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The Center Square – A state senator says the same “all hands on deck” approach that Illinois’ governor took to expunge cannabis convictions should be used to clear the backlog of Concealed Carry License applications. A patchwork of U.S. states have varying degrees of laws dealing with who can or cannot carry a firearm. Most states don’t require a permit for a resident to buy guns or ammo. Other states allow anyone to carry a gun in the open or even concealed without a permit. Indiana’s governor earlier this month signed a bill eliminating the permit to carry a gun in public. That’s after Iowa’s governor last year eliminated that state’s permit requirement to purchase or carry a gun. Illinois law requires a resident to have a state-issued Firearm Owner’s Identification Card (FOID) to purchase or own guns or ammo. There is no open-carry allowed. Concealed carry must be permitted through a Concealed Carry License (CCL) issued

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Township is pleased to have been awarded a Madison County Building & Zoning Environmental Grant to install a dual-port level 2 electric vehicle charging station at the Township Office. This charging station will be integrated in the remodel of Township Office. The need for EV charging stations continues to grow as hybrid vehicles become increasingly popular. In 2021, the number of electric vehicles purchased doubled nationwide from the year before. “We look forward to providing another electric vehicle charging option in the Township, and one in the Downtown Edwardsville area where we identified a need for more EV stations,” said Edwardsville Township Supervisor Kevin Hall. “Electric vehicles provide a greener option for the future and we appreciate Madison County Building & Zoning awarding us this Environmental grant.” This will be the second charging station maintained by Edwardsville Township, in addition to the solar-powered

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EDWARDSVILLE – As part of the academic plan to introduce students to the operation of real-time radar systems, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Engineering (SOE) hosted an information session and demonstration of a mobile radar unit on Thursday, March 17. The presentation was part of a three-year program with the University of Oklahoma’s Advanced Radar Research Center, during which faculty and scientists from both institutions will collaborate on research projects, grant proposals, and student exchanges. “The Rapid X-band Polarimetric Radar (RaXPol) is the first rapid-scan, dual-polarization radar system sponsored by the National Science Foundation,” explained Yadong Wang, PhD, assistant professor in the SOE Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who oversees SIUE’s Advanced Radar Research Lab. “Through operating the RaXPol and attending the presentations and short courses from radar experts from the University

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ALTON - Wind gusts of up to 50 mph are predicted for Wednesday with a strong area of low pressure descending around the St. Louis region, especially south and east, Hyperlocal Extreme Weather forecasters said today. "As has been in our forecast for a while now, we have a strong storm system on the way," Hyperlocal Extreme Weather added. "The forecast remains unchanged with a strong area of low pressure set to bring us to wind gusts up to 50 mph tomorrow, so batten down the hatches. "As for severe thunderstorm potential, this aspect remains on the lower end of the spectrum with wind and small hail being the primary threat-focused near St. Louis and especially South and East. Thankfully - the tornado threat will be very low for the St. Louis area." Hyperlocal Extreme Weather said torrential rain will also occur and will likely come down so hard at times it could be blinding when trying to drive in it. Most folks within our viewing region will see near 1/2” with a 1 to 2”

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EDWARDSVILLE – Gain an inside look at the shocking true story of the Russ Faria murder trial during an upcoming Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Lifelong Learning presentation taking place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 6 at the NCERC at SIUE and via Zoom. St. Louis attorney Joel Schwartz, who served as Russ Faria’s attorney during the trial, and SIUE alumnus Charles Bosworth are co-authors of “Bone Deep: Untangling the Twisted True Story of the Tragic Betsy Faria Murder Case.” The two will provide firsthand experience of the case, which serves as the basis for the current NBC series “ The Thing About Pam ” starring Renee Zellweger, and Josh Duhamel as Schwartz. “This presentation will be exciting and enlightening for anyone with a curious mind for criminal investigations, and those currently watching the NBC series who are looking for a unique access opportunity to gain a compelling original thought of the Russ Faria murder trial,”

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CHICAGO - Spring is prime moving season in Illinois and an opportunity for dishonest or rogue movers to take advantage of consumers. The Illinois Commerce Commission is urging residents planning a move to a new home to prepare well by researching the moving company before packing any boxes. Consumers can check to see if a household goods mover is properly licensed to operate in Illinois and check the number of complaints filed against each company through the ICC website by clicking here . This information can also be obtained by calling the ICC at 217-782-6448. Intra-state moving companies in Illinois must be licensed by the ICC. If you are putting your property into storage, be sure the warehouse is licensed by the ICC and if you are moving to another state, the mover must be licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration which can be checked here . Here are a few ICC Smart Tips to follow before hiring a mover: • Get recommendations from friends, relatives, and

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ALTON - Attorney Ebony R. Huddleston filed her nominating petitions for Madison County Circuit Judge on March 22, 2022, in Springfield, Ill. “I want to thank the citizens who have supported me during the petition campaign and for their encouragement to run for the position of Madison County Circuit Judge. This is a dream that I have prepared for my entire professional career. My journey consists of helping others to succeed in achieving their best outcomes. If elected to serve as Madison County Circuit Judge, I pledge to conduct my courtroom with compassion, understanding, integrity, and to treat every individual who appears before me with dignity and respect, regardless of their circumstances,” said Ebony Huddleston. Ebony is a graduate of Alton Senior High School and was selected as valedictorian of her class. She received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in English, Accounting, and Spanish from Xavier University of Louisiana where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She earned

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ALTON – OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center will host a free Healthy Workplace Event on Monday, April 11 from Noon – 1 p.m. in the Perpetual Help Center located at #1 Saint Anthony’s Way, Alton Illinois. Local employers, community agencies, school districts, insurance agents, or brokers are invited to attend. An educational seminar, “Drug Use in our Communities” will be presented by Richard A. Tucker, former Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Richard will discuss DEA regulations regarding controlled substances, National drug trafficking trends, Novel Psychoactive Substances, and prescribing during COVID-19. “The quality, quantity, and types of illicit drugs are changing for the worse. We are seeing numerous varieties of Fentanyl. There are also new varieties of Novel Psychoactive Substances in several classes of drugs. These drugs make molecular changes to drugs that are currently

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Integrity Healthcare Communities launched the process of protecting the residents in their 11 skilled nursing facilities from COVID-19, long before testing mandates were put in place. Staff was also encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to encourage participation, Integrity Healthcare Communities created a special promotion. Weekly monetary prizes were great incentives, and the number of vaccinated employees jumped from 165 to 374 fully vaccinated employees, but the grand prizes for the promotion were the best incentives. At the end of the promotion, two grand prizes were drawn. The first-place award for an all-expense-paid vacation for two was awarded to Olivia Williams. The grand prize, a brand new 2021 Nissan Kicks automobile was awarded to Vickey Smith. Ms. Smith has worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant for the past three years at IHCC-Cobden. Cobden’s Administrator Sherry Belcher said, “Vickey always goes above and beyond for our residents. We are proud

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EDWARDSVILLE – Through funding provided by BioMADE, the University of Hawai’i at Hilo (UH Hilo) and the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) have partnered to form “ALAKA’I”, Applied Life-Science Academy: Knowledge Advancing Industry, a project that establishes a bioeconomy academy to accelerate climate change solutions by developing industry-relevant training for delivery in Hawaii and across the United States. Launched in 2021, BioMADE is the most recently established Manufacturing Innovation Institute. BioMADE works with its members to secure America’s future through biomanufacturing innovation, education, and collaboration. It is a member of Manufacturing USA®, a national network created to secure U.S. global leadership in advanced manufacturing through large-scale public-private collaboration on technology, supply chain, and education and workforce development. The primary

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ST. LOUIS - As pollinator habitats disappear across the country, utilities like Ameren are stepping up to create sanctuaries for bees, beetles, butterflies, bats, and birds on their own property. "Humans and other types of wildlife rely on pollinators to support our food systems, but pollinator habitats, such as open fields, meadows, and forests, are shrinking," said Nancy Morgan, manager of permitting and natural resources at Ameren. "As managers of large parcels of land, utilities can be part of the solution for rebuilding pollinator habitats. At Ameren, we're already working to improve our rights-of-way and land we own to support pollinators where possible. We are also funding pollinator-focused research through EPRI." U.S. utilities own approximately 5 million acres of right-of-way areas and buffer zones around their transmission lines. This land cannot serve any commercial or residential purpose, and large trees cannot grow here because they might interfere with transmission lines.

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) will present a virtual panel discussion, “Events in and around Ukraine: What is Happening and Why It Matters,” at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 31. Register for the webinar at https://siue.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_F_BuTBy2ScSMgRkFS3uixQ . Moderated by Kenneth Moffett, PhD, chair and professor in the Department of Political Science, the panel will feature distinguished faculty experts who will help explain the pressing current events occurring in Eastern Europe. Panelists include Olga Bezhanova, PhD, chair and professor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature; Sorin Nastasia, PhD, director of the International Studies Program and associate professor in the Department of Applied Communication Studies; John Shimkus, former Congressman and faculty member in the Department of Political Science; and Suranjan Weeraratne, PhD, associate professor in the Department

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Students in Grades 6, 7 and 8, Kids Heart Challenge 2022 at Zion Lutheran School, Bethalto BETHALTO - Fundraising for the American Heart Association through Kids Heart Challenge is an annual event at Zion Lutheran School, Bethalto, Illinois. One of the noteworthy aspects of this year’s event was the leadership that the school’s Grade 8 students provided. “Younger students always look up to our Grade 8 students,” said Mr. John Zilm, Grade 8 homeroom teacher. “This year, I witnessed those students being leaders and role models for the K through 7 students. During the event, they recognized the students who needed help and didn’t hesitate to step in. They even took on the responsibility of conflict resolution when needed. They did a lot to make this fun by actively participating and remaining engaged throughout the day.” “I enjoyed being a good example for the younger kids,” said Audrey Whipple, Grade 8 student. “I realized

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EDWARDSVILLE - “Guatemalans want what we all want for our children: health and happiness. We had people walk great distances in the mountains to get care.” That was a key takeaway from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing’s (SON) Bernadette Sobczak, DNP, assistant professor, after leading a clinical service trip to Guatemala in 2017. She and three students in the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) family nurse practitioner (FNP) made the week-long trip with ER Abroad to a remote village in Escuintla. One of the students, Greg Jennings, DNP, is now an instructor and coordinator of the Simulated Learning Center for Health Sciences. “That experience opened my eyes to global care and how much more we can do to ensure people receive the medical care they need, when they need it,” said Jennings. Sobczak and Jennings have now made six visits, with each becoming more advanced. With continuity of care severely lacking and malnutrition being

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EDWARDSVILLE - Lincoln Middle School in Edwardsville announces 3rd quarter honor roll. 6th Grade Honor Roll Agee, Skylar Brooke Alexander, Melanie Elaine Anderson, Marleena Louise Baugh, Parker William Bell, Aiva Tierra Boger, Danica Rene' Bohannon, Ellie Jayne Bonney, Kendall Jade Boyd, Zara Deanne Bradley, Josephine Rose Brandt, Charles Lyons Bristol, Orin Ming Kai Chang Brown, Haide Jase Button, Jonas Dylan Cadagin, Daniel James Campbell, Mason Michael Chiarodo, Nicholas Andrew Clothier, Noah Bentley Cochran, Addison Mary Cooper, Brian Roger Davis, Grant Samual Deck, Ethan Jin Donsbach, Estelle Lynette Dorado, Jorge Sebastian Dudley, Chase Alexander Dunlap, Sophia Marie Elliott, Ava Madison Elsas, Violet J Finley, Zoe Anastasia Ford III, Lance A. Fredericks, Lillian Ries Garrett II, Anthony Dewayne Gieseking, Kami Kay Gilmor, Isaac Stuart Goebel, Sara Beth Goetz, Margaret Ellen Ann Golliday, Elijah Anthony Louis Granger, Michael Tajaun Graumenz, Camdyn Alivia Gray, Joy Christine

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EDWARDSVILLE - Liberty Middle School in Edwardsville announces 3rd quarter honor roll. 6th Grade Honor Roll Ackerman, Avery Lynn Alexander, Jayden Christopher Alldredge, Brooklyn Alldredge, Kaden Aloisi, Mason James Anderson, Colin Maier Anderson, Isabella Christine Andrews, Brady Anoke, Joanna Ifeoma Ball, Norah Cecelia Baugh, Sydney Beck, Allison K Becker, Sidney Bettorf, Hadley Glynn Bettorf, Tayler Michael Billingsley, Hayden Grace Blair, Lillian Jeann Bodo, Ardian Martin Borg, Lilyanna Reece Brasel, Audrey Grace Brewer, Blair Elizabeth Briggs, Bennett Jay Bristow, Evelyn Margaret Brockmeier, Lucy Josephine Brokaw, Nolan Eric Brown, Evan Miles Brown, Evelyn Joyce Brown, Mason Daniel Brubaker, Emma Brune, Leah Danielle Bryant, Elijah Gabriel Burnett, Lincoln Charles Burns, Blake Andrew Burns, Braden Matthew Burroughs, Joseph Scott Butler, Addison Elizabeth Cadagin, Kate Emma Calloway, Madeline Elizabeth Campbell, Kevin Porter Carter, Ava Jane Cassens, Mina Jillian Chalcraft, Cameron

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville firefighter Sean Douglas was out on a training drive with a new fire pumper at 11:02 a.m. Sunday when he saw what he thought was a fire at a home. Sure enough, when he turned the fire engine around and evaluated the scene, he had to contact the Edwardsville Fire Department to dispatch a fire call. Douglas immediately jumped off the truck and went into action and fought the fire with a hose until help arrived. A Box Alarm was called and Edwardsville was joined by Glen Carbon Fire Protection District and Wood River Fire Department, while Collinsville Fire Department handled Edwardsville's station. The fire was very serious and substantial damage was done to the house, Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford said. However, he said because of Douglas and the other's efforts, the house may still be salvageable, the chief added. "The fire started underneath the deck and then after the deck caught fire it spread to the house and caught the kitchen on fire, then

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ST. LOUIS - Today, the Downtown Engagement and Public Safety Initiative, in partnership with Labyrinth Smart Mobility, today launched STL Downtown Link. The program, a micro-transit pilot designed to enhance connectivity in the downtown corridor is a perfect solution for visitors and residents who travel within the downtown area for the world-class sports, and cultural attractions Downtown St. Louis offers. “The STL Downtown Link will increase connectivity downtown and help everyone take advantage of the great amenities Downtown has to offer,” said Alderman James Page (5). “The community is excited for this program, and I encourage residents and visitors alike to try it out for themselves.” Labyrinth Smart Mobility will manage the service, which includes two six-passenger electric vehicle shuttles, lead system operations, and shuttle drivers. Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, the STL Downtown Link will provide free localized public transportation

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TROY/MARYVILLE/ST. JACOB/MARINE - TMSM Chamber of Commerce says the number one request from Chamber members is to help them find employees to fill their open positions. TMSM Chamber is "in the solution business", so they have contacted Triad High School to see how they might work together to bring employers and their students together. On Wednesday, May 4, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Triad High School and the Chamber will be hosting a High School Student Job Fair in the Triad High School Library. Chamber members can sign up for a space at the event by visiting employers register here . They are also working with Madison County Employment and Training as well as Express Employment Professionals. “Our goal in hosting this event is to provide our Chamber members with an opportunity to meet students, ages 15-18, who are seeking employment,” said Dawn Mushill, Executive Director. “We are also assisting the registered students with their resumes, cover letters, an

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GRANITE CITY – Juniors Sydney Choat and Carlee Wright of Granite City High School were selected as Granite City Rotary Club Students of the Month for March. Students were nominated by teachers and were chosen on the basis of academics, as well as scholastic, extracurricular, and civic honors and awards, and organization membership and leadership. Each honoree will receive a framed certificate and a gift card and will be recognized at a future Granite City Rotary Meeting. SYDNEY CHOAT Three-year member of Marching Band and Scholar Bowl and two-year member of bowling team ... Science Club and Varsity Club member ... Three-year Honor Roll and Secondary Honors ... Daughter of Brad and Stacey Choat. CARLEE WRIGHT Member of dance, swimming and tennis teams ... Three-year Honor Roll ... Renaissance Top-10 Award ... Alpha Peer Leader and Physics Peer Tutor ... Member of Varsity Club ... Volunteer at The Nature Institute ... Daughter of Adam and Billie Jo Sanchez and Eric Wright

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