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SPRINGFIELD — Governor JB Pritzker along with state and local leaders and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced nearly $60 million in state grants are being awarded for 118 local park projects throughout Illinois to help communities acquire land and develop recreational opportunities. The grants represent the largest round of Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grants in the 36-year history of the program, which was designed to help communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects. In addition, for the first time in the history of the program, funding will cover 100% of eligible projects located in economically distressed communities, resulting in 22 underserved locations receiving OSLAD grants. “Today, I couldn’t be prouder to announce that IDNR’s OSLAD program is offering the largest round of grants in the history of the program — nearly $60 million,” said

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford reported today that there were reports of shots fired at approximately 7:47 p.m. Tuesday in Alton. He said officers located physical evidence of gunshots being fired in the area of Union Street at Silver Street in Alton. “However, they did not locate anyone injured or property damaged,” Chief Ford said. The investigation is still ongoing at this time, the chief added.

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ALTON - The Alton Historical Commission will hold a hearing at 7 p.m. on March 7 in the city council chambers to review the protected brick street ordinance. The ordinance was initially adopted in 1974. Many streets have been added to the list over the years. There are currently over 50 streets on the protected list. The Commission has been compiling a list of all of the brick streets in Alton. Currently, the Commission has a list of over 80 streets and alleys totaling over 10 miles of brick streets. The expansion of the Middletown Historic District to include most of downtown Alton has been one of the catalysts to review the list as there are many brick streets near or/in downtown that are not on the protected list. In addition, it is important to review the list periodically. One of the most important reasons to be included on the list is to require utilities to repair any excavations in a brick street with brick. Otherwise, the utility can make the repair with concrete leaving ugl

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EDWARDSVILLE – Elizabeth Frattura, CFP, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville business administration alumna and Morgan Stanley Family Wealth Advisor in the firm’s Chicago Wealth Management office, has been named to Forbes Magazine’s list of Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State for 2023. “It is truly an honor to see my name included and to be recognized for my contributions to this industry,” said Frattura. “During my 16-year tenure at Morgan Stanley, I have always admired and looked up to the women who make up Forbes top advisors. “I am especially thankful for my clients, colleagues and mentors who have helped make this possible by believing and investing in me.” Forbes’ “Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State” is a select group of individuals who have a minimum of seven years of industry experience. The ranking, developed by Forbes’ partner SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative and

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CHICAGO — Site Selection Magazine – an international industry-leading business publication -- released its annual corporate expansion and relocation rankings, naming Illinois 2 nd in the nation for corporate projects and Chicago the Top Metro for the 10 th year in a row. The publication noted 487 Illinois projects in 2022, moving the state up from the number three spot in the previous year’s rankings. “Illinois is open for business and leading the way as one of the top 10 states for corporate investment, with Chicago named the number one metro for the 10 th year in a row,” said Governor Pritzker. “Thanks to our nation-leading infrastructure revitalization, talented workforce, and growing economy, Illinois is the best place to do business.” The issue also named the Chicago metropolitan area as the Top Metro for corporate investment for the 10 th straight year. With a growing reputation as a tech hub with Google’s purchase of the Thompso

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GLEN CARBON - The Glen Carbon Village Board passed several items at their meeting on Feb. 28, including three items on the agenda regarding the 2023 Glen Carbon Homecoming this summer, one item regarding striping and equipment for Glen Carbon police cars, and more. The first of three Homecoming-related agenda items was the approval of a Performance Contract with rock music band Well Hungarians for the Homecoming event on Saturday, June 17 in the amount of $4,500. Village Administrator Jamie Bowden said the band had performed for them in the past and recommended approval, which the Village Board granted unanimously. The Village Board also approved a contract with Fountain City Amusements for Carnival Services for Homecoming 2023. Bowden added that the village worked hard to find a provider for a carnival that was different from last year, and that there will be more amusements this year “geared toward the teenagers.” The final Homecoming-related item on the agenda

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CHICAGO - Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford issued the following statement in response to an opinion issued today by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in their lawsuit asking the federal government to acknowledge the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The opinion affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Raoul and Ford seeking to ensure the ERA’s recognition. “We filed this lawsuit because we believe all of the requirements have been met for equal rights for all Americans to be enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, and we do not believe that Congress’ arbitrary deadline for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment is lawful. Although the court of appeals did not direct the federal government to certify and publish the ERA, it is important to recognize what today’s opinion does not say. It does not say that the federal government cannot acknowledge th

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Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Eagles of the Month” program at Civic Memorial High School. Senior students are selected each month by members of the Civic Memorial faculty to represent each department. All students are awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. Two Seniors (1 female student and 1 male student) that were selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $500.00 “Eagles of the Year” scholarship each at the end of the school year. 2023 January’s Eagles of the Month winners: Math - Lucas Bechtold Fine Arts - Anaya Braggs Social Studies - Kylee Jenkins PE/Health - Ryne Breyer Choir - Mary Hugghins Band - Maya Tuckson Science - Patrick Hale English - Aurora Phillips C.T.E. - Caleb Scott Teacher of the Month winner: SRO Jeff Shank - School Resource Officer Congratulations to all the Civic Memorial “Eagles of the Month” and the “Teacher

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Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the "Shell of the Month” program at Roxana High School. Students from each grade level are selected each month by members of the RHS faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The Seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a “Shell of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. January Shell of the Month winners are: Senior - Lindsay Wamhoff Junior - Brenna Church Sophomore - Layton Tolbert Freshman - Daisy Daugherty & Landon Smith February Shell of the Month winners are: Senior - Jackson Harris Junior - Laynie Gehrs & Jenna Lavite Sophomore - AJ Shields Freshman - Noah Smith Congratulations to all the recipients! Midwest Members Credit Union has been serving your community for over 88 years. To find out more information about Midwest Members Credit Union and what they are doing in your community, please visit www.midmembers.org .

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) launched a new effort today to eliminate viral hepatitis in Illinois. The Illinois Hepatitis Coalition held its inaugural meeting, bringing together key stakeholders - including clinicians, academic researchers, and community partners - with the goal of formulating an equity-driven strategic plan to end the viral hepatitis epidemic in the state. The work of the coalition is funded through a $1.5 million federal grant. “The number of people in Illinois and across the nation living with hepatitis B and C is continuing to rise,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “The stubborn persistence of these preventable liver diseases demands that we bring together dedicated thought leaders and community partners to reverse these trends and put Illinois on a course to eliminate new cases of these diseases.” Recent data indicates that cases of hepatitis B and C have continued to rise in Illinois. In 2020, th

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CARLINVILLE - Blackburn College will host Cyntoia Brown-Long, author and advocate for criminal justice reform and victims of trafficking, as a speaker on Monday, April 3, at 7:00 PM in Bothwell Auditorium. As part of Blackburn’s observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Brown-Long will share her journey of being trafficked and arrested during her early teenage years, being tried as an adult and incarcerated for killing a man who solicited her for sex, and her path to redemption inside and after prison. A Q&A and book signing will follow. Tickets go on sale to the public for the free event on March 3. "Cyntoia's life is both remarkable and inspirational simply from a human point of view, but I am convinced that Blackburn's students will especially benefit from her visit,” said Al Sturgeon, Vice President for Diverse and Equitable Student Life and Dean of Students at Blackburn. “A college education had a transformative impact on Cyntoia's life while in prison,

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GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon Mayor Bob Marcus announced that planning has officially begun for this year’s Village of Glen Carbon Homecoming , which will take place later this summer. He made the announcement at the Glen Carbon Village Board meeting on Feb. 28, during which he also announced a few other events going on around the village. Mayor Marcus began the meeting by announcing that the village will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 10 and under on April 2 at Schon Park starting at 1 p.m. The event is free to the public, but registration is required. Visit the Glen Carbon Village Events webpage to register and to find out more. Mayor Marcus also announced planning has begun for the 2023 Glen Carbon Homecoming on Father’s Day weekend, which is June 16 and 17. He said vendor and sponsorship opportunities are available, and that more information and sponsorship forms can be found by visiting glencarbonil.gov . He said an additional “Leaf

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BETHALTO - Bethalto Police Department's School Resource Officer Jeff Shank was recently named the Civic Memorial High School Staff Member of the Month. "Thanks for all you do SRO Shank for our community's youth and keeping our schools safe," Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said. Chief Dixon said he believes Jeff is ideal for his role as the school resource officer. "I am excited about what he has done there since he was chosen for the position," the chief added. "This is something he has always wanted to do." Dixon said Jeff has strong religious convictions and is caring for the children. "The school kids and staff both relate to Jeff," he said. "He has established rapport with the youth early and that helps them see that police officers are not the bad guy. It also helps to identify problems before they happen." Jeff is a graduate of Southwestern High School and also graduated from the University of Mississippi. He is also on the board of the Bethalto Boys & Girls Club, Bethalto's

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Former President Jimmy Carter has been put on hospice care, drawing attention to the topic. Facing a serious health issue, or coping with the news that you only have months to live, takes an emotional toll not only on the patient, but also on their family and other loved ones. That’s where the team of professionals who work in hospice and palliative care can provide great comfort and assistance. “I appreciate that there is a month dedicated to hospice and palliative care," said Julie Brock, Palliative Care Nurse, OSF HealthCare. "First of all, it designates the importance of hospice and palliative care, but it also brings to light the education and the opportunities to be able to talk and educate people about what we do.” It’s important to note the difference between hospice and palliative care, which are not the same thing. Hospice is care for patients of all ages with a life-limiting illness and a prognosis of six months or less to live, and who have decided

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BUNKER HILL - Zion Lutheran Church is hosting its 27th annual Sausage Dinner on Sunday, March 5 from noon to 5 p.m., or while supplies last. They will also be hosting a series of Fresh Meat Sales from Friday, March 3 to Sunday, March 5. The sausage dinner will be drive-thru only at the church, located at 609 E. Warren St. in Bunker Hill. All meals include pork sausage links, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, sauerkraut, applesauce, cranberries, and dessert, all for $15 per meal. “We give it all to you in a tray, and then you just come pick it up,” said Jane Baker, church trustee and member of the Sausage Committee. “You get every bit of it.” Baker added that the event has been a longstanding tradition in the community. Fresh Meat Sales will also be held at the shed next to the church on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as on Sunday, March 5 from noon to 6 p.m. Baker said a wide variety of meats will be

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EDWARDSVILLE - It has come to the attention of the County Clerk & Recorder’s Office that Veterans in Madison County who wish to record their DD214 with the Recorder’s Office are finding online services to assist them. These services may charge the veteran up to $100 or more for a service that is free of charge in the Madison County Recorder’s office. Usually, the online service will request your DD214 be mailed to them and charge you a fee. The service will in turn send this to our office to be recorded and stamped. However, if the online service sends us a copy of your DD214 we will not record and stamp your document. We must see the original or official stamped copy to record your document. To avoid paying unnecessary fees and possible denial to record your DD214 we recommend that you bring your official DD214 into the Recorder’s Office and we will be happy to record and stamp it for you at no cost to you.

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(Photos by Riverboats at the Gateway Arch) ST. LOUIS - The 2023 Riverboats at the Gateway Arch cruise season kicks off this Friday, March 3, 2023, and one of the three captains at the helm will be Kevin East. This year marks Captain East’s 31 st year as a riverboat captain. In February 1992, East was the first African American in the state of Missouri to obtain his license to navigate a vessel. East’s captain hat and jacket from his early days are now in the collections of the Missouri Historical Society. "I grew up in North St. Louis, and starting when I was 8 years old, my mother would take me down to the river to look at the boats and go on the Admiral," East said. "I got intrigued with the whole thing and started working down there in the summers when I was 18." East became a riverboat captain when he was only 23 years old. He recently saw his hat and jacket at the Missouri Historical Society and it brought back great memories of cruising, he said. "I

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ALTON - Alton firefighters confronted a serious vehicle fire Monday afternoon. Alton Fire Department Battalion Chief Tom House said the vehicle - a flatbed tow truck - apparently came across the Clark Bridge when the driver noticed smoke and pulled over near Taco Bell in Alton. House said the cab to the tow truck suffered extensive damage. Thankfully, the tow truck driver was able to get out of the vehicle and was not injured, House added. The Alton Fire Department had the vehicle fire put out quickly after they arrived.

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ST. LOUIS - CrimeStoppers is assisting the Illinois State Police and the U.S. Marshals Office in an attempt to find a 23-year-old suspect of murder - Nico Wiley of St. Louis. CrimeStoppers released the mugshot and graphic included in the story in the case. On February 7, 2023, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Wiley with First Degree Murder in relation to the death of 37-year-old, Bryan Campbell, of St. Louis, MO. The incident occurred on February 4, 2023, outside a residence in the 600 block of N. 22nd Street in East St. Louis, IL. ISP says do not approach Wiley, as he should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with knowledge of the incident or his whereabouts is asked to contact Crimestoppers by phone at 1-866-371-8477 (TIPS) or visit https://www.stlrcs.org/ . CrimeStoppers callers can always remain anonymous.

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ALTON - Blades of Beauty is a new permanent makeup studio and clothing boutique opening in the Milton Schoolhouse in Alton this weekend. Their Grand Opening event is set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 4, and will feature a piercer, giveaways, and more. The business is located in the Milton Schoolhouse at 1320 Milton Road in room N103, which is through the building’s Maeva’s entrance, down the stairs, and down the hall to the right. A video of how to get to the shop can be seen at the top of this story, courtesy of 618 Drone Service . Kari Rodney, owner and founder of Blades of Beauty, said the grand opening will feature dessert, “lots of giveaways,” and in-house piercings by Candis Ruyle. She said one of her favorite parts of this business is seeing the confidence her clients gain. “I love to help boost women’s confidence,” she said. “It’s really nice to see my clients happy once they get the procedure done.”

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