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A precautionary boil water advisory issued in Eureka, Missouri was lifted Monday morning after testing confirmed that the water was safe for consumption.

ALTON - A group of friends is once again hosting a fundraiser for The BackStoppers to support local first responders. On Sept. 13, 2025, at Bowl Haven in Alton, you can enjoy a vendor fair, a silent auction, raffles, and bowling. From 2–6 p.m., local vendors will be set up inside and outside the bowling alley. Check-in for the bowling starts at 5:30 p.m., and the games begin at 6 p.m. with three games of bowling and a strike pot. Organizer Becca Mesey can’t wait to once again support local first responders through the fundraiser. “I’m trying to raise as much money as I can for BackStoppers,” she explained. “We just continued it to help, to let our first responders know that they don’t fight alone, that there are people out there that have their backs, 110%.” Mesey and her loved ones started the bowling fundraiser after she lost her friend, Police Officer Tyler Timmins, in the line of duty. Mesey’s brother was a firefighter

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Emergency crews responded Monday morning, Aug. 25, 2025, to a reported explosion and fire that destroyed multiple homes in unincorporated north St. Louis County. According to Black Jack Fire Protection District, firefighters arrived around 9:15 a.m. to the 13800 block of Evan Aires Drive, where they found five homes engulfed in flames with “not much left of them there.” At least three people were reported rescued and transported to local hospitals, with additional injuries reported. Fire officials believe everyone is accounted for. Crews from Spire, along with the bomb and arson unit, are currently on the scene investigating. Numerous fire departments and agencies from the surrounding area were called in to assist with the response. The cause of the explosion remains unclear. One resident who lived close by said the sound of the explosion that started the fire sounded like "an earthquake."

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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley are sparring on social media over whether the Judiciary Committee chairman should abandon a century-old tradition that allows senators to block the advancement of judicial nominees who would serve in the senators’ home states. The practice, referred to as “blue slips,” has irked Trump, […]

BALTIMORE — Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Baltimore early Monday for a prayer vigil for the wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the Trump administration aims to re-deport to Uganda unless he pleads guilty to Justice Department charges. As Abrego Garcia arrived for his Monday ICE check-in […]

CHICAGO — Today, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued the following statement in response to reports that President Trump is considering sending military deployments to Illinois: "The State of Illinois at this time has received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance, and we have made no requests for federal intervention. "The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority. There is no emergency that warrants the President of the United States federalizing the Illinois National Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active activity duty military within our own borders. "Donald Trump is attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families. "We will continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect the people of Illinois."

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Former Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom "TC" Constanten is battling lung cancer, and the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is raising money to help support him.Donated funds will go toward covering Constanten's medical bills,…

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The layoffs were announced in March but are taking place this week.

The award lauds Budzinski, a Springfield Democrat, for "exceptional management skills in creating a supportive, motivated, and high-performing workplace."

CHICAGO— Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined museum leadership, elected officials, and community members to celebrate the grand opening of Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360, a new satellite museum located in the heart of downtown Chicago. The new museum will continue Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center’s mission of education and storytelling as the Skokie museum is temporarily closed for renovations. “The Illinois Holocaust Museum does a critical service in educating our people on the most horrific tragedy in human history and empowering us to fight against the rising tide of hate and antisemitism,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This Satellite Campus will be an ever-present reminder of our shared responsibility to speak up for one another, educating thousands every year about the horrors of our past, while inspiring them to transform our future.” Opening to the public on August 26, Experience360, situated within the Shapiro

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) hosted a roundtable conversation with local nursing homes, long-term care providers and health care unions to discuss Medicaid changes in the reconciliation bill and the impact on long-term care. Budzinski was joined by representatives from the Illinois Department on Aging, Affordable Assisted Living Coalition, Advocates for Aging Care, SEIU, and more. "Seniors and people with disabilities deserve access to quality long-term care. Unfortunately, the Medicaid reimbursement changes in the President’s 'Big Ugly' bill put at least 10 nursing homes across our district at risk of closing. We cannot abandon these facilities – or the patients who depend on them,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “Today’s roundtable was an important opportunity to hear directly from long-term care providers and advocates about their concerns and to discuss how we can work together to ensure they and the communities

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CHICAGO – As students across Illinois return to the classroom, Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) are reminding both parents and educators to take advantage of valuable tax benefits available on their 2025 Illinois individual income tax returns. “As Governor, I am focused on lowering costs and making life a little more affordable for working families—especially as children head back to school,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I want parents and educators to know that they can take advantage of tax credits to help cover qualified educational expenses. These tax credits will put money back in the pockets of working families, improve learning environments for students statewide, and make this busy time easier for parents and teachers.” Tax Benefits for Parents and Guardians The Illinois K-12 Education Expense Credit allows parents or legal guardians of full-time K-12 students (under age 21) to claim a 25% tax credit on

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DU QUOIN – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following statement in response to comments President Trump made today threatening to deploy federal law enforcement to perform civilian law enforcement duties in the city of Chicago. “Throughout my tenure, I have successfully collaborated with federal law enforcement partners, such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, Secret Service and Homeland Security – Investigations, to investigate and prosecute crime in Illinois, as have other local and state law enforcement partners around the state of Illinois. I appreciate the federal government’s contribution of their expertise, technology and manpower toward those efforts. In fact, violent crimes have decreased in the city of Chicago over the last year. But instead of dedicating more resources to that work, the president is focused on turning our military on American citizens in his ongoing attempts to move our nation toward authoritarianism. His actions are not just un-American

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The man who never expected to be the public face of the Trump administration’s shotgun approach to deportation is, yet again, being given a set of untenable options and expected to pick one of them. And when he refused to accept the bad choice they gave him, they arrested him this morning at his mandated […]

ALTON - The community is invited to the Alton Amphitheater for their annual Jazz and Wine Festival. At 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at the Alton Amphitheater, attendees can enjoy wine, charcuterie and jazz music by Arvell & Co., Jim Manley, and the Red & Black Brass Band. Alton Amphitheater Commission Chair Dan Herkert encourages people to get tickets now so you can enjoy the evening. “The Jazz and Wine Festival, personally, is really my favorite event of the year,” Herkert said. “Alton being the birthplace of Miles Davis, we want to play a role in the region as a jazz destination.” VIP parking costs $10. General admission tickets cost $10, or you can purchase a two-top table on the stage for $60 or a four-top table on the stage for $120. Herkert noted that this special onstage seating has drawn a lot of interest, as it gives attendees the intimate feel of a jazz club. “We really hit on something a few years ago when we came up with the

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The American Red Cross asks donors to give blood or platelets now to help maintain a healthy blood supply. Donors of all blood types, especially those with types O positive and B negative blood, are urged to make an appointment to keep lifesaving blood products ready the moment patients need them. People coming together to care for one another is the humanitarian spirit shared by our Red Cross community and fans of PEANUTS. And this month, the Red Cross and PEANUTS?are once again joining forces to remind people that a little good goes a long way. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of PEANUTS, those who come to give blood Aug. 29-Sept. 21, 2025, will get an exclusive Red Cross x PEANUTS mystery bag with one of four special T-shirt designs, while they last. Each design is iconic, and donors won’t know which one they’ll get until they open the bag. Additionally, there will be a number of golden tickets randomly in the mystery bags hidden throughout

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SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth today led all Democratic members of the Illinois delegation in sending a letter to President Trump urging the White House to grant Governor J.B. Pritzker’s request for federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Illinois, to help Calhoun, Cook, and Jersey Counties recover from severe storm damage. In late July, severe storms that produced flash floods passed through the Chicago area and Calhoun and Jersey Counties. “We write in support of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s request for federal assistance for the State of Illinois to help three Illinois counties recover from severe storm damage that occurred from July 25-28, 2025. Specifically, he requests a Major Disaster Declaration for Calhoun, Cook (including the city of Chicago), and Jersey Counties,” wrote the lawmakers. “Governor

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CARLINVILLE – Carlinville will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Wednesday, September 3 at 201 West Main Street, inside Elks Lodge. What: Carlinville Community Blood Drive Sponsored by Carlinville Area Hospital Auxiliary When: Wednesday, September 3, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Where: Elks Lodge, 201 West Main Street, Carlinville, IL Appointments: To donate, please contact ImpactLife Springfield at (800) 747-5401 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60045 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. 2801 South 10th Street | Springfield, Illinois | (217) 753-1530 Donor Eligibility Criteria: Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate. For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 747-5401.

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