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More than a Dozen Robots Entered in Teen Robotics Competition hosted by SIUE School of Engineering

2 years 9 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE – For the second year in a row, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SOE) will host more than a dozen robots and their teen creators, families and spectators for a qualifying meet. Free to the public, the Southern Illinois Robotics League will take over the SOE atrium adhering to strict rules in size and safety to bring loads of ingenuity and fun. The meet will take place on the SIUE campus on Saturday, December 9. “Each robot has a personality,” said Jon Klingensmith, PhD, associate professor and chair of the department of electrical and computer engineering in SOE. “We named ours Dr. Evil.” Klingensmith is an assistant coach of one of the 15 teams in the League. “We started hosting events here and see kids from 7th to 12th grade from East St. Louis and Granite City, to a couple of home-schooled teams in the Mascoutah area. They also come from Centralia High School all the way down to Marion, who will

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Local 15-Year-Old Skates a 5K for Disabled American Veterans

2 years 9 months ago
EAST ALTON - There are two things to know about Wyatt “Salty” Salters: He comes from a long line of veterans, and he loves hockey. The 15-year-old hockey player decided to skate a 5K to raise money for Disabled American Veterans (DAV) . Salters took to the ice on Nov. 30, 2023, to skate 32 laps around the East Alton Ice Arena, the equivalent of 3.1 miles. In doing so, he fundraised for DAV to help more veterans transition to civilian life, navigate benefits and receive assistance where needed. “I feel very responsible to be a big part of it and very honored to help,” Salters said. He explained that this wasn’t his first year participating in the 5K, but he never considered skating it before. His family thought it would be a unique way to combine his interests and draw some attention to the cause. While most people would be exhausted after 32 laps around the ice rink, Salters said “it was easy” because he is constantly skating during

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Opinion: There Is A Reason Why Singer Taylor Swift Is Person Of The Year

2 years 9 months ago
EDITOR'S NOTE: Lori Cashdollar is a standout Edwardsville High School graduate and former top-notch student-athlete. She was a state qualifier in both cross country and track and field for the Tigers and a star college athlete in Chicago. This was a viewpoint she shared earlier this week after Taylor Swift's announcement as Person Of The Year. At a time I feel like I’ve needed it the most, I’m seeing so many women on a daily basis coming together and being role models I can look up to. I don’t always remember it being like this. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize history when you’re living through it, but I truly feel the narrative for women is changing right in front of my eyes, especially this year. I’ve never really considered myself a feminist nor do I typically gawk over people in the spotlight, but this particular article was truly incredible. After reading it, I felt so emotionally and physically empowered. In this day and age with violence,

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Commission awards $380M in tax credits for Missouri low-income housing

2 years 9 months ago
With little discussion and just a short period after receiving a list of staff recommendations, the Missouri Housing Development Commission on Friday approved 24 low-income housing projects financed by roughly $380 million in state and federal tax credits. As expected, experienced developers who also make large political donations to statewide officers who serve on the commission received a significant share of the awards. Four of the five top donors submitted projects, and three – JES Holdings,…
Rudi Keller

Confluence Academies: 20 years of achievement and impact

2 years 9 months ago
This school year, Confluence Academies celebrates a 20-year journey of helping pre-K-12 students in the City of St. Louis and their communities achieve more. Starting as a single school educating a few hundred students and supporting their families in St.…
Special to The American

Preview "Christmas Wonderland" Display at Rock Spring Park

2 years 9 months ago
ALTON - Riverbend residents are invited to tour the Christmas Wonderland display at Rock Spring Park through the end of the holiday season. You can drive through the park to see the lights and decorations every night until Dec. 27, 2023. The display runs from 6–9 p.m. Monday through Friday or 5–9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Grandpa Gang, a local organization that decorates the park, suggests a donation of $10 per car or $1 per person in cars of ten people or more. All proceeds go to organizations throughout the Riverbend region. “Those people that depend on donations, we try to help out,” said Dick Alford, the “Head Grandpa” of the gang. “It’s gratifying, and I think all the grandpas and everybody involved in it feel the same way. They’re just happy to be able to help out.” Alford estimated that they will welcome approximately 30,000 visitors to the park and donate around $50,000 to local nonprofits. While the

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Commission awards $380 million in tax credits for Missouri low-income housing

2 years 9 months ago

With little discussion and just a short period after receiving a list of staff recommendations, the Missouri Housing Development Commission on Friday approved 24 low-income housing projects financed by roughly $380 million in state and federal tax credits. As expected, experienced developers who also make large political donations to statewide officers who serve on the […]

The post Commission awards $380 million in tax credits for Missouri low-income housing appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Rudi Keller

Jamestown Mall Almost Completely Demolished

2 years 9 months ago
FLORISSANT, MO. - The Jamestown Mall is almost completely gone following the demolition project that started in September. Jamestown Mall was a staple in Florissant since its opening in 1973. At its peak, it was home to over one hundred stores and services, including a movie theater and four anchor stores. The mall became increasingly vacant throughout the early 2000s until it ultimately closed on July 1, 2014. In April 2022, the St. Louis County Council voted to demolish the mall using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. They approved $6 million for the mall’s demolition, which began on Sept. 26, 2023. Target Contractors, LLC has overseen the demolition. There are tentative plans to turn the Jamestown Mall site into an open-air shopping center. Photos courtesy of 618 Drone Service .

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