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Blind Players to Compete in Beep Baseball World Series in Edwardsville and Caseyville

1 year 4 months ago
CASEYVILLE/EDWARDSVILLE - A local organization will host the National Beep Baseball Association World Series for blind and visually-impaired baseball players. MindsEye Radio, an organization that works with blind and visually-impaired community members in the St. Louis area, will sponsor the world series from July 20–25, 2025, at Glen-Ed West Soccer Complex in Edwardsville and Reiniger Memorial Soccer Park in Caseyville. Beep baseball players from across the country will travel to the region to compete. “What we do at MindsEye, we translate vision to audio to build a more inclusive community for those in the blind or visually-impaired community,” explained President Jason Frazier. “It’s called beepball because the ball actually beeps. I was just fascinated by all the aspects of this sport… all these things are so visual. And here’s a sport, America’s pastime, that is played without the use of vision at a very high level.”

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Soap Box Derby returns to The Hill this weekend!

1 year 4 months ago
ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Jaycee’s Soap Box Derby, presented by WWT Raceway Gives, is coming back to the Gateway City this weekend! Visitors can stop in The Hill neighborhood to see two Soap Box Derby cars and all its history—for free! St. Louis Jaycees Soap Box Derby presented by WWT Raceway Gives June 8 [...]

Illinois Department Of Agriculture Lifts Poultry Exhibition Suspension

1 year 4 months ago
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is lifting the temporary suspension on the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets and auction markets. The suspension was initially issued in February in response to the ongoing threat of H5N1 avian flu and continued through today. “We have closely monitored the threat posed by avian flu and have taken appropriate measures to ensure biosecurity for the safety of both the public and the poultry industry,” said Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA State Veterinarian. “Should the situation change, we will re-evaluate, but for now, we feel it is safe to resume poultry exhibition and sales.” Avian flu is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds (especially waterfowl). Avian flu virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to chickens, and can spread rapidly from

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Monday, June 2 - Lawmakers debate funding new stadiums in Mo

1 year 4 months ago
Missouri lawmakers are back in Jefferson City for a special legislative session. Gov. Mike Kehoe called for the session last week and specified three things he wanted done. That includes legislation that allows the state to help fund new stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.

Attorney General Raoul's Legislation To Mandate Firearm Data Tracing Headed To Governor’s Desk

1 year 4 months ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul applauded the Illinois General Assembly’s passage of legislation that would require all local law enforcement agencies in Illinois to participate in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) eTrace platform, which allows law enforcement to submit firearm tracing information for crime guns to the ATF National Tracing Center. House Bill (HB)1373 passed the Illinois House of Representatives April 8 and then passed the Illinois Senate today with bipartisan support. Illinois Rep. Curtis Tarver and Sen. Bill Cunningham sponsored the legislation, which now goes to the governor’s desk for final approval. “I appreciate the General Assembly passing this legislation to ensure all Illinois counties’ law enforcement agencies participate in the ATF’s data-sharing platform, which is critical to identifying violent gun patterns and keeping our communities safe,” Raoul said. “Advocating

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Illinois Officials React To FY26 Budget Passage

1 year 4 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – Several Illinois elected officials have released the following statements in response to the recent passage of the state budget for Fiscal Year 2026. Davidsmeyer Blasts IL Democrats’ ‘Tax, Spend, Repeat’ Budget Assistant Republican Leader C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) blasted the Democratic majority’s “Tax, Spend, Repeat” Budget: “The Democrats’ wasteful spending plan is full of pork projects and pay raises for politicians, while Illinois families are slammed with new taxes that will make their cost of living even higher,” Rep. Davidsmeyer said. “$250 million in pork projects for Democratic legislators, paid for $1 billion in new taxes on Illinois families and businesses. It’s the same disgraceful playbook they’ve used for years. “Not only are there nearly $250 million in pork projects buried in the budget, but there’s also a $100 million slush fund for the Governor. Taxpayers

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Attorney General Raoul's Legislation To Improve Services For Sexual Assault Survivors Headed To Governor’s Desk

1 year 4 months ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today applauded the Illinois General Assembly’s approval of legislation that will improve medical forensic services for sexual assault survivors by making important updates to the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act (SASETA) and the Illinois Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (IL SANE) Program. Senate Bill (SB) 1602 builds on the work of the Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Services Implementation Task Force . The task force was created in 2018 and made up of experts from the Attorney General’s office, the Illinois Department of Public Health, hospitals, health care providers, law enforcement officials, advocates and legislators. The task force has worked diligently since being established by state statute to evaluate and strengthen SASETA. Last year, the task force issued its final report, which was crafted with input from more than 40 stakeholders in government and the medical community serving sexual assault survivors.

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Gov. Pritzker's Statement on the Passage of the Prescription Drug Affordability Act

1 year 4 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement following the passage of the Prescription Drug Affordability Act (HB 1697): “Predatory pharmacy benefit managers have been the middlemen whose business practices too often jack up prescription drug prices and shut down small, independent pharmacies that are frequently rural communities’ lone options when people are seeking medications they need. I’m grateful for the General Assembly’s broad bipartisan partnership with me to require pharmacy benefit managers to become responsible actors and lower prescription drug prices. “For far too long, pharmacy benefit managers’ business practices have operated with little regulation, transparency, and accountability. Illinois is putting an end to that. We will lead the nation in bringing transparency to PBM drug pricing. This bill grants the state full access to their books and records so we can follow the money and prevent exploitation

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Schmidt's Legislation That Improves Community Integrated Living Arrangements Passes Both Houses

1 year 4 months ago
SPRINGFIELD - State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) wants to see Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILA) up to par with other facilities in the state. Rep. Schmidt filed House Bill 57 to include CILAs to the Essential Support Person Act, passed in 2023. Rep Schimdt said the purpose of his bill is to ensure residents in CILAs have the same visitation rights for essential support persons as other facilities. “My bill aligns CILAs with state run facilities and it breaks a barrier that has excluded certain community-integrated living arrangements from visitation rights,” said Schmidt. “This change was needed and I’m happy to see HB57 pass through the General Assembly.” Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) is a living arrangement for adults in a group home, family home or apartment where eight or fewer unrelated adults with developmental disabilities live under supervision of the community developmental services agency. Residents

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Spencer Homes Male Athlete Of Month For Tigers: Clayton Lakatos Ends Remarkable Track Career With Strong State Times

1 year 4 months ago
CHARLESTON - Clayton Lakatos concluded his track and field career with notable performances on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the sectional finals meet, showcasing his sprinting talents in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and the 4x100 relay for Edwardsville High School. Lakatos secured third place in the 100-meter dash with a personal record time of 10.51 seconds. In the 200 meters, he finished sixth, clocking in at 21.65 seconds, slightly off his personal best of 21.32 seconds set earlier on May 14, 2025, at the Southwestern Conference Meet. Additionally, Lakatos was an integral part of Edwardsville’s 4x100 relay team, which placed second with a time of 41.10 seconds. Running the third leg, he was joined by teammates Darren Wilson, Cincere Ruffin, and Zach Lane. A key contributor to the Tigers’ sprint relay teams in recent years, Lakatos has been recognized for his versatility and speed. He has competed in multiple events, including the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter

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