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The pros and cons of social media are well documented. It allows you to connect with friends and pursue passions, but bullying and misinformation can be rampant. But can frequent social media use lead to changes in brain development during the formative adolescent years? A recent study suggests so, but much more investigation is needed, says Karna Sherwood, MD , a neurologist at OSF HealthCare in Alton, Illinois. The study tracked 169 sixth and seventh graders and found those who habitually checked social media were more sensitive to rewards and punishments. To view it a different way, kids who constantly refresh Facebook hoping the likes on their post will go up may be more impulsive to seek out real-life recognition. “At a certain point, 10 likes or 20 likes are no longer gratifying enough,” Dr. Sherwood says. “And then you have to find another way to get even more likes or more appreciation.” That “another way” could lead to risky behavior

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EDWARDSVILLE – Beginning Monday, February 13, North Buchanan Street will be closed to all traffic in the one-block area between Hillsboro Avenue and East Vandalia Street. This closure is necessary to allow City contractors to pour concrete and repair the street where the new water main has been installed. The closure is expected to last the entire week; the work will take place weather permitting. Motorists should use alternate routes to bypass the closure. North Fillmore Street, North Kansas Street, Hillsboro Avenue and East Vandalia Street can be used as detours. The work is part of the North Buchanan Street water main replacement project. The City is in the process of switching over from a century-old 4-inch cast iron water main to a new 12-inch water main on North Buchanan Street between East Union Street and East Vandalia Street. The City appreciates the cooperation and patience of all residents during this process. Please contact Public Works at (618) 692-7535 with any

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ALTON - A detailed Black History Exhibit has been established at Alton City Hall. The new exhibit was unveiled this week and led by Sheila Goins, wife of Alton Mayor David Goins. Sheila said she was “super excited” to display the Black History Exhibit at City Hall. February is Black History Month throughout the country. “What we have here is just a snapshot display of the wealth of black history in Alton, Illinois,” she said. “We have it categorized from community, music, education, freedom and equality in schools, and more. We want people to come and see all this exciting material.” Sheila said the exhibit is a collective effort between her and three prominent women in the community - Charlotte Johnson, Minnie Johnson, and Eva Perkins. “Charlotte, Minnie Johnson, and Eva Perkins were instrumental in providing the information,” Goins said. “Eva was a strong contributor to Alton’s area musician's success.” Johnson

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EDWARDSVILLE – A section of Chapman Street between North Fillmore and Hickory streets will be closed beginning Monday morning, February 13, for sanitary sewer repairs in that area. Chapman Street will be closed to thru traffic at North Fillmore Street, Leverette Lane and Hickory Streets while the work is underway. Residents within the affected area will have access to their homes. The road will reopen as soon as the work is completed. The project is expected to wrap up within a couple of days, barring unexpected problems. This project originally was scheduled to take place earlier this month but had to be postponed. The City appreciates the cooperation and patience of all residents and businesses during this closure. Please contact Public Works at (618) 692-7535 with any questions.

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EAST ALTON - Jasmin Donlow, owner of the Slurped Daiquiri location in East Alton, said they’ve been off to a great start as they approach their first year in business, and that their “sister location” in Granite City is also doing very well. She announced new business hours for the East Alton location and said there are plans to add a third location later this year. The new business hours for the East Alton location will be Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight, and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. They will be closed on Sundays and Mondays, and these new hours will take effect starting next Wednesday, Feb. 15. Donlow said Slurped Daiquiri is a great place to grab a drink while hanging out or enjoying local events, including an upcoming Poetry and Open Mic Night they’ll be hosting on April 7. “It’s fun, the drinks are good, and it’s a nice, fun place to hang out,” she said of Slurped Daiquiri.

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MADISON COUNTY - Madison County Sheriff Jeff C. Connor and his staff sent out a reminder to Super Bowl fans this weekend to not drink and drive. “Madison County - fans don’t let fans drive drunk – Super Bowl weekend is here, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office is reminding football fans and partygoers that designated drivers are the best defense against the dangers of impaired driving. If your Super Bowl celebration involves alcohol or cannabis, plan for a ride home with a sober driver. If you’re hosting the party, take care of the designated drivers. Fans don’t let fans drive drunk.” Sheriff Connor added: “When you’re making your plans for a good time on Super Bowl night, make sure they include a sober ride home,” he said. “Even one drink can impair judgment. A designated driver can ensure you and your friends get home safely.” Whether you’re attending a party, hosting a gathering or going out to a bar

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GREENE COUNTY - The Greene County Board voted to support the Greene County Broadband Project with the full funding request of $250,000 at its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday. "This support demonstrates the vision, leadership and commitment of the members of the Greene County Board to provide fiber internet to every household and business in the county," the Greene County Economic Development Group said in an information release. "The Greene County Board recognizes the need for high quality internet access and its benefits to families and businesses in Greene County. "This project will enhance and support education, healthcare, business, agriculture, and economic development across the county demonstrating the opportunities for rural Illinois." The reason for the project after a survey is that much of the Greene County area has slow internet download speeds of less than 25 megabits a second and more than half of fewer than 5 megabits per second upload speed. A survey showed

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BETHALTO - The Bethalto Police responded to a report of a disturbance call at 11:39 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Bethalto Police Chief Mike Dixon said the response by officers to the call led to an ambulance being dispatched to the scene and ultimately the arrest of Chad L. Courtoise for the offense of Aggravated Battery. The purported victim in this incident is expected to make a full recovery. The defendant was in the custody of the Madison County Jail at the time of this post, in lieu of bond and/or additional court proceedings. It is important to know that the defendant charged and noted and/or associated with this post is innocent of the charge(s) filed, until such time as he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The issuance of a charge/information or a warrant is based solely upon probable cause and is not proof of guilt. The information provided is a public record aimed at keeping our community informed of this agency’s activities and the

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ALTON - Senior Will Schwartz, a standout golfer at Marquette Catholic High School, signed his letter of intent to continue his golfing career at William Penn University. WPU is an NAIA school located in Oskaloosa, Iowa. "Ever since I started in the 5th grade I've had a passion for it. I've tried to work hard and get to that level," Will said. Will played golf at Marquette all four years with the highlight being a trip to state last season. He made it to the final day shooting an 86. He also played volleyball for the Explorers all four seasons and went out for basketball his freshman year. But golf is what he always wanted to pursue. "The golf team has just been great to me," Will said. "They've endured whatever actions I've had and helped me through a lot of things." Will earned First Team All-Conference in both his freshman and senior seasons and Second Team All-Area as a junior. At Marquette Will was also a four-year Honor Roll student and was also a part of the National

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP), working with local law enforcement and community partners, continues to decrease the supply of opioids and other drugs devastating many neighborhoods. In 2022, the ISP Metropolitan Enforcement Groups (MEGs) and Drug Task Forces across the state seized 679 firearms, 26,679 pounds of drugs, and arrested 1,942 individuals. The ISP MEGs and Drug Task Forces are on the front lines of narcotic enforcement, prevention, and treatment strategies. MEGs and Task Forces represent a collaborative effort among state, federal, and local law enforcement agencies to enforce Illinois drug laws and investigate gang activity. “Every neighborhood deserves to be free from violence,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We’re getting results through an evidence-based and data driven approach focusing on violence prevention. I’m thankful for the hard work of our dedicated law enforcement officials who risk their lives in order to build

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CHICAGO - Low-to-moderate income families and older adults needing assistance filing their 2022 income taxes can receive free help through several trusted programs across Illinois. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), American Association of Retired Persons’ (AARP) Foundation Tax-Aide Program, and the Ladder Up Tax Assistance Program, provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in select locations statewide. "It is important for Illinois taxpayers to know they can receive help from qualified volunteers certified by the IRS at various locations statewide,” said Illinois Department of Revenue Director David Harris. “These individuals are ready and willing to assist taxpayers in filing their state and federal tax returns accurately and on time by the April 18 deadline.” How taxpayer assistance is provided and when services are available varies by region, based upon volunteer capacity. “Even modest tax

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ROLLA, MO. - Missouri University of Science and Technology announces the names of students who made the honor list for the Fall 2022 semester. To be included on the honor list, students must have carried a minimum of 12 hours and had grade point averages of 3.2 or above out of a possible 4.0. The following students were honored: Alton, Illinois 62002, Reiley Clark, civil engineering, junior 62002, Markus Fischbeck, physics, first-year student 62002, Jeffrey Frankford, computer engineering, sophomore 62002, Claire Pohlman, environmental engineering, senior Bethalto, Illinois 62010, Alexander Kallal, computer engineering, senior East Alton, Illinois 62024, Thomas Strohmeier, aerospace engineering, sophomore Edwardsville, Illinois 62025, Lauren Coulter, civil engineering, senior 62025, Kayla Edwards, architectural engineering, sophomore 62025, Andreas Ellinas, technical communication, senior 62025, Jessica Glenn, mining engineering, senior 62025, Matthew

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Couples names: Brendan Lee & Blake Eldon City: Cottage Hills Date met or started dating: August 14, 2021 What makes your relationship special? Our relationship is special because we are always open about our relationship. This lifts such a heavy weight off of our shoulders and lets us truly enjoy each other's true selves! Share a memory you have made together: We have many memories but one that sticks out to me is a vacation we were on in Punta Cana, this was an all-inclusive resort. The performers pulled the two of us on stage and had us dancing in front of everyone! We were careless and had the night of our lives. I wish I could relive this night over and over.

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Couples names: Larry Beneze & Jill Heinemeier City: Edwardsville Date met or started dating: Marc h 3, 2020 What makes your relationship special? We make the perfect couple. Share a memory you have made together: We went to Moonlight Beach California it was so amazing and beautiful.

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ALTON - With tourism on the rebound in southwest Illinois, it is now time for the region to shine in 2023, Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau announced at the bureau’s annual Tourism Summit held today at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. Speaking to a sold-out venue of over 370 attendees, Jobe noted that while 2022 saw an increase in travelers and traveler spending in the region, the addition of new tourism products and strong destination marketing will be key to growth in 2023. The Bureau also presented a series of awards to businesses in Collinsville, Edwardsville, Alton and Grafton as well as former State Senator Rachelle Crowe and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “Why does tourism matter?” Jobe said during his presentation. “Our regional economy depends on tourism – it means thousands of jobs for our residents, millions in economic activity for businesses and millions more in local taxes to our communities.

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ALTON - Alton Memorial Hospital, a member of the Siteman Cancer Network, will have its next free monthly skin cancer screenings from 4-5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28. The screenings are by appointment only in Suite 101 of Medical Office Building A on the AMH campus. Call 618-463-7220 or visit www.altonmemorialhospital.org, then go to Classes & Events to register. The skin screenings the rest of 2023 (fourth Tuesday of each month through October), will be from 4-6 p.m. This one only will end at 5:15. Because of physical distancing, a limited amount of people will be allowed inside the office at one time. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment and do not bring another person with you unless it’s necessary. Being proactive is the one step to early detection. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. People with fair skin, light-colored hair, green or blue eyes, and people who freckle easily are at the greatest risk. Excessive sun exposure, blistering burns before

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New research from Penn State University suggests simply asking young people about suicide increases the chance they will get connected with mental health services. The research underscores the need for everyone to watch out for their loved ones' mental health. Health care providers, too, continue to try to chip away at the mental health crisis across the country. And the numbers drive home the point: The National Institute of Mental Health says nearly one in five adults suffers from a mental illness. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says suicide is the second-leading cause of death among young people and, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, was the 10 th -leading cause of death among all Americans. The CDC says in 2020, someone took their own life about once every 11 minutes on average. The suicide lifeline says for every one person who dies by suicide each year, 316 people seriously consider it. The lifeline has fielded more than 20 million

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ALTON - Ameresco, Inc. recently announced its partnership with the City of Alton, Illinois to develop and install a 5 megawatt AC (MWAC)/7 megawatt DC (MWDC) solar array on the site of a local closed municipal landfill in Alton. Construction is expected to begin this spring and be completed by the end of this year. The solar installation is designed to deliver approximately $1 million in revenue to the City of Alton and surrounding local businesses over the course of its lifetime. Within the first year, the project is expected to generate approximately 10,000 MWh of electricity, reducing Alton’s carbon footprint by over 7,000 tons. “Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming, directly impacting communities through adverse weather events – including the increased flooding we’ve experienced here in Alton,” said Alton Mayor David Goins. “Though global warming is a worldwide problem, this project will benefit our city through local job

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Letter To The Editor: A good philosophy to have for your life is to use whatever gifts you have received to serve others. Many times people equate a phrase like that to mean sharing their material wealth or possessions. The famous artist Pablo Picasso said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” I would encourage you to look into sharing your time and talents to help others. Think of using your talents as a way to focus on using your strengths rather than focusing on your weaknesses. Studies have shown remarkable improvement in people’s quality of life when they utilize their strengths/talents for a good cause. Those improvements include a boost in self-confidence, increased energy, and overall improved health and wellness. This can sound too good to be true, but sharing our time and talents with other people can create more lasting life fulfillment. It is actually a win-win situation. We get to exercise our talent

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WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and combat Veteran U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN) and U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Chip Roy (R-TX-21), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), and Tom Cole (R-OK-04) to reintroduce bipartisan legislation to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs), formally end the Gulf and Iraq wars, and reassert Congress’ Constitutional role in deciding whether and when to send our service members into harm’s way. This bill would also enhance the relationship the United States now has with a sovereign, democratic Iraq. “The Constitution is clear – only the U.S. Congress has the power to declare war. But for too long, Congress has refused to take this charge seriously,” said Durbin. “Presidents of both parties have taken advantage of outdated AUMFs to justify military action without congressional

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