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Missouri governor calls for task force to keep state education funding flat

6 months 3 weeks ago
A group of state officials and business leaders tasked by Gov. Mike Kehoe with creating a new formula to fund Missouri’s public schools gathered for the first time on Monday under an expectation that funding should be below what lawmakers approved earlier this year. Halle Herbert, the governor’s incoming policy director, told the group that […]
Annelise Hanshaw

Ameren Investigates Power Line Issue Behind Grafton, Other Nearby Communities, Outage

6 months 3 weeks ago
GRAFTON — A power outage affected the entire city of Grafton on Monday afternoon, June 2, 2025. Ameren Illinois officials reported to Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow that an issue with one of the power lines caused a substation outage along Illinois Route 3, disrupting service to the area. Morrow said the utility company is investigating and attempting to remedy the problem. Morrow added that Grafton City Hall was temporarily closed for the remainder of the day on Monday, starting at 2 p.m. Signs were posted at the front of the building, and police and city workers were informed of the closure. Outlying areas of Dow and Elsah are also involved in the power outage. Ameren has been contacted to find out more about the outage. Morrow said Ameren anticipates that power will be restored later Monday, or by Tuesday morning at the latest. If necessary, the company may deploy a temporary substation to expedite service restoration. Morrow said residents reported hearing a popping noise nea

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Governments Continue Losing Efforts To Gain Backdoor Access To Secure Communications

6 months 3 weeks ago
Reports that prominent American national security officials used a freely available encrypted messaging app, coupled with the rise of authoritarian policies around the world, have led to a surge in interest in encrypted apps like Signal and WhatsApp. These apps prevent anyone, including the government and the app companies themselves, from reading messages they intercept. The spotlight on encrypted […]
Mike Masnick

St. Ambrose Catholic School Releases 4th Quarter Honor Roll

6 months 3 weeks ago
GODFREY – St. Ambrose Catholic School recently released their fourth quarter High Honor Roll and Honor Roll lists for 2024-2025. 4th Grade High Honor Roll Sophie Hoefert Reid Pruetzel 4th Grade Honor Roll Chrisley Bechtold Colton French Hunter Johnson Cayla Kory Lucas Lacy Jordan McCormick Ella Schroeder Lily Yemm 5th Grade High Honor Roll Benjamin Burns Tucker Eberlin James Erwin Jackson Lacy Maizy McCahill Miles Schroeder 5th Grade Honor Roll Elijah Baird Holly Franklin Kamryn Hollinger Audrina Klasner Alysa Kochan Barrett Kohl William Monahan Marley Palmer Eileen Rodriguez-Frias 6th Grade High Honor Roll Danica Dornes Finn Kane Lydia Lara Caroline Morrissey Neal Pichee 6th Grade Honor Roll Ruth Beck Stella Copple Charles Droste Rylan Estes Charlotte Hendrickson Emma Kory Liam Rose Isla Stevenson Thomas Stirnaman Ryan Terry 7th Grade High Honor Roll Piper Adams Kayli Jacobs Charlotte Kohl Parker William

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Granite City's Gracie Roberts and Dylan Sanchez Recognized for Leadership and Service

6 months 3 weeks ago
GRANITE CITY – Granite City Elks Lodge #1063 recognized Granite City High School seniors Gracie Roberts and Dylan Sanchez as Students of the Month for May. The Elks Student of the Month Program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for achievements in school and community life-fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry and farming. Nominees are judged on multiple achievements including leadership skills, good moral character, community involvement, extracurricular activities, honors and award and scholastic ability. Each student receives a $100 U.S. savings bond and an Elks certificate of achievement. GRACIE ROBERTS Contributed to 16 productions at GCHS in various capacities, including acting, assistant directing, sound technician, ushering, and videography ... Vice-President of Thespian Society ... Renaissance Top-10 ... Personal Choice Award ... Two-year Honor Roll ... Member of Thespian Society and

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New Plant Store Opens in Downtown Alton

6 months 3 weeks ago
ALTON - There’s a new store for plant lovers in downtown Alton. Plant Em, located at 302 East Broadway in Alton, sells a variety of rare, tropical and exotic plants. Owner Emily Tucker shared that plants helped her get through a tough time, and she hopes to help other people, too. “My store is my therapy,” Tucker said. “I finally made it happen.” Plant Em is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 12–4 p.m. on Sundays. Tucker is currently splitting her time between the store, her full-time job as a dental assistant, and her children, but she hopes to expand the store’s hours in the future. She shared that she first discovered new coping mechanisms 10 years ago at an eating disorder recovery center. A few years later, Tucker was going through “something really stressful” and stumbled across a bear’s paw succulent on TikTok. She soon became fascinated with rare plants and devoted herself to the searc

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Durbin, Duckworth, Rep. Kelly Introduce "Wear Orange" Resolution In Observance Of National Gun Violence Awareness Month, Honor Hadiya Pendleton

6 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today introduced the bicameral “Wear Orange” Resolution, which designates June 6, 2025, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the entire month of June as National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Each year, nearly 43,000 people in the United States are killed, and 97,000 injured by gun violence. June 2 is the birthday of Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed in a Chicago park in 2013, just days after performing in the parade for President Obama’s second inauguration. This tragic event moved the lawmakers to designate the first Friday in June as a time to recognize Hadiya nationally. In Hadiya’s memory, the resolution encourages people to wear orange, the color hunters wear for safety, to promote awareness of gun violence, and to serve as a reminde

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