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ALTON - YWCA, in conjunction with Scholars on the Rise Tutoring, is again offering free community tutoring sessions on Thursdays July 6 - August 10, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at YWCA, 304 E Third Street in Alton. The program structure includes Math and Reading instruction for grades K-6, lunch, a fun enrichment activity and a snack. Class sizes are limited to no more than 10 students to maximize learning. In addition, the session is deliberately scheduled after summer school is complete. Content builds upon previous session instruction, so attendance at each session is highly recommended. Sessions are designed to focus on the development of Math and Reading skills as well as social emotional skills. Research shows that students lose approximately 1 to 2 months’ worth of reading and math skills over the summer, with the loss being greater in math than reading. Recent data shows that math scores for 13 year olds are the lowest in decades. The Covid pandemic contributed

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CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced Atiera Coleman, Ph.D. will join his administration as Chief Diversity Officer. Dr. Coleman is a distinguished social equity leader and scholar committed to creating more equitable environments within organizations. She will officially assume the role on July 17, 2023. “Atiera Coleman brings with her a wealth of experience and accomplishments, and I’m thrilled she is joining my administration to lead Illinois’ equity, inclusion, and diversity efforts,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Throughout her career, Dr. Coleman has held leadership roles in both non-profit and academic settings, making remarkable contributions that have transformed these institutions into spaces of greater inclusion and equity. I am looking forward to working collaboratively with her to continue making Illinois a more equitable and welcoming state for all.” "I am thrilled to accept the position and eager to join the team t

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EDWARDSVILLE - A large tree fell on a home in the 600 block of Roosevelt in Edwardsville, along with several other trees down and power out through much of the city in a storm that struck around 9:44 p.m. Friday. Edwardsville firefighters and public works personnel were dispatched to the scenes, along with Ameren Illinois personnel. Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford said much of the northern part of Edwardsville was without power. Several street lights were also off and much of the city was dark in a tour through the city in the 11 p.m. range Friday. Illinois Route 143 was closed just after Ridgeview because a large tree was over the roadway. There were power lines and tree limbs down across the city of Edwardsville. Granite City and Pontoon Beach also suffered storm damage. Whiteford said the storm was strange because it ripped through in "spotty" fashion around the city and the power outage was substantial.

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GRANITE CITY — Madison County officials honored a good Samaritan who came to the aid of his neighbor and saved her life. Chairman Kurt Prenzler and County Board member John Janek of Granite City presented Billy Eugene Taylor with a Certificate of Recognition on Friday, June 30 for his heroic efforts in saving the life of Barbara Hayes around 3 a.m. on April 25 at 2128 Miracle Avenue, Granite City. Haye’s reached out to the county and said she felt Taylor deserved recognition because if it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t be here today. Janek said Taylor’s actions went above and beyond as a neighbor. “Thank you for your heroic efforts in saving the life of Ms. Barbara Hayes,” Janek said. Taylor said he would do what any neighbor would do. He said it’s about looking out for one another. He said a loud pop woke him up and when he walked outside he saw the house two doors down exploded and caught Hayes house on fire. “Her carport

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BELLEVILLE - In reference to the June 26, 2023, incident that occurred in the first block of Garnette Drive, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office has reviewed the case presented by Belleville Police. The following charges have been filed in the case: Deonta Rodgers, Sr., 44, of Belleville (photo above), was charged with one count of Attempted 1st Degree Murder, class X Felony; one count of Aggravated Battery Discharging a Firearm, class X Felony; two counts of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, Class 4 Felony. Rodgers’ bond was set at $1,000,000. Rodgers remains in custody at Belleville Police Department. Rodgers will be transferred to St. Clair County Jail after arraignment. Demarco A. Davis Case Update In reference to the June 24, 2023, incident involving the death of Demarco A. Davis, the 16-year-old male remains in juvenile custody, Belleville Police said in a statement. The matter has been referred to the juvenile court. No further information

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WOOD RIVER - Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said a driver indicated the throttle of a vehicle stuck and went out of control, and it struck a pole on Wood River Avenue in Wood River on Friday. Chief Wells said after the motorist hit the power pole, Wood River Avenue in Wood River had to be closed for a period of time, while the area was cleaned up and work done to the power pole. The chief said the driver was taken to an area hospital for a non-life-threatening injury.

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EDWARDSVILLE - A very serious accident occurred Friday morning in the 1600 block of Troy Road in Edwardsville and a male pedestrian walking southbound on the shoulder of the roadway was injured and airlifted from the scene. The incident took place at 7:26 a.m. Friday, Edwardsville Police Chief Mike Fillback said. "A male pedestrian was walking southbound on the shoulder of the roadway when a vehicle drifted to the right and struck him," the chief said. "The white in color 2019 Chevy Cruze was driven by a juvenile that was traveling southbound in the same block. "Witnesses contacted 911 and the first responders arrived quickly and the pedestrian was flown by air to a St. Louis area hospital and is in serious condition. The investigation remains under investigation." Chief Fillback said the driver is a juvenile who was uninjured and his name will not be released. The name of the pedestrian is not being released until the family can be contacted.

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ILLINOIS - Three major Supreme Court rulings have garnered mixed reactions across the country. Many state and local politicians in Illinois and Missouri have responded with statements. All three rulings were divided along partisan lines, with the Court’s six conservative justices voting opposite the three liberal justices. Much of the response seems to reflect this division. Most conservatives support the Supreme Court rulings while liberals are speaking out against them. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION On June 29, the Court ruled on Students for “Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College” and “Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina.” They voted 6–3 to end affirmative action programs, which means race will no longer be considered for college admissions. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker called this decision “a travesty” and said that Illinois “will continue to uplift our students of

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser is reminding taxpayers that the first installment of their tax bill is coming due. “With the holiday weekend approaching I want to remind everyone that the first of four tax installments will be due July 6,” Slusser said. “The Treasurer’s office is open for business Mon-Fri from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., but will be closed for Independence Day on Tues July 4. Slusser reminds taxpayers of all payment options: at one of the participating collector banks or credit unions throughout the county, by mail, through your financial institution’s online bill pay service, the Treasurer’s website at www.madcotreasurer.org , by phone at 1-844-919-4300, or in person at the Treasurer’s Office in Edwardsville. If paid by mail, letters must be postmarked on or before July 6. “No penalty will be applied for payments mailed and postmarked by the due date,” Slusser said. “I would encourage taxpayers

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During his 14-year career in the NFL, Deion “Prime Time” Sanders was known for his silky moves on the football field. But now the 55-year-old college football coach has been slowed, due in large part to blood clots he’s suffered over the years.Sanders was back in the news recently due to surgery he had on blood clots in both legs. It’s not his first go-around with this serious health issue. In 2021 he had two toes amputated due to clots. Blood clots can happen to anyone. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot located in a deep vein, usually in a leg or arm. A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot that has traveled from a deep vein to a lung. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 900,000 people suffer from a blood clot each year and 100,000 people die. About 30% of people who have had a DVT or PE are prone to a recurrence.“It is a serious problem. It's something that you're going to want to seek medical care for," says

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The letter follows Durbin’s op-ed in The Hill this week, highlighting the continued bipartisan efforts to stop the exploitation of kids online WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a bipartisan group of ten Judiciary Committee members in a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, Chairman and CEO of Meta, regarding recent reporting that Instagram’s algorithm promotes and facilitates sexual interest in and activity with children, including the production and sharing of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The letter was also signed by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). “We are gravely concerned that Instagram’s failure to prevent this perverse

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HAYTI HEIGHTS, MO. - A Missouri State Highway Patrol Amber Alert was canceled this morning after a child last seen in Illinois had been found in Troop E Area - Hayti Heights, Mo. The child was found safe and sound, Missouri State Police reported. The Amber Alert was canceled at 7:25 a.m. The child - Violet - a 9-year-old, was last seen after allegedly being taken by her non-custodial father. The vehicle sought was a black Dodge Charger. The Amber Alert notified individuals throughout the region but thankfully ended with the child safe and the suspect in custody.

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ST. LOUIS - For the people who are involved with the Metro Trans Umbrella Group, it’s more than just a resource. It’s a life-saver. The Metro Trans Umbrella Group, or MTUG, is a nonprofit that serves transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals throughout the Greater St. Louis area. The organization has a variety of services and support groups, as well as opportunities for people to connect with one another. “It saves lives, just having the space to exist with others who are like you,” Ramona Riley, MTUG’s volunteer coordinator, said. “It’s a common story that I hear, that people get up to the point where they’re going to start transitioning, and it is literally a choice between transitioning and dying…That is how crucial these things and these spaces are to trans people.” MTUG offers a range of free services, including a food pantry and STI testing. They provide assistance with legal name changes, and they also distribut

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GODFREY - Family Fun Fest is returning to Glazebrook Park in Godfrey for 2023 on July 4 starting at 5 p.m. The event will feature food trucks, live music, a watermelon-eating contest, and much more family-friendly fun, capping off with a fireworks show at 9:15 p.m. Chris Logan, director of the village’s Parks and Recreation Department, gave more details on the event on an episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . “All of our vendors will be set up, BB the Clown’s going to be there, there’s going to be some face-painting, we’re going to have some more inflatables again - quite a few inflatables, actually - a big slide, obstacle course, these kids really like them,” Logan said. “We’re going to have a dunk tank, we’re going to try and get some of our baseball and softball coaches in there.” Logan added that at 5:30 p.m., the design for the Great Godfrey Maze will be revealed at the event. He said the maze will

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CARROLLTON - Greene County was hit by strong thunderstorm winds and the Fitzgibbons' house in the 1300 block of Sixth Street in Carrollton encountered serious damage. High winds ripped the home owned by William and Debbie Fitzgibbons just after noon on Thursday. The Fitzgibbons' home had a pole power knocked down, and the high winds tore guttering, shingles and part of the roof where the electricity box was located. “My husband, Daniel, was on the phone with William and was telling them they better take cover because of a storm and about that time he said, ‘Oh it is here,’” William’s sister, Lisa Wieneke of Jerseyville, said. “The storm hit them hard." Ameren Illinois was at the Fitzbiggons location around 5:45 p.m. Thursday, along with an electric company from Jerseyville," Lisa said. “They hope to have it restored sometime tonight,” she added. Ryan Knutsvig, a Lincoln National Weather Service meteorologist, said winds hit areas

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WEST ALTON - Fireworks City’s sales are booming ahead of the July 4th weekend. With their famous “buy one get four free” deal, the family-owned West Alton, MO., location invites other families to celebrate Independence Day with their products. “Fourth of July has always been my favorite holiday,” Owen Thomeczek, son of the owners and longtime employee, said. “Seeing everyone come in every year, all my friends working with me, it’s always a good time here. I hope to keep doing this forever.” Owen’s grandfather opened Fireworks City in 1964. Today, the store is owned by Owen’s father and aunts. Since his mother, Jody, started dating his father at age 15, she has had a front-row seat behind the counter as the store’s popularity soared and her family grew. Jody remembers that they used to sell mainly firecrackers, Roman candles and bottle rockets, with a limited supply of bigger fireworks. But the store blew

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ALTON - The latest ghost spotting at McPike Mansion is raising hairs (and eyebrows) on social media. The McPike Mansion is known for being one of the most haunted places in Alton. When owner Sharyn Luedke posted the most recent picture of the mansion on Facebook, even skeptics were second-guessing what they saw. Many people report that they can make out an old man in the second-story far-left window. “I think it’s either Henry or his dad,” Luedke said. “We do think we have about 12 spirits.” Henry Guest McPike built the mansion in 1869. Luedke said that the spirits of McPike, his parents, his two wives, his son, his grandchild and a servant likely haunt the house, as well as a few other people and children who once lived on the property but weren’t related to McPike. Luedke explained that they use old photographs and newspaper articles to piece together information about McPike’s life and the other spirits in the mansion. She and he

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EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County State's Attorney Thomas Haine announced on Thursday that the 5th District Appellate Court has rejected an appeal by two former Madison County employees who sued over their termination. The Appellate Court upheld a circuit judge’s dismissal of litigation filed by Robert Dorman, former director of information technology, and Douglas Hulme, former county administrator. “The appellate justices resoundingly agreed that Hulme’s and Dorman’s long-running litigation needs be dismissed,” Haine said. “That is good news for county government and county taxpayers. Madison County and the State’s Attorney’s Office have been forced to expend considerable time and resources defending against the self-serving arguments of these two disgruntled ex-employees who were fired by an overwhelming bipartisan majority of the County Board. Our resources would be better spent serving the needs of the citizens.” Haine continued,

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CARROLLTON - The past week has seen a range of criminal charges filed in Greene County, including drug-related charges, criminal damage to property, criminal trespassing, and more, according to the latest Jail Booking Report from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. Joshua E. Simpson, 37, of Jerseyville, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, and he had a warrant for his arrest out of Greene County. He was arrested by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on June 28 and remains in custody. Renael C. Molohon, 38, also of Jerseyville, was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine and having a warrant for her arrest out of Greene County. She was taken into custody on June 26 by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department and has since been released on recognizance. Chad R. Cordes, 36, also of Jerseyville, was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, two counts of criminal trespass

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EAST ALTON - When Woodrow Peterson received a phone call from his 12-year-old stepson Bentley Mayer last Friday night, he had no idea that Mayer and his friend were about to save a life. Mayer and Kamden Balicki, also 12, were walking home from the East Alton Ice Arena when they found a man on the sidewalk, dying from an overdose. The two boys sprang into action. Mayer called Peterson, who called 911. Their actions are likely the only reason the man is still alive. “My son sat there with him until the paramedics arrived. Once I got to the scene, I talked to the police… said that the guy barely made it,” Peterson said. “I’m just really proud of both of them. They’ve both seen stuff that they, as youth, should not see. But it’s a growing problem here in Madison County.” Mayer immediately recognized the signs of an overdose because he often helps Peterson pass out harm reduction kits. Peterson runs a Facebook group called

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