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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Todd Young (R-IN), Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) applauded Senate passage of their bipartisan legislation to provide Veterans with service-connected disabilities with expedited screening under the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck program. While TSA PreCheck is already offered to active duty, Reserves and National Guard servicemembers at no cost, the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act would expand this program to include Veterans who are amputees, paralyzed or blind who often experience challenges when passing through airport security. The bill passed the House of Representatives by unanimous consent earlier this month and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “Millions of Veterans have sacrificed a great deal in service to our nation and returned home with service-connected disabilities—for those of us who rely on prosthetic

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is monitoring a large event of waterfowl mortality at numerous locations throughout Illinois. Test results received so far indicate highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is the cause. The public is reminded to not handle or attempt to capture waterfowl or other wild birds displaying signs of illness. IDNR will continue to monitor for HPAI mortality events throughout the state during the seasonal bird migration. Members of the public are encouraged to report concentrations of five or more deceased birds found at one location to IDNR district wildlife biologists by going online. Due to risk of infection to other animals, dogs and other pets should be kept away from the carcasses of birds that may have died from HPAI. If carcasses need to be disposed of, IDNR recommends following guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). IDNR is unable to assist with carcass removal from non-IDNR properties i

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ALTON — Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford confirmed Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, that law enforcement officers gathered in significant numbers on Brown Street to execute an arrest warrant for an individual connected to a recent shooting. The operation was completed Monday morning. Chief Ford stated, "An individual was wanted for a recent shooting." He confirmed that the individual sought in the case is now in custody . Further details regarding the incident will be disclosed pending the filing of charges.

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EAST ST. LOUIS - Illinois State Police reported on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, that a 21-year-old woman was shot and killed in the 400 block of North Sixth Street on Sunday evening, Dec. 22, 2024. The gunshot victim was identified as Markela Howliet. Illinois State Police and East St. Louis Police both responded to the crime scene at 7:27 p.m., where the woman was pronounced dead. There have been no other details released about the shooting. ISP and East St. Louis Police continue to investigate the fatal shooting.

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MARYVILLE - A Madison County grand jury has indicted a Maryville resident on multiple child pornography charges after he requested and shared the disturbing material in online conversations. Thomas J. Angelo, 60, of Maryville, was charged with two counts of child pornography, one a Class X felony and the other a Class 2 felony. Angelo allegedly disseminated child pornography via the Kik application on July 5, 2024. Court documents describe the video file as depicting a female who was “clearly under the age of 13.” The Maryville Police Department received a cybertip through the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, according to a petition to deny Angelo’s pretrial release. Angelo reportedly engaged in online conversations with multiple individuals discussing, requesting, and sharing child pornography. “Following execution of search warrants to Kik, Verizon, and to the defendant's residence, evidence was discovered that he was engaging

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CARLINVILLE – The Carlinville Community will come together to host a Community Blood Drive on Wednesday, January 8, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, located at 201 West Main Street. This event is sponsored by the Carlinville Area Hospital Auxiliary in partnership with ImpactLife, a nonprofit organization that provides blood components to local hospitals. The blood drive aims to address the ongoing need for blood donations, which are critical for medical procedures and emergency care. Appointments for potential donors are encouraged and can be made by contacting ImpactLife Springfield at (800) 747-5401 or by visiting their website at www.bloodcenter.org and using the code 60045 to locate the drive. To be eligible to donate, individuals must be at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental permission) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo ID is required for donation, and those who last donated blood on or before November 13, 2024, are eligible to participate in thi

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GRANITE CITY - Earning a spot on Drury University's Dean's List is a significant accomplishment. The recognition means a student earned a grade point average of 3.6 or greater (on a 4-point scale) while carrying a full-time course load of 12 or more semester hours at Drury, a top Midwestern university, according to US News & World Report. In the fall semester, the following student made the evening school Dean's list: Alexandria Armenta, Granite City Senior HS Drury GO is a cutting-edge online learning platform developed by Drury University, designed to empower individuals with accessible and flexible educational opportunities. With a commitment to providing quality education in a digital format, Drury GO offers a diverse range of courses crafted by industry experts. This innovative platform caters to the evolving needs of learners, allowing them to pursue academic and professional goals on their own terms. Learn more: www.drury.edu/go .

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that the state’s overall respiratory illness level has moved up from Low to Moderate, meaning that Illinoisans face an increased chance of exposure to seasonal illnesses as families are gathering to celebrate the holidays. IDPH’s Seasonal Respiratory Illness Dashboard indicates that hospital admissions for COVID-19, flu and RSV all ticked up (as a percent of all hospital admissions) in the week ending Dec. 14, 2024. The percentage of emergency department visits due to respiratory illness also increased from 13.8% in the previous week to 14.7%. The state is also continuing to see a rise in ICU admissions due to RSV, driven by children 0-4 years old. “As expected, Illinois is experiencing an increase in seasonal respiratory illnesses as winter arrives,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “As we gather with our loved ones during the holiday season, please use all the tools

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ST. LOUIS, MO. – The United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) Charmaine Chapman Society’s (CCS) Divine 9 members raised over $320,000 through its Divine 9 Challenge, an initiative of UWGSL’s black philanthropy efforts. The challenge among CCS members from Black Fraternities and Sororities in the St. Louis Region provides a friendly fundraising competition. Each CCS member gives an annual donation of $1,000 or more to UWGSL that helps over 160 local nonprofits that United Way funds. “As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of CCS, we are so happy that our local Sororities and Fraternities came together through this fun and exciting Divine 9 Challenge that epitomizes what CCS has always been about – uplifting the community through collective giving,” said Michelle Tucker, President and CEO of United Way of Greater St. Louis. “This annual friendly competition is a testament of how passionate our CCS members are about giving, and that passion lead

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SPRINGFIELD – This holiday season, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, and more than 200 police and sheriff’s departments are joining forces for the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, reminding the public that law enforcement will focus not only on impaired drivers, but also seat belt violations, speeding, distracted driving and other traffic offenses. “The holidays should be a time for celebration and creating memories — not for grief and loss caused by preventable crashes,” said Stephane B. Seck-Birhame, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering. “Whether you're using alcohol, cannabis or any other impairing substance, the message is the same: If you drive impaired, you risk lives, including your own.” As holiday festivities fill calendars, it’s critical to plan for a sober ride home before celebrations begin. Law enforcement statewide reminds

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St . Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons and Accident Reconstruction detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash at North Hanley Road and St. Charles Rock Road that resulted in the death of an adult male. The deceased has been identified as Jordan Faulkner, 31 years of age, of the 7500 block of Mallard Drive in St. Louis, Missouri 63133. At 4:03 a.m., St. Louis County police officers from the Central County Precinct responded to a call for service for a vehicle crash at N. Hanley Road and St. Charles Rock Road. Officers located a male inside a vehicle that was on fire. Preliminary investigation revealed the vehicle was traveling in an unknown direction when it struck a pole and overturned. The vehicle then caught on fire. An adult female was able to exit the vehicle and was transported to an area hospital with non life threatening injuries. The adult male was extricated and transported to an area hospital for lifesaving

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ST. LOUIS – The City of St. Louis announced on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, that Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah is no longer serving as the Corrections Commissioner. The decision to separate her employment was effective immediately. “Today, Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah’s employment with the City of St. Louis was separated effective immediately,” said Conner Kerrigan, a spokesperson for the city. “Tammy Ross is currently acting as the Commissioner of Corrections.” Clemons-Abdullah had been on leave from her position since Sept. 19, 2024. She was appointed to the role by St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones approximately three years ago. The city did not provide any further details regarding the circumstances of her separation from the Corrections Commission.

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BELLEVILLE — Belleville Police have been investigating a large fight and shots fired incident that occurred on Dec. 13, 2024, in the first block of South 53rd Street over the past week. The altercation involved multiple individuals and vehicles, leading to the discharge of firearms from a black sedan. On Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, Belleville Police Detectives presented their findings to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office, which subsequently issued charges against 19-year-old Dominick W. Eads of Belleville. Eads faces one count of Armed Violence, a Class X Felony; one count of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, a Class 4 Felony; one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, a Class 4 Felony; and one count of Mob Action, a Class 4 Felony. Officers arrived at the scene at approximately 4:04 p.m. on Dec. 13, 2024, and found evidence of a physical altercation. According to witness statements, an argument between two females escalated into a broader fight, during

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ST. LOUIS – Multiple individuals were injured when a vehicle struck them Sunday evening, Dec. 22, 2024, outside the popular Ted Drewes custard stand in south St. Louis. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. in the parking lot near Chippewa Street, resulting in at least one critical injury among the victims, who ranged in age from 12 to the 70s. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, at least four people were hit by the vehicle. The 19-year-old driver returned to the scene and is currently being interviewed by detectives. Ted Drewes released a statement expressing sympathy for those injured and their families, stating, “Our hearts go out to those who were injured in the incident that occurred last night as well as their families. We look forward to the safety improvements to Chippewa, which the city plans to begin next month. Their quick actions prevented this sad incident from becoming much worse.” St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones also commented

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EAST SAINT LOUIS – State Representative Kevin Schmidt donated his pay raise for the month of December to Press Play x 2 Shinn, in the form of a food donation. Schmidt has donated every month’s pay raise to a different local food pantry or non-profit organization throughout his district since voting against the pay raise for legislators last year. “I’m passionate about fighting food insecurity,” said Schmidt. “When the legislature voted themselves a pay raise last year, I decided to give the amount of the raise each month to a local organization that’s trying to help feed the hungry. Our local food pantries and charities need our help, and I’m going to keep helping the people I represent.” Press Play x 2 Shinn Inc. was founded by Nancy Nixon of East St. Louis following the loss of two of her children. Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, she and a group of volunteers prepare the meals in her home kitchen and distribute hot

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JERSEY - Jersey Community High School's wrestling team secured a notable victory at the Chaminade Tournament, held recently, amassing a total of 194.5 points. The event showcased the skills of several athletes from the team, contributing to their overall success. Maddox Williams and Shea Herrera each earned first-place finishes in their respective weight classes, demonstrating exceptional performance throughout the competition. Additionally, Bodey Waltz, Nick Hartley, and Ethan Daniels achieved second-place finishes, while Hunter Hodge, Trevor Tucker, and Nick Woelfel claimed third. Jace Marshal rounded out the team's achievements with a fourth-place finish. The Jersey wrestlers are Sparklight Male Athletes of the Month. The tournament not only highlighted the individual talents of the wrestlers but also underscored the strength of the Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100's wrestling program. Jersey's success at Chaminade reflects the team's hard work and dedication in

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CHICAGO – The Mega Millions jackpot has surged to an incredible $944 million for tomorrow night’s drawing, which means Illinois Lottery players have a chance to win big on Christmas Eve. If won, this jackpot would rank as the seventh-largest in Mega Millions history. So far this year, three players have won Mega Millions jackpots this year: In March a player in New Jersey won a life-changing $1.128 billion; In June, an Illinois Lottery player won $552 million playing Mega Millions on the Illinois Lottery mobile app – the largest prize ever won by an online lottery player in the U.S.; And the most recent Mega Millions jackpot won was in September when a player in Texas walked away with a staggering $810 million. With over 7,000 Illinois Lottery retailers across the State, Illinois Lottery players can conveniently pick up a ticket at their local store - or they can log on to the Illinois Lottery website or app and purchase a ticket online. Mega Millions

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ALTON — A car fire at approximately 12:32 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, drew a quick response from the Alton Fire Department. The incident occurred at the intersection of Homer Adams Parkway and Alton Square Mall Drive. Alton Police reported that the situation did not involve any criminal elements, and there were no injuries associated with the fire. The Alton Fire Department was the primary agency handling the incident and had the car fire extinguished quickly and the road was also cleared in quick fashion after the incident.

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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) fisheries biologists are collecting live Christmas trees to be used as fish habitat in local lakes after the holidays. The collected trees will be bundled together, weighted, and submerged at lakes, providing critical habitat for multiple fish species and promoting algae growth for insects that attract fish for anglers. The trees will naturally decompose over time. Maps and coordinates of the tree habitat locations are available online or from each lake’s biologist. Visit the IDNR Office of Fisheries website for drop-off location information and instructions. Trees should be placed only in the designated area for each site and only during the designated drop-off dates. Trees must be free of stands, lights, ornaments, and tinsel. Wreaths and garlands will not be accepted. Drop-off locations and dates include the following: Clinton County Carlyle Lake Dam East boat ramp Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 Place trees

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ALTON - Once again, Vintage Voices has surpassed previous attendance records with 671 guests in 2024, a testament to its ever-increasing community support and growing popularity. “We are very grateful for the community’s support of this October tradition”, said committee chair Jody Basola. “The unique experience of costumed actors portraying historical characters in the picturesque Alton Cemetery allows guests to connect with and appreciate the rich contributions of these figures to the community's history.” In addition to preserving our history, Vintage Voices is making a positive impact by giving back to the community. This year $4,000 was presented to local organizations. Organizations receiving donations include Alton Cemetery, Boys and Girls Club of Alton, Crisis Food Center, Hayner Genealogy & Local History Library, Oasis Women’s Center, Overnight Warming Locations, Riverbend Head Start & Family Services, The Salvation Army, Wreaths Across

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