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Audubon Center at Riverlands Marks Winter Solstice With Sunrise Meditation

1 year 10 months ago
WEST ALTON - The Audubon Center at Riverlands celebrated the winter solstice with a silent sunrise meditation on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. About a dozen people came to the center, located at 301 Riverlands Way in West Alton, Missouri, to mark the first day of winter and enjoy the sunrise at 7:16 a.m. on Thursday. Ashley Lockwood is an educator at the center, which specializes in birds through the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary. She noted that the winter solstice is significant to people for various reasons, but it also marks the return of many birds to the Riverbend area. “The winter solstice is especially important for us because it has a lot to do also with when the birds are returning to us,” Lockwood explained. “As a sanctuary, we see a lot of change in migration throughout the year, and so the winter solstice, not only is it signaling that the days are lengthening, but it’s also telling us that we’re actually officially entering the winter

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Ferrari Gives Us the Man and the Legend — But It's Not Quite a Triumph

1 year 10 months ago
Ferrari gives Adam Driver a second chance to give an award-worthy performance as a real person with an Italian accent. Some of you may remember when Driver slapped on an accent to play doomed fashion magnate Maurizio Gucci in Ridley Scott’s biopic House of Gucci a couple years back.
Craig D. Lindsey

US 40 In Troy/St. Jacob To Reopen Dec. 21

1 year 10 months ago
TROY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that U.S. 40 between Triad Lane and the Illinois 162/U.S. 40 intersection in Madison County is scheduled to reopen, weather permitting, by tomorrow evening, Thursday, Dec. 21. The $1 million project consists of bridge deck joint repairs and replacement on the Silver Creek Bridge. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment. Over the next six years , IDOT is planning to improve more than 3,000 miles of highway and nearly 10 million square feet of bridge deck as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Four of Rebuild Illinois included approximately $12.1 billion of improvements statewide on 5,339 miles of highway, 533 bridges and 762 additional safety improvements. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow

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New Laws Taking Effect January 1st Expand Leave Rights

1 year 10 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – Two laws taking effect January 1st, 2024, will expand leave rights for workers whose lives were impacted by violence. “In the wake of tragic loss, the last thing on an Illinoisan’s mind should be whether or not their job will still be there when they’re ready to return to work,” said Governor JB Pritzker.“Thanks to the amendments to the Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act and the establishment of the Child Extended Bereavement Leave Act, Illinoisans can take the time and space they need to grieve and gather with loved ones without worrying that their workplace will leave them behind in the process. This is a prime example of people affecting policy – and I couldn’t be more grateful to Laura Kane for her advocacy in our Statehouse.” “The loss of a loved one due to violence is a life-changing trauma. We have a responsibility to lead with empathy and compassion in the wake of such heartache,”

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Attorney General Raoul Obtains Guilty Plea From Former Coles County Assistant State's Attorney Over Bribery And Misconduct

1 year 10 months ago
CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office obtained a guilty plea from a former assistant Coles County state’s attorney for misconduct involving interactions he had in his official capacity with Coles County women who were prosecuted by the state’s attorney’s office. Brady Allen, 34, of the Metro East area, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted official misconduct based on bribery, both Class A misdemeanors. Coles County Circuit Court Judge Mitchell Shick sentenced Allen to 120 days in the Coles County Jail and two years of probation. Allen is also required to pay $5,000 in fines in addition to court costs. As part of his plea, Coles agreed to give up his law license and not contact his victims. The plea also gave the victims a chance to read impact statements, one of whom did so in court today at his sentencing. Formerly from Charleston, Illinois, Allen is required to turn himself in at the Coles County jail by Jan. 5. His next court appearance is

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‘Not alone’: Missourians experiencing infertility say insurance is a major hurdle to care

1 year 10 months ago

SPRINGFIELD — Angela Crawford was desperately trying to get pregnant when her niece was born.  The first time she held the infant, a cascade of tears fell. She quickly handed the baby back to her mother, fled to the bathroom and became catatonic. Loved ones tried to console her with well-meaning platitudes, but it was […]

The post ‘Not alone’: Missourians experiencing infertility say insurance is a major hurdle to care appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Anna Spoerre

NewLeaf Symbiotics Closes $45M in Funding for Expansion in St. Louis

1 year 10 months ago

This article originally ran on St. Louis Business Journal on December 19, 2023. Creve Coeur agriculture technology startup NewLeaf Symbiotics, which has developed products to boost crop growth, has raised $45 million from investors to pursue expansion. This round was led by new investor Gullspång Re:food and followed by Otter Capital Partners LP, S2G Ventures, Leaps by Bayer and others. NewLeaf […]

The post NewLeaf Symbiotics Closes $45M in Funding for Expansion in St. Louis appeared first on St. Louis Regional Freightway.

Jasmine Thomas

Godfrey Business Spotlight: Patty's Petals is Beloved Family Business

1 year 10 months ago
GODFREY - Patty's Petals is a family-owned and operated business located in Godfrey since 2010. They are a full-service florist specializing in fresh and silk arrangements for any occasion. As of Nov. 3, 2023, you can find them at their new location at 3104 Godfrey Road. Patty Seymour was raised in Godfrey. Out of high school, Patty started working with flowers in 1971 under the guidance of designers John Lock and Toi Warner at Lock's Floral in Alton. Upon marriage to Terry, she lived in other parts of the country as he served in the military. After raising three children, Patty worked for Landmark Realty. After leaving Landmark, she wanted something to do, so she returned to her passion of floral design and started Patty’s Petals as a home-based business. Starting with a focus on silk arrangements for weddings, the business continued to grow through word-of-mouth referrals. Continued growth for eight years led to customers calling for fresh floral arrangements for a variety

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