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Americans haven’t lost trust in medicine. Republicans have.

1 year ago
Continuing our theme about loss of trust, here's the partisan breakdown of a recent poll about health care: It's not "Americans" who have lost trust in mainstream health care. It's specifically Republicans—who have decided instead to trust Donald Trump. Fox News whipped them into a frenzy over masks and lockdowns and vaccine conspiracies and Chinese ...continue reading "Americans haven’t lost trust in medicine. Republicans have."
Kevin Drum

"A Christmas Miracle": Community Rallies to Provide Gifts for Local Foster Kids

1 year ago
RIVERBEND - Local kids in the foster care system will receive all the presents they asked for this Christmas, thanks to the community’s help. The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) works with Dream Home Charities out of Wood River to provide toys, clothing, hygiene products and more to local foster families across five counties every year. But after an accident on Dec. 12, 2024, left them a few hundred gifts short, the organizations put out a plea to the community to help them make up the lost gifts — and the community responded. “It was definitely a Christmas miracle,” said Sherry Gilleland. “Everyone’s going to have a Merry Christmas tomorrow.” Gilleland, owner of Dream Home Realty Centre and founder of Dream Home Charities, has provided Christmas gifts to 25 families and 85 foster kids every year for 15 years. This year, she was transporting the gifts when she realized she left the tailgate down on her truck, and

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Santa Claus Shares the True Meaning of Christmas

1 year ago
ALTON - Santa Claus stopped by “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello to talk about his experience leading up to Christmas. Local community member Steve Doering told Santa about the Bethalto Christmas Village, and Santa has been happy to visit this event every weekend since Thanksgiving, in addition to his other stops around the Riverbend. He is eager to share the true meaning of Christmas with everyone he meets this holiday season. “To me, the meaning of Christmas is always going to be love,” Santa said. “It’s always going to be grace. It’s always going to be forgiveness, acceptance. We want to make sure that people understand the real meaning of Christmas. It’s peace on Earth, goodwill to men. It’s about the birth of the savior, Jesus.” Santa and Mrs. Claus have been busy preparing for Christmas. They are training new reindeer in addition to Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph.

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Local Deacon Shares Story of Finding God's Love

1 year ago
ALTON - On a recent episode of “You’re Beautiful” with Brian Trust, Deacon Herbert McGee shared his story of becoming a deacon and sharing God’s love with others. McGee noted that people come to church with different problems and experiences. He acknowledged that everyone has their own story, but God welcomes them with open arms and will guide them through their storms. “For everybody, it’s a different walk,” McGee said. “Believe me, it’s a different walk when you have Him in your life.” McGee shared that he was raised in the church, but he decided to become a deacon later in his life. He is thankful for “a great pastor” who believed in him and the others who joined him in the deaconship. He believes his life has changed for the better since becoming a deacon. Not only is his life different, but McGee himself is different. The change is noticeable to his loved ones, who see more light and peace in

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Teen dads need support. A new Kansas City program guides them through fatherhood

1 year ago
Tyreque Carter held his 2-month-old son, outfitted in a festive Christmas onesie, as he congratulated another soon-to-be teen father on his gender reveal: a girl. They were among several students at DeLaSalle High School in Kansas City who filed into their seats as they chatted about ultrasound photos and dirty diapers. The group of teens, […]
Anna Spoerre