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GODFREY - Oakwood Church of God in Christ will host their annual giveaway with free food, clothing, toys, hygiene kits and more. From 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, 2025, community members can stop by Oakwood COGIC at 4712 N. Alby in Godfrey for a variety of free items. Lavern Parker, who helped organize the giveaway, noted the importance of helping the community and sharing prayer if people ask for it. “Whatever it is, whether your need is physical, emotional or spiritual, we want to be there, to be able to contribute to you,” Parker said. “There’s nothing like worshiping inside the church. But we want to be that church without walls.” Those who attend the giveaway can come into the church and take whatever they need. There is a wide variety of clothing, the hygiene kits are packed and ready to go, and sandwiches and water will be available. There will also be several people onsite who are willing to offer prayers or pray alongside attendees.

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s newest student trustee, Jim Eck, of Grafton, is a non-traditional Nursing major pursuing his second career. Eck graduated high school in 1982, earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and built a successful career, retiring as president of Dominion Energy Ohio and West Virginia in 2022. Now, he’s pursuing his passion for healthcare through Lewis and Clark, in pursuit of an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) in May 2026. “I decided to enroll at Lewis and Clark for its outstanding Nursing program,” he said. “I wanted to serve those in need, and nursing enables me to provide comfort and care.” Eck's dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. This past spring, he received the Touching Lives Nursing Award at the college. His enthusiasm for helping others extends beyond Lewis and Clark — he’s also a trustee of the New Piasa Chautauqua Church Assembly, a volunteer

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GRANITE CITY - Six Mile Regional Library District will offer several special activities and services over the next few months. The library has two locations in Granite City. Like most Illinois libraries, they will host their Summer Reading Program throughout June and July. But Executive Director Tina Hubert explained that the library tries to go above and beyond to provide resources to people within their communities. “We actually serve Granite City, Mitchell and Pontoon Beach,” she said. “If you live anywhere in 62040, I’d just encourage people to come in and get their library card.” From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 7, 2025, community members can check out a Scrapbook Workshop at the library at their Johnson Road location. The library will also host “crafternoons” on upcoming Saturdays. These 18+ craft workshops run from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on June 14 and 2–3:30 p.m. on July 5 and Aug. 9, at the Delmar location. Expert-led

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ALTON — Former Alton detectives and Chris Rhodes, a reporter for Riverbender.com, will appear in a special broadcast on the Bonnie Woodward case airing on ABC’s 20/20 at 8 p.m. Central Time on Friday, June 6, 2025. The program will also be available to stream on Hulu starting Saturday, June 7, 2025. Rhodes, who extensively covered the Woodward trial for Riverbender.com, was interviewed by ABC 20/20 a few months ago to provide insight into the case. In a statement, Rhodes said, “I was interviewed for ABC 20/20 for the Bonnie Woodward case. It was an interesting process. I am looking forward to watching the show on Friday night." The special focuses on the 2010 murder of Bonnie Woodward and the subsequent trial of Roger Carroll, who was charged with her murder on April 12, 2018. Carroll was sentenced on Oct. 1, 2020, in Jersey County Court to 45 years for first-degree murder and 25 years for use of a firearm. The sentencing was rendered by Honorable Judge Eric Pistorius.

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PIASA - Outfielder Sydney Valdes was a standout for the Southwestern Piasa Birds softball squad in Spring 2025. Sydney is an Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month. Southwestern High School’s Sydney Valdes has signed a letter of intent to play softball at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield. Valdes, an outfielder for the Piasa Birds softball team, batted well over .400 during the recent season. Head coach Amanda Edwards praised Valdes for her versatility and commitment to the team. “She’s a strong hitter and has won all-conference awards,” Edwards said. “She loves her role and wherever it is in college she will make a difference. Lincoln Land is a phenomenal school.” Valdes will now prepare for the next step in her athletic career at the collegiate level.

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GRANITE CITY - Six Mile Regional Library District has a busy summer ahead. The library, with two locations in Granite City, will host their annual Summer Reading Program for kids throughout June and July. Executive Director Tina Hubert explained that the library aims to engage the community and help people access services and resources. “It’s the reason we’re here,” she said. “We’re here for the community, so we try to find programs, services and resources that benefit our community members. That’s the whole reason why we’re here.” The Summer Reading Program will run at 2 p.m. on Fridays for kids to enjoy. All Friday programs will be held at The Mill in Granite City. These events are completely free and sponsored by the Friends of the Library. To kick off the Summer Reading Program, “Will Stuck: Pigment of Your Imagination” combines art, color, science and songs on June 6, 2025. On June 13, “Storm Science”

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ALTON - There will be several open meetings this summer to help people navigate their Medicaid and Medicare benefits. At 6 p.m. on June 25, July 30, and Aug. 27, 2025, community members can come to the RiverBender.com Building at 200 W. 3rd Street in Alton to learn about Medicaid and Medicare. Jamie Goble with Medicare Insurance Techs will talk about how she can guide you through the process of applying and accessing your benefits. “It’s just important to me that get that type of help and they’re not left alone,” Goble said. “There’s somebody fighting for them, too.” As a broker, Goble works one-on-one with clients. She sits down with them and goes through their doctors, prescriptions and health conditions to figure out what plan is best for them. She often advocates for her clients to make sure their medical care is covered. She will talk directly with doctors’ offices or claims departments if necessary to ensure her clients

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GLEN CARBON - During a recent dedication ceremony, Glen Carbon officials provided an update on the Orchard Town Center development. On June 3, 2025, community members came together to dedicate a greenspace near Dick’s Sporting Goods within Orchard Town Center. Glen Carbon Mayor Bob Marcus and representatives from developer The Staenberg Group said Phase One of the Orchard Town Center development was a success, and they have big plans for the future of the complex. “The activity is really picking up and we’re very close,” said Tim Lowe, The Staenberg Group’s Senior Vice President of Development. “It’s beautiful, with some good tenants. We’re also working to round out our parcels. We’re working with a national hamburger chain that everybody will know. We’re working with a national steakhouse. We want to round it out. What we’re doing is continuing to find the right tenants for Glen Carbon and the right tenants fo

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Junior Service Club of Edwardsville/Glen Carbon is thrilled to announce the return of its annual JSC Tour Golf Scramble, scheduled for Saturday, June 28, 2025, at The Legacy Golf Course in Granite City, Illinois. This highly anticipated event promises a day filled with camaraderie, competition, and community spirit, all in support of local philanthropic initiatives. Event Details: Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Cost : $500 per foursome Time: 8:00 AM CDT Location: The Legacy Golf Course, 3500 Cargill Dr, Granite City, IL 62040 Registration Includes: 18 holes of golf with cart Swag bag Three drink tickets per golfer Catered lunch Opportunities to participate in mulligans, skins games, silent auctions, 50/50 raffles, and a bourbon basket raffle Special Offers: Mulligans can be purchased for $25 providing four mulligans per team—one per team member. Skins games are available for $20 per team. Bourbon

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SPRINGFIELD - A team of medical providers from Southern Illinois University Center for Family Medicine and Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) accompanied SIU School of Medicine resident physicians and students on a mission trip to Costa Rica this past March. The group provided essential medical care to the residents of Isla de Chira, a community of about 3,000 with limited access to medical care. The team raised more than $4,000 to purchase medications and supplies for the trip, allowing them to treat 300+ adults and children during their four-day visit. “It is always an incredible experience to provide care in a resource-limited setting,” said Deedra McLain MD, medical director of SIU Medicine's Physician Assistant Program. “Relying on history and physical exams rather than advanced imaging and lab tests reminds us of the core principles of medicine.” This medical mission reflects SIU Medicine’s commitment to advancing health care and serving communities,

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MADISON COUNTY — Additional lane closures will begin Wednesday, June 4, at the intersection of Illinois 140 and Fosterburg Road in Madison County, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced. The closures, weather permitting, will affect both westbound and eastbound lanes as part of a $1.95 million project to add new turn lanes at the intersection. Westbound Illinois 140 will have the two inside lanes closed, leaving only one lane open for traffic. On eastbound Illinois 140, the inside lane will be closed, with three lanes remaining open. All traffic signals at the intersection will operate on a flashing red mode throughout the closure period. Drivers are instructed to treat the flashing red signals as stop signs and proceed only when it is safe, following standard four-way stop procedures. The project is expected to be completed by November. Motorists should anticipate delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes. The Illinois Department of Transportation advises

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GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon officials and representatives from The Staenberg Group came out to Orchard Town Center to dedicate a new greenspace and art showcase. On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, community members gathered at a greenspace area near Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Orchard Town Center complex in Glen Carbon for a dedication ceremony. The greenspace will be a spot for tenants and community members to utilize, and there are 15 pieces of art currently installed in the space to add to its vibrancy. “We want to be good community partners. We want to give back,” said Michael Staenberg with The Staenberg Group. Staenberg and Tim Lowe, The Staenberg Group’s Senior Vice President of Development, explained that they made the decision to build Orchard Town Center in Glen Carbon out of respect for the community. As they completed phase one of the project, many businesses and restaurants have been built, with plans to welcome more in the future. Staenberg is

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in a Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to review the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Department of Education (ED). During the hearing, Durbin questioned Secretary of Education Linda McMahon about how ED is supporting students defrauded by for-profit colleges. Durbin began by underscoring the harm done by for-profit colleges, reminding Secretary McMahon that while for-profit colleges enroll only eight percent of American college students, those students account for 30 percent of all student loan defaults. “The problem is the difficulty students face becomes a lifetime problem. Imagine a first-generation college student trying to pick a place to go to school, inundated in high school with glossy brochures from for-profit colleges and universities,

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for the State Pheasant Fund Special Funds and the Illinois Habitat Fund Special Funds Grant programs July 1 through Aug. 1, 2025. The pheasant habitat and wildlife habitat programs enhance the natural environment for pheasant and wildlife through projects developed by not-for-profit organizations and governmental entities for conservation. Funding for the State Pheasant Fund Special Funds and the Illinois Habitat Fund Special Wildlife Funds grants comes from the sale of habitat stamps to sportsmen and sportswomen. Applicants must register and be current in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act portal . Applications must be submitted online . For additional information, email susan.duke@illinois.gov . View additional state funding opportunities by visiting the Illinois Catalog of Financial Assistance online. About IDNR The Illinois Department of Natural Resources

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY — A 23-year-old St. Jacob woman died in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 255 southbound near Forest Boulevard in St. Clair County on Tuesday morning, June 3, 2025. The St. Clair County coroner confirmed the victim as Jacquelyn B. Rucker, 23, of St. Jacob. The Illinois State Police Troop 8 reported the incident occurred at approximately 5:31 a.m. June 3, when the vehicle left the roadway for unknown reasons, traveled north in the center median, and struck a bridge support. Rucker, the driver of the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have shut down the left lane of I-255 southbound at the crash site as the investigation continues. No additional details have been released at this time.

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SPRINGFIELD – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Illinois of the June 30 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by a tornado occurring July 15, 2024. The disaster declaration covers Illinois counties of Bureau, Henry, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark and Whiteside. Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises. EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable,

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JERSEYVILLE – A sex offender from Jerseyville faces a felony after failing to register with authorities. Nathan Walker Jr., 25, of Jerseyville, was charged on May 28, 2025 with a violation of the Sex Offender Registration Act, a Class 3 felony. On April 27, 2025, Walker allegedly failed to register with the Jersey County Sheriff’s Department within three days after establishing a residence in Jersey County, as legally required under the Child Sex Offender Registration Act. Jersey County court records indicate Walker has been granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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EAST ALTON – The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRRECsm) is hosting “Rooted in Wetlands: A Call to Action” at 8 a.m., Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at the Jerry F. Costello Confluence Field Station. This event is a collaborative, full-day experience organized by NGRREC as part of the annual River Days of Action and the NGRREC STREAM Series. NGRREC will join One Mississippi for a day of celebration and action, highlighting how individuals and communities can protect the Mississippi River. “Wetlands are not only essential for river health — they're a gateway to understanding how our everyday choices connect to larger ecosystems,” Environmental Educator Erica Doerr said. “This event is a chance for people to learn, connect, and take action, whether through art, science, community service, or getting their hands in the soil.” River Days of Action is a two-week initiative held each June, during which communities

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced victims of student lender Prehired LLC (Prehired) will start receiving long-delayed relief payments from a more than $30 million settlement Raoul announced in 2023 . As a result of advocacy by Raoul and a coalition of states, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is disbursing $4.2 million in restitution to borrowers who used predatory loans to cover the costs of enrollment in Prehired’s tech sales program in Illinois and other states. Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition including state attorneys general, issued a letter May 6, pressing the CFPB’s acting director for details related to relief payments. The letter detailed the 2023 court order requiring Prehired to pay $4.2 million to around 660 borrowers nationwide who were victims of Prehired’s illegal, deceptive and abusive practices. In the letter, Raoul and the coalition demanded explanations for continued delays that

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief on Friday supporting a challenge to the Trump administration’s ban on transgender military service. Raoul and the coalition filed their brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Shilling v. Trump, a lawsuit brought by current and aspiring service members who are transgender, including decorated U.S. Navy Commander Emily Shilling. Commander Shilling, who has served in the military for over 20 years and flown more than 60 combat missions, wants to continue serving the American public despite the president’s attempt to ban transgender military members from serving. “Transgender Americans have patriotically served the public through military service for years without issue, and this latest attempt to ban them from service is deeply discriminatory and misguided,” Raoul said. “I will continue to advocate for the fundamental rights of transgender individual

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