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CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) announced today a $605,000 fine for Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, for violating the Network Adequacy and Transparency Act (NATA). Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, paid the fine and agreed to take corrective action based on the exam findings. The Department will conduct follow up exams to ensure the company remains in compliance. The Market Conduct Exam Final Report can be found here . “We are committed to ensuring that Illinois consumers have access to care and receive equitable service from the health insurance companies collecting their monthly premiums,” said IDOI Director Dana Popish Severinghaus. “The law requires health insurance companies to have a provider network that meets proper time and distance standards for consumers to receive care, as well as up-to-date, accurate

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GRANITE CITY - Juniors Nicholas Branding and Breonna Brown of Granite City High School were selected as Granite City Rotary Club Students of the Month for February. Students were nominated by teachers, and were chosen on the basis of academics, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and civic honors and awards, and organization membership and leadership. Each honoree will receive a framed certificate and a gift card, and will be recognized at the 29th Annual Mayors' Prayer Breakfast on March 14, 2023. NICHOLAS BRANDING Member of Marching Band, Ensemble Band and Jazz Band ... Drum major for Marching Warriors ... Member of GCHS Bass Fishing Team and Boy Scouts ... Volunteer candlelighter and multimedia tech at church ... Volunteer at TWIGS, Mitchell Fire Department and Special Olympics ... Eagle Scout ... Illinois Principals Award ... Member of National Junior Honor Society, Secondary Honor Society and Saturday Scholars ... Son of Nathan and Susan Branding. BREONNA BROWN

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after President Joe Biden unveiled an outline of his Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget proposal: “With this budget, President Biden has laid out bold priorities that invest in America’s future. By protecting and strengthening the bedrock promise of Medicare and Social Security, the President understands how crucial these programs are for the security and safety of millions of Americans. The budget also lays out opportunities to grow our economy from the bottom up and middle out, cut the deficit by ensuring the wealthiest Americans and corporations pay their fair share, create good paying jobs, lower costs for families, continue to upgrade our infrastructure, and much more. I’ll work with my colleagues to see the President’s vision across the finish line to deliver for American families and communities.”

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Legalization of cannabis has led to increased use by the general population, in addition to a rise in use by pregnant women. Cannabis is the most used drug during pregnancy in the United States and yet many doctors don’t talk about it with their patients who are pregnant or thinking about conceiving. One study found about 20% of pregnant women age 24 and under screened positive for cannabis. Dispensaries that sell the drug for recreational, and in some cases medicinal use, promote various strains for mood enhancement, sleep issues, loss of appetite, and in some cases, relief of morning sickness. “One study using hidden shoppers found that cannabis dispensaries were actually giving advice to pregnant women to use cannabis for their nausea and pregnancy. So that type of advice is very much concerning to us.” William Bond, MD, is a physician in the emergency department at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center and director of simulation research at Jump

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EDWARDSVILLE - SIUE Credit Union staff and board of directors made a $500 donation to the Glen-Ed Pantry. SIUE Credit Union President/CEO, Matthew Parrott, states, “We take pride in supporting our local non-profit organizations within the communities that we serve. Being a not-for-profit institution ourselves we share the same values of people helping people and improving the lives our of members through financial stability just like Glen-Ed Pantry’s value of bringing better health to our community.” Glen-Ed Pantry is a local non-profit organization that serves residents of the Edwardsville School District #7, which includes the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Hamel, Worden, Midway, Moro, Dorsey, and Prairietown. The Glen-Ed Pantry was established in 1980 and is staffed by more than 500 volunteers from our communities and serves around 200 families each month. SIUE Credit Union was founded in 1959 on the campus of SIUE University to serve the faculty and

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ALTON - Riverbend Head Start & Family Services is proud to announce that all of our Head Start centers have received the Gold Circle of Quality designation from ExceleRate Illinois, the State’s Quality Recognition and Improvement system for early childhood education and care programs. The centers are based in the following communities: Alton, Bethalto, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Granite City North and Granite City South. “Riverbend Head Start and Family Services always strives to provide the highest quality for children, families and staff,” said Veneta Wadlow, Center Operations Coordinator. “Just knowing that all six of our locations consistently are awarded the Gold Circle rating through ExceleRate demonstrates the commitment of staff, and I feel honored to work for a program that supports high standards of service.” ExceleRate Illinois uses a consistent set of standards organized into four domains: teaching and learning, family and community

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JERSEY - The Jersey Community High School (JCHS) Theatre Department is putting the finishing touches on their upcoming spring musical, "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown." The classic musical, based on the popular Charles M. Schultz comic strip, Peanuts, was written by American composer Clark Gesner in 1967. The musical centers around a day in the life of Charlie Brown and features all of the beloved characters from the cartoon. According to JCHS Theatre Director Brett Beauchamp, the production boasts great music and humor that will bring back memories of the Peanuts for those who grew up with them. "The music is incredibly charming, and the dialogue is very funny," Beauchamp said. "For those who grew up with the Peanuts, this will be a nostalgic night of theatre." He added that the show is suitable for all ages and described it as a "light" production. "It’s just enjoyable," he said. "You don’t really have to think a whole lot." The musical also provides a unique

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GODFREY - A new drone video tour highlights the improvements that have been made to Godfrey’s Glazebrook Park in recent history, including the addition of eight new pickleball courts, a splash pad, a new pavilion, and much more. Parks and Recreation Department Director Chris Logan said the department is extremely proud to offer these new attractions to the community and said there’s even more in store for the park’s future. Logan said the splash pad will fully open to the public this summer - it was completed last year, but only soft-opened toward the end of summer and early fall due to the timing of construction completion. “This summer here pretty soon we’re going to open it up to the public, and we’re really excited about that because we know people are just pumped about the splash pad,” Logan said. “Right next to the splash pad, there’s a building there with restrooms and a pavilion on the front of it with some tables

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County Building and Zoning announced today that Alton and Alton Township, Edwardsville and Edwardsville Township, East Alton, Granite City Park District, along with Wood River and multiple others have received grant approval for environmental initiatives. Madison County is awarding more than $143,000 in grants to municipalities, townships, and park districts for these initiatives in 11 taxing districts, the building and zoning office said. This is the full list and the various projects: Alhambra — $7,716 — Solar powered radar signs Alton — $15,000 — Olin Park Restoration Alton Township — $8,000 — The Wadlow Restoration Project East Alton — $15,000 — Community Recycling containers Edwardsville — $15,000 — Wastewater Treatment plant LED conversion Edwardsville Township — $15,000 —HVAC Building renovation Granite City Park District — $15,000 — Legacy Golf

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Annual Edwardsville Business Forecast Breakfast this week honored some of the backbone businesses and individuals of the city and featured details of what is on the economic horizon. Three businesses were recognized for special accolades: R.P. Lumber Company was honored as the 2022 Large Business of the Year; the Chef's Shoppe was the 2022 Small Business of the Year; Edwardsville Neighbors was the 2022 Nonprofit Business of the Year. "We had the pleasure Tuesday morning of hosting more than 200 people from area companies and business sectors, plus community groups, nonprofit organizations, students, and others for our annual Business Forecast Breakfast," Edwardsville Mayor Art Risavy said. Risavy spoke at the event, along with Chad Opel, a finance coach and advisor with Front Office Wealth Strategies who shared economic insights as the keynote speaker. James Arnold, the city's economic and community development coordinator, served as moderator. An Edwardsville

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ALTON - Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the Alton Brick Street Ordinance, but some of the city’s 10 miles of brick streets remain unprotected by the ordinance. The Alton Historical Commission held a public meeting on March 7 to discuss the possible expansion of the Protected Brick Street List. “We are having a meeting tonight to consider one, whether we have found all of the brick streets in Alton, and also, to determine whether or not the Protected Brick Street List should be expanded,” Alton Historical Commission Chair Douglas Bader said at the meeting. A few people spoke publicly at the meeting, including William Perkins, who suggested adding West 7th Street to the Protected Brick Street List - and said that according to his research, West 7th Street is the “steepest brick street in the world.” “Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania brags that they have the steepest street in the country, which is Canton Avenue,” Perkins said. “The

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ALTON - The 55th Annual NAACP Branch of Alton Freedom Fund Banquet features a special keynote speaker in May - a nationally described "Attorney for Justice" - Ben Crump. The event is Saturday, May 20, 2023, at the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Meridian Ballroom at the Morris University Center, Edwardsville. A social hour takes place from 6 to 7 p.m. that evening and dinner at 7 p.m. and the keynote speaker. Crump has handled several high-profile cases, including Trayvon Martin, Tyre Nichols, and Earl Moore. He also represented victims in the Flint, Mich., water crises, the Johnson & Johnson powder lawsuit, and the victims of the Amazon Warehouse collapse in Edwardsville. "I'm an unapologetic defender of black life, black liberty, and humanity," Crump said. "That's why I call myself a civil rights lawyer who believes that it's about these romantic notions of liberty and justice for all." The theme of this year's NAACP Freedom Fund event is "Injustice Anywhere is a Threat

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MILLSSTADT – State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) says he understands residents’ frustrations with the water and sewer problems in Cahokia Heights and is calling on the Governor and the leaders in the Illinois House and Senate to release the promised funds to the community. “People are getting sick not to mention the stench that comes with the backups during heavy rains,” Schmidt said. “The Governor promised $9.9 million in funding last August. One of the very first actions I took as a member of the General Assembly was to send a letter to the Governor asking for the money to be released. It is time for the state to fulfill its commitment to the people of Cahokia Heights.” Schmidt is also calling on city leaders in Cahokia Heights to work with him for the good of area residents. “Mayor Curtis McCall Sr. is a Democrat. I get it. But we should be working together,” Schmidt said. “The truth is the people of Cahokia Height

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the northeast and southwest corners at the intersection of Illinois 203 (Nameoki Road) and Madison Avenue in Granite City will require intermittent daytime lane closures, weather permitting, on Thursday, March 16, and Friday, March 17. The lane closures are necessary for the evaluation of pavement conditions. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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JERSEY COUNTY - Kenneth Walker, the older brother of Christy Walker, who was injured this week in an accident, has organized a GoFundMe to assist with her medical expenses. Christy was in a serious car accident on Tuesday coming home from work on Illinois Route 109 in Jersey County in front of the Do Drop Inn. Christy is now at a St. Louis area hospital. Kenneth said the following: “She has multiple broken bones. Both femurs are broken - the right one has a horizontal break and the left has two vertical breaks, both shin bones, both pelvic bones, and a broken ankle. She has a very large gash on her right upper leg just above the knee that severed a lot of blood vessels. “She has been in and out of surgeries most of the day on Wednesday. So far, they have fixed most of the broken bones in her lower half. But she will still need a lot of time to recover. Please bear with us while we try to work through this. Also please keep in mind this is a family matter.” Kenneth

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GRANITE CITY - The Granite City Police Department was called Wednesday night to an incident where one individual was shot, Major Nick Novacich, Granite City Assistant Chief of Police, said Thursday. The shooting occurred in the 2300 block of Delmar Avenue in Granite City. "That individual is currently undergoing treatment in a St. Louis area hospital for a non-life-threatening injury and we are diligently investigating this matter," he said. "There is no suspect(s) in custody and no further information can be released at this time to the nature of the crime."

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CARLINVILLE - The Blackburn College Department of Music & Theatre will present their spring musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” in Bothwell Auditorium on Friday, March 31 at 7 pm, Saturday, April 1 at 7 pm and Sunday, April 2 at 2 pm. All shows are free and open to the public. The production will be directed by Dr. Collin Vorbeck, Professor of Theatre. Music will be directed by Dr. Joseph Welch, Professor of Music. Vorbeck explained, “Charlie Brown and his friends have been permanent fixtures in pop-culture for decades. They’re kids, but they’re also us, if that makes sense: we can see ourselves in their songs, their interactions and attitudes, and the journeys they take throughout this play, both individually and collectively. This musical teaches us about friendship, about self-reflection, and about the power of kindness, just to name a few. We are excited to share with our community the hard work our music and theatre students have invested

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GODFREY - The Nature Institute’s (TNI) hiking trails, located at 2213 South Levis Lane in Godfrey, Ill, will open April 1, and staff want to invite you to join us for a spring Hike-a-Thon. This month-long competition will serve as a fundraiser for The Nature Institute and an encouragement to friends of The Nature Institute and all outdoor enthusiasts to take advantage of the exciting spring happenings out in the natural world. Mary Davis said it best, “To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” Anyone, near and far, can participate in the Hike-a-Thon. You simply have to register for the event, then log your miles throughout the month of April. The full cost of registration is $27.50 which includes a t-shirt (if you sign up before March 15) and prizes for the hikers with the most miles logged and hikers that have generous donations given in their name. On April 1, when the trails open, all registered hikers can come out to The Nature Institute between

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Letter To The Editor: The destruction of the Arrowhead Monument at Piasa Park in Alton is sickening. I do hope if there's not already video footage there of the vandals, that there will be some camera footage like the ones on State Street in Alton. If they catch who did it, don't delay the court process, but make them pay in full, and work in a service capacity too for the Alton Parks and Recreation Department. I'm from Eureka, MO., and I typically drive over to Alton once a month and always stop at Piasa Park, and end up picking up broken beer bottles, and trash when I arrive. I'd stop at all the River Accesses on both sides of the river, visit Goodwill in Godfrey, and sometimes St. Clair Square Mall, and watch the sun go down on the river, hit Fast Eddie's, and drive back to Missouri where I stay. I have seen the same thing happen in Eureka, MO., at Ink's Cemetery near the Legends Golf Subdivision. Ink's was a Cemetery with the Pacific Battalion of the Missouri Home Guard area

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ALTON - Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford issued a statement about the damage to the Arrowhead Monument sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning at Piasa Park on the Great River Road in Alton. The monument had been turned over multiple times in vandalism in the past three months and each time repaired and place back in place, but this time, the vandals broke the monument in half. The monument is valuable and this is a serious crime. He said: "We are saddened to see the arrowhead monument at Piasa Park likely damaged beyond repair. The monument has been observed by countless visitors over the years and served as the means to share the legend of the Piasa Bird and Chief Ouatoga and his warriors. "We would like to see the offender(s) for this despicable act of vandalism held accountable. As such, we are asking for anyone with information to contact Detective Sergeant Andrew Pierson in the Criminal Investigations Division of the Alton Police Department." Pierson can be reached

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