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Win a Reserved Four-Person Table on the Stage at the Alton Jazz and Wine Festival

2 months 1 week ago
ALTON - You can win a reserved four-person table at the Alton Jazz and Wine Festival. The festival kicks off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at the Alton Amphitheater. The reserved four-person table, valued at $120, will be given to one lucky winner. The winner will be randomly selected at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28, and notified by email, with 24 hours to claim the table. There are a limited number of two-person and four-person tables available on the amphitheater stage. Amphitheater Commission Chair Dan Herkert emphasized the exclusive, intimate feel of the reserved tables, comparing it to a jazz club. “We really hit on something a few years ago when we came up with the idea for the jazz bistro style seating up on the stage,” he explained. “It’s intimate. It’s up close and personal with the artists.” Held annually, the Jazz and Wine Festival celebrates jazz music and Alton’s reputation as Miles Davis’s birthplace. Thi

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Gov. Pritzker Announces Record-Breaking Tourism Achievements In 2024

2 months 1 week ago
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Office of Tourism announced that Illinois welcomed 113 million domestic and international visitors who spent a record $48.5 billion in 2024 – an increase of 500,000 visitors and $1.3 billion in spending from 2023, according to data provided by Tourism Economics. This tourism surge also led to a new all-time high in hotel tax revenue figures in FY25, totaling $367 million – a 14% increase over the previous record set in FY24. “Illinois has recorded yet another record-breaking year for tourism, but these are more than numbers: they represent jobs, spending in local economies, and visitors creating lifelong memories in the Middle of Everything,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With something for every type of visitor, tourism represents an important part of Illinois’ economy and I’ve made investing in the industry a key priority

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Fired Fed board member to sue Trump to stay in role

2 months 1 week ago
WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook will challenge her removal, her attorney said Tuesday, arguing President Donald Trump “has no authority” to fire her. Trump announced late Monday that he would fire Cook, the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve Board, over allegations that she falsified documents to obtain a favorable […]
Ariana Figueroa

Public Launch Ramp Now Open — Vessels Over 30' Should Use Caution

2 months 1 week ago
ALTON — Effective August 26, 2025, the public boat launch ramps at Alton Marina are officially open. As of today, the river level at Alton Marina stands at 417 feet above sea level, providing approximately 8 feet of water within the harbor. According to the latest forecast from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), water levels are expected to remain steady at 417 feet for the next seven days. During this period, the public launch ramps will remain open to all vessels. However, boats with an overall length greater than 30 feet are advised to exercise caution when launching. Please note that conditions are subject to change, particularly with rainfall in the upper river basin. Boaters are encouraged to stay informed by reviewing the most recent USACE forecast data linked below. The marina will continue to closely monitor river levels and provide updates as needed. For the latest information, please visit the Alton Marina Facebook page: The Alton Marina Facebook . For questions,

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Local Families to Receive a Month of Free Groceries and Cleaning Supplies

2 months 1 week ago
MADISON/SAINT LOUIS - The St. Louis Area Foodbank will give away a month’s supply of food and cleaning supplies to 1,000 local families this week. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, IL, the first 500 families to drive through the distribution site will receive approximately 80 pounds of food. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at the Allstar parking lot at 611 S. 8th Street, adjacent to Busch Stadium, in St. Louis, another 500 families will be served. There are no income requirements to receive food and supplies. CEO Meredith Knopp explained that these giveaways are part of the foodbank’s 50th anniversary celebrations. “We just want to make sure that we are serving and supporting families across the bistate region,” Knopp said. “It’s a little bit of everything to make everyone’s lives just a little bit easier this month.” Knopp said that in addition to

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Man Faces Charges After Resisting Officer in Gillespie

2 months 1 week ago
GILLESPIE — Peyton R. Pehrson, 26, of Benld, was charged on Aug. 18, 2025, with resisting a police officer following an incident two days earlier. According to authorities, on August 16, Pehrson knowingly resisted a Gillespie police officer by pulling away as he was being detained. The circumstances leading to the detention were not disclosed. Pehrson’s case remains pending. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Fatal Pedestrian Accident Investigated on Illinois Route 157

2 months 1 week ago
ST. CLAIR COUNTY - St. Clair County authorities have identified Harold Schaedler, 49, as the man struck and killed by a vehicle over the weekend, on Illinois Route 157, just south of Foley Drive in Cahokia Heights. Schaedler, of Belleville, was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:05 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, the St. Clair County Coroner's Office said. Cahokia Heights Police responded to a report of a man lying in the roadway at 10:50 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, 2025. Schaedler was discovered by officers with severe injuries upon arrival. The coroner's office confirmed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma. The driver involved in the collision has not been located. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Anyone with any information, please contact the Cahokia Heights Police at (618) 825-2681.

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Granite City Man, Woman Charged In Linked Burglary Cases

2 months 1 week ago
GRANITE CITY – Two people from Granite City accused of breaking into the same victim’s home face felony charges in related cases of burglary. Tommy D. Welch, 41, and Arian A. Abney, 26, both of Granite City, were each charged on Aug. 21, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of burglary. Abney was additionally charged with criminal damage to property, a Class A misdemeanor. Welch and Abney allegedly entered the same residence on Bryan Avenue in Granite City on April 11, 2025, without authority and with the intent to commit a theft. Abney also reportedly caused less than $500 worth of damage to the victim’s window lock. Both of the cases against Welch and Abney were presented by the Granite City Police Department, and both were granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Worker Wellness Blog: Life Under Pressure

2 months 1 week ago

by Dr. John Gaal Editor’s Note: Each week, Dr. John Gaal, director of worker wellness for the Missouri Works Initiative, a non-profit workforce formed by the Missouri AFL-CIO, collects and comments on news and trends in workforce wellness and life balance. Construction Forum carries the Worker Wellness & Well-Being Blog as a regular feature. The […]

The post Worker Wellness Blog: Life Under Pressure appeared first on Construction Forum.

Dede Hance

Vladimir Monroe Joins McCarthy as Director of Workforce and Community Engagement

2 months 1 week ago

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., one of the largest and most accomplished contractors nationwide, has announced the appointment of Vladimir Monroe as Director of Workforce and Community Engagement for the 29-state Central Region. In his new role, Monroe will lead the strategic direction of the region’s workforce development initiatives and community engagement efforts. Monroe brings a […]

The post Vladimir Monroe Joins McCarthy as Director of Workforce and Community Engagement appeared first on Construction Forum.

Dede Hance

US Health and Human Services agency orders states to strip gender from sex ed

2 months 1 week ago
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration demanded Tuesday that dozens of states remove from sex education materials any references to a person’s gender departing from their sex assigned at birth, or lose federal funding. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families warned in letters to 40 states, the District of Columbia […]
Shauneen Miranda

Effingham County Area Drug Dealers Sentenced On Meth-Related Charges

2 months 1 week ago
BENTON – This year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the Effingham Police Department, the Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department, and the Effingham County State’s Attorney’s Office, have prosecuted several methamphetamine dealers in the Effingham County area. “Trafficking drugs in southern Illinois will earn dealers a federal prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Thanks to the efforts of our local law enforcement partners in the Effingham County area, less meth is circulating on the streets. We will continue to work together to eliminate drugs from our communities.” “These cases show what can be accomplished when local, county, and federal agencies work together toward a common goal,” said Effingham Police Chief Kurt Davis. “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department, the Southeastern

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