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1st MidAmerica Credit Union Delivers $30,000 in Grant Funds  

9 months 3 weeks ago
BETHALTO – September 13, 2024 - 1st MidAmerica Credit Union delivered $30,000 in grant funds to local small businesses in partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLB). The FHLB made grant money available to member financial institutions through their Community First ® Accelerated Grants for Small Business program, which provides assistance to small businesses in Illinois. The 1st MidAmerica team submitted the grant requests and was able to deliver two $15,000 checks to member businesses, Skitopel and Espresso Yourself Bakery. “These grants reflect how having the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago as a partner increases the benefits we provide to our members and communities,” said Brett Pont, Vice President of Commercial Services. 1st MidAmerica Credit Union has a mission of exceeding member expectations. Additional information can be found at www.1stMidAmerica.org

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Sister M. Pietra Keller To Give Free Presentation On Her Innovative Biomedical Engineer Career

9 months 3 weeks ago
ALTON – Have you ever met – much less even heard of – a religious Sister (i.e. a Nun) who is a biomedical engineer that utilizes virtual reality and 3D-modeling technologies to help surgeons with their preoperative surgical planning? When divine inspiration and engineering innovation meet, you get Sister M. Pieta Keller, F.S.G.M. Sister M. Pieta Keller, F.S.G.M., who joined the Alton, IL-based Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in 2013, combines the divine inspiration to a calling to enter the religious community and simultaneously utilizes her God-given scientific and technical aptitude. “I truly feel that God has placed me here and led me to choose a field that allows me to pursue my love of engineering, in addition to answering His call to serve Him, combining to positively affect people’s lives every day,” says Sister M. Pieta. By background, she is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

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The rise of digital and real-time payments creates opportunities for businesses

9 months 3 weeks ago
As consumers continue to swap their cash and paper checks for digital payments, businesses are taking note. Convenience, speed and security are driving the use of digital payments across all categories: online, inside a mobile app, through a peer-to-peer payment platform, and in-store via a digital wallet. They have become so ubiquitous that more than 90% of consumers said they used some form of digital payment over the course of a year, according to McKinsey’s 2023 Digital Payments Consumer Survey.…
Commerce Bank

Enjoy Fall Festival Fun in Elsah

9 months 3 weeks ago
ELSAH - Celebrate the start of the Autumn season in the historic and quaint Village of Elsah Saturday, Sept. 28 with a day of food, entertainment, tours and more during the annual Elsah Fall Festival. The fun kicks off at 11 a.m. and runs through 4 p.m. in the village nestled between the river bluffs on the banks of the Mississippi River along the Great River Road. The festival will feature great food, self-guided tours of the wetlands trail and pollinator garden, local artisans displaying their wares and live music which will take place at the Gazebo behind Green Tree Inn, Methodist Church and Riverview House. All businesses and historic buildings will also be open throughout the afternoon. Each location will highlight different vendors and entertainment. “Fall is a great time to come and see the Village of Elsah and all it has available,” Connie Davis, one of the festival organizers remarked. “We love being able to welcome visitors and help them enjoy the beauty

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It’s the Guns, Stupid

9 months 3 weeks ago
Today on TAP: Are we so inured to the premise that nothing can be done about mass ownership of military weapons that gun control has vanished from discourse and debate?
Robert Kuttner

This Day in History on September 16: The Mayflower Sets Sail

9 months 3 weeks ago
September 16 has been a day of significant global events throughout history. 1978: Camp David Accords One of the most impactful events that occurred on September 16 was the signing of the Camp David Accords in 1978. This historic peace agreement between Egypt and Israel was brokered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter at the Camp David retreat. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin came together to negotiate a framework for peace in the Middle East. The accords led to the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty in 1979, making Egypt the first Arab country to officially recognize Israel. This monumental event not only altered the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East but also earned Sadat and Begin the Nobel Peace Prize. 1620: The Mayflower Sets Sail On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers, including the Pilgrims, who were seeking religious freedom in the New World. After a grueling 66-day journey, they

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Rent is eating up a greater share of tenants’ income in almost every state

9 months 3 weeks ago
There were 21 states where a majority of tenant households spent 30% or more of their incomes on rent and utilities last year, compared with just seven states in 2019. Nationwide, about 22 million renters are shouldering that percentage. Anyone paying more than 30% is considered “cost burdened,” according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban […]
Tim Henderson