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CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker proclaimed May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and the Illinois Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative (CBHTI) are highlighting the important resources offered to residents and families across the state. “Mental Health Awareness Month represents a time to reflect on how far we’ve come—and recommit to the work ahead,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Illinois is leading the way in confronting the mental health crisis head-on: we became the first state in the nation to ban prior authorization for inpatient mental health care, we’ve strengthened 988 call center services, expanded capacity, and launched a centralized care portal to connect people with the help they need. My administration remains fully committed to fighting for critical federal

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — James Townes Jr., 48, of the 11200 block of Cadigan Lane in St. Louis, was charged Wednesday with multiple counts of stealing, possession of forging instruments, and impersonating a notary public in connection with a scheme involving fraudulent property transfers, according to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Townes faces four counts each of stealing $25,000 or more, possession of a forging instrument, and acting as or impersonating a notary. He is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond without the option of a 10% bond. A booking photo was not available. The charges stem from an investigation that began after a burglary call on Dec. 13, 2024, in the 6700 block of Silver Fox. During the investigation, officers discovered that Townes had filed false quitclaim deeds at the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds Office, transferring ownership of several homes into his company’s name, Tied Tight Entertainment LLC, by forging previous

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WASHINGTON – On Law Day, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement in support of #ReaffirmTheOath—a grassroots effort that calls upon lawyers nationwide to publicly renew their commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law by reaffirming the oath they took when sworn in as attorneys. Law Day, which is observed on May 1, is a time to reflect on the importance of our legal system and the principles that strengthen our democracy. “We stand at a critical time in our nation’s history. The ideas that have long defined our country—the sanctity of our Constitution, the independence of our judiciary, and the fundamental belief that no one is above the law—are under attack. “Now, more than ever, we must recommit to our oath of upholding the Constitution. In such times as these, the ‘Reaffirm the Oath’ project is not merely a symbolic gesture. It

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ALTON - At the Alton Community Service League’s (ACSL) April Membership meeting, $7,800 in grants were approved to the nine applicants who submitted requests. Those organizations receiving grants this year are Thrive, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, Alton Youth Symphony, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Alton Greater Choral Society, Juneteenth Celebration, Pride Incorporated, Madison Co. Extension, and AMH Health Foundation. Although the Alton Community Service League voted to discontinue its longstanding Gift Wrap Fundraiser last May, its members are grateful to all who supported our fundraisers this past year. Due to the success of ACSL’s Speakeasy Concert and Swing Dance held in February chaired by Jill Moon, and generous donations from Cora & Dave Miller, Nancy Wilson, and the Edwardsville Rotary Club, ACSL will have funds to carry over for next year’s grants and other beautification projects that the League may sponsor. The Alton Community Service League said it looks

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HARTFORD - Community members are invited to learn more about the Lewis and Clark expedition and 19th century life at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site. Located at 1 Lewis and Clark Trail in Hartford, the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site will host their annual free Point of Departure Commemoration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11, 2025. Attendees can interact with reenactors, presenters and artisans who will share more about life in the 1800s and the Lewis and Clark expedition. “This is the event at Lewis and Clark State Historic Site for the year,” said organizer Ben Pollard. “We want people to come back and be excited when they’re talking about history.” Pollard, Mike Bortko and Mike Kaufman have worked hard to organize this year’s Departure Day event. They are especially excited to welcome back Kurt Smith, who Bortko described as “the reigning Thomas Jefferson at Colonial Williamsburg.”

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EDWARDSVILLE – A break in the regular school schedule at Metro-East Lutheran High School allowed Shanna Covarrubias, Spanish teacher at MELHS, to take a group of students to Costa Rica to both immerse themselves in the language and serve the community. Covarrubias led a team of 21 students and five adults who traveled to San Ramon, Costa Rica, for a four-day service trip organized through Pura Vida, a mission organization based in Costa Rica. The group divided into three teams and spent a week hosting day camp programs for children in six different neighborhoods in San Ramon. “One team would go to a park, one would go to a basketball court, one would go to a soccer field, and we would do VBS (Vacation Bible School)-type programs for three hours,” Covarrubias said. “Then we would have lunch and then go to different locations in different neighborhoods in the afternoon and repeat the same program.” Through these weekly day camps, Pura Vida builds relationships

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BELLEVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that pavement patching on North Belt West from West Main Street to Illinois 161 in St. Clair County will require daytime lane closures beginning, weather permitting, Monday, May 5, 2025. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. The project is expected to be completed this summer. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer has appointed Jim Suelmann as interim director of streets, bringing experienced leadership to the Street Department, which is responsible for critical city services such as filling potholes, snow removal, towing abandoned vehicles, and collecting trash and recycling. Suelmann previously served as director of streets under four different mayors from 1985 until his retirement in 2006. A St. Louis native, he earned a degree in electrical engineering from Saint Louis University and served the U.S. Navy in Vietnam, where he was deployed twice. He later served in the U.S. Navy Reserves, retiring in 1992 as a commander. Suelmann first began working for the City of St. Louis as an electrical engineer in the Department of Public Utilities in 1978. He was named acting director of that department in 1983 before then-Mayor Vincent Schoemehl first named Suelmann director of the Street Department in 1985. “Jim Suelmann was trusted by St. Louis mayors

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MADISON COUNTY — Nine community volunteers have completed an intensive training program to become Tethered Technicians, equipping them to assist individuals experiencing street homelessness across Madison County. Hand Up Housing announced the conclusion of its latest Tethered Technician Team Member Training (T3) course, which spanned three weeks and included 12 hours of comprehensive instruction. The program focused on providing volunteers with practical skills in documentation, communication, and outreach necessary for effective engagement with vulnerable populations. Previous sessions covered assisting with identification documents, such as IDs and birth certificates from various states, as well as how to record detailed interaction notes to track needs and patterns over time. The final class emphasized field application of outreach techniques, safety protocols, and preparation of outreach kits containing wound care supplies donated by the Madison County Health Department.

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JERSEYVILLE – An agreement for the next phase of Hollow Avenue improvements in Jerseyville is on hold for now as the City Council awaits more information. Council members on Tuesday tabled a professional engineering services agreement with Bartlett & West Inc. for the third stage (termed the “construction stage”) of the Hollow Avenue Roadway Improvement Phase 2 Project. Improvements during this stage will span from West Hickory Street to Waggoner Avenue. Mayor Kevin Stork said the item was tabled because “some of the information didn’t come in on time,” scheduling it for reconsideration at the council’s next meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. While the agreement itself has been tabled, Public Works Director Bob Manns said bids were recently opened for the project, which is estimated to total $2.3 million. He named Baxmeyer Construction as the current lowest bidder with a bid of about $2 million, putting them in the lead so far to secure the

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ALTON — Alton Police Officer Luke Atkinson graduated from the Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy on Tuesday, marking a significant step in his law enforcement career. The Alton Police Department announced his accomplishment and welcomed him as he starts the Field Training Program under the guidance of a Field Training Officer. Lieutenant Michael O’Neill, who leads the department’s Support Services Division, represented the department at the graduation ceremony. The Alton Police Department expressed pride in Officer Atkinson’s achievement and looks forward to his service in the community. Officer Atkinson’s progression through the academy and into field training reflects the department’s ongoing commitment to developing skilled officers to serve Alton residents.

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City High School hosted a First Responders Career Fair recently, in the Annex Gym, featuring representatives from 17 different agencies. The event provided students with an opportunity to explore various career paths in emergency services and learn about the daily responsibilities of first responders. Participating agencies included local, state, and federal organizations such as the Granite City Police Department, Madison County Sheriff's Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s St. Louis Division. Federal law enforcement was represented by the United States Marshals Service from both Southern Illinois and Eastern Missouri. Other participants included the Madison County Coroner’s Office, Madison County Sheriff's Office 911 Office, and several fire departments including Granite City Firefighters Local 253, Mitchell Fire Rescue, and Long Lake Volunteer Fire Department. In addition to emergency response teams, the fair featured the United State

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COLLINSVILLE - Officers from the Caseyville Police Department took part in the Collinsville High School criminal justice jamboree, held recently at the school in Collinsville. The event, organized by the high school staff, aimed to engage students with hands-on experiences related to criminal justice. Sgt. Hoguet and K-9 Bama provided a demonstration for attendees, showcasing the capabilities of the department’s K-9 unit. Officers Reel, Detective Tamburello, and Lt. Pirtle also contributed to the event’s success. The collaboration between the Caseyville Police Department and Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 reflects ongoing efforts to educate students about law enforcement and public safety careers.

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ST. LOUIS - As daily air quality forecasting makes its return for the 2025 season, the American Lung Association’s latest “State of the Air” report finds that even after decades of successful efforts to reduce sources of air pollution, 46% of Americans – 156.1 million individuals – are living in places that received failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. This is nearly 25 million more people breathing unhealthy air compared to the years covered in last year’s report (2020-2022), and more than in any other “State of the Air” report in the last 10 years. The data reinforces the need to protect our local communities from the continued risks to public health resulting from a combination of factors, including extreme heat, drought, wildfire smoke and more. Looking back at the “State of the Air” data from almost 30 years ago, when the average number of high ozone days in the St. Louis region approached

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GLEN CARBON - The Village of Glen Carbon is continuing a municipal electricity aggregation program with Homefield Energy. This program was previously approved by referendum by the voters in each of the 27 participating communities. The Village’s primary goal is to protect residents from the continued rise in electric supply rates and spikes in the energy market. Residents and businesses are able to opt-out of the program if desired. The new rate for the Village of Glen Carbon is $0.1207 per kWh and will be a fully fixed rate from June 2025 through May 2026. The current Homefield Energy rate is $.09054. Ameren’s rates are scheduled to change June 1, 2025, so Good Energy is recommending that residents wait until Ameren announces their PTC (price to compare) rate prior to making any decisions on opting out. More information is forthcoming to eligible residents via mail beginning this May. If the account holder desires to continue participating in the program, they

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JERSEYVILLE – The City of Jerseyville shows no signs of slowing down on current and future street projects around the city . The City Council on Tuesday approved up to $535,055.72 in Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds to cover various road projects over the next fiscal year. Public Works Director Bob Manns said this total includes projected costs for not only road work, but also drainage improvements, signage, lighting, ice and snow removal, tree trimming, and other associated maintenance costs. Jerseyville currently receives about $30,000 each month, or $360,000 annually, in MFT funds. Manns said the city usually spends the same amount of MFT funding it brings in, and expects actual expenditures over the next fiscal year to be closer to $360,000. However, the approved amount of $535,055.72 ensures the city has an over $175,000 safety net for any unexpected costs that may arise. “We always budget high,” Manns explained. “We don’t know how Mother Nature’s

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ALTON - Alton Middle School students have combined STEM with soccer. Student Athletes Leading Tomorrow (SALT), an Alton-based nonprofit, has partnered with SIUE’s STEM Center, SIUE’s men and women’s soccer teams, and the O’Fallon, Edwardsville, Triad and Belleville East High Schools’ robotics teams to provide Cougar KickBots at Alton Middle School. Through this program, SIUE athletes take the kids through soccer drills and games and then the STEM Center and robotics teams teach them basic coding skills. “We’re engaging our children through STEM and also physical literacy. We’re proud of it,” said Damian Jones, founder of SALT, who conceptualized the program. “What we try to do with our programming is create really immersive and unique experiences that are little mountaintop moments for these children to get them out of the valley of sameness, of what they’re accustomed to, what they’ve been exposed to, and

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RIVERBEND REGION – The Riverbend area communities have renewed their municipal electricity aggregation program with Homefield Energy. This program, which was previously approved by referendum by the voters in each community. These communities include the Village of Godfrey, Village of Bethalto, Village of Roxana, Village of South Roxana, Village of East Alton, Village of Hartford, City of Alton, and the City of Wood River. The primary goal of these communities is to protect the residents from the continued volatility in electric supply rates as well as spikes in the energy market. The new rate for the Riverbend communities ranges from $0.1197 to $0.1207 per kWh and will be a fully fixed rate from June 2025 – May 2026. As expected, generation capacity for the region impacted the rate substantially and with capacity being a pass-through component of the supply, the expected capacity cost will have a similar impact on Ameren rates as well. Residents should keep in mind,

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CHICAGO — The Chicago Department of Public Health and Cook County Department of Public Health have identified two confirmed cases of measles. These are the first two cases in Cook County this year . One case was identified as an adult who is a suburban Cook County resident, and whose vaccination status is unknown. They presented to a local Hospital for medical care on Monday, April 28 and was quickly isolated. Another case was identified in an adult Chicago resident who traveled internationally through O’Hare Airport in early April. The individual had 1 prior dose of MMR vaccine. This patient had rash onset on April 25 and has been isolated at home since being diagnosed. All persons 12 months of age or older who plan to travel internationally should ensure that they have received 2 doses of MMR at least 2 weeks prior to travel, or other evidence of immunity. The health departments are working together collaboratively to identify and notify people who may have been exposed

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered remarks honoring Fred Wertheimer, this year’s recipient for the University of Illinois System’s Senator Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government. In his remarks, Durbin praised Mr. Wertheimer’s work as founder and President of Democracy 21, a nonpartisan, nonprofit dedicated to strengthening American democracy, safeguarding election integrity, and promoting government accountability. Named for the late Illinois Senator, the Senator Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government is presented to a person whose public actions and contributions have demonstrated a deep understanding and respect for ethical behavior and standards in government. Past recipients include former President Barack Obama, the late Senator Paul Simon, the late Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and former Representative Liz

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