ALTON — The Illinois Department of Transportation is actively working to manage road conditions amid ongoing snowfall affecting St. Clair, Madison, and Monroe counties, officials said Monday evening, Dec. 1, 2025. Joe Monroe, an operations engineer with the department, provided an update around 5 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2025, describing the challenges posed by a storm that had brought continuous snow throughout the day. “We are just treating as much as we can, but sometimes the snow comes
WOOD RIVER – Wood River City Council members quickly and unanimously approved two business-related items at this week’s meeting . Councilmen approved an ordinance amending the City Code to raise the number of restaurant/bar liquor licenses in District 1 from one to two. City Manager Steve Palen said this liquor license will go to the future Bootleggin’ BBQ location, which is set to open in a building currently being renovated near the Downtown Dog Park . Wood Rive
ALTON — Charges have been filed against a local man in connection with a robbery at a Walgreens store on Nov. 28, 2025, the Alton Police Department announced Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Marc D. Reynolds, 37, of Alton, faces charges of aggravated robbery and resisting a peace officer following the incident at the Walgreens located in the 1600 block of Washington Avenue. Reynolds was detained early Nov. 29 after deputies from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office located the suspect’s
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — St. Louis County Police announced the identification of a victim in the homicide that occurred in the 10000 block of Cloverdale Drive in St. Louis County on Nov. 26, 2025, as Bryola Carter, 25. Carter resided at that location and was transported to a nearby hospital after being shot, where she was pronounced dead. St. Louis County Police continue to investigate the homicide. Officers responded to a shooting call at 5:01 p.m.on Nov. 26, 2025, and found a 25-year-old
ALTON - Dr. Ed Hightower was a driving force behind the new Alton Sunnybrook Affordable Housing Development at 767 Washington Avenue in Alton. The development will provide 40 apartments for families earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income, or $60,180 for a household of three. Dr. Hightower is a former superintendent of schools in Edwardsville and was a well-known national basketball referee during his elite career. He has now moved to campaigns that he believes will help Alton, his
GODFREY – OSF Medical Group – Pediatrics (Godfrey) is pleased to announce a new board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner has been added to its staff to better serve the increasing pediatric care needs in the Riverbend region. Marissa St. Peters, APRN, PNP-BC, is accepting new patients at OSF Medical Group – Pediatrics, located at 6702 Godfrey Road, in Godfrey. Ms. St. Peters will see patients Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ms. St. Peters is a board-certified pediatric
BETHALTO - Olivia Wiley, a sophomore cross country runner, was recognized as the Civic Memorial Female Runner of the Year at the Alton Road Runners Banquet on Sunday night, Nov. 30, 2025. Wiley, who served as the team’s number one runner throughout the season, posted a personal record time of 20 minutes, 36.1 seconds for three miles on Sept. 27, 2025, at the Freeburg Invitational. Wiley is a Tom Lane State Farm Insurance Female Athlete Of The Month for CM. Civic Memorial Head Cross Countr
CHICAGO – Ahead of Giving Tuesday, Attorney General Kwame Raoul cautioned potential donors to make wise giving decisions this holiday season. Under Illinois law, fundraisers and charitable organizations are required to register each year with the Attorney General’s office. “During this giving season, I encourage potential donors to take a few minutes to review my Charitable Trust Bureau’s tips before making any Giving Tuesday donations and throughout the holidays,”
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that some Ameren Illinois (Ameren) customers in central and southern Illinois will receive a credit on their upcoming power bills. The credits are the result of a $38 million settlement Raoul’s office reached with Dynegy Inc. (Dynegy), a subsidiary of Texas-based Vistra Corporation. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the settlement in August 2025, resolving 10 years of investigation and litigation by the Attorney
GRANITE CITY – Three Granite City residents face felony charges in a series of burglary cases filed in Madison County. Todd A. Karius, 49, of Granite City, was charged on Nov. 18, 2025 with one count each of residential burglary (a Class 1 felony), theft (a Class 3 felony), and criminal damage to property (a Class 4 felony). Karius allegedly knowingly entered a Granite City residence without authority and with the intent to commit a theft on Aug. 8, 2025. He is additionally accused
VENICE - Dr. Ed Hightower recognized the drastic need for a grocery store for citizens in the Venice, Brooklyn and Madison areas, and, thanks to a personal donation and intense efforts by him, it is becoming a reality. A new grocery store in Venice is set to be built in the near future, addressing a critical lack of access to fresh food for residents of the Venice, Brooklyn and Madison areas, thanks to a $3.5 million personal investment from Dr. Ed Hightower and support from state and regional
ALTON - The Metro East and St. Louis region is being hit with heavier snow than predicted. Some areas north of St. Louis may end up receiving up to 5 inches of snowfall. Other areas are expected to receive around 3-4 inches of snowfall. National Weather Service in St. Louis Meteorologist Jared Maples said the snowfall has definitely arrived earlier than previously expected. Wood River and Granite City had several reports of accidents in the early afternoon. The St. Louis area has also several
CARLINVILLE – Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm on Monday, December 15 at 20733 North Broad, inside Donor Bus. What: Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics Community Blood Drive When: Monday, December 15, 11:00 am - 2:30 pm Where: Donor Bus, 20733 North Broad, Carlinville, IL Appointments: To donate, please contact Vicki Walker
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 School Closings Edwardsville District 7 Schools, E-Learning. Jersey School District 100, closed. Southwestern School District 9 schools, closed. Business Edwardsville YMCA Niebur & Meyer Centers will be closing at 3 p.m. Government Scott Air Force Base, delayed 2 hours. If you have a school, business, government, or organization closing, email news@riverbender.com or text 618-623-5930.
BUNKER HILL - Shelly Wuellner, Vice President of the Illinois School Nutrition Association, wants to make sure no child goes hungry at school. Wuellner has met with several local politicians to advocate for free school breakfasts and lunches for students. She has traveled to Washington, D.C., to push for federal funding for these meals, where she has also met with cafeteria workers across the country who support funding breakfasts and lunches for kids. “All the lunch ladies throughout
KAMPSVILLE — The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 39-year-old man for failing to register as a sex offender after receiving complaints from local residents, officials said. On Oct. 28, 2025, the sheriff’s office was notified that a sex offender was living at an unregistered residence in Kampsville, Calhoun County. Deputies launched an investigation and conducted surveillance, confirming the individual’s residence in the area without proper registration. Two day
ALTON — The Alton Fire Department encountered a very tragic situation early Monday morning, Dec. 1, 2025, when they discovered a man and a dog who had died in a fire. The blaze broke out around 2:30 a.m. Dec. 1 in the 900 block of Rixon in Alton. Firefighters arrived to find a single-story home fully engulfed in flames, Alton Fire Department Battalion Chief Derrick Richardson said. Despite temperatures in the 20s, crews immediately began attacking the fire, working until about 5:15 a.m.
FOSTERBURG - Fosterburg Fire Protection District Chief Don Palmer reported a sledding accident involving a 14-year-old girl in a rural Straube Lane area on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2025. Palmer said emergency responders were dispatched at 2:27 p.m. on Sunday to the Fosterburg scene. The girl sustained an injury that affected her neck. Palmer said the injury was serious enough to warrant airlifting her by medical helicopter to a St. Louis area hospital. “The injury impaired her neck,
Did you know that people who actively plan and anticipate enjoyable activities report higher levels of happiness and well-being? The simple act of creating a bucket list can transform ordinary days into memorable experiences. December, often packed with obligations and festivities, provides a unique opportunity to craft a personalized list of meaningful activities to enrich your final month of the year. Why a Winter Bucket List Matters It’s easy to let days slip by amid the hustle of
What if a simple daily ritual could transform your entire month, building anticipation and joy one day at a time? Advent calendars have long been a cherished tradition, yet their power extends beyond the simple countdown to a holiday. They offer a unique opportunity to foster mindfulness, family connection, and creativity. Starting December with an advent calendar tradition can set a positive tone that resonates throughout the month and beyond. The Origins and Evolution of Advent Calendars Adve
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