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Ranken students present plans for North City renewal

8 months ago
Ranken Technical College hosted its annual Architecture Student Showcase, featuring 38 students' class projects aimed at re-envisioning north St. Louis, with a theme of "Building Community in St. Louis Place" and designs for key infrastructure elements such as a justice center, grocery store, and senior living center.
Ciara Folkerts

Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Measure To Amend National Child Protection Act To Expand Nationwide Background Check Access

8 months ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced a bipartisan bill, the Comprehensive Health and Integrity in Licensing and Documentation (CHILD) Act , to amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 (NCPA) to ensure that individuals with unsupervised access to children, such as those under contract with a school, are, once again, authorized to have a national background check. U.S. Representative Russell Fry (R-SC-07) and U.S. Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23) are introducing companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives today. Since 1993, the National Child Protection Act/Volunteers for Children Act (NCPA/VCA) has made nationwide background checks available for individuals who have access to children through qualified entities. However, the Child Protection Improvements Act of 2018 (CPIA)

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Duckworth, Durbin Join More Than 100 Congressional Democrats in Demanding Social Security Head Keep Field Offices Open Across the Nation

8 months ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in a coalition of over 100 Congressional Democrats in writing to Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) Leland Dudek to demand that he keep Social Security field offices open. This letter comes after multiple reports revealed that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) directed SSA to close field offices across the country—only to reverse course after public backlash and deny the plans altogether. Given the lack of transparency surrounding the status of field offices nationwide, the lawmakers pressed Dudek to ensure that DOGE does not close the offices that so many Social Security beneficiaries rely on for services and assistance. “eneficiaries need the opportunity to seek assistance from SSA in person…Closing

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Two Charged With Mob Action In Public Alton Attack

8 months ago
ALTON – Two men from Alton are accused of attacking someone in public at a local grocery store. Reginald D. Hodges Jr., 28, and Devan C. Luster, 23, both of Alton, were charged on April 25, 2025 with one count each of mob action, both Class 4 felonies. Hodges and Luster allegedly acted together in striking the same victim about the head and body on March 14, 2025. By knowingly engaging in the use of force, the two are accused of disturbing the public peace, as the incident unfolded in a public place – the Save-A-Lot grocery store at 2980 Homer Adams Parkway in Alton. The Alton Police Department presented the cases against Hodges and Luster, who were both granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of la w.

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Tigers' Freshman Parker Owens Records World Record Pole Vault Height, Is Off To Great Start Outdoors In 2025

8 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville freshman Parker Owens has captured international attention over the past year by clearing a pole vault height of 16 feet, 3 inches in 2024, the highest ever recorded for a 14-year-old worldwide. Owens continues to impress this season in boys' track and field events, competing for Edwardsville High School. Parker is a Spencer Homes Male Athlete of the Month for the Tigers. On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Triad High School, Owens placed second at the Madison County Meet with a vault of 13 feet, 7.25 inches, finishing behind Triad High School’s Zane Meier . Owens previously defeated Meier at the Norm Armstrong Invite on April 12, 2025, with a vault of 15 feet, 3 inches. He also won the Winston Brown Invite on April 26, 2025, with a vault of 13 feet, 11.25 inches. Owens and Meier are friends and rivals and can be seen constantly communicating during meets they vault together. Earlier in the season, Owens posted a vault of 15 feet, 1 inch at the Edwardsville

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Glenn Collins Breaks 2 Minute Barrier In 800 Meters For Eagles, Has Strong Start In 2025

8 months ago
BETHALTO — Sophomore Glenn Collins is making a significant impact this track and field season for the Civic Memorial Eagles, earning recognition as a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athlete of the Month. Collins has posted impressive personal records in multiple events. On April 14, 2025, at the Jersey Quad Meet, he ran the 400 meters in 52.94 seconds. Two days earlier, at the Norm Armstrong Invite, he achieved a personal best of 1:58.43 in the 800 meters. He continued his strong performances by winning the Madison County Small Schools 800-meter championship on April 28, 2025, in Wood River with a time of 1:59.87. In addition to his middle-distance events, Collins has recorded a best of 4:39.72 in the 1,600 meters and 11:07.2 in the 3,200 meters. He has also contributed as a key member of the Eagles’ 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams. Reflecting on his performance at the Norm Armstrong Invite, Collins said, "I went out fast that race and thought, 'I am here and I might as

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