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Sound of Freedom Funder Fabian Marta Cleared of Kidnapping-Related Charges

2 years ago
Criminal charges have been dropped against the St. Louis man who made headlines earlier this year for facing charges of being an accessory to kidnapping. Fabian Marta, 51, was found himself in the media spotlight because he'd also donated to the anti-sex trafficking film Sound of Freedom. He's one of more than 6,000 people who made an average donation of $500 to help the film be shown in theaters, where it has grossed more than $200 million.
Ryan Krull

Beloved Bison Pebbles At Buffalo Rock State Park Dies Of Natural Causes

2 years ago
OTTAWA – Pebbles, the eldest American bison at Buffalo Rock State Park, died Tuesday afternoon of natural causes. She had been under veterinary care. Pebbles was born at Buffalo Rock on April 25, 2005, and was a popular site for visitors to the park, which is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Two bison remain at the park: Cocoa and her 3-year-old calf, Hope. Hope was born April 28, 2020, just weeks after the COVID-19 pandemic created uncertainty across the world and led to the temporary closure of non-essential businesses and services, including Illinois state parks. Buffalo Rock State Park is located at 1300 N. 27th Road in Ottawa. In addition to bison, which can be seen daily, visitors to the park can enjoy hiking, camping, picnicking, e-bike rentals, and access to the I & M Canal State Trail.

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New York Bans Facial Recognition Tech In Schools While Montana Decides Students Aren’t Covered By Its Statewide Ban

2 years ago
For the children. For the children. For the children. That’s all we hear. And it’s always from people arguing to expand government power. It’s never from anyone who actually cares about protecting children from their government. Instead, it’s almost always used as leverage to increase government power using the theory that only a monster would […]
Tim Cushing

7th Annual Partners for Pets Adoption Event Promises Howl-O-Ween Fun

2 years ago
EDWARDSVILLE - Locally-owned Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors (CBBR) is encouraging people to consider a sweet, not scary, addition to their families this Halloween. The realtor group will be hosting its 7th annual Partners for Pets event on Oct. 14, 2023. The Howl-O-Ween Open House event is open to the public and will take place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 9136 Lower Marine Road in St. Jacob, Illinois. The event is designed to raise donations to support Partners for Pets and find adoptive homes for the animals currently in their care. “We look forward to this event all year long!” said Partners for Pets Director Erika Pratte. “We are so fortunate to have the support of Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors. The funds raised throughout the last seven years have allowed Partners for Pets to launch new community programs, make renovations to our facility, and help countless rescued dogs and cats find happy homes. We hope community members will take this opportunity

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Daily Deal: DevDojo Pro

2 years ago
This DevDojo Pro subscription gives you access to a set of tools to help you build your next great idea. Start with the Page Creator, where you’ll find Tailwind CSS Page Builder, a tool for crafting beautiful landing pages. Then, move on to Wave SAAS Starter Kit, where you’ll learn how to build your Software […]
Gretchen Heckmann

Vintage Voices to Share Late Alton Residents' Stories Starting Oct. 7

2 years ago
ALTON - Alton history comes to life this month with the 22nd annual Vintage Voices tours at Alton Cemetery. “It’s a walking tour of the cemetery,” explained Kerry Miller, a director with the program. “You have reenactors at various points in the cemetery who are in costume and they will then tell the story of what we call the decedents, who are buried at or near where the actors are located.” Tours will depart every 15 minutes from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2023. A guide will take groups of 8–12 people through the cemetery to listen to the stories of deceased Alton residents, portrayed by local actors. The Vintage Voices program began in 2001. This year, there will be nine stops with 14 actors. The walk through Alton Cemetery lasts a little over an hour and the path can include unsteady ground, so there is also a 5 p.m. performance at the Lovejoy Event Center on Oct. 15, 2023 for those who would rather skip the walking

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For Your Health: Score Big With A Healthier Approach To Game-Day Snacks

2 years ago
This time of year, many sports are calling for our attention. From college and pro football to postseason baseball and school soccer, it’s likely a lot of us will spend hours watching a game or match – whether in person or on TV. And almost as important as watching the game is having snacks on hand while doing so, whether we’re cheering our kids from the sideline or hosting friends to watch the big weekend matchup. Unfortunately, many traditional game day snacks aren’t the healthiest choices. Foods such as chips and dip, nachos, chili, pizza and sweets may be filled with flavor but are far from ideal when it comes to nutrition. Often, they’re high in calories, sugar, salt, red and processed meat and unhealthy fats. But, of course, snacks and snacking by themselves aren’t unhealthy. In fact, they can absolutely be part of healthy eating, said Lauren Gallen, a registered dietitian at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. And if we’re going for

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ISP Reviews More Than 3,000 Enhanced Background Checks For Those Under 21 As Far As Safer Communities Act

2 years ago
SPRINGFIELD – Under the federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), the Illinois State Police (ISP) has enhanced its coordination with all local law enforcement agencies as part of the background check process for those younger than 21 years. BSCA allows for more thorough background checks by expanding what records are being reviewed and allowing more time to look into the records if required. “Every day, ISP performs lifesaving background checks on firearms purchasers to prevent individuals who are a threat to themselves or others from obtaining a gun,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Under this federal Act, ISP has enhanced our background check process for those under 21, giving law enforcement a fuller picture of the individual seeking to buy a firearm, stopping potential tragedies. This is not theoretical – this is real interdiction that happens every day.” One of the greatest enhancements for ISP is communicating with

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