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BELLEVILLE — A Belleville man was sentenced Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to reproducing child sexual abuse material involving victims younger than 13, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced. Jacob W. Burkert, 32, pleaded guilty to two Class X felony counts in St. Clair County Circuit Court. In January, investigators from Raoul’s office and Belleville police searched Burkert’s residence in the 200 block of Greenleaf Circle. Burker

ST. LOUIS - A 17-year-old McClure North High School senior student died after being found with a gunshot wound following a single-vehicle crash Wednesday night, Oct. 14, 2026, on Interstate 170, police said. Investigators are seeking witnesses to help determine what happened. The victim, identified as Alyssa Wilson, was found in the southbound lanes between St. Charles Rock Road and Midland Boulevard. She was taken to an area hospital for emergency treatment and later pronounced dead, according

ALTON - Junior Don’Tay Longstreet is giving Marquette Catholic's football team an explosive option on the ground and through the air all season. The Explorers are prepared to visit Carlyle on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, for their final regular-season football game. Marquette Catholic enters the matchup with a 4-4 record, while Carlyle is 5-3. Longstreet heads into the game after catching five passes for 69 yards against rival Roxana this past Friday night, Oct. 9, 2026. Longstreet has 15 reception

COLLINSVILLE – A convicted felon from Collinsville faces major new felony charges in Madison County, including attempted first degree murder and weapon offenses. Stephen R. Vasser II, 40, of Collinsville, was charged on Oct. 15, 2026 with one count each of attempted first degree murder, possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender (both Class X felonies), aggravated discharge of a firearm (a Class 1 felony), unlawful possession of a stolen firearm (a Class 2 felony) and defacing identificatio

RIVERBEND - Little monsters love trick-or-treating, and we have the perfect guide of all the best spots in the Riverbend region. Whether you’re looking for traditional community trick-or-treating or fun new trunk-or-treating, there are lots of opportunities throughout the month of October for fall fun! For more information about Halloween parades, check out our Ultimate Halloween Parade Guide . If you have a Halloween event you’d like to see included in this list, email news@riverbende

ALTON - Curtis Stephens didn’t intend to become a financial planner, but his focus has always been on helping people in times of need. Stephens owns Stephens Planning, an Alton-based financial planning business where he helps community members organize their money. But before that, he worked on towboats and then in emergency rooms as an EMT. His dedication to helping people remains at the heart of his work. “Showing up when it matters and when things aren’t going right

ALTON – A proposal for the City of Alton to annex and rezone land to build a battery storage facility aimed at lowering electricity costs was the subject of much discussion at a recent public hearing. Alton City Council members held a public hearing on Oct. 14, 2026 regarding a petition to annex two land parcels totaling 116 acres in Wood River Township, Madison County, into the City of Alton and rezone the site for use as a battery storage facility. Attorney Sean Pluta spoke on behalf

EDWARDSVILLE - Retired Edwardsville Police Chief Michael Fillback had an emotional send-off with the department on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. Current and former Edwardsville Police Department employees, two former chiefs, city staff, elected officials, and fellow law enforcement professionals stopped by to wish him well in his retirement. Previous Deputy Chief Michael Lybarger assumed the chief’s title following Fillback’s departure for retirement. Some may not know this, but Fillback

BETHALTO - Community members can enjoy a free night of fun and sugar at Candypalooza with Bethalto Church of God. From 5:30–7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, Bethalto Church of God will host their second annual Candypalooza event complete with bounce houses, a petting zoo, axe throwing, carnival games, face-painting, balloon animals, and, of course, lots of candy. Pastor Ben Ratchford promises a fun fall event for families, with a deeper message of connecting and building community.

GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney senior Gabe Thiems finished 12th in 17 minutes, 43 seconds at the Gateway Metro Conference Meet recently, setting an all-time personal record as six of the Griffins’ seven boys runners posted career-best times. All seven runners recorded season-best times. Henry Mathes led the Griffins with an 11th-place finish. Thiems was honored at the meet with the other Griffins female seniors, where McGivney coaches recognized his contributions to the boys team. He

ALTON - Alton Main Street invites you to join the fun at the Downtown Alton Chili Cook-Off, to be held on Sunday, October 18th from Noon until 3:00 p.m. at Flock Food Truck Park & Bar, located at 210 Ridge St. in Alton, Illinois. The Chili Cook-Off is a great civic event that encourages local chefs, both amateur and professional, to match their favorite recipe with others in similar categories. Organizers look forward to greeting returning teams and welcoming new participants to this fiery competition

The difficult conversation is over. The big presentation is behind you. But hours later, you’re still replaying what you said, wondering what others thought and worrying about what might happen next. Stress is a normal part of life, but when the mind and body struggle to switch off, it can be harder to move forward. Understanding the difference between stress and anxiety — and learning how to manage both — can make a difference to your overall wellbeing according to behavioral

WOOD RIVER - You can repair your car’s brakes while donating toward breast cancer research through the Brakes for Breasts campaign at Pro Automotive Services. To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 10% of the cost of all brake jobs in October will go toward the Brakes for Breasts cancer research fund. Pro Automotive Services is also offering free brake pads and brake inspections. Jennifer Baggett with Pro Automotive Services emphasized the importance of giving back. “It’s

There are more than 18 million cancer survivors in the United States. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Across the country, stories will be shared, fundraising walks will be held, and just like every month, more women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. For survivors, it’s also a time of reflection and continuing to live ‘a new normal,’ post-cancer. When it comes to cancer, most people think about physical pain that is often associated with a diagnosis.

EDWARDSVILLE — Did you know that every two seconds someone needs blood in the United States? Or that blood and platelets cannot be manufactured, they can only come from volunteer donors? To help meet the current demand for blood donations, State Senator Jason Plummer is partnering with Moose Lodge 1561 to host a blood drive on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026 at the Moose Lodge in Edwardsville. Donors are encouraged to come out to participate. Who: State Senator Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville)

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 40 attorneys general, filed a notice in the bankruptcy proceedings of Character Technologies, Inc., the company behind the popular chatbot company Character.AI. Raoul’s court filing identifies serious concerns about the company’s safety and privacy practices and calls for protections for children and consumers in any sale of the company's business or assets. “Character.AI’s bankruptcy

CHICAGO — Due to President Trump's Budget Bill (H.R. 1), thousands of lawfully present immigrants in Illinois lost Medicaid coverage, effective October 1, 2026. Get Covered Illinois is offering an immediate path to health insurance through a special enrollment period running through December 31, 2026, with premium tax credits available to eligible customers. This impacted group will no longer be eligible to receive premium tax credits on January 1, 2027, as a result of H.R. 1. "Trump's

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a coalition of seven states and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in asking a federal judge to hold Martin Shkreli in contempt for his alleged flagrant and repeated violations of a 2022 court order that banned him from the pharmaceutical industry. Shkreli was previously convicted for engaging in illegal and monopolistic behavior as the CEO of Vyera Pharmaceuticals. In a motion and brief filed today, Raoul and the coalition allege tha

ALTON - Riverbend community members are invited to a special luncheon to celebrate Human Rights & World Community Day. From 12–2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, the Alton chapter of Church Women United will host a light lunch and award ceremony at Main Street United Methodist Church in Alton. Minister Ciara Taylor will serve as the guest speaker and will receive the Human Rights Award. Pastor Peter Hough from Alton Mission will receive the World Community Award. “The awards

ALTON - The U.S. Marshals Service recognized the Alton Police Department for supporting efforts to apprehend fugitives and reduce violent crime during a Task Force Officer Appreciation Day on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at the federal court for the Southern District of Illinois. The Alton Police Department received a commemorative plaque recognizing its support and commitment to reducing violent crime throughout the district. The event honored officers who work alongside federal law enforcement.