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Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces Key Milestone For Unclaimed Property Program

3 years 1 month ago
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ unclaimed property program reached another historic milestone this month when it paid its 1 millionth claim since 2015, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today. The achievement is even more noteworthy when considering only 500,000 claims were paid between 2003 and 2014. Frerichs became state treasurer in 2015. The dramatic increase is a result of a complete restructuring of the unclaimed property process, especially the addition of electronic claims, eliminating red-tape that slowed small-money claims, and leveraging technology to allow payments to be made without a claim even needing to be filed. “This milestone was achieved because we reimagined the office and used common sense to make it more efficient,” Frerichs said. “As a result, we have returned a record-shattering $1.4 billion to Illinois taxpayers, who richly deserve to keep more of their own money.” Unclaimed property, also known as I-Cash, refers

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Governor Pritzker Announces Record-Setting $11.2 Million In Funding To Support Family Planning Services Throughout Illinois

3 years 1 month ago
CHICAGO — Governor Pritzker today announced that the State of Illinois has received $5.4 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that will support and expand access to equitable and affordable family planning services for low-income populations across Illinois. This federal grant, along with $5.8 million in state general revenue funds, means the Illinois Family Planning Program is providing approximately $11.2 million in funding in state Fiscal Year 2023 to 29 delegate agencies that operate 98 family planning clinics throughout the state. The new HHS grant to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will support access to Title X services under the Illinois Family Planning Program that were sharply restricted under the previous federal administration, which imposed a “gag rule” that blocked family planning clinics from referring patients to abortion providers. “Now that the Biden administration has reversed Trump’s

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Katie's Pizza Reveals Their 2022 Spring Menu, Reintroduces Fan Favorites

3 years 1 month ago
ST. LOUIS – Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria is officially revealing their 2022 spring menu and cocktail menu at both Rock Hill and Town and Country locations. Customers can find the return of fan-favorite ingredients like squash blossoms, watermelon, and morel mushrooms. “Chef Jake Sanderson and I collaborated to create our best menu yet,” said Owner Katie Collier. “This year, our inspiration came from old traditions and serious techniques. We traveled and researched a lot, and it shows. These dishes have a history and story, and they highlight the incredible skill in our kitchens.” The full list of spring menu items includes: Appetizers: beets and whipped ricotta, crab arancini, figs and whipped ricotta, fried squash blossoms, peas and speck with taleggio polenta, prosciutto and melon, and scallops en brodo Burrata: black garlic pizza bianca burrata, huckleberry and prosciutto burrata, and pizza rossa burrata Salads: burrata caprese, Rolando's

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MCT Announces Summer Youth Passes Now Available

3 years 1 month ago
PONTOON BEACH -With summer approaching, Madison County Transit (MCT) is once again offering free rides on fixed-route buses for Madison County students (age 18 and under) with the 2022 MCT Summer Youth Pass. The MCT Summer Youth Pass is valid Memorial Day to Labor Day and allows Madison County students in kindergarten through 12 th grade an opportunity to ride MCT for free all summer long. The program has created vital transportation access for Madison County youth since 2008. This year, approximately 9,000 passes have been distributed to junior high/middle school and high schools throughout Madison County. Students or parents can obtain a free MCT Summer Youth Pass by visiting their school office or by contacting MCT at YouthPass@mct.org or 618-797-4600. “For 14 years, the MCT Summer Youth Pass has provided Madison County students with a free and safe way to access summer jobs and classes, shopping, pools, parks, and more,” said MCT Managing Director SJ Morrison. “And

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Governor Pritzker Signs Legislation Aimed at Protecting LGBTQ Older Adults

3 years 1 month ago
CHICAGO - Governor Pritzker signed SB3490, an amendment to the Illinois Act on Aging designating specific protections and services for older LGBTQ adults. This signing took place on National Honor Your LGBTQ Elders Day, a day of recognition for older LGBTQ individuals who fought for equality and led the movement for equality still active today. The amended act creates the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging to investigate and advise on improving services and needs of older LGBTQ adults. “These elder adults are trailblazers in the fight for LGBTQ rights, growing up in an a more hostile time where basic rights were regularly denied based on gender and sexuality,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “This amendment to the Illinois Act on Aging honors that struggle by ensuring all people can age in dignity with equal access to essential care and social supports.” The Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging will study issues relevant to LGBTQ elders including, but not limited

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Most Men Will Encounter Enlarged Prostate, This Is Information About Help

3 years 1 month ago
At some point in their life, many men will have to think about benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate. BPH often means the flow of urine from the bladder is blocked by the prostate gland growing inward, leading to frequent and annoying trips to the bathroom. But BPH can also lead to more serious problems of the bladder, urinary tract, and kidneys. According to the National Kidney and Urological Disease Information Clearinghouse, the most common prostate problem for men over 50 is prostate enlargement. By age 60, more than half of men have BPH, according to the American Urological Association. By age 85, the number climbs to 90%. Luckily, BPH is treatable. Ronan Lev, MD, is a urologist who provides care through OSF HealthCare in Alton, Illinois. His practice was recently designated as a Center of Excellence by UroLift®, an organization that introduced a quick, minimally-invasive procedure to deal with an enlarged prostate and allow for an easier

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MELHS Baseball Seniors Are Recognized As Athletes Of The Month

3 years 1 month ago
EDWARDSVILLE - Six Metro East Lutheran High School baseball players are concluding their careers. Recently the six were honored on Senior Night in a game against Roxana. The boys are recognized as Metro East Lutheran Boys Athletes Of The Month. The MELHS senior boys are: Collin Jose Trevor Pickerell Tommy Hackethal Seth Linnenbrink Nathan Butler Caiden Downs The boys play at 4:30 p.m. today at Valmeyer. MELHS couldn't come back in a 19-8 loss to Roxana on Tuesday at MELHS. Roxana scored 5 runs in the first inning. Despite the loss, the Knights collected 12 hits in the high-scoring game. Senior Hackethal took the loss for the Knights. Seniors Pickerell, Butler and Hackethal each had multiple hits for the Knights, which seemed like a fitting end to Senior Night. Collin Jose had a triple, and Butler had two doubles. The seniors and their parents were honored in a ceremony before the game.

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Lunchtime Photo

3 years 1 month ago
I was planning to skip last night's lunar eclipse because I've already got plenty of pictures of lunar eclipses. But then when the time came, naturally I had to go outside to see it. And then I had to take some pictures. So here it is, about 90% full, which is all we got in ...continue reading "Lunchtime Photo"
Kevin Drum

Jobe, Legislators, React To Decision To Give Tourism Bureau $919,000 Route 66 Grant

3 years 1 month ago
ALTON – Revitalizing the Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in southwest Illinois is no longer a dream but a reality, thanks to a $919,000 Route 66 Grant awarded to the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau by the state. The grant will fund community murals, a new Route 66 Interpretative Visitor Center in Edwardsville, Mother Road monuments in several communities, and the reopening of the historic Cannonball Jail in Carlinville. Those projects are all interlocking pieces of a revitalized Route 66 envisioned by the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau of Southwest Illinois. The Tourism Bureau applied for a grant under the Route 66 Grant Program administered by DCEO and the Illinois Office of Tourism. The grant funds are available to certified Destination Marketing Organizations in Illinois that represent and promote the Mother Road. “We have to thank the Illinois Office of Tourism, DCEO, and our local state elected officials including State Senator Rachelle Crowe, State Senator Dori

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