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As South bans abortion, thousands turn to Illinois clinics

By Amanda Seitz Associated Press FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) — Dr. Colleen McNicholas is fresh off performing two abortions when a ringing phone quickly stops her. “Oh, ugh,” she said, eyes widened, before she darted off to another room. Just the day before, 58 women had abortions at the Fairview Heights’ Planned Parenthood clinic, 15…

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Twenty years on, reflection and regret on 2002 Iraq war vote

MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow was sitting in Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s conference room at the Pentagon, listening to him make the case that Saddam Hussein was hiding weapons of mass destruction. At some point in the presentation — one of many lawmaker briefings by President George W.…

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Union Pacific 2nd railroad to drop push for one-person crews

JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific has become the second major freight railroad in the past week to back away from the industry’s longstanding push to cut train crews down to one person as lawmakers and regulators increasingly focus on rail safety following last month’s fiery derailment in Ohio. The…

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LLCC Ag students excel at national competitions

SPRINGFIELD — Members of the Lincoln Land Community College Ag Club and Livestock Judging Team earned top honors at recent national competitions.  The Ag Club’s Soils Specialist Team was named 2023 National Professional Agricultural Student (PAS) Champions at the National PAS Conference in Des Moines, Iowa. The Soils Team includes Anthony Joiner of Carlinville, Wes Bland…

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Optimist learns about Tommy TV Awards

TAYLORVILLE — Top Photo: Left to right, Rick Bryan, speaker and Adam Vocks, president. Bottom Photo: Left to Right, Drew Mickey, Anthony Revecco, Sophie Robinson (all from Tommy TV) and Adam Vocks, club president Submitted Photos TAYLORVILLE — The Taylorville Optimist Club held its regular meeting on Thursday, March 23, 2023, in the Community Room…

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Bertolozzi’s retires after three decades of Barber excellence

Lucas Domonousky Breeze-Courier Writer TAYLORVILLE — “After cutting hair in Taylorville for 30 years I have decided to retire and close Dick’s Barbershop.” Mr. Bertolozzi said in a formal, handwritten note acknowledging his time of cutting hair and beard trims were coming to a close. Dick kickstarted his three-decade-long journey at back in 1992 on…

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Biden’s TikTok moves test loyalty of young voters

JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Recent moves by President Joe Biden to pressure TikTok over its Chinese ownership and approve oil drilling in an untapped area of Alaska are testing the loyalty of young voters, a group that’s largely been in his corner. Youth turnout surged in the three elections since…

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Gwyneth Paltrow insists Utah ski collision wasn’t her fault

SAM METZ Associated Press PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Gwyneth Paltrow insisted Friday on the witness stand that a 2016 ski collision at an upscale Utah ski resort wasn’t her fault, claiming it began when the man suing her ran into her from behind. The actor-turned-lifestyle influencer testified that the crash shocked her — and…

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Lawmakers approve kindergarten reform, plan to address childhood literacy

ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois CHICAGO – Lawmakers are looking at several ways to improve learning outcomes and access for young students in Illinois. On Thursday, members of the House of Representatives approved a proposal that would require school boards in Illinois to provide full-day kindergarten starting with the 2027-2028 school year. The measure, House…

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Why executions by firing squad may be coming back in the US

MICHAEL TARM AP Legal Affairs Writer CHICAGO (AP) — The image of gunmen in a row firing in unison at a condemned prisoner may conjure up a bygone, less enlightened era. But the idea of using firing squads is making a comeback. Idaho lawmakers passed a bill this week seeking to add the state to…

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