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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in introducing a Senate resolution in honor of Juneteenth. Juneteenth, observed on June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is also known as “Emancipation Day,” “Jubilee Day,” and “Juneteenth Independence Day.” On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, Major General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, which announced that, in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation, “all slaves are free.” “Juneteenth reminds us that we must continue to fight for equality, justice, and economic opportunity for every American, regardless of the color of their skin,” Durbin said. “I’m joining Senator Cornyn to introduce this resolution to ensure that we acknowledge and never forget slavery’s legacy on our nation’s history while recognizing the resiliency, history, struggles,

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ALTON - On Thursday, June 15, the Old Bakery Beer Company hosted the second Proud Market to showcase work by local LGBTQ+ and ally artisans. The event also served as a fundraiser for Alton Pride and the Metro Trans Umbrella Group, two local LGBTQ+ organizations. “It’s a lot about just being supportive of the people who are around us, our friends and our family members and team members and other people in our community who, especially in recent years, have been threatened and attacked,” Lauren Pattan, vice president and operations manager of The Old Bakery Beer Company, said. A variety of vendors were in attendance. Candles, earrings, paintings, pottery and clothing were popular sales items. Charlie Witzel, who owns CBJeeBees , was at the Proud Market selling hand-painted patches. Witzel noted that they were originally anxious about coming to the event because they hesitate to leave St. Louis and go to smaller towns in the current political climate.

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ALTON - Walk into Schnucks, and you’ll be greeted with a smile. Run into Louis, and you’ll be pulled into a hug. On Friday, June 16, Louis Finley was recognized by All Things Alton as the area’s favorite essential worker. People across the Riverbend voted in the Facebook contest. The Schnucks employees and friends in attendance also noted that Finley will celebrate his 40th year at Alton Schnucks in November. “The whole thing’s overwhelming, to see everybody — generations — come up and still care about you,” Finley said. Karen Flowers-Raymond, one of the managers at the Alton branch, said that she’s been keeping Finley updated on the Facebook contest because he’s “old school” and doesn’t have a cell phone or Facebook page himself. The post on the All Things Alton page has received a lot of attention, including dozens of comments from Schnucks shoppers who have positive memories of Finley and

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a $2.35 million multistate settlement with AdoreMe, Inc., an online lingerie retailer. The settlement resolves claims that the company deceptively marketed its VIP Membership Program to consumers and made it difficult for consumers to cancel their memberships. “I am pleased with the settlement to hold Adore Me, Inc. accountable for engaging in alleged deceptive marketing to its consumers,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work to ensure that Illinois consumers are treated fairly.” AdoreMe offered consumers discounted pricing if they enrolled in its VIP Membership Program. Once enrolled in the program, consumers were charged $39.95 a month. Consumers could only avoid this automatic charge if they made a purchase before the sixth day of each month or logged into their AdoreMe accounts to decline the charge. The monthly charges accrued in the consumers’ accounts in the form of store credits, which could

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WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act , today celebrated the 11 th anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and called on Congress to finally pass the Dream Act to give Dreamers a pathway to citizenship. Twenty-two years ago, Durbin first introduced the Dream Act —bipartisan legislation that would give undocumented immigrants who grew up in this country a chance to become American citizens. In 2010, Durbin sent a letter, joined by the late Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), asking then-President Obama to stop the deportation of Dreamers. Eleven years ago today, President Obama responded by announcing the DACA program. More than 800,000 Dreamers have since come forward and received DACA, which has allowed them to contribute more fully to their country as teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, and small business owners. “Today,

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EDWARDSVILLE - Bickle Electric, Heating, & Cooling Contracting Co. is expanding their range of services to include heating and cooling repairs, maintenance, and installation, in addition to their electrical services. To celebrate this expansion, the company is offering an AC cleaning and checkup for $125. Locally owned and operated by Erin and Rob Bickle, Bickle Electric, Heating, & Cooling has been serving the Riverbend community and surrounding areas with residential and commercial electrical services since 2012. “Our highest priority is providing quality service at a fair price. That’s why we say we’re ‘Wired to Serve,’” Erin said. “We want our customers to know with confidence they are taken care of from the moment we walk into their home until long after the work is done, no matter the job. No job is too small.” Fully licensed and insured, Bickle Electric, Heating, & Cooling provides customers with a warranty on all of

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ALTON - On June 15, the area’s first “Stop the Violence” event addressed recent gun violence and solutions. Several other community leaders were in attendance. C & K Community, a new organization sponsored by C & K Banquet and Party Center, hosted the event at the C & K Center. The mayor, the Alton Chief of Police and a Southern Illinois University sociologist opened the night with presentations and data, followed by speeches from community leaders and people who have been personally affected by gun violence. “My city is changing,” Kendra Stiff, the co-founder of C & K Community and the Center, said. “Alton used to be a place that you felt so safe.” Stiff explained that C & K Community organized this event following a phone call from her daughter, who expressed fear about the recent shootings and raising three boys. She invited any community members who wanted to speak to do so. “We need to hear from the community and the people

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WOOD RIVER - A vehicle smashed and downed a utility line Wednesday night on Old St. Louis Road between West Ferguson and Madison Avenues, Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells reported on Thursday. Chief Wells said the accident led to a power outage. Brian Bretsch, an American Illinois spokesperson, confirmed there was a power outage and said the pole damage took multiple hours to completely rectify. A total of 1,369 customers in Wood River and two customers in East Alton suffered a power outage, Bretsch said. "The vehicle struck a power pole and one wire fell into other ones and caused the power outage," Wells said. "We got there and there was damage to the cross arm on the pole. Crews were dispatched at 9:15 p.m. Thursday and were there for about an hour and were able to restore power to 834 customers by re-routing their power to a different substation. Another 384 customers were re-routed at 11:10 p.m. and that left us with 155 customers. The cross arm had to be repaired and everyone's

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Thursday, June 15, 2023, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect Tio Robinson, 29 years of age, of the 1500 block of Paceville Court in Conyers, Georgia 30012, for one count of Stealing $25,000 or more. A booking photo of Robinson is attached. Robinson is being held on a $75,000 cash-only bond. The probable cause statement reads : During a period of approximately one week in late May 2023, Defendant and others visited convenience stores in Affton and South St. Louis County where “electronic no chance amusement devices,” similar to video slot machines and other gaming devices, are located. The men were able to obtain winnings from the machines by altering a $100 bill inserted into the machine to begin game play; the bill could be retained, and the game re-played, without any money being retained by the machine. The devices paid out in the form of vouchers for cash payment that were either cashed out at another

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine and Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford announced Thursday that multiple charges have been filed against a woman accused of striking an employee of an Alton business with a firearm. Lashelle J. Barrett, 29, whose last known address is in Godfrey, has been charged with one count of aggravated battery, one count of unlawful use of weapons, three counts of aggravated assault and one count of child endangerment. On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, Alton Police responded to the Rent-A-Center located at 2831 Homer Adams Parkway in Alton. After a review, the State’s Attorney’s Office issued the charges against Barrett. The charges allege that Barrett, who was not an employee or customer of that store, entered the Rent-A-Center unlawfully possessing a firearm, threatened multiple store employees by displaying the firearm in a threatening manner, and battered one employee by striking her in the head with the firearm. The endangerment

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JERSEYVILLE - Jerseyville is a city where neighbors help neighbors in their times of need. A pet lizard was on the loose recently, slivering through the city before Midwest Tropical Fish responded to a few calls and rescued the Argentine black and white tegu. Midwest Tropical Fish dispatched a person named Billy to the scene and he brought a three-and-a-half foot pet Argentine black and White tegu lizard back to Midwest Tropical Fish. Midwest Tropical Fish Owner Warren Crabtree said the pet lizard was then reunited with its owners. Crabtree added that he was proud of Billy for the safe rescue and glad to be able to return the exotic pet to the owners. The lizard was brought to safety close to the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office and Amoco in Jerseyville, Crabtree said. While the lizard only roamed for a brief time in Jerseyville, it certainly roused attention. Multiple people called Midwest Tropical Fish about the lizard on the loose that day. Crabtree said his business occasionally

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WASHINGTON — This week, U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) and Michelle Steel (R-CA-45) introduced the Trauma Support and Mental Health in Schools Reauthorization Act — bipartisan legislation to link schools with evidence-based trauma support and mental health care services, improving access for students. “The United States is facing a youth mental health crisis, but early intervention, improved access to mental health care services and culturally relevant support can save and improve lives,” said Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski. “I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation with Congresswoman Steel that will direct greatly needed resources to communities in need as we work to detect and respond to the mental health challenges we are seeing in our schools and communities in Central and Southern Illinois and around the country.” “Our young people are growing up in the midst of a new mental health challenge. This legislation

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JERSEYVILLE - Jerseyville CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a local nonprofit advocating for children in foster care from neglect/abuse, is hosting their first ever-Walk-A-Thon fundraiser at 10 a.m. this Saturday, June 17, at the Jersey County Courthouse. The event will feature one, two, and three-mile walks for participants of all ages and abilities. The entry fee is $25 (by cash, check, or Venmo ) and includes refreshments, fresh fruit, and other snacks. To register, contact jerseyvillecasa@jerseycounty-il.gov , download the registration form online, or fill it out in-person at the event before it begins at 10 a.m. Stacey Burney, director of Jerseyville CASA, said the Walk-A-Thon is a new initiative she created after becoming director last August, which has already proven more popular than she anticipated. “I wanted to do a small fundraiser for awareness in our community, and it just blew up and took off like wildfire,” Burney said. “I though

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) has announced the recipients of its annual Dean’s Scholarship, Dr. Larry A. Lowe Memorial Scholarship and its inaugural International Advanced Placement Program (IAPP) Scholarship Awards. The IAPP Scholarship Award recognizes an outstanding student who has excelled throughout the first year of the program and has overcome significant challenges on their personal journey toward earning a Doctor of Dental Medicine. Salam Rajih of Damascus, Syria, is the first ever recipient of the award. “We are very pleased to be able to start a new tradition this year by awarding the IAPP Scholarship Award,” said Dr. Saulius Drukteinis, dean of the SIU SDM. “Our IAPP students often overcome considerable hardships to be able to attend our program, and this award will certainly be beneficial. “ "As a foreign graduate and mother of two, I have faced numerous challenges in my

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On June 12, Southern Paramedic, an ambulance provider based out of Arkansas, donated six (6) ambulances to US Ambulance for Ukraine, a Peoria, Illinois-based initiative to get used emergency vehicles into the hands of Ukrainian first responders. Founded by an OSF HealthCare executive, this effort has resulted in the delivery of 38 ambulances and 6 fire engines to Ukraine since March 2022. Later this summer, US Ambulances for Ukraine will deliver its largest shipment of vehicles to date which will include at least 12 ambulances, and two fire engines. In addition, several SUVs, including two donated by OSF HealthCare, will be included in the shipment. This will bring the total number of emergency vehicles from the United States in Ukraine to over 60. Once the vehicles are collected by US Ambulances for Ukraine and its partner UA Resistance Foundation, all vehicles are filled with supplies and made ready to go into service upon arrival in Ukraine. Of the 45 vehicles already donated

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GRANITE CITY – Senior three-sport student-athlete Peyton Hatfield was named the 2022-23 Granite City High School Scholar-Athlete of the Year and is also now recognized as a Stillwater Senior Living Granite City Female Of The Month. "I am very grateful to be recognized," she said to her wide variety of recognitions at the end of her senior year. "I have worked very hard since day one of my freshman year. "I'm grateful to have had my older sister Riley Hatfield to look up to and help me out during my high school years. She would tell me the 'to do's and not to do's' in order to "survive and thrive in high school. I listened, and now I have survived and thrived in high school." Peyton Hatfield is a three-sport standout in tennis, swimming and soccer at GCHS, and is headed on a soccer scholarship to Lindenwood University in the fall and will major in elementary education. She is the daughter of Mike and Susan Hatfield. " Peyton Hatfield is a shining star at GCHS. She is our studen

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GLEN CARBON – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that bridge painting will require intermittent nighttime lane closures in both directions of Interstate 270 between Illinois 159 and Illinois 157, weather permitting, starting at 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 20. One lane in each direction will remain open at all times. All westbound lanes will be opened each morning at 6 a.m. and eastbound at 1 p.m. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. The work is expected to be completed by the end of August. 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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GODFREY - Magic, robotics, American Sign Language, self-defense…whatever your children are interested in, Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC) has a College for Kids class that’s sure to satisfy. The College for Kids program runs throughout the summer. Kids come to campus for week-long classes taught by a local expert in the field. Art classes with Julie Smith are a new offering this year, and Smith is enjoying the chance to teach young artists of the Riverbend. “The biggest part of my classes is that I’m like, I need everybody to leave here with some bit of knowledge they didn’t have before, and we have to have had fun,” Smith said. “We’re going to try our best to make it as fun as possible.” The class topics and sizes vary from week to week. Most recently, Smith has been working with three students in her class “Understanding Proportion, Scale and Space.” She said that the small class size has allowed her

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BETHALTO - The Village of Bethalto is advising residents to consider remaining part of its energy aggregation program despite Ameren currently having a lower market rate. The energy aggregation program is meant to protect residents from market volatility by charging a fixed rate regardless of the market through 2024 - but if residents wish to opt-out and switch to Ameren, the village has also outlined the steps to do so. The new Ameren rate is $0.08162 compared to Bethalto’s program rate of $0.1220. Ameren’s new rate went into effect on June 1, and the aggregation program’s fixed rate will expire in December 2024. According to a press release from the village, “Residents need to understand the newly filed Ameren rate can return to an upward swing anytime during that period … The Village’s Program has been very successful since its inception in 2012.” Also noted in the press release were the savings from the previous round of the aggregation

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SPRINGFIELD — Residents struggling to pay their gas or electric bills will not face life-threatening utility shutoffs on hot days thanks to an initiative supported by State Christopher Belt that was signed into law last Friday. “This measure recognizes the urgent need to safeguard vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children and individuals with health conditions,” said Belt. “There are many risks associated with extreme heat, and this aims to mitigate them, as well as prevent potential health and safety hazards.” The new law prohibits a utility company from terminating gas or electric service due to nonpayment of bills on days when the forecasted temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above, or when the National Weather Service issues a heat watch, advisory or warning for the location of the residence. Previously, disconnections were prohibited during temperatures 95 degrees or hotter and did not take into account humidity or heat index.

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