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Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics to host Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife Monday, February 10th

1 year 2 months ago
CARLINVILLE - Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 at 20733 North Broad, inside Donor Bus at Carlinville Area Hospital. What: Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics Community Blood Drive When: Monday, February 10, 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Where: ImpactLife Donor Bus, at Carlinville Area Hospital, 20733 North Broad, Carlinville, IL Appointments: To donate, please contact Vicki Walker at (217) 854-3141 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60352 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. You may also call ImpactLife to schedule at 800-747-5401. 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 phot

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Details Emerge In Collinsville Murder-For-Hire Case

1 year 2 months ago
COLLINSVILLE - Three individuals are facing serious charges in connection with the shooting death of 32-year-old Portia Rowland, who was killed while warming up her car outside her home on Olive Street on the morning of Jan. 21, 2025. On Monday, Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas Haine announced the charges against Sammy J. Shafer, Jr., 36, Gary D. Johnson, and Marty Shaw. According to the charging documents, Shafer is accused of hiring Shaw and Johnson to carry out the murder. Shafer faces two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of solicitation for murder-for-hire. Johnson, identified as the alleged gunman, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of possession of a weapon. Shaw is also charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Investigators allege that Shafer paid $10,000 for the murder. Shaw reportedly gave Johnson a ride on the day of the shooting and was said to have received the same $10,000, subsequently giving $6,500

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Five Honorees Recognized For Lifetime Commitment To St. Mary's Catholic School

1 year 2 months ago
ALTON — St. Mary’s Catholic School in Alton held its inaugural Appreciation Dinner this past week, honoring five educators for their long-standing commitment to Catholic education. The event brought together parish and school families to celebrate the contributions of these women, who have dedicated between 25 and 36 years to teaching. The dinner, which took place at St. Mary’s Catholic School, recognized the recipients of the Catholic Educator Lifetime Achievement Awards: Karen Crites and Julia Godfrey, both with 35 years of service; Beth Hogg and Kelly Jacobs, each with 30 years; and Sue Brown, who is set to retire after 25 years of teaching. St. Mary's Catholic School Principal Mary Rivera highlighted the significance of the evening, noting that most of the honorees have spent their entire careers at the school. “What a testament to their faith to do so,” Rivera said in an email. Rivera emphasized the important role these educators play in fostering

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Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Trump's Mass Deportation Actions In Chicago

1 year 2 months ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after President Donald Trump’s administration started mass deportation actions in and around Chicago: “We can all agree that we must remove any dangerous individuals from our country who are here illegally. But the mass deportation actions being undertaken by President Trump’s administration go far beyond those important goals. These actions have the potential to sweep up Dreamers who came to the United States as children, Veterans who have served our nation, and essential workers who care for our family members, build our homes, and ensure we have food on our tables. “Instead, we should focus on deporting those who pose a danger to our country. And we should give the rest a chance to earn legal status. They would have to register with the government, pay their

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Tech stocks take hit on Chinese firm's AI advances

1 year 2 months ago
Artificial intelligence models from Chinese company DeepSeek have risen to the global top 10 in performance, the Wall Street Journal reports, suggesting Washington’s export curbs are having difficulty blocking rapid advances in China. On Jan. 20, DeepSeek introduced R1, a specialized model designed for complex problem-solving. "DeepSeek R1 is one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs I’ve ever seen,” said VC Marc Andreessen in an X post on Friday. DeepSeek’s advances sparked a…
Ted Andersen

Budzinski Seeks Answers for Veterans About Trump Hiring Freeze

1 year 2 months ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) joined her colleagues on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC) in a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Acting Secretary Todd Hunter requesting answers on how the VA is implementing President Trump’s Executive Order to freeze hiring across the executive branch. “President Trump signed this Executive Order without offering any solutions to the ongoing staffing shortages affecting the VA,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “If critical roles are waiting to be filled, and offers are rescinded, that’s deeply concerning. We can’t let service fall by the wayside or allow even one veteran to go waiting for answers on their health or benefits.” The VA reported more than 40,000 vacancies at the end of 2024, including in critical clinical roles like mental health providers and nurses. Thousands of Americans have already received notifications that V

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Bishop Paprocki To Celebrate Mass At St. Boniface In Edwardsville As Part Of Catholic Schools Week

1 year 2 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE - Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois will celebrate Mass at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. The event is part of the weeklong observance of National Catholic Schools Week, which runs from January 26 to February 1. During the Mass, Bishop Paprocki will join students, staff, and administration from Catholic schools in the Edwardsville area. This gathering aims to highlight the importance of Catholic education and foster community among local schools. The Diocese of Springfield serves approximately 124,000 Catholics across 28 counties in Central Illinois and operates 43 Catholic schools, including 36 elementary schools and seven high schools.

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U.S. Senate Democrats push for vote condemning Trump Jan. 6 pardons

1 year 2 months ago
WASHINGTON — Democratic and independent U.S. senators introduced a resolution Monday to condemn President Donald Trump’s clemency for the rioters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, injuring numerous law enforcement officers and sending lawmakers into hiding as they tried to certify the 2020 presidential election results. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New […]
Ashley Murray

Granite City Woman Arrested After Domestic Axe Attack

1 year 2 months ago
PONTOON BEACH – A woman facing felony charges for attacking her husband with an axe claims she was intoxicated and "feeling homicidal" during the incident. Stacy K. Fitzpatrick, 56, of Granite City, was charged on Jan. 21, 2025, with aggravated domestic battery and aggravated battery, both Class 2 felonies. O n Jan. 19, 2025, Fitzpatrick allegedly struck a victim “in the head with an axe, causing a severe laceration to the victim’s head.” A petition to deny Fitzpatrick’s pretrial release states officers immediately saw evidence of the attack upon meeting the victim. “ Victim reported that his wife struck him in the head with an axe ,” the petition states. “ Officers observed him to have a bleeding laceration to the head.” Fitzpatrick later admitted to striking the victim with the axe, adding she was “intoxicated and was feeling homicidal.’” Fitzpatrick’ s criminal history shows prior

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St. Louis County Man Held On $500,000 Bond For Assault And Other Charges

1 year 2 months ago
ST. LOUIS COUNTY: ? ?On Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued?charges?on suspect Tawiand Cleafton, 31 years of age, of the 10100 block of Baron Drive Avenue, St Louis, Missouri, 63136, for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, Abuse or Neglect of a Child, and two counts of Domestic Assault. A booking photo of Cleafton is attached. Cleafton is being held on $500,000 bond. ?? Please note,?charges?are merely an accusation, and Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.? ? The probable cause statement?for the Failure to Register as a Sex Offender reads:? The Defendant is required to register because he plead guilty to attempted forcible rape in 2013 under Chapter 566, RSMo, an unclassified felony. He established residency in St. Louis County and was arrested for domestic violence charges. The Defendant was incarcerated on those charges and released from incarceration on November 4, 2024.

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Madison County Reminds Residents About Winter Dangers On Ponds  

1 year 2 months ago
WOOD RIVER — Madison County Emergency Management Agency wants to remind the public about the dangers of playing on ponds and lakes this winter. EMA Director Fred Patterson said police and fire departments throughout the county have received phone calls about children playing on the ice of ponds, including retention ponds. He said in hopes of avoiding water rescue emergencies and fatalities this winter, emergency officials want to remind the public about the dangers. “The best way to stay safe is staying off the ice,” Patterson said. “It’s an important reminder for children to make sure they're not using retention ponds for hockey or playing or even walking across it.” Retention ponds can have hidden dangers. Often times they can have pumps and aerators circulating water, causing water levels to vary, also weakening the ice. Also the change in temperatures from freezing to above freezing creates thinning of the ice as some areas start to melt.

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