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Former WWII Prisoner of War Honored with Ceremony and New Marquette Class Ring

6 months 2 weeks ago
ALTON - As a World War II Prisoner of War, Alton native Robert Ryan traded his Marquette Catholic High School class ring for a can of sardines. Now, he has a new ring and a community that has rallied behind him. On April 23, 2025, community members gathered at Marquette Catholic High School for a ceremony honoring Ryan for his heroism during WWII. MCHS Principal Tim Harmon and U.S. Army Lieutenant General Jered P. Helwig presented Ryan with a new class ring and thanked him for his service during the war and in the Alton community. “Number one, it’s quite a surprise. Number two, it’s an honor I don’t deserve,” Ryan said. “All any of us did was what we had to do.” Harmon explained that a WWII researcher connected with Ryan a few months ago. When the researcher learned that Ryan traded his class ring for food, he cold-called the school and informed them of the story. MCHS staff members Blake Marth, Paula Mattix-Wand and Robert Stephan worke

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Another Court Says Trump Admin Needs To Stop Randomly Renditioning People To El Salvador

6 months 2 weeks ago
The Trump administration’s attempt to rendition people to El Salvador without due process has hit another judicial roadblock. Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Colorado has blocked the government from using the improper Alien Enemies Act to remove noncitizens from the US without due process. The administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act is both legally absurd […]
Mike Masnick

Daily Deal: The 2025 Embedded Systems Engineer Mastery Bundle

6 months 2 weeks ago
Embedded systems are at the heart of modern innovation, powering everything from smart devices to automotive technology. This Embedded Systems Engineer Mastery Bundle has 10 courses to help equip you with the skills to design, program, and implement microcontroller-based solutions. Gain hands-on experience with Arduino, PIC, and ESP32, master C programming for embedded applications, and […]
Daily Deal

Marquette Boys Tennis Salutes Seniors Adam Richards and Luke Steyer

6 months 2 weeks ago
ALTON - Nathan Joehl, head coach of the Marquette Boys Tennis team, praised seniors Adam Richards and Luke Steyer for their contributions during the 2025 spring season. Richards, the lone senior in the varsity lineup, has provided valuable experience and leadership to the young team, helping to keep younger players focused, the boys tennis coach said. Richards and Steyer are Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Male Athletes of the Month. Steyer, who joined the team this year, has shown significant improvement and brings a positive attitude that enhances the team’s atmosphere. Joehl expressed pride in both players for their development and impact on the team.

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Swansea Police Department Swears In Two New Officers

6 months 2 weeks ago
SWANSEA — The Swansea Police Department welcomed two new officers, George Atanasov and Jackson Belt, during a swearing-in ceremony held Monday evening, April 21, 2025, at the Village Board meeting. Swansea Mayor Michael Leopold officiated the event, marking the official start of their service with the department. Following the ceremony, Atanasov and Belt will undergo preliminary training at the police department before beginning the formal police academy in May 2025. Chief Matthew Blomberg was also present for the ceremony. The addition of Officers Atanasov and Belt reflects the department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its team and maintain public safety in the community.

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East St. Louis Native Durbin Announces Retirement: Illinois Officials React

6 months 2 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD - In a video message shared with Illinois voters today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026. Durbin is an East St. Louis native. “The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States Senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch. So, I am announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election at the end of my term,” Durbin said in the video. “The people of Illinois have honored me with this responsibility longer than anyone elected to the Senate in our state’s history. I am truly grateful,” Durbin said. “Right now, the challenges facing our country are historic and unprecedented. The threats to our democracy and way of life are very real, and I can assure you that I will do everything in my power to fight for Illinois and the future of our country every day of my remaining time in the Senate.”

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What Does the SAVE Act Mean for Illinois? LWVIL Testifies at State Capitol

6 months 2 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD - At the invitation of the Illinois House Ethics and Elections Committee, the League of Women Voters of Illinois (LWVIL) gave expert testimony at the committee’s subject matter hearing in Springfield on Tuesday, April 22 to explain the potential implications that the federal SAVE Act could have on Illinois elections and ballot access. LWVIL Vice President for Issues and Advocacy Kathy Cortez testified that, “We believe every citizen should be protected in the right to vote, and that electoral systems should encourage participation and enhance representation for all voters. The League of Women Voters opposes the SAVE Act because, by imposing inequitable economic and administrative requirements, the bill would create unnecessary barriers to voting participation and disenfranchise large numbers of eligible voters.” The SAVE Act places a burden on women that is not equally placed on men. Because many Illinois women opted to change their names when they

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