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Did you know that the global cryptocurrency market cap surpassed $2 trillion in 2021, with Bitcoin alone accounting for nearly half of that value? Despite the volatility that characterizes this digital asset class, such staggering numbers reflect a seismic shift in how we perceive and utilize money today. Cryptocurrency is no longer just a fringe financial phenomenon; it is becoming a cornerstone of the modern economy. But what does this mean for consumers, investors, and businesses alike? The Rise of Cryptocurrency The inception of cryptocurrency can be traced back to Bitcoin, introduced in 2009 by an anonymous figure known as Satoshi Nakamoto. Designed as a decentralized digital currency, Bitcoin aimed to remove intermediaries in financial transactions. Since then, thousands of alternative cryptocurrencies—often referred to as "altcoins"—have emerged, each designed to serve specific purposes ranging from enabling smart contracts to providing privacy in transactions.

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February 6th has seen its share of transformative events throughout history, marking significant changes in politics, culture, and society around the globe. One of the standout events associated with February 6th is the founding of the New Zealand colony in 1840. This marked a pivotal moment in the history of New Zealand and its relationship with the British Empire. On this day, representatives of the British Crown and Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which is often regarded as New Zealand's founding document. While the treaty aimed to establish a legal framework for governance and land ownership, its interpretation and implementation have led to ongoing debates and struggles for Maori rights and recognition, making this event a cornerstone of New Zealand's identity. Fast forward to 1952, when February 6th became a significant date in British history as well. This was the day that Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne following the death of her father, King George

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EDWARDSVILLE — A pretrial release hearing for Sammy Shafer Jr., accused of orchestrating the murder of his estranged wife’s girlfriend, took place Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 5, 2025, at the Madison County Justice Center. Shafer, who is facing two charges of first-degree murder and two counts of solicitation for murder-for-hire, is alleged to have hired two men to kill Portia Rowland, 32. The hearing was presided over by Associate Judge Emily Nielsen. Assistant State's Attorney Lauren Maricle presented evidence suggesting that Shafer had been planning the murder since the summer. Maricle argued that releasing Shafer would pose a danger to his estranged wife, her family, and their children, stating that he should remain incarcerated until the trial. In defense, Shafer's attorney, Scott Rosenbaum, characterized him as a pillar of the community, emphasizing his involvement in several businesses in the Collinsville and Caseyville areas. However, Judge Nielsen ultimately side

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College is announcing the lists of full- and part-time honors students for the Fall 2024 semester. Students earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher out of a possible 4.0 are named to the President’s List. Those students earning a grade point average between 3.25 and 3.74 are recognized each semester on the Dean’s List. Further requirements are listed in the college’s online catalog at http://catalog.lc.edu. All questions should be directed to the Enrollment Center at (618) 468-2222. President’s List ILLINOIS ALHAMBRA – Webb M. Slifka ALTON – Chloe E. Ahlers; Madison C. Albert; Olivia G. Allen; Michael G. Anderson; Hunter M. Bailey; Gardell L. Ballinger, III; Coty B. Bertschi; Elizabeth H. Blackmon; Connor M. Bockholdt; Addisyn C. Boelter; Ava M. Boley; Samuel A. Boxdorfer; Eric R. Braundmeier; Lacey L. Broomfield, III; Callie J. Chappee; Joselyn N. Chappee; Max W. Cogan;

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — TGI Fridays has permanently closed its doors after nearly 30 years of operation at 6900 N. Illinois St. in Fairview Heights, as confirmed by signs on the restaurant doors and the company’s website. The closure marks the end of a long-standing presence in the Fairview Heights business community. The restaurant first opened in January 1997. The closure is likely part of a broader trend affecting the chain, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Nov. 2, 2024, citing $37 million in debt and only $5.9 million in cash on hand. As part of its restructuring plan, TGI Fridays intends to sell its assets, although it has been described as “asset light.” Since the bankruptcy filing, ABOUT 30 TGI Fridays locations nationwide have closed. The chain operates 39 restaurants directly in the U.S. and has 122 franchised sites, in addition to 316 franchised locations outside the country. While the specific reasons for the closure of the Fairview Heights locatio

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ALTON — A coalition of local businesses in Alton is participating in the Have A Heart Food Collection Campaign to support the Salvation Army. The campaign, which features contributions from several organizations, aims to address food insecurity in the community, especially as many residents face financial challenges following the recent holiday season. The initiative has garnered participation from Freer Auto Body, Alton Memorial Hospital Gift Shop, Alton Memorial Hospital Rehab Service, Riverbend Records, Arrow Signs, Sammi's Sandwich Shop, Auto Butler, and Nicky G's Catering. Freer Auto Body has spurred various businesses to participate and has again been a catalyst in this community collection. Mary Norman, who is a leader in the efforts for Alton Memorial's Gift Shop, noted that the collection is progressing well. "The Salvation Army picked up what was already donated yesterday and they seemed really pleased. They said they needed the food today and tomorrow. I hope many

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement concerning the federal government’s “deferred resignation” offer for federal workers in Illinois: “Donald Trump and his special government employee Elon Musk are unleashing an assault on the fabric of our government and the working families who rely upon and need our democracy to deliver for them. Elon’s secret servants are asking millions of federal employees to give up their legal rights, agree to a vague severance, and just hope for the best – it’s insulting to workers. I urge federal employees who live or work in Illinois to proceed with caution before taking an offer that requires them to waive their legal rights. We can make government more efficient for the taxpayers without misleading and mistreating workers. In Illinois, we will do all we can to protect worker rights.” The federal government is the second largest single employer in Illinois, behind

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ALTON - The Illinois Secretary of State's mobile Driver Services unit will be at Senior Services Plus on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2603 N. Rodgers Ave, Alton, Ill., 62002. Representatives of the Secretary of State's office will be on hand to assist with renewing or correcting driver's licenses, converting existing standard driver’s licenses into REAL ID driver’s licenses, obtaining renewed or first time Standard or REAL state IDs, issuing free state IDs for seniors aged 65 or older, and purchasing license plate stickers. Attendees can also register to be an organ donor/tissue donor and register to vote while applying for a driver’s license or identification card. Please contact Leslie Eberlin at 618-465-3298 ext. 123 or leberlin@seniorservicesplus.org with questions. A list of acceptable documents for the issuance of first time ID’s and REAL ID’s can be found at www.ilsos.gov .

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, joined U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-IL), along with 34 of their Senate colleagues, in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing their deep concern regarding the growing chaos and dysfunction at the U.S. Department of State and the Trump Administration’s illegal attempt to destroy the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID is a critical pillar of U.S. national security strategy, providing lifesaving aid and development support around the world to help ensure stability. Earlier this week, personnel at USAID were not permitted to enter the agency’s headquarters, and Elon Musk announced that President Donald Trump agreed to close the agency and move it under the State Department – which Trump has no legal authority to do. The Trump Administration, led by Musk, has

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, with District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb and New York Attorney General Letitia James, today announced a landmark settlement with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) after numerous players came forward with allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct. A subsequent independent investigation found that emotional abuse and sexual coercion were systemic across the league. Under the settlement, the NWSL will continue to implement comprehensive reforms to improve player safety and well-being, and Raoul and the attorneys general will have the ability to oversee and enforce new league protocols and protections for players. As a result of the investigation, the NWSL will also create a $5 million fund to compensate players who were abused. “I commend the current and former players whose courage and leadership off the field was critical to reaching today’s settlement. Despite having the most to lose, these

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SPRINGFIELD - Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 4781, the Kinship in Demand (“KIND”) Act, into law, allowing the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to develop more flexible standards to certify grandparents and other relatives who are able to safely care for youth in DCFS’s care. The bill also creates a path for more youth in care to find permanent homes through guardianship. Studies show that when youth-in-care are able to remain with relatives in stable and familiar homes they often experience better outcomes, a stronger sense of identity and connection, and greater well-being. “Staying in a familiar place and seeing a comforting face every day can make all the difference in the life of a child-in-care,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The KIND Act enhances family finding efforts to ensure we are doing everything we can to identify relatives who can care for and maintain ongoing, supportive connections with our youth

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a coalition of 14 attorneys general in reaffirming their commitment to protecting access to gender-affirming care in the face of the Trump administration’s recent executive order. In Illinois, the Human Rights Act requires health care providers to provide health care to all residents and prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex, which specifically includes gender identity. The coalition released the following statement: “As state attorneys general, we stand firmly in support of health care policies that respect the dignity and rights of all people. Health care decisions should be made by patients, families and doctors, not by a politician trying to use his power to restrict your freedoms. Gender-affirming care is essential, lifesaving medical treatment that supports individuals in living as their authentic selves. “The Trump administration’s recent executive order is wrong on the science

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CHICAGO – Today, the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) announced Amy Meek will serve as the agency’s next Deputy Director. Meek is an experienced civil rights attorney and brings an exceptional record of leadership in government and the nonprofit sector. The announcement comes alongside Alex Bautista’s transition from IDHR after nearly 8 years of service to work on special projects with the Governor’s Office of New Americans. “Alex Bautista has been an essential advisor for the last 6 years. He was thoughtful, deliberate, and collaborative,” said IDHR Director Jim Bennett. “I am confident that Amy Meek will rise to the occasion in her new role as she leads our efforts to secure freedom from unlawful discrimination for all individuals in Illinois.” Alex Bautista is a lifelong champion of human rights and has centered his leadership on obtaining equity for all groups protected by the Illinois Human Rights Act. At IDHR, he oversaw

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ALTON - An accomplished senior leaves an impactful legacy in many areas as he winds down his career at Alton High School. This month's Art Fahrner-Edward Jones Remarkable Redbird Gabe Futhey has not only left his mark at Alton High, but he has also left lasting impressions on members of the Alton High staff as well. Gabe has been playing the trumpet since he was in fifth grade and is heavily involved in multiple music organizations at Alton High. As a sophomore, he auditioned for and became part of the wind ensemble. He has been a part of the Illinois Music Education Conference (IMEC). Gabe also went to the University of Illinois in Champaign for a performance with a large number of schools throughout the state that performed at this event. Gabe is a member of the Marching 100 and is also a member of the Jazz Band, who meet once week to practice for performances 3 times per year. Gabe also has a course load of five AP classes (Calculus, Physics, Music Theory, Macroeconomics and Statistics)

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and their colleagues in releasing the following statement on the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) rescission of policy that allowed servicemembers to get reimbursed for travel and transportation for non-covered reproductive care. Last week, the Senators obtained a memo that updates the Joint Travel Regulations to rescind this policy. “This decision strips away service members’ ability to access the reproductive care they need, which is nothing short of abhorrent. It runs contrary to a core goal of the Department of Defense—to ensure the health and wellbeing of all our service members so that our force remains ready at all times to protect Americans and keep this nation safe. “U.S. service members have no control

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EDWARDSVILLE – The City is organizing its first-ever Choco-Lotta-Fun Crawl as a community celebration of all things chocolate in Edwardsville. The crawl is planned for Saturday, March 1, 2025, and businesses in Edwardsville are invited to join in the fun at their own place of operation. This cocoa collaboration aims to entice visitors to spend an entire day checking out the chocolate concoctions and items that Edwardsville’s retail and restaurant business community members offer. In the weeks leading up to the Choco-Lotta-Fun Crawl, the City will use social media to promote the event and its own activities, and also list eligible business participants that register for it via the City’s website. “Chocolate is pretty universally loved, and we know our Edwardsville businesses will come up with some creative ways to cater to all of the chocolate fans out there,” Mayor Art Risavy said. “It’s always great to see people shopping, dining and enjoying

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed the Trump Administration for their decision to issue an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo last week to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement” of trillions of dollars of Federal financial assistance, which caused mass confusion about the funding and operations of hundreds of government-funded programs ranging from Medicaid, to Head Start, to Violence Against Women Act grants. “Last week, I came to the floor to talk about the pain that President Trump’s proposed freeze on federal funding and loans would cause Americans. I want to share a few more since I spoke on the floor last week. Sharpsburg is near my hometown in Springfield, Illinois, and it has a water system in Christian County. It is in phase three of construction of their rural water project. 18 miles of pipeline providing water to 50 new rural customers.

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When it comes to ambulances and the services they provide, Lisa Reid , APRN, knows a thing or two because she’s seen a thing or two. The family medicine provider at OSF HealthCare was an ambulance first responder for more than 15 years before moving to the nursing side of things. As such, she’s heard a lot of “Should I do this or that?” when calling an ambulance. Now, it’s time to clear up the misconceptions. Who’s coming to get me? Should I be concerned about their qualifications? Reid says different first responders can do different things, but you can be assured you’ll get the care you need. “Paramedics have more training in life-saving skills. They can do things like intubation and give intravenous medications," Reid explains. "Emergency medical technicians provide more basic care. They help stabilize the person and get them ready for transport. They also usually drive.” Where should I wait? Reid says if you’re

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EDWARDSVILLE - Patricia Lowe, a longtime Edwardsville resident and healthcare administrator, has announced her candidacy for the Edwardsville District 7 School Board. With over two decades of community involvement and extensive leadership experience, Lowe brings a wealth of expertise in administration, education, and community advocacy to her campaign. "As a mother of four District 7 graduates and a 24-year resident of this community, I have a deep understanding of our school system's strengths and the challenges we face," says Lowe. "My experience in healthcare administration, coupled with my background in education and community service, uniquely positions me to contribute to the continued success of our schools." Lowe's professional background includes eight years as Administrator of a healthcare facility in Troy, Illinois, where she has demonstrated strong leadership in operations management, staff development, and fiscal oversight. She holds an associate degree in healthcare

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EDWARDSVILLE — The NAACP Edwardsville Branch is celebrating the 90th birthday of Dr. Carl Jason Sr., a prominent figure in the community and a former president of the organization. The tribute was announced in a recent post on the branch's social media platform, recognizing Dr. Jason's significant contributions to civil rights and community advocacy. Dr. Jason, honored as a "true living legend," has dedicated his life to the fight for justice and equality, Traci Daniels, president of the Edwardsville branch of the NAACP said. "His efforts have been instrumental in breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations." The Edwardsville branch of the NAACP proclamation accompanying the announcement highlights his leadership and unwavering commitment to uplifting the community. The NAACP Edwardsville Branch continues to honor his legacy and the impact he has made on countless lives throughout his career. The Edwardsville

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