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URBANA — Severe drought and current environmental conditions have the Midwest on alert as fire risks are higher than usual during equipment rollout for corn and soybean harvest. From lack of precipitation to low soil moisture and dry vegetation, these conditions, when paired with hot, running farm equipment, increase fire chances. “Contributing environmental risk factors for fire include a lack of precipitation, low soil moisture, low humidity, high winds, and warm daily temperatures,” says Trent Ford, state climatologist with Illinois State Water Survey at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. When dry fields and environmental risks combine with long work hours, delayed equipment maintenance and cleaning, part failures, and debris-clogged cooling systems — chances of a fire starting are greatly increased, says Ford. Prepare for high fire risk conditions with farm fire safety tips from climate and agricultural safety experts at University of Illinois Extension,

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JERSEYVILLE/WHITE HALL - Community members lined State Street in Jerseyville on Friday evening, Oct. 6, 2023, to pay their respects to the late Airman First Class Joshua M. Hopper. Hopper, 23, was from White Hall and graduated from North Greene High School. He joined the U.S. Air Force two years ago and died on Sept. 25, 2023, at Misawa Air Force Base in Misawa, Japan. At 5:45 p.m. on Friday, a police escort organized by the Jersey County Sheriff's Office took Hopper from Jerseyville to White Hall, where services will be held at Calvary Baptist Church. The visitation is planned for 4–7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, followed by a funeral service at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. He will be buried with full military honors at White Hall Cemetery. Hopper was a star athlete in high school, and he played basketball for MacMurray College and the Air Force. His family asks for memorials to be made to the North Greene High School basketball team or Greene County Veterans Assistanc

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ALTON - The Alton Police Department was called to the 2200 block of Edwards Street on Friday afternoon, Oct. 6, 2023, to conduct a death investigation. APD responded around 2 p.m. and conducted a preliminary investigation. While the investigation is still ongoing, the department said they didn’t immediately discover anything to suggest foul play. “The preliminary investigation did not reveal any obvious evidence of foul play or criminal activity,” Police Chief Jarrett Ford said. APD and the Madison County Coroner will handle the investigation.

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MOUNT OLIVE - A gun battle between union miners and armed train guards that left 13 dead was fought 125 years ago on Oct. 12, 1898, in Virden, Ill. This year, on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Union Miners Cemetery in Mount Olive, a commemoration of the battle will be held at noon. According to the Sangamon County Historical Society , “The dispute began when owners of the Chicago-Virden Coal Co. refused to honor a nationwide agreement between bituminous coal operators and the United Mine Workers.” Workers demanded a pay increase, an eight-hour workday, and a six-day work week, but company executives argued meeting those demands would price them out of the Chicago coal market. After the workers went on strike, the mine company then recruited non-union Black miners from Alabama, reportedly without telling them about the strike, in an alleged attempt to sow division between the union and non-union miners. The company also hired 50 armed guards to protect a train carrying

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CHICAGO – On October 5, 2023, at approximately 10:02 p.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash involving an ISP officer’s squad car that was hit by a motorist who failed to move over on Interstate 94 southbound at King Drive in Cook County. On the above date and time, an ISP Troop 3 trooper was attempting to make a traffic stop on a stolen black Dodge Charger. The Charger recklessly fled onto the right shoulder and struck the rear of a different ISP officer’s squad car that was stationary with emergency lights activated while on a separate traffic stop. As a result of the crash, the Charger then overturned and three occupants fled on foot, none of which were apprehended. The officer was inside of the squad car at the time of the crash, but refused medical attention. So far this year, ISP has had 16 Move Over Law-related crashes. In 2022, ISP had 23 Move Over Law-related crashes where eight Troopers sustained injuries.

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ALTON - The Alton Dispensary has plans to reopen as soon as Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, after terminating its contract with the management company Subsero Alton Ops, LLC. Dispensary owners allege misappropriations and diversions of hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash and marijuana products by Subsero. The re-opening date was changed by The Alton Dispensary in an information release late Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. Subsero Alton Ops, LLC, was contracted by the holder of the state’s cannabis license, The Alton Dispensary, to assist the dispensary’s owners in managing the business at 1400 E. Broadway in Alton. Subsero was never an owner of the Alton dispensary. The Alton Dispensary said in a press release released on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, that the contract with Subsero was terminated as of Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, when Subsero representatives were escorted from the premises with the assistance of the Alton Police Department. A complaint sent to the Illinois Department of Financial

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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker announced today a $16,063,450 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program to help the state’s small municipal and co-op utilities improve power grid reliability and help mitigate the impacts of extreme weather on Illinois families. Illinois is among the 11 states, two territories, and 20 Tribal nations that were selected for the program’s eighth round of funding last week. “As we face extreme weather and natural disasters with increasing frequency, it is crucial that we modernize and fortify our power grid to withstand the climate change crisis,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “This investment in our state’s power grid will propel our clean energy objectives, uplift our most disadvantaged communities, and support our clean energy workforce to build a more sustainable Illinois for generations to come.” “Strengthening our power grid

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STAUNTON - Staunton High School will be one of several high schools around the country and beyond participating in this year’s “Fields of Faith,” a student-led event where students gather at football fields to pray, share their faith, challenge peers to read the Bible, and more. Staunton High School will observe the day on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023 starting at 6:30 p.m. A free dinner from Jo Danni’s Amore will be available from 6:30 to 7 p.m., followed by games, fellowship, worship, and word from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Each student who attends will also be offered a chance to win a brand new PlayStation 5 console. The event is organized by United to Revive Ministries and FCA South Central Illinois - West . “This will be a jam packed night of food, fun & fellowship - We will have games, prizes, and live music performed by students,” event organizers said on Facebook. “What is most exciting about this night is that students from the Macoupin

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GRAFTON - On Oct. 11, 2023, the City of Grafton will unveil plans for their veterans memorial and museum, which Mayor Michael Morrow said will result in major growth for the region. The memorial will be located near the current Grafton Visitor Center at 950 E. Main Street, and the center itself will “be transformed into something wonderful,” Morrow explained. At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, community members are invited to a ceremony at the Visitor Center to learn about the project and view the designs. “They’re very excited and they’re also very humbled, because this will quickly take on not only national but international ,” Morrow said. “They’re also realizing that it’s going to mean growth for the region. Grafton is going to change. I briefed the Jersey County Board in Jerseyville about three weeks ago, and at the end of the briefing they said, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re going to have to build new hotels.’ Ther

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GODFREY - Approximately 350 customers are out of power as of about 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, after a vehicle struck three power poles in the 7600 block of Humbert Road in Godfrey. The accident caused significant damage. Ameren Illinois workers are at the scene working on the poles and will be out there throughout most of the day. Customers should have power back by mid-afternoon. The power lines initially blocked the road in the Humbert area.

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EDWARDSVILLE – Mayor Art Risavy announced the City has received a generous donation for the expansion of Edwardsville’s Plummer Family Park from Robert and Donna Plummer. “This substantial donation will allow the city to continue building out our 83-acre sports park,” Mayor Risavy said. “We are excited this additional funding will kick-start phase 2 of the park that will include four full-size baseball fields and other potential additions, such as more pickleball courts, sand volleyball courts, an expanded parking area and other features. “This next phase will be a literal game-changer for families seeking top-level sports options so close to Edwardsville’s restaurants, hotels, stores and attractions,” Mayor Risavy said. Plummer Family Park already boasts four turf youth baseball/softball fields, 12 pickleball courts and six multipurpose fields that regularly accommodate soccer, field hockey, flag football and other games and tournaments.

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ROXANA - Roxana’s football team is red hot with six consecutive wins and on Friday night at home may have its biggest test to date against Breese Central in a 7 p.m. start. Breese Central enters Friday’s game 5-1 overall. The game will be live on Riverbender.com . Four keys to Roxana’s success this season have been its stellar Fearsome Foursome linebacker crew of Evan Wells, James Herring, Braden Johnson and Nick Newton. Roxana Head Football Coach Wade DeVries said sometimes the defense doesn’t get the attention it should, but this group of boys has been phenomenal throughout the 2023 football campaign. The linebacker crew are Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athletes of the Month for Roxana. Wells is a four-year starter on offense, who is starting his first year on defense as well and has been outstanding in both his roles on defense and offense, the coach said. “Herring had a tremendous off-season,” Coach DeVries added. “He is a three-year

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ALTON - It’s been a warm autumn so far, but that won’t stop the Grandpa Gang — they’ve been decorating for Christmas since September. The Grandpa Gang is a group of retired Alton residents who organize the Christmas Wonderland lights and display at Rock Springs Park in Alton every winter. Board President Dick Alford said the gang started decorating in the first week of September and will continue to work four hours a day, five days a week until Thanksgiving. They’re looking forward to putting on a great display and benefiting local organizations. “Pretty much everybody there is a grandpa in some way,” Alford said. “It kind of brings that holiness to it, to know that your grandpas are out there putting this up for your grandkids and your children.” Despite the name, he emphasized that you don’t actually have to be a grandfather to join them. The group is made up of 25 men who have some extra time and want to decorate “for

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“Anyone who claims to be a fiscal conservative and concerned about taxpayer money would’ve already called for an end to this madness,” said Slusser, “but our Chairman remains silent. We need a new Chairman.” EDWARDSVILLE - Today Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser, candidate for County Board Chairman, called on current County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler to demand that his political allies end their continuous costly, harassing and frivolous lawsuits against Madison County Officials. Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine recently released figures indicating the total costs of lawsuits filed by disgraced former county officials Doug Hulme and Rob Dorman have cost the county (taxpayers) more than $270,000 to defend. The pair are two of Prenzler’s top aides and supporters, and now have filed more than 20 lawsuits against various county officials since the County Board voted 26-1 to fire them in April 2020. “This is a total

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ALTON - Illinois American Water has provided another update this week on the work to separate the Alton combined sewer system and install new sanitary sewers. Below is information about the upcoming road closure – Elm Street, between Davis Street and Tibbitt Street, in Alton, is planned to be closed to thru traffic starting on October 4, 2023. A new storm sewer is being constructed along the street to remove storm inlets from the sanitary sewer system in this area, with work starting on the westerly side of the intersection at Davis Street and progressing west. Local traffic will be accommodated thru the site to their driveways. Thru traffic will need to utilize an alternative route on either Delmar Avenue to the north, or Mather Street in Alton to the south. Please use caution driving near construction sites and follow all traffic control signage and barricades. Safety: These closures are necessary for investments in the wastewater system to be completed in a safe manner. Illino

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WOOD RIVER - Four buildings in downtown Wood River are slated to be renovated with TIF funds recently approved by the City Council in a series of 4-1 votes. Councilman Bill Dettmers voted against approving TIF funding for all four buildings, but said his opposition was not to their renovation, but to the lack of detailed information from project developers. “The information I’ve got here tonight is very minimal,” Dettmers said. “I’m not satisfied with the information we have at hand to be able to vote on these in the affirmative tonight … I’d like to know more about the cash flows, I’d like to know more about the business, I’d like to know what the expected property tax revenues are going to be on these projects. “My objection here is not to the development, but to the lack of documentation from the city to base a recommendation. I don’t understand how the members of the committee are making their decisions when

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WOOD RIVER - A road dedication ceremony renaming Old Alton Edwardsville Road to Tyler Timmins Drive will occur at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, at the intersection of Rock Hill Road and Tyler Timmins Drive. Officer Timmins of the Pontoon Beach Police Department was shot and killed in the line of duty on Oct. 26, 2021, while approaching the subject of a stolen vehicle. Officer Timmins was only 36 years old and had served in law enforcement for 14 years at the time of his death. "Officer Tyler Timmins grew up on Willow and Ash Streets in the City of Wood River," Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said. "He graduated from East Alton-Wood River High School in 2003. Tyler started his law enforcement career as a cadet with the Wood River Police Department. Officer Timmins worked for the Roxana, Worden, Hartford and Pontoon Beach Police Departments." Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup said he thought it was a great thing to honor the late police officer for his huge sacrifices in protecting others.

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RIVERBEND - Spectrum customers throughout the Riverbend will soon have a new way to watch television with the company’s launch of Xumo, a streaming device that offers popular streaming services as well as local channels. The Xumo Stream Box is a preloaded device that includes the Spectrum TV app, where you can access the channels included in your Spectrum package, and hundreds of other streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu. Live, on-demand and streaming content is all available through the Xumo Stream Box. “Xumo is streaming simplified, bringing a live TV experience together with all the top apps,” said Rich DiGeronimo, President of Product and Technology for Charter. Comcast and Charter created Xumo as a joint venture, and Spectrum will provide all customers with a Xumo device going forward. There are also plans to expand to Xfinity customers soon. Spectrum has several stores in the Riverbend region on both sides of the river, making it one of the most popular

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In letters to United Airlines, American Airlines, and Airlines for America, Durbin requests answers on how these airlines plan to improve service and decrease unnecessary costs for Americans SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent letters to the leadership of United Airlines, American Airlines, and Airlines for America (A4A) to urge the companies to address customer frustration around flight delays and excessive fees for checked baggage, Wi-Fi service, seat assignments, and more. Citing startling statistics around the skyrocketing number of travel disruptions and outrageous fees, Durbin pressed the companies for answers on how airlines, which are making record profits, will better look out for consumers. “I am writing to express my concern regarding ongoing challenges that airline passengers face, and to inquire what United Airlines / American Airlines / Airlines for America is doing to address these complaints from the American

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Promoting Access to Broadband Act of 2023 in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The legislation will make grants available to states to inform Medicaid enrollees, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants, and low-income residents of their potential eligibility for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Lifeline program and Affordable Connectivity Program s (ACP). The Lifeline program and ACP provide free or low-cost wireless service and internet capable devices to qualifying individuals. Affordable internet connection increases opportunities for education, employment, health access, and community building. The Promoting Access to Broadband Act of 2023 will provide states with resources to increase awareness of these programs amongst eligible populations and increase usage of the Lifeline program and ACP. According to the National

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