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SPRINGFIELD - Stuck on what to get a child or grandchild for the holidays? Investing in their future is a great gift, and it’s easier than ever to contribute to their Bright Start 529 college savings account. You can even do it on your phone. Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs is encouraging family members and friends to give the future gift of college or vocational school this year by making a contribution to a loved one’s Bright Start 529 college saving account. Bright Start 529 recently introduced a new phone app, so giving and requesting gifts is easier than ever. “Giving the gift of a Bright Start contribution is a great way to show a young person the importance of a college education, set high expectations for them, and avoid waiting in line with holiday shoppers,” Frerichs said. “Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles can boost a college savings account and reduce the amount of money a family might have to borrow later.” Bright Star

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SPRINGFIELD – The Brandon Road Interbasin Project on the Illinois River near Joliet took a significant step forward with the first construction contract awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, on Nov. 27, 2024. The $15.5 million contract was awarded to Miami Marine Services for site preparation and riverbed rock removal for the engineered channel. Miami Marine will partner with Michels Construction of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for completion of this contract. Brandon Road is a federal project, and together Illinois and Michigan serve as the non-federal sponsors. This initial construction contract is for the first of three construction increments for the estimated $1.15 billion project designed to prevent the upstream movement of invasive carp into the Great Lakes. “Awarding the first construction contract is an exciting and important step forward for this long-anticipated project,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The Great Lakes are a priceless

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Gori Law Firm recently welcomed Arthur “A.J.” Risavy as its new associate attorney. Risavy joins the firm’s asbestos litigation team, helping clients and families injured by asbestos receive the compensation they deserve. Risavy is a recent graduate of Saint Louis University School of Law. Throughout law school, he worked as a law clerk in The Gori Law Firm’s Edwardsville office, where he learned the complexities of personal injury litigation. In the fall of 2024, Risavy became licensed to practice law in Illinois. "A.J. has been an invaluable asset to our firm since his tenure as a law clerk, and we are excited to see him take on this new role with our team," said Sara Salger, managing partner of The Gori Law Firm. "His dedication and talent have already made a significant impact, and we look forward to watching him grow within our practice.” Risavy was born and raised in Edwardsville, Illinois. He received his undergraduate

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The unlawful dumping contaminated the critical river and other local lakes, the Department of Justice said. The true number of discharges is unknown.

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS/EAST ST. LOUIS - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) in announcing significant action to address chronic failures of the sanitary sewer systems in Cahokia Heights and East St. Louis. “For too long, the neglected and aging sewer systems in Cahokia Heights and East St. Louis have forced local residents to deal with raw sewage in their basements, in their streets and in local waterways,” Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “I am proud of my office’s collaboration with the Department of Justice and local and state entities as we work toward a solution to solve this real environmental and public health threat. I will continue to partner with all levels of government to enforce Illinois’ environmental laws and protect our communities.” Raoul and the DOJ filed the lawsuit and consent decree to

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Karl Frank and Matt Stuttler explore the connection between their band and the beloved music venue.

ALTON - On a recent episode of “You’re Beautiful” with Brian Trust, Larry Bell spoke about God’s forgiveness. Bell shared that he has gone through dark times when he felt completely alone. He realizes now that God was with him always, and He helped Bell through these challenges. Bell acknowledged that he is far from perfect, and God has forgiven him for every mistake he makes. “I’m not this super Christian,” Bell said. “I’m just a sinner that is still trying to walk and ask God for forgiveness on a daily basis for Him to help me to be a better person and to live my life for Christ.” Bell comes from a long line of pastors, and his son, Justin Bell , is currently a pastor at Block Church in East Alton. But when Bell himself decided to enroll in Bible School, he quickly realized that pastorship was not for him. He explained that he never enjoyed tests and schoolwork, and he disliked these elements of his Bible education.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Chicago District Commander Colonel Kenneth Rockwell to discuss a number of issues, including updates on their flood risk management, ecosystem restoration and invasive species protection efforts throughout Northeastern Illinois. Photos from the meeting are available on the Senator’s website. “Protecting and strengthening our inland waterways is critical to growing our local economies and protecting the health and safety of our communities,” Duckworth said. “I was glad to meet with Colonel Rockwell to discuss the importance of water infrastructure and the ongoing projects throughout Northeastern Illinois. I look forward to continuing to work with USACE to help protect our environment, modernize our water infrastructure and grow good-paying, local jobs for the region.” As a leading voice on water infrastructure and environmental justice, Duckworth

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A man driving a semi-truck died after a crash Wednesday evening in Pike County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The Census Bureau released a pile of 2023 data from the American Community Survey today. Some of it is kind of surprising. Unfortunately it's all by county, so the best I could do was an average of the ten biggest counties to get an overall sense of what things are like in urban America. The ...continue reading "Rent burdens have eased considerably since 2010"

HARDIN — Jean Heil, the principal of Calhoun Elementary School, is not only dedicated to her role as an educator but also brings her passion for music into the classroom. Recently, she took her third- and fourth-grade students to an Alton Symphony Orchestra Children's Concert at Lewis and Clark Community College, where she performed on the viola. The event provided students with a unique opportunity to experience live orchestral music. Following the concert, Heil returned to her Calhoun Elementary classrooms to share her musical expertise. She demonstrated the viola to her students, allowing them to see the instrument up close and even try it themselves. Heil's commitment to education and the arts is evident in her leadership style, which she describes as leading with "passion and purpose." She has served as the principal at Calhoun Elementary School for the past eight months, after a long tenure as principal at St. Ambrose Catholic School in Godfrey, where she worked for

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CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker today signed an executive order launching a statewide effort enlisting multiple state agencies to explore how Illinois can accelerate plans to expand the supply and access of housing for working families. Additionally, as part of an ongoing commitment to lower housing costs, Governor Pritzker announced the return of SmartBuy, a program providing direct monetary assistance to pay off student loan debt for those buying a home in Illinois. Together, these actions seek to address the shortage of attainable homes for working families across the state, as well as overall housing shortages that affect renters and homebuyers alike. “If we are going to build on this state’s record of growth and prosperity, lower costs for Illinois’ working families, and be a state that everyone can call home, we must build more housing in every Illinois community from Cairo to Chicago,” said Governor Pritzker. “This announcement is just the beginning

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Metallica's 2024 Helping Hands benefit concert takes place on Friday, and while it won't be streaming live, you'll still soon be able to watch it from the comfort of your…

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If you want to ring in 2025 on a high note, here are some memorable options.

This year, a Missouri State Highway Patrol bulletin identified him as Pete Travis Timmerman, 29, and said he had gone missing in Hungary in early June.

Traffic Cam Photobooth lets you take a capture from NYC surveillance camera. The city's Department of Transportation does not like that.

The lawsuit said the mother was pinned against a wall for two days after the Sleep Number bed unexpectedly lowered on her.

“While this decree may offer some surface-level improvements, it does not provide the immediate, robust relief that this community needs and deserves,” said Nicole Nelson, attorney with Equity Legal Services.

The woman was walking in the roadway when she was struck by a car going northbound.