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Gov. Pritzker Announces One Appointment to Boards and Commissions

3 months 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD - Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointment in his administration: Michelle Gibson will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Pollution Control Board.* Gibson was first appointed to the board in November 2021. She is a registered environmental health specialist with over 15 years of experience in environmental consulting, waste diversion, resource management, and environmental and public health. In her time as an environmental consultant, she implemented recycling and waste-reduction programs at hospitals, universities, residential facilities, military bases, manufacturing sites, and large office complexes. She advised statewide environmental organizations on strategies for waste handling. Gibson has also managed the Dekalb County solid waste program, and she has supervised a team of Boone County environmental health inspectors enforcing clean water standards. At the height of the COVID-19

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SIUE 2025 Summer Deans List Announced

3 months 3 weeks ago
EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) has announced the names of 435 graduating students for the 2025 summer term. Summer graduates traditionally participate in the fall commencement ceremony. The full list of honorees for summer 2025 is available on the SIUE News Dean’s List webpage . To explore students by location, use the dropdown menu to filter by state, then sort within the table by city or municipality. SIUE continues to foster future leaders through outstanding academic programs and dedicated faculty. Each semester, undergraduate students who achieve remarkable academic performance are recognized on the Dean’s List. To qualify, students must complete at least 12 graded credit hours and earn a semester grade point average of 3.5 or higher (an A is valued at 4.0 and a B at 3.0). Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high-quality education that powerfully transforms the lives of all individuals who

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ACS Farm to Table Metro East Event Returns September 11 in Collinsville

3 months 3 weeks ago
COLLINSVILLE – The American Cancer Society’s Farm to Table Metro East, presented by MRHFM, returns on Thursday, September 11, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, IL. Tickets are on sale now at www.acsfarmtotable.com . This unique tasting event features seasonal dishes from top local restaurants, live music by Corey Evitts, and a variety of interactive experiences including a wine toss, heads or tails game, key to recovery challenge, silent auction, and a Reflections of Hope tribute area. In its history, the event has raised over $650,000 to support the mission of the American Cancer Society—funding groundbreaking cancer research, patient support services, and advocacy efforts. This year’s featured speaker is Mark Joiner, Chief Firefighter of the Granite City Fire Department, who will share his personal cancer journey and experiences. 2025 Participating Restaurants Include: Bella Milano 1933 House of Bourbon

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Lane Closures On Illinois 161 In St. Clair County

3 months 3 weeks ago
BELLEVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that intermittent daytime lane closures will take place on Illinois 161 from Illinois 159 to Illinois 158 in St. Clair County, weather permitting, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, and Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. The lane closures are necessary for the evaluation of pavement conditions. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all signage and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com .

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Attorney General Raoul Obtains Guilty Plea From Former Boone County Clerk For Theft And Misuse Of County Funds

3 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that former Boone County Clerk and Recorder Julie Bliss pleaded guilty to charges related to the alleged theft of cash from the county and misuse of county funds on personal expenses. Bliss was sentenced to 180 days in jail after pleading guilty to one count of Class 1 felony theft of governmental property and two counts of Class 3 felony official misconduct on Tuesday. Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge Scott Paccagnini also sentenced Bliss to 48 months of probation for the charge of theft of government property and 30 months of probation for each charge of official misconduct, to be served concurrently. In addition, Bliss was ordered to pay $28,919.05 in restitution to Boone County. “Taxpayers must be able to trust that those who serve on their behalf will use their authority for the public good and not to enrich themselves,” Raoul said. “I remain committed to holding accountable public officials who abuse

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IDPH Marks 60 Years of Newborn Screening Efforts in Illinois

3 months 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – With Newborn Screening Awareness Month underway in September, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is celebrating 60 years of the program in Illinois. Beginning in 1965 with testing for a single condition, Illinois’s newborn screening program now checks for more than 50 conditions, offering the hope of early diagnosis and intervention when needed. More than 100,000 newborns are tested annually in the state. “IDPH is proud to be a leader in supporting families with our newborn screening program,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “For the past 60 years in Illinois, newborn screens have detected potentially life-threating conditions in healthy babies before they show symptoms. Each year, more than 500 babies in our state are diagnosed through this vital public health service. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions can prevent serious health outcomes, enabling Illinois’s children to reach their ful

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"Good Neighbor" Jeff Weber Reflects on Lifetime of Service to Alton-Godfrey Community

3 months 3 weeks ago
GODFREY - During the Godfrey Village Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 2, 2025, the trustees honored Jeff Weber with this month’s Good Neighbor Award. Weber expressed his appreciation for the recognition and emphasized that the experience of giving back has been “a real pleasure.” He shared his gratitude for the Riverbend region. “You’ve got to give back to the community that allows you to make a living and get along with everybody else here and whatnot,” Weber said. “That’s the main thing, just giving back to the community that’s been so good to me and my family and my wife. That’s the whole point. Weber previously served four terms on the Godfrey Village Board of Trustees. He has made a name for himself in the community as a former president of the Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education, Junior Achievement of Illinois, and the Nelson Foundation, in addition to serving on many boards and volunteering

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Attorney General Raoul Files Brief Opposing No-bond Immigration Detention Policy

3 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a multistate coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief opposing a new federal policy that mandates indefinite detention of many undocumented immigrants without the opportunity for a bond hearing. In the brief filed in Bautista v. Noem , Raoul and the coalition challenge the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) unprecedented reinterpretation of immigration law, arguing it violates due process and federal statutes, and inflicts widespread harm on families, communities and state economies. “Undocumented immigrants have significantly contributed to our economy for years. This new federal policy mandating indefinite detention without an option of a bond hearing will disrupt our labor force while wasting taxpayer dollars and harming families,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work with my fellow attorneys general protecting the rights of immigrants and their families.” For

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Illinois Department of Labor Opposes Federal Rollback of Minimum Wage Protections

3 months 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) strongly condemns actions by the Trump administration to roll back federal minimum wage and overtime protections for millions of home health care workers. “These reckless rollbacks undermine the economic security of working families across the country,” said IDOL Director Jane Flanagan. “While Illinois has robust minimum wage and overtime protections for home health care workers, if the proposed rule is adopted, it will create inconsistency and confusion across the country. As the federal government weakens worker protections, IDOL is committed to protecting and promoting the wages of all workers in Illinois.” On September 2, 2025, Illinois joined Pennsylvania and states across the country in formally opposing the U.S. Department of Labor’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Application of the Fair Labor Standards Act to Domestic Service. The Trump administration’s efforts to change federal

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Charges Filed in Fatal Shooting of 14-Year-Old Prairie Du Rocher Girl

3 months 3 weeks ago
WATERLOO, Ill. — Charges have been filed in connection with the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Emma Schultheis, who died after being struck by a bullet on July 21, 2025, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department. At approximately 1:34 p.m. on that day, deputies and emergency medical personnel responded to a medical emergency at 5925 State Route 3 in Waterloo, Illinois. Emma Schultheis of Prairie Du Rocher was transported to a hospital in the St. Louis area, where she was pronounced dead despite life-saving efforts. An investigation determined that the shooting resulted from David A. Schultheis, 34, of Prairie Du Rocher, discharging a handgun in an attempt to shoot a buzzard inside a brick building. Schultheis reportedly inserted only his arm into the building to avoid a ricochet before firing. The bullet passed through the bird, exited the building through a window, and struck Emma Schultheis, who was outside. On Sept. 2, 2025, Monroe County State’s

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Jerseyville City Council Member Resigns, Replacement Sworn In

3 months 3 weeks ago
JERSEYVILLE – The Jerseyville City Council underwent a change in membership on Tuesday. Commissioner of Public Property Zach Crawford submitted his resignation later, which was read by Mayor Kevin Stork at the Sept. 2, 2025 City Council meeting. “Serving as a council member has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and choosing to step away from this role is not an easy decision,” Crawford wrote in his resignation letter. “When I first took the seat, I promised myself that I would carry the voice of our community in every discussion, every vote, and every project. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together, from revitalizing spaces like Lions Club Park, supporting our city’s growth, and ensuring that Jerseyville continues to be a place where families want to live, work, and belong.” Crawford was first elected to the City Council in 2019 after filling a prior vacancy for Public Property Commissioner left by former council

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