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ALTON - More than 150 kids from Granite City Community School District #9 were able to pick out their own pair of shoes Friday morning at the Famous Footwear inside Alton Square Mall. This was made possible by All God's Children Shall Have Shoes, a non-profit that provides socks and shoes to children in need. This has become an annual event for many schools in and around the Riverbend area including Granite City, Wood River, and Alton. The event dates back to 2013, but the AGCSHS program was started in the 1960s by a few Illinois Bell workers who saw some kids walking to school without shoes on. Students were bussed in from their schools, thanks to buses provided by First Student Inc., and then received help from multiple volunteers to size them and pick out a pair of shoes of their liking. Volunteers were from surrounding police and fire departments. An estimated 30-plus volunteers attended the non-profit event. According to Sue Wooden, one of the event's key organizers, thes

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CHICAGO – Today Governor JB Pritzker signed the historic Unemployment Insurance (UI) Agreement, finalizing a bipartisan plan to pay down $1.36 billion in UI loan debt remaining from the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement will save taxpayers an estimated $20 million in interest costs that would be due next September and preserves hundreds of millions of dollars in future federal tax credits for Illinois employers, without decreasing benefits for employees. “Today, I signed historic, bipartisan legislation to eliminate pandemic-induced UI Trust Fund debt, replenish the fund for the future, protect benefits for working families, and further fuel Illinois’ strong economic trajectory,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We are delivering an investment of $1.8 billion—$1.36 billion of which will pay off the remaining balance of federal advances and $450 million of which will serve as an interest-free loan to the Unemployment Trust Fund. This bipartisan agreement

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that, as a result of his intervention, Illinois consumers and third-party reimbursers, such as insurance companies and self-insured businesses, who purchased Remicade from April 5, 2016, to Feb. 28, 2022, have until Dec. 27, 2022 to submit claims to be included in a $25 million settlement for overcharges due to antitrust violations. Recovery payments will be based on 100% of the price of Remicade purchases made, however, the exact amount of reimbursements will be determined after a final approval hearing. Remicade is a drug used to treat Crohn’s disease and other autoimmune disorders. Under the original proposed allocation plan of a settlement that Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Biotech, Inc. (J&J) entered to resolve antitrust allegations related to the drug, Illinois residents and businesses could claim only 1% of the price of their Remicade purchases. Meanwhile, consumers and businesses in other states with similar law

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Township officially kicked off the construction of Township Hall with a commemorative groundbreaking on December 8 th at noon. The Township Hall is located at 300 Park Street in Edwardsville. The current Township Supervisor, Kevin Hall said, “As many of you know, this groundbreaking is a long time coming at over 8 years from the first facilities meeting back in 2014. Thank you to former Supervisors Frank Miles & Fred Schulte, Facilities Committee Chair Matt Chapman, Jamie Henderson & Joel Hall from Henderson Associates, and Mark Kabureck of Millennium Construction for all of your hard work getting us to this day.” The renovation contract was awarded to Millennium Construction for $1,385,000 with architectural work handled by Henderson Associates. The project will bring many improvements and upgrades to a building that date from the late 1980s. It will include an increase in space, updating to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements,

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GODFREY – Mr. Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant and Grill has been selected as the December 2022 RiverBend Growth Association Small Business of the Month award recipient. At 119 Eastgate Plaza in East Alton, one of several establishments comprising the city’s Eastgate Plaza Shopping Center, Mr. Pancho’s is owned by David and Luz Sanchez. The Sanchezes have been in the service industry and restaurant ownership for over 20 years. They have spent the last three of those years at Eastgate Plaza, offering a full dining menu full of traditional Mexican dishes made from authentic recipes along with a wide variety of beverage options. Thousands of diners have come to love as much as the Sanchezes love the people who have dined with them. “We all agree that our goal is to provide a safe, accepting, and an all-around good place to eat and drink,” said restaurant spokesperson Taylor Whitehead. “We also jump at the opportunity to help and give back at any

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ROXANA - Jennifer Jenkins has organized a GoFundMe fundraiser for Alex Maguire, 22, who was in a car accident and died late Tuesday night, Dec. 6, 2022. Jenkins had this to say about Alex: "If you were lucky enough to have known Alex, you knew his big heart, big dreams, and an even bigger smile. He loved fishing, time with friends, and most of all, his wrestling and sports. "He leaves behind his father (Adam), mother (Alison), and brother (Jacob). Funeral arrangements are pending, and more information will be posted soon. Alex had no insurance, so any donations will be used for the family for funeral and medical expenses." On Thursday, Jenkins thanked those who made donations to the family. There is still hope to get to the $10,000 goal for the family for any others who wish to contribute to the GoFundMe page. She said funeral services for Alex Maguire will be at Paynic Funeral Home on December 11. Visitation starts at 1 p.m., and the funeral service starts at 4 p.m. In

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ALTON - The Subway located at 712 East Broadway in Alton has two signs on its door that say “Permanently Closed Thank You For Your Patronage” posted as of Thursday, December 8. Alton Mayor David Goins said if the Subway on Broadway is permanently closed, it is “a great loss for our community.” “A lot of city workers and the police and fire departments eat there,” he said. “I hope if someone has an opportunity to open it up again it would be great for the community. The owners have made it a very nice space to come and eat.” Riverbender.com will continue to attempt to contact the owners for more information but wanted the public to know the restaurant is not open at this point in time.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) and its community partners are recognizing December 8th as Latina Equal Pay Day, a day acknowledging the pay disparity between Latinx American women and white men. On average, Latina workers in the United States are paid 49 cents for every dollar earned by a white, non-Hispanic man. Latina Equal Pay Day is the final equal pay day of the year as Latinas face the largest wage gaps among women workers and all major race, ethnicity, and gender groups. The day marks how far into the next year Latinas must work to earn what white men earned in 2021; said another way, it takes Latinas nearly 24 months to earn what a white man earns in 12 months. “Women continue to comprise a large percentage of the American workforce, and yet make less than their male counterparts,” said Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan. “This day should be marked to honor the contributions of Latina women to Illinois’

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CHICAGO - As the colder months approach, the demand for shelter is growing and many shelter providers are already approaching maximum capacity. The increased demand could create difficulties for shelters, putting some of the most vulnerable Illinois residents at risk. To address this concern, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced today an additional $5 million is being invested to support the expansion of access to emergency shelters during the winter months. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: shelter is not a privilege—it’s a right,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With the winter season well underway and snowy days on our horizon, we are investing $5 million to ensure that no Illinoisan goes without the shelter they need to stay warm, safe, and healthy. This additional funding will help emergency shelters expand their operations—keeping a roof over the head of every Illinoisan who needs it.” “The

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CHICAGO — The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) announced a $2.8 million Transitional Housing Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) today. This federally funded Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) NOFO secures transitional housing services for individuals whose housing needs arise from or are a cause of their victimization. The statewide NOFO offers grants to public agencies and non-profit organizations that support programs that provide survivors safety, independence, and stable housing. “Everyone deserves to feel safe and protected. But, unfortunately, for many survivors of victimization, basic housing resources are threatened, reduced, or eliminated,” said ICJIA Executive Director Delrice Adams. “Secure housing is critical for survivors as they begin their paths to healing in both urban and rural areas. This funding opportunity will provide much-needed housing resources for survivors and their families.” Survivors of violence face significant

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EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 is inviting all community members to complete a brief survey. One of the key priorities of District 7 is ongoing community engagement. It is important to find ways to share ideas and listen to our community’s hopes, priorities, and goals for our schools. During the past few months, the Engage District 7 community engagement program has worked towards developing a facility improvement plan for the school district. The opinions of the community are important as the District continues to move forward, and input from the survey will assist in finding ways to work together to continue to improve our schools. The survey may be accessed at www.ecusd7.org/survey . Those wishing to have a copy of the survey mailed to them, may call the District 7 offices at 618-656-1182. Surveys should be completed by Dec. 15, 2022.

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CHICAGO – In response to the hospitalization of state Sen. Scott Bennett (D-Champaign), Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement: “Scott Bennett is genuine, kind, and dedicated to serving his constituents. MK and I are keeping Scott, Stacy, and his entire family and community in our prayers.” A spokesperson with his office confirmed the Champaign senator is at Carle Hospital Thursday. There were not any details provided on why he is in the hospital or his condition. Bennett is a former Assistant State’s Attorney for Champaign County. He has represented Champaign and Vermillion counties in the General Assembly since January 2015. Bennett made headlines for filing an amendment on behalf of several state attorneys on the SAFE-T Act.

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JERSEYVILLE - Students in the Jersey Community High School Advanced Design class have been busy this holiday season making their own crafts and merchandise to sell for a good cause. Advanced Design teacher Erica Heitzig challenged her students to raise $100 each to donate to kids at JCHS who otherwise wouldn’t have Christmas gifts, and she said they have all reached that goal. Students worked individually or in groups and have been hard at work crafting handmade ornaments, designing sweatshirts, and promoting their products on social media. Heitzig said one team of four girls advertised their embroidered sweatshirts on social media and got 65 orders overnight. “It’s been neat to see what the students have done - some are doing machine embroidery, some are doing handmade crotchet ornaments, others are using the sewing machine or our Glowforge laser cutter, and there’s been some vinyl projects too,” she said. “I’m just the facilitator over

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GODFREY - The Annual Cookies and Cocoa For Community Christmas event carries on the legacy of David Freer's commitment to this particular charity year after year. David, who was a Freer Auto Body founder in Godfrey, died in September 2008, but his family has continued collecting and raising funds for the charity ever since his death in memory of him. Community Christmas is a United Way program that provides support to dozens of local non-profits in Southwest Illinois. Community Christmas donations assist the less fortunate during the holiday season to make sure who otherwise wouldn't have it, have toys, clothing, etc. Freer Auto Body's Christmas In July this year collected an astounding $52,000 for the charity. Margaret Freer, a current owner of Freer Auto Body and David's mother, said indeed they as a family have always tried to remember David year after year in this special way - supporting his favorite charity, Community Christmas. Lily and Taylor Freer have been catalysts

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GLEN CARBON - The Autism Clinic at Hope is committed to giving children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) professional care and attention so they can soar. The recently commemorated location at 4559 Benes St. in Glen Carbon focuses primarily on preschool ages children. Presently, there are some openings at the center for anyone interested. For more than a half-century, Hope has pursued a single mission: to help children with disabilities achieve their full potential. For decades, they have carefully cultivated a culture of hope for children, no matter how great the challenges they may face. Hope’s Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) intervention services hits the core of helping children with autism by following one simple rule: every child is unique and the Hope team will develop individual treatment plans to best meet their needs. Through a Preschool ABA program, children learn by playing with their peers and with small group activities. Some learn to communicate by exchanging

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WASHINGTON - The United States Navy Band awarded the inaugural Alton Augustus Adams Sr. Award for Emerging Composers to Jaylin Vinson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for his chamber work “Afrophilia.” “Afrophilia is a sonic expression of my love of African and African diasporic music. It incorporates harmonic and melodic idioms from jazz, hip-hop, and gospel. This piece is a raw product of me exploring and loving every sense of Blackness that is quintessential to my existence,” said Vinson. “Afrophilia” will be premiered by the U.S. Navy Band Woodwind Quintet on Feb. 9, 2023, at Howard University’s Childers Recital Hall at 12:40 p.m. A violinist, Vinson is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in composition from the Sheperd School of Music at Rice University in Houston. The award honors the Navy Band’s first Black bandmaster, Chief Musician Alton August Adams Sr., who led an all-Black Navy band at the height of racial segregation policies

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ST. LOUIS - Although the holidays can be a time of joy, they can also be a time of stress for people struggling with mental health disorders. Getting out of normal routines, extra family gatherings and less healthy foods can all lead to an increase in symptoms. Independence Center, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping adults living with mental illness, wants to remind people of some simple tips to help those struggling with mental health have a good holiday season. Independence Center Executive Director Trish Holmes said stress and anxiety typically play a significant role in triggering mental health symptoms. She said paying attention to what is causing those feelings can help people avoid those triggers. “Stressors around the holidays can range from past memories of substance abuse, financial restrictions or dealing with difficult family members and friends that you only see around the holidays,” said Holmes. “We encourage our members to put themselves and

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Thursday that a jury returned guilty verdicts against a Glen Carbon man who sexually assaulted a child. The jury convicted Jesse W. Chartrand, 43, of one count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Chartrand committed sexual acts with the child between Aug. 17, 2019, and July 30, 2020. “Crimes against children are the worst,” Haine said. “We continue to pray for the healing of the victim, who testified bravely in this case. We also thank the dedicated work of police, prosecutors, and the staff at the Madison County Child Advocacy Center. Thanks to their tremendous work, this predator was convicted and is facing a long prison sentence.” Key to the prosecution’s case were an interview of the victim, conducted by staff of the Child Advocacy Center, and an interview of Chartrand, conducted by Glen Carbon Police. Chartrand

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ALTON - Alton Odyssey Tours is hosting its eighth annual “Tunes For Toys” fundraiser this Saturday, Dec. 10 from 6-10 p.m. at the Post Commons, located at 300 Alby Street in Alton. Live music will be performed by the Soulard Blues Band and proceeds will benefit local nonprofits. The cost of admission is either a new, unopened child’s toy donation or a $10 cash donation - toy donations will benefit Riverbend Family Ministries , while cash donations will benefit Faces Not Forgotten . “This event is a family-friendly event each year to raise efforts for not only giving back during the holiday season, but kind of community togetherness - showing that together, we can really help those in need,” Lewis said. “ kind of that, ‘Better to give than receive’ mentality for this holiday season.” Lewis added that Decaro’s will be providing appetizers while supplies last, which have been donated by Decaro’s and Sysco, two

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville High School Music Department held its Winter Concert on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at the EHS gymnasium, and the packed house was left filled with the Christmas spirit. The EHS band, orchestra, and choir all performed in the winter showcase. EHS Orchestra Director Victoria Voumard said a total of $3,322.51 was raised at the concert Wednesday night. "We will donate half to Main Street Community Center," she said. One of the highlights of the Winter Concert was "Winter Palace" featuring Connor Miller on guitar, Cash Vereeke on electric bass, and Abigail Stacy on the drumset. Another highlight was "Carol of the Bells," featuring two senior orchestra violinists, Ashley Kim and Jane Fitzgerald. Other music performed included "All I Want for Christmas is You" by the orchestra, "Here We March A-Wassasaling" by the band, and "Mi Y'maleil" by the choir. The band also performed "Toboggan," the Choir sang "This Christmas," and a percussion ensemble did

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