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Peter Brandt, 48, died at the scene of the crash.

Jane E. Birkenbach, 71, died Thursday.

BELLEVILLE – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Belleville man for allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. The Attorney General’s office charged Joshua Gallant, 42, in St. Clair County Circuit Court with 10 counts of the possession of child pornography of a child under 13, each Class 2 felonies punishable by up to seven years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Gallant is being held at the St. Clair County Jail, and his next scheduled court date is Oct. 7. “Children who are victims of online exploitation deserve a healing process that starts with perpetrators being held accountable for the trauma they have caused,” Raoul said. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against

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ALTON - A man from Wood River faces multiple felonies after shooting a victim as they were entering Alton Memorial Hospital. Rashawn L. Galloway, 38, of Wood River, was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm (a Class X felony) and aggravated discharge of a firearm (a Class 1 felony). On May 12, 2024, Galloway allegedly shot an individual in the leg near the Alton Memorial Hospital maternity ward. A petition to deny his pretrial release describes the incident as follows: “Defendant went to the maternity ward of the Alton Memorial Hospital. He got out of the vehicle, walked to the victim, waited for him to begin walking into the hospital, ran towards him, and began discharging the firearm multiple times,” the petition states. “Victim was struck in the leg. The hospital was also struck several times.” The Alton Police Department presented the case against Galloway, who was ordered remanded to jail for his initial court appearance, though Madison

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EAST ST. LOUIS - East St. Louis School District 189 is collaborating with local VFW Post 3480 to host a student essay contest aimed at encouraging civic engagement and patriotism among its students. The initiative, announced recently, invites students to articulate their thoughts on themes related to service, civic duty, and national pride. The contest is part of a broader effort to empower young voices within the community, according to Commander Valerie Young of VFW Post 3480. "Together, we're fostering a spirit of learning and respect for the values that unite us," Young stated. The partnership not only provides students with an opportunity to express their ideas but also aims to inspire the next generation of leaders. This collaboration reflects a commitment to instilling the principles of civic responsibility and community involvement in the youth of East St. Louis.

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SPRINGFIELD - Madison County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0903, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR). The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier,” is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g., school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there was no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result. State law requires property in Illinois to be assessed at one-third (1/3) of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures. Farmland and farm buildings are assessed according

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BETHALTO - The Bethalto Chamber of Commerce provides resources for Bethalto businesses and community members. At the recent 28th Annual Wings & Wheels Fly-In at St. Louis Regional Airport in Bethalto, the chamber sponsored the children’s area and drummed up excitement for their upcoming Christmas Village attraction. Jane Ahasay, a spokesperson for the chamber, noted her excitement to be a part of the organization and the event. “Life has been busy, but it’s always a good busy,” Ahasay said. “The chamber is coming into our fourth year. We are continuing to grow. We are so pleased to be a partner here at the Fly-In.” Ahasay noted that the chamber will begin preparing for Christmas Village later this week. She encouraged anyone who wants to volunteer to contact her at 618-240-2777 or email bethaltochristmasvillage@gmail.com . While the chamber loves the Christmas Village, they could use some help, especially from younger people with “young

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BUZZ MAGAZINE - “Art from the Vault” is a new exhibit at the Madison County History Museum in Edwardsville. The exhibit features various forms of art from the museum collections, including some pieces which are rarely seen. The exhibit opened recently and will run through Nov. 15, 2024. Exhibit hours are Wednesday-Friday, 12-4 p.m. and Sunday, 1-4 p.m. There is no charge to see the exhibit, although donations are always welcome. The exhibit has paintings, sculptures, prehistoric pottery, trench art, and more. A stroll through the exhibit reveals portraits of early Madison County residents, the work of poster artist James Kane, and an example of the art of Miriam McKinnie whose colorful, imaginative, murals have brightened the children’s department at the Edwardsville Public Library for more than 60 years. There are needlework creations more than a century old, including an 1873 embroidered map depicting part of Hamel Township. Children’s art

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Officer Lee's visitation and funeral will be taking place on Saturday and a procession for the fallen officer is got started around 8 a.m. Saint Louis Metropolitan Police invited the public to help honor Officer Lee by lining the escort along MLK between Union and Belt. A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to [...]