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EAST ALTON/WOOD RIVER - The East Alton-Wood River High School bowling team has created a great partnership with the Tyler Timmins Memorial Foundation . On March 14, 2026, the foundation will host their annual trivia night fundraiser in Collinsville. Students from the bowling team will be there to help out. In return, the organization has become one of their top sponsors. Assistant Coach Gary Quigley couldn't be more proud of his team and the relationships they’re building in

TOPEKA, KAN. – Bartlett & West was recognized as a Cornerstone Partner at the 2026 Esri Partner Conference (EPC) held March 8-9 in Palm Springs, Calif. This acknowledgment was presented to Bartlett & West for their long-term commitment to Esri and the geographic information system (GIS) community. Cornerstone Partner recognition is given to organizations that have participated in the Esri Partner Network (EPN) for 20 years while demonstrating a consistent focus on helping customers succee

EDWARDSVILLE - Local students have the opportunity to advance their technical skills as Ranken Technical College offers a new satellite program in Edwardsville. Students can now complete Ranken’s 16-month Diesel Technology program at the local Schneider facility in Edwardsville. From 4–6 p.m. on March 31, 2026, prospective students and their families are invited to an open house at Schneider to tour the facility, meet instructors and get a feel for how the program will operate.

JERSEY - Calhoun County Sheriff Zach Hardin traveled Friday, March 6, 2026, to the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office to deliver lunch and certificates of recognition to Jersey County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Hardin recognized Sgt. Kevin Ayres and 911 telecommunicators Kelly Nichols and Kaitlin Lewis for actions Hardin said helped locate a missing and endangered elderly woman with dementia who was traveling through Calhoun County. “Oftentimes in law enforcement, negative news outweighs

You clean the kitchen, answer emails, and stick to your routine—then suddenly you’re rearranging furniture at midnight, flirting with the idea of a new haircut, and saying yes to plans you’d normally dodge. It can feel like your personality changed overnight. A lot of people call that “spring fever,” but the phrase isn’t just a cute excuse for restlessness. It points to a real mix of biology, mood, and culture that many of us recognize. “Spring fever”

Ever notice how a messy room suddenly feels “fixable,” your to-do list looks less scary, and even big goals seem worth a try—all within a few weeks? That shift isn’t just willpower. It’s a mix of biology, routine changes, and social cues that quietly push your brain toward action. Motivation is not a single switch you flip. It’s more like a system with several dials: energy, mood, focus, reward, and belief that effort will pay off. In spring, many of those

On March 9, 1959, the Barbie doll made its public debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York City. What looked like a simple new toy quickly became a major cultural product with global reach. At the time, most dolls marketed to children were baby dolls, built around caregiving play. Barbie offered something different: a fashion doll with an adult appearance and an expanding set of roles, outfits, and stories. That shift mattered because it changed how the toy industry designed products

ALTON - Around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026, emergency services responded to a call about a possible building collapse at 2426 East Broadway, Alton. The incident was initially dispatched by the Alton Police Department following reports of structural concerns. Alton Police arrived on the scene after receiving a call and reported hearing a rumbling sound coming from the building. Officers observed and felt the building shaking on the east side, specifically in the laundromat, at approximately

SPRINGFIELD – The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) reminds Illinoisans to test, inspect, and replace broken or expired smoke/CO alarms in their homes with new 10-year sealed battery alarms while they change the clocks this weekend as Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 AM Sunday, March 8. “Working smoke alarms save lives—the key word is working. As you change your clocks this weekend, take a few minutes to test all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home,

On March 7, 1965, several hundred peaceful marchers set out from Selma, Alabama, to walk to the state capital in Montgomery and demand equal voting rights. As they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, state troopers and local law enforcement attacked them with clubs and tear gas in a scene that quickly became known as “Bloody Sunday.” It mattered immediately because it exposed, in plain view, how violent resistance to civil rights could be—and how hard it still was for many Americans

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) yesterday met with Berardino Baratta, CEO of MxD, one of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) leading manufacturing institutes. During the meeting, Durbin received an update on MxD’s latest projects, including efforts to equip U.S. factories with the digital tools, enhance cybersecurity, and improve workforce expertise to strengthen domestic manufacturing. “MxD’s work has shown how critical it is to

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Promoting Dental Health Act to reauthorize funding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Oral Health program for the next five years. The CDC’s Oral Health program receives $20.25 million in annual funding for a range of public health activities to promote oral health. This includes funding 15 states to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other painful and serious conditions through

SPRINGFIELD – As millions of Illinoisans prepare their 2025 state tax returns, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reminding them of the state’s voluntary contribution program to support one or more health-related programs. Schedule G of the 2025 Illinois tax form allows Illinois taxpayers to designate a portion of their state tax refund to support one of six charitable funds. Several of the options support programs that benefit public health initiatives. “For

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Director James Jennings to discuss water infrastructure in the Metro East, the Calumet Confined Disposal Facility, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, and the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. In Congress, Durbin has secured federal funding to address the flooding issues in the Metro East, the harms of PFAS, and has continuously worked with the

ST. LOUIS - The advancement of the recently announced America’s Maritime Action Plan (MAP) is embraced by the ports in the bi-state St. Louis region as a unique opportunity to play a role in this comprehensive federal framework. The MAP is a blueprint for rebuilding the nation’s maritime strength, increasing the use of technology, enhancing supply chain resilience and expanding domestic industrial capacity. It is estimated that only one percent of all new vessels are currently built

COLLINSVILLE – The Collinsville Area Community Foundation presented a $1,000 donation to Collinsville High School student Luke O’Hara to support his Eagle Scout project for Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve in Collinsville. O’Hara, a CHS junior, is building a pergola and deck to replace a deteriorating one at Willoughby Farm. The project will include a new ramp addition that will make it accessible to all visitors. Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve

CARROLLTON — A small world globe bought at a neighborhood yard sale last summer by retired Godfrey attorney Philip Alfeld is set to be the starting point for a March 15, 2026, program at the Greene County Historical & Genealogical Society, where Bill Tunison of Osceola, Wisconsin, will present the story of his great-great-grandfather, map publisher Henry Tunison. The society’s meeting will be held at its historic Lee-Baker-Hodges House on the northwest corner of the Carrollton Public

Last summer, I wrote an article about the July 1925 grand opening of Winkler Tire Service in Alton. You can read it here: https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/100-years-ago-tire-store-grand-opening-with-bears-in-alton-84200.cfm . At the time, I couldn’t figure out what happened to the bear cubs at the filling station. I had hoped that when they got too big for the parking lot bear cage, they would be moved to a zoo, wildlife sanctuary, or some other more appropriate place. Sadly,

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today led a coalition of attorneys general in urging the Trump administration to halt its plan to propose regulations for the highly automated transportation of hazardous materials, often referred to as unmanned or “self-driving” vehicles. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced its intent to propose regulations permitting the transportation of hazardous materials by automated heavy-duty trucks, drones,

CHICAGO – In recognition of National Read Across America Day, Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias announced a coordinated literacy initiative that distributed thousands of children’s books and brought volunteer readers into YMCA sites across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, reinforcing the importance of reading as a shared, lifelong activity. The Illinois Literacy Foundation, in partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, hosted a Day of