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Troy Community Invited to Celebrate First Responders at National Night Out Event

8 months ago
TROY - The City of Troy’s first responders will connect with the community at their National Night Out event. From 6–8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, community members can stop by Tri-Township Park for National Night Out. Hosted by the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce, the event encourages community members to engage with first responders and enjoy a touch-a-truck, K9 demonstrations, bounce houses and more. “It’s to celebrate first responders and to let people get up and close with them,” explained Dawn Mushill, president of the Chamber of Commerce. The touch-a-truck will feature police cars, a SWAT vehicle, trash truck, tractor, dump truck, tow truck, racecar and more. At 6:30 p.m., a medical helicopter will land at the park. This will be followed by a K9 demonstration by the Illinois State Police at 7 p.m. Kids and families can check out “Photo Op with a Cop” and get to know the Troy Police Department. They

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Illinois Woman Wins $1 Million After Last-Minute Ticket Switch - Then Pays It Forward

8 months ago
CHICAGO — A spur-of-the-moment decision turned into a life-changing windfall for an Illinois Lottery player who won a cool $1 million on a $10 scratch-off ticket. “I was planning to buy a different scratch-off game,” said the lucky winner, who chose to remain anonymous under the nickname Wishing Fish . “But as I looked over the other options, this ticket stood out. It was as if my vision blocked out all the other tickets—this one was meant to be.” The winning scratch-off ticket, Ultimate Bonus Payout, was purchased at Jewel-Osco, located at 696 Northwest Hwy in Cary. As a reward for selling the winning ticket, the store will receive a $10,000 bonus—1% of the prize amount. The newly-minted millionaire recalled the unforgettable moment she realized she had won: “I was at home eating a chocolate bar with the song Money by Pink Floyd playing in the background. I scratched the last symbol and immediately FaceTimed my son, repeating

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Thinning herd, heavier cattle reshape Missouri’s beef supply chain

8 months ago
Cattle farms and feedlots in Missouri today are populated by cows that are a far cry from those that roamed pastures 80 or 90 years ago. Cattle back then were referred to as “buckle cows” – named that way because they only went about as high as a rancher’s belt buckle. But in the 1950s, […]
Noah Grabianski

Where does Missouri rank in healthcare among the U.S.?

8 months ago
Health care is an important topics to residents, especially as Missourians on average spend nearly $10,000 per year on personal health care. It leaves room to question: How does the state compare to the rest of the country when it comes to health care?
Megan Mueller

What Liberal Media? Axios Thinks Being Neutral Means Kissing Trump’s Ass

8 months ago
The news org Axios launched in 2017, just as the first Trump administration began, created by some ex-Politico folks, claiming that they would be “an antidote to this madness” and talking about how “the world needed smarter, more efficient coverage” of important news stories. The reality is that Axios launders rightwing talking points in ugly […]
Mike Masnick

Daily Deal: The Complete Photoshop Master Class Bundle

8 months ago
It’s no secret that Photoshop can be a bit dense when you’re first getting your feet wet with it. That’s why it pays to have a expert instructors show you the ropes. Led by a Photoshop pro, the Complete Photoshop Master Class Bundle will help you master Photoshop CC and become an expert—no prior experience […]
Daily Deal

Edwardsville Bakery Owner Faces $6,000 Fryer Replacement Challenge

8 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE — Yummy Donut Palace, a popular local bakery at 443 S. Buchanan Street, Edwardsville, IL, has remained closed since a fire in December 2024, with owner Akara Thap unable to resume operations due to an unresolved insurance claim involving a commercial fryer essential to the business. The fire forced the closure of the small business, and Thap has not received any income since. Thap said a new fryer, purchased shortly before the fire, is currently tied up in the insurance claim process, with no clear timeline for resolution. The cost to replace the fryer could be as high as $6,000, depending on the model. Josh Chavez, a community member, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist Thap in purchasing a new fryer. Chavez is collaborating with another local business owner, Emily Elliot, to raise funds. “The fact that such a necessary item is being withheld from them is deeply disturbing,” Chavez said in a message accompanying the fundraising effort. He encouraged

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Giannoulias Launches Driving Change Campaign for Auto Insurance Fairness

8 months ago
SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is launching a statewide advocacy campaign aimed at preventing insurance companies from using socio-economic data – such as credit scores, zip codes and age – to charge Illinoisans higher auto insurance rates. As part of his “Driving Change” campaign, Giannoulias is seeking input from Illinoisans, asking them to share their stories about unfair and discriminatory ratemaking practices employed by auto insurance companies. Giannoulias launched the campaign today in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, joined by supporters including AARP Illinois and legislative sponsors State Senator Ram Villivalam (8th District – Chicago) and State Representative Rita Mayfield (60th District – Waukegan). “As Secretary of State, I strongly believe that an individual’s driving record should serve as the primary factor that’s analyzed when setting auto insurance rates,” Giannoulias

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IDNR welcomes Amateur Trapshooting Association's Grand American back to World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta

8 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Amateur Trapshooting Association’s (ATA) Grand American championships , one of the premier events in shooting sports, returns to the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta July 30 through Aug. 9. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) 1,600-acre World Shooting and Recreational Complex has hosted the Grand American since 2006. The largest and oldest shooting event of its kind, the event features more than 20 events and attracts more than 5,000 competitors and spectators from across the globe annually. The Grand has an estimated economic impact of $25 million to $30 million annually in southern Illinois. “We’re thrilled to welcome competitors, spectators, vendors and sponsors for the Grand American once again at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “Hosting the Grand brings an economic boost to the region, increases exposure to trapshooting, and offers

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