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Gov. Pritzker Announces Statewide Partnership With Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

2 years 6 months ago
METRO EAST — Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, along with state and local officials at Maplewood School in Cahokia Heights to announce Illinois’ partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The recently signed FY24 budget allocates $1.6 million to the program, which is dedicated to improving the lives of children by inspiring a love of reading. The initiative includes a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter a family’s income. “Imagination Libraries are already working their magic at a few dozen locations around the state, and the teamwork of my administration and the Dollywood Foundation will make it possible to bring Dolly to every doorstep,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As a longtime early childhood advocate, I’m incredibly excited for what’s to come. These are some of the most crucial years for learning of a person’s

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"How Al-Anon Works" Meetings Offered at St. Anthony's

2 years 6 months ago
ALTON - “Al-Anon saved my life.” These are the words of Shirley S., an outreach coordinator for a local Al-Anon group who hopes to bring a new Al-Anon chapter to Alton through OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center. Starting this summer, Shirley will host “How Al-Anon Works” meetings from 10–11:15 a.m. on Thursday mornings at OSF Saint Anthony’s. The program will run from June 22 to Sept. 28. Participants can learn about Al-Anon and how it could benefit them and the community. If there’s enough interest, the group will register with the Al-Anon World Service and become an official Al-Anon group with regular meetings at OSF St. Anthony’s. Al-Anon and Alateen are support groups for people who are worried about someone with a drinking problem, according to the organization’s website . Staci Knox, the manager of psychological services at OSF St. Anthony’s, approached Shirley about hosting “How Al-Anon Works”

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Attorney General Raoul Calls For Federal Artificial Intelligence Policy That Requires Transparency, Considers Potential Risks

2 years 6 months ago
CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul urged the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to advance artificial intelligence (AI) governance policies that prioritize robust transparency, independent standards, testing and assessment requirements, and external audits, and allow for government oversight and enforcement where appropriate. Raoul joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter to the NTIA. The attorneys general applaud the agency’s commitment to a rigorous and data-driven approach to developing AI governance policies. The coalition recommends that the NTIA create independent standards that require transparency about the use of AI and recognizes that some AI uses present greater risks and require more oversight than others. “Consumers should be informed if companies are using AI in their products and services, and the potential impacts on people should be considered in shaping regulations,” Raoul said.

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Duckworth, Durbin, Budzinski Statement On Completion Of Springfield Race Riot Site Special Resource Study

2 years 6 months ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today released the following statement in response to the National Park Service releasing its Special Resource Study for the proposed national monument site memorializing the 1908 Springfield Race Riot: “We are pleased to receive such positive feedback from the National Park Service in its study of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot national monument site. We are thankful to the City of Springfield, the Springfield Chapter of the NAACP, St. John’s Hospital and countless others for their incredible work and support. We have been dedicated to preserving this critical part of our state and nation’s history and are committed to continuing the process of designation for this site. Commemorating this location and story of extraordinary cultural and historical importance is long overdue, and we’re eager to continue working with the National

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Gov. Pritzker Announces Opening Of $31 Million Expanded Terminal At MidAmerica St. Louis Airport

2 years 6 months ago
METRO EAST – Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined state and local officials to announce the grand opening of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport’s expanded terminal – a $31 million multi-year project bolstered by $7 million in grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) in addition to $24 million in federal dollars. The terminal expansion program supports passenger growth while giving airlines the opportunity to provide additional service. “Here in Illinois, we are proud to boast one of the best and largest aviation systems in the nation. And in my mission to advance the economic development of this region, a crucial component is the modernization and maintenance of our airports and support for the people that keep them up and running,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Today, I’m proud to announce that after four years of construction and $31 million in state and federal funding, the 41,000-plus square-foot expansion

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New Condo Pitched To Complement KPAC

2 years 6 months ago
From Webster-Kirkwood Times:  Developers of a new condominium proposed for the southwest corner of East Monroe and South Taylor avenues are hoping the project will serve as “an exclamation point” to its neighbor across the street — the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. The project was presented to the Kirkwood City Council on Thursday, June 2. […]
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