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Illinois Secretary of State's Mobile DMV Will Be Offered at R.P. Lumber Center in April

5 months 2 weeks ago
EDWARDSVILLE - The City of Edwardsville and the Illinois Secretary of State are teaming up once more to offer a Mobile DMV service in the city. It will take place at the R.P. Lumber Center on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. The Mobile DMV is part of an effort by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office to provide some of the basic Illinois Department of Motor Vehicle services, including REAL IDs, at easily accessible community sites. It’s an additional and alternative option to visiting a traditional DMV location. This service of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office has been offered in Edwardsville several times since last year. “We are happy to host the Mobile DMV’s return to Edwardsville to offer an additional way to access Illinois Secretary of State services,” Mayor Art Risavy said. The Mobile DMV will operate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the community rooms at the R.P. Lumber Center, 6289 Tiger Drive. No appointments are necessary. Services to

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Commemorating Start Of Autism Acceptance Month In April, Humanity Over Handcuffs Special Series To Launch

5 months 2 weeks ago
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Beginning in April, commemorating the start of Autism Acceptance Month, veteran Nashville based music producer and podcast host Tony Mantor will launch Humanity Over Handcuffs: The Silent Crisis, a special series on his chart topping Why Not Me the World podcast on autism. During his recent address to the U.S. Congress President Trump cited the rising prevalence of autism diagnoses which have risen from one in 10,000 children, to one in 36. More specifically, how Autistic people have been historically treated in the legal system will be Mantor’s specific focus on the special series launching in April. Autism and the legal system is undoubtedly a relative topic and societal challenge that has been recently reported on by NPR, Salon, The Marshall Report and ABA Journal. Mantor’s new series seeks to revitalize a conversation around the highly sensitive topic to bring about solutions. “The series purpose is to refrain from assigning blame,

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Attorney General Raoul Asks Court To Stop Mass Firings And Seeks Reinstatement Of Federal Probationary Employees

5 months 2 weeks ago
CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general, is seeking a temporary restraining order against numerous federal agencies, asking that a federal court order them to cease the illegal mass layoffs of federal probationary employees, and to reinstate those who have been fired. Today’s motion comes after the coalition filed a lawsuit against the agencies over the illegal firings last night. The motion , seeking immediate relief, is necessary because the mass firings by federal agencies are causing irreparable harm to Illinois and the other plaintiff states. The ongoing and sudden mass firings are straining state resources to support recently unemployed workers and to review and adjudicate claims of unemployment assistance. In the two months since the president’s inauguration, approximately 446 terminated federal employees in Illinois have applied to the state for unemployment benefits. That number is almost as many claims as were

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Mustache March 4PD to Host 8th Annual "Back the Blue" Fundraiser for Local Police Departments

5 months 2 weeks ago
ALTON - Mustache March 4PD will host their eighth annual “Back the Blue” event. On March 28, 2025, at Bluff City Grill in Alton, community members are invited to enjoy food, live music, raffles, a mustache contest and more. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $30 and all proceeds benefit MM4PD’s mission to support local police departments. This year, they hope to raise $80,000. “Our whole goal is to build that community between police and citizens because they both have a view of each other that might not be exactly what is happening,” explained Wesley, one of the event’s organizers. “If we can be that bridge that shows that, hey, these officers are normal people, husbands, wives, just like anybody else, they have kids and problems and everything. And then show the police that there is a community that does care for them, and it’s not just the 1% they deal with on a daily basis, there’s a lot

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L&C Women's History Month Event With Netflix Star Stephanie Hoffman

5 months 2 weeks ago
GODFREY – In celebration of Women’s History Month, Lewis and Clark Community College’s Diversity Council will present “Melting Stereotypes: Women in Welding” with Netflix and YouTube star Stephanie Hoffman. The event takes place at 11 a.m., Monday, March 10, at the Reid Memorial Library on the Godfrey Campus. Stephanie Hoffman, a renowned welder, educator and advocate for women in skilled trades, has gained national recognition for her work in promoting diversity and inclusion in welding. As a former cast member of Netflix’s Metal Shop Masters and a prominent YouTube personality, she has been instrumental in challenging industry norms and empowering the next generation of tradeswomen. “Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of women across all industries, and we are honored to have Stephanie Hoffman join us to shed light on the importance of gender equity in the workforce,” L&C History Professor Kelly

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GOP Senators Trade Constitutional Authority For Elon’s Phone Number

5 months 2 weeks ago
Republican Senators are so aware that Elon Musk is literally running the government now that they’re getting his personal cell phone number to beg him to reverse his mistakes. This would be concerning enough on its own — but it’s especially alarming given that just weeks ago, the DOJ explicitly claimed in court that Musk […]
Mike Masnick

Attorney General Raoul Obtains Guilty Plea, Prison Sentence For Fayette County Man Who Possessed Child Sexual Abuse Material

5 months 2 weeks ago
CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a Fayette County man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. The Attorney General’s office prosecuted Izacc A. Logue, 41, of St. Elmo, Illinois, who was sentenced by Fayette County Circuit Court Judge Chad Miller after pleading guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography and one count of unlawful possession of cannabis over 5,000 grams. “Individuals who prey upon and exploit children must be held accountable for the trauma they have inflected upon survivors and their families.” Raoul said. “My office’s partnerships with law enforcement agencies are helping us investigate and obtain

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Durbin, Sorensen, Grassley, Duckworth, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Sustain Workload At Rock Island Arsenal

5 months 2 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), along with U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), introduced bipartisan legislation to boost workload at U.S. Army arsenals, including Rock Island Arsenal. The Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act would incentivize private industry to partner with arsenals by giving preference to public-private partnerships in Army contracting. As no workload requirement currently exists for Army arsenals, the legislation would provide arsenals with a more predictable, sustained workload throughout the year and allow them to keep costs low while remaining competitive with private industry in the manufacturing or procurement of defense products. The bill would have a direct impact on Rock Island Arsenal, helping the arsenal to maintain existing union jobs, attract new projects and workers, and keep costs down. “Outfitted to manufacture

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Illinois Teacher Shortage Eases as Recruitment Efforts Show Results

5 months 2 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – New results from two statewide surveys show Illinois’ educator shortage crisis is easing. The Illinois State Board of Education attributes the progress to comprehensive statewide efforts to address teacher shortages, which include the largest-ever state investment in addressing teacher vacancies. The state’s Teacher Vacancy Grants provided $45 million per year in FY 2024 and FY 2025 to the 170 districts with the greatest numbers of unfilled teaching positions. Grantee districts have utilized the funds to implement evidence-based strategies to address local challenges to teacher recruitment and retention. Early results have shown improved recruitment and retention in the state's most understaffed school districts, including the hiring of nearly 5,400 new teachers, the retention of approximately 11,000 additional educators, and support for approximately 1,500 non-certified staff to pursue licensure and 450 certified staff to pursue further endorsements.

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