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Alton Band and Orchestra Builders to Host Virtual Auction Fundraiser for Alton Music Program

5 months 3 weeks ago
ALTON - The Alton Band and Orchestra Builders (ABOB) will host their annual virtual auction later this month. The Music Matters Virtual Auction begins on March 27 and ends on March 29, 2025. All proceeds will go back to ABOB to support local students in the Alton Community Unit School District #11 music program. The organization noted that they are still looking for donations and sponsors ahead of the auction. “ABOB, with the support of its generous donors, ensures that all kids in the Alton School District, regardless of financial resources, are able to experience the joy of playing an instrument,” said Jodi Baum, chairperson for the auction. “It’s incredible to see just how many kids come through the music program in the Alton district every year.” The auction will utilize the Zeffy Fundraising Platform, and 100% of proceeds will go back to ABOB. In addition to countless baskets and services that are up for auction, a few lucky winners will also

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2025 Women of Distinction: Becky Cowart Shows Passion for Future Generations Today

5 months 3 weeks ago
ALTON - Rebecca “Becky” Cowart cares about the future, so she acts today. Cowart, one of the YWCA’s ten 2025 Women of Distinction, will be honored at the Y’s annual gala for her commitment to the community. Cowart is involved in several local organizations, from the YWCA to the NAACP, and she shared that her mission to get involved started with her own children, ages 9, 8 and 1. “My children are the most important children in the world to me,” she said. “Essentially because of them, I’ve made choices because I want them to experience community and I want them to experience a diverse community so that they can see the importance of making space, celebrating, respecting and learning from diversity.” Cowart homeschools her children and makes sure they are involved in the community through initiatives like Diverse Story, a YWCA program that offers storytimes with diverse characters and books that kids can take home. She also

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Budzinski Testifies On Danger Of USPS Privatization 

5 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government about President Trump’s proposal to dissolve the USPS’s bipartisan Board of Governors and place the agency under the Department of Commerce, with further threats to privatize the organization. She also discussed the impact of the proposed consolidation of Processing and Distribution Centers – like the ones in Springfield and Champaign, Illinois – and outgoing Postmaster General DeJoy’s Local Transportation Optimization (LTO) plan. If implemented, the LTO plan would reduce the frequency of mail pickups from local post offices that are more than 50 miles away from a Regional Processing and Distribution Center, leading to delayed outgoing mail from rural communities. WATCH HERE: Budzinski Testifies on Danger of USPS Privatization Budzinski’s testimony as submitted

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Area Real Estate Firm To Undergo Leadership Changes, Marks 25th Anniversary In May

5 months 3 weeks ago
ALTON - RE/MAX River Bend Inc. is set to undergo significant leadership changes as Keith Jackson steps into the role of Managing Broker on Jan. 4, 2025, succeeding Sharon Pratt, who will maintain her position as Co-Owner and realtor. This transition marks a pivotal moment for the agency, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in May 2025. The business is located at 2735 Homer Adams Parkway, Suite B, Alton. Keith Jackson, who became a licensed Managing Broker in 2024, brings over 15 years of experience in multifamily housing before transitioning to residential sales in 2022. He expressed his commitment to upholding the values imparted to him by Pratt and retired broker Terry McKinzie. “I want our agents to be prepared, trained, and to be honest when they hit the ground running, providing all clients with a smooth transaction,” Jackson stated. He emphasized the importance of keeping agents informed in the dynamic real estate market. In addition to his new role, Jackson

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Endangered Person Advisory issued for 45-year-old Fenton woman

5 months 3 weeks ago
ST. LOUIS - An Endangered Person Advisory has been issued Wednesday afternoon for a missing woman in Fenton. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), Nicole Jung, 45, was scheduled to pick up her husband from work around 5 p.m. on Friday but never arrived and has not been heard from since. Jung [...]
Nick Gladney

Missouri Supreme Court turns down appeal of state road fund pay raise ruling

5 months 3 weeks ago
Since late 2021, a market pay plan designed to combat high turnover in the Department of Transportation has been tied up in court over the question of whether lawmakers or the Highways and Transportation Commission has final say over how state road funds are spent. The final answer, delivered Tuesday by the Missouri Supreme Court, […]
Rudi Keller

Couple Accused of Defrauding More Than $7 Million For School Meal Programs for Low-Income Kids

5 months 3 weeks ago
ST. LOUIS – Diarra Williams, 30, and Nicholas Warford, 31, both from Edwardsville, Illinois, were indicted on Feb. 26, 2025, for their alleged involvement in a scheme that defrauded more than $7 million from school meal programs intended for low-income children in Missouri. The couple, who operated a local non-profit organization, were arrested on March 4, 2025, following the indictment, which charges them with multiple counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering. The indictment details a fraudulent operation that reportedly lasted from March 2020 through July 2022, during which Williams and Warford allegedly misrepresented their service of over 2.2 million meals through Missouri’s At-Risk Afterschool Program and Summer Food Service Program, both funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to the indictment, Williams claimed that her non-profit, The Bailey Foundation, served large quantities of meals while in reality, Warford's

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Severe Winds Cause Power Line Malfunctions For Short Period In Edwardsville and Glen Carbon

5 months 3 weeks ago
GLEN CARBON/EDWARDSVILLE — High winds led to power line malfunctions in Glen Carbon and Edwardsville on Wednesday morning, March 5, 2025, leaving approximately 1,800 customers without electricity for a short period. The incident occurred at around 9:55 a.m. Wednesday when winds caused a power line to malfunction in Glen Carbon, affecting 1,600 customers in that area and 200 in Edwardsville, according to Brian Bretsch, a spokesperson for Ameren Illinois. "Crews quickly spotted the issue and safely secured the area," Bretsch said. He noted that while the crew faced strong winds, they were able to successfully repair the power line. Power was restored to all affected customers by 10:20 a.m. Wednesday, just 25 minutes after the initial outage began.

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Trump “Brings Back Free Speech” By [Checks Notes] Threatening To Imprison Protestors And Expose Journalist Sources

5 months 3 weeks ago
It is almost difficult to believe this is a real thing that happened with the President of the United States, but here’s what actually happened on Tuesday. In the morning, Donald Trump threatened to imprison protesters and defund any university that allows certain protests. Then, that same evening, he stood before Congress and declared — […]
Mike Masnick