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Opinion: The Status Quo Doesn't Work For Working Families

1 year ago
The 2024 election delivered a powerful message to the D.C. swamp: the voters were fed up with leaders who ignored their struggles. They handed President Trump and Republican majorities in both houses of Congress a mandate for change. From factory floors and family farms to Main Streets and mom-and-pop shops, working Americans rejected the status quo that had long ago left them behind. Even traditionally Democrat-leaning states like New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California saw significant shifts toward President Trump, highlighting the growing disconnect between D.C. Democrats and the rest of the country. We should be focusing on illegal immigration and kitchen table issues, like jobs, rising grocery prices, the cost of energy, and fixing supply chain disruptions that lead to empty store shelves. These are the things that matter to working families in Southern Illinois and across America. Now that the contentious November election is over, it’s time to roll up our sleeve

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Durbin, Trump, Issue Statements On President-Elect's Intent To Nominate Kash Patel As FBI Director

1 year ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to nominate Kash Patel to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): “We already have a FBI Director, Christopher Wray, and his term does not expire until 2027. President-elect Trump knows this, because he nominated Director Wray in 2017 after he fired the previous Director, James Comey, another lifelong Republican who failed Trump’s loyalty test. President Biden kept Director Wray in office because the FBI is supposed to be insulated from partisanship. Now, the President-elect wants to replace his own appointee with an unqualified loyalist. The Senate should reject this unprecedented effort to weaponize the FBI for the campaign of retribution that Donald Trump has promised.” Trump made an announcement about Patel’s appointment

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ISP Combats Drug Trafficking and Seizes 1,146 Pounds Of Cocaine

1 year ago
GENESEO - The Illinois State Police (ISP) Blackhawk Area Task Force (BATF) arrested 27-year-old Vanshpreet Singh from Ontario, Canada, and 36-year-old Manpreet Singh from Ontario, Canada, for Possession of Cocaine (Class X Felony), Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine (Class X Felony), and Cocaine Trafficking (Class X Felony). ? ? On November 29, 2024 at approximately 2:10 p.m., an ISP trooper conducted a commercial motor vehicle inspection on a Volvo truck-tractor semi-trailer combination on Interstate 80 eastbound in Henry County. During the commercial motor vehicle inspection, the trooper observed numerous indicators of criminal activity. A subsequent search revealed suspected cocaine. The total approximate weight of the cocaine located was 1,146 pounds and has an approximate street value of more than $40 million dollars. “ISP’s coordinated focus on trafficking is helping keep dangerous drugs out of our communities,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “From

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Over 300 High Schoolers Attended SIUE's Future Teachers Conference

1 year ago
EDWARDSVILLE - Over 300 students from 20 local school districts recently gathered at SIUE for the 2024 Future Teachers Conference. On Nov. 15, 2024, high school students who want to work in education could learn from local teachers and speakers. SIUE’s School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) hosted the day-long conference, which highlighted SIUE’s teaching pathways. “There is a teacher shortage,” said Angie White, Director of Field Placements with SEHHB. “It’s very important that we try to get more and more teachers into the pipeline. By offering this conference to all the school districts — and it’s free of charge — we hope to inspire and keep them motivated to go into a teaching profession.” Tron Young, a three-time SIUE alum and assistant superintendent at Alton Community Unit School District #11, served as the keynote speaker. Other speakers included 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year Dr. Rachael

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Biden’s pardon of his son draws blowback from Republicans, a few Democrats

1 year ago
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son from federal gun and tax crimes —and any other offenses over a nearly 11-year period — has drawn outrage from Republicans, while only a few Democrats have criticized the outgoing president for establishing a potential precedent for the incoming GOP administration. In a lengthy Sunday […]
Ariana Figueroa

Christian Nationalists And Bigots Stump For Ken Paxton In SCOTUS Age Verification Case

1 year ago
Scores of organizations from across the anti-pornography movement have filed amicus briefs supporting the state of Texas and Attorney General Ken Paxton in a U.S. Supreme Court case dealing with his state’s draconian age verification law. In 2023, members of the Texas legislature adopted House Bill (HB) 1181, which explicitly singles out online adult platforms […]
Michael McGrady Jr

Community Invited to Hayner's Local Author Book Fair at Alton Square Mall

1 year ago
ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has a busy week ahead, starting with the Local Author Book Fair on Saturday. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, community members are invited to Hayner’s Alton Square Mall location for the book fair, where they can meet 25 local authors. Mary Cordes, Hayner’s executive director, noted that it will be a fun day for local writers and readers to connect. “We encourage people to come out, buy some books, and then head inside the library and take a look at all the services that we have,” she said. “People can come out and take a look at us and buy local. Buy local. Support your local writers.” There will be a variety of genres available at the fair, from romance to sci-fi to children’s books. Cordes noted that it’s a great opportunity to do some holiday shopping. Shoppers can get their books autographed by the authors and then wrapped at the Community Service League’s

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$25,000 Reward Offered for Tips in Teen's Shooting Death

1 year ago
O'FALLON - CrimeStoppers has drastically increased the reward for tips that result in an arrest about the recent shooting of a beloved area teen. Colin Brown, a 16-year-old, was fatally shot around 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 23, 2024, while traveling south on Highway 1-55 with his father. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear, as authorities have not identified the shooter or the location from which the bullet was fired. To aid in the investigation, the CrimeStoppers Tip Hotline is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for tips that result in a felony arrest related to this homicide. Friends, family, and anonymous donors have contributed to increase this reward. Local police are seeking assistance from the public to gather information that may lead to the apprehension of those responsible for Brown's death. Investigators emphasize that no detail is too minor and encourage anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward. "Any information that could help piece together

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