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ALTON - As many will be traveling this Thanksgiving Day weekend, thankfully they will be met with some of the lowest gas prices in a long period of time. The statewide gas price average in Missouri is $3.22 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel, according to the AAA Missouri Weekend Gas Watch. At this time on Wednesday, Illinois stands at $3.94 a gallon for regular unleaded on average, according to AAA. On Wednesday, the Quik Trip on Godfrey Road in Godfrey dropped below $3 a gallon to $2.99. The Phillips 66 off U.S. 67 in West Alton also stood at 2.99 per gallon for regular unleaded today. Locally, a quick glance at gas prices on Gas Buddy shows the QuikTrip on Troy Road in Edwardsville was one of the lowest at $3.39 per gallon for regular unleaded gas and the QuikTrip in Bethalto on Bethalto Drive also stood at $3.39.The Casey's on Fosterburg Road in Alton was also $3.39 per gallon. Gas was $3.59 per gallon for regular unleaded at the following: BP-College Avenue, Alton, the BP on

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EAST ALTON - The second annual State Farm “Skate With Santa” event is being held at the East Alton Ice Arena from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4. The event will include free admission, free skate rental and more, and will also benefit the Alton chapter of Sleep In Heavenly Peace. State Farm Agent Eric Schrumpf, the sponsor of this event, described it as fun for the whole family and said a few special guests will be seen on the ice. “It’s a family-friendly, free ice skating public session - it’s of course open to the public, and there’s free ice skate rental,” Schrumpf said. “We also have Santa Claus and some of his friends, we have elves skating out there as well.” There will also be a “Chuck-A-Puck” competition held at 6 p.m. During intermission, participants will chuck hockey pucks at targets on the ice, and the ones who chuck their pucks closest to the targets will win prizes. While the prizes for this year are

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ST. LOUIS - It was announced today that recipients of a $790 million settlement with Rams owner Stan Kroenke as a result of the Rams leaving St. Louis have come to an agreement on how to split the money. The National Football League announced the large settlement in November 2021 for a lawsuit involving the Rams and St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and the Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority. Kroenke himself is forced to pay $571 million for taking the franchise to St. Louis. All 32 NFL teams also must pay $7.5 million to make up the $219 million difference. Information released from St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones' office says the city will receive $250 million and St. Louis County $169 million and the Regional Sports Authority gets $70 million. The City of St. Louis is able to obtain $30 million more contingent on the City Board of Aldermen using it for convention center expansion. After attorney fees, there was $519 million left from the initial $790 million to

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ALTON - The Alton Committee of the Whole held a very brief meeting on Monday night, during which they approved a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System agreement, a resolution related to the 2022 Tax Levy, and awarded a bid for 1819 Woodland Avenue. Alderwoman Elizabeth Allen was the sole member absent from the meeting. A resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement for participation in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (known as the “MABAS Master Agreement 2022”) also passed unanimously. This agreement essentially allows local units of government to collaborate and provide mutual aid in cases of emergencies and natural disasters. The resolution also provides for “communications procedures, training, and other necessary functions” to help protect life and property during emergencies. The full text of the MABAS Master Agreement can be read at mabas-il.org . A resolution regarding the 2022 Tax Levy was also approved. According to Alderman Nate Keener,

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BENTON – On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, Ashley McKinney, 39, of Belleville, Illinois, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for Identity Theft, Conspiracy to Commit Bank and Wire Fraud, and Money Laundering. According to court documents, for almost a year, Ashley McKinney defrauded elderly women in southern Illinois with the help of her co-conspirator, Erica Rose. They were true partners in crime. Rose abused her employment as an in-home caretaker and stole the identities of her elderly clients. Then she passed the stolen information along to McKinney to attempt to drain their bank accounts through counterfeit checks and fraudulent purchases. As an example, McKinney tried to buy a used Tesla online after stealing the identity and savings of an 86-year-old woman from Belleville, Illinois. When the deal fell through because the Tesla had mechanical problems, McKinney bought herself a Mercedes Benz instead. After she took possession of the vehicle, the victim’s bank

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EDWARDSVILLE - A water issue that resulted in some flooding in City Hall, 118 Hillsboro Avenue, forced the closure of the building on Wednesday, November 23. City Hall employees are available to conduct business and assist the public via phone, at 618-692-7500 between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. City Hall was already scheduled to be closed on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24, and on Friday, November 25. Edwardsville officials said it is expected that City Hall will be open its normal hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as of Monday, November 28, for in-person and phone assistance. However, because the flooding affected the City Council chambers and a first-floor conference room, all committee meetings scheduled for the week of November 28 have been moved to the R.P. Lumber Center, 6289 Tiger Drive in Edwardsville. The meetings will take place in Community Room No. 1. Meeting times, locations, and agendas are provided on the City website, at www.cityofedwardsville.com/calendar. No

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ALTON - Anyone who drives by the Circle at College and Central in Alton is in for a surprise this holiday season - there is a beautifully decorated Christmas tree that stands tall in the circle. A tree lighting was held after the Fourth Ward in Alton monthly meeting this past Thursday and since Brown said, she has had a strong positive reaction from residents. For those who don't know the significance of the State House Circle area in Alton, here is the explanation: A bill was introduced in 1833 for a statewide vote to determine where the new Illinois capitol would be. It was at the time located in Vandalia. Alton was one of the locations among selections in the 1833 vote with Springfield, Jacksonville, Peoria, and Vandalia. Alton was the victor, however, the legislature determined the margin of votes was too small to be conclusive. If the vote had been upheld, the State House Circle in Alton would have been the location of the Illinois state capitol. On February 25, 1837, the Illinois

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a final settlement with opioid manufacturer Teva Pharmaceuticals and former opioid maker Allergan that requires the companies to provide funding and resources that will support states’ efforts to address the effects of opioid addiction. The bipartisan settlement comes after negotiations led by Raoul and an executive committee of 13 attorneys general and would provide up to $6.6 billion nationally and include critical business practice changes and transparency requirements. There will be a 30-day sign-on period for states, followed by a 90-day sign-on period for units of local government. The settlement will be divided among sign-on states, local governments and tribes, and will prioritize abatement and remediation of the opioid crises. “The opioid addiction crisis is not over. Even today, individuals battle opioid addiction, which affects every facet of their lives and impacts their relationships with loved ones

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EDWARDSVILLE - As millions of motorists hit the road to celebrate Thanksgiving, Illinois law enforcement will be working around the clock to make sure holiday travelers are buckled up and driving safely. The Edwardsville Police Department is joining the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Police to remind motorists to “Click It or Ticket.” The goal of this high-visibility effort is to reduce motor vehicle crashes and the resulting injuries and fatalities. Correct seatbelt use is the most effective way to protect vehicle occupants. According to IDOT, the statewide seatbelt usage rate is at 93%. “Wearing your seat belt is second nature for most,” said Lt. Barry Jones. “We’re looking for the 7% of Illinois motorists who skip this lifesaving step.” Drivers and passengers can expect a ticket from the Edwardsville Police Department if they are spotted without a seat belt. Stepped-up patrols and seat belt enforcement

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 10 attorneys general, is expressing concerns about reproductive health privacy on Apple’s App Store following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Raoul and the attorneys general urged Apple to take practical steps to protect consumers’ private reproductive health information. In a letter sent to Apple CEO Tim Cook, Raoul and the coalition called on Apple to protect the personal information of individuals seeking or providing abortion care by implementing privacy-enhancing measures to safeguard data collected by apps hosted on Apple’s App Store. “As a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, millions of Americans now must search for alternative methods of managing their reproductive health or seeking abortion services,” Raoul said. “Women have a right to seek reproductive health care online without worrying that their data migh

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GREENVILLE - The Greenville Choral Union and Orchestra present the 92nd performance of George Frederic Handel’s oratorio Messiah on Sunday, December 4, on Greenville University’s campus. The concert will include many of the choruses and solos in the three-part masterpiece. The 60- voice choral union and the 20-piece orchestra include members from several south-central Illinois communities in addition to students, staff, and faculty members from Greenville University. The soloists for this year’s program will feature two Bach Society of St. Louis young artists— Erica Ancell, soprano, and Micheal Lowe, baritone; Greenville University voice faculty – Grace Denton, mezzo-soprano, and Don Frazure, tenor; and GU senior worship arts major, Marissa Horning, mezzo-soprano. Several professional instrumentalists from the St. Louis area will also join the Greenville Chamber Orchestra. “This year’s performance will include the majority of Messiah,

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ALTON - The Lucy Haskell Playhouse has two important events on the horizon. The first is from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, December 1, and will be the annual Candlelight Tour at home. The event is to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Santa visiting the playhouse. Margaret Hopkins of Lucy Haskell Playhouse, said: "We will have refreshments and entertainment. The Great Rivers Choral Society will sing Christmas carols from 6-6:45 p.m. and Marquette Catholic High School Choir will perform from 7-7:45 p.m. A donation at this event will be used to fund ongoing maintenance and restoration of the playhouse. The second important event will be when Santa Claus visits the Playhouse. He will visit for only two hours, Hopkins said, and will be inside the playhouse this year from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. She added that a Poloroid photo will be only $2 or a person can use their own camera for a photo. The Muny Band will provide holiday entertainment on Dec. 3. "It will be nice to have Santa

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EAST ST. LOUIS - SIHF Healthcare and Touchette Regional Hospital held the groundbreaking on Tuesday for what will be the only Urgent Care in the East St. Louis metro region. “We are extremely pleased to be launching this much-needed service for the residents of the greater East St. Louis metro area,” stated Larry McCulley, CEO of both SIHF Healthcare and Touchette Regional Hospital. The Urgent Care will be a 5,000-square-foot addition to an existing SIHF Healthcare health center at 2001 State Street, East St. Louis. The addition will include four exam rooms and one procedure room plus lab and radiology services. This will be a $2.8 million investment, partially funded by the State of Illinois. “As the recipient of a State of Illinois Healthcare Transformation Collaboratives grant, this is the first visible sign to the community of our efforts and is serving as the public launch of our Transformation project, which will be named LifeBridge,” McCulley noted.

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ALTON/GODFREY - The Great Rivers Choral Society is hosting a Christmas concert celebration titled “A Holly Jolly Christmas” throughout the second weekend of December at multiple times and locations. The concert is free to the public, though a free-will offering will be collected. The dates/times of the concert with corresponding locations are as follows: Friday Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. - Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 717 State Street, Alton Saturday December 10, 2022 at 3 p.m. - Godfrey First United Methodist Church, 1100 Airport Road, Godfrey Sunday Dec. 11 at 3 p.m - Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 717 State Street, Alton Music Director Raynard Brown said this concert will feature both traditional and modern renditions of classic Christmas songs. “It’s going to be pretty much straightforward Christmas selections. We go from ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’ … we have the Charlie Brown ‘Christmas Tim

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Rotary Club has chosen to honor Edwardsville High School student Lauren Bruss with the Student of the Month Award for the month of November. Lauren Bruss was nominated by AP United States History teacher Mr. Keith Baker of Edwardsville High School. Lauren is the daughter of Mark and Brenda Bruss. Lauren has attended the All-District Choir Festival for 7 years and has been selected for the All-State Chorus and Honors All-State Chorus. She is 7th in her senior class and has been on High Honor Roll every semester. Lauren is also involved in multiple academic honor societies including NHS, English, Spanish, International Thespian, and Tri-M Music Honor Societies. Along with her academics, Lauren also finds time to volunteer and join in on extracurriculars. Lauren sings with the Chamber Singers and Bel Canto Acapella Choirs at EHS. She has been an actress in 11 Stage Productions for EHS Drama Club, and last year she served as Junior Representative by welcoming

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ALTON - Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor recently revealed a stage four prostate cancer diagnosis. It's a reminder that the disease is manageable when caught early. Uwais Zaid, MD , a urologist at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony's Health Center in Alton, Illinois , is reacting to the Taylor news by urging men to get screening appointments on their calendar at the right time. That’s critical, he says, because some people who develop prostate cancer will not show symptoms. “It is something we certainly do take seriously in urology,” Dr. Zaid says. What is the prostate? The prostate is a male gland about the size and shape of a walnut. It surrounds the upper part of the urethra, or the tube that carries urine from the bladder. The prostate makes some of the fluid that’s part of semen. Risk factors Dr. Zaid says the risk for prostate cancer increases with age. Other risks: “African American men are at a higher risk,” Dr. Zaid says. “Certain

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ALTON - The Alton Committee of the Whole held a very brief meeting on Monday night, during which they approved a partial abatement of the 2022 Tax Levy, a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System agreement, and awarded a bid for 1819 Woodland Avenue. Alderwoman Elizabeth Allen was the sole member absent from the meeting. According to the wording of the tax levy resolution, the director of Planning & Development recommended abating (or decreasing) the 2022 Tax Levy, which established the General Obligation Refunding Bond of $8,750,000. This resolution essentially lowers the maximum amount of property tax dollars that can be collected by the city, though the new amount was not specified. The resolution passed unanimously. A resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement for participation in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (known as the “MABAS Master Agreement 2022”) also passed unanimously. This agreement essentially allows local units of government to collaborate and use

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EDWARDSVILLE – The City of Edwardsville is partnering with the Bank of Madison County to finance the construction of its new East Fire Station through the issuance of $6.87 million in general obligation bonds. The City Council on Tuesday, November 15, approved an ordinance authorizing the issuance of the bonds, with Mayor Art Risavy subsequently signing the financing agreement. The bonds will cover costs for the $5.1 million East Fire Station, 7407 Governors Parkway. They also will cover the costs of a new aerial ladder firetruck and building improvements to the City’s Campus Fire Station at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. “With the support of our aldermen, we are following through on a pledge to ensure the best response times and emergency services for all of our residents,” Risavy said. “We appreciate the support of the Bank of Madison County in helping us to see this important project through to completion.” The bonds are to be paid

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ST. LOUIS - Start your holiday shopping season with a little help from Scooter’s Coffee, a one-stop holiday shop with gifts to make anyone on your list smile. The Scooter’s Coffee Holiday Shop has the total package – from dazzling drinkware to curated holiday gift sets, last-minute gifts, and stocking stuffers. To help you share the love and reap the savings this holiday shopping season, Scooter’s Coffee has three exciting deals which will go fast, just like their drive-thru line. Black Friday Sale: Shop early at the Scooter’s Coffee Holiday Shop online from Nov. 25-27, 2022, and receive $10 off any order of $50 or more with the promo code FRIDAY10 . Enjoy free shipping on orders over $39. This offer is only available online, Nov. 25-27, 2022. Give a Gift, Get a Gift: At participating in-store locations, customers will receive a bonus $5 Gift Card for every $25 Scooter’s Coffee Gift Card purchased between Nov. 25 and Dec. 27, 2022. Gift card

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) has granted over $9 million to 55 organizations, including 36 community colleges throughout Illinois to help address education and unemployment gaps. Lewis and Clark Community College will receive $130,225.68 in funding from the grant. The funding will be used to help minority and low-income students as well as individuals with disabilities remove barriers to completing their education and career goals through the Innovative Bridge and Transition Grant program (IBT). “The Illinois Community College Board is committed to bridging equity gaps in education by investing in our own community college system as well as other community organizations throughout Illinois that focus on removing barriers for traditionally underserved students. Supporting and scaling effective and equitable education and career opportunities is critical to the ICCB mission,” said ICCB executive director Brian Durham. This year, the ICCB

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