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Stacy Marriott Joins OSF Medical Group In Alton As Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner

7 months 1 week ago
ALTON – OSF Medical Group – Primary Care (Alton) is pleased to announce that a new board-certified family medicine nurse practitioner has been added to its staff to better serve the primary care needs of Riverbend region residents. Stacy Marriott, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, is accepting new patients at OSF Medical Group – Primary Care, located at #2 Saint Anthony’s Way, Suite 205, in Alton. Ms. Marriott will see patients on Monday and Wednesday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Marriott’s medical interests include (but not limited to): Family medicine Diabetes High blood pressure High cholesterol Obesity Women’s health Depression Anxiety As a board-certified family medicine nurse practitioner (American Nurses Credentialing Center), Marriott has accumulated more than 17 years of experience that’s included serving as a Nurse Practitioner at HSHS Medical Group(Highland, IL; 2023-2025), and in dual roles of Nurse Practitioner and Hospitalist

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EXO Lounge to Host "Taste of Vietnam" Pop-Up Event

7 months 1 week ago
EDWARDSVILLE - You can experience all the fun of Vietnam in Edwardsville at an upcoming “Taste of Vietnam” pop-up event at EXO Lounge. From 6–9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, community members are invited to EXO for a night of fresh Vietnamese flavors in addition to EXO’s nail bar and med spa services. EXO owner Gina Gamblin expressed her excitement to welcome the community to EXO for an evening of culture and fun. “EXO is a destination, but more so than just having a party, I think it’s important to have experiences,” Gamblin said. “Some may never get to travel to Vietnam, but just the culture and how we can bring it to life here at EXO is perfect.” EXO’s lounge boasts a Michelin-star chef and delicious food and cocktail menus at all times, but on Aug. 14, the kitchen will be transformed into a Vietnamese restaurant. Gamblin said some of EXO’s technicians once owned a restaurant, so the food will

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Illinois DCFS Encourages State Fair Visitors Tent To Create Bright Futures By Becoming Foster Parents

7 months 1 week ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services’ (DCFS) tent at the 2025 Illinois State Fair will be bustling with activity this year as representatives from the agency will be on hand to welcome families and share information about the department. Visitors to the tent, located on Central Ave., will learn how they can create bright futures for children through foster care, adoption or guardianship and speak to employment recruiters to learn about exciting job opportunities with the department and how to apply to join the DCFS team. Families are also invited to take pictures, play games and explore the children’s activity area. “Governor Pritzker challenged state agencies to create a theme around innovation in Illinois, and DCFS is proudly sharing our innovate work," said Illinois DCFS Director Heidi E. Mueller . “From launching our updated mandated reporter training which focuses on recognizing when a family needs support

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Attorney General Raoul Warns About Back-To-School Scams

7 months 1 week ago
CHICAGO – With summer almost over and the start of school just around the corner, Attorney General Kwame Raoul is warning Illinoisans to be wary of back-to-school scammers trying to take advantage of students and their families. Back-to-school scammers, like all scammers, try to trick consumers into paying for services or items that they will likely never receive or sharing personal data that scammers can use to steal consumers’ identities. “Consumers should not let the stress and expense of returning to the classroom keep them from doing their due diligence when buying school supplies online, getting test prep help or filling out scholarship applications,” Raoul said. “My office provides advice and resources to help people avoid identity theft and assist those who think their information may have been compromised. I encourage people to visit my office’s website for more details.” Attorney General Raoul encourages consumers shopping for school

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Rock the Blue Event In Belleville Raises Funds For Injured Fairview Heights Officers

7 months 1 week ago
BELLEVILLE - The 1st Annual ROCK THE BLUE Event, co-hosted by COPPER FIRE, VENUE ON MAIN & RACHEL’S SIDEBAR was a raving success, thanks to the 40+ businesses & organizations and additional volunteers that stepped up to the plate, to make it all happen! “This entire event was truly a “Labor of Love” for Downtown Belleville Business Owners Renae Eicholtz (Copper Fire), Conni Tilley (Venue on Main) and Rachel Speichinger (Rachel’s Sidebar) who put the entire event together in less than 6 weeks, to benefit the three Fairview Heights Police Officers officers injured in the line of duty in May 2025. “We had talked about doing an event initially to support our Belleville Police Department downtown, but when this tragic event happened, we were all on board with assisting the Fairview Heights police department instead, with Chief Matt Eiskant and Lt. Col. Mark Heffernan from Belleville Police Department agreed that we should support our neighboring community

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Funding Available for Water Quality Management Program Projects through Illinois EPA's Section 604(b) Grant Program

7 months 1 week ago
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Acting Director James Jennings is announcing a $750,000 funding opportunity through the Agency’s Section 604(b) Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) Program. Priority for funding will be given to projects that build capacity and/or increase assessments of waterbodies in support of implementing the WQMP and the Areawide Water Quality Management Plans. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been posted at: https://il.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/5b3c0096-6cad-46ac-bbd8-42f584d2d531 Grant funds under this program are used to determine the nature, extent, and causes of point and nonpoint source water pollution; develop water quality management plans; develop technical and administrative guidance tools for water pollution control; develop preliminary designs for best management practices to address water quality problems; implement administrative water pollution controls; and educate

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L&C Student Ambassadors Forge Paths in Leadership, Purpose and Service

7 months 1 week ago
GODFREY – At Lewis and Clark Community College, student ambassadors do more than give tours and assist with campus events — they represent the heart of the student body. The current ambassadors, Emma McRae, Josiah Schuette, and Sebbi Ehlers, are using their time at L&C to shape their futures, support others, and lead by example. These three students come from different backgrounds and are pursuing different career paths, but they all found a home and a voice through the student ambassador program. "Our current ambassadors have set the standard extremely high for future applicants," L&C Recruiter and coordinator of the student ambassador program, Daniel Nosce said. "They are always on time, grasp concepts quickly, and are extremely hardworking and organized." Nosce said each ambassador embodies what it means to be a Trailblazer and looks forward to their lasting impact on future students. The program typically selects three to four ambassadors per year to

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Missouri agency seeks dismissal of lawsuit alleging it punished a whistleblower 

7 months 1 week ago
The Missouri attorney general’s office is asking a Cole County judge to dismiss a lawsuit alleging a state agency violated competitive bidding laws to steer lucrative technology contracts to a well-connected company. The lawsuit, filed in May by a longtime state employee named Rodney Rice, alleges “deliberate bias” toward St. Louis-based World Wide Technology in […]
Jason Hancock

Why Swimming in Natural Waters Could Be Your Next Best Health Decision

7 months 1 week ago
Did you know that immersing yourself in lakes, rivers, or oceans can offer more than just a refreshing escape? Beyond the obvious joy of swimming, natural bodies of water provide unique health benefits that modern pools simply can’t replicate. As more people seek holistic wellness practices, the practice of swimming outdoors in natural environments is gaining attention not only for fitness but also for its therapeutic effects on the mind and body. The Physical Advantages of Natural Water Swimming Swimming is widely recognized as a comprehensive workout, engaging multiple muscle groups while being low-impact on joints. However, swimming in natural waters introduces additional physical benefits: Enhanced Cardiovascular Fitness: The varying temperatures and currents of natural water bodies require the body to adapt constantly, promoting better cardiovascular conditioning. Research has shown that swimming in colder water can improve circulation by stimulating blood flow to

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