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Charges Issued In Fatal St. Louis Motorcycle Crash

10 months 3 weeks ago
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. — On Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges against Tony Artice, Jr., 37, of the 7300 block of Grand Drive, St. Louis, for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Artice is currently held on a $25,000 cash-only bond. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Aug. 11, 2024. At approximately 5:52 p.m., St. Louis County Police received a call regarding an accident involving a motorcyclist and an SUV that had fled the scene. The motorcyclist, identified as Michael Bartholomew, 41, of the 400 block of Constellation Drive in Arnold, Mo., was transported to Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. According to the probable cause statement, Artice arrived at a St. Louis County Police Department precinct at approximately 7:30 p.m. on the same day to report his involvement in the accident. He admitted to driving the SUV that struck Bartholomew's motorcycle. Authorities later located

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Department on Aging to Host Senior Day at the State Fair on Aug. 12

10 months 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – Adults aged 60 and older can enter the Illinois State Fair for free on Monday, Aug. 12, and those who visit the Illinois Building will leave with health and wellness resources, freebies, and prizes. “We are excited to welcome nearly 100 state and community partners to the fairgrounds to offer health screenings and information to older adults,” said Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) Acting Director Mary Killough. “We’ll also be hosting special programming on Senior Day, including bingo and the crowd-pleasing Not So Newlywed Game.” The Illinois Building will open at 9 a.m. for older adults and their family members to visit with local vendors and exhibitors. The building is air conditioned, has restrooms, and offers a limited number of motorized wheelchairs for rent. A schedule of major events and activities is below: 10:30 a.m. – Opening remarks by IDoA Acting Director Mary Killough and other dignitaries 11 a.m. &ndash

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'Something For Everyone' At 28th Land Of Goshen Community Market

10 months 3 weeks ago
EDWARDSVILLE - One of the Riverbend’s largest farmers markets is well underway in Edwardsville as the Land of Goshen Community Market continues for its 28th year. The market, which features a wide variety of fresh produce, meats, homemade jams and jellies, potted plants, and much more, is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday until Oct. 19, 2024. Ann Harrington, the market’s manager and executive director, said the market’s diverse selection of items were each crafted locally to the Edwardsville area. “Every year, we welcome farmers, artisans, bakers, folks that make jam and jelly, jewelry,” Harrington said. “Everything is made within 100 miles of downtown Edwardsville. It’s a great place, we love it!” She added that the next market on Aug. 17, 2024 will be relocated to the N.O. Nelson campus of Lewis and Clark Community College, located at 600 Troy Road in Edwardsville, to accommodate the Edwardsville Rotary Criterium

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Durbin Joins Warren To Urge Navient To Reform Process To Cancel Student Loans Of Fraudulent Colleges

10 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), U.S. Representatives Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), and 30 lawmakers in sending a letter urging student loan servicer Navient to reform its flawed process to cancel the private student loans of borrowers who attended fraudulent, for-profit colleges. The lawmakers argued that ??under the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Holder Rule and due to Navient’s misconduct, the company is liable for these predatory loans—and the school misconduct discharge application it has set up to relieve them is opaque and insufficient. On April 17, 2024, Durbin joined Warren and seven other Senators in writing to Navient, urging the servicer to cancel private student loans pushed onto borrowers attending fraudulent, for-profit colleges that the servicer is responsible for. In its response, dated May 8, 2024, Navient claimed that it i

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Gov. Pritzker Designates Official Mushroom Of State Of Illinois

10 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO - Today, Governor Pritzker signed SB3514, designating the Calvatia gigantea, commonly known as the “giant puffball,” as the official mushroom of the State of Illinois. Senate Bill 3514 began as an initiative led by elementary school students from Prairie School of DuPage in Wheaton, who embarked on a civic journey to see their chosen mushroom recognized as a state symbol. “Today we celebrate not only a new state symbol, but the hard work and dedication of our state’s young leaders,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “The giant puffball will now stand as a testament to the curiosity and determination of the bright students of Illinois, who have shown us that even the youngest among us can make a difference.” “Thanks to the passionate advocacy of the Prairie School students, Illinois is deepening our connection to the natural world,” said Lt. Governor Julianna Stratton . “Now a cherished state symbol, the giant puffball

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Pritzker Signs Legislation Increasing Opportunity For Juveniles Seeking Expungement

10 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker today signed into law Senate Bill 3463, an amendment to the Juvenile Court Act, which creates a clear process for implementation of already existing juvenile expungement laws. ? “It is no secret that the procedures of our court system can be difficult to navigate. People deserve to know what resources and rights are available to them,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “By cutting red tape and creating a process where expungement is more accessible, we can create more opportunities for more people who perhaps made a mistake when they were young, as we all have. This is a step in the right direction and I am proud to sign this legislation.” “The juvenile justice system is grounded in the science of juvenile and adolescent brain development,” said Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice Director Robert Vickery. “This legislation recognizes that young people may make mistakes on their path to adulthood, but

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Mayor Jones' Administration Seeks Financial Audit of SLPS

10 months 3 weeks ago
ST. LOUIS, MO. – Today, Mayor Jones’ administration issued a Request for Proposal soliciting proposals from Certified Public Accountants to provide audit services to the Board of Education of the City of St. Louis. “Our parents and families deserve answers,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “The children of St. Louis and the future of our City are suffering due to mismanagement. Parents and students in St. Louis deserve a school board that is held to the highest standard of financial accountability.” State law (Section 165.181, RSMo.) requires the Mayor to appoint this auditor “at the close of each fiscal school year.” The same law requires the school district to pay for this auditor. The RFP calls for an audit period of three fiscal years starting with the 2023 - 2024 fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. According to district budget documents, the school district’s general operating budget went from a surplus of $17 million to a projected

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Nostalgia reigns supreme in new edition of ‘Lost Treasures of St. Louis’

10 months 3 weeks ago
There are about 415 St. Louis area restaurants, entertainment venues, stores and more highlighted in the second edition of “Lost Treasures of St. Louis.” Among other gone-but-not-forgotten entries, the coffee table book features the floating McDonalds, St. Louis Arena and Famous-Barr. In this encore segment from December 2023, co-author Cameron Collins — and listeners — share their memories about the Millennium Hotel, Casa Gallardo and the Admiral.

Illinois Bans AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Images

10 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law his legislation to clarify that Illinois’ child pornography laws apply to images and videos created by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The measure builds on the work being done by Attorney General Raoul’s office, in collaboration with state and federal law enforcement agencies, to crack down on child sexual abuse images throughout Illinois. “I initiated this legislation because AI-generated child sexual abuse images are an increasing concern that need to be addressed before technology outpaces our ability to distinguish between AI images and images of real children,” Raoul said. “Just like child sexual abuse images containing real children, AI-generated child pornography is used by predators to lure and groom minors and to normalize their own reprehensible behavior and child sexual abuse. Gov. Pritzker’s signature today will help us address

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