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EAST ST LOUIS - At approximately 4 a.m. on Tuesday, the East St. Louis Fire Department responded to a reported fire at a vacant commercial building located in the 400 block of North 33rd Street. Firefighters encountered heavy flames emanating from the top floor of the two-story structure. All three fire companies were dispatched to the scene, where they initiated a quick and aggressive interior fire attack. Their efforts were focused on containing the blaze, which was successfully limited to the top floor of the building. However, firefighters faced significant challenges due to numerous walled-over doors and holes in the upper level. The firefighting operation lasted about three hours, during which crews worked diligently to locate and extinguish any remaining hotspots. Firefighters also conducted overhaul procedures to ensure that the fire was fully under control and that no lingering threats remained. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) spoke from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in honor of Rural Health Month to call out predatory drug middlemen called Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) for squeezing out rural community pharmacists through unfair and anticompetitive business practices. WATCH: Budzinski Calls Out Predatory Drug Middlemen on House Floor Earlier this month, Congresswoman Budzinski hosted a roundtable with independent pharmacists, pharmacy students and faculty at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) School of Pharmacy to discuss PBMs. One local pharmacist who spoke at the roundtable was Michelle Dyer, the owner of Michelle’s Pharmacy in Carlinville, IL. In 2009, Michelle expanded her business to Gillespie and in 2016, she opened a pharmacy in Bunker Hill – a community that had been without pharmacy service for over 25 years. However, as PBMs consolidated and poached patients

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HARDIN - The Calhoun Sheriff's Office has issued charges after a long investigation of a sexual assault case. The timeline on the case goes as follows: On October 22nd, 2024, the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office was notified of a Sexual Assault which was alleged to have occurred on October 20th, 2024, in the 900 block of Herren St., Hardin, Calhoun County. The victim came into the Sheriff’s Office and was interviewed by Chief Deputy Zach Hardin, and subsequently escorted to Alton Memorial Hospital for a sexual assault examination. Following the initial investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for the suspect identified by the victim. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office was further notified that the suspect had left the area and returned to his home, located in the area of Pineville, Louisiana. Chief Deputy Hardin contacted the Pineville Police Department, who immediately assisted in the investigation. On October 30th, 2024, Pineville Police Department took

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s Professor of Sociology Paula Kelso is the winner of the 2024 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. Each year, Emerson Electric Company sponsors the Excellence in Teaching Awards program to recognize educators in the St. Louis metropolitan area – from kindergarten teachers to college professors – who are examples of excellence in their field. Kelso was shocked and humbled when her win was announced. “I was so surprised, but thrilled and honored to be acknowledged,” she said. Liberal Arts, Business and Information Technology Dean Randy Gallaher was pleased about Kelso’s win. “I am delighted that Professor Kelso will represent Lewis and Clark Community College as the Emerson Award winner,” he said. “Paula’s sociology courses are very popular, and she has an excellent reputation among students.” Kelso started her undergraduate degree at Millikin University, but ultimately

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GRAFTON - Two local business owners - Paula with Lady Luck Designs & Photography and Jesse with J. Weller Removal & Junk -shared more about their businesses on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . Paula said she’s worked in photography and graphic design for several years, and decided one day to take the leap and start working for herself. “Several years ago, I was managing a little bar down the street off the river called the Clifton Terrace Inn,” she said. “I was working myself into the ground making another person rich … I realized then and there, if I can work that hard for somebody, I can work that hard for me. She said she’s always loved Grafton and felt she had something unique to offer her community. During the pandemic, she “dove deep” into building her own business; she emerged as the proud owner of Lady Luck Designs & Photography, which remains in business two and a half years later. Paula can handle everything

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville- Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) proudly supported 84 veterans last week with their annual Veterans Dental Care Day, which offered free services provided to local area veterans on Thursday, Nov. 14. Dental care included cleanings, fillings, extractions and imaging, free of charge. According to Katie Kosten, DMD, director of Community Dentistry in the SIU SDM, the total value of community care was $43,479. As the patients filed in, many began sharing stories with each other. The festively decorated SDM welcomed the veterans with sweet treats, a spray of balloons and warm smiles that greeted them. While they waited for their appointed turn in the dental chair, stories were swapped like baseball cards. Bob Hope performing on a battleship turret, chants from the USMC, taps every night at ten — a few years ago for some, a faraway place for others. “We had the fastest battleship of all

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ALTON - If you would like to have a role model for your student body and your community, look no further than our most recent Remarkable Redbird, senior Wren Crawford. Her fellow students seem to agree as Wren was voted onto the 2024 Alton High Homecoming Court. In addition, Wren has also been a part of many Alton High organizations such as Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and also Upward Bound, a pre-college support group to help students gain information about colleges they may wish to consider attending after graduation. Wren shared that during the course of her years in Upward Bound she has taken field trips to local universities such as Harris-Stowe and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and has also traveled with her fellow Alton High members to Washington D.C., Atlanta, Ga., and also Houston, Tex. She also writes the newsletter and updates important accomplishments for the group as well. Another item that Wren has taken on for her fellow students

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ALTON — The Haskell House in Alton is set to host a series of festive events this December, offering community members a chance to celebrate the holiday season. Margaret Hopkins, a spokesperson for the Haskell House, said from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, the playhouse will welcome Santa Claus for a special appearance. Attendees can have their pictures taken with Santa for a fee of $2. In addition, the Haskell House will feature a variety of items for sale, including bracelets, jewelry, and ribbons. The following week, on Friday, Dec. 13, the playhouse will open its doors from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for visitors to view its Christmas decorations and a unique collection of 40s and 50s "bobbleheads or nodders." "These vintage Christmas-themed candy containers, reminiscent of 19th-century German designs, have been loaned to the playhouse by Pam and Gary Voyles of Country Meadows Antiques, located at 401 E. Broadway in Alton," Hopkins said. Hopkins expressed gratitude for

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EDWARDSVILLE — The National Art Honors Society at Edwardsville High School hosted an after-school workshop on candle making this week, inviting all students to participate in the event titled "Teach Your Craft." The workshop, led by N.A.H.S. secretary Charlotte Welch, took place recently and aimed to engage students in a hands-on artistic experience. During the event, students rotated through various stations where they learned about the intricacies of candle making. Participants had the opportunity to customize their creations by adding color, essential oils, and decorative elements. The workshop not only provided a creative outlet for students but also served a philanthropic purpose, as profits from the event will be donated to the Glen-Ed Food Pantry. The initiative reflects the National Art Honors Society's commitment to fostering creativity while supporting the local community.

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Special Investigations Unit continues to combat public corruption with a recent case involving charges against a former city official. ISP worked with the Saint Clair County State’s Attorney to bring charges against 60-year-old Carlos Mayfield of East St. Louis. On April 3, 2024, ISP received an allegation of theft and official misconduct against former East St. Louis City Manager Carlos Mayfield. ISP immediately began an investigation into Mayfield’s conduct and special agents found evidence Mayfield knowingly used City of East St. Louis funds for personal gain. On October 1, 2024, an arrest warrant for Mayfield was issued and served to Mayfield’s attorney for one count of Theft $500-$10,000 of Government Property (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Fraudulent Use of a Credit/Debit Card (Class 4 Felony). Despite weekly contact with Mayfield’s attorney, Mayfield still ha

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ALTON – It’s the season when red kettles begin popping up everywhere – on store counters, in restaurants and outside popular Christmas shopping locations, reminding us that the holidays are a time of caring and sharing. The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign kicks off this coming weekend with Chairs John and Cathy Keller at the community tree lighting on Nov. 22 at Lincoln Douglas Square in Alton. The event begins at 6 p.m. and includes a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus as well as caroling, hot chocolate and cookies. Children from The Salvation Army After School Program will perform a hip-hop dance and a special rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” For those unable to attend the Tree Lighting in person, portions of the event will be streaming live on Riverbender.com, hosted by Riverbender’s C.J. Nasello and the Big Z’s Mike Roberts. The Red Kettle Campaign officially began at Walmart stores on Nov. 16 and will launch

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GRAFTON - During the Grafton Country Music Festival, Mary Jo Cote and Dan Ebbing expressed their excitement to share the event with the community. Cote, who owns Grafton Pub, was particularly excited about the music. She said Grafton Pub was “hopping” with musicians like Dakota Danielle, Midwest Avenue and more. Meanwhile, Chamber of Commerce President Ebbing was pleased with the turnout as hundreds of people flocked to Grafton for the weekend. “Grafton is blessed,” Ebbing said. “There’s no doubt about it. The cars are lined up as far as I can see on Main Street coming into town.” This was the second annual Grafton Country Music Festival, complete with live music at almost every bar and contests throughout the weekend. Cote encouraged people to get down to Grafton Pub in time for their Mr. and Mrs. Country Music Festival coronation. “We’ve been preparing all week,” she said. “We’ve been working all

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ALTON - Food is Love , a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding and empowering communities, is thrilled to announce its Monthly Block Party for Good this Friday, November 22, 2024 , from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Alton. This heartwarming community event will feature free groceries and free food truck meals , ensuring no one leaves hungry. The Block Party for Good is part of Food is Love’s mission to educate, empower, and restore lives through food. With the support of community partners, local volunteers, and generous donors, this monthly event brings neighbors together to celebrate community and share in the abundance of good food and good company. “Our Block Party for Good is more than just a food distribution event — it’s a gathering of love, support, and connection,” said John Michel, President of Food is Love. “We want to ensure everyone in our community has access to nutritious food while enjoying the warmth and joy

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EDWARDSVILLE - For mother of three, full-time nurse and student Destiony Phillips, time and money can sometimes be in short commodity. That is why the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville senior was thrilled when she was awarded a Donald M. Suggs Scholarship. Phillips, who is majoring in nursing, was one of two SIUE students to receive a scholarship from The St. Louis American newspaper’s 501 (c)3, the St. Louis American Foundation. Ashley Muthoni Wahome, a School of Engineering senior, was the other University recipient. Phillips and Wahome, each received $1,000 for the fall 2024 semester. “As a full-time nurse and mother of three children, ranging in ages 7 to 14, this scholarship helps redirect some of my finances toward caring for my family,” shared Phillips. “It is also extremely helpful leading into the holiday months.” The field of nursing was a calling that Phillips felt early on. “My younger brother was born with low functioning

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EDWARDSVILLE - An Edwardsville woman faces a felony aggravated battery charge after striking an 8-year-old child with an electrical cord. Tantiyana S. Bacon, 29, of Edwardsville, was charged on Nov. 15, 2024 with aggravated battery (a Class 3 felony) and domestic battery (a Class A misdemeanor). On Sept. 20, 2024, Bacon allegedly struck an 8-year-old child who was a household or family member “with an electrical cord about his body, leaving marks,” according to court documents. The Edwardsville Police Department presented the case against Bacon, who was remanded to jail for her initial court appearance. Madison County Sheriff’s Office records indicate she has since been released from custody. The issuance of charges is based solely upon probable cause and is not an indication of guilt. All subjects charged with criminal offenses are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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CHICAGO – An Illinois Lottery player from Chicago scooped up a $650,000 Lucky Day Lotto jackpot prize after playing numbers related to his late wife. “I typically play Pick 4 but that day, I noticed that the Lucky Day Lotto jackpot was pretty high so I decided to switch it up and try something new,” said the winner, aka “Big Money D.” “I picked numbers related to my late wife – when I won, it felt like it was a message from her.” The winning ticket was purchased for the Saturday, November 16 evening drawing at Mariano’s in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, located at 5201 North Sheridan Road. The winner mentioned that it took an entire day for his win to sink in. “I’m still so shocked and excited about the win, I have barely been able to sleep!,” exclaimed the lucky winner. Big Money D purchased the winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket matching all five numbers in the November 16 evening drawing to score

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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is implementing its sixth year of the popular Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program. Users will again be able to enter their information into the application and validate it during a pre-enrollment period starting at 8 a.m. CST on December 4, 2024. Applications can be submitted once the program opens at 8 a.m. on December 16, 2024. Prior to submission, applications can be saved and edited at any time. Pre-Enrollment Opens 8 a.m. CST, December 4, 2024 Program Opens (Applications can be submitted) 8 a.m. CST, Monday, December 16, 2024 Program Closes 11:59 p.m. CST, January 15, 2025 A total of 190,000 acres are available for the 2025 program. In 2024, this acreage allotment was met in less than an hour, and a total of over 241,650 acres were requested by the time the application period ended. Funding of eligible acreage is on a first come, first serve basis. “The ‘Fall Covers

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BELLEVILLE – State Senator Christopher Belt is partnering with State Representative Jay Hoffman, Downtown Belleville YMCA, Meridian, YouthCare, and HealthChoice Illinois to host a turkey giveaway on Monday, Nov. 25 in Belleville. “Every family should be able to have a nice, hot meal on Thanksgiving,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Representative Hoffman and I know the importance of giving during the holiday season, and this turkey giveaway is the best way to start.” The giveaway will be held at the Downtown Belleville YMCA located at 200 S. Illinois St. on Monday, Nov. 25 at 9 a.m. while supplies last. One turkey will be provided per household. An ID is required to differentiate households per car. For more information, call Senator Belt’s office at 618-875-1212 or visit his website .

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BELLEVILLE – Illinois American Water wants to keep customers and the general public safe on Utility Scam Awareness Day by providing important tips to help identify and avoid scammers targeting unsuspecting utility customers. Utility company imposters often attempt to scam individuals in two main ways: 1) they may pose as utility workers to gain access to someone's home; 2) they might urgently contact the person, either by phone or another method, demanding immediate payment to prevent a disruption in services. It's important to be cautious and verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a utility worker before letting them into your home or providing any personal information. Illinois American Water urges customers and the general public to verify the identity of utility workers by requesting identification before granting access to their homes or businesses. All Illinois American Water employees carry a company-issued photo ID, wear company branded clothing

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led Senate Judiciary Democrats in a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray requesting that the FBI provide to the Senate Judiciary Committee the complete evidentiary file, including documents memorializing interviews, in the closed investigation of former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s alleged sex trafficking of minors. The letter follows President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement of his intention to nominate Mr. Gaetz to serve as Attorney General. The Senators wrote, “We request that you provide to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary the complete evidentiary file, including all FD-302 forms memorializing interviews, in the closed investigation of former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s alleged sex trafficking of minors. As you are aware, President-elect Trump has announced his intent to nominate Mr. Gaetz to be Attorney General.

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