a Better Bubble™

Aggregator

Raoul Discusses Guilty Plea, Sentence For St. Clair County Man In Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

1 year 8 months ago
ST. CLAIR COUNTY – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a Metro-East man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to the possession of child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. Raoul’s office prosecuted Charles B. Zamarron II, 44, who was sentenced on Thursday by St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge John O’Gara after pleading guilty to five counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, four counts of failure to register as a sex offender and one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine. “This sentence brings justice to exploited and abused children who are retraumatized each and every time one of these heinous images or videos are downloaded or shared,” Raoul said. “My office’s

Continue Reading

Rep. Budzinski Hosts Roundtable With Illinois Federation Of Teachers In Fairview Heights On Monday, Feb. 17, 2025

1 year 8 months ago
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski will host a roundtable discussion on February 17, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. CST, with the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) and special education advocates to address concerns regarding the Trump Administration’s stance on the Department of Education. The event will take place at the Fairview Heights IFT Union Hall. The roundtable aims to highlight the potential negative impacts of eliminating the Department of Education on the disability community. Budzinski, who has a personal connection to the issue as the aunt of a nephew with Down syndrome, has consistently advocated for federal funding programs that support children with disabilities. "I look forward to hearing directly from IFT members, educators, and advocates, and bringing their stories and insights back to Washington," Budzinski stated in a recent communication. Participants in the roundtable will include Cyndi Oberle-Dahm, Secretary-Treasurer of the Illinois Federation

Continue Reading

Collinsville School District 10 Partners With Police To Address School Threat Concerns

1 year 8 months ago
COLLINSVILLE – In response to a growing trend of school threats across the nation, the Collinsville Police Department and the Collinsville Unit 10 School District have collaborated to produce an educational video aimed at students and parents. The initiative comes as concerns rise over the implications of making violent threats, even when intended as jokes. The video targets students in grades 4 through 12 and their parents, and will be shown to students at school as part of an effort led by School Resource Officers and building administrators. The video aims to clarify the potential consequences of making false threats against schools, illustrating the impact on both the school community and law enforcement resources. Collinsville District 10 Superintendent Dr. Brad Skertich and Collinsville Police Chief Brett Boerm emphasized the importance of this initiative. The two said, "The Collinsville Police Department, in partnership with CUSD 10, has produced a video to warn students

Continue Reading

Carlinville Community Rallies to Support Injured Snowmobiler Wally Dyer

1 year 8 months ago
CARLINVILLE - Carlinville residents Ron Releford and Kelly Passalacqua are spearheading a fundraiser to support Wally Dyer, who was seriously injured in a snowmobile accident on Jan. 26, 2025. The incident occurred in Mercer, Wisc., while Dyer was riding with his son, Nate, and friends. As he approached a bridge, his snowmobile struck a rock, causing him to be thrown from the vehicle, resulting in significant injuries. Following the accident, Dyer was airlifted to a trauma center in Wausau, Wisc., where he remains hospitalized. He sustained multiple injuries, including 17 broken bones in his back and ribs, a ruptured eardrum, a fractured skull, and a brain bleed. His wife, Michelle, immediately traveled to Wisconsin upon receiving notification from the Wisconsin State Police and has not returned home since. Wally Dyer is currently conscious and able to move his arms and legs, although communication remains challenging due to pain management issues. After nearly two weeks in intensive

Continue Reading

Attorney General Raoul Offers Valentine's Day Tips To Prevent Romance Scams

1 year 8 months ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today encouraged Illinoisans to be vigilant when dating online to avoid becoming a victim of a romance scam. “You may be hoping to meet a special someone online or through a dating app this Valentine’s Day, but be mindful of red flags that could indicate they are not who they claim to be. Romance scammers take advantage of victims’ openness and trust,” Raoul said. “If you think you may be a victim of a romance scam, do not let any embarrassment deter you from seeking help or filing a complaint with my office.” Attorney General Raoul issued the following tips to help prevent individuals from falling victim to online romance scams: Online scammers often create fake profiles or pose as celebrities and may attempt to contact you via social media. You can identify a fake profile by running a reverse image search of the account’s pro Beware of text messages or direct messages from strangers

Continue Reading

Bethalto Chamber of Commerce to Host Candidate Forum

1 year 8 months ago
BETHALTO - The Bethalto Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum for the village officials and trustees and the school board candidates. At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, the community is invited to the Bethalto Senior Center at 100 E. Central in Bethalto. Candidates will be present to meet residents and answer questions. Jane Balsters Ahasay with the Bethalto Chamber of Commerce noted the importance of getting to know the candidates. “It truly gives you an opportunity to come out and meet a candidate face-to-face that is representing you both in your village and on your school board,” Ahasay said. “It’s very important that you know who is representing you. Many people don’t realize. They probably can’t tell you who’s on your school board or who your village trustees are. It’s really important to know who’s representing you in your community.” The village officials are running unopposed. Current Village

Continue Reading