Riverbender 🕸

ST. LOUIS – The City of St. Louis Department of Human Services and its partners are activating additional overnight emergency shelters tonight through Monday morning. With expected overnight temperatures in the teens, the City of St. Louis Code Blue is moving to activation level 3, bringing the number of emergency shelter beds available to 450, in addition to 400 year-round shelter beds. Level 3 activation also means transportation to shelter will be available from rally points around

BELLEVILLE – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that a Belleville, Illinois man prosecuted by his office was sentenced to 16 years in prison for disseminating child sexual abuse material and disseminating private sexual images of an adult without consent. 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

For many people, turning 50 is a landmark birthday. It not only means reaching a half a century, but it’s often a time to reflect. It’s an opportunity to think back on your life up to that point, while also looking to your future. From a health standpoint, reaching your 50s could bring on seismic changes, especially if you haven’t always taken care of yourself. It means increased risks for chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and some cancers.

EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County Associate Judge Neil Schroeder handed down a guilty verdict of first-degree murder and guilty of two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in the murder trial of Keith Sanders, 26, one of five Alton residents accused of shooting 13-year-old Ra'Niya Steward. Steward was shot while standing on the porch of a home in the 900 block of Highland Avenue on Feb. 3, 2024. She was transported to St. Louis Children’s Hospital,

GODFREY - ABS Workout Plans will host their third annual health fair next weekend. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, community members can stop by ABS Workout Plans at 620 Armsway in Godfrey to chat with vendors, tour the gym and learn more about different wellness regimens. Abby Thurman, owner of ABS Workout Plans, can’t wait to engage with the community and promote health and fitness. “I think the New Year’s resolutions are starting to die down

MADISON COUNTY - The Madison County Regional Superintendent, Dr. Robert W. Werden, along with Mr. Mannie Jackson and Dr. Ed Hightower, are pleased to announce they’re now accepting applications for the second annual Alma Irene Aitch Scholarship for Madison County, IL high school seniors. This award is given in the amount of $1000 to ten graduating seniors from across Madison County who displayed high academic achievement, personal drive, success, and excellence in their 4-year high school

ALTON - Noah Menke has been an exceptional student-athlete in his four years at Marquette Catholic High School. His community involvement has also been exceptional. The senior boasts a 4.67 GPA, has earned 24 college dual-credit hours, and completed 145 hours of community service. In addition to his academic and leadership roles, Menke has competed athletically in golf and football for two years each and basketball for four years. He recalled a highlight from his senior football season for th

GRANITE CITY – A Granite City 19-year-old accused of stealing motor vehicle fuel from the Madison Community School District and fleeing from officers in separate incidents faces several felony charges. Christian J. Thebeau, 19, of Granite City, was charged in one case with two counts of theft on Jan. 5, 2026, including one Class 2 felony count and one Class 3 felony count. From Jan. 1-3, 2026, Thebeau allegedly knowingly stole over $500 worth of motor vehicle fuel from the Madison Community

EDWARDSVILLE – Woodland Elementary Assistant Principal Ali Hiller has been named the Illinois Principals Association Southwest Region Assistant Principal of the Year. She was formally recognized at the IPA Southwestern Region Awards Thursday evening at Cooper Fire in Belleville, Ill. "I was surprised, but am honored to receive this award,” said Hiller. “Personally, this award means a lot, and professionally, it speaks to Woodland and the family we have here.” Hiller

MADISON COUNTY - Local officials, school administrators and librarians are celebrating the launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Madison County. On Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, community members came together at the Madison County Regional Office of Education for a ceremony to mark the beginning of the DPIL in the region. This program mails a free book every month to a child from ages birth to 5. One in six U.S. children is enrolled. Madison County children can now participate i

ALTON – A Godfrey man faces his latest felony charges after breaking into an Alton home and stealing a set of Apple AirPods which later led officers to his exact location. Eric M. Compton, 35, of Godfrey, was charged on Jan. 9, 2026 with a Class 1 felony count of residential burglary, a Class 4 felony count of possession of burglary tools, and three counts of theft, each Class 4 felonies. On Jan. 7, 2026, Compton allegedly knowingly entered an Alton residence in the 3200 block of Alby

RIVERVIEW, MO. - The mayor of Riverview, Mo., was the person charged Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 , with multiple sex crimes by the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The charges stem from alleged incidents involving minors that occurred between 2016 and 2026. The St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives are handling this investigation. Mike Cornell, 39, of the 9500 block of West Avenue in St. Louis, faces the following charges: Four counts

WEST ALTON, MO. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has conducted a controlled burn on approximately 80 acres near the end of Riverlands Way, producing smoke visible for miles. The prescribed fire aimed to reduce hazardous fuel loads and improve ecosystem health in the area. Photos by 618 Drone Service show the prescribed burn. Controlled burns, also known as prescribed fires, are a management tool used by the Corps of Engineers to prevent severe wildfires and restore natural processes in the

BELLEVILLE — Kalyn Reid, a senior at Belleville East High School and treasurer of the school's Literary Lancers, was recently featured in the National English Honor Society’s international publication, the NEHS Museletter. Reid's essay, titled “Immortal Words: Bram Stoker’s Eternal Influence on Gothic Horror,” appeared in the Dec. 9, 2025, edition. The essay highlights Reid’s exploration of Bram Stoker’s lasting impact on the gothic horror

VANDALIA — A Vandalia woman is still reeling after winning a $3 million top prize on the Illinois Lottery’s $30 Royal Riches scratch-off ticket—thanks to a last-minute change in plans on Christmas Eve. The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, said she originally planned to purchase a ticket at another retailer, but the store was closed for the holiday. “I was going to stop at another gas station, but it was closed for Christmas Eve,” she said. “Phillips

ALTON - Calvary Christian School is offering several open houses and admissions opportunities for interested families. Located at Calvary Baptist Church in Alton, the school follows a four-day classical Christian model. Head of School Pastor Wade Dobson and Children’s Pastor Mike Harrelson expressed their excitement to share Calvary Christian School’s work with the community. “The school is a big entry point for kids to get to know God and His truth and His beauty an

A heavy wool coat can keep you warm even when it’s damp, while a cotton hoodie can feel cold and clammy in the same conditions. That difference isn’t just about thickness. It’s the result of centuries of trial, trade, invention, and changing ideas about what “good” winter clothing should do. Winter clothing didn’t simply get warmer over time. It got smarter. People learned how to trap air, block wind, shed water, and manage sweat. They also learned how to

On January 16, 1920, the United States began enforcing Prohibition, a nationwide ban on the manufacture and sale of alcoholic drinks. The change came from the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act, and supporters hoped it would reduce crime, improve public health, and strengthen families. Instead, the policy quickly reshaped daily life in unexpected ways. It encouraged illegal markets, boosted organized crime in many cities, and strained trust between citizens and law enforcement. Even after Prohibition

Friday morning starts mostly cloudy with temperatures around 19 degrees. By afternoon, expect a high near 44 degrees with breezy west winds gusting up to 29 mph and a chance for a light snow shower—up to a coating in total. Evening brings continued breezy conditions with a couple of snow showers and temperatures dropping into the lower 30s. Overnight lows reach 19 degrees, with lingering flurries and gusty winds continuing around 24 mph. Saturday remains cloudy and very cold, with high temperatures

ROXANA — Lyndon Thies etched his name into Roxana wrestling history tonight in a packed gym. The Roxana senior reached a major milestone on the mat, breaking the 163-career-win mark to become the program’s all-time wins leader with 164, a testament to years of hard work, consistency, and dedication to the sport. The record was held by Tommy Hill, who reached it in 2006, and Tol Calvin, who reached it in 2005. Thies secured the record-breaking victory convincingly, controlling