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Lunch and Learn Speaker Series Topics Announced

4 months ago
ALTON – Intellectual and biological appetites will be satisfied thanks to what the Psychological Services Department at OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center will be serving through an upcoming Mental Health “Lunch & Learn” Speaker Series. Residents in and around the Riverbend region can pick and choose from an a la carte menu of topics available during any of the seven (7) monthly sessions – each highlighting a different mental health topic. The Mental Health “Lunch & Learn” Speaker Series will give participants valuable insights, important information, and useful resources on each of the seven (7) topics highlighted throughout the speaker series. Each monthly session is held on the second Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and led by Mission Partners (i.e. employees) from the Psychological Services Department. The scheduled topics and presenters for the Mental Health “Lunch & Learn” Speaker Series are: September 10

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Former Missouri House Speaker Catherine Hanaway appointed attorney general

4 months ago
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe announced Tuesday that Catherine Hanaway will replace Andrew Bailey as the state’s next attorney general. Bailey, 44, resigned Monday after a little more than two years on the job to become co-deputy director of the FBI.  Hanaway, 61, will be the fourth person to serve as Missouri attorney general since 2018, […]
Jason Hancock

Sen. Belt Expands Access To Construction Job Training Programs in Metro East

4 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt’s measure to expand career and technical education programs to support regional manufacturing was signed into law. “Many kids have no idea that these jobs exist and they can be a part of this industry,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Without a family member or friend working in the trades, kids may never have a clue how to get started. That’s why this law is important – it amplifies access to the trades through training programs.” Senate Bill 58 expands a current program that is successful in other parts of the state to the Metro East. The program allows manufacturing companies to partner with local community colleges and high schools to set up technical training programs that translate directly into a job. This gives students from all backgrounds access to job training programs at their high school or local community college through the regional partnership. “Manufacturing is a cornerston

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Country Artist Matt Jordan to "Rock the Block" at Free Jerseyville Concert

4 months ago
JERSEYVILLE - The City of Jerseyville invites the community to come out for a free country concert. At 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, community members can meet at the corner of Washington and Arch Streets for the summer’s third “Rock the Block” concert featuring country star Matt Jordan and local opener Cash Goetten. Will Strang, Jerseyville’s director of tourism, expressed his excitement to share the experience with the community. “Come out and enjoy some amazing music and some good friends and just a beautiful evening outside,” Strang said. “I think it’s a really important piece of building community spirit or really building a community atmosphere where everybody wants to participate. It’ll hopefully drive some economic development, some love in the community, and just really bring people together in a fun and energetic way.” Jordan’s band includes bass player Byron Beiermann, a Jerseyville native who

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Public Comment Opportunity On Ameren Illinois Gas Rate Case

4 months ago
EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is encouraging Ameren Illinois customers to provide public comment on the utility’s proposed natural gas rate increase at a pair of public hearings in Springfield and East St. Louis. The hearings will take place Wednesday, August 27 and Thursday, August 28, 2025, respectively. East St. Louis When: Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 7:00 – 9:30 PM Where: New Life Community Church 1919 State St. East St. Louis, IL 62205 Springfield When: Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025 7:00 – 9:30 PM Where: CMS Regional Complex 4800 W. Wabash Ave. Springfield, IL 62711 Customers unable to attend the hearings can submit their comments via the ICC website or call our Consumer Services Division at 1-800-524-0795 during regular business hours. Ameren filed its petition with the ICC for a $134 million general rate increase in January 2025. Rate cases are formal proceedings used to ensure utilities receive

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What's Up Downtown Information Exchange To Be Held Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025

4 months ago
ALTON - Alton Main Street’s quarterly information exchange, called “What’s Up Downtown”, will be held on Tuesday, August 19th at 5:30 p.m. at the Riverbender building, located at 200 W. 3rd Street in Alton, Illinois. The public is invited to learn the latest news regarding developments in Alton’s historic downtown district, including updates from new & existing businesses, news on real estate transactions and details of upcoming events and projects. You’ll be in the know on topics from the evening’s featured speakers: Natalie & Keith Steinacher who have transformed the former community center in the ground floor of the Riverbender building into an event space and martial arts studio called The Teller Room 1925 Chris Jacoby will explain the products and services now available at Jacoby Fine Violins Jeff Bohnert will introduce us to his new Elysian Gallery, recently opened at 301 E. Broadway Jared Unfried will tell about new services offered

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Governor Pritzker and IBHE Announce New Statewide Direct College Admissions Program

4 months ago
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) launched One Click College Admit – a statewide direct admissions program for Illinois public universities and community colleges. Through One Click College Admit, high school seniors and community college transfer students in Illinois will receive college acceptances into the state’s public universities by meeting only one criterion for admission: grade point average (GPA). This new program waives applications, application fees, essays and letters of recommendation for students. “Enhancing access to Illinois’ public universities and community colleges with One Click College Admit will empower even more talented students across the state to realize their full academic potential through higher education,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This program marks another

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Ttorney General Raoul's Legislation To Improve Services For Sexual Assault Survivors Becomes Law

4 months ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today applauded Governor JB Pritzker for signing legislation that will improve medical forensic services for sexual assault survivors by making important updates to the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act (SASETA) and the Illinois Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program. Senate Bill (SB) 1602 builds on the work of the Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Services Implementation Task Force . The task force was created in 2018 and included experts from the Attorney General’s office, the Illinois Department of Public Health, hospitals, health care providers, law enforcement officials, advocates and legislators. The task force has worked diligently since being established by state statute to evaluate and strengthen SASETA. Last year, the task force issued its final report, which was crafted with input from more than 40 stakeholders in government and the medical community serving sexual assault survivors. “The Illinois

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Belt: We Are Removing Barriers For Organ Donors Willing To Step Forward And Save Lives

4 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt championed a newly signed law to ensure taking time off work to donate an organ doesn’t put workers’ livelihoods at risk. “This is deeply personal to me,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “I received a lifesaving kidney transplant, so I know firsthand that donations save lives. This law removes barriers for people who are willing to step forward and give that gift.” The law allows eligible part-time workers to take up to 10 days of leave in a 12-month period to serve as organ donors. For part-time employees receiving compensation for their donation, employers must pay them based on their average daily pay over the previous two months of employment. Currently, part-time workers often do not receive the same workplace protections as full-time employees. Belt’s law ensures that all eligible workers, no matter how many hours a week they work, can take time to donate an organ without risking their job o

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Audit finds Independence school board violated Missouri Sunshine Law

4 months ago
A state audit of the Independence School District found the board discussed the four-day school week and other topics during closed meetings, violating the Missouri Sunshine Law. The district also had problems with cash handling procedures and hadn’t created policies on retaining electronic records, the Aug. 18 audit report said. But overall, the audit “has […]
Maria Benevento