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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Congressman David Valadao (CA-22), Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11), and Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) announced the reintroduction of the Federal Retirement Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation to address a gap for federal employees who began their careers as temporary workers and were thus unable to make retirement contributions. The Federal Retirement Fairness Act will allow these workers to make catch-up contributions to ensure they can retire as planned. In the absence of this provision, many face an unfair choice: exit the federal service without complete retirement benefits or delay retirement to achieve full benefits. “Federal workers keep America running and these dedicated public servants deserve to retire with dignity,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “However, many federal workers – like postal employees – got their start in “non-career” roles that do not count

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CHICAGO - The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state’s college access and financial aid agency, has contracted leading global education company Kaplan to provide free test preparation courses to all students enrolled in Illinois’ public universities. Five Illinois community colleges are also included as part of a pilot program. Students at these institutions will have free access to Kaplan’s best-in-class preparation for professional licensing exams, graduate-level admissions exams, and credential exams, including comprehensive prep for the GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, MCAT®, NCLEX-RN®, USMLE®, Illinois State bar exam, real estate and securities exams, and more. They will also have access to a suite of professional and academic skills development courses from Kaplan. “Providing free test and licensing preparation courses for students is an important measure to help remove some of the financial barriers students face in advancing

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Bluesky has deleted the most viral post reporting on an internal government protest agains the President of the United States and the world's richest man.

District 5 is investigating a robbery that happened on February 25 in the 6100 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Dr.

The post Man Robbed by Known Suspects in Wells/Goodfellow appeared first on St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

The 1972 concert film of Pink Floyd playing Pompeii is returning to theaters.The newly restored Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII will be released in select theaters and IMAX on…

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ALTON - Community members came out to the YWCA to speak one-on-one with Alton’s candidates ahead of the April 1, 2025, consolidated election. On Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, the YWCA and National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) hosted a Coffee with Candidates event that allowed community members to meet Alton’s mayoral, aldermanic, City Clerk and treasurer candidates. Attendees could chat with the candidates about their platforms and ask specific questions about issues affecting them. “We definitely want everybody to vote, but we want you to be educated,” explained Tanjela Johnson, president of NCNW. “We know a lot of people will hear Republican, Democrat, Independent, but we want you to be educated on what each candidate is standing for, what you’re voting for…We want you to be able to have conversations. Rather than being a debate, have conversations with the people that are running. Have those personal conversations and let the citizens ge

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced lane restrictions will be encountered on Thursday, February 27 on the eastbound I-55/64 Poplar Street Bridge in East St. Louis, weather permitting. The eastbound center lane will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to repair the center attenuator. IDOT District 8 Operations crews will make the needed improvements and restore full access as soon as possible. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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Issuing a permit is the very first step in residential construction. Everything else follows: After the end of the 2022 housing boom, permit issuing settled in at 1.52 million for a while. Then there was something of a collapse in the winter of last year, and permits ever since have averaged about 50,000 less. In ...continue reading "The new homebuilding market remains stagnant"

In just 3 weeks, 55,000 people have signed up for the People's Union USA's boycott taking place on Friday, and it all began with John Schwarz.

A Dave Grohl-signed guitar sold for over $50,000 at the Give a Frock charity auction, which raised money for Los Angeles wildfire relief.The signature Pelham blue Epiphone DG-335 brought in a…

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The City of Kirkwood last week approved a $5 million contract with Integrate Construction Partners for major renovations to the Kirkwood Community Center ice rink. The ice rink seats 311 people and gets around 100,000 visitors in a year for public skating, hockey games, figure skating and other activities. NAVIGATE Building Solutions is managing the […]

COLLINSVILLE — John Proffitt, a long-time advocate for Special Olympics, made his 17th plunge into Carlyle Lake on Saturday, February 22, 2025. Proffitt, who serves as the Crime Free Multi-Housing Coordinator for the Collinsville Police Department, has dedicated much of his life to public service, particularly in support of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Proffitt’s involvement with Special Olympics extends beyond the annual plunges. He has held various roles within the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run, including serving as a State Committee Member representing Leg 4/Region J, which encompasses the Metro East area. His commitment to the organization has been recognized through multiple awards, including the Flame of Hope Award in 2016 and the title of Leg 4 Officer of the Year in 2019. "John does not do any of this for the awards and recognition," a representative from the Collinsville Police Department said. "He is a man truly deserving of

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The cost of living has grown across the nation in recent years, and with it, so has the standard to be considered "upper-middle class."

Rep. Tricia Byrnes told The Star she sent the series of texts to the hotline last week while she pursues legislation to change how the system responds to people in crisis.

The deadly crash happened in the 4900 block of Connecticut Street, just blocks away from Tower Grove Park.

Public comment period open regarding FEMA funding for Street Department building repairs following July 2022 flooding.

GRANITE CITY – 1st MidAmerica Credit Union announced its nine recipients of the Granite City Community Unit School District #9 Teacher Grants for the 2024 Fall Semester at the February 25 GCSD9 School Board Meeting. 1st MidAmerica Credit Union President/CEO Alan Meyer, Chief Experience Officer Amber Scott and Business Development Representative Martha Morse presented each honoree with a $250 grant. Below is a list of the nine honorees and how the $250 grant will be used: Allison Downing - Mitchell 3rd & 4th Grade • Bi-Lingual education tablets and portable translator device for non-English speaking students Jessica Farris - Prather Kindergarten • S.T.E.M. Kits Tiffany Kahn - Mitchell 3rd Grade • Chromebook Charging Station Kay Lanfersieck - Prather Kindergarten • Sensory Bins for Special Education classes Patrick McBride - Mitchell 3rd Grade • Chromebook Charging Station and extra chargers Tracy Noud - Frohardt/Mitchell

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EDWARDSVILLE - How many points are the Queen worth? Can the Pawn move backwards? What happens when you capture the King? These questions are answered in swift succession by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s Project Success students. They have been taking chess lessons from Phillip Berry, 40 Days of Nonviolence and Beyond staff member and longtime chess coach. Chess lessons are one of the activities provided during the project that began Jan. 28 and will conclude on March 4. SIUE is one of many partners working with the 40 Days of Nonviolence and Beyond committee in its ongoing mission to deter and ultimately eliminate violence in the East St. Louis area. “Chess is a strategy game. It’s one of the oldest games known to man, and the purpose is to capture the king on the other side,” said Berry, owner of his company, Chess for Change. “You have to learn strategic thinking, critical thinking and pattern recognition.”

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