Riverbender 🕸

SAUK VILLAGE – Today, Governor Pritzker joined Dr. Tony Sanders, State Superintendent of Education, to celebrate the start of the 2025-26 school year with students and staff at Wagoner Elementary School in Community Consolidated Schools District (CCSD) 168 in Sauk Village. The Governor highlighted Illinois’ continued record investments in education, which are strengthening school communities, supporting teachers, and expanding opportunities for students from preschool through high school. “I am thrilled to visit the students, teachers, and administrators at Wagoner Elementary to celebrate another school year. Being here today, I am reminded of the promise we make to our children to give them the support, resources, and foundation to work hard and get ahead. In Illinois, we back those promises with action,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “When we invest in our schools, we build stronger and safer communities, we secure our long-term economic future, and we

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GODFREY – Resurrection Lutheran Church of Godfrey will host a free Carbon Monoxide Installation Event to coincide with National Fire Prevention Week Oct. 5–11, 2025. Local volunteers have continued to partner with the Godfrey Fire Protection District and the Alton Fire Department to install new 10-year UL-Listed carbon monoxide detectors in approved homes. UL-Listed means it meets important safety standards according to the National Fire Protection Association. As a self-funded nonprofit, the association strives to help save lives and reduce loss with information, knowledge, and passion. Sharon Groh, Resurrection volunteer, says this is the third installation event held by the church and partner volunteers. The next installation is scheduled for Oct. 11, 2025, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. To qualify, the applicant must be a homeowner living in Alton or Godfrey. Nearby community homeowners will be considered on an individual basis. If you would like a carbon monoxide device

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SPRINGFIELD - Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration: Illinois Workforce and Innovation Board Daniel Serota will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Workforce and Innovation Board.* As Vice President of Government and Public Affairs at Aon, a leading global professional services firm, Serota creates meaningful and sustainable connections with a wide variety of stakeholders to further Aon’s public service mission and community outreach activities. With over a decade of experience in this role, he leads public policy and political initiatives for Aon at the federal, state, and regulatory level, and he directs Aon’s Political Action Committee. He also empowers the Latino Professional Network within Aon as Executive Sponsor. Serota has garnered recognition from some of the top leadership groups in Chicago, including Crain’s Chicago Business’ 40 Under

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CHICAGO AND WASHINGTON, DC — The League of Women Voters of Chicago, League of Women Voters of Illinois and League of Women Voters of the US issued the following joint statement in response to the threat of deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago. “The President has once again threatened to deploy the National Guard with a rationale of lies—this time to Chicago—against the wishes of local and state officials and the general public. “The League of Women Voters stands with Governor Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Johnson, and echoes the position that there is no justification for this action. Chicago is not experiencing any emergency that requires federal force. The President's threats are nothing more than bullying and retaliation against an American city and a sovereign state for not bowing to his personal agenda. “We've seen in DC and Los Angeles how the presence of federal troops does nothing to make residents and businesses safer. Terror an

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today a new program that will grant funds to clean up cemeteries that have been abandoned, neglected, or are otherwise in need of additional care. Units of local government and not-for-profit organizations (including, but not limited to, not-for-profit cemetery authorities) are eligible to apply for ten Cemetery Relief Fund Grants that will be issued yearly. Each grant, valued up to $20,000, is supported by funding allocated in the FY26 state budget signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker . Applicants may apply by completing and submitting the application found online here . The deadline to apply is October 24, 2025. “Cemeteries hold deep historical and emotional significance for local communities, and it is vital they are properly maintained for future generations to honor and remember their loved ones,” said IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. “This program will hel

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ALTON - Sparks Hauling and Junk Removal is growing, and owner Denise Sparks shared that she is in the process of getting a trash compactor at her building at 2201 East Broadway in Alton. In a recent interview on “Our Daily Show!” with C.J. Nasello , Sparks explained that she wants a trash compactor to cut her costs at the landfill and increase her services. She encouraged anyone who wants to know more about her business or her plans to stop by her building or give her a call, adding that it’s a clean, well-run building. “You could probably eat off my warehouse floor,” she said. “You can walk by my facility at any time and it’s spotless. You can come inside, look at my warehouse. It’s spotless. I run a tight ship. You can look inside my fence and it’s spotless. My dumpsters, everything. I have nothing to hide. I’m about as transparent as anybody is going to get.” Sparks said there has been some confusion

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ALTON - The Alton Expo promises another fun weekend on the riverfront. From Sept. 4–7, 2025, community members can enjoy carnival rides, food vendors, games, live music and more fun at the Alton Amphitheater. Admission to the Expo is free, and Riverbend residents are encouraged to come out and enjoy the weekend. “We think we’re going to have a pretty big crowd on the riverfront,” said Dan Herkert, Alton Amphitheater Commission Chair. “It’s really just turned into another chance for the community to come together. It’s a lot of family fun. It’s a safe opportunity and a positive opportunity to show off our community and our riverfront.” On Thursday, Sept. 4, the Expo opens from 5–10 p.m. and CLUless performs from 7–10 p.m. The carnival opens from 5–11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5. DJ She BEATz will spin tunes from 5:30–7:30 p.m., followed by Dirty Muggs from 8–11 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 6, the fun

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GRAFTON/JERSEYVILLE - JCH Foundation will sponsor their fourth annual Lucky Duck Derby to raise money for a new ambulance at Jersey Community Hospital. From 4:30–8 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2025, community members can come out to Raging Rivers WaterPark in Grafton for food, drinks, live music, basket raffles and rubber duck races. Charity Roth with JCH Foundation explained that the event is a fun way to help the community. “Our community is so incredibly generous, and we’re so grateful for our business sponsors and those in the community who donate to us,” Roth said. “It’s an amazing event.” You don’t need to be present to win the duck races, though Roth encourages people to attend because the event is “a lot of fun.” The Quacker’s Cup, which is the sponsored race, will commence at 5:45 p.m. This will be followed by the Hometown Heroes Race at 6:15 p.m. For $9.11, the Hometown Heroes Race invites community members

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski this week urged the United States Postal Service to halt plans to downsize the Springfield Processing and Distribution Center and consolidate its operations with the St. Louis facility, citing concerns over delivery delays and job losses. Budzinski requested that the USPS permanently halt any plans to downsize or consolidate the Springfield facility, located at 2105 E. Cook Street. She emphasized that maintaining the center would protect local postal jobs and prevent further delays. In a letter addressed to Postmaster General David Steiner, Budzinski highlighted that under the previous Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s “Delivering for America” plan, the Springfield center was targeted for downsizing. She warned that routing mail from Springfield to St. Louis, over 100 miles away, before final delivery would exacerbate existing delays for Central Illinois residents. Budzinski noted that only 73 percent of First-Class

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ALTON - A free event encourages community members to connect with their spirituality. From 1–2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, at River Bend Yoga in Alton, Riverbend residents are invited to learn more about Eckankar and spirituality through an interactive conversation titled “Experience the Reality of Past Lives, Dreams, and Soul Travel.” This is the second of a three-part series called “Ancient Wisdom for Today,” with conversations planned for the first Thursday of every month through October. “This is one of our favorite ones of all the ones we do, because it’s a culmination of the tenets, if you will, of Eckankar, which is the path of spiritual freedom,” said Flora Van Koten. “Everybody has inner guidance, whether they call it my own mind telling me what to do, or God, or Christ, or Buddha. It’s an exciting journey for everybody. They can relate to at least one of these topics. Organizers Van Koten and Sheila Aehl

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ST. LOUIS – Today, Mayor Cara Spencer announced the formation of two committees to advise her and the newly established Recovery Office on the City’s recovery vision and priorities after the devastating May 16 tornado. “One thing that’s clear to me from being in our hardest-hit neighborhoods, talking with residents, listening to frontline organizations, and learning from national recovery experts, is that St. Louis’ recovery depends on collaboration,” said Mayor Spencer. “The recovery cannot be mapped out from within City Hall. Through these committees, the people whose lives were abruptly changed on May 16, and the people who have stepped up to serve ever since, will play vital roles in helping us put St. Louisans' needs and wishes into action.” Residents and business owners in the impact zone, as well as community members who serve those in the impact zone, are invited to apply to the Resident and Community Recovery Advisory Committee.

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ALTON - On August 26, 1925, an article in the Alton Evening Telegraph titled “Alton Gave to Nation 3 Men for the Senate” described a request received by Alton Postmaster P. B. Cousley. The Joint Committee on Printing for the United States Senate was gathering information on all the men who had served in the Senate, and the Committee hoped to verify or correct what they had gathered with relatives or others living locally who might have had connections to them. (The first female senator from Illinois, Carol Moseley Braun, was not elected until 1992 and served from 1993–1999). The three senators were David Jewett Baker, James Semple, and Lyman Trumbull. David Jewett Baker was appointed to the United States Senate as a Democrat in 1830 to fill a vacancy. He served one month. He was also a United States District Attorney from 1833 to 1841. Afterwards, he retired to Alton, where he practiced law. Baker died August 6, 1869, and is buried in Alton Cemetery. James Semple

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SPRINGFIELD – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) called on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to halt plans to downsize the Springfield Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) and consolidate its operations into the St. Louis P&DC. In the letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, Budzinski raised concerns that the plan, spearheaded by former Postmaster General DeJoy, would lead to further delivery delays for Central Illinois residents and hurt local postal employees in Springfield. Budzinski wrote, “As you may know, under your predecessor’s “Delivering for America” plan, the Springfield P&DC was targeted for potential downsizing and consolidation into the St. Louis P&DC. This plan would have forced mail from the Springfield region to travel hundreds of additional miles to St. Louis before being sent out to its final destination…Given that across downstate Illinois, just 73 percent of First-Class three-to-five day mail is being

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OLD SHAWNEETOWN – Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and state and local leaders at the Shawneetown Regional Port District today to break ground on a new fertilizer distribution center along the Ohio River. This fertilizer terminal will boost regional freight activity, create jobs, and reinvigorate economic opportunity in the region. Made possible by $12.6 million from Governor Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital program, the project also will make local agriculture operations more efficient by reducing the traveling distance to the next closest port, resulting in improved safety as well as less wear and tear on local roads. “The Shawneetown Regional Port will soon be revitalized with new activity–moving millions of pounds of fertilizer for Illinois’ thriving agriculture industry,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Through this funding and partnership, we’re bringing jobs, investment, and opportunity

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ST. LOUIS – Mayor Cara Spencer and Provisional Personnel Director John Unnerstall today announced changes to the City’s family and medical leave (FML) policy, bringing it more in line with that of other cities and governments. The changes, effective immediately, mean that City of St. Louis staff must now first tap accrued medical leave, sick leave, vacation leave and compensatory time before taking paid family and medical leave, a benefit passed by city ordinance in 2022 providing six weeks of paid leave for specific medical situations. An exception is made for the birth, adoption or foster care placement of a child, which City employees can take as paid leave before exhausting other forms of leave. Intermittent use of paid family is no longer allowed. Additionally, the City now has a separate leave policy to address the unique circumstances related to military leave. Unpaid family and medical leave provisions of the policy are unchanged. “I appreciate Director

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O'FALLON, IL., - The Illinois State Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred in the 600 block of West Madison on Friday evening. Authorities said the incident involved an O’Fallon Police officer, who was not injured. Authorities said there is no danger to the public, and no suspects are being sought. The investigation is being conducted by the Illinois State Police in accordance with state law and department policy. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

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GRANITE CITY - The Granite City Police Department is investigating a shooting that left a woman injured near the intersection of Veteran’s Parkway and Cleveland Boulevard on Friday morning, Aug. 29, 2025. At approximately 10:20 a.m. on Aug. 29, 2025, officers responded to Gateway Regional Medical Center after a gunshot victim was dropped off at the emergency room. The victim was later transported to a hospital in the St. Louis area and is currently listed in stable condition. Authorities identified the suspect as a black female who fled the scene in a black Dodge Challenger. No additional description of the vehicle or suspect has been released. Granite City Police believe the suspect and victim are known to each other and have stated there is no immediate threat to the community. The Granite City Police Department is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them at (618) 877-7111 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477). No further comments will be made

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EDWARDSVILLE – Here are six things to know this week about Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: Homecoming & Family Weekend Registration continues for the 10th Annual Cougars Unleashed Homecoming Run & Pancake Breakfast. During SIUE’s Homecoming & Family Weekend campus visitors can choose from a 10K, 5K, or Fun Run—whether you’re a competitive runner or just in it for the pancakes, there’s something for everyone. On Saturday morning of SIUE’s Homecoming & Family Weekend, run or walk, then enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast. Later in the evening head to the Cougar Fan Zone for food trucks, music, games, and activities for all ages leading up to the Men's Soccer game! Cougars Unleashed Homecoming Run & Pancake Breakfast takes place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27 on the Stratton Quad. Lovejoy Library Lovejoy Library has partnered with Student Affairs to sponsor a wellness cart. These carts contain a number of wellness resources

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SPRINGFIELD, IL.— Gabriel P. Calixto, 27, who has ties to the Metro East, was wanted in connection with the stabbing death of his girlfriend in Springfield, IL., and was captured in Mexico and will be returned to the United States to stand trial, federal authorities announced. Calixto faces three counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated domestic battery in the 2023 death of 24-year-old Emma Shafer. On July 11, 2023, Springfield, IL., Police responded to a residence in the 1000 block of South 8th Street, where Shafer was found dead from multiple sharp force injuries, according to the coroner’s office. Following the discovery, Calixto went on the run. The U.S. Marshals Service collaborated with Mexican authorities to locate and apprehend him. His arrest was announced by Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser, the Springfield Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Authorities expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by

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EAST ST. LOUIS — A house fire in East St. Louis early Friday morning, Aug. 29, 2025, has claimed the lives of three people, officials said. The fire broke out just before 7 a.m. Friday in the 3300 block of Bond Avenue, according to St. Clair County authorities. Emergency crews from the East St. Louis Fire Department and Police Department responded and remained at the scene as of 10 a.m. The St. Clair County Coroner's Office identified the three victims. They are Sylvester Reeves, 94, Pierre Manley, 56, and Cheryle M. Johnson, 59. The coroner's office said the three died from smoke inhalation. All three were pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and investigations are ongoing.

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