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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today introduced the bicameral “Wear Orange” Resolution, which designates June 6, 2025, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the entire month of June as National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Each year, nearly 43,000 people in the United States are killed, and 97,000 injured by gun violence. June 2 is the birthday of Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed in a Chicago park in 2013, just days after performing in the parade for President Obama’s second inauguration. This tragic event moved the lawmakers to designate the first Friday in June as a time to recognize Hadiya nationally. In Hadiya’s memory, the resolution encourages people to wear orange, the color hunters wear for safety, to promote awareness of gun violence, and to serve as a reminde

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SPRINGFIELD — Last week, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) toured First to the Finish, a sporting apparel store in Edwardsville, Ill., and Martinelli’s Market, Bakery and Deli in Champaign, Ill., to highlight the impact of President Trump’s tariffs on small businesses. “President Trump campaigned on lowering costs, protecting American industry, and bringing home good-paying jobs. However, imposing sweeping tariffs on our closest trading partners is not the way to get there. Instead, this approach has saddled folks with rising prices and deep uncertainty about their futures,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “Last week, I spoke directly with the owners of First to the Finish and Martinelli’s Market, to hear their concerns about running a business in this volatile economy. I assured them that I’ll keep fighting to put their needs first, hold the President accountable, and work to bring down costs for working families.” Congresswoman

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BRIGHTON - Following are the High Honor Roll and Honor Roll lists for Southwestern High School’s second semester of the 2024-2025 academic year: HIGH HONOR ROLL Senior Class of 2025 High Honor Roll List for Semester 2 Cadence Ater, Ike Austin, Lainie Behrends, Reagan Beilsmith, Ian Brantley, Logan Custer, Gracie Darr, Madison Fenstermaker, Kyle Foss, Hailey Gula, Ashlyn Hall, Alexis Harrop, Addison Jeffers, Ella Kadell, Kori Laubscher, Ryan Lowis, Nicholas McGee, Ava Pulley, Nicholas Ragsdale, Anneliese Shatley Junior Class of 2026 High Honor Roll List for Semester 2 Gage Alexander, Ava Ballard, Bram Beuttel, Levi Brantley, Taylor Cairns, Alivia Cecchini, Lucy Childress, Madelyn Egelhoff, Madelyn Gordon, Josie Hagen, Wyatt Lahr, Miranda Lenger, 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 2 Briann Anderson, Jaden Basnett,

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EAST ST. LOUIS — After 25 years of dedicated service, Larry Sorrell is retiring from East St. Louis School District 189, where he has been recognized as a passionate and inspiring teacher. Sorrell’s career, spanning a quarter-century, has been marked by his commitment to student success and his genuine care for each learner. Known for sparking curiosity and guiding students with patience, Larry has empowered countless individuals through knowledge and encouragement. “Sorrell has been a pillar of excellence in the classroom,” the district said in a statement celebrating his retirement. “He has left an unforgettable mark on our schools and in the hearts of all who had the privilege to learn from him.” East St. Louis School District 189 expressed gratitude for Sorrell’s wisdom and mentorship, noting his role in shaping the future one student at a time. The district wished him well as he begins his retirement.

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JERSEYVILLE – Jersey Community High School recently released their Honor Roll and High Honor Roll lists for grades 8-12 for the second semester of the 2024-2025 school year. HIGH HONOR ROLL Seniors Baro, Jayce C. Bellet, Jacob R. Benedict, Katreona G. Benz, Abbigail M. Bockstruck, Charlie L. Bolds, Jordan M. Brunaugh, Jaxon J. Burney, Ava L. Carey, Gage V. Carter, Halie M. Coffman, Adam R. Dahn, Noah L. Dean, Jacob D. Deist, Bradley M. Derrick, Corah M. Dougherty, Meredith J. Eads, Jaren A. Finkes, Peyton R. Finkes, Talan W. Goetten, Dax J. Hansen, Angela C. Hardwick, Aiden W. Heineman, Hailey M. Herrera, Timothy S. Hileman, Jovee E. Hudson, Kate M. Huitt, Logan M. Hutchens, Reese M. Johnson, Camryn A. Johnson, Tyler J. Jones, Jayden L. Kelly, Addison G. Kiel, Joseph C. Koenig, Hunter A. Kuebrich, Alexis M. Laird, Ellie M. Lamparter, Olivia R. Leslie, Arianne R. Lorton, Reese A. Maag, Matthew J. Marmino, Hayleigh M. Marshall,

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JERSEYVILLE – The car show coming to Liberty Village of Jerseyville is on hold for a week as unfavorable weather conditions are expected. Originally set for this Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the car show has now been rescheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025. The time of the event will remain the same, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and will feature a variety of classic rides proudly on display from members of the Jersey County Street Machine Association and White Hall Drag-O-Way. Liberty Village of Jerseyville made the announcement on Monday morning. “Being so close to Father’s Day, we will be honoring the fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers as well as all the other residents at Liberty Village,” they stated. “We hope everyone can adjust their schedules and join us for this event.” Stay tuned to Riverbender.com for the latest updates and more car show coverage soon to come.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is joining Illinoisans in celebrating 2025 Pride Month throughout the month of June by showcasing programs and services that improve the health and wellness of the state’s diverse LGBTQIA+ community. A highlight of the 2025 Pride Month in Illinois is Chicago’s Pride Parade on June 29. IDPH will be hosting a contingent marching in the parade, which this year features the theme “United in Pride.” More information on Pride festivals around across the state can be found at Pride Festivals in Illinois | Enjoy Illinois . “During Pride Month, IDPH is extremely proud to join the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies across Illinois in celebrating the strength we gain through unity and common purpose,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “A mainstay of the health of our society is the ability of every resident to be their true and authentic selves. We recognize this at IDPH,

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CASEYVILLE/EDWARDSVILLE - A local organization will host the National Beep Baseball Association World Series for blind and visually-impaired baseball players. MindsEye Radio, an organization that works with blind and visually-impaired community members in the St. Louis area, will sponsor the world series from July 20–25, 2025, at Glen-Ed West Soccer Complex in Edwardsville and Reiniger Memorial Soccer Park in Caseyville. Beep baseball players from across the country will travel to the region to compete. “What we do at MindsEye, we translate vision to audio to build a more inclusive community for those in the blind or visually-impaired community,” explained President Jason Frazier. “It’s called beepball because the ball actually beeps. I was just fascinated by all the aspects of this sport… all these things are so visual. And here’s a sport, America’s pastime, that is played without the use of vision at a very high level.”

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is lifting the temporary suspension on the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets and auction markets. The suspension was initially issued in February in response to the ongoing threat of H5N1 avian flu and continued through today. “We have closely monitored the threat posed by avian flu and have taken appropriate measures to ensure biosecurity for the safety of both the public and the poultry industry,” said Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA State Veterinarian. “Should the situation change, we will re-evaluate, but for now, we feel it is safe to resume poultry exhibition and sales.” Avian flu is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds (especially waterfowl). Avian flu virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to chickens, and can spread rapidly from

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul applauded the Illinois General Assembly’s passage of legislation that would require all local law enforcement agencies in Illinois to participate in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) eTrace platform, which allows law enforcement to submit firearm tracing information for crime guns to the ATF National Tracing Center. House Bill (HB)1373 passed the Illinois House of Representatives April 8 and then passed the Illinois Senate today with bipartisan support. Illinois Rep. Curtis Tarver and Sen. Bill Cunningham sponsored the legislation, which now goes to the governor’s desk for final approval. “I appreciate the General Assembly passing this legislation to ensure all Illinois counties’ law enforcement agencies participate in the ATF’s data-sharing platform, which is critical to identifying violent gun patterns and keeping our communities safe,” Raoul said. “Advocating

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SPRINGFIELD – Several Illinois elected officials have released the following statements in response to the recent passage of the state budget for Fiscal Year 2026. Davidsmeyer Blasts IL Democrats’ ‘Tax, Spend, Repeat’ Budget Assistant Republican Leader C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) blasted the Democratic majority’s “Tax, Spend, Repeat” Budget: “The Democrats’ wasteful spending plan is full of pork projects and pay raises for politicians, while Illinois families are slammed with new taxes that will make their cost of living even higher,” Rep. Davidsmeyer said. “$250 million in pork projects for Democratic legislators, paid for $1 billion in new taxes on Illinois families and businesses. It’s the same disgraceful playbook they’ve used for years. “Not only are there nearly $250 million in pork projects buried in the budget, but there’s also a $100 million slush fund for the Governor. Taxpayers

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today applauded the Illinois General Assembly’s approval of 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 (IL 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 made up of 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.

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SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement following the passage of the Prescription Drug Affordability Act (HB 1697): “Predatory pharmacy benefit managers have been the middlemen whose business practices too often jack up prescription drug prices and shut down small, independent pharmacies that are frequently rural communities’ lone options when people are seeking medications they need. I’m grateful for the General Assembly’s broad bipartisan partnership with me to require pharmacy benefit managers to become responsible actors and lower prescription drug prices. “For far too long, pharmacy benefit managers’ business practices have operated with little regulation, transparency, and accountability. Illinois is putting an end to that. We will lead the nation in bringing transparency to PBM drug pricing. This bill grants the state full access to their books and records so we can follow the money and prevent exploitation

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SPRINGFIELD - State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) wants to see Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILA) up to par with other facilities in the state. Rep. Schmidt filed House Bill 57 to include CILAs to the Essential Support Person Act, passed in 2023. Rep Schimdt said the purpose of his bill is to ensure residents in CILAs have the same visitation rights for essential support persons as other facilities. “My bill aligns CILAs with state run facilities and it breaks a barrier that has excluded certain community-integrated living arrangements from visitation rights,” said Schmidt. “This change was needed and I’m happy to see HB57 pass through the General Assembly.” Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) is a living arrangement for adults in a group home, family home or apartment where eight or fewer unrelated adults with developmental disabilities live under supervision of the community developmental services agency. Residents

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CHARLESTON - Clayton Lakatos concluded his track and field career with notable performances on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the sectional finals meet, showcasing his sprinting talents in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and the 4x100 relay for Edwardsville High School. Lakatos secured third place in the 100-meter dash with a personal record time of 10.51 seconds. In the 200 meters, he finished sixth, clocking in at 21.65 seconds, slightly off his personal best of 21.32 seconds set earlier on May 14, 2025, at the Southwestern Conference Meet. Additionally, Lakatos was an integral part of Edwardsville’s 4x100 relay team, which placed second with a time of 41.10 seconds. Running the third leg, he was joined by teammates Darren Wilson, Cincere Ruffin, and Zach Lane. A key contributor to the Tigers’ sprint relay teams in recent years, Lakatos has been recognized for his versatility and speed. He has competed in multiple events, including the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter

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SPRINGFIELD - Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement following the passage of the Public University Direct Admission Program Act (HB3522): “Every year, high school students and their families across Illinois navigate a complex college admissions process, often facing the burden of paying multiple application fees along the way. With the General Assembly’s bipartisan passage of the Public University Direct Admission Program Act, we’re offering a more streamlined and affordable path to a postsecondary institution in Illinois. “This bill creates a one-stop shop for students, allowing eligible high schoolers to receive direct admission to public universities based on their academic performance. It’s a commonsense solution that reflects our commitment to breaking down barriers and expanding opportunity to higher education. “Education is the foundation of a thriving future, and the passage of this bill reflects our resolve to use every

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GRANITE CITY — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s appearance in Pennsylvania, where he touted the merger between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel. “Today, President Trump took a victory lap, claiming he single-handedly saved American steel – but he failed to mention Illinois, failed to mention Granite City Works, and failed to consult the hundreds of workers who built this industry as a bedrock of our community. “While the details of this ‘deal’ remain murky, any agreement struck between President Trump and Nippon is unenforceable unless steelworkers are at the table. The current collective bargaining agreement requires robust investment to keep Granite City competitive worldwide. Given that the current proposal fails to meet those standards, it simply cannot move forward. “Granite City deserves more than broken promises and publicity stunts. I’m fighting to

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois General Assembly passed the $55.1 billion state FY26 budget that will deliver for working families, demonstrating strong fiscal discipline and responsible governance, Gov. J.B. Pritzker says. This is the Governor’s seventh consecutive balanced budget that continues to get the state’s finances back on track while investing in economic development, education, and healthcare without raising taxes on working families. “The passage of the FY26 balanced budget is a testament to Illinois’ fiscal responsibility,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “Even in the face of Trump and Congressional Republicans stalling the national economy, our state budget delivers for working families without raising their taxes while protecting the progress we are making for our long-term fiscal health. I’m grateful to Speaker Welch, President Harmon, the budget teams, and all the legislators and stakeholders who collaborated to shape and

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Democrats have passed a whopping $55.2 billion budget, adding $2 billion more than last year. Since Governor Pritzker took office, spending has increased by 38%. State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) issued the following statement after the budget vote. “This massive budget does not reflect the needs of Illinois citizens. Bad public policy has cost the state billions,” said Rep. Schmidt. “I’m disappointed to see Democrats tap into the pockets of working families to accommodate their appetite for spending on pork projects in Democratic districts.” The FY 26 budget includes another $1 billion in taxes on Illinois’ working families and job creators. Illinois Democrats have turned over unprecedented authority to Governor Pritzker in order to make spending decisions in this budget. This near-record spending budget continues the downward tax-and-spend spiral that has caused disastrous financial results for the

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ALTON - Community members can purchase a brick to be dedicated at James Killion Park. The James Killion Beautification and Enhancement Committee is sponsoring a brick campaign to install personalized bricks around the bandshell at James Killion Park in Alton. For $200, you and your family or business can have a 12 by 12 concrete brick in the park. “The brick campaign came to be to have people in our community have ownership of what’s going on at Killion Park,” said Lee Barham, Brick Campaign Chair. “It’s also a way to enlighten people about what’s going on at Killion Park. We’ve got a new bathroom. We’ve got an amphitheater. It’s just the growth. That’s the first park people see coming and going from Alton.” Barham explained that the campaign aims to beautify the park while inspiring people to learn about its namesake, James Killion. The new amphitheater was recently dedicated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony

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