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During the past year, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine has been quietly refining its latest innovation in medical education: a virtual patient simulation that uses artificial intelligence (AI). The virtual patient uses AI to help students hone their communication and interpersonal skills in a safe online environment. The program pairs sophisticated rendering technology with real human case studies. Dr. Richard Selinfreund, associate professor at SIU, spearheaded the project in response to student feedback about outdated virtual training software. He enlisted the help of the medical students, faculty and SIU’s Digital Humanities Lab in Carbondale, led by Professor Pinckney Benedict. Together, the team created Randy Rhodes, a computerized patient capable of realistic, ever-changing interactions. The patient can simulate various health conditions, personalities and challenging scenarios, which the students navigate through dialogue. As a learner progresses through

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Discover an exciting array of events happening in the area, showcasing everything from live music performances to community celebrations, offering something for everyone to enjoy. For a full listing of events, be sure to visit RiverBender Events . If you want to make sure even more of the region is aware of your event email cj@riverbender.com and explore our range of Event Promotion Services! Featured Join the American Red Cross and the NFL for a life-saving opportunity at the Red Cross and NFL Blood Drive hosted at Delhi Baptist Church on January 24, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Delhi Baptist Church, 18151 Church Lane, Jerseyville, IL. This event invites football fans and donors to contribute during National Blood Donor Month and enter for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Blood is a perishable resource, and your donation could provide someone with a second chance at life. Kick off the new year with community spirit at the Monthly Bloc

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ALTON – Illinois State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) is collecting “Valentines for Veterans” again for the fifth year in a row at her district office in Alton. Representative Elik is encouraging students and residents to make valentine cards with a special thank you, including well-wishes to veterans who served our nation in the U.S. Armed Forces. “I’ve enjoyed seeing the community come together every year to make valentines for veterans,” said Elik. “It’s a way we can show our appreciation and gratitude for their service to our nation. The smiles and joy on the faces of these veterans when I deliver your valentines is unparalleled. Each year, I’m so appreciative of the support from our community to make this program successful.” All ages are invited to create a valentine’s card or drawing. Cards should be delivered to Rep. Elik’s office, located at 192 Alton Square Mall Dr., Suite C in Alton by February

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement on Stellantis and United Auto Workers’ (UAW) announcement that Stellantis will invest in upgrading its U.S. auto plants across the country, including investing $1.2 billion in the Belvidere Assembly plant in Illinois. As a result of the investment, approximately 1,500 jobs will come back to the Belvidere Assembly plant, which was also selected to build Stellantis’ next mid-size truck: “Stellantis’ investment in auto plants across the country, especially at Belvidere Assembly plant, is welcome news. And with the support of UAW, our nation’s auto industry is moving toward developing a more sustainable, cleaner future for transportation. “We are encouraged that Stellantis understands that, tapping Belvidere to build the company’s next mid-size pickup truck. This $1.2 billion investment in Belvidere

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a nationally recognized university that educates and develops professional and community leaders through its excellent faculty and programs. Undergraduates who meet high academic standards are included in a Dean's List issued each semester. To be eligible for the Dean's List, a student must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or better and have 12 hours calculated (B is equivalent to 3.0; A to 4.0). The Dean's List may be viewed on the SIUE News Dean's List website . To filter and organize students in your area, click the dropdown list to sort by state, and then sort through the table by municipality. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high-quality education that powerfully transforms the lives of all individuals who seek something greater. A premier metropolitan university, SIUE is creating social and economic mobility for individuals while also powering the workforce of the future.

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BRIGHTON - The following are the High Honor Roll and Honor Roll lists for Southwestern High School’s 1st semester of the 2024-2025 academic year: HIGH HONOR ROLL Senior Class of 2025 High Honor Roll List for Semester 1 Cadence Ater, Ike Austin, Lainie Behrends, Regan Beilsmith, Ian Brantley, Gracie Darr, Madison Fenstermaker, Hailey Gula, Alexis Harrop, Addison Jeffers, Kori Laubscher, Ryan Lowis, Nicholas McGee, Ava Pulley, Anneliese Shatley, Haleigh Sinclair, Sydney Valdes, Piper Voorhees, Danni Wehmeyer Junior Class of 2026 High Honor Roll List for Semester 1 Gage Alexander, Ava Ballard, Bram Beuttel, Taylor Cairns, Lucy Childress, Madelyn Egelhoff, Madelyn Gordon, Wyatt Lahr, Kinley Lucas, Christian Ruyle, Olivia Schneider, Alyssa Schuchman, Dalton Scott, Isabella Snyder, Amelia Walden, Vivian Zurheide Sophomore Class of 2027 High Honor Roll List for Semester 1 Briann Anderson, Jaden Basnett, Reed Campbell, Nathaniel Clendenen, Madalyn Dugan, Caden Ely, Raylee

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed Monday, January 20, 2025, through Sunday, January 26, 2025, as Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Week in Illinois. CRR is a data-driven process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed by the integrated and strategic investment of resources (emergency response and prevention) to reduce their occurrence and impact. “Illinois continues to be a leader in CRR thanks to the amazing work being done by fire departments across the state and our CRR taskforce,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. “The OSFM is committed to funding and supporting CRR work across the state, and we plan to continue to help build these programs which in the end will lead to safer communities across the state. I encourage communities of all sizes to learn about and engage in the CRR process, it can start with something small which can build into bigger programs in the future.” According to crrweek.org, every 23 seconds

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would help accelerate the production and development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to allow further growth for alternative fuels to be used in the aviation sector and create new markets for American farmers. The bipartisan Farm to Fly Act would utilize current USDA programs to support the development of SAF, clarify federal definitions for SAF and enable greater collaboration between USDA and the private sector. Last September, Duckworth, Moran and Klobuchar—along with U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR)— launched the first-ever, bipartisan Sustainable Aviation Caucus to promote the longevity of the aviation and renewable fuels industries. “One of the most important things we can do to make American

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)—along with 38 of their Senate Democratic colleagues—in introducing legislation to grant Washington, D.C. statehood following U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton’s (D-DC-At Large) introduction of the bill in House. The bills are numbered S. 51 and H.R. 51, respectively, highlighting the lawmakers’ effort to admit Washington, D.C. into the Union as its 51st state. “Over 700,000 Americans who live in D.C.—including over 21,000 Veterans—are currently being denied full voting representation in both chambers of Congress despite the fact that they pay federal taxes,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to join Senator Van Hollen, Senator Durbin and my colleagues in introducing this bill that would help right this injustice by providing D.C. residents with the same democratic representation

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has launched a new dashboard detailing information about all violent deaths and firearm-related injuries in the state. The new dashboard is presented in two parts: Illinois Firearm Injury Rates and Illinois Violent Deaths . It is intended to provide detailed information at the county level about these incidents, including the types of incidents (e.g., homicide, suicide, etc.), weapon type and where victims reside, broken down by county. The goal of the dashboard is to inform data-driven prevention and intervention efforts to reduce violent deaths and firearm injuries in Illinois. “Firearm violence is a public health crisis that requires public health solutions,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Modernizing how we gather and use data is critical to finding holistic solutions that address firearm violence in a comprehensive way. IDPH is proud to partner with the Joyce Foundation and Understory to

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed the bipartisan Dignity in Pay Act (HB793) into law alongside bill sponsors Representative Theresa Mah and Senator Cristina Castro. The Dignity in Pay Act primarily implements a plan to phase out 14(c) subminimum wage authorizations in Illinois, joining 18 other states in doing so. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) and the Illinois Department of Labor will lead the 5-year process—eliminating subminimum wage for people with disabilities by December 31, 2029. “Illinois is closing an era of an outdated two-tier wage system that let disabled workers make less money for their hard work,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The strength of the Dignity in Pay Act is that it not only sunsets an unfair wage policy, it puts an unprecedented emphasis on expanding employment opportunities for people across the spectrum of disability—strengthening rates, programs,

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Trump fulfills promise and pardons Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht's life sentence. (Ulbricht family; Official White House Photo) President Donald Trump, fulfilling a promise made at the Libertarian Party's National Convention in May, pardoned Ross Ulbricht today. Ulbricht had been serving a life sentence for his role in founding and operating the dark web marketplace Silk Road . As Trump put it in a Truth Social post: "in honor of , and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, it was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross." He said "the scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in the modern-day weaponization of government against me." As I reported on his sentencing in May 2015 (he has been in prison since his October 2013 arrest): Ross Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison with no parole…by Judge Katherine Forrest in U.S. District Court

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ST. LOUIS - This week, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, and Alderwoman Pamela Boyd, along with support from Greater St. Louis, Inc., announced an agreement for the investment of funds from the Rams settlement. Through a series of amendments, the new TRANSFORM ACT combines components of Board Bill 153, sponsored by Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, and Board Bill 131, sponsored by Alderwoman Pamela Boyd, representing weeks of negotiations between the bill sponsors, the business community, and the Mayor’s Office. “The changes being introduced to this bill are a reflection of governing at its best,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “I want to thank Alderwoman Sonnier, Alderwoman Boyd, Greater St. Louis, Inc., and my own staff for working diligently to make this compromise happen.” “It has been an honor to work with Mayor Jones, Alderwoman Boyd, and the business sector to create legislation providing such a historic example of collaboration

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ST. LOUIS - Mayor Tishaura Jones will be in Jefferson City, Mo., on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, to testify against SB44 (Fitzwater), SB52 (Schroer) and HB495 (Christ), bills that would allow for state takeover of the SLMPD. You can find a copy of her testimony attached, and a few highlights below. Under state control, in 2006, St. Louis was the so-called most dangerous city in the country and ranked second most dangerous on the eve of the switch to local control in 2013 . Right now, St. Louis is no longer considered to be one of the top 10 most dangerous cities. Kansas City, the only remaining law enforcement agency under state control, has not matched St. Louis City’s success in crime reduction. In 2023, while our city saw a more than 20 percent decrease in homicides , Kansas City experienced a record high . In 2024 alone, more than $330 million in new, private investment in Downtown was announced. After 151 years of state control, advocates of local control

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BELLEVILLE – Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd. is pleased to announce that Patrick B. Mathis and Laura E. Schrick have been named 2025 Illinois Super Lawyers and Allyson T. Schwab has been named a Rising Star. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, releases a new list every year with the names of the top attorneys in each state according to their professional achievements and peer recognition among other distinguishing criteria. Their knowledge of the law, professional work ethic, and advocacy on behalf of their clients allow them to stand out among other attorneys in the field. The Super Lawyers list recognizes the top 5% of attorneys in each state. Pat was originally selected as a Super Lawyer in 2005 and has been named every year since then. Super Lawyers recognizes him as a top-rated tax attorney for his experience and skills in dealing with tax controversies, business tax issues, including tax audits, appeals and Tax Court litigation, and estate planning. Laura wa

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COLLINSVILLE - Louer Facility Planning, Inc., a leading provider of commercial interior design and furniture solutions in the St. Louis Metro East region, proudly announces the completion of its ownership transition. Yvette Paris, President, has successfully finalized the buyout of the business from its founder, Jane Louer, marking a significant milestone for the well-established firm. Founded in January 1996 by Jane Louer in Edwardsville, Louer Facility Planning has spent nearly three decades creating thoughtful, high-quality commercial interiors for corporate, financial, government, education, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations. Paris, who joined the firm as an entry-level interior designer in 2006 after graduating from San Diego State University, became President in 2023. The company moved its headquarters to Collinsville, in January 2008, where its showroom in the Eastport area continues to evolve, showcasing adaptable design solutions that respond to changing workplace and

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It’s nothing new. But in today’s digital age it’s something young people may be exposed to more. We’re talking about sniffing products like paint, markers or nail polish for a temporary high. You might hear it called huffing, chroming or, in the medical community, inhalant abuse. Health care providers like Justin Rapoff, DO, an emergency medicine physician who sees patients at OSF HealthCare, are again reminding parents about the serious health impacts of this activity and what to do if your child shows symptoms. It’s especially important for kids to steer clear, he says, because their organs are still developing. An interruption to that development could mean trouble. Young people can also be more susceptible to peer pressure, giving in when other kids tell them to try something. “Inhalant abuse is common because these are things that are easily found in your house," Dr. Rapoff adds. “They’re underneath your kitchen sink and in your

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BELLEVILLE - Steve Johnson, a prominent figure in law enforcement and community service, will be inducted into the Belleville East Hall of Fame during halftime of the Althoff Catholic at Belleville East basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. The event will celebrate Johnson’s extensive contributions to public safety and his enduring ties to the Belleville community. Throughout his career, Johnson has held various positions, including police chief in Swansea and currently in Fairview Heights. His leadership in law enforcement has garnered considerable recognition. He eventually had an invitation to join the 21st Century Policing Panel at the White House under President Barrack Obama. Born in St. Louis and raised in Belleville, Johnson has dedicated over 35 years to law enforcement. He began his career as a deputy service aide at the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office while pursuing his education. Johnson holds an associate’s degree in administration of justice from Southwestern

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ALTON - During their regular meeting on Jan. 21, 2025, the Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education recognized the January Optimist Students of the Month. Henry Gabriel was recognized as the Optimist Student of the Month at Alton Middle School, and Kenlee Harrington was named the Optimist Student of the Month for Eunice Smith Elementary School. Dr. Brian Saenz, principal of Alton Middle School, introduced Gabriel as “a good role model for all students.” He is a “natural leader” who excels in class with a positive attitude. “He is kind to staff and his peers and is not only a great leader, but also a fantastic role model for other students,” Saenz said. “Henry is a bright, intelligent, funny and kind young man who is going to do great things in the future.” Gabriel is a member of the National Honor Society, the volleyball team and the yearbook club. Optimist Students of the Month receive a $25 gift card and

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When it comes to ambulances and the services they provide, Lisa Reid , APRN, knows a thing or two because she’s seen a thing or two. The family medicine provider at OSF HealthCare was an ambulance first responder for more than 15 years before moving to the nursing side of things. As such, she’s heard a lot of “Should I do this or that?” when calling an ambulance. Now, it’s time to clear up the misconceptions. Who’s coming to get me? Should I be concerned about their qualifications? Reid says different first responders can do different things, but you can be assured you’ll get the care you need. “Paramedics have more training in life-saving skills. They can do things like intubation and give intravenous medications," Reid explains. "Emergency medical technicians provide more basic care. They help stabilize the person and get them ready for transport. They also usually drive.” Where should I wait? Reid says if you’re

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