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Event at Senior Services Plus Offers Food, Fun and a Side of Cancer Prevention

2 months ago
ALTON - Siteman Cancer Center, Alton Memorial Hospital and Senior Services Plus (SSP) are once again hosting a Bingo Lunch and Learn with free cancer screenings in SSP’s School House Grill on June 17, 2025. Siteman is based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The event aims to promote preventive cancer screenings, but in a unique way. Passionate health professionals from Siteman and Alton Memorial Hospital are collaborating to share facts about cancer screening and eligibility through fun activities and conversation. New this year is Siteman’s Health on the Move mobile health unit, a 40-foot van operated by Siteman's Program for Elimination of Cancer Disparities (PECaD). It will bring cancer screenings directly to event attendees from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The van also offers a motorized lift to ensure accessibility for all. Available services include: Fecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT kits), which are take-home stool screening

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Illinois Treasurer Frerichs Announces 10 Small Nonprofits to Receive $200,000 In Charitable Trust Grants

2 months ago
SPRINGFIELD - 10 small Illinois nonprofits are receiving a combined $200,000 in grants through the Charitable Trust Stabilization Program, which is managed by State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ office. “Throughout our state, small nonprofit organizations provide hot meals, job training, and other vital services to people who need a helping hand,” said Frerichs at a news conference at Christian Care in Rock Island to announce the grants. “This good work benefits individuals, and it makes our communities better places to live and raise a family. I’m proud to support nonprofits through the Charitable Trust program.” Charitable Trust grants help nonprofits fulfill their missions to serve people in need by providing housing, food, and workforce and economic development assistance. For the fall 2024 grant cycle, funds were awarded to nonprofits in two categories: organizations with food programs and organizations with workforce and economic development programs

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United Way of Greater St. Louis Run for Roses Event Sets Pace for 2025 Community Campaign

2 months ago
ST. LOUIS - United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) hosted its annual Run for the Roses Derby event at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. The event served as a precursor to UWGSL’s community fundraising campaign, and thus, nearly 200 Leadership Giving Society members committed early campaign donations that will be used to invest into UWGSL’s efforts to support the St. Louis region. The Derby event included a fashion show where participants sported Kentucky-Derby themed attire that included a best hat contest for women and dapper gent for men. Attendees also enjoyed popular traditions like the Bourbon Pull, Mint Juleps, Derby-themed appetizers, games, and watched the Derby race on the big screens. “Thank you to our leadership donors for making our third annual derby party a grand success! Their generosity and early pacesetting pledges continue to propel us forward each year as we prepare for our upcoming fall fundraising campaign,” said Michelle D. Tucker,

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Experience The Abraham Lincoln Story In A Brand-New Way With ALPLM Special Exhibit

2 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – A new exhibit coming to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will let visitors explore history using their eyes, ears and hands. It transforms images from Lincoln’s life into three-dimensional objects that visitors can touch while listening to audio presentations explaining his accomplishments and enduring legacy. “Lincoln: Sight, Sound & Touch” opens May 23 and runs through Aug. 24. Everyone can enjoy its unique features, but they offer an especially powerful experience for visitors with impaired vision. This traveling exhibit was created by Tactile Images in cooperation with the National Federation of the Blind. The ALPLM is supplementing the exhibit with touchable facsimiles of artifacts, such as Lincoln’s briefcase, a life mask and Tad Lincoln’s model cannon. Authentic Lincoln artifacts from the ALPLM collection will also be on display, including many commercial items with Lincoln’s image. Many of them

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"Mom Prom" Event to Support Dream Home Charities

2 months ago
EAST ALTON - Local women have the chance to enjoy a “Mom Prom” while supporting a good cause. On Saturday, June 28, 2025, community members can come out to Julia’s Banquet Center in East Alton for “A Night to Remember” prom. This ladies-only, 21-and-up event encourages attendees to enjoy the prom while raising money for Dream Home Charities. “It’s like we're high school girls again, going to go to the prom,” said Sherry Gilleland, founder of Dream Home Charities. “We’re really hoping that this is very successful and people are very generous with their donations and we can just all have ‘A Night to Remember.’” Tickets to the Mom Prom cost $50, and attendees are encouraged to sell raffle tickets for the chance to be crowned Prom Queen. Tickets include dinner, dancing, karaoke, and more fun. There will also be carriage rides and photo ops available throughout the night. Gilleland said they are “in

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New Initiative Offers Mental Health First Aid Training to Businesses and Community Members

2 months ago
RIVERBEND - Local community members, nonprofits and businesses have new opportunities to receive training in Mental Health First Aid. The Community Mental Health First Aid Collaborative, founded by Kristina and Isaac Sandidge, will provide discounted or free Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to Riverbend residents. Businesses or nonprofits can send their staff members to the trainings while providing free seats for community members. Isaac Sandidge explained that MHFA is an important skill for anybody to learn. “Statistically, you’re far more likely to encounter somebody experiencing a panic attack than you are someone experiencing cardiac arrest. You’re more likely to need the Mental Health First Aid skills than you are to need your CPR skills,” Sandidge said. “We want Mental Health First Aid to be just as common and just as accessible as CPR to the general population.” MHFA teaches people how to recognize worsening mental health an

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Teacher Appreciation Week: Kasey Hardester is Living Her Dream Career

2 months ago
BETHALTO - Kasey Hardester always wanted to be a teacher, and she has loved every second in her dream career. Hardester teaches special education at the pre-K level at Bethalto East Primary School in the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she is proud of every student she has ever taught, and she can’t wait to see what comes next. “My brain rarely shuts off from ‘teacher mode,’ but I wouldn't change it,” Hardester said. “There is literally never a dull work day! These kids brighten my day every single day I come to work. I may be exhausted by the end of the day, but I still always wake up ready to be here again.” Hardester knew early on that she would one day become a teacher. She enjoyed playing “school” with her little sisters, and she started babysitting at 12 years old. The decision to work with kids was a natural one for her. Because she teaches pre-K, she sees the same students

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Major ramp in East St. Louis closed after suspected car fire

2 months ago
St. Clair County, Ill. – Illinois State Police report a deadly one vehicle crash that happened shortly after 6 a.m. on Sunday morning in St. Clair County. Our Nissan Rogue Runner Mike Border captured video from the scene and said there was a car that had been on fire. Police say a white Infiniti overturned [...]
Jaime Travers

Fire crews contain blaze in vacant north St. Louis building

2 months ago
ST. LOUIS – Fire crews were called to a vacant two-story building in north St. Louis on Bacon Street, just off Montgomery Street, shortly after midnight on Sunday in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood. Flames were shooting through the roof when firefighters arrived. They quickly contained the flames, preventing them from spreading to nearby buildings.
Jaime Travers

St. Louis firefighters tackle two-home blaze in South City

2 months ago
ST. LOUIS – St. Louis City firefighters battled flames from a vacant home in south city that spread to a neighboring house. The fire happened just before 11 p.m. Saturday night on Osage Street off of Missouri Avenue near I-55 in the Marine Villa neighborhood. The fire started in a two-story vacant building but quickly [...]
Jaime Travers

This Week in Gardening & Nature

2 months ago
Plant of the Week: Peonies. Shown is Scarlet Heaven. Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar.-> Transplant This Week: Perennials, Trees, Basil, Eggplant, Melons, Peppers, Summer Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes -> Sow Outdoors This Week: Basil, Beans, Cucumbers, Melons, Okra, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Winter Squash … Continue reading This Week in Gardening & Nature →
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Cena and Orton deliver epic clash in St. Louis for WWE Backlash

2 months ago
ST. LOUIS - WWE Backlash was in town Saturday night. The crowd packed the Enterprise Center as the WWE superstars competed for a number of different titles. John Cena walked out of WWE Backlash St. Louis with his championship.  It looks to be the final time he will perform in the Gateway City.  Cena retained his [...]
Jaime Travers