Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - Jon Podner, who works in technology systems at Marquette Catholic High School, captured a captivating drone photo of the school during a snowstorm on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Podner said he believed the image was one many in the area would appreciate. The snowfall and preliminary ice event made travel hazardous throughout the region on Monday, prompting Marquette Catholic to cancel classes on Tuesday due to the accumulation of snow. Temperatures dropped to 26 degrees on Tuesday, with a lo

WOOD RIVER - As temperatures drop and the holidays approach, the services offered by Riverbend Family Ministries are as important as ever. Located at 144 E. Ferguson Avenue in Wood River, Riverbend Family Ministries (RFM) is composed of several nonprofits working together under one roof. RFM itself provides a daytime warming center for those in need during the colder months. They have also partnered with other community organizations to serve their clients through Community Christmas,

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO. — Jacob Mercer, 23, of St. Peters, Mo., has been identified as the person fatally shot by police at a Walgreens on Dorsett Road on Sunday evening, Nov. 30, 2025, after St. Louis County Police authorities say he fired at officers. The incident unfolded around 6 p.m. Sunday at the Walgreens located in the 12500 block of Dorsett Road in Maryland Heights. Officers from the Maryland Heights Police Department responded to a call for service and encountered Mercer, who was

HARDIN - On November 19th 2025, at approximately 2:06 AM, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a Disturbance in Progress occurring in the 400 block of Porcupine Ln., Hardin, Calhoun County, Illinois. Deputies from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and a Deputy from the Pike County Sheriff’s Department immediately responded to the residence and conducted interviews and an investigation. Subsequently, Helois M. Foster, aged 40, of Alton, Illinois, was arrested

HARDIN On August 6th and September 18th 2025, Gena F Wilson, aged 35, of Hamburg, Illinois, was ordered to submit to a Court Authorized Drug analysis. These samples were collected and submitted to the lab for analysis by the Calhoun County Probation Office. The matter was forwarded to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation. Subsequent to an investigation and analysis by the lab, it was confirmed that Wilson had falsified or altered the test. On October 15th 2025,

ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District invites the community to come out to a few unique events this weekend. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, community members can stop by the library at Alton Square Mall for the Local Author Book Fair. Across town at that same time, the Genealogy and Local History Library will host their Holiday Open House. Executive Director Mary Cordes noted that the Local Author Book Fair is a great chance to meet local writers and learn

CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined state officials, bill sponsors, and public health experts to sign HB 767. The legislation expands and codifies Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order 2025-04 , which empowers the Illinois Department of Public Health to offer transparent, science-based vaccine guidelines through its expert Immunization Advisory Committee (IAC), while also expanding vaccine access. “While RFK Jr. and his QAnon-inspired colleagues spread conspiracy theories

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general in opposing the Trump administration’s expansion of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to include sensitive information of U.S.-born citizens who have never interacted with the immigration system or consented to the use of their personal data. In a letter to the Trump administration , Raoul and the coalition argue the expansion of the SAVE program violates the

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, condemned President Trump’s pardon of the former Honduran president, Juan Orlando Hernández. Durbin began by outlining the horrendous conduct of Mr. Hernández, a convicted drug trafficker. “The former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, was prosecuted by the federal government of the United States for

CHICAGO – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 16 attorneys general, submitted comments opposing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) interim final rule that eliminates the automatic extension of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for up to 540 days for eligible workers who filed timely renewal applications. Now, immigrant workers, including refugees, asylees, and others who have already been vetted to work legally in the United States,

As the nation’s health care system grapples with inequities, violence, and social challenges that extend far beyond hospital walls, one national leader in pediatric surgery says the key to progress might not be new technology — but renewed humanity. Dr. Edward M. Barksdale Jr., MD, professor of surgery and pediatrics at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and chief surgical officer for the Chicagoland Children’s Health Alliance, delivered the keynote address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After unanimously passing the Senate in May and passing the House in November, bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies is now law. Senator Duckworth’s Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act —co-led by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI)—requires th

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a multi-state coalition of seven attorneys general, today sent letters to the six largest buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) providers seeking detailed information regarding their pricing and repayment structures, consumer contracts, user agreements, and disclosures. The inquiry aims to determine if BNPL companies are complying with consumer protection laws and whether their products may be placing Illinois consumers at financial risk. The letters

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor to honor the two National Guard members who were shot in Washington, DC, last week. During his speech, Durbin remembered 20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom who tragically passed away on Thanksgiving Day. He also prayed for 24-year-old Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe’s recovery. Staff Sergeant Wolfe remains in critical condition. “We pray for his recovery and—as one nation—send

GODFREY - The Village Garden in Godfrey has unveiled a new bridge, enhancing the community space for visitors. The project was completed with the support of several local organizations and individuals, including Tom Bechtold, Cindy Gelsthorpe, First Fruits, Alton Community Service League, and Hamilton Steel. The new bridge aims to improve accessibility and the overall experience at the garden, which serves as a gathering place for residents and visitors alike. Organizers expressed gratitude

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a $120 million settlement with Monsanto Company (Monsanto) and affiliates Solutia Inc. and Pharmacia LLC over the environmental and health effects of Monsanto’s decades-long production of polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs. Raoul’s office filed a 2022 lawsuit alleging the company was aware of the chemicals’ toxicity while publicly denying any knowledge of the danger to human health and the environment. This settlement

ALTON - Nicole Rhoades is seeking community support following the tragic death of her father, John Rhoades, who died in a recent house fire. The family is coping with the sudden loss and the financial burden of the funeral and final expenses. John Rhoades was described by his daughter as a loving father and devoted grandfather who brought joy and laughter to family gatherings. “He had a playful spirit and loved playing games with us all — he truly was a big kid at heart, and his

SPRINGFIELD – Several new laws take effect in Illinois on Jan. 1, 2026, including regulations on artificial intelligence, eliminating the state’s grocery tax, and more after receiving Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature. AI Amendments To Human Rights Act Target Employment Discrimination House Bill 3773 makes it a civil rights violation for employers to use artificial intelligence (AI) to discriminate against employees or potential new hires based on race, gender, age,

ALTON – State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) was named an Americans for Prosperity – Illinois (AFP–IL) 2025 Prairie State Policy Champion. AFP-IL cited her work leading opposition to the Homeschool Act as a determining factor in their decision to award Elik. “I am honored to be recognized for my efforts to rein in government spending, ease Illinois’ state tax burden, and protect homeschoolers and empower educational choice in Illinois,” said Rep. Amy Elik.

PONTOON BEACH – Holiday cheer is once again hitting the streets of Madison County as Madison County Transit’s (MCT) “Holiday Bus” rolls out for the 2025 season. The festive tradition offers surprise complimentary rides to passengers throughout December, reflecting MCT’s appreciation for the community members they serve. In 2024, the Holiday Bus provided nearly 5,000 free rides to passengers throughout the county. From December 1 through December 31, the Holiday