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VENICE, Ill. – A local woman faces multiple criminal charges after carrying a loaded firearm in a car with no registration, driving on a suspended license, and more. Queen A. J. Walker, 27, of St. Louis, was charged on July 9, 2025 with a Class 4 felony count of aggravated unlawful use of a loaded weapon, Class A misdemeanor counts of driving on a suspended license and offenses relating to possession of titles and registration, as well as a petty offense of unlawfully operating a vehicle without valid registration. Walker allegedly carried a SCCY 9mm pistol in a vehicle which was uncased, loaded, and immediately accessible. She had no valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card at the time of the offense. Walker also reportedly drove a white Ford Fusion on Illinois Route 3 and Broadway in Venice while her driver’s license was suspended. She is additionally accused of attaching a Missouri license plate to the car which was not authorized for use on the vehicle,

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EAST ST. LOUIS — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois, along with law enforcement agencies and community partners, will host a National Night Out event aimed at strengthening relationships between residents and police. The free event is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 8206 State St. in East St. Louis. It will feature activities for attendees of all ages, including competitive games, police demonstrations, and a live DJ. Community partners will also distribute school supplies to students and provide food for families. The event is open to all East St. Louis residents. Organizations involved in hosting the event include Ameren Illinois, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Catholic Urban Programs, the City of East St. Louis, Community Development Sustainable Solutions, Community Life Line, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the East St. Louis Police Department, the FBI Springfield Field

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ST. LOUIS — A 31-year-old detainee died Saturday night, July 19, 2025, following an altercation at the City Justice Center, prompting an investigation by St. Louis police and statements from city officials emphasizing accountability and jail reform. Samuel Hayes Jr. was involved in a fight with another detainee in a shared cell around 8:20 p.m., according to St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Mitch McCoy. After the confrontation, Hayes reportedly did not comply with jail staff directives and was placed in a restraint chair. He was found unresponsive at approximately 10 p.m. and was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Justice Center notified police of the in-custody death at 11:35 p.m. Saturday. The Force Investigation Unit of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, who was informed of Hayes’ death Sunday, expressed condolences

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MADISON, Wis. - A total of 9,424 students received degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison on May 9-10, including students from your area. Here are the degree recipients from your area: Edwardsville, IL Jordyn Ginestra, College of Letters and Science, Bachelor of Arts, English and Zoology Glen Carbon, IL Madison Lein, College of Letters and Science, Bachelor of Science, Biology There were two live Spring 2025 Commencement ceremonies, one for undergraduates at Camp Randall and one for all graduate degree candidates at the Kohl Center. Keynote speaker and celebrated sports columnist Jason Gay encouraged the graduates to embrace joy in their lives. "Spend your time with people who give you happiness. Stay as open to new experiences as you are today," Gay said. "Find satisfaction in small routines - the place where you live, community service, time outside in the natural world." Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin reminded graduates that an essential part of their UW-Madison

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EAST ALTON - Airline Care Clinic is offering affordable back-to-school and sports physicals. Nurse practitioner Elizabeth “Betsy” Dykeman understands that summer is a busy time, and the back-to-school season can get expensive as families purchase school supplies and clothing for their kids. That’s why she is offering $40 physicals to fulfill the back-to-school and sports requirements so kids can return to the classroom healthy and ready to learn. “It makes me really happy to do it,” Dykeman said. From July until September, Dykeman will offer special $40 back-to-school and sports physicals. You can bring the necessary paperwork to Airline Care Clinic, or the clinic can provide the paperwork you need to fulfill the back-to-school and sports requirements. Airline Care Clinic currently accepts Medicaid, Medicare and cash. Dykeman noted that most urgent cares or other clinics charge between $65–100 for these physicals. Her goal is to provide

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Did you know that the average American couple spends over $200 on a single date night? While memorable experiences are priceless, the pressure to splurge can turn a romantic evening into a stressful financial burden. But what if the best date nights didn’t require breaking the bank? Planning a budget-friendly summer date night is not only possible—it can be just as magical, if not more so, than an extravagant outing. Rethinking the Value of a Date Night A date night is often seen as an opportunity to impress, leading many to assume that expensive dinners, fancy venues, or elaborate activities are necessary. However, the essence of a successful date night lies in connection, creativity, and shared enjoyment rather than cost. By shifting the focus from spending to experience, couples can foster intimacy and build memories without financial strain. Choosing the Right Activity: Fun Meets Affordability Selecting activities that are both enjoyable and budget-conscious is th

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Every minute, the world produces about 1 million plastic bottles, and a staggering 91% of plastic waste is never recycled. This alarming statistic highlights the vast scale of plastic pollution, a crisis that has silently escalated over decades. Plastic, once hailed as a revolutionary material for its versatility and durability, has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. The Ubiquity and Persistence of Plastic Plastic’s widespread use is undeniable, permeating nearly every aspect of modern life—from packaging and consumer goods to medical devices and automotive parts. Its appeal lies in its low cost, light weight, and resistance to degradation. However, these same qualities also make plastic a persistent pollutant. Unlike organic materials that decompose naturally, most plastics can take hundreds to thousands of years to break down, fragmenting into microplastics that contaminate ecosystems globally. Environmental Consequences of Plastic

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What if you were told that within a single decade, humanity could go from barely flying beyond Earth's atmosphere to setting foot on another celestial body? The moon landing on July 21, 1969, was not only a marvel of engineering but also a testament to human ambition and ingenuity. It marked a pivotal moment in history when the impossible became reality, reshaping our understanding of exploration and technology. The Race to the Moon: Context and Motivation The moon landing was the climax of the Space Race, a fierce competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. After the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 in 1957, the world witnessed the dawn of the space age. The United States, determined to assert technological and ideological superiority, set an ambitious goal: to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth before the decade’s end. President John F. Kennedy’s famous 1961 speech galvanized the nation with this objective, stating,

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July 21 has been a date marked by extraordinary achievements, groundbreaking discoveries, and pivotal moments that have shaped the course of history across the globe. Arguably the most iconic event associated with July 21 is the historic Apollo 11 mission's moonwalk in 1969. One day after the lunar module Eagle landed on the surface of the Moon, astronaut Neil Armstrong took humanity’s first steps outside Earth’s atmosphere, uttering the now-legendary phrase, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” This monumental achievement not only marked a triumph in the Space Race but also expanded our understanding of space exploration and inspired generations to dream beyond our planet. But the significance of July 21 extends far beyond this space milestone. In 1944, during the height of World War II, the Battle of Guam concluded with American forces recapturing the island from Japanese occupation. This victory was a strategic turning point

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July 19 and 20 have witnessed numerous pivotal moments throughout history. Moving back in time, on July 19, 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention concluded in New York, a landmark event in the women’s rights movement. The convention, which began two days prior, was the first women's rights convention in the United States and produced the Declaration of Sentiments, a document demanding equal social, civil, and religious rights for women. This event laid the foundation for the long struggle for women's suffrage and equality, influencing advocacy and legislation for decades to come. In political history, July 19, 1870, marked the start of the Franco-Prussian War when France declared war on Prussia. This conflict reshaped European politics dramatically. The war resulted in the defeat of France, the fall of the Second French Empire, and the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership. The consequences of this war reverberated well into the 20th century, setting the stage for World

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a multistate coalition of 20 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief in support of a challenge to the Trump administration’s abrupt termination of funding for legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children. In their brief , filed in Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, et al. vs. United States Department of Health and Human Services, et al., Raoul and the attorneys general urge the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to affirm the preliminary injunction issued by the district court, arguing that the Trump administration’s termination of federal funding for legal representation endangers the rights and safety of unaccompanied children. “Unaccompanied immigrant children are especially vulnerable without access to legal services,” Raoul said. “Holding these children in federal custody for prolonged periods of time further traumatizes them and does not represent the morals

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced he joined a multistate coalition in filing a lawsuit challenging an unlawful final rule the Trump administration introduced, which would govern federal and state health insurance marketplaces and create significant barriers to obtaining health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The final rule announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also excludes coverage of gender-affirming care as an essential health benefit (EHB) under the Administrative Procedure Act (ACA). In the lawsuit , Raoul and the attorneys general argue the rule is unlawful and would cause significant harm to local governments and residents because it imposes burdensome and costly paperwork requirements, limits the opportunities to sign up for health coverage, increases cost-sharing limits, and forces exchanges and consumers to spend hundreds of millions of dollars t

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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 Patty Murray (D-WA), U.S. Representative Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03) and their colleagues in reintroducing the Child Care for Working Families Act, comprehensive legislation to ensure families across America can find and afford the high-quality child care they need. “For most working parents, affordable child care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity,” said Duckworth. “Donald Trump ran on a promise to lower costs for working families—and yet, he and Republicans are prioritizing tax breaks to their billionaire donors, leaving families to fend for themselves. If Republicans really cared about lowering costs and supporting middle-class families, they’d help us pass this legislation to help solve our child care shortage and make quality, affordable care more accessible to every family who needs

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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced that her bipartisan, bicameral legislation – the Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTs) Act – has been successfully included as an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. The BOOTs Act would strengthen existing uniform requirements to ensure that combat boots worn by U.S. servicemembers are fully manufactured in the United States using American-sourced materials, including those in the 13th District. “As China continues to flood the market with low-quality imports, we cannot afford to compromise troop safety or support for local manufacturers – like the Belleville Boot Company in my district,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “This legislation is a crucial step to not only protect good-paying manufacturing jobs at home, but ensure our troops receive the highest quality gear while serving our great nation. I’m proud to have worked

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CHICAGO - Today, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in Illinois will continue to provide mental health support services for LGBTQIA+ youth, after the federal government ended funding last month for specific support on the 988 Lifeline. “The Trump Administration’s decision to end these specialized services is a cruel reversal of proven practices,” said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. “Unequivocally, in Illinois, we stand side by side with each member of the LGBTQIA+ community, including transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming youth. If you need help and you call 988, you’ll be met with the compassion, competence and respect.” After its launch in 2022, the 988 Lifeline developed a subnetwork of crisis counselors trained to work with LGBTQ+ youth and adults under 25 who are disproportionately at risk for suicide and other mental health struggles. Suicide is the second leading cause

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MARYVILLE - The Home Builders and Remodelers Metro East Association (HBRMEA) is hosting a raffle to support their work in the community. Community members can buy a raffle ticket for $20 or six tickets for $100 for the chance to win $1,500 cash. Second place will take home $500 and third place will win $250. Shannon Stelling with the HBRMEA explained that proceeds from the raffle will support the organization’s work to help the local housing industry. “There’s so many good things that the HBR is doing to help support the housing industry in our local community,” she said. “You’re helping support the local association, and that money goes toward things like helping us with legislation, helping us fight regulatory issues, helping us fight unfair practices when it comes to inspections or getting permits. All of those things we’re working on the forefront of. And then we’re also working with several communities on infill programs.”

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ST. LOUIS — The American Red Cross urges all donors to give blood or platelets now to keep the blood supply strong this summer. Type O blood products are most needed on hospital shelves – especially in the face of summer challenges that can quickly cause blood and platelet reserves to drop. In addition to summer fun and holidays, severe summer weather can have a sudden impact on the ability to collect blood and platelets.?Scheduling and keeping donation appointments are crucial this month to ensure blood products are constantly available in the weeks to come for all patients, including those in trauma situations that may require several lifesaving transfusions. All blood types are needed, and donors who don’t know their blood type can learn it after donation. Book a time to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org , calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. For those who come to give July 15-31, 2025, the Red Cross will say thank

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ALTON - Dustin Terry captured the pole position in the main Formula 1 category, while Mark Schmerbauch won the pole in the F-Light division, and Cole Wehring won the pole in the Tri-Hull class in the qualifying races at the Alton Midwest National Powerboat Races on Saturday afternoon along the Alton riverfront. The main events all take place on Sunday, July 20, 2025, on the Alton riverfront in all three classes. In earlier qualifying races, in the main F1 class, Chris Rinker won the race, with Jeremiah Mayo coming in second, Dylan Anderson was third, Andrew Tate came in fourth, Spencer Love placed fifth, Terry came in sixth, Jared Jensen was seventh, Aiden Bennett finished eighth, Grant Schubert was in ninth, and Travis Yates was 10th. The average lap time for Rinker was 37.732 seconds for 13 laps. In the F-Light class, Shelby Love won the race with an average time of 35.281 seconds, with Schmerbauch coming in second, Treiden Schleicher was third, Brandon Bobalik came in fourth,

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BETHALTO — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a police response to a fire and assault at an apartment complex in Bethalto. Bethalto Fire Department and Bethalto Police Department Saturday morning, July 19, 2025, to a report of a truck set on fire and a victim who had been battered at an apartment building in the 300 block of Grant Street. Firefighters arrived to find the truck engulfed in flames and quickly brought the fire under control. Officers located a victim who had sustained injuries from an assault. As a precaution, the apartment complex was evacuated. During the investigation, police learned that a suspect was barricaded inside the building. Bethalto Police used a loudspeaker to order the individual to exit. For safety reasons, the Metro East S.W.A.T. team was called in to assist. The S.W.A.T. team entered the building and peacefully removed the suspect, who was then taken into custody by police. The situation concluded around 2 p.m. The Bethalto

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MADISON – A Madison man with an extensive criminal past has been ordered detained after a domestic stabbing on July 4, 2025. Nathaniel Pryor Jr., 66, of Madison, Ill., was charged on July 7, 2025 with one count each of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, and his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery, a Class 4 felony. Pryor allegedly stabbed the victim in the wrist with a knife on July 4, 2025. The victim in this case was a household or family member of Pryor. “Victim reported that defendant became angry and approached him, cutting his wrist with a knife,” according to the state’s petition to keep Pryor in custody. “Officers located the defendant nearby and recovered the knife. The defendant has a history of prior domestic incidents.” A report of Pryor’s criminal history shows he had been previously been convicted of aggravated domestic battery in a Madison County case from 2019. He had also been convicted of domestic battery

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