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CHICAGO – Building on three years of fiscally responsible leadership, Governor JB Pritzker signed the fiscal year 2023 budget into law, delivering his fourth balanced budget while providing $1.8 billion in tax relief to the working families of Illinois. The fiscal year 2023 budget provides historic funding for education, human services, law enforcement and violence prevention. It prioritizes fiscal responsibility, funding pensions at $500 million more than required, repaying the state’s remaining outstanding debts, and putting $1 billion in the Budget Stabilization Fund, also known as the “rainy day” fund, for unforeseen emergencies. “The budget I’m signing into law today brings real improvements to the lives of working families and sets us up for a stronger fiscal future,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Investments in stronger schools, modernized airports and newly paved highways, hundreds of thousands of well-paying infrastructure jobs,

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ST. LOUIS - National Volunteer Week is April 17-23 and the American Red Cross of Missouri and Arkansas honors the work of its volunteers who give their time to help people in need. Across the country, more than 300,000 Red Cross volunteers serve their communities by responding to thousands of disasters; supporting the collection of blood to help patients receive the critical care they need; aiding members of the military and their families; helping communities prepare for emergencies around the globe and much more. Here in the Missouri Arkansas Region, nearly 2,700 volunteers helped their community during the last fiscal year (July 2020 to June 2021). “National Volunteer Week is time to honor all of our volunteers for their constant service and support,” said Pete Wyatt, Regional Executive of the Missouri Arkansas Region. “They are true heroes who give their time day and night to help their local community.” During the past fiscal year, Missouri Arkansas Red

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY: The St. Louis County Police Crimes Against Persons detectives are currently investigating a probable murder/suicide in the 16800 block of Manchester Road which resulted in the death of two adult males. On April 19, 2022, at approximately 11:35 PM, St. Louis County police officers from the City of Wildwood Precinct responded to a call for service for a shooting in the 16800 block of Manchester Road. Officers located two victims suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The preliminary investigation has revealed two adult males were involved in an altercation in the parking lot. The suspect shot the victim, then turned the gun on himself in an apparent murder/suicide. Both suspect and victim were pronounced deceased on scene. The investigation is very active at this time. Additional information will be disseminated as it becomes available. Please contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 to speak with investigators if you have any information

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LITCHFIELD - Registration for the 2022 Litchfield Pickers Market is open! The Litchfield Tourism Office is happy to announce that the Pickers Market is coming back to Litchfield, Illinois in 2022. If you love antiques and vintage items, this market is for you. This is the largest, specialized open-air market in the region. The Litchfield Pickers Market will return, every second Sunday of the month from May to October, with the exact 2022 market dates being: May 8, June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, and October 9. Mark your calendar NOW and plan to visit downtown Litchfield, Illinois between 9 AM to 3 PM (for your GPS use 400 North State Street). Live musical entertainment will be scheduled for the duration of each event, and the official entertainment schedule will be posted soon! Make sure to follow all of the updates on the "Litchfield Pickers Market" Facebook page. This year is going to be a great one! Attention Vendors: Vendor registration IS OPEN. Forms with market guideline

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ST. LOUIS – Jurassic World Live Tour, an exhilarating and unpredictable live, family entertainment experience that brings the wonder and thrills of Jurassic World to generations of fans is coming to Enterprise Center in St. Louis from December 16 - 18. Jurassic World Live Tour Preferred Customers can purchase advance tickets starting today, April 19, to get the best seats available before tickets go on-sale to the general public on April 26. Fans can still sign up to become a Jurassic World Live Tour Preferred Customer and get exclusive access to the pre-sale offer code. With unrivaled arena production quality, Jurassic World comes to life against a backdrop of captivating scenery where dinosaurs from the iconic franchise, including fan-favorite Velociraptor Blue and a Tyrannosaurus rex more than 40 feet in length, take center stage. The production features more than 24 film-accurate, life-sized dinosaurs, with scale, speed and ferocity, operated by animatronics and performers.

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EAST ALTON – Research from RiverWatch Director and Stream Ecologist Danelle Haake illustrates how community members can be a part of the scientific field and provides new insight on how road salt application affects our local streams. Haake, who holds a doctorate in biology from Saint Louis University, is a senior scientist and RiverWatch Director at Lewis and Clark Community College’s National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) and has over 10 years of experience in stream ecology research. Her recent paper, “Impacts of Urbanization of Chloride and Stream Invertebrates,” was published in the journal “Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management.” The article was co-authored by three citizen scientists who also participated in the study. “The goal of this research is two-fold,” Haake said. “It will hopefully lead to greater knowledge about what is happening locally and show how chloride levels from

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GREENFIELD - Pink lights were displayed everywhere on the evening of Saturday, April 16, in Greenfield and throughout Greene County in memory of 1-year-old Danika, who died tragically in a fire on March 31, 2022. Danika is the daughter of Nate Alderfer, a Greenfield City Police Officer, and his wife, Kari, a Greenfield City Alderwoman. The pink light display was on the evening before Easter Sunday morning. Danika was 11 months old when she died in the fire on March 31, 2022, where she also lost a grandparent. Morgan Coffey and Morgan Vinyard have led an effort to show community support to the family by selling pink lights. The two had this statement about the program: “Starting on what would have been Danika’s first birthday on April 16, 2022, we are asking you to turn on your pink porch light. We want the Alderfer family to know our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. A total of 100 percent of the proceeds will be going toward starting the

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Calhoun County resident Kermit Bell is a West Point graduate and a retired Lt. Col from the US Army. Bell was drafted for WWII in 1946 as he attended Calhoun High School. However, he was granted the ability to finish school before he began his service. Bell went on to serve through Korea and Vietnam and settled into his optometry practice after earning his degree in Tennessee. Kermit Bell has played an orchestral role in efforts to build up the county’s infrastructure, including helipads, the county pool, Bell’s gym, the medical center, among other projects. “Serendipity governs what you do.” Bell’s close relationship with this concept has brought him across the country multiple times, often in ways he did not expect. “I was an enlisted man, not very experienced in anything. I had a high school education, but the Calhoon High School wouldn’t have gotten me too far.” Early on in Bell’s military career, he recognized his drive to becom

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ALTON – Alton School District 11 Superintendent Dr. Kristie Baumgartner announced today that National Education Association President Becky Pringle will be making a stop on her "Justice, Joy, and Excellence Tour" this Friday, April 22, 2022. President Pringle and Illinois Education Association President Kathi Griffin will be visiting two Alton Schools on Friday. The two will be attending a ribbon-cutting for Earth Day at East Elementary and watching a performance by the Alton High School choir and orchestra. Pringle and Griffin are scheduled to arrive at East Elementary at 1 p.m. on Friday. Over the past year, Becky has been visiting schools across the country meeting with members, and visiting schools. Becky is a middle school science teacher with 31 years of classroom experience and has distinguished herself as a fierce social justice warrior and defender of educator rights. The National Education Association represents over 3 million members across the country and is the larges

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With its catchy theme music from television theme show maestro Mike Post (Law and Order), and an interesting opening, Quantum Leap was something special that endures today. Its wild storyline could have fallen apart under a lot of weight but managed to keep its head up and keep viewers guessing and entertained as long as they didn’t look too hard at the insane logic of the science. Debuting on NBC from 1989 to 1993 the sci-fi series was something of a variety show of sorts with actor Scott Bakula (Dr. Sam Beckett) time traveling not just to different times but in different bodies. Bakula and his wise-cracking hologram guide Al (Dean Stockwell) were the magicians of this magic act. Both pulling their fair share of weight portraying the two likeable leads. Many an episode Bakula would deliver his trademark “oh boy” with each character he portrayed and then hear the signature majestic sound effect upon looking in the mirror. Though many episodes range from funny and zany

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ALTON - Heaterz Hot Chicken is a Nashville hot chicken restaurant that opened last month at 1500 Main St. in Alton (former site of the Mini Corral). Owner Dan King said the community feedback has been positive so far, and some new menu items may be on the way. King said the idea to bring the heat to Alton came from his time in business school in Bowling Green, Kentucky - just north of Nashville. “My best friends in college were from Nashville and still live there today. They are nearly all in the culinary field and we saw a gap in the Alton area,” King said. “Nashville Hot is here to stay, and the flavor profile is unique. We believe in our authentic recipe, only known by Heater (our mascot) and thought it would flourish in Alton.” After several test trials, King said the Heaterz menu was designed to be simple and keep its fresh, quality ingredients affordable. “Heaterz stands out for many reasons,” he said. “The jumbo drumsticks

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ROCKFORD - Spring has arrived which means another golf season is upon us. And that has many golf enthusiasts racing off to area courses. Before tossing the clubs in the trunk, however, the first priority is getting your body ready for the long season. Hopefully, you’ve maintained some level of fitness during the winter. But if you spent the past few months watching Netflix from the couch, experts have some important advice in order to keep your body injury free, especially to start the season. “I would just start a stretching routine," says Matthew Davidson, a physical therapist with OSF HealthCare. "Start there, work on flexibility a little bit, range of motion, try and do what you can to counteract that stiffness that you seem to get over the winter months. Cardiovascular exercises are really good because they can not only build up that system, but improve blood flow and help with weight loss for those who might have gained a few pounds over the winter.” For the

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EDWARDSVILLE – Kidmania, the Junior Service Club of Edwardsville/Glen Carbon’s annual consignment sale, will be held outdoors on Saturday, April 23rd from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. for general admission at Edwardsville High School at 6161 Center Grove Road in Edwardsville. Each year shoppers look forward to the opportunity to browse local vendors selling reasonably priced baby gear/furniture, infant through tween, and maternity clothing. This year, the Kidmania Chairs are switching things up to provide the best possible shopping experience. Mandi Ernst one of this year’s co-chairs states “We will be hosting the event outdoors again, rain or shine, at the EHS parking lot. We will have re-sell vendors as well as some marketplace vendors who will be selling new items. Having so many booths in one place makes it very convenient for shoppers to find the items they are looking for, for kids of all ages!” If your closets are spilling over with outgrown children’s

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O'FALLON - GCS Credit Union employees joined together to raise $1,305.00 in the month of March to benefit the O’Fallon Underwater Search and Recovery Team through their Don’t Stop Donatin’ Jeans Program. The Don’t Stop Donatin’ Jeans Program is funded by GCS employees who make monthly, monetary donations out of their own pockets to a local organization. By donating $15 or more to a specific organization, GCS employees are able to wear jeans and tennis shoes on Fridays and Saturdays during that month. This year, GCS Credit Union is focusing on giving back to the 18 counties that they serve. March’s focus was on St. Clair County. GCS Credit Union proudly raised $1,305 for O’Fallon Underwater Search and Recovery Team. OUSART is a nonprofit organization that helps local law enforcement, fire departments, insurance companies, and our community recover things underwater. In addition to their recovery efforts, OUSART also visits local schools to help

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GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois has wrapped up the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program for 2022. Girl Scouts were out in full force, hosting cookie booths and making door-to-door sales all throughout Southern Illinois. Their hard work paid off, as girls in Southern Illinois sold 718,485 packages of Girl Scout Cookies this year. Let’s give a shout out to the following girls for being All-Star Cookie Entrepreneurs for their respective areas: Kaitlyn Gillson from the Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana Service Unit sold 1,856 packages Alexis Brown from the Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana Service Unit sold 1,033 packages Katelynn Norman from the Bethalto Service Unit sold 1,360 packages Payton Smith from the Collinsville Service Unit sold 750 packages Mari Short from the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Service Unit sold 1,890 packages Dawn Jones from the Granite City/Madison/Venice Service Unit sold 924 packages Layla Basso from the Highland Service Unit sold 1,000 packages

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O’FALLON — As April is National Foot Health Awareness Month, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital’s Wound Care Center aims to educate the public on common foot wounds and treatment. Right now, nearly 7 million Americans are living with a chronic wound, and more than 2 million of those are suffering from diabetic foot ulcers. “Many suffering from chronic wounds have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as they have delayed needed care during the past two years,” said Casandra (Cassie) Roy, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, for the center. “The most common types of foot wounds are diabetic foot ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, arterial ulcers and pressure ulcers. Our team of caregivers are trained in treating these chronic wounds and non-responsive conditions.” For those suffering from wounds on their feet, many of these untreated and undertreated wounds have resulted in amputation, according to a study from the American Diabetes Association . Managed

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - IMPACT Strategies is proud to announce that General Superintendent Frank Malone received the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) Midwest Council’s GC Field Employee of the Year award at the Council’s Neon Awards Gala, held April 9 at the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Louis. ASA members nominated and cast votes for the award. The GC Field Employee of the Year award goes to the field employee that consistently goes above and beyond, fostering strong relationships and creating successful partnerships between subcontractor and general contractor. Frank demonstrates excellence through his ability to genuinely connect with both subcontractors, tradesmen, and clients. He has an effective and contagious work ethic that unites his team and demonstrates strong character. Frank Malone has more than 22 years of experience in the construction industry. He joined IMPACT Strategies in 2016 as a superintendent and has been a valued team member on several of the firm’s

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Photos from this article, (or gallery), may be purchased (for personal use) at: https://www.randymanning.com/Roxanna-track-meet ROXANA - Local track athletes performed well at the Roxana Relays held Monday afternoon at Charlie Raich Field, with the Civic Memorial boys and Highland girls coming out on top in the team standings. Luke Meyer, the Civic Memorial speed and sprinters coach, said the squad showed up and executed what they wanted to do in the meet. "We came out and pulled it out," he said. "The medley format was interesting and we had a lot of surprises. We knew the distance guys would do a good job, but the entire team did a good job. Going forward we have a lot left in our MVC season, and we have to get ready for the conference meet, county and sectionals. Hopefully, the weather will get warmer. I am really proud of the team, they are relatively young. A couple of senior leaders have really stepped forward for us." The Eagles won the boys division with 97 points, with

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CHICAGO – If you’re feeling lucky, you might want to buy a Powerball ticket for tomorrow night’s drawing - that’s because the jackpot is climbing, and Powerball is celebrating 30 years of making millionaires! Today is Powerball’s 30th birthday! Powerball began selling tickets on April 19, 1992, with a starting jackpot of $2 million. Since then, the multi-state game has created over 1.7 billion prize winners, including the world record $1.586 billion jackpot set in January 2016. The Powerball jackpot has been hit twice so far in 2022. Two tickets, sold in California and Wisconsin, split a $632.6 million jackpot in the January 5 drawing. Then a ticket in Connecticut won a jackpot worth $185.3 million in the February 14 drawing. And Illinois Lottery players have been doing their share of winning too. Just over the weekend, an Illinois Lottery player became a newly minted-millionaire after buying a winning Powerball ticket worth $1 million at Circle K in Marseilles

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s College of Arts and Sciences has announced a new Digital Media Literacy Post-Baccalaureate Certificate within the Department of Mass Communications, which can be completed online in one summer. The program is designed for educators, librarians and media professionals who want to address questions about the impact of media in their work or curriculum. Interested students should apply by May 17. Summer classes begin May 31. “As people spend more time online, and increasingly consume news and information through social media, the need for media literacy has become critical,” said Suman Mishra, PhD, professor and graduate program director in the Department of Mass Communications. Recognizing this need, Illinois became the first state to pass a media literacy bill in July 2021 that requires the inclusion of a unit of instruction on media literacy in public schools. Similar bills have been introduced in

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