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Jamestown Bluff Library events

5 days 5 hours ago

JULY Events at Jamestown Bluff Branch                        4153 N. Highway 67. Florissant, MO        Wednesday, July 2, 9:30 a.m. Soldiers Memorial Shuttle Reserve your place on a shuttle to the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum to view their special exhibition “Tuskegee Airmen: America’s Freedom Flyers.” The exhibit shares both the national story and the story […]

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Belt: Education Is The Government's Best Return On Investment

5 days 5 hours ago
CHICAGO – Understanding that the college admissions process can be difficult for students to navigate, State Senator Christopher Belt worked to make the process easier for high school juniors, seniors and community college transfer students. “Investing in our students is by far the best return on investment the government could get,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This is essentially an automatic admissions program that students can opt in to. It will really help streamline the process for students and their families.” Belt’s law, originally House Bill 3522, offers direct admission to qualified applicants at all public universities and community colleges that participate in the program. Under the new law, students will no longer face the burden of repeated application processes or unnecessary application fees, ensuring a smoother transition into postsecondary education. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, high school students will be able to elect

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Governor JB Pritzker Concludes Statewide Re-Election Tour with Events in Metro East and Southern Illinois

5 days 5 hours ago
BELLEVILLE – Governor JB Pritzker continued his statewide re-election tour, celebrating our progress and making clear his commitment to keep Illinois moving forward. Day 2 included events in Belleville and West Frankfort highlighting the administration’s work to expand workforce development programs and put Springfield back on the side of working families. STOP 5: BELLEVILLE First, the Governor returned to Southwestern Illinois College. SWIC was the site of the Governor’s first official event in 2019, where he signed an executive order expanding workforce development. At yesterday’s event, the Governor highlighted the enormous progress the state has made since then, including launching a new manufacturing training academy at SWIC. The Governor was joined by SWIC President Nick Mance, Secretary Treasurer of the Southwest Illinois Building Trades Eric Oller, and Metro East leaders and supporters. STOP 6: WEST FRANKFORT Finally, the Governor concluded his

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Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision Allowing For LGBTQ+ Discrimination In Public Schools

5 days 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against freedom of speech, public education, and LGBTQ+ rights in Mahmoud v. Taylor : “This is a loss for public education, freedom of speech, and LGBTQ+ rights. “LGBTQ+ stories matter. Kids deserve to see themselves in the books they read. Tragically, the same zealots who try to ban books from libraries are now trying to limit what kids can learn, read, and hear from teachers in their classrooms. “We must put love and acceptance over hate and division. As Pride Month comes to a close, it’s clear we still have a fight ahead of us.”

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Gov. Pritzker Signs College Access and Affordability Bills into Law

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CHICAGO- Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), community college presidents, and legislators to sign bills into law that will support Illinois high school students pursuing higher education. Governor Pritzker signed four bills into law that help improve college access and affordability: HB 2967, HB 3096, HB 3097, and HB 3522. During his February State of the State Address , Governor Pritzker emphasized that support for college admissions would be a priority initiative during this year’s session. “In order to ensure that every student of every background in every corner of our state gets the education they deserve, we need to leave no stone unturned and no barrier unbroken,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These bills streamline the application process for college bound seniors in Illinois, enhance support for applicants, and

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Durbin, Duckworth: Republicans' So-Called 'Big Beautiful Bill’ Could Shutter 93 Nursing Homes In Illinois Alone

5 days 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today highlighted new findings that show President Trump’s and Republicans’ reconciliation bill puts 579 nursing homes across the country at risk of closure. Based on this data compiled by Brown University’s School of Public Health, and released by Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act endangers the operations of 93 nursing homes in Illinois—all in order to provide hefty tax breaks for billionaires. The devastating cuts to nursing homes under this Republican legislation are in addition to the bill forcing 16 million Americans to lose their health insurance coverage, which also risks the closure of rural and safety net hospitals nationwide. “President Trump and congressional Republicans are pursuing legislation that rips health care

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Discover Dana Cattani's Handmade Ceramics At Art Fair

5 days 5 hours ago
These are artists that will be featured at the upcoming Edwardsville Art Fair. The art fair is set for Sept. 26-28, 2025, at Edwardsville City Park. Artist #1 Artist Name: Dana Cattani Medium: Ceramics Artist Statement: " We are a husband and wife pottery team, each creating slab-built and sculpted art for the home. Our goal is to feature a range of pieces that appeal to all identities and ages at affordable prices." Artist #2 Artist Name: Mark Hurd Medium: Digital Artworks Artist Statement: " The technique that I call Graphic Impressionism captures the essence of a special place, a magical moment in time. My artwork is dominated by bright complementary layered colors. I focus on composition, the perfect angle, and the best light — whether it's a bright summer day, the magic hours of dusk, or a moonlit night." Artist #3 Artist Name: Cameron Smith Medium: Glass Artist Statement: Traditional handblown glass vessels, wall arrays, and seasonal objects

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After Trump's-Directed Bombings in Iran, Duckworth Votes to Block Further Use of Military Force Without Congressional Authorization

5 days 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—issued the following statement today after voting for an Iran war powers resolution that would force the President to secure a declaration of war or authorization for use of military force from Congress to legally engage in a war against Iran. Senate Republicans blocked the resolution, which failed on a 53-47 vote. “Ever since Donald Trump illegally launched a military strike against Iran, one thing has remained clear: our troops are at greater risk today than they were before the attack. “Our servicemembers will always execute their orders and complete their missions to the highest standard like the experts they are. But rather than declaring ‘mission accomplished,’ the Trump Administration should be focused on protecting them and American personnel in the region and convincing Congress to authorize its use of military

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Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision Upholding Guaranteed Coverage Of Preventative Health Care

5 days 6 hours ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of upholding the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force’s structure in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management : “This is a win for the Affordable Care Act and health care access for millions. “Anti-choice extremists didn’t like a task force’s recommendations that guaranteed access to free preventive services like PrEP, cancer screenings, STI screenings, and other vital services. So, they tried stealing control of it by challenging its structure. They failed. “When we passed the Affordable Care Act , Democrats in Congress paved the way for more than 40 million Americans to gain health coverage through newly established Exchanges and the expansion of the Medicaid program—leading to historic declines in the number of Americans without health insurance. But today

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Duckworth Leads Delegation of Illinois Members of Congress in Calling on IRS to Fix Erroneous Late Payment Notices

5 days 6 hours ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led Illinois’s Congressional Democrats in demanding answers from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on why Illinoisans are receiving notices of late payment in error after filing—and paying—their taxes on time. Following reporting earlier this month revealing that Illinoisans were receiving late payment notices and penalties from the IRS even though they had already filed and paid their taxes, and were then unable to get answers or responses from the IRS about those notices and penalties, the lawmakers wrote to IRS Commissioner William Long to learn how many Illinoisans have been affected and how IRS staffing cuts have impacted the agency’s ability to properly function. “Over the last few weeks, we have heard from a number of Illinoisans that they are receiving late notices from your agency, despite previous confirmations of submission and payment,” the lawmakers wrote. “To make

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