alton Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division determined that the shooting had taken place inside a home

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Police Department issued a reminder with the holidays in full swing, it is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation to remind motorists about the dangers of impaired driving. From Dec. 16, 2022, through Jan. 2, 2023, law enforcement across Illinois will step up enforcement efforts with high visibility “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High. Get a DUI.” traffic safety campaigns. “We want everyone in our communities to enjoy the holidays without worrying about the dangers of impaired drivers,” said Lt. Barry Jones. “During the campaign, you can expect to see extra safety patrols. We will show zero tolerance for alcohol- and drug-impaired driving to help ensure everyone makes it to and from their holiday festivities safely.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, in 2020, a total of 11,654 people were killed in

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ALTON - The Wreaths Across America Program continued its long-time quest to honor fallen heroes in the National Cemetery in Alton last Saturday. Wreaths were placed at all the gravesides by a host of volunteers. Chaplain Bernie Caldwell, a Marine, did the invocation. The USAF - ROTC Alton Senior High presented colors and members of the Alton High School Chamber Choir performed the National Anthem at the beginning of the ceremony. Margaret Hopkins, director of the Alton Wreaths Across America event, explained the history of the event across the country and how millions of wreaths on that day were positioned in local and national cemeteries to accomplish the mission. “This year, the theme is 'Find A Way To Serve,'” she said. “We are doing that exactly here. The call to serve can be accomplished in many ways. We are honoring that here today for those who served us and still serve us. We all have something to give, whether it be time, resources, or ideas. We hope

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ALTON - Two men were arrested on weapons charges and a third was apprehended on a nationwide fugitive warrant during a deployment Thursday of Madison County’s Cross-River Crime Task Force. The deployment on Thursday marked the unit’s second saturation patrol and focused on the Alton area. Among the subjects taken into custody were Daron S. Hearn, 20, and Keith A. Sanders, 23, both of Alton. Hearn was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, with bail set at $50,000. Sanders was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of weapon by a felon, with bail set at $50,000. Officers found a 9mm handgun in a vehicle occupied by Hearn and Sanders. “This unit already is having an impact,” said Major Nick Novacich, who serves as commander of the CrossRiver Crime Task Force. “This is an innovative approach to crime-fighting, one that aims to both fend off crime in a proactive manner, and to help in the apprehension of those who have committe

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ALTON – Oasis Women’s Center received a donation from the NAACP Alton Branch Monday afternoon. NAACP Alton Branch President Michael Holliday Sr. handed over two $200 gift certificates as a little Christmas present to the center. “It’s something we want to do to show that we’re part of the community,” Holliday said. “To show people love that need to be blessed in this time of the day.” Marcy Jacobs and Anne Hargis received the gift certificates outside of Oasis. It wasn’t the first time the NAACP has partnered up with the center. “Two years ago, the NAACP bought shoes for all of the kids in the house and several others,” Jacobs said. “It kept them going for about six months.” Holliday expressed that this was a good way to give back. “Something we try to do to bring awareness to the fact that the NAACP wants to be involved in the community more,” he said.

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GRANITE CITY - The Granite City Police Department, along with the Pontoon Beach, Madison, and Terminal Railroad Police Departments hosted several kids for its annual Shop with a Cop event. "This event is by far the most enjoyable event we as a department participate in," the law enforcement agencies said in a statement. Seeing the joyful looks on the faces of the kids is "beyond what words can describe," the Granite City Police said. "A special thanks go out to Walmart - Granite City, the Granite City Township, and St. John UCC - Granite City for all of their help with this event."

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ALTON - Riverbender Radio's The Bridge will be playing your favorite Christmas music and classic carols around the clock beginning today, Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. through Christmas Day. David Ollenbittle, station manager of Riverbender Radio, and Christmas enthusiast said he hopes the switch over to Christmas music helps to get people into the spirit of the season. “We’ll take care of the music so you can focus on taking care of the presents and food, and the things that really matter like spending time with family and friends,” Ollenbittle said. This is The Bridge station's second year providing special Christmas programming. Ollenbittle will kick off The Bridge station's festivities with The Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey. Then through the weekend, you can expect to hear popular songs White Christmas by Bing Crosby, Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee, A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives, Jingle Bells by Frank Sinatra, Here Comes Santa Claus, an

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ST. LOUIS - For the second season in a row, the St. Louis Blues and Schnucks have partnered to deliver Random Acts of Kindness throughout the St. Louis area. Blues and Schnucks employees will surprise members of the community, such as restaurant workers, teachers, neighborhood waste service workers, mail carriers, and other individuals who have shown kindness to others, by distributing Blues ticket vouchers over the next few weeks. The program kicked off earlier today when Blues Hall of Famer Bernie Federko, Louie, and members of the Blue Crew surprised shoppers at the Crestwood Schnucks with ticket vouchers to the Blues versus Ottawa Senators game on January 16. "We're looking forward to continuing the Random Acts of Kindness program with the St. Louis Blues where together, we can recognize the kindness shown to us by others," said Bill Bradley, Schnucks Chief Marketing and Communications Officer. "This is an ideal time of year to leverage our partnership and give back to our community.

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CHICAGO - As travelers nationwide prepare for the busy holiday season, Attorney General Kwame Raoul urges the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to strengthen protections for airline consumers and provide meaningful relief to those whose flights are unexpectedly canceled or significantly delayed. “As families travel during the busy holiday season, delayed and canceled flights waste hours and even days that should be spent with loved ones,” Raoul said. “Any time of year, passengers should be able to count on airlines to get them to their destinations without long delays, unexpected cancelations or spikes in ticket prices. I’m calling on the U.S. Department of Transportation to adopt rules that would ensure airlines provide relief to those who experience cancelations and long delays not related to inclement weather. I will continue to advocate for Illinois consumers to be treated fairly when they fly.” Raoul joined a bipartisan coalition of 34 attorneys

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Rotary Club has chosen to honor Edwardsville High School student Tyler Lintke with the Student of the Month Award for the month of December. Tyler was nominated by Honors Spanish teacher Ana Harris of Edwardsville High School. Tyler is the son of Serena and Kevin Lintker. He has won various math awards, along with being recognized in Mu Alpha Theta, a national math honor society. Tyler is involved with many clubs at Edwardsville High School, including Chess Club, Engineering Club, and he is also a member of the EHS Math Team. In the future, Tyler hopes to attend either the University of Wisconsin- Madison, Purdue, or the University of Illinois to obtain a computer science degree. In his free time, Tyler enjoys playing chess, and golf, watching sports, and completing jigsaw puzzles. The Edwardsville Rotary Club recognizes a student each month September through April. Each May, Edwardsville High School staff chooses one of the monthly winners to receive

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COLLINSVILLE – With a few days remaining on the holiday shopping calendar, Ameren Illinois and Google are joining forces with the Environmental Law and Policy Center to give Ameren Illinois heating customers the gift of energy savings. Customers can get a $0 Google Nest Thermostat, tax and shipping included, thanks to a special Cyber Monday promotion that runs through December 31. Approximately half of a typical residential customer’s utility costs go toward heating and cooling. With a smart thermostat, customers can create a heating and cooling schedule from their smart device that can help them to remain comfortable and save money. “We’re very excited to partner with Google and the Illinois Environmental Law and Policy Center to promote the final days of this very special offer," said Kristol Simms, Sr. Director, Energy Efficiency & Regulatory Policy Implementation, Ameren Illinois. "Smart thermostats can help customers save between 10%-12% on their

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HILLSBORO - The Hillsboro Police Department released the identity of the body discovered in a creek near Hillsboro High School this past Friday. The decedent has been identified as 33-year-old Joshua L. Ernst of Hillsboro. Ernst's body was located by students walking home from school near Fairground Avenue in Hillsboro around 3 p.m. Friday. Hillsboro Police also said video surveillance footage is being viewed and collected of the incident and the investigation into the circumstances leading up to Ernst’s death remains ongoing. Police said a forensic autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday. Hillsboro High School's home boys basketball game that night was canceled because of the discovery. The Hillsboro Police Department along with the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, and Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigations Unit are investigating the body discovery.

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CHICAGO - As the holiday travel season continues and millions of Americans are set to board crowded flights in the next few weeks, today U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted her new legislation to prioritize passenger safety. At O’Hare International Airport, Duckworth spoke on the importance of her recently introduced Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act, which would ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) do more to prioritize passenger safety by appropriately considering seat size, carry-on baggage, people with disabilities, seniors and children in its emergency evacuation standards. Joining Duckworth to show their support for her legislation today included Captain C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger, Association of Flight Attendants United AFA Chicago President Scott Pejas and Allied Pilots Association Communications Committee Chairman Captain Dennis Tajer. Photos from today’s event are available here . “Imagine being on a crowde

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ALTON — One lucky player changed their life dramatically on Sunday, Dec. 11 with a $15 wager. The player won $652,902 on a parlay that had 16 overs. This was the largest payout at the Argosy Sportsbook since it opened in March 2020 and one of the largest payouts on a $15 parlay. The bet included 7 different NBA games that were to be played that evening. “We are beyond thrilled for this player and welcome our friends from across the region to try their luck,” said Randy Peterson, Vice President, and General Manager of Argosy Casino Alton . “It’s a lot of fun for us to see someone’s life change with a $15 bet.” The Sportsbook is located on the Argosy main floor, next to the Hops House bar, and is open 7 days a week from 9 am to 11 pm. The Sportsbook features individual viewing stations, odds-display monitors, and thirty-six 65-inch HDTVs for viewing live sports including NFL, NBA, and the World Cup. About Argosy Casino Alton With over 45

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EDWARDSVILLE - In line with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s commitment to community engagement, Edward Ackad, PhD, associate professor of physics, shared his expertise in physics and astronomy with Girl Scout Troop 227 from Granite City to help them earn their Daisy Space Explorer badge. “The Department of Physics wants to communicate our love for physics with everyone,” said Ackad. “My hope is the troop gained enthusiasm for learning more about astronomy.” Ackad led the group through activities to help explain what a telescope is. The troop learned how lenses bend light, that the moon has different textures, and had the opportunity to view the moon with their own telescope they built followed by viewing the moon through a large telescope. “We love being able to have the girls meet people from the community and learn in a fun way,” said Kim Smith, Troop 227 leader. “The girls loved building telescopes and then having the

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JERSEYVILLE - Gregory "Sammy" McCarry, the man who opened the business that generations have visited for ice cream and yogurt delights - McCarry's Dairyland - has died. This was the announcement on McCarry's Dairyland Facebook page from his family: "It is with great sadness that we have to share the passing of our father Gregory “Sammy” McCarry. Following his dream, our parents opened Dairyland 43 years ago. "Although he retired in 2014, he was always there to lend a hand or give us some advice. He was truly one-of-a-kind and will be missed horribly. We are so blessed to live in a community that truly supported his dream and made it a reality." Jerseyville Mayor Bill Russell said he had known "Sammy" for a long time and he grew up in the community with him. "He worked first in the grocery business, but then created Dairyland," the mayor said. "We live around the corner from Dairyland and there are always long lines and it is very popular." Heather Brown made this

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter, about the apparent disconnect between Mr. Musk’s statements about eradicating online child sexual exploitation on Twitter and his company’s actual efforts to do so. In his letter, Durbin noted that while Twitter certainly had room for improving online child safety before Mr. Musk acquired it, reports indicate that Twitter’s approach to child safety has rapidly deteriorated on his watch. “I know you are a father so I trust you will take this issue seriously… While you have claimed that ‘removing child exploitation is priority #1’ for Twitter, recent reports indicate that Twitter under your ownership is eliminating personnel who have worked to protect children and combat child sexual exploitation, including the sharing and collection of child sexual abuse material,” Durbin wrote.

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