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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today charged a Lake County man with multiple felonies for allegedly orchestrating an internet scam that advertised puppies for sale to lure in its victims. Attorney General Raoul charged Mondum Hycenth, 41, of Round Lake, Illinois, with one count of theft, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison; one count of wire fraud, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison; seven counts of burglary, Class 2 felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison; and seven counts of forgery, Class 3 felonies each punishable by up to five years in prison. Hycenth pleaded not guilty, and his next court date is March 12. “People trying to add a pet to their families or find a furry friend for companionship instead fell prey to a scam. I encourage consumers to thoroughly research online sellers and be wary of sending payments through nontraditional methods, such as money transfers and peer-to-peer payment services,”

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ALTON - The Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois, Alton YWCA, and Milton Schoolhouse Gardens are hosting two Seed Swaps this winter to provide community members with a sociable space to swap and share quality seeds, cuttings, and bulbs. Join fellow farmers and gardeners in celebration of the start of the spring gardening season at this community event, which is free and open to all. The first seed swap will be held at the Alton YWCA on Sunday, February 4 from noon to 2 p.m. To register for the first Seed Swap at the Alton YWCA, visit fb.me/e/4e7pMM96X . The second seed swap will be held at the Milton Schoolhouse in Alton on Saturday, March 9 from noon to 2 p.m. To register for the Seed Swap at the Milton Schoolhouse, visit fb.me/e/3wvF60MU9 . If you are sharing self collected seeds, please label the homegrown seeds with the common or species name, year, and your name. If you are sharing commercial seed packets, there is no need to label the packets. “Seed swaps

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide significant additional federal support to interior cities, including the City of Chicago, to help these cities more effectively address the ongoing migrant crisis. In today’s letter, the Senators expressed strong support for fulfilling the urgent request of interior cities to invest at least $5 billion in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Shelter and Services Program to ensure these communities are able to continue receiving, processing and caring for arriving families, particularly vulnerable children, in a safe and humane manner. “We write to express strong support for fulfilling the request of interior city Mayors, including the Honorable Brandon Johnson, Mayor of the City of Chicago, to appropriate $5 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with child care advocacy groups to discuss a path forward for legislation supporting children, working families, and child care providers. During their meeting, Durbin spoke about his support for child care tax incentives to improve child care accessibility and support working families in covering the costs, as well as his support to provide increased wages for child care workers. Durbin has repeatedly pushed for increased funding for child care programs, including financial support for Head Start and Child Care and Development Block Grants. He is also a cosponsor of the Child Care for Working Families Act , which would help make child care more affordable and provide pay parity with elementary school teachers for similarly credentialed child care educators. While the average annual cost of child care in Illinois is $14,184 for infants and $12,192 for toddlers, child care workers in Illinois only receive

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that a federal appeals court upheld a court order that Illinois, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and six other states won against Martin Shkreli, who was previously convicted for engaging in illegal and monopolistic behavior as the CEO of Vyera Pharmaceuticals, previously known as Turing Pharmaceuticals. Raoul said the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit affirmed the January 2022 lower court’s decision , which found that Shkreli violated both federal and state laws by engaging in an illegal scheme to maintain a monopoly over a lifesaving drug, Daraprim, after increasing its price by over 4,000%. As a result, Shkreli is banned for life from participating in the pharmaceutical industry and ordered to pay $64.6 million. “I am pleased this decision was upheld because Illinois residents’ lives depend upon pharmaceutical companies and their officers operating fairly and with patients’ best interests in

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ALTON - Alton Band Director Blake Korte has announced several students represented his high school at the recent SIUE Bi-State Concert Band Festival. Korte congratulated the students who participated. "It is quite an honor to participate as a record number of applicants (over 300) applied this year," he said. Below are selections for different categories: Cougar Honor Band Dr. Carolyn Barber, Conductor Spencer Leonard - Tenor Saxophone Keysar Butler - Baritone Saxophone Joseph Hicks - Double Bass Wesley LeBrun - Percussion Red Festival Band Ryan Lipscomb, Conductor Briana Wermke - Tenor Saxophone Quinn Halliday - Trumpet White Festival Band Eric Chrostoski, Conductor Benjamin Paris - Euphonium Madalyn Schrumpf - Euphonium Riley Voumard - Percussion

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BETHALTO - Civic Memorial sophomore Parker Parnell is a talented guard this season. CM head boys Coach Lee Green said Parker is having "a good year." Parker Parnell is a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athlete of the Month for the Eagles. He averages roughly four points a game for the Eagles but also averages 1.7 assists and 2.4 rebounds per contest. He is extremely valuable to the Eagles squad on both ends of the floor. "He will just continue to get better as he continues to play," Coach Green said of his sophomore players' skills. "He played varsity as a freshman and he played three quarters in a regional game against Triad and we almost upset them last year. He is having a good season." Parker had a "great" summer last year and also plays in a spring league in St. Louis, his coach said. Parker is also a CM football player. The future for Parker Parnell looks quite bright, Coach Green said. Again congrats to Parker Parnell on his recognition as a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance

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HIGHLAND —The Prairie Heart Foundation is proud to host Powered by Prairie, a walk and health education event, on Feb. 16, 5-7:30 p.m., at Korte Recreation Center, 11 Nagel Dr., Highland. Get powered up as you and your loved ones walk your way to a healthy heart. This low-impact, high-fun event for all ages includes a variety of activities to fuel your heart-healthy journey, along with prize drawings throughout the morning. Representatives from local HSHS hospitals will be at the event providing health information and education. Activities include: Free health screenings. Hands-only CPR training. Pharmacy help with medication questions. Tips from Cardiac Rehabilitation experts. Nutrition advice from dietitians. Hands-on heart device education. Photo booth. Obstacle course bounce house. Kid's activities. Prize drawings and more. Register at prairieheart.org/walk by Feb. 9, 2024. Prairie Cardiac Rehab Participants - $20 per person Includes Prairie

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ALTON - A Formula 1 powerboat championship race is moving forward on the Alton riverfront following approval from Alton city officials at their meeting on Wednesday. The unanimous vote to approve followed a presentation from Cory Jobe, the President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, who shared more details and insights into the powerboat race and its potential economic impact on Alton and the surrounding area. “I’m here tonight to speak in support of the ordinance in front of you to bring the F1 powerboat championships to the Alton riverfront this summer in June,” Jobe said at the meeting, adding that the city hasn’t held an event like this since the early 1990’s. The event, titled the "2024 Alton Midwest Nationals," will take place from Friday, June 21, 2024 to Sunday, June 23, 2024. The race course consists of a seven-turn loop near the Alton riverfront area of the amphitheater, where there will also be “fan viewing” an

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GODFREY - Due to lack of use with the winter weather, the Village of Godfrey yard waste dumpster site on Stamper Lane will be closed after January 30 th . A press release will be shared this spring when it reopens to Godfrey residents. Any stickers that you may have already purchased will still be valid when the site reopens.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Township recently sponsored a community briefing about mental health. Attendees learned about local resources and organizations that can support people who live with or who have a loved one with a mental health disorder. Madison County Mental Health Board Deborah Humphrey, the Madison County Mental Health Board’s executive director , explained that the Board is a “community mental health authority” that helps fund providers and services throughout the county. Annually, the Board funds 14 to 16 providers and more than 30 mental health, substance use or developmental disability services. Agencies apply for funding through the Board every year. “We review applications. We look at them in terms of, ‘What is it that our community needs?’ We do a needs analysis every year. We do a one- and three-year plan to determine what things that we feel the direction we should go based on what’s current in the community.”

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From dance extravaganzas and self-defense classes to eagle watching and winter jams, the array of upcoming events offers something captivating for every interest. For a complete listing of these diverse and exciting activities, please visit https://www.riverbender.com/events/ . Featured THE ACTOR’S STUDIO SERIES: Elephant's Graveyard by George Brant is a poignant play set to be staged at the ALTON LITTLE THEATER from January 26-28th, 2024. This compelling piece brings to life the true story of an unimaginable tragedy that befell a circus in Tennessee and its aftermath, revealing America's historical enthrallment with spectacle and vengeance. The Alton Little Theater is not just putting up a show, but is also giving back to the community. With 25% of ticket sales being donated to the AHS Drama Department, the AMH “Ribbons of Strength Program” at the Cancer Center, and the Wildlife Treehouse Center, your presence is not just an evening of theater, but a contribution

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BETHALTO - Civic Memorial sophomore Parker Parnell is in command of the Eagles' basketball and football squad offenses at his point guard and quarterback positions. He is an outstanding football player for the Eagles and is equally solid as a basketball player in the point guard role. CM head boys Coach Lee Green said Parker is having "a good year." Parker Parnell is a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Male Athlete of the Month for the Eagles. He averages roughly four points a game for the Eagles but also averages 1.7 assists and 2.4 rebounds per contest. He is extremely valuable to the Eagles squad on both ends of the floor. "He directs the offense and he will just continue to get better as he continues to play," Coach Green said of his sophomore players' skills. "He played varsity as a freshman and he played three quarters in a regional game against Triad and we almost upset them last year. He is having a good season." Parker had a "great" summer last year and also plays in a spring

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EDWARDSVILLE - Three individuals from around Madison County have been charged with battery in recent weeks, according to court filings which detail several cases of battery, domestic battery, and additional charges filed. Ashley E. Harvey, 42, homeless, was arrested by the East Alton Police Department and charged with one count of battery and one count for an offense “relating to motor vehicles,” according to court documents. On Dec. 24, 2023, Harvey allegedly caused bodily harm to a victim by biting them on the arm and possessed a vehicle that she allegedly knew was stolen. Harvey faces a Class 2 felony for the stolen vehicle charge and a Class A misdemeanor for battery. Court documents indicate she was released upon her signature of a Conditions of Pretrial Release Order. Kyle T. Best, 40, of Edwardsville, was charged with one count of domestic battery by the Edwardsville Police Department. According to court documents, Best knowingly caused bodily harm to a famil

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ALTON - Roman Cross has been a busy man throughout his career at Alton High. He is a member of National Honors Society and has been working at a local Baptist church in the area to make peanut brittle and apple butter that can be sold for fundraising. Roman is also a member of Mu Alpha Theta and he has tutored a number of his fellow classmates at Alton High ranging in age from freshman to other seniors. Roman Cross is the Art Fahrner-Edward Jones Alton High School Remarkable Redbird of the Month. Roman is also a remarkable athlete. He is a multiple letterman for two varsity sports during his career as a Redbird. He will be starting his third season for Alton High on the baseball team. Roman had his season cut short last year due to injury after just four games. After enjoying success as a catcher, Roman will be moving to the outfield this coming season. The Redbirds' Head Baseball Coach Scott Harper is looking forward to having Roman's work ethic, talent, and leadership on the team

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EDWARDSVILLE - Four individuals from Alton and St. Louis have been charged with retail theft in Wood River, Alton, and Godfrey, including two cases of liquor theft from Walmart in Wood River, according to Madison County court documents. Foujita E. Anderson, 55, of St. Louis, was charged by the Wood River Police Department with one count of retail theft over $100. On Jan. 5, 2024, Anderson allegedly stole bottles of liquor with a total value in excess of $300 from Walmart. Court documents indicate she was released upon her signature of a Conditions of Pretrial Release Order. Oscar D. Davis, 52, homeless, was arrested by the Alton Police Department after allegedly stealing less than $300 worth of food items from the Walgreens located at 1650 Washington Ave. in Alton on Dec. 18, 2023. Court documents state Davis had previously been convicted of theft over $500 on April 25, 2023 in Madison County. Davis faces a Class 4 felony for retail theft, an upgraded charge due to this being

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ALTON - The Alton Police Department responded to the Clark Bridge at 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, after it was reported a male subject was potentially in crisis. "Officers arrived and located a 33-year-old male standing on the ledge of the bridge threatening to jump," Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said. "Patrol officers, assisted by an Alton Police certified crisis negotiator, spoke to the individual for approximately an hour and a half, at which time the individual agreed to come back over the rail to safety." Chief Ford said officers provided him with transportation to a mental health facility for treatment. "Southbound bridge traffic was diverted during the situation but has since been re-opened," Ford said. 988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

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ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE - The City of Alton and the City of Edwardsville have been named two of the “8 Best Towns in Illinois to Visit in 2024” by World Atlas , a geography website that shares information about different cities and countries around the world. The list, published last week, discusses tourist attractions and historical highlights in both cities. World Atlas encourages readers to visit these smaller towns to enjoy a “fresh holiday stay that you would not find in the big cities.” Alton was noted for its “interesting historical landmarks and exciting outdoor pursuits” as well as “quirky amusement centers” like the National Great Rivers Museum, Gordon F. Moore Community Park and the Jacoby Arts Center. World Atlas noted that Alton “offers something for everyone” and is the site of many historical monuments, including the Lovejoy State Memorial. Edwardsville was commended for its nature and recreational opportunities

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ALTON - The Alton Police Department has released information that Alby Street and East 20th Street intersection will become a four-way stop area within 30 days. The Alton Police released this information so the public will have ample notice of the intersection change. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said an exact date will be announced once determined. "We understand there are mixed feelings on this decision," he said. "Alby Street at East 20th Street is the scene of frequent traffic accidents. In 2023, there were 21 traffic accidents at this intersection. Many of these accidents cause injury to those involved. "Simply allowing this to continue without intervention efforts was not an acceptable solution. As such, Alton City Council members voted to moving to a four-way stop intersection with flashing stop signs as well as flashing warning signs prior to the intersection. These bright devices will hopefully draw attention and let drivers know the stop intersection is near." Chief

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ALHAMBRA/WOOD RIVER - Alhambra's Legendary Mustang Sanctuary will host a murder mystery fundraiser to raise money for the hundreds of mustangs they care for every year. On Feb. 17, 2024, the Sanctuary will sponsor a murder mystery event at the Moose Lodge in Wood River. “Death By Chocolate” is a new story written for the Legendary Mustang Sanctuary fundraiser. Attendees can play games and solve clues to catch the murderer at the party. Tickets are $40 and all proceeds go back to the horses. “We’re coming up with our own stories,” explained Kathy Lewis with Legendary Mustang Sanctuary. “Once we get the ending to the story — we’ve got the main part of the story, but once we get the ending, there will be six people at a table to work on their clues and coming up with the whodunnit, what were they killed by, what’s the motive for the death. It’ll be fun.” Lewis added that there will be plenty of chocolate available

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