CHICAGO – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 22 attorneys general, filed a lawsuit to stop the federal government from unlawfully cutting off Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for thousands of lawful permanent residents. Attorney General Raoul and the coalition are seeking to block new guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that wrongly treats several groups of legal immigrants as ineligible for food assistance, including
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) in pushing seven major companies offering “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) services to provide critical data needed to understand the risks and economic impact of BNPL products, as consumers’ use of these opaque products rapidly grows. The Senators’ letter comes as the Trump Administration undermines
WOOD RIVER – Wood River police have charged an 18-year-old resident with aggravated assault and intimidation after he allegedly used an air pistol to threaten a juvenile victim. Brennen R. Sykes, 18, of Wood River, was charged on Nov. 14, 2025 with one count each of intimidation (a Class 3 felony) and aggravated assault (a Class A misdemeanor). Sykes allegedly appeared at the residence of a 17-year-old victim on Nov. 12, 2025 and “displayed an air pistol in a threatening manner,”
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general and two state governors, today filed a lawsuit to halt the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) abrupt and illegal changes that will limit access to long-term housing and other services for tens of thousands of Americans experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Raoul and the coalition’s complaint challenges drastic changes to HUD’s Continuum of Care grant
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is launching new coverage for home visiting services for pregnant and parenting Medicaid customers, effective Nov. 21. The newly-covered services and supports aim to meet the needs of pregnant and parenting individuals at a critical time in their healthcare journey, in order to create better health outcomes for both parents and their children. “My administration is committed to investing in children and
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis region experienced its first significant snowfall of the fall season on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. Snow fell steadily throughout much of Saturday morning, impacting communities across the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Notable snowfall totals included 8 inches in Edwardsville; 7 inches in Troy, Mo., and 6.5 inches in Creve Coeur, Mo. Other areas reported significant accumulations as well, such as Maryland Heights, Mo., with 6.3 inches and Godfrey, with 6 inches
ALTON — The Alton 3rd Chute, located at 2204 Fosterburg Road, announced on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, on social media that it would be closing "starting today," expressing gratitude to customers and employees for their support over the years. The message acknowledged the difficulty of the decision and apologized for any inconvenience caused by the closure. In contrast, the Grafton 3rd Chute clarified that it is a separate business with different ownership and confirmed it will continue operation
EDWARDSVILLE — With doors wide open to neighbors experiencing homelessness and those less fortunate, Madison County shared a Thanksgiving meal rooted in compassion and community. Madison County employees served a free Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in the cafeteria of the Madison County Administration Building. The event was funded entirely through donations from elected officials, local business owners, and county employees, with no taxpayer dollars used. “This
EDWARDSVILLE — Snowfall began early Saturday morning, Nov. 29, 2025, in the Edwardsville area, resulting in nearly six inches of accumulation by 8 a.m., according to the National Weather Service, which emerged as the leader in the Metro East. Shown above are images of the depth and drifting of snow in the Edwardsville area on Saturday morning. Local news outlets encouraged people to share snow-related photos by emailing news@riverbender.com or texting (618) 623-5930 for publication in
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a bipartisan coalition of 36 attorneys general in expressing opposition to a renewed effort by Congress to ban states from enforcing any state law or regulation addressing artificial intelligence (AI). Raoul and a bipartisan group of attorneys general successfully opposed a similar proposed ban over the summer. However, recent reporting indicates that lawmakers may be considering inserting a state AI law ban into a military funding proposal.
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul secured an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) ensuring the DOJ will not apply harmful restrictions to critical Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) services supporting survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Last month, Attorney General Raoul co-led a coalition of 20 other attorneys general suing the DOJ over unlawful new conditions that threatened to cut off critical legal services for
ST. LOUIS — The National Weather Service in St. Louis reported significant snowfall across the region early Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, with accumulations reaching up to close to 6 inches in some areas, leading to hazardous travel conditions. The National Weather Service in St. Louis said snow began around 3 a.m. Saturday in the Metro East area, with amounts varying notably between locations. In Illinois, as of 8 a.m. on Saturday, the NWS said Edwardsville recorded 5.7 inches, Granite City
When a child is struggling to breathe, it can be one of the most frightening experiences for a parent or caregiver. Labored breathing, known as respiratory distress, can develop quickly and may signal a serious underlying illness. Knowing what to look for, and when to seek care, can make all the difference in protecting your children. “It’s important for parents and caregivers to know the signs of labored breathing, also known as respiratory distress,” says Kelsey Grimes,
O’FALLON, Ill. — Expecting a bundle of joy? New and expectant moms and their families will be treated to a holiday baby shower of educational resources about pregnancy, newborns, child safety and more at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital’s Women and Infants Center’s “Bundles for Babies” event on Saturday, Dec. 13. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the hospital’s lobby. “Our Women and Infants staff and providers will be on hand to answer
BELLEVILLE — Three students from Alton High School delivered a standout performance at the District 6 Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) Festival held Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, at Belleville West High School. Quinn Halliday on trumpet, Morgan Alexander on horn, and Wesley LeBrun on percussion represented their school and band program during the event. Their participation contributed to the festival’s showcase of regional student musicians. The festival, a gathering
PONTOON BEACH — In an effort to ensure that unhoused individuals in Madison County remain safe and warm during bouts of extreme cold, Madison County Transit (MCT) will provide emergency transportation to overnight warming locations when those locations activate due to temperatures reaching 20 degrees Fahrenheit or below. At its meeting last Thursday, the MCT Board of Trustees approved utilizing on-duty extra-board drivers to pick up individuals from MCT bus stops and stations and transpor
SAINT LOUIS - Winterfest has returned to St. Louis. Gateway Arch Park Foundation will host Winterfest from now until Jan. 11, 2026, in Kiener Plaza. Complete with ice skating, igloos, lights, markets, special events and more, Winterfest promises to be a fun experience for families and couples to enjoy. “We are just excited to have everybody down,” said Camille Brooks with the foundation. “The rink is set and ready for everybody to come hang out with us. The backdrop,
MADISON COUNTY — Alice Pierce, 28, has been charged with four counts of child pornography, a Class X felony, following an investigation by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Cybercrimes Division. The investigation began Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, after the division received multiple Cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating that an unknown individual was in possession of and disseminating child pornography. Detectives served multiple search
Winter weather arrived in Illinois early on Saturday, November 29, 2025, bringing snow and hazardous travel conditions across the region, according to the Illinois State Police and the National Weather Service. The snowfall began Saturday morning, with a few inches already on the ground by 7:30 a.m. The National Weather Service forecast predicts 3 to 5 inches of snow in central and northern Illinois, with accumulating snow expected to persist into Saturday. The NWS said the snow is moving fro
GRANITE CITY – A Granite City man reportedly seen on video burglarizing a garage and stealing a dirt bike before fleeing from police faces felony and misdemeanor charges. Grant S. White Jr., 26, of Granite City, was charged with one count each of residential burglary (a Class 2 felony), unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle (a Class 2 felony), and fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer (a Class A misdemeanor). White allegedly entered a Granite City residence without legal
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