SPRINGFIELD - Landmark legislation to prevent book banning was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced today. This new law sets a nationwide precedent in the fight against book bans, as libraries and librarians face unprecedented censorship of books and resources, including in Illinois. The bill passed the Illinois House in March and the Senate in May. Giannoulias, who also serves as the State Librarian, initiated HB 2789 after extremist groups – including the far-right nationalist group, the Proud Boys – targeted Illinois libraries, divided communities and harassed librarians, despite that the books are not required reading. “The concept of banning books contradicts the very essence of what our country stands for,” said Secretary Giannoulias. “It also defies what education is all about: teaching our children to think for themselves. This landmark law is a triumph for our democracy, a win for First Amendment
CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker was joined by Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, advocates, and lawmakers today at the Harold Washington Library to sign legislation outlawing book bans in Illinois. This nation-leading legislation comes in the wake of a nationwide rise in extremists targeting literature, libraries, and books in an effort to censor the material students need to thrive in the classroom. Targeted books cover a wide range of categories and predominantly consists of stories by and about People of Color and the LGBTQ+ community. “Here in Illinois, we don’t hide from the truth, we embrace it,” said Governor JB Pritzker “Young people shouldn’t be kept from learning about the realities of our world; I want them to become critical thinkers, exposed to ideas that they disagree with, proud of what our nation has overcome, and thoughtful about what comes next. Everyone deserves to see themselves
ST. LOUIS - This past weekend, Water Division employees responded to 16 water main breaks throughout neighborhoods in South St. Louis City, a domino effect started by Friday’s break at Donovan and Lansdowne due to changes in pressure. Water Division crews and contractors continue to work diligently to make repairs and restore full water pressure to impacted neighborhoods. Despite a proposed bill in 2016 , the Board of Aldermen has not adjusted the City’s water rate in nearly 13 years, requiring the Water Division to spend tens of millions of its reserves in order to maintain our water system and respond to these kinds of emergencies. As Mayor Jones made clear during this morning’s press avail, these recent breaks again make clear that the City cannot afford to keep kicking the can down the road as it has for more than a decade. The bill currently before the Board of Aldermen would institute a 2-time, phased-in rate increase of $5/month ($15/quarter) to ensure the Wate
GODFREY – Beverly Farm Foundation has announced that its annual fireworks display is scheduled for Friday, July 14, 2023, and is again open to the public this year. “All our families and friends in the Riverbend area are invited to come out and enjoy our fireworks as we continue celebrating our 125 th anniversary this year,” said Beverly Farm Foundation CEO Crystal Officer. Where : 6301 Humbert Road, Godfrey, IL 62035 When : Friday, July 14, 2023 Fireworks to begin at approx. 9:30 p.m. Arrive as early as 8:30 p.m. “Come out and join the fun,” Officer continued. “Bring a blanket or lawn chairs to sit on. The lawn area north of our Administration Building is the best location from which to view our fireworks. You can arrive as early as 8:30 p.m. to find a spot on the lawn and wait for the stars to come out and our fireworks to light up the Godfrey sky.” If you will be attending the fireworks display, do not bring any personal fireworks
ALTON - The Old Bakery Beer Company is hosting an artisan fair in honor of Pride Month. The Proud Market will showcase work by local LGBTQ+ and ally vendors. The market will open from 5–8 p.m. on Thursday, June 15. The event will also serve as a fundraiser for Alton Pride and the Metro Trans Umbrella Group, two local LGBTQ+ organizations. “We do a lot of markets throughout the year. We like to support local artisans. And they always do really well, so we thought it was a good chance to highlight specifically some of the LGBTQ+ artisans in our area,” Lauren Pattan, vice president and operations manager of The Old Bakery Beer Company, said. The event will include 12 local vendors, with products ranging from handmade patches to jewelry to candles and more. Pattan said that last year’s Proud Market was “really successful.” In addition to vendors, The Old Bakery Beer Company will offer their usual food and drink menu with a few special additions.
A couple of days ago the Director of National Intelligence declassified a report written by an advisory group about the dangers of Commercially Available Information (CAI). This is information compiled by private companies and then sold to whoever pays for it—and it includes an astonishing array of data about individuals: CAI can be obtained from ...continue reading "Intelligence agencies can track your every move—and they can do it without a warrant"
“My God, it’s good to see you/right here in the flesh.” Those are the opening lines of Nickel Creek’s ambitious new Celebrants, the band’s first album together in nine years.
From Fox 2: In St. Charles, work has begun on a three-month project to replace portions of Zumbehl Road. Crumbling storm drains and cracked roadways have pushed the City of St. Charles to revamp the Zumbehl bridge to fix a long-overdue problem. In March 2018, MoDOT gave the bridge a score of 49.6%, but bigger, […]
AMES, Iowa - Nearly 4,600 graduates received degrees from Iowa State University this spring. Graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies were held May 11-13 at Hilton Coliseum. Bethalto's Lin Pizzo graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in interior design, Edwardsville's Adam Walters graduated Summa Cum Laude with a software engineering degree and Glen Carbon's Jack Raffaelle was awarded a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering. Raffaelle graduated Summa Cum Laude. Alumna Trudy Huskamp Peterson, the first woman archivist of the United States; and Temple Grandin, Distinguished Professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University, animal welfare pioneer and activist for people with autism, received honorary degrees during the undergraduate ceremonies.
ALTON - Adreonna L. Reams, 30, of Alton, was charged for pepper-spraying two Alton Police Officers last Wednesday, June 7. She received two counts of Aggravated Battery, each a Class 2 felony. Court filings indicate Count 1 stems from an incident wherein Reams “sprayed Officer Storey in the eyes with chemical mace, knowing Officer Storey to be a peace officer of the Alton Police Department.” Reams was charged with an additional count of Aggravated Battery after also spraying Officer Bailey of the Alton Police Department in the eyes with the chemical mace. Both officers were engaged in the execution of their official duties at the time of the incidents, according to court records. Bond was set at $125,000, and Reams’ next court date is set for 9 a.m. June 12. More information and updates on this case (Case # 2023CF001306) can be found here . The issuance of charges is based solely upon probable cause and is not an indication of guilt. All subjects charged
From Gensler: As we continue to engage in a national conversation about the persistent inequities in our underserved communities, it’s essential that we leverage the power of research and engage residents as we redesign our cities and neighborhoods. Gensler’s City Pulse Survey revealed that two thirds of urban residents believe we should completely rethink city […]
From St. Louis Public Radio: An Edwardsville service station along the historic Route 66 corridor is getting a second chance at life as a museum and interpretive center. For nearly 40 years, the West End Service Station was a hub on the historic road. The station opened its doors in 1927 as Springer’s Madison Oil […]
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