Riverbender 🕸

The phrase “weathering the storm” sounds calm, almost sturdy—but it’s usually said at the exact moment life feels least steady. We reach for it when a job is on the line, when a family is under stress, when money is tight, or when a relationship hits a rough patch. It’s one of those expressions people use to reassure each other without pretending the problem is small. It admits danger and discomfort while insisting that survival is still possible. What “weathering

January 29 marked a major moment in medieval Europe. In 904, Sergius III became pope, beginning a papacy often associated with intense political maneuvering in Rome. The early 10th century was a period when local noble families and rival factions strongly influenced church leadership. While the details of that era are complex and sometimes filtered through later sources, the broader significance is clear: the papacy was not only a religious office but also a political institution tied to power

This morning starts off bitterly cold with temperatures near 2 degrees and a wind chill making it feel closer to -9. Skies are mostly cloudy with just a few flurries here and there. As the day progresses into the afternoon, expect temperatures to reach a high of 23 degrees with a light dusting of snow flurries returning. Northeast winds will be around 7 mph with gusts up to 14 mph, enhancing the cold feel. The evening continues with mostly cloudy skies and a chance for another light flurry. Temperatures

ALTON – The City of Alton is requesting $1.6 million in federal funding to cover the next two phases of ongoing street improvements on Milton Road. City Council members this week unanimously approved a resolution regarding street improvements along two sections of Milton Road, marking Phases 2 and 3 of the ongoing Milton Road improvement project. The project’s first phase consisted of several street improvements spanning a 0.32-mile section of Milton Road from Worden Avenue to

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) has introduced the American Family Housing Act, following President Donald Trump’s executive order , “Stopping Wall Street From Competing With Main Street Homebuyers.” The American Family Housing Ac t directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to restrict large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes, putting an end to Wall Street firms driving up prices and pushing American families

SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Jil Tracy, along with State Representatives C.D. Davidsmeyer and Kyle Moore, are inviting community members to help spread Valentine’s Day cheer by participating in their annual Valentines for Seniors Card Drive , now underway through February 2, 2026. “Each year, our community comes together to create heartfelt cards that bring smiles to our seniors and remind them they are valued and loved on Valentine’s Day,” said Senator Tracy. “It’s

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) applauded House approval today of a transportation, health, and security funding package that provides a 3.8% pay raise for members of the military, invests in education and healthcare, and strengthens roads and infrastructure. The package includes $7 million Bost worked to secure for local infrastructure improvements in Clay, Crawford, Jackson, Jasper, and Washington counties. “This legislation will make a big difference

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke about the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at a VA hospital in Minneapolis, by federal agents this weekend. During his speech, Durbin reiterated his opposition to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill and argued that if the government shuts down

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reacted to today’s Congressional Budget Office Report on cost estimates for troop deployments to U.S. cities. CBO estimated, that for the last six months of 2025, the domestic deployments cost nearly $496 million—including $21 million for the deployment in Illinois, where troops spent months confined to bases after federal courts found the deployment

MILLSTADT – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Millstadt, Illinois local Boy Scout leader, for allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. The Attorney General’s office charged Kaleb Rakers, 25, in St. Clair County Circuit Court

ALTON — Louise Moehn, of Alton, a pioneering gymnastics and dance educator and longtime nurse, died on Jan. 26, 2026, at age 85. Moehn was an owner and operator of Mid-Illinois Gymnastics and Dance Academy from its founding in 1968 until her retirement, helping to establish the institution as a cornerstone of the local community. Born Nov. 7, 1940, in Quincy, Moehn graduated from Alton High School and DePaul University School of Nursing. She worked as a registered nurse at Saint Anthony’s

GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois congratulates Elisabeth Preston from Edwardsville for becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout—a designation she earned by creating a STEAM lab at St. Ambrose School in Godfrey. Elisabeth has a strong connection with the STEAM fields, particularly math, science, and art. Through research, she learned that interest in these fields can decline as youth approach their teenage years. Keeping that interest alive – along with giving back to her

FERGUSON, Mo. — Shots were fired during a funeral service at the Cotton-Branch Mortuary on North Florissant Road on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, injuring several people and prompting a multi-agency emergency response. The Ferguson Police Department received a call at approximately 11:58 a.m. Wednesday, reporting gunfire at the funeral home, which was hosting a service attended by hundreds. Officers arrived within two minutes to find chaos as attendees scattered in all directions.

EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Clerk & Recorder’s Offices will launch a new text messaging service, TextMyGov, on Feb. 5, 2026, to provide residents with timely notifications and easy access to information. The service aims to enhance communication by allowing residents to receive updates on election dates, deadlines, reminders, and more directly via text. Linda A. Andreas, Madison County Clerk & Recorder, said the adoption of TextMyGov reflects the office’s commitment to implementing

BETHALTO – Authorities in Bethalto have charged a local man in his fifth domestic battery case since 2017. Mark A. Chappell, 43, of Dorsey, Ill., was charged on Jan. 20, 2026 with his fifth offense of domestic battery, a Class 2 felony. Chappell allegedly knowingly and without legal justification committed an act of domestic battery against a household or family member on Jan. 6, 2026. Charging documents state Chappell was previously convicted of domestic battery on four prior occasions

ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has a busy month ahead, with events that are perfect for those interested in reading, history, music and more. Mary Cordes, Hayner’s executive director, noted that the library offers a wide variety of free activities to promote community and bring people together. She hopes patrons come out to access the library’s resources, but also to engage with their programs. “That’s one of the things that we’re really trying

JERSEYVILLE — St. Francis Holy Ghost Catholic School welcomed Dawna Egelhoff, an Alliance Educator for area hospitals, to speak with seventh- and eighth-grade science students about the intersection of science, healthcare, and future career opportunities. The visit took place recently in Joan Dougherty’s science classes at the school in Jerseyville. Egelhoff’s lesson focused on real-life applications of scientific concepts within healthcare settings, highlighting how science

ROXANA – The Roxana High School girls basketball team routed Madison in the consolation bracket of the 51 st Annual Lady Hawk Invitational on Tuesday night. It wasn’t much of a game, Roxana handily taking care of the Trojans 81-8. The big reason for celebration wasn’t just the win, but a milestone reached by senior Daisy Daugherty. She poured in 21 points, leading her team. But that’s nothing new. That game put her at 1,347 career points, breaking the all-time program

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced a comprehensive Anti-Corruption Agenda aimed at cracking down on self-dealing, dark money, and restoring accountability to government. The agenda consists of forward-thinking legislation introduced by Budzinski’s colleagues in Washington, with the hope that a comprehensive agenda could be considered more formally. Later today, Budzinski will join End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller for a conversation

JACKSONVILLE – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a South Jacksonville, Illinois man pleaded guilty to disseminating child sexual abuse material and was sentenced to prison. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. Gary Steininger, 50, was sentenced to 24 years in prison