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$31M in Regional Site Readiness Program Grant Awards Announced

7 months 1 week ago
From RiverBender:  Today (Jan. 30), Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and local leaders to announce Regional Site Readiness Program awards totaling $31 million to support site readiness activities at 24 sites across the state. The program includes two competitive funding opportunities: Planning grants to support due diligence […]
Dede Hance

Alton Odyssey Tours Expanding Offerings For 2025

7 months 1 week ago
ALTON – Caleb Lewis with Alton Odyssey Tours gave an update on exciting new tour plans for 2025 and more at the Hayner Library’s recent History and Hauntings event. Lewis said that while they’re best known for their Haunted Trolley Tours during the fall, they also offer private tours throughout the year. Largely a family operation, his mother and founder of the company still acts as executive director, though Lewis has ushered it into a new era with expanded programming. For newcomers to the city, they offer a Welcome to Alton walking tour consisting of a 90-minute downtown stroll starting at The Conservatory, with stops at the Grand Theater and Stratford Hotel. These run one Saturday each month from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Working with Vintage Voices, some tours feature reenactments from local historical figures. One such tour in the works for this year is the Godfrey Legacy Tour starring John Meehan as Benjamin Godfrey, making stops at St. Paul Episcopal Church,

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GOP members of U.S. Senate probe RFK Jr. on his history of vaccine denial

7 months 1 week ago
WASHINGTON — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s opinions about vaccine safety, both past and present, appeared likely to lead at least a few Senate Republicans to vote against his nomination following a second confirmation hearing Thursday. Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician and chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said at the end […]
Jennifer Shutt

Debra Pitts Encourages Action at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

7 months 1 week ago
GODFREY - Students and community members gathered at Lewis and Clark Community College for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. On Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, LCCC hosted the program with keynote speaker Debra Pitts. Students, faculty, staff and community leaders came together to honor King and hear Pitts’s speech, in which she urged listeners to take action and do more for their community. “In times such as these, what would Dr. Martin Luther King do?” she asked. “And my question, what are we doing?” This year’s celebration marked the 10th anniversary of the Dr. King event. Dr. Mumba Mumba welcomed the community to LCCC. Organizer Jared Hennings emceed the afternoon and provided music alongside pianist Ralph Monroe. Mya Lawrence, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Excellence, thanked attendees for their presence and recognized event organizers. Three students — Charles Ervin, Vondasia Pittman and Montrez West

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The McPikes and Their Mansion: Current Owner Shares Insights

7 months 1 week ago
ALTON – Sharyn Luedke, owner of the McPike Mansion, recently shared the fascinating history of the home and its inhabitants as the unmistakable Alton landmark has stood on storied grounds for over 150 years. “My husband and I bought the house back in 1994, when we were both young … I thought we could just about do anything,” Luedke said. “We’re real proud of what has been accomplished so far. McPike Mansion is a part of the past and it is working towards the future.” The impressive brick estate on Alby Street, built in 1869, has long been rumored to be haunted by its original inhabitants – the building’s namesake, Henry Guest McPike, and his family. “We do believe that of course, Henry is one of the spirits of the house,” Luedke said. “It is his house, he wants to be there … Mary is one of the spirits, she’s a very, very gentle spirit of the house, even though she didn’t live there. “I

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No, Conscripting The App Stores Doesn’t Solve The Problems With Age Verification

7 months 1 week ago
Lawmakers show no sign of slowing down with laws to limit minors’ use of social media. State and federal legislation mandating that sites verify users’ age and adjust their social media experiences accordingly are still popular, despite the fact that they have repeatedly failed court challenges. As of late, policymakers have turned to a different model where parents […]
Mike Masnick

St. Louis County Eyes Land Bank for Vacant Homes

7 months 1 week ago
From St. Louis Business Journal:  The St. Louis County Council will soon consider whether to create a land bank in St. Louis County. The idea, which appeared on the council agenda this week but has not yet been formally introduced, was sponsored by two council members who represent districts in north St. Louis County, Shalonda […]
Dede Hance

Highway Shutdown in Metro-East

7 months 1 week ago

Motorists who use Interstate 255 in the Metro-East are reminded that a stretch of that highway will be shut down in both directions for about 6 months beginning on Saturday. Details from KTRS’ Steve Potter. Officials say that by shutting down the highway completely in both directions construction work will be completed in 6 months…

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The Latest: Collision between passenger jet and Army helicopter near DC leaves no survivors

7 months 1 week ago

There were no survivors after a collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, D.C. The plane carried 60 passengers and four crew members. Three soldiers were on board the helicopter. All 67 are believed to have been killed in the late Wednesday accident.…

The post The Latest: Collision between passenger jet and Army helicopter near DC leaves no survivors appeared first on The Big 550 KTRS.

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