Riverbender 🕸

GRAFTON - The Great Mushroom Hunt at Raging Rivers WaterPark was another successful event. On Saturday, April 12, 2025, hundreds of Riverbend residents stopped by Raging Rivers to hunt for mushrooms and Easter eggs on the park’s property. Attendees could enjoy major prizes and a vendor fair in addition to the hunt. General Manager Jeremy Hayes said the fifth annual event was a great experience for all involved. “It’s really awesome,” Hayes said. “It's just keeping Raging Rivers fresh in everybody’s minds and another way for us to give a little bit of family events and family things to do. That’s what Raging Rivers is all about, just making memories for everybody. We hope to make lasting memories for people, whether it be at the water park or one of our events. However, wherever, we're out to make memories for people.” Attendees could visit with the Easter Bunny and other mascots, including the Raging Rivers Mississippi Monster.

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ALTON - Pride, Inc. hosted their biannual City Wide Litter Pickup. On Saturday, April 12, 2025, community members across Alton participated in the cleanup. Pat Stewart, president of Pride, Inc., expressed her gratitude to the many groups and individuals who came out to help the community. “We had a great turnout. We’re so appreciative of everybody,” Stewart said. “Obviously, trash is more than a twice-a-year problem, so the more we can get the message out, maybe people will start carrying a trash bag in their car. And who knows, if they see a nasty street, maybe they’ll just pull over and continue to do this cleanup throughout the year.” Stewart said many “concerned citizens” took time to help out on Saturday, including the Alton Boys and Girls Club and St. Ambrose School. She emphasized the importance of getting the youth involved and teaching kids about how to properly dispose of trash and care for the community. "It’s

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 21 attorneys general sent a letter regarding a raft of proposed changes that would undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA), making it more difficult and expensive for individuals to enroll in health coverage on federal and state exchanges. Changes would also bar Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients from buying health insurance on the exchanges. If allowed to take effect, the proposed ACA changes will cause up to two million Americans to lose health insurance coverage in 2026 and will create significant health and economic damage to the states as more people are forced to go without health insurance, driving up costs for everyone. “These proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act are unnecessary and disturbing,” Raoul said. “Everyone in this country deserves access to lifesaving health services and these changes could cause hundreds of thousands of Americans to be uninsured. I will

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BELLEVILLE - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today awarded more than $19 million in funding to 38 program recipients serving 1,900 community members statewide to expand the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The program creates a qualified talent pipeline of diverse candidates in the construction and building trades. The Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program launched in 2021 with the goal of increasing diversity and access to apprenticeship programs in well-paying fields. Comprehensive pre-apprenticeship programs help participants gain admission to apprenticeship programs, which provide a greater opportunity to obtain employment in the construction trades and secure a lifelong career. “The greatest resource we have is the hardworking people of Illinois, and the greatest return on investment we have is training and educating them,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “That’s why workforce development

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced $24 million from the 2023 Juul Labs settlement will support efforts by Truth Initiative, the country’s largest nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing youth and young adult nicotine use and addiction, to provide Illinois youth with vital resources for vaping prevention and cessation through Truth Initiative’s EX Program, the Vaping: Know the Truth curriculum, and a targeted media campaign. Truth Initiative’s EX Program is an evidence-based quitting resource developed in 2008 by Truth Initiative with Mayo Clinic. EX Program can increase the odds of quitting nicotine by up to 40%, by offering young people personalized digital quitting support accessible via their phones, internet and social media that is tailored to their lifestyle. “E-cigarette use is an ongoing epidemic among youth in Illinois as flavored, disposable vaping products that appeal to teens and youth have flooded

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SPRINGFIELD - As construction season gets underway, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is issuing a reminder about the state’s prevailing wage laws, requiring fair pay to workers on publicly financed projects. The prevailing wage is set by county, marking the least amount of money and benefits a contractor is required to pay workers. Besides ensuring fair pay, these laws are also necessary to help create a level playing field and fair bidding process for all contractors on taxpayer funded projects. “I want the hardworking people of Illinois who are building our roads, re-enforcing bridges and putting up new structures to know that we have their back,” said Comptroller Mendoza. “As state comptroller, I am the state’s chief fiscal and accountability officer and the last line of defense in making sure workers on public projects are paid properly.” In 2019, Comptroller Mendoza signed an executive order to give state prevailing wage laws more teeth

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EDWARDSVILLE – Main Street Community Center is excited to partner with Sunrise Tours to offer the Dakotas Showcase Travel Trip, an unforgettable journey through the American frontier. This adventure, scheduled for June 10-17, 2025, will feature a Theodore Roosevelt Experience in Medora, a full-day tour of the Black Hills, and visits to iconic landmarks such as Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Badlands National Park. To provide interested travelers with all the details, Main Street Community Center will host an informational meeting on April 22, 2025 at 10 a.m. at its location in Edwardsville, Ill. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the itinerary, pricing, and registration process. As an added incentive, everyone who attends the meeting will be entered into a drawing to win $100 off their trip, provided they sign up that day or have already registered. This trip, organized by Sunrise Tours, offers a unique chance to explore the rich history and breathtaking

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ALTON – YWCA proudly announces the 2025 Josephine Marley Beckwith Future Leader (JMBFL) Scholars: Elizabeth Blackmon and Cameron Conwell. Elizabeth, a standout student at Alton High School, plans to major in computer science and/or mechanical engineering, while Cameron, another exceptional student from Alton High School, aims to pursue a major in Biology with a Pre-Med direction. In addition to these remarkable scholars, the following students have qualified for renewal scholarships: Jada Bruce (Alton), Guadalupe Calixto (Bethalto), Isabella Hall (Alton), Samantha Kulish (East Alton), and Emma Smith (Bethalto). These young women have demonstrated ongoing academic excellence and commitment to leadership, earning them continued support through the Josephine Marley Beckwith Scholarship. YWCA awards $1,000 renewable scholarships to deserving young women, honoring the legacy of Mrs. Josephine Marley Beckwith, a Woman of Distinction in the Class of 2002. These scholarships empower

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul co-led a coalition of 21 attorneys general today in filing two amicus briefs supporting law firms challenging unconstitutional executive orders imposing severe sanctions on the firms in retaliation for doing work disfavored by the Trump administration. “Attacking attorneys because they represented a client in a matter adverse to the government or made arguments disfavored by the government threatens our First Amendment rights, right to counsel principles and the independence of law firms,” Raoul said. “I join my fellow attorneys general in asking the courts to block these orders and defend lawyers from political retribution. As our states’ top legal officers, we stand with all our colleagues in the legal community, in Illinois and across the country, who stay true to the ideals and values of our profession.” President Donald Trump has issued executive orders retaliating against law firms whose advocacy, clients

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week joined U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and 15 Senate colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to help ease the financial cost of adoption and support prospective and adoptive families. The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act restores the refundable portion of the Adoption Tax Credit. By allowing the tax credit to be refundable, families will be able to access the full amount as a refund, even if the credit exceeds a family’s tax burden. The existing Adoption Tax Credit allows adoptive families to deduct up to $16,810 in qualified expenses. “We should be doing everything we can to make things more affordable for families,” Duckworth said. “Adoption can put a financial strain on families, but by making the Adoption Tax Credit fully refundable we’re helping ensure these families can keep more of their hard-earned money to pay for their loved ones’

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced his appointment of Brandon Ragle, a leader in IT strategy and management with 20+ years of experience, to lead the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology. Ragle currently serves as interim Secretary following the departure of Sanjay Gupta. Before his position as Interim Secretary, Ragle served as Deputy Secretary and Deputy Chief Information Officer from 2023-2025. “As part of our continued efforts to bolster the technology and innovation sectors across our state, I’m excited to appoint Brandon Ragle as the next leader of DoIT,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m confident that his extensive expertise and leadership experience will optimize software systems and support staff across the agency. I look forward to leveraging his distinct operational knowledge to further DoIT’s critical statewide initiatives.” Ragle began his career with the State of Illinois in May 2002, working as a software

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06) and Don Bacon (R-NE-02) reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would help expand leave benefits for the millions of devoted health professionals serving in the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps. Despite being responsible for leading our nation’s emergency response to dangerous public health crises, PHS officers are still the only federal entity—civilian or uniformed—without access to essential leave benefits, including extended parental leave, emergency leave, court appearance leave and rest and recuperation leave. The lawmakers’ Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act would rectify this issue by ensuring PHS officers have access to the same authorized leave that is available to members of th

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SPRINGFIELD– Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran (41st–Downers Grove), alongside State Senator Erica Harriss (56th–Glen Carbon) and State Senator Darby Hills (26th–Barrington Hills), today unveiled their legislative package to make childcare more affordable for Illinois families and businesses. “Investing in childcare is investing in Illinois families and businesses,” said Curran. “Our legislative package is a holistic approach that empowers families, businesses and the state to work together to provide both immediate relief and long-term structural improvements to childcare in Illinois.” According to Capitol News Illinois, the state has lost nearly 4,300 licensed childcare providers—approximately 33 percent—over the past decade. In response, Curran has filed Senate Bill 1120 to help reduce staffing shortages and red tape for providers in childcare deserts and provide financial relief to working families struggling

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) are warning drivers to Move Over or Get Pulled Over. ? The Move Over Law, known as Scott’s Law in Illinois, requires drivers to move over and slow down when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with its emergency lights activated. ? If changing lanes is unsafe or ? impossible, drivers must slow down to a safe speed, proceed with caution, and be prepared to stop if necessary. ? “We’ve all heard it, move over and slow down for emergency vehicles on the side of the road with their emergency lights activated,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. ? “Despite this, we continue to see to crashes, including deadly crashes, because someone refused to move over and slow down. ? To help end this reckless behavior, we want the public to know that if you fail to move over and slow down in Illinois, you will get a ticket. ? The days of receiving a warning are

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SPRINGFIELD - As Medicaid marks its 60th anniversary in April, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is celebrating the program’s six decades of high-quality healthcare coverage and Medicaid’s position as the backbone of Illinois’ healthcare landscape. Medicaid provides a wide range of essential healthcare services to roughly 3.4 million people in Illinois, or roughly one in four Illinois residents. Illinois Medicaid is the largest health insurer in the state, providing coverage to people and supporting the healthcare infrastructure in every region of Illinois. Now is a time to preserve and protect Medicaid Medicaid in the face of federal Congressional proposals that would do just the opposite. “On the 60th anniversary of Medicaid, I am reflecting upon the millions of working families across Illinois that depend on these live-saving services,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Even as we uplift how this vital healthcare program

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair is thrilled to announce that The Chainsmokers , GRAMMY® Award-winning, RIAA Diamond-certified duo, will perform at the Illinois Lottery Grandstand stage on Friday, August 15. Known for their boundary-defying fusion of pop, indie, electronic, alternative, and rock, Drew Taggart and Alex Pall have consistently shaped the landscape of popular music. Fans can expect an electrifying performance featuring some of their biggest hits like Closer, Something Just Like This, the GRAMMY®-winning Don’t Let Me Down, and anthemic new classics from Addicted to the cross-genre smash, Don’t Lie. “Bringing world-class talent like The Chainsmokers to the Illinois State Fair emphasizes our commitment to providing top-tier entertainment for fairgoers,” said Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II. Since their independent breakthrough in 2013, The Chainsmokers have consistently delivered viral sensations

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SPRINGFIELD – Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton) says the fight for homeschool families continues following news that the Homeschool Act, HB 2827, was held on third reading and not brought for a vote by Friday’s House bill deadline. This bill places unnecessary mandates on homeschool families and includes an annual registration scheme. The public has been vocal in opposition to this bill. Elik’s concerns are about the cost of the mandates on different levels of government as well as the restrictions this will have on homeschool families. “This is a bad bill, and it couldn’t get the votes necessary to pass it through the House,” said Rep. Amy Elik. “Illinois has far bigger problems right now than mandating homeschool families. Although this bill could still come back, this is a big win for Illinois families.” The sponsor held HB 2827 on third reading, meaning it could still come back to for a vote prior to adjournment on May 31, however

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee led six Senators in urging Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to reverse the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent decisions to effectively terminate the Department’s cryptocurrency investigations and prosecutions. The memo , sent to staff earlier this week, also stated that DOJ will disband its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), which was established to investigate and prosecute criminal misuse of cryptocurrencies and digital assets. In their letter, the Senators also raise concerns about the potential connections between DOJ’s actions and the cryptocurrency ventures of President Trump and his family. “We write in response to your April 7, 2025

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EDWARDSVILLE - SIUE will host its fourth annual One Day One SIUE celebration on Thursday, April 24. The event, which combines the University's day of giving with a vibrant outdoor celebration, will take place on the Stratton Quadrangle and feature music from the Red Jackets Band, a BBQ buffet, and an INDYCAR showcase presented by World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) in a fun raceway themed celebration. “The fundraising festival has rapidly evolved into one of the University’s most anticipated annual events,” said Julie Babington, Senior Director of Annual Giving and the architect of One Day One SIUE. “What began as a modest giving initiative has grown into a signature celebration of community pride and philanthropy.” The final tally for SIUE’s 2024 One Day, One SIUE fundraiser was a record $2,344,574. “Each year, the amount contributed toward student success has increased significantly as has the awareness and participation across our

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SPRINGFIELD – The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and Illinois State Police (ISP) are joining together to recognize and honor all Illinois telecommunicators. Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed April 13-19, 2025, as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Illinois in recognition of the vital contributions telecommunicators make to the safety and well-being of Illinoisans. “Telecommunicators play a critical role in ensuring the safety of our communities by swiftly answering calls, coordinating emergency services, and providing life-saving information. Their dedication, skill, and professionalism often go unnoticed, but they are an essential part of the emergency response system.,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. “I extend my deepest gratitude to our telecommunicators across the state for their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to public safety.” ISP’s Telecommunication Services Bureau (TSB) operates six

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