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CHICAGO - To align with the ending of the enforcement of the federal mask mandate on public transportation following a federal court ruling, Governor Pritzker today announced he will revise Illinois’ executive order lifting those requirements for the State of Illinois. As a result, masks will no longer be required on public transit, in public transit hubs, or in airports. Executive Order 2022-06 will be amended to reflect these changes. Local municipalities retain the right to establish their own mitigations, including masking requirements on public transportation. “I’m proud of the work our state has done to fight COVID-19 and protect our most vulnerable,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I continue to urge Illinoisans to follow CDC guidelines and, most importantly, get vaccinated to protect yourself and others.” “IDPH is closely monitoring the status of COVID-19 throughout Illinois and working with our local public health partners to keep the

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GRAFTON - Mayor Mike Morrow recently showed special recognition with a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the Grafton City Council to Scoutmaster Ray Hasty and Boy Scout Troop 59 for excellent work to support the Annual Grafton Easter Egg Hunt. Mayor Morrow said the Easter Egg Hunt is a family activity that takes place at Red Hawk Park each year on Easter weekend. The event is sponsored and organized by Alderman Donna Smith and Christina Petrea; Children’s Activity Coordinator under the Grafton Community Outreach Program headed by Alderman Smith. “The Annual Easter Egg Hunt is always a big draw for our families," Smith said. "There is a lot of preparation needed to ensure a successful hunt. Troop 59 volunteered to help Chris and my staff and hide eggs. "We were able to cut our work time in half! They helped make this Easter Egg Hunt a huge success." Mayor Morrow said that the Scouts of Troop 59 were a credit to the City of Grafton and thanked Scoutmaster Hasty for

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EAST ST. LOUIS - The Illinois State Police Zone 6 Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) and East St. Police Department are investigating a female fatality after a report of a shooting on Wednesday at a residence at 27th Street and Louisiana Boulevard in East St. Louis. The shooting report came in at 6:50 a.m. on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. This was ISP's preliminary synopsis of what they know at the present time occurred: The Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) responded to a reported shooting at the above time and location. A 37-year-old female of East St. Louis was found deceased. No further information will be disseminated at this time. Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has any knowledge of the incident is asked to contact Crimestoppers by phone at 314-725-8477 (TIPS). Witnesses can remain anonymous.

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COLLINSVILLE - St. John’s Community Care announced today that Christine Stewart has been appointed new Executive Director of the St. John’s Community Care. An experienced leader, Christine will succeed Nancy Berry and assume responsibilities on May 2, 2022. After 34 years as Executive Director, Nancy will begin her retirement on May 31. Christine is coming to St. John’s from Canada, where she led the Canadian Mental Health Association, Central Alberta since 2017. Prior to that, she served as Manager of Agency Programs for McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association. After living and working in Canada for more than 20 years, Christine is eager to return to the St. Louis area where she grew up. “After interviewing finalists for Executive Director, it was clear to the Search Committee that Christine will be a great fit to succeed Nancy in continuing to care for and empower elders and those who care for them,” said Carla Gain, who chaired the Search

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ALTON - Earth Day 2022 marks the perfect time to pledge to improve yourself and the world around you. A low-impact workout through gardening accomplishes both. Kelly Bogowith, a physical therapist at OSF HealthCare in Alton, Illinois , says planting roots – literally – is the jump start many need after being cooped up all winter. And she has no problem rattling off examples. "Using a wheelbarrow, kneeling down to garden, getting back up, carrying bags of soil, shoveling – all of those things are actually great forms of exercise and very enjoyable for many people," she says. There are many benefits, too. Reaching for flowers promotes flexibility. Hauling that wheelbarrow or lifting a dirt-filled shovel builds muscles and endurance. And being on your hands and knees promotes balance. "It can be good just getting up and down," Bogowith says. "It’s good for our muscles, and improving our leg strength can help with balance, actually. And that transfers to

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GLEN CARBON - Ooh La La Spa, Anti-Aging and Wellness is encouraging people to kick off spring with some tips and tricks to get your body healthy and ready for summer. As the medical spa’s Director of Wellness and Nutrition, Robert Wise, D.C. has more than two decades of experience with nutritional counseling. Dr. Wise said around this time of year, he sees an increase in patients interested in new ways to lose weight before summer. “There are so many different plans and ways people can approach weight loss and all of the options can be overwhelming,” said Dr. Wise. “Getting expert help can help people find a plan that works for them quicker. We often see people struggling with weight loss because the diets and exercise that used to work for them at age 25, are no longer working for them at 35.” Dr. Wise said their weight loss plans center around an option called Ideal Protein. It is a low-fat, low-carb, ketogenic diet that helps people get to their goal

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COLLINSVILLE - The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will host a public meeting May 4th to discuss the construction for the proposed replacement of the Interstate 270 Bridge over the Mississippi River and the associated Riverview Drive interchange modification. The public meeting will be held in an open-house format at the following time and location: Wednesday, May 4 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Southwestern Illinois College – Granite City Campus 4950 Maryville Road Granite City, IL The open forum meeting format provides interested individuals the opportunity to attend the meeting and obtain information regarding the maintenance of traffic during construction and the construction schedule. You may come and go at any time during the scheduled meeting hours, examine the exhibits and speak with IDOT and MoDOT representatives. Written comments will be accepted at the meeting. They also can be mailed within 10 days following the public meeting. In addition, comments ca

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EAST ALTON – The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) is hosting a three-day Freshwater Symposium for Earth Science Educators, July 18-20, 2022. “A major component of NGRREC’s mission is watershed science and education and we are excited to get back to supporting in-person learning,” Director of Environmental Education Sarah Fisher said. “We have held several virtual trainings, but providing educators with hands-on experiences allows us to dive deeper into the realm of freshwater education.” Over the course of three days, the participants will be trained in the following programs: Project Water Education Today (WET) : Learn how to use water education activities in your classroom to help students understand global challenges and inspire local solutions. Educators will receive a Project WET teacher certification in both Climate, Water & Resilience and Wonders of Wetlands curricula. Swarovski Waterschool : The Swarovski

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EDWARDSVILLE – Jennifer Korte, candidate for State Representative in the 112 th District, says her opponent is misrepresenting her voting record and is calling on him to correct the record. In a recent social media post, Joe Hackler, who is also running for State Representative in the 112 th District, claimed Korte did not vote in the 2020 election. “The truth is I did vote in the 2020 Election, and I have consistently participated in the electoral process,” Korte said. “I have always taken elections seriously long before I ever decided to run for public office.” Korte said she had to track down her voting record with the Madison County Clerk’s office as some of her voter history was misplaced, but the records have been found and have been updated. “Mistakes happen,” Korte said. “What happened to me is one reason why I am so committed to election reforms to ensure the integrity of our elections. My opponent has been

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ST. LOUIS - Today, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones delivered her first State of the City address, just ahead of the first anniversary of her historic inauguration on April 20, from the Givens Auditorium at Harris Stowe State University, St. Louis’ historically Black university. Mayor Jones emphasized that despite the challenges our city faces, St. Louis is on the precipice of transformative change, and that our best days as a city still lie ahead. Highlighting her family’s roots in North St. Louis, Mayor Jones discussed the ways she has seen St. Louis change throughout her lifetime, and emphasized the incredible opportunity offered by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to reverse decades of disinvestment in our neighborhoods. Mayor Jones committed a $150 million investment in North St. Louis because St. Louis cannot succeed - together - if one half is allowed to fail. Mayor Jones emphasized that economic empowerment, neighborhood transformation, and equitable development are critica

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ALTON - Alton Main Street’s quarterly information exchange, called “What’s Up Downtown”, will be held on Thursday, April 21st at 5:30 p.m. at Jacoby Arts Center, located at 627 E. Broadway in Alton, IL. The public is invited to learn the latest news regarding developments in Alton’s historic downtown district, including updates from new & existing businesses, news on real estate transactions, and details of upcoming events and projects. The evening’s featured speakers will be: Dennis Hyland , giving a progress update on AltonWorks projects Laura Windisch , announcing the launch of FLOCK food truck park Dave Nunnally , reporting details of Soul Asylum, a new museum attraction that has recently opened at 301 E. Broadway Vicky Delaney , sharing details of the move and expansion of River Bend Yoga to 100 W. 3rd Street Mike Weller , announcing a new location of AP Cigar Co. at 202 State Street Mayor David Goins , sharing updates on behalf of the

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EAST ST. LOUIS - DraftKings at Casino Queen is a vibrant casino and hotel nestled along the Mississippi River at 200 S. S. Front St., located just minutes from Downtown St. Louis with stunning views of The Gateway Arch and St. Louis Skyline. The 38,000-square-foot casino features 980 gaming machines and 27 table games. Accommodations include comfortable guest rooms and a picturesque RV park, plus amenities include event and meeting spaces, a pool and free parking. DraftKings at Casino Queen offers a premier sports betting and viewing experience at its DraftKings at Casino Queen Sportsbook featuring a 60-foot video wall, dozens of high-definition televisions, a VIP area and more than 30 betting kiosks. A new dining promenade will soon be introduced featuring a food court with three exciting casual dining outlets and a full-service restaurant. Formerly known as Casino Queen and welcoming visitors since 1993, the property partnered with DraftKings to provide a premier sports betting experience

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CHICAGO – Building on three years of fiscally responsible leadership, Governor JB Pritzker signed the fiscal year 2023 budget into law, delivering his fourth balanced budget while providing $1.8 billion in tax relief to the working families of Illinois. The fiscal year 2023 budget provides historic funding for education, human services, law enforcement and violence prevention. It prioritizes fiscal responsibility, funding pensions at $500 million more than required, repaying the state’s remaining outstanding debts, and putting $1 billion in the Budget Stabilization Fund, also known as the “rainy day” fund, for unforeseen emergencies. “The budget I’m signing into law today brings real improvements to the lives of working families and sets us up for a stronger fiscal future,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Investments in stronger schools, modernized airports and newly paved highways, hundreds of thousands of well-paying infrastructure jobs,

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ST. LOUIS - National Volunteer Week is April 17-23 and the American Red Cross of Missouri and Arkansas honors the work of its volunteers who give their time to help people in need. Across the country, more than 300,000 Red Cross volunteers serve their communities by responding to thousands of disasters; supporting the collection of blood to help patients receive the critical care they need; aiding members of the military and their families; helping communities prepare for emergencies around the globe and much more. Here in the Missouri Arkansas Region, nearly 2,700 volunteers helped their community during the last fiscal year (July 2020 to June 2021). “National Volunteer Week is time to honor all of our volunteers for their constant service and support,” said Pete Wyatt, Regional Executive of the Missouri Arkansas Region. “They are true heroes who give their time day and night to help their local community.” During the past fiscal year, Missouri Arkansas Red

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY: The St. Louis County Police Crimes Against Persons detectives are currently investigating a probable murder/suicide in the 16800 block of Manchester Road which resulted in the death of two adult males. On April 19, 2022, at approximately 11:35 PM, St. Louis County police officers from the City of Wildwood Precinct responded to a call for service for a shooting in the 16800 block of Manchester Road. Officers located two victims suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The preliminary investigation has revealed two adult males were involved in an altercation in the parking lot. The suspect shot the victim, then turned the gun on himself in an apparent murder/suicide. Both suspect and victim were pronounced deceased on scene. The investigation is very active at this time. Additional information will be disseminated as it becomes available. Please contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 to speak with investigators if you have any information

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LITCHFIELD - Registration for the 2022 Litchfield Pickers Market is open! The Litchfield Tourism Office is happy to announce that the Pickers Market is coming back to Litchfield, Illinois in 2022. If you love antiques and vintage items, this market is for you. This is the largest, specialized open-air market in the region. The Litchfield Pickers Market will return, every second Sunday of the month from May to October, with the exact 2022 market dates being: May 8, June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, and October 9. Mark your calendar NOW and plan to visit downtown Litchfield, Illinois between 9 AM to 3 PM (for your GPS use 400 North State Street). Live musical entertainment will be scheduled for the duration of each event, and the official entertainment schedule will be posted soon! Make sure to follow all of the updates on the "Litchfield Pickers Market" Facebook page. This year is going to be a great one! Attention Vendors: Vendor registration IS OPEN. Forms with market guideline

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ST. LOUIS – Jurassic World Live Tour, an exhilarating and unpredictable live, family entertainment experience that brings the wonder and thrills of Jurassic World to generations of fans is coming to Enterprise Center in St. Louis from December 16 - 18. Jurassic World Live Tour Preferred Customers can purchase advance tickets starting today, April 19, to get the best seats available before tickets go on-sale to the general public on April 26. Fans can still sign up to become a Jurassic World Live Tour Preferred Customer and get exclusive access to the pre-sale offer code. With unrivaled arena production quality, Jurassic World comes to life against a backdrop of captivating scenery where dinosaurs from the iconic franchise, including fan-favorite Velociraptor Blue and a Tyrannosaurus rex more than 40 feet in length, take center stage. The production features more than 24 film-accurate, life-sized dinosaurs, with scale, speed and ferocity, operated by animatronics and performers.

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EAST ALTON – Research from RiverWatch Director and Stream Ecologist Danelle Haake illustrates how community members can be a part of the scientific field and provides new insight on how road salt application affects our local streams. Haake, who holds a doctorate in biology from Saint Louis University, is a senior scientist and RiverWatch Director at Lewis and Clark Community College’s National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC sm ) and has over 10 years of experience in stream ecology research. Her recent paper, “Impacts of Urbanization of Chloride and Stream Invertebrates,” was published in the journal “Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management.” The article was co-authored by three citizen scientists who also participated in the study. “The goal of this research is two-fold,” Haake said. “It will hopefully lead to greater knowledge about what is happening locally and show how chloride levels from

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GREENFIELD - Pink lights were displayed everywhere on the evening of Saturday, April 16, in Greenfield and throughout Greene County in memory of 1-year-old Danika, who died tragically in a fire on March 31, 2022. Danika is the daughter of Nate Alderfer, a Greenfield City Police Officer, and his wife, Kari, a Greenfield City Alderwoman. The pink light display was on the evening before Easter Sunday morning. Danika was 11 months old when she died in the fire on March 31, 2022, where she also lost a grandparent. Morgan Coffey and Morgan Vinyard have led an effort to show community support to the family by selling pink lights. The two had this statement about the program: “Starting on what would have been Danika’s first birthday on April 16, 2022, we are asking you to turn on your pink porch light. We want the Alderfer family to know our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. A total of 100 percent of the proceeds will be going toward starting the

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Calhoun County resident Kermit Bell is a West Point graduate and a retired Lt. Col from the US Army. Bell was drafted for WWII in 1946 as he attended Calhoun High School. However, he was granted the ability to finish school before he began his service. Bell went on to serve through Korea and Vietnam and settled into his optometry practice after earning his degree in Tennessee. Kermit Bell has played an orchestral role in efforts to build up the county’s infrastructure, including helipads, the county pool, Bell’s gym, the medical center, among other projects. “Serendipity governs what you do.” Bell’s close relationship with this concept has brought him across the country multiple times, often in ways he did not expect. “I was an enlisted man, not very experienced in anything. I had a high school education, but the Calhoon High School wouldn’t have gotten me too far.” Early on in Bell’s military career, he recognized his drive to becom

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