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URBANA – Every spring, magnolia trees across the Midwestern landscape offer some of the most spectacular flowering displays of any woody plant. These beautiful ornamental trees, native to Asia, are some of the first landscape plants in our area to deliver such a showy display; truly one of the most endorsing signs that spring is finally here. Most of Illinois’ native, deciduous trees are primarily wind-pollinated and many bloom even earlier than magnolias, although often unnoticed by many of us says University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Ryan Pankau . Their strategy is to produce a lot of pollen in the hopes that wind dispersion will spread their genes far and wide. Wind pollinated species do not need a showy display to attract pollinating animals or human attention. They typically lack aroma and nectar which, along with color, are the primary means plants use to attract pollinators to their flowers. “Since most of our native trees, like oak, ash,

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BLOOMINGTON - Health officials are working to learn more about a concerning outbreak of the serious liver disease in children in Europe and the United States. Reported cases of “acute hepatitis of unknown origin” in young children continue to climb. According to the latest data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, there are 450 reported cases worldwide, which is nearly double the 228 cases the World Health Organization reported last week. This includes three cases in Illinois. So far this outbreak has resulted in dozens of hospitalizations around the globe and has required liver transplants in some children, while 11 have died. The children’s ages range from one month to 16 years old. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently working with health departments across the country to identify children with hepatitis of unknown cause. Researchers are scrambling to find the cause of this illness,

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ST. LOUIS - Starting next week, visitors to the Saint Louis Zoo will not need to make a reservation. Reservations will stop being necessary on May 23. They must still be made until May 22. Reservations started to be required at the zoo in June 2020. The zoo's extended summer hours began Friday. The Zoo will [...]

As you’ll recall, last Wednesday, the 5th Circuit surprised lots of people by immediately reinstating Texas’s ridiculous content moderation law that basically creates an open season to sue large social media sites for any moderation choices those sites make. The surprise wasn’t necessarily the judges’ decision, which had been telegraphed two days earlier via the […]

A St. Louis Fire Department crew went to a two-story property in the 6000 block of Maple Avenue this week to find out as much as they could about the building without going inside.

Here's a chart of COVID-19 deaths that has long puzzled me: This shows COVID deaths, so it's fairly reliable. What it shows is that, generally, the US has been about average compared to other similar countries except for three specific periods: Summer 2020 Autumn 2021 Winter 2022 In two cases, we have spikes that were ...continue reading "There are three puzzling eras in the US COVID-19 timeline"

ST. LOUIS - The Blues are moving on to Round 2 of the playoffs and the schedule has been released. The Blues start the series at Ball Arena in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Game two will be played there at the same time on Thursday. Games 3 and 4 [...]

The exhibition, on view through July 9, brings together 21 American artists across disciplines.

COLLINSVILLE – Residents will soon have an even greater opportunity in shaping what their neighborhoods look like and how to make them stronger. The Collinsville Community Development Department plans on rolling out a new program focused on proactively strengthening the residential neighborhoods through the Neighborhood Planning and Improvement Initiative. Senior Planner Andi Yancey explained the Neighborhood Planning and Improvement Initiative started in 2020, but due to COVID and other circumstances, it was sidelined. Now in 2022, Yancey said it is time to revisit the project and start moving it forward. “What we’re looking to do is really empower people to take initiative, identify the problem, communicate that to the appropriate staff so that we can be more proactive in our service efforts, code enforcement, and our other outreach efforts,” Yancey said. The project seeks to have city departments working more closely together, increase the ability to

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The number of COVID-19 cases in St. Louis County is steadily rising, though mask mandates or other protective restrictions are “a long ways away,” according to County Executive Same Page. At a press briefing Monday morning, Page said the amount of cases in the county rose by 30% last week compared to the week before. The county now averages 273 new cases of COVID-19 a day.

CHICAGO – Teachers will be able to take excused mental health days under a measure supported by State Senator Christopher Belt that was signed into law Friday. “It’s clear that our teachers have had to overcome a number of challenges, especially throughout the pandemic,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “They have continued to perform their jobs well in unprecedented times and often put their students before themselves.” Belt serves as a chief-cosponsor of Senate Bill 3914, which requires the school board of each school district to include mental health as part of their current negotiated sick days for full time employees of the district. The new law allows teachers to use two of their days as mental health days, and that if a teacher needs three or more mental health days, the school district would require a note from a mental health professional. “The mental health of teachers is vital for them to continue inspiring our youth,” Belt said. “The

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ALTON - The Alton Farmers' & Artisans' Market features a special activity every Saturday morning at the corner of Landmarks Blvd. & Henry Street in Downtown Alton, and on May 21st shoppers will enjoy a delicious new concept in the adjacent parking lot called “Brews & Brunch”. From 8:00 a.m. until Noon, you can pick up tasty beverages and hot breakfast food items from the following vendors: The Old Bakery Beer Company will serve Tofu Quiche with Caramelized Onion and Kale (Vegan), Egg Quiche with Spinach and Mushroom (Dairy-Free), Herbarium Sparkling Lavender Lemongrass Tea, Beermosas (Citrus Wheat + Orange Juice), and the following beer selection: Citrus Wheat, Blueberry, Late Addition IPA, and Oh Yeah! B&C Concessions will serve biscuits & gravy, breakfast burritos, and strawberry shortcake. Big Boys Q will serve shrimp & grits, ham egg & cheese sandwiches, sausage, egg & cheese sandwiches, and breakfast hash. The Rivers Vedge will serve vegan biscuits & gravy, and lavender

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ST. LOUIS – On the heels of her triumphant headlining return to the iconic Stagecoach Festival, 8-time GRAMMY® Award winner and 3-time ACM Entertainer of the Year, Carrie Underwood, announces her new arena tour, THE DENIM & RHINESTONES TOUR, with dates in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023. The new tour, promoted by AEG Presents, will kick off on October 15 in Greenville, SC, making stops in 43 U.S. cities including New York’s Madison Square Garden, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, and L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena before concluding in Seattle, WA on March 17. Underwood will be joined on THE DENIM & RHINESTONES TOUR by special guest Jimmie Allen on all dates. After teasing fans about the impending announcement on social media and on last night’s episode of American Idol , Underwood made the official reveal this morning. Allen will join Underwood’s THE DENIM & RHINESTONES TOUR as his star continues to rise, following his first GRAMMY Award nomination for Best

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To The Editor: State Senator Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) is backing Jennifer Korte for State Representative in the 112 th District because of her authenticity, her strong ties to the region, and her commitment to conservative values. “Jennifer Korte is a hard worker and I know she will be a strong and independent voice for the residents of the 112 th District,” Plummer said. “Jennifer is a wife, a mother, a life-long resident of Madison County, and a passionate advocate for many important issues that impact our neighbors and our communities. We need more citizen legislators in Springfield and I am excited about Jennifer’s campaign because she is not a politician and she is not beholden to anyone. We need more people like that in Springfield if we are going to fix our great state.” Korte said she is honored to have the support of Senator Plummer. “Jason Plummer has served our region well and has been a consistent, conservative leader i

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MONROE COUNTY - These are details of two-vehicle fatal crash in Monroe County on May 14, 2022. WHAT: Two-Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash WHEN: May 14, 2022 at approximately 5:15 p.m. WHERE: Illinois Route 3 at Old Route 3, Monroe County VEHICLES: Unit 1- 2001 Chevrolet Truck \Unit 2- 2021 Ford Bronco DRIVERS: Unit 1- Rhonda Schaefer, 57-year-old female from Red Bud, IL – Transported by family to an area hospital with minor injuries. Unit 2- Ryne Fithian, 25-year-old male from Sparta, IL – Transported by ambulance to a regional hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. PASSENGERS: Unit 2- Allison Flynn, 22-year-old female from Sparta, IL – Flown to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Unit 2- Destiny Gillhan, 20-year-old female from Batesville, AR – Transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Unit 2- Chance Karnes, 20-year-old male from Herrin, IL - Deceased PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative

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Background: Over six miles of sanitary sewer main is being installed in the Turner Tract, Shields Valley and Piasa Valley areas of Alton. Work kicked off in February 2021 and will continue to progress until 2023. When Illinois American Water acquired the Alton Regional Wastewater system the company made a commitment to address requirements set forth by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to remedy combined sewer overflows. The projects in Turner Tract and Shields Valley will address 1.69 miles of sanitary sewer main. These projects will continue into early 2022, depending on the location. The project area will change based on the progress of work. Signs will be placed ahead of construction work to notify customers of upcoming closures. The work in Piasa Valley began in the spring of 2021. This project includes almost five miles of sanitary sewer main. Work is expected to continue for over two years. This does not mean work will occur in one area for

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As a new CEO joins the bioscience startup, its previous co-CEOs will continue with the company in another capacity.

The baby formula disaster is certainly peculiar. Apparently the FDA reported potentially dangerous manufacturing practices at Abbott's Sturgis plant as far back as September. But nobody did anything, and another FDA visit in February provoked the formula recall: In February, the FDA warned parents not to use certain popular powdered infant formulas manufactured at Abbott's ...continue reading "The baby formula shortage is . . . peculiar"