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This Day in History on January 12: Haiti Experiences 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake

6 months ago
January 12th has been a significant date throughout history, marked by a variety of events that have shaped our world in many ways. One of the most profound events that took place on January 12, 1966, was the launch of the first successful satellite to be placed in orbit by the United States, named 'Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 1' (OGO-1). This landmark achievement in space exploration represented a major step forward in our understanding of the Earth's atmosphere and the effects of solar winds. The satellite was designed to study the interaction between the Earth's magnetosphere and the solar wind, contributing invaluable data to the field of geophysics. The success of OGO-1 not only marked a triumph for NASA but also set the stage for future explorations of space, enhancing our knowledge of both our planet and the cosmos beyond. Fast forward a few decades to January 12, 1991, when the United States launched Operation Desert Storm, a pivotal military campaign during the Gulf

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5-year-old injured by flying glass after Carr Square shooting

6 months ago

UPDATE: Additional details added about child’s injury. District 4 detectives are investigating a shooting that happened on January 11 in the 1300 block of North 16th. Officers received a call for a shooting just after 10:30 p.m. Upon arrival, they located a 5-year-old boy who was injured by flying glass after gunshots rang out and […]

The post 5-year-old injured by flying glass after Carr Square shooting appeared first on St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

Suleima Rojas

Why don’t we do more prescribed burning? An explainer.

6 months ago
Prescribed fires—or the lack of them—are on everybody's lip these days. Most people are just parroting talking points for political purposes, but perhaps you'd actually like to be a little smarter about it? Sure you would. It's a weekend and you have some spare time. So let's go through some history and then some current ...continue reading "Why don’t we do more prescribed burning? An explainer."
Kevin Drum

Ferguson police investigate possible shooting

6 months ago
ST. LOUIS – Police in Ferguson are investigating a possible shooting. Officers were called to the intersection of Shirley and Randolph Saturday night. They blocked off that area for some time after getting a call about shots being fired. We’ve reached out to the police for more information and are waiting to hear back. This [...]
Jaime Travers

One last day above freezing, cold front ushers in Arctic air by Monday

6 months ago
Clouds make their return today as our next cold front closes in on the region, but it'll be another day with some decent melting. Temperatures will climb into the upper 30s to near 40. While this system lacks moisture, we may see a few flurries or rain drops through the morning hours, mainly north of [...]
Jaime Travers

Economic Security Illinois Applauds State's Adoption of IRS Direct File

6 months ago
CHICAGO - Ahead of the 2025 tax season, the state of Illinois announced its participation in the IRS Direct File program. This will allow millions of eligible Illinoisans to file their taxes directly with the IRS, in a free and simplified system. Sarah Saheb, Director of Economic Security Illinois, an affiliate of Economic Security Project, a leading advocate for IRS Direct File nationally and in Illinois, released the following statement: “Direct File will save eligible Illinoisans up to $725 million and alleviate the stress and complexity of tax season for families across the state. This is a commonsense tool that will make filing taxes easier than ever before and put money back in people’s pockets all while saving the government money. We applaud Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Revenue, and all stakeholders who helped make this possible. As Illinoisans prepare to file their 2025 taxes, we encourage all who are eligible to utilize this completely free

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Giannoulias Announces 2nd Annual John Lewis Leadership Award

6 months ago
SPRINGFIELD - In partnership with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias presented the 2nd annual John Lewis Youth Leadership Award (JLYLA) to 21-year-old Ivoryana Neal and 23-year-old Anthony Ray Wright Jr. “It’s wonderful to honor the impact of the late Congressman Lewis by recognizing two incredible young Illinoisans for their significant service to our communities,” Giannoulias said. “Ivoryana and Anthony are truly carrying out the spirit of Congressman Lewis’ legacy.” Neal, a Bellwood native and a December 2024 graduate of Spelman College, is passionate about criminal justice reform and has helped educate peers on the need for more re-entry support for formerly incarcerated individuals and their families. Neal’s firsthand experiences interning with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office in Atlanta and with the Broadview, Illinois, police department have informed her call

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Comptroller Susana Mendoza Rushes Out Nearly $18 Million In Payments To Vendors, Providers And Schools Hit Hard By An Ice Storm

6 months ago
SPRINGFIELD - A severe ice storm wreaked havoc on large parts of southern Illinois earlier this week, closing schools and leaving thousands without power. In response, Comptroller Susana Mendoza Thursday issued payments totaling more than $17.7 million dollars earlier than originally planned. This comes at the request of Senator Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg who informed the Comptroller of the dire circumstances facing southern Illinois. The bulk of that, $16.7 million, is Illinois State Board of Education mandated categorical grants to elementary and secondary schools in the region. Most schools were forced to close and will not reopen until at least next week. Thursday’s infusion can help the schools with their cash flow as they make repairs. Additionally, 423 vouchers totaling nearly $1.1 million were paid out for things like ambulance services, local electric cooperatives, city and county services, and social service agencies. A full list is available here. “It’s

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Alton Little Theater Releases Official Statement About Recent Sexual Assault Allegations

6 months ago
ALTON – As the Executive Director of Alton Little Theater (ALT), I am deeply committed to ensuring that our organization remains a safe and welcoming space for everyone who steps through our doors. However, allegations of past misconduct have been brought concerning individuals formerly affiliated with the theater. Let me be clear: we take these allegations with the utmost seriousness. I want to assure the public that under my leadership, ALT will be a space where everyone feels safe to explore their passion for theater. Theater is about creating joy and fostering community and that is exactly what we will do. Eric Sykes Executive Director, Alton Little Theater

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Local Sierra Club to Screen Film About Water Rights and Sustainability

6 months ago
ALTON - The local Piasa Palisades chapter of the Sierra Club will screen a special film at their upcoming monthly meeting. At 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, community members are invited to Old Bakery Beer Co. in Alton for a screening of “Water for Life,” a documentary that tells the story of three Indigenous leaders who fought for water resources in their communities. Christine Favilla, representative with the Sierra Club and a co-coordinator for the Three Rivers Project, emphasized the importance of talking about sustainability and water rights. “It has to do a lot with making that connection with humans and hoping that they see they have a connection to nature,” she explained. “The more people that we have connected to nature, hopefully the more we will be able to see it be sustained and conserved.” Favilla said that the Piasa Palisades chapter of the Sierra Club meets at Old Bakery Beer Co. once a month, but this is the first time

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Missouri Launches Siddens-Bening Hands-Free Law to Combat Distracted Driving

6 months ago
ST. LOUIS - Law enforcement in Missouri has officially commenced for the Siddens-Bening Hands-Free Law, which prohibits drivers from holding their phones while operating a vehicle. Many from the Alton, Edwardsville and Belleville areas drive across the river to Missouri on a daily basis for work and entertainment. The law, which went into effect in the summer of 2023, transitioned from an educational awareness phase to active enforcement on Jan. 1, 2024. Under the new regulation, officers are permitted to issue tickets to drivers who are found holding their phones. However, the law allows for the use of hands-free devices, such as Bluetooth or Apple Car Play. The Siddens-Bening law operates under secondary enforcement, meaning that drivers can only be ticketed for phone use if they are pulled over for another violation, such as speeding or reckless driving. Since the law's implementation, Missouri has reported a 5% reduction in deaths related to distracted driving, which

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Local Customers Help Ace Hardware Donate To Community Organizations

6 months ago
BETHALTO — Ace Hardware of Bethalto has expressed gratitude to its customers for support in a recent fundraising initiative that benefited local organizations. The store, located at 1 Airway Court in Bethalto, collected donations through a register round-up campaign for The Community Hope Center and The Bethalto Spirit Christmas Village. Molly Mathias, the office manager at Ace Hardware, acknowledged the contributions of their patrons. “It is because of the generosity of our customers that we were able to present these two organizations with a donation check,” Mathias said. The initiative aimed to provide financial assistance to both organizations, enhancing their ability to serve the community during the holiday season. The donations collected reflect the commitment of the local business and its customers to support community efforts.

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