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Budzinski Presses VA Secretary Collins on Protecting Workers' Rights and Modernizing VA Systems

1 month 2 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) pressed Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins during a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, raising serious concerns about the Department’s reduction in force, position on collective bargaining rights for employees, and ability to bring the new Electronic Health Record (EHR) system online to VA sites across the country. “Mr. Secretary, when you endorse President Trump's executive order stripping VA employees of their labor rights, I believe you devalue their work. Coupled with a threat of significant staff downsizing, I hear from constituents working at the VA in my district that they have increased fear and stress and there are deep morale issues at the workplace where they believe in the mission of serving our nation's heroes,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. Additionally, Budzinski questioned how the Department plans to successfully implement and expand the new EHR,

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Duckworth, Senate Foreign Relations Democrats Statement on Trump's Middle East Trip

1 month 2 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) in releasing the following statement on President Trump’s trip to the Middle East: “The President’s first extended foreign trip abroad should have been about advancing U.S. interests in the Middle East. Instead, it has been an instructive lesson in how foreign governments can use their influence to benefit the president personally and those around him— all while creating substantial risks to our national security. “The President has failed to engage in substantial dialogue on the most urgent strategic challenges facing the region. His Administration has failed to sustain the ceasefire he inherited in Gaza and has systemically undercut

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St. Louis County Police Identify Victim in Rio Street Homicide

1 month 2 weeks ago
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. — The St. Louis County Police Department identified Keshon Parker, 21, of Florissant, Mo., as the victim in a homicide that occurred May 14, 2025, in the 1100 block of Rio Street. Police responded at 1:20 p.m. on May 14 to a report of a shooting in the area. Officers found Parker with life-threatening gunshot wounds and transported him to a nearby hospital, where he later died. No suspects are currently in custody. Detectives from the Bureau of Crimes Against Persons are actively investigating the case. Authorities have asked anyone with information to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477), with the possibility of a reward. Additional details will be released as they become available.

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Alton Again Lays Over Lovejoy Project Vote

1 month 2 weeks ago
ALTON – An Alton City Council vote on the proposed Lovejoy housing development is on hold once more after council members voted on Wednesday night, May 14, 2025, to lay the item over again. This week, City Council members were set to vote on a previously laid over resolution to consider a planned development at 324 Ridge Street, 650 E. Broadway, and 652 E. Broadway, known as the “Lovejoy” project. The city’s Plan Commission has recommended a negative vote from the City Council; former council members previously laid the item over in an effort to let the newly elected City Council members vote on the project. Multiple representatives from entities involved with the Lovejoy project spoke at Wednesday’s meeting. David Sweeney, an attorney with Lewis Rice, asked the council to lay the item over until a “community meeting” could be held to answer questions from residents and community members. Angie Eslinger, an architect with Lawrence

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Adelia Sandifer is Recognized as Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club 2025 Student of the Year

1 month 2 weeks ago
ALTON - Adelia Sandifer has been selected as 2025 Student of the Year by the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey. At the Scholarship Awards Dinner on Monday, May 12, 2025, Alton High School Assistant Principal, Mike Brey introduced Ade lia, who accepted the $6,000 scholarship, and received a plaque commemorating her award. Adelia's parents are Tim and Susie Sandifer. Adelia spoke to the club, reviewing her achievements while at Alton High School, including one of her favorite projects. During her sophomore year, she noticed that students at the high school were throwing away the fruits that they were required to take with their daily lunches. She organized a program in which the Alton High School cafeteria donates students’ unwanted fruits to local food banks, such as Crisis Food Center. The program has been running for about two years now, and she loves seeing its impact in the lunchroom and the food banks. Another program she has provided at the school is the resource closet. During

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Durbin, Wyden, Senate Democrats Urge Social Security Administration To Reverse Decision To Maliciously & Illegally List Immigrants As "Dead"

1 month 2 weeks ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) today led a group of fourteen Senate Democrats in condemning and urging reversal of the Social Security Administration’s recent decision to list certain immigrants as “dead” in the master files. The Senators began by condemning the decision, writing: “We write to strongly object to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) apparent decision to list living noncitizens as ‘dead’ in the agency’s master files. These arbitrary actions—intended to weaponize Social Security in the Administration’s attack on immigrants—are disgraceful and will erode the integrity of and trust in Social Security.” The Senators then highlighted the departure from previous uses of SSA master files, writing: “SSA collects death records from families, financial institutions, and governmen

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EAA Chapter 864 Hosting Pancake Breakfast This Saturday, May 17, 2025

1 month 2 weeks ago
EAST ALTON – Fans of planes and pancakes are invited to a fly-in Pancake Breakfast this weekend hosted by a local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The breakfast event is set for this Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 7:30-11:30 a.m. on the Piston Aviation patio at the St. Louis Regional Airport, located at 8 Terminal Drive in East Alton. Visitors can enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee, and juice at reasonable prices: only $10 per adult, $5 for kids ages 4-12, and free for children ages 3 and under. Proceeds will benefit the local EAA chapter and youth aviation education programs. Jan and Randy McKee with EAA Chapter 864 shared more about the event on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . Aviation enthusiasts will get a chance to gather and watch the skies as several pilots are expected to fly in for breakfast – while knowing the proceeds support a great cause. Events like the annual Pancake Breakfast help the EAA fund

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In Appropriations Hearing, Durbin Presses Secretary Duffy To Obligate Promised Dot Funding For Illinois Infrastructure Projects

1 month 2 weeks ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in a Committee hearing entitled “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Department of Transportation.” During the hearing, Durbin questioned U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy about delays in obligating federal funding to Illinois transportation and infrastructure projects, as well as improving transparency over airlines’ frequent flyer programs. Durbin began by speaking about the Chicago Hub Improvement Project (CHIP), which will modernize Chicago Union Station (CUS) by renovating and expanding station platforms, improving passenger capacity, bringing platforms in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and improving ventilation systems for nearly 120,000 Amtrak and Metra weekly passengers. In letters to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Durbin has repeatedly

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Ending Missouri’s tampon tax won’t make period products much more affordable

1 month 2 weeks ago
Tucked in to legislation Missouri lawmakers passed last week is a provision that will do away with the state sales tax on period products. The measure doesn’t represent a significant cost savings for consumers. It would only shave about 38 cents off a $9 box of tampons. But advocates raising awareness about the financial burden […]
Suzanne King