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CHICAGO – Celebrating the passage of a FY23 budget that prioritizes responsible spending, Gov. JB Pritzker joined students, lawmakers, and advocates at Gately Park Indoor Track in Chicago to highlight programs designed to foster the success of young people throughout the state. “Last week we passed a budget that will have an enormously positive impact on the wellbeing of young people in this state,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “It focuses on giving them every opportunity to succeed, investing in their future like never before. Our children deserve a stronger, healthier Illinois to grow up in, and by continuing to make responsible financial decisions we are delivering on that promise.” “Every child and teen, regardless of their skin color or background, has the potential to do great things,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, (D-Chicago). “It is our duty and responsibility to ensure our youth have the necessary tools fo

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CARLINVILLE - Blackburn College has been awarded a $250,000 two-year Teacher Residency Grant from the Illinois State Board of Education (IBSE) to help address the state’s teacher shortage. The funds will be used to accelerate Blackburn’s established Teacher Licensure Program (TLP) which the College launched in 2020. Blackburn’s fully-online licensure program provides the opportunity for individuals with bachelor’s degrees in other fields of study to pursue new careers in teaching. Dr. Michelle Stacy, Professor of Education and Teacher Licensure Program Coordinator, explained that these funds will allow Blackburn to provide additional resources to continue to address the teacher shortage in Illinois. She noted, “Our Teacher Licensure Program was originally designed to train high-quality teachers for areas most in need. It’s very popular because it is a fast-track licensure program that can build a ton of essential training and first-hand classroom experienc

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ALTON - The OSF HealthCare blog has been named to Feedspot’s " Top 100 Healthcare Blogs and Websites " list of health care blogs to follow in 2022. Feedspot is considered the largest human-curated database of bloggers and podcasts. The OSF HealthCare blog recently checked in at number 27 on the list, which evolves every few weeks. The recognition highlighted the OSF blog’s polished and relevant content and its robust following. In 2021, the blog registered nearly eight million visits. "This recognition is a testament to our team’s work to bring relevant and valuable information to the community," said Susan Milford, Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications at OSF HealthCare. "Health care can be complicated, and especially during the pandemic, trusted and up-to-date factual information for our communities became even more important. The content found on the OSF HealthCare blog provides expert answers to a number of questions and connects people with

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CHICAGO - On April 10, 2022, at approximately 5:25 a.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash on Interstate 290 eastbound near Western Avenue in Cook County, involving an Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Emergency Transportation Patrol (ETP) truck. On the above date and time, an IDOT ETP truck was stationary, with emergency lights activated, removing traffic debris from the two left lanes. At this time, a gray Nissan traveling eastbound, failed to yield to the stationary emergency vehicle and the front of the Nissan struck the rear of the IDOT ETP truck. The Nissan became fully engulfed in flames. Both drivers and a passenger in the Nissan were transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries and later released. The driver of the Nissan, Devon J. Lovaloy, a 23-year-old male of Chicago, IL, was charged with Scott’s Law-Improper Passing of Emergency Vehicle, Driving While License Revoked, Operating Uninsure

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ST. LOUIS - Congresswoman Cori Bush will be the featured speaker at the Opening Ceremony and Sustainability Awards at the St. Louis Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 23, at 1 pm. Organized by the local nonprofit earthday365, the Sustainability Awards will highlight achievements in sustainability over five different categories. 2022 EARTH DAY SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS - Outstanding Nominees Hellbender Lifetime Achievement in Sustainability Wayne Garver, Gateway Electric Vehicle Association President and environmental educator Jean Ponzi, EarthWays Center, MOBOT’s Green Business Challenge, BiodiverCity STL, Earthworms radio show/podcast/column, original Earth Day Festival organizer Emily Andrews, Executive Director of US - Green Building Council, Green Schools Quest, champion of landmark energy efficiency standards such as the 2021 Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) and the new Building Energy Exchange - St. Louis. John Risberg, former Maritz executive

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JERSEYVILLE - City Center Park in Downtown Jerseyville will host the 1st of 4 planned events for the community on May 6, 2022. This concept, developed by Explore Jerseyville Tourism, brings together a public-private partnership. Each event happening over the remainder of 2022 will bring together different Jerseyville businesses to cover aspects of the evening, showcasing what they provide. City Center Park will come alive with representation from 3 local businesses, making this the perfect way to bring small business week to a close. The May “Rock the Block” will feature food and beverages from Redbird Deli, Brossio Tavern, and Bare Bones BBQ, a local member of the St. Louis BBQ Society. A variety of foods will be available for the Series goers along with beverages for a fee. Our entertainment, Exit 52 will take the stage with their unique sound and wonderful beat bringing all in attendance to their feet. Classic sounds from the past are given life once again with EXIT

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has been nationally-recognized as a 2022-23 Military Friendly® School. The University’s “Gold” designation emphasizes its commitment to successfully connect the military and civilian world through its Office of Military and Veteran Services. The Military Friendly® Schools survey is the longest-running most comprehensive review of college and university investments in serving military and veteran students. According to militaryfriendly.com, the 2022-2023 Military Friendly® Schools list is “more exclusive than ever, and covers institutions offering certificate programs to doctoral degrees.” The number of schools participating in this year’s survey increased 50%, from 1,200 to 1,800 nationwide. “Recognition from these premier national rankings is a testament to the outstanding work being accomplished in the Office of Military and Veteran Services,” said director Kevin

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SEE VIDEO: EDWARDSVILLE - Bagley Farms Meat Market recently held a ribbon-cutting of its new location at 1208 Highway 157 Edwardsville. The Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce hosted the ribbon cut. The Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce said Bailey Farms Meat Market is a family-owned business that offers quality products at competitive prices and describes its staff as "some of the nicest people you will ever encounter." "We always have weekly specials," Andrew Bagley, a partner in the business, said. Bagley Farms Meat Market comes from fifth-generation farmers from Shipman, IL. “We produce corn, soybeans, and wheat, but our biggest commodity is Angus Cattle,” Andrew Bagley of Bagley Farms Meat Market said. “Our focus will be on providing the Metro-East with local products like beef, cheese, and produce when it’s available. “While it's impossible to source 100 percent local products 100 percent of the time, we’ll do ou

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Jimmy and Lauren (Hess) Horman, of Bethalto, welcomed their first child, a baby girl, on March 9. The couple’s daughter, Hadley Marie Horman, was born in Maryville, Ill. at 4:26 p.m., weighing 7 pounds and 7 ounces. Along with her parents, Hadley was welcomed by grandparents: Jim and Nancy Horman of Hardin and Bob and Shelly Hess of Millstadt, and great-grandparents: Russel Gibson of Jerseyville and Mary Ogle of Roxana.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is adopting new federal guidelines for tracking COVID-19 at the community level. The new CDC guidelines emphasize the case rate and hospitalizations in order to better track the prevalence of COVID-19 in communities. As a result of these new guidelines, testing providers will no longer be required to report some negative tests and IDPH will therefore no longer report test and case positivity. In addition to adopting new CDC guidelines, IDPH is bolstering the data on its COVID-19 dashboard to provide additional information to help communities respond to changes in the course of the virus. Among the new data that has been or will be shared on the IDPH COVID-19 dashboard are the following: • Updated data on vaccination rates to reflect the full population eligible as eligibility continues to evolve. • The number of people admitted to the hospital with a COVID-19 diagnosis. • More detailed data on hospitalizations

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O’FALLON — HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital’s Wound Care Center has been named a recipient of the Center of Distinction award by Healogics ® , the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services. The center achieved outstanding clinical outcomes for 12 consecutive months, including patient satisfaction rates higher than 92% and a minimum wound healing rate of at least 92% within 28 median days to heal. There were 555 centers eligible for the Center of Distinction award and 278 achieved the honor. Other Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) hospitals receiving this same honor include HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland. “We are pleased to have received this national distinction,” shared St. Elizabeth’s Interim President and CEO Brandon Fish. “The high-quality and compassionate care that our Wound Care Center provides is often life changing for man

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GRANITE CITY – In the first endorsements of the 112th district, Joe Hackler is supported by the following conservative lawmakers from the Metro East and Southern Illinois: State Representative Charlie Meier (HD 108), State Representative Amy Elik (HD 111), State Representative David Friess (HD 116), State Representative Dave Severin (HD 117), State Representative Patrick Windhorst (HD 118), and State Senator Terri Bryant (SD 58). Hackler is the choice of surrounding state legislators because of his record as a proven fighter and trusted conservative. “Joe has demonstrated conservative leadership on his local township board and has stood up to Chicago democrats in races across Southern Illinois. Joe is the candidate who can win the 112th District for Republicans,” said State Representative Amy Elik, who defeated democratic incumbent Monica Bristow in the 2020 election. Hackler has fought for conservative representation for nearly a decade in Southern Illinois, serving

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ST. LOUIS - April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month and Urology of St. Louis (USL), the largest private urologic practice in St. Louis and the Metro East, is raising awareness about the importance of early detection. “It is very important for men to go to a primary care provider or urologist if anything feels abnormal,” said Gregory Auffenberg, MD. “This cancer occurs in an area that is sensitive, and it can often cause anxiety for some patients. Do not be afraid to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.” Dr. Auffenberg said testicular cancer can affect people at any age, but it is most often found in men ages 15 to 40 years old. This type of cancer occurs when healthy cells in the testicle become altered. Some symptoms include a lump or enlargement in either testicle, feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, dull ache in the abdomen or groin, sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum, and pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum. Dr. Auffenberg

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SPRINGFIELD - The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) received a donation of 1,000 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms from Vision 20/20 for the “Be Alarmed!” Smoke Alarm Program. Vision 20/20 partners with organizations and experts to drive Community Risk Reduction across all levels of the fire and emergency services. They help to identify gaps, evaluate and apply data-driven strategies and resources, and provide guidance in implementing adaptive measures to reduce fire and other risks. In 2021, 2,945 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms were installed in Illinois homes. The program reached 2,268 (1,027 high-risk) Illinois residents educating them on smoke alarm maintenance, home fire safety, and home fire escape plans as well as protected by new smoke alarms. Of those homes visited, 80% of pre-existing smoke alarms in homes that received new 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms from our program had non-functional o

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois House of Representatives adjourned shortly after 6:00 am on Saturday, April 9 following the passage of a state budget and a temporary tax relief package scheduled to take effect July 1. According to State Representative Amy Elik, “There were several good bills approved this session year. However, I’m disappointed the legislature adjourned ahead of the May 31st deadline without a solution to get tough on crime, zero anti-corruption reforms considered, and no solution to pay off $1.8 billion in debt accumulated during the pandemic despite a federal bailout.” On a positive note, the legislature did approve legislation sponsored by Rep. Elik to support the safety of transportation for foster children, allow family and friends to visit their loved ones in nursing homes, alleviate the teacher shortage in our state, and renew scholarships for low-income students. State Budget The General Assembly approved (HB 900) a 46.5 billion dollar state

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BELLEVILLE - Holland Construction Services is working on an expansion project at Eckert’s in Belleville, which will expand the popular outdoor entertainment venue by nearly 10,000 square feet. The project will include a new Cider Shed Tasting Room and Pavilion, as well as a Cider Donut & Custard Shop. The expansion broke ground in February and is expected to be complete by Memorial Day weekend. “This is an interesting renovation because Eckert’s is an 8 th generation business. This is where the company began so we’re learning a lot of history while working on this project,” said Holland Project Executive Ryan Savage. “We’ve enjoyed being part of Eckert’s growth.” The addition will be located between the Country Store and Country Restaurant and include the 3,500 square-foot Cider Shed Tasting Room and Pavilion, bar, and an indoor dining room. An additional 5,500 square-foot pavilion with outdoor dining will connect to the Cider

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ALTON - The Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois and Living Lands & Waters are calling for volunteers to support a river clean-up in celebration of Earth Day! This year, communities across the world are coming together to celebrate Earth Day by working to preserve and protect our health, communities, and livelihoods. Preserving and protecting the Mississippi River through river clean-ups is critical to Illinois’ collective efforts to ensure that our health and communities thrive. The Earth Day river clean-up will be held on Wednesday, April 27 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Learn more and register for the river clean-up at bit.ly/clean-up22 . The Mississippi River flows over 2,000 miles from its headwaters in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, and items that we use every day can make their way to our river, thus negatively impacting the environment. In celebration of Earth Day, the Three Rivers Project and Living Lands & Waters are hosting a river clean-up as part of their ongoin

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April is the month when independent bookstores nationwide celebrate Independent Bookstore Day. This year it is Saturday, April 30. Among the stores celebrating this day are Afterwords in Edwardsville and The Sly Fox in Virden. So, this month is a good one to celebrate some of our local authors. Belleville native Taylor Pensoneau (now living in New Berlin) is best known to many for Brothers Notorious , The Sheltons , Southern Illinois’ Legendary Gangsters , published in 2002, and Dapper & Deadly , The True Story of Black Charlie Harris , published in 2010. But, shortly after Brothers Notorious , Pensoneau wrote his first fictional novel, The Summer of ’50 , featuring Jake Brosky, a crack investigative reporter for a St. Louis newspaper. For many years Pensoneau himself was the statehouse reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. A second Jack Brosky novel, Falling Star , followed in 2019. A year later came the third Jake Brosky crime novel, Devil on the Prairie

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EAST ALTON — Steve Thompson, regional president of Carrollton Bank in Alton, has been named the 2022 auxiliary board chair for the Southwest Illinois Division of United Way of Greater St. Louis. He succeeds Gireesh Gupchup, director for university-community initiatives and professor of pharmacy at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), who has held the chair position since 2020. “United Way has been a cornerstone in the community for a century and they play a critical role in keeping our community strong so our neighbors can succeed and thrive,” said Thompson. “It is an honor to serve as board chair for the Southwest Illinois Division. I am excited to join other volunteers, staff, and fellow board members in working to help people across our community live their best possible lives.” Thompson has over 35 years of banking and financial experience. He began his career at KPMG Peat Marwick and went on to operate his own business as a consultant

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ST. LOUIS — Join the National Park Service in celebrating America’s national parks during National Park Week, April 16-24, 2022! At Gateway Arch National Park, guests are encouraged to explore more than 200 years of history in the Museum at the Gateway Arch, take the Tram Ride to the Top and watch the documentary movie “Monument to the Dream” chronicling the construction of the Arch, as well as many other events and activities that connect visitors to St. Louis’ urban national park. “National Park Week is a time to share the many ways we can connect with, enjoy and experience our national parks,” says Pam Sanfilippo, Program Manager, Museum Services & Interpretation, Gateway Arch National Park. “We encourage you to earn your Junior Ranger badge, explore our 91-acre park grounds and take in all there is to do and see at Gateway Arch National Park!” Each day of National Park Week, “sPark” a connection with the park

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