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ALTON - James Gray has had a wonderful spring with a street sign dedication in Alton and his 89th birthday which was celebrated by a large group of people. Gray was past president of the Alton Branch of the NAACP for more than 25 years and has made a huge difference in Alton for impoverished children. Alton Alderwoman Rosetta Brown described Gray as "a legend in our community contributed so much in the lives of our youth, civil rights, organizations, families and overall to the energy of our community." Gray is a former member of the Alton Housing Authority Board and a current member of the Madison County Housing Authority Board. He is also a member of the 100 Black Men organization. James Gray married Vera Boyd in 1952 and they were married for 31 years. James Gray is the father of seven children with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren along with other family members. “Jim Gray has been the consummate servant to the people of Alton as the president of the Alton

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City Police and Fire Department are investigating a home explosion in the 3000 block of Dale Avenue in Granite City. The home exploded at 2:45 a.m. Monday and the homeowner said he was at work at the time of the blast. The home was reported to have collapsed and glass and debris were tossed onto the street from the blast and around that area. Major Nick Novacich of the Granite City Police Department said the following in a statement: "As it stands right now, the investigation is still ongoing, but we can report that the residence was unoccupied when the incident occurred, no injuries have been reported stemming from this incident. The residence was a total loss and created a significant debris field that likely caused damage to the surrounding residences, but to what extent we do not currently know." He continued with the following: "The Granite City Police Department, along with the Granite City Fire Department, concur that the current evidence does not support

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 (ECUSD7) board received questions and comments about racism in schools at their board meeting on June 26. Several parents addressed the board. They spoke of specific situations where students were harassed, and they asked the board what they were going to do to prevent racial harassment going forward. “Rather than deal with hollow words, we want to deal with substance,” Scott Ahart, a parent, told the board. Ahart outlined policy changes that parents wish to see, most of which focus on prevention. He asked the board to implement a zero-tolerance policy for racial discrimination or harassment, provide age-appropriate education on racial discrimination to all students, and require cultural sensitivity training for teachers, administrators and staff. He also asked them to provide more access to literature by Black authors, and to increase the Black writings and writers studied in language arts, history

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EDWARDSVILLE - FCB Banks officially marked 20 years of business in Edwardsville with a ribbon-cutting and celebration hosted by members of FCB Bank and the The Ed/Glen Chamber of Commerce. David Toby, senior vice president of FCB Banks Edwardsville, said the bank opened in Edwardsville in June of 2003 and has been proud to serve the community for two decades. “We are celebrating today 20 years of being in this community,” Toby said. “We are a family-owned bank 3 generations, and so the community we serve and all our communities are very important to us. “We get rooted in the communities … we’ve been involved in the community and we’re very excited to celebrate those 20 years and here for another 20 years at least.” He emphasized the important role the bank’s customers have had in its success since 2003. “The customers that we serve every day, that is what drives our business,” he said. “The relationships

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SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced today that the Illinois Department of Transportation has been awarded a total of $24.9 million in two grants from the Federal Transit Administration for new battery-electric paratransit vehicles and paratransit vehicle replacements. The investment will help expand and improve services, providing additional transportation options, reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing quality of life throughout the state. “Here in Illinois, we are taking bold action to reach our ambitious clean energy goals and tackle the climate crisis head on—from passing landmark climate legislation and strengthening our electric vehicle ecosystem to expanding workforce development opportunities and investing in historically underserved communities,” said Gov. Pritzker. “This $24.9 million in funding from the Federal Transit Administration advances that critical work—all while making sure Illinoisans up and down the state

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 26 attorneys general, issued a letter on Monday supporting the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent notice of increased consumer protections included in proposed amendments to its Negative Option Rule. Negative options are marketing methods used by companies to enroll consumers in subscriptions, continuity plans and programs, automatic renewals and other recurring actions. These plans and programs do not require consent for each attached recurring charge and, in some cases, a consumer’s silence is consent. The FTC’s proposed amendments to the existing Negative Option Rule would provide more protection to consumers, clarifying terms at enrollment, offering easy and immediate cancellation options and reminders of upcoming charges. “Deceptive billing and auto-renewal tactics employed by certain businesses are among consumers’ top complaints to my office’s Consumer Protection Division,”

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CHICAGO – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $1,040,420,751 in federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This funding will help to deploy affordable, reliable high-speed internet infrastructure to help close the digital divide across Illinois. Today’s announcement is part of more than $42 billion announced nationwide to expand high-speed internet access—a federal push to help an estimated 8.5 million families and small businesses take advantage of modern-day connectivity. “The pandemic exacerbated the digital divide in urban and rural communities across Illinois and the entire nation. Investing in reliable, high-speed internet equips our residents and businesses with the tools needed to succeed in today’s economy while improving their overall quality of life,” said Durbin. “Today’s

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O’FALLON — HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital wants to remind community members that while fireworks can be fun, they can also be dangerous. According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, there were an estimated 10,163 fireworks-related injuries in America in 2022. According to medical experts at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, most injuries from fireworks occur to the hands or fingers, legs, face and eyes. Fireworks should be left to experts trained and certified so everyone can have a safe and enjoyable holiday. Some safe firework and sparkler alternatives are party poppers, bubbles, silly string or glowsticks. These options provide the same amount of fun, but with less risk of harm for all involved. If you do decide to use fireworks, here are 10 tips from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before purchasing. Never allow children to play with or ignite firework

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EDWARDSVILLE - Former Congressman John Shimkus today announced he will be chairing the campaign for Roger Smith, Republican candidate for Coroner. “I have known Roger Smith for close to 30 years,” stated Shimkus. “He is everything we would want in our Coroner – experienced, qualified and compassionate.” Smith worked for the Coroner’s office for 32 years before retiring in 2021. He was the Chief Deputy Coroner for the last 11 years of that term. Since retiring, Smith has maintained his national death investigator certification and used his experience to train other coroner personnel for the Illinois Coroner Training Board. He also serves as a consultant to both the Illinois Violent Death Reporting System and the Statewide Unintentional Overdose Reporting System. “Roger Smith has also promised to suspend collecting his IMRF pension and will decline to participate in the pension system as the elected Coroner. I believe this shows a respect

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ALTON - A local business owner proposed several solar installations to power the businesses he owns and Gordon Moore Park to expand the “clean energy portfolio” of the Alton area at last night’s City Council meeting. But with the June 30 deadline for federal grant funding fast approaching, he asked the City of Alton to act quickly in approving these projects. Vern Van Hoy said he owns and manages the Rolling Hills Golf Course in Godfrey, Arlington Greens Golf course in Collinsville, Nautilus Fitness Center in Alton, and has leased and operated Spencer T. Olin Golf Course for the last nine years. Van Hoy said he’s willing to invest to bring solar to each of these properties - as well as Gordon Moore Park - and that he would finance, install, and operate each of the solar array projects. “I’m a lifetime resident and longtime business owner and operator in this area and community, and I believe in the community and its future,” Van Hoy

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PATOKA - At first glance, Nancy Ansley seems like a regular artist. But Nancy, the founder of Nancy’s Museum of Horror and Rejects by Nancy Dolls, is not your typical painter. With her museum filled with horror movie scenes and her thriving business of gory dolls, Nancy stays in the Halloween spirit year-round. She hopes that everyone who checks out the museum or dolls learns to love horror as much as she does. “It doesn’t seem like work to me,” Nancy said of running her various businesses. “I just always loved it. I would stay up all night painting and sewing and things like that…I want to be down there painting in my studio all the time.” A longtime horror fan, Nancy has always gone all-out for Halloween. She and her husband, John, started decorating their house for trick-or-treat night 37 years ago. It soon became a major attraction for local kids, which was always the Ansleys’ goal. As more and more people fell in love wit

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BUNKER HILL - If you’ve ever sold or bought a house, you already know the headache that it can cause. But that process is as painless as possible with Lisa Webb of Third Street Realty . CJ Nasello hosts a segment with Webb on Our Daily Show every third Wednesday of the month. On a recent segment of “Third on Third With Third Street Realty,” Webb and CJ talked about buying and selling in a tight market and all the realty tips you need for an easy move. “It can be very stressful, especially for a first-time homebuyer,” Webb said. “Communication is the key thing. If you don’t know, ask, because if you don’t ask, then you’re going to not know what’s going on, and then things can go haywire from here. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll get you the answer.” CJ can relate a little too well; Webb is his realtor, and he’s preparing to close on his first house. But while he was initially overwhelmed, Web

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PATOKA - If Nancy Ansley asks you who your favorite musician is, there’s really only one right answer. Dressed as Michael Jackson, Ansley regularly impersonates the famous pop star at parties and charity events. But it’s more than just a performance. She truly feels a connection to Jackson and the impact he had on the world. “I get real emotional about it. I put on a show and it’s inspiring, and it’s more motivated to do better in this world,” Ansley said. “We show videos, and it shows how inspiring he really was. And people feel it because when I’m performing, I don’t just do it. I feel. They come up to me and they tell me, ‘You did him justice.’” Ansley never intended to be a performer. What started as a costume for a party “just escalated” into the full Jackson performances that she does now, often alongside her brother, who impersonates Elvis Presley. “It’s fun because it’s

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ALTON - Alton Police Department was called to an accident at 1:31 p.m. on Monday, June 26, involving two vehicles on Piasa Street at the intersection of W 3rd Street. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said a preliminary investigation revealed that one of the involved vehicles was traveling southbound on Piasa Street and made an attempt to turn left onto West Third Street. In doing so, Chief Ford said it failed to yield to the other involved vehicle which was traveling northbound on Piasa Street. The vehicle traveling north subsequently struck the vehicle that turned in its path. " Both vehicles were towed from the scene. No involved parties immediately sought medical attention.

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ALTON - Community members and organization leaders gathered to honor Alton High School’s first Black graduate, Charles Newton, and his wife, Sara Newton Cohron, with a gravesite dedication and proclamation on June 24. Lacy McDonald, genealogy and local history manager for the Hayner Public Library District (and secretary of the Vintage Voices Committee), spoke at the event and gave insight into the current grave marker’s history. McDonald said that Vintage Voices, the Hayner Public Library District, and Ralph Bowles at Gent Funeral Home teamed up to install a marker at the Newtons’ gravesite in September of 2022, but waited until June 24 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Newton’s graduation from AHS. Kristie Baumgartner, superintendent of the Alton School District, said the site carries historical significance for both Alton and Alton High School, highlighting the societal differences of Newton’s time. “The placement of the

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CHICAGO – On June 22, 2023, the Illinois State Police (ISP) arrested 36-year-old Saul Martinez Castanon of Berkeley, Illinois, who is suspected of pointing a laser pointer at aircraft flying overhead. These laser pointers have been a national issue for aviators for several year. When pointed into an aircraft cockpit, the light can temporarily blind pilots as they navigate busy airspace or land the aircraft. “Targeting aircraft with a laser pointer creates a safety threat that can put the lives of hundreds of passengers at risk,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Our ISP Air Operations did a phenomenal job identifying the source of the light and working with officers on the ground to arrest the suspect.” At approximately 9:45 Thursday evening, ISP Air-6 Troopers, a spotter and pilot, were participating in Special Operations Group Operation Safe Drive . While in the air, they reported being contacted by a hand-held device that emits amplified

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WOOD RIVER - An 18-year-old Jerseyville man died this morning at a St. Louis area hospital from injuries suffered in a fatal two-vehicle crash in Wood River at 11:31 p.m. on Saturday, June 24. The person, who was a passenger in the Dodge Charger, was identified as Gregory G. Kuehnel, 18, of Jerseyville. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said the Wood River Police Department received a report of a two-vehicle rollover traffic crash at the intersection of Illinois Route 3 and Illinois Route 143 on Saturday evening. Multiple officers responded to the scene, along with the Wood River Fire Department. "Upon officer arrival, medical assistance was rendered to three people who were traveling in a 2023 Dodge Charger and the lone occupant who was traveling in a 2021 Ford Bronco," Chief Wells said. "Two of the passengers in the Charger were airlifted to a St. Louis area hospital from the scene. The driver of each vehicle was transported by ambulance to a St. Louis area hospital." Wood River

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HARDIN - A Camp Point man is facing multiple charges after a traffic stop at 12:42 a.m. on Tuesday, June 20, at the intersection of Illinois Route 100 and Hamburg-Michael Road in Michael. Calhoun Sergeant Zach Hardin said occupants of the vehicle provided a false name for the driver, and after multiple requests to exit the vehicle, fled from the traffic stop, traveling west on Hamburg-Michael Road. The suspect vehicle attempted to turn around in the parking lot of a local business in Michael. At that time, Sergeant Hardin conducted a "high-risk stop" of the vehicle, ordering both occupants out of the vehicle. Both occupants continued to refuse to comply with commands. Illinois Conservation Police Officer Jordan Roundcount arrived on scene to assist Sergeant Hardin. After several minutes of refusing to obey commands, two suspects were taken into custody without any use of force. Law Enforcement Officials from Greene County also arrived on scene to assist in the traffic

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EDWARDSVILLE - The EHS Tiger Talk Podcast Network will receive a $1,320 grant from the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Foundation. The award is part of the Illinois High School Journalism Grants Program offered by the Illinois Press Foundation and financially sponsored for a third consecutive year by Illinois Farm Bureau. EHS was one of 19 recipients across the state and will use the grant money to purchase two microphones, mic stand, digital voice recorder, stream deck, capture card, webcam, green screen backdrop, and Ring light kit. The EHS Tiger Talk Podcast Network concluded a successful first season during the 2022-23 school year in which students produced two weekly podcasts, including The Jungle, the official EHS sports podcast, and Tiger Spotlight, a podcast that highlights the Tiger community. The two podcasts produced a total of 54 episodes with 1,409 plays. “With this grant, we look forward to expanding this initiative as we move into the

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GODFREY - The Madison County Sheriff's Office engaged in a foot pursuit of a suspect after a deputy conducted a traffic stop at 2:40 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, at Vollmer Lane at Valley Road in Godfrey. The suspect was brought into custody with the help of a local homeowner. "During this traffic stop, the driver fled on foot," Madison County Chief Deputy Marcos Pulido said. "The driver later fled onto a nearby property, in the 2700 block of Winter Lane in Godfrey. With the assistance of that homeowner, the driver was taken into custody." Pulido said suspected illegal drugs were located in the situation. "The driver is currently in custody at the Madison County Jail, pending formal warrant application through the Madison County State's Attorney's Office," Pulido said.

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