a Better Bubble™

Aggregator

Alton Joins Ranks Of Masks Strongly Recommended, But Optional By 7-0 Board Vote

3 years 10 months ago
ALTON - Alton School District Superintendent Kristie Baumgartner provided details Wednesday morning of a Tuesday night decision by the School Board. Dr. Baumgartner said the board voted 7-0 Tuesday night in a meeting to move from mask required, but "strongly recommended." "Late this afternoon, the Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) voted 9-0 to reject the extension of the Illinois emergency regulations for COVID-19 mitigations in schools," she explained. "These mitigations include masking for students and staff, testing requirements for staff, and exclusion for close contacts. Because the emergency regulations are now expired, student and staff mask requirements, employee vaccination/testing requirements and exclusion of close contacts can only occur through a court order or an order from the Madison County Health Department. "Therefore, beginning on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, masks will now be strongly recommended for our students and staff, but not required,

Continue Reading

The 'Real' St. Valentine Was No Patron Of love

3 years 10 months ago
On Feb. 14, sweethearts of all ages exchanged cards, flowers, candy, and more lavish gifts in the name of St. Valentine. But as a historian of Christianity , I can tell you that at the root of our modern holiday is a beautiful fiction. St. Valentine was no lover or patron of love. Valentine’s Day, in fact, originated as a liturgical feast to celebrate the decapitation of a third-century Christian martyr, or perhaps two. So, how did we get from beheading to betrothing on Valentine’s Day? Early Origins of St. Valentine Ancient sources reveal that there were several St. Valentines who died on Feb. 14. Two of them were executed during the reign of Roman Emperor Claudius Gothicus in 269-270 A.D., at a time when persecution of Christians was common. How do we know this? Because, an order of Belgian monks spent three centuries collecting evidence for the lives of saints from manuscript archives around the known world. They were called Bollandists after Jean Bolland,

Continue Reading

Missouri plotting official ‘end’ to COVID-19 pandemic as soon as March, document says

3 years 10 months ago

The state of Missouri is planning an official end to the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health crisis and will transition to treating the virus as endemic, much like it does the seasonal flu. The target date for when Missouri’s public health agencies would begin treating COVID-19 as endemic is mid-March, the two-year anniversary of […]

The post Missouri plotting official ‘end’ to COVID-19 pandemic as soon as March, document says appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Derek Kravitz

ep. Amy Elik: Bipartisan Legislative Body Suspends School Mask Mandate

3 years 10 months ago
SPRINGFIELD - The bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) voted today to block the re-implementation of Governor JB Pritzker’s mask mandate for K-12 schools in Illinois. According to State Representative Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg), “As it stands today, the statewide school mask mandate is no longer in place following support from both republican and democrat lawmakers serving on JCAR. Governor Pritzker’s go it alone approach has caused chaos across our state. When a legislative body had the opportunity to decide, they voted to suspend the governor’s school mask mandate.” Governor Pritzker’s emergency rule on COVID mitigations for Illinois schools expired on Sunday, February 13. Prompting the Pritzker administration to immediately re-file the rule on Monday, putting it back into effect unless JCAR voted affirmatively to block it with a minimum of 8 members on the 12-member committee. Nine members voted to suspend the Governor’s

Continue Reading

Little River Band Live In Concert Saturday, October 22, 2022

3 years 10 months ago
ST. LOUIS – The Little River Band makes a triumphant return to River City Casino & Hotel on Saturday, October 22, 2022. Showtime is 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.). Tickets are $85, $65, $55, $45 and $35. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 18 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or at the River City Casino & Hotel box office. You must be 21 and older to attend. The Eagles founding member, the late Glenn Frey, knew what he was saying when he dubbed Little River Band “the best singing band in the world.” The current lineup of LRB takes that accolade to heart each and every time they perform. Through the ‘70s and ‘80s, LRB enjoyed huge chart success with multi-platinum albums and chart topping hits such as “Reminiscing,” “Cool Change,” “Lonesome Loser,” “The Night Owls,” “Take It Easy On Me,” “Help Is on Its Way,” “Happy Anniversary,” “We

Continue Reading

Illinois Lottery Announces Half-year Proceeds To The State

3 years 10 months ago
CHICAGO – The Illinois Lottery today announced outstanding results for the first six months of fiscal year 2022, including sales of $1.7 billion, to benefit the State’s Common School Fund. Two-thirds of Illinois adults now play the Illinois Lottery, which is up from half just a few years ago, with an expanded retail network and an improved digital offering attracting new players. “The Illinois Lottery is a valuable state asset, generating essential revenue for the Common School Fund and good causes across the great State of Illinois,” said Acting Illinois Lottery Director, Harold Mays. “Lottery proceeds directly support K-12 education and causes such as breast cancer awareness, Alzheimer's support, and homelessness prevention. A successful first half-year allows us to continue to deliver for the State.” During the first half of the fiscal year, a new Monday night Powerball draw was launched, the Lottery expanded its Fast Play game in retail

Continue Reading