Riverbender 🕸

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Hoeven (R-ND) introduced the bipartisan Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act to enhance public safety by ensuring passenger rail crew members are provided the legal protections that have been afforded to flight crew members and attendants for decades. Specifically, just as it is a federal crime to interfere with flight crews, the bipartisan Duckworth-Hoeven bill would prohibit interfering with intercity and passenger rail crew

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department on Aging today released EngAging Illinois: A Comprehensive Plan for Living Well , a landmark multisector plan addressing the needs of older adults and caregivers. The plan establishes a decade-long blueprint to ensure the growing population of older Illinoisans can live dignified, engaged, productive, and meaningful lives at every stage of life. “EngAging Illinois embodies the engagement and thoughtful people from across Illinois, representing

ALTON — Alton Pride is proud to announce that scholarship applications are officially open for 2026 graduating high school seniors across the Riverbend region. The annual scholarship program supports LGBTQ+ students and allies pursuing higher education at a community college, university, trade program, or technical training school. This year, the organization will award four $1,000 scholarships. In 2025, Alton Pride received a record number of qualified applicants, and the organization

ALTON - Community members have the opportunity to support the Alton Athletic Association at their upcoming music trivia night. On Feb. 28, 2026, at St. Mary’s Suddes Hall in Alton, the AAA will host their annual music trivia to support Alton Community Unit School District #11 athletes. Riverbend residents are encouraged to reserve their tables or donate to the silent auction to support the cause. Organizers believe it’s a fun way to support the kids. “It’s not

ST. LOUIS - The MetroLink extension to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is scheduled to open in summer 2026 as ongoing efforts on both sides of the river work to deliver reliable access to opportunity. The circumstances surrounding transit funding are changing. Illinois is headed in the right direction, while Gov. Kehoe just proposed further cuts, and if approved, transit funding in Missouri will have been slashed by 85% since he began his term. Regional transit officials shared these and other

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today reintroduced the Dietary Supplement Listing Act, legislation to require dietary supplement manufacturers to register their products with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which provided FDA with authorities to regulate dietary supplements. However, DSHEA did not require dietary supplement companies to register their products with FDA,

EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has appointed Praveen V. Vadlani, PhD, MBA, as executive director of the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC), effective Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2026. Vadlani will also hold a tenured faculty appointment as a professor in SIUE’s Department of Chemistry. Vadlani’s work spans biofuels, biochemicals, biomaterials, fermentation systems and scalable process development, with a focus on improving yield, productivity and

ALTON — A two-vehicle crash occurred at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at the intersection of 20th Street and Piasa Street in Alton, according to Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford. One adult male was taken to Alton Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Chief Ford said Friday night. Both the Alton Police Department and Alton Fire Department responded to the scene. No further details about the cause of the crash or other involved parties have been released. The Alton Police

BETHALTO, Ill. — The Bethalto Fire Department responded to a structure fire Friday night in the 800 block of Briarwood Drive, where a fire was found climbing the wall in a bedroom. Firefighters from Bethalto, arrived on the scene and quickly extinguished the flames using a water can. A box-alarm was called and firefighters from Meadowbrook, Rosewood Heights and Cottage Hills responded. Firefighters were seen carrying out a mattress that had caught fire. Bethalto Fire Chief Jay Grant

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