Riverbender 🕸

A bouquet can say “I’m sorry” without using a single word—and most people will understand it instantly. That’s a strange kind of power for something that can’t speak, can’t move, and will wilt in a few days. Yet flowers have become one of the clearest emotional languages humans share. Why flowers work when words feel risky Emotions are messy. Saying them out loud can feel awkward or too intense. Flowers offer a safer middle ground. They let someone

On February 18, 1930, a young astronomer in the United States announced that a new world had been found at the edge of the solar system. Clyde Tombaugh’s discovery of Pluto quickly captured public attention because it seemed to complete a long search for a “Planet X” thought to be tugging on the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. At the time, it expanded the known map of the solar system and showed how much remained unseen beyond the familiar planets. It still matters today because

This morning starts clear and cool at 44 degrees with a breezy wind from the WSW at about 12 mph, gusting near 29 mph. By mid-morning, sunshine will brighten the sky as temperatures climb steadily. Expect mostly sunny skies into the afternoon, when the high reaches a pleasant 70 degrees. Winds will stay breezy but comfortable under that mostly sunny sky. It’s a nice day to get outside and enjoy the warmth after a chilly start. Evening will see partly cloudy skies as temperatures begin to

JERSEYVILLE – A local nonprofit helping youth victims of abuse recently got a financial boost from Jerseyville city officials. City Council members unanimously approved a $5,000 contribution to the Unified Child Advocacy Network (UCAN) at their Feb. 17, 2026 meeting. UCAN’s mission is to serve, protect and advocate for children affected by sexual and serious physical abuse, and to educate the community about child abuse. UCAN conducts forensic interviews with these victims in

ALTON - Get your kicks with the SIUE 66ers basketball team Monday, Feb. 23, when they travel to Edwardsville’s West End Service Station to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road and to meet local fans. SIUE Athletics and the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau are hosting a free Meet the 66ers event from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the West End Service Station, a Route 66 attraction located at 620 St. Louis St. The Meet & Greet will celebrate the team’s 66ers alternate identit

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Cristian M. Stevens on Tuesday sentenced a Chilean national who engaged in a cross-country crime spree involving stolen credit cards to 75 months in prison. During the spree, Rene Arviso Velasquez, 51, stole purses or bags containing credit cards and then quickly used the cards to buy gift cards or other items. On Aug. 25, 2024, Velasquez stole one victim’s Lululemon belt bag, which was hanging from her seat at a Cottleville, Missouri restaurant.

COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting this year’s first confirmed case of measles in the state in an adult residing in the Metro East area. The individual recently returned from travel out of state. IDPH is working with local, state and federal health officials to investigate all potential locations where others may have been exposed to the individual while that person was infectious. One community location in Illinois has been identified

GODFREY - A trailer hauling corn overturned Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 17, 2026, at the Interstate 255/Illinois 111 interchange in Godfrey, prompting a multi-agency response and a cleanup expected to take multiple hours, Illinois State Police said around 1 p.m. Illinois State Police, the Godfrey Fire Department, and Illinois Department of Transportation state crews responded to the scene as part of the cleanup effort. Motorists were urged to avoid the area following the overturn. Illinois State

ALTON - After years working at the intersection of food, community, and human need, one truth has become unmistakably clear: The greatest challenge in addressing food insecurity in America is not food supply. It is dignity. We live in one of the most resource-rich nations in the world. Nearly 40 percent of the food produced here is wasted, yet entire neighborhoods remain food deserts. Families struggle to access fresh, nutritious food close to home. The math simply does not add up. What’s

GILLESPIE, IL — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) presented $200,000 in new federal funding to the Gillespie Police Department. The funding will be used for key investments in street cameras and other technological upgrades that the community has needed for many years to increase safety for rural families. “Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of Central and Southern Illinoisans is always my top priority. Rural law enforcement often faces unique challenges and I am proud to

GRANITE CITY – Madison County authorities recently charged a local man with firing an illegally possessed weapon in a Granite City neighborhood. Robert L. Fayne, 44, of East St. Louis, was charged on Feb. 13, 2026 with one count each of felon in possession of a weapon (a Class 2 felony) and reckless discharge of a firearm (a Class 4 felony). Fayne allegedly knowingly discharged a firearm on a residential street in a reckless manner on Jan. 1, 2026, endangering the bodily safety of residents

Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-15th) recently emailed a survey to district residents asking which of five issues mattered most to them and their families. Voters were invited to check boxes on Election Integrity, Mass Deportations & Border Security, Affordability and Eliminating Waste Fraud and Abuse. Miller said in the email, “I want to hear directly from you.” But some constituents noticed that checking a box without a place to comment might lead to misinterpretations about

EDWARDSVILLE – Carrollton Bank announced today that Jeff Patrick has joined the bank as Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking in Edwardsville. “We are very excited Jeff has chosen to join Carrollton Bank,” said Tom Hough, CEO of Carrollton Bank. “Jeff has shown us that doing right by the customer matters to him, and that commitment reflects our approach to serving the Edwardsville community.” Patrick, who has more than 20 years of banking experience in southwest

SPRINGFIELD – It was just last month that a 3.8 magnitude earthquake shook Illinois from its center in Ohlman in central Illinois’ Montgomery County. “Thousands of people across the state felt this last quake in the early morning hours of January 20,” said Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) Acting Director Theodore (Ted) Berger. “It is a cautionary reminder that we sit between two seismic zones and earthquake preparedness

O’FALLON, Ill. – Prairie Cardiovascular and HSHS Medical Group welcome Claire Vargo, APRN, FNP-C, to the cardiology team at 3 St. Elizabeth Blvd., Suite 1800, in O’Fallon. She joins the practice with a patient-centered philosophy focused on clear communication, collaboration and education. She is accepting new patients. As a board-certified family nurse practitioner specializing in cardiology, Vargo brings extensive experience in cardiovascular intensive care and

MILSTADT - After receiving submissions from across the 114th District, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) has chosen Hoffen Funeral Home in Millstadt for his “Business of the Month.” With decades of experience, Rep. Schmidt said the team that operates the family-owned funeral home goes above and beyond with their services to help care for families. “When a loved one passes away, trust and compassion is what families need from a funeral home, and Hoffen Funera

O’FALLON, Ill. - Salon Ludic and Extension Lounge, an O’Fallon-based small business, is giving back to the community it calls home through monthly SLAK Campaigns, Salon Ludic Act of Kindness. The recipient for February’s SLAK Campaign is Blossom Play Cafe (BPC), located at 2 Eagle Center, Suite 2 in O’Fallon. Salon Ludic purchased a $200 gift card to BPC, which will be used for its customers until the money runs out. BPC Owner Kim Lloyd said, "I was so excited and honored

SPRINGFIELD – About 10 percent of Illinois voters will see an advisory referendum on their primary election ballots asking them to weigh in on whether they think the state should join a federal school voucher scheme. The Illinois Education Association (IEA) urges Illinoisans to vote “NO” on the question, which is misleadingly worded to make voters think no public money will be used. As it stands now, 80 percent of public schools are underfunded in Illinois. The

SPRINGFIELD - Educators and state workers with the Illinois Federation of Teachers rallied and lobbied Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at the state Capitol in Springfield, urging Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to fully fund public schools and higher education and to counter federal cuts they attributed to the Trump administration by changing Illinois’ tax code to increase taxes on the ultra-wealthy. The action, held on the eve of Pritzker’s statewide address, brought members

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL. – The US Air Force Band of Mid-America's Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble will present a series of concerts around Scott Air Force Base: Wednesday, February 25, 1:00 p.m.: Farrington Grade School, 20941 E. Divide Rd., Bluford, IL 628141 Thursday, February 26, 7:00 p.m. – Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (KPAC), 210 E Monroe Ave, Kirkwood, MO 63122 Friday, February 27, 7:00 p.m. – Panther Dome Gym, O'Fallon Township High School, 600 S Smiley St, O'Fallon,