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Duckworth Reacts To Agreement Temporarily Pausing Fighting In Gaza, Releasing Hamas-Held Hostages

1 year 9 months ago
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator and member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after an agreement was reached to pause hostilities in Gaza for four days and release 50 hostages who have been held by Hamas since their terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7 th , enabling the delivery of much more humanitarian aid to innocent civilians suffering there: “While my heart breaks for every single innocent soul lost in the violence we’ve seen since October 7th, I am deeply grateful that this agreement will finally allow the families of these hostages—including 3 American hostages—as well as the innocent civilians in Gaza to breathe a sigh of relief today. This agreement is a good first step and I commend the Biden Administration for the significant role they played in making it happen. I remain fully committed to supporting a resolution to this crisis that reunites all hostages with their families,

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Attorney General Raoul Urges Black Friday And Cyber Monday Shoppers To Exercise Caution When Shopping Online

1 year 9 months ago
CHICAGO - Ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Attorney General Kwame Raoul is reminding Illinois residents to exercise caution when shopping online. In particular, Raoul is urging shoppers to do research before taking advantage of “buy now, pay later” offers, using services to split the cost of a purchase into several payments, or accepting offers of loans. “Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest e-commerce days of the year, and it is important that shoppers do not let their pursuit for deals allow them to be vulnerable to hidden fees or scams,” Raoul said. “My office provides advice and resources to help people avoid identity theft and assist those who think their information may have been compromised. I encourage those who need more details to visit my office’s website.” Some businesses and retailers offer “buy now, pay later” plans that allow shoppers to make a purchase right away, but defer payment over

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IDOR Offers Online Safety Tips As Black Friday And Holiday Shopping Season Approaches

1 year 9 months ago
CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) reminds Illinois taxpayers to remain watchful against potential online threats while conducting Black Friday and other holiday shopping this year. “IDOR, members of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and other state tax administrators all work together to safeguard taxpayers year-round,” explained IDOR Director David Harris. “Whether shopping online or browsing social media sites, people can put their personal information at risk to criminals.” Without proper online safety, thieves can potentially steal personal information. Below are some safety tips to help protect against these attacks: Protect personal information . Refrain from revealing too much personal information online. Birthdates, addresses, age, and financial information, such as bank accounts and Social Security Numbers, are among things that should not be shared freely. Use strong passwords . Consider using a password manager to store passwords

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"Winter On The River" Photography Contest Returns To National Great Rivers Museum

1 year 9 months ago
ALTON - The National Great Rivers Museum (NGRM), in partnership with Meeting of the Rivers Foundation (MTRF), is now accepting entries for their third annual “Winter on the River” Photography Contest. MTRF is looking for artists to capture the beauty of winter along the river for a community photo contest that will be exhibited at the NGRM beginning January 6, 2024. All entries will remain on display as part of this exhibition through the end of the winter season. Artists will be able to submit up to three photos for an entry fee of $10.00 per photo that will benefit the mission of MTRF in promoting and inspiring lifelong, environmental stewardship for the Mississippi River and Great Rivers system. The contest is open to photographers of all skill levels with no age restriction. Entries must be mailed or brought to the National Great Rivers Museum no later than December 18, 2023. Contest eligibility, regulations, and registration for the contest can be found online at

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Illinois State Police Celebrates The 100th Birthday Of Retired Sergeant

1 year 9 months ago
ENERGY, Ill. – Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 10 officers helped celebrate retired ISP Sergeant Sam Garnati’s 100 th birthday last week. The officers fulfilled a last-minute request by Sergeant Garnati’s family members to share his special day. “ISP as an agency is only one-and-a-half years older than Sergeant Garnati,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Our century long lifespans have shared a common theme, and that theme is the motto of the Illinois State Police – Integrity, Service, and Pride. I wish Sam a very happy belated birthday and thank him for his dedication and service to this country and the people of Illinois.” Sergeant Garnati served the people of Illinois for nearly 34 years. He joined ISP in March 1949 and spent his entire career on patrol in District 13 (Troop 10). He was promoted to corporal on July 1, 1961 and then promoted to sergeant on October 1, 1965. Sergeant Garnati retired from ISP in October 1965

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GCSD9 Hosts Special Board Meeting On Nov. 27 & 28

1 year 9 months ago
GRANITE CITY - Granite City Community Unit School District #9 announced a Special Meeting of the Board of Education on Monday, November 27 and Tuesday, November 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the James J. Greenwald Administration Building at 3200 Maryville Road in Granite City, Ill. The purpose of this meeting is to interview Superintendent candidates in Executive Session. For more information about Granite City School District #9, visit www.gcsd9.net .

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President Biden Approves Gov. Pritzker Request For Illinois Disaster Declaration

1 year 9 months ago
CHICAGO – President Joseph Biden has approved Governor Pritzker’s request and signed a Disaster Declaration , allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to offer Individual Assistance for residents in Cook County, Illinois who were impacted by severe weather in September. FEMA's Individual Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and businesses owners recover from the effects of the storms. "Thank you to President Biden and FEMA for recognizing the devastating effects of recent extreme weather in Cook County by taking the appropriate action to ensure impacted residents can get back on their feet," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Residents and businesses in Cook County who were most impacted are now able to access additional resources necessary to rebuild and revitalize, and I know Cook County will build back stronger than ever." On September

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Attorney General Raoul Leads Brief Filed Before The U.S. Supreme Court In Support Of Transportation Workers' Rights

1 year 9 months ago
CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of 16 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court urging it to reverse a lower court decision holding that only workers who are employed by a company in the transportation industry can be exempt under the transportation-worker exemption to the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). Raoul and the coalition filed their brief in support of workers in Bissonnette v. LePage Bakeries. At issue in the case is whether truck drivers for a food company and similar “private fleet” drivers fall within the exemption for transportation workers in the FAA. The FAA requires workers to raise claims against their employer in private arbitration proceedings when they have signed an arbitration agreement. However, there is an exemption within the FAA for transportation workers. “We have seen the critical role all truck drivers play in keeping our states running efficiently, and there is no reason to treat

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Alton Mayor's Veto Upheld After Challenge Falls One Vote Short

1 year 9 months ago
ALTON - The Alton City Council on Tuesday fell one vote short of overriding a veto that was issued by Mayor David Goins earlier this month. The mayor’s veto was upheld following a 4-3 vote from council members. Aldermen Nate Keener, Rosetta Brown, and Stephanie Elliott all voted against a motion to reconsider the veto. The veto keeps a proposed requirement for separate directors of Code Enforcement and Building and Zoning off the books for now - Greg Caffey currently serves as the director of both departments. Alderwoman Betsy Allen proposed the requirement, stating the responsibilities of both departments were too much for any one person to handle. Shortly after Mayor Goins vetoed Allen’s ordinance, Alderwoman Carolyn MacAfee pursued a council vote to override the veto. While it couldn’t be voted on at that meeting, it was up for a vote on Tuesday night when it ultimately fell one vote short of overriding the mayor’s veto. A motion to reconsider

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Lunchtime Photo

1 year 9 months ago
I went up to Palomar Mountain last night to do a bit of astrophotography testing, but when I got there I encountered gale force winds even though the weather report—as I was standing there watching the trees bend—told me the wind was blowing at 7 mph. Stupid weather forecasters. Plus the moon was up, which ...continue reading "Lunchtime Photo"
Kevin Drum