a Better Bubble™

Aggregator

Attention High School Seniors: Deadline To Submit Applications For Alton Pride's 2025 Scholarships Is Friday, January 31.

5 months 3 weeks ago
ALTON - To bring awareness, understanding, and advocacy to the LGBTQ+ community, with a specific emphasis on the youth in our community, Alton Pride offers scholarships to assist in furthering our awardees' education by attending a community college, trade school, or university. Applicants must be in their senior year of high school, volunteer at least 20 hours with Alton Pride or another non-profit community organization, submit a 300-word essay, and a completed application by January 31, 2025. Four Scholarships will be awarded in 2025 Roadecker “Roe” Watts Award - $1500 Well-known in Alton's LGBTQ+ community, Roe's former co-workers at JCPenney rallied to make a donation to Alton Pride to establish a scholarship in his memory. Debbie Paynic Award - $1000 Debbie was an early supporter of Alton Pride and a shining star in our community. To honor her memory, our Board of Directors voted unanimously to establish a scholarship in her name. Harvey Milk

Continue Reading

From England to Alton: Hank Ford Shares "Implied Human Existence" in Photography

5 months 3 weeks ago
ALTON - Hank Ford has always been fascinated by eerie places. The photographer has worn many hats, from documentarian to social media manager. He relocated to Alton two years ago, where he is intrigued by ghost stories but not interested in horror movies. Instead, he has found a passion for liminal spaces and “the implied existence of humans” in his photography, now on display at Milton Schoolhouse. “There’s just something very visceral about seeing creepy things that aren’t Freddie or Jason chasing you with a knife,” Ford said. “I’m not interested in that kind of stuff. But this feeling, like maybe I shouldn’t be here, has always attracted me. Maybe it’s a childhood of sneaking into abandoned buildings and hanging out with your friends as a teenager. That space, as weird as it feels, may be comfortable to me.” For his 15th birthday, Ford’s father gifted him a camera. This began his journey of photography.

Continue Reading

Collinsville Man Charged For Defaced Firearm, Meth Possession

5 months 3 weeks ago
COLLINSVILLE – A Collinsville man faces criminal charges in the latest case of defacing firearm identification marks filed in Madison County this year. Rodney J. De Los Santos Jr., 30, of Collinsville, was charged with possession of a weapon by a felon (a Class 3 felony), defacing identification marks of firearm (a Class 3 felony) and unlawful possession of methamphetamine (Class 3 felony). On Jan. 8, 2025, De Los Santos unlawfully possessed a Smith & Wesson SDV firearm “upon which the importer’s or manufacturer’s serial number had been removed,” according to court documents. His possession of the weapon was unlawful as he had previously been convicted of a felony, possession of a controlled substance, in Brazoria County, Texas. In this case, he was also charged with possession of less than 5 grams of methamphetamine. The Collinsville Police Department presented the case against De Los Santos, who currently remains in custody. This marks the second

Continue Reading

First abortion-related bill pushed in GOP-led Congress blocked by Senate Democrats

5 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democrats blocked legislation Wednesday that would have established penalties for health care professionals who don’t provide medical care for infants born following an attempted abortion, arguing the bill would have kept parents from making decisions about care for newborns delivered early following a fatal fetal diagnosis. Republicans said the issue should […]
Jennifer Shutt

Unique Art Exhibition "Old Bones, Inc." Launches At Sacred Grounds

5 months 3 weeks ago
EDWARDSVILLE - The Gogh Getters present, Old Bones, Inc., a collaborative effort of art and the minds of Mark Regester and Andy Dykeman, an exhibition at Sacred Grounds Cafe in Edwardsville from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. There will be give-aways and refreshments. Special musical guests will be providing entertainment. A spokesperson for Old Bones, Inc., says that this is “The Everything Must Go, Spectacular Savings, Priced To Move, Get It Before It's Gone, Buy Or Burn, Blow Out Sale." Old Bones, Inc. is a collaboration between self-taught artists Andy Dykeman and Mark Regester. Their work reflects the DIY values and aesthetics that come from spending formative years immersed in the punk rock scene. Skulls, UFOs, ghosts, spines, brains and fire are all common themes in their work with a healthy dose of writing and dark humor. https://www.instagram.com/oldbonesinc/ Mark was born in Scotland, raised in California and is a resident artist at 31art Gallery in St

Continue Reading

Missouri bills target pharmacy costs, insurance rules on drug pricing

5 months 3 weeks ago
With billions of dollars at stake, a legislative battle in Missouri over payments for prescription drugs kicked off again Wednesday between pharmacies, health care providers and insurance companies. For those unfamiliar with the conflict, terms like white bagging, brown bagging, 340B and biosimilarity can make the debate impossible to fathom. But each of those phrases, […]
Rudi Keller

SIUE Joins With Metro East Partners To Bring 40 Days Of Nonviolence To East St. Louis Area

5 months 3 weeks ago
Initiative Revived to Combat Violence in East St. Louis and Beyond EAST ST. LOUIS/EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is one of many partners working with the 40 Days of Nonviolence and Beyond initiative in its ongoing mission to deter and ultimately eliminate violence in the East St. Louis area. The committee kicked off its campaign with a press conference, that included State Sen. Christopher Belt (D- 57th District), on Friday, Jan. 17 at the Clyde C. Jordan Senior Citizen Center in the East St. Louis Township. The initiative will run from Jan. 25 through March 4 and will include activities for students, ages 8-18, with SIUE Project Success , SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School , Lincoln Middle School, Black Greek letter organizations (Divine Nine) youth groups and more, according to Kimberly McClellan, of the 40 Days of Nonviolence and Beyond executive committee, president of the SIUE Professional Staff Association, SIUE Head Start teacher

Continue Reading

Lunchtime Photo

5 months 3 weeks ago
This is the famous blue tower in Durnstein, Austria, as seen from our Danube cruise ship. But why is it famous just for sporting some blue trim? That's a mystery.
Kevin Drum

New allegations about Pentagon nominee Hegseth circulated to members of U.S. Senate

5 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON — New allegations of alcohol abuse and misconduct by defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth drew fresh scrutiny Wednesday about the veteran, former Fox News host and author who President Donald Trump wants to install at the top of the U.S. military. New revelations in a sworn affidavit from Hegseth’s ex-sister-in-law accuse Hegseth of causing […]
Ashley Murray