Riverbender 🕸

Food often tastes better outside—even when it’s the exact same sandwich you’d eat at your kitchen table. The bread isn’t fresher. The filling didn’t change. Yet the meal feels like a small event, not just a routine. That shift says a lot about how humans respond to space, senses, and shared experience. Outdoor meals are more than a trend or a hashtag. They tap into basic parts of how we pay attention, how we relax, and how we connect with other people. From picnics

On May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn—queen of England and the second wife of King Henry VIII—was executed at the Tower of London. At the time, her death marked a turning point in a fast-moving political and religious struggle over who would control the English crown and what shape the nation’s church would take. It mattered immediately because it cleared the way for Henry to remarry again in his search for a male heir and strengthened the king’s ability to reshape the rules of

WOOD RIVER – Two redevelopment projects are moving forward in downtown Wood River, including three new businesses and six loft apartments. At their May 18, 2026 meeting, City Council members approved two Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreements for redevelopment projects on Ferguson Avenue. These include an agreement with JAME Properties LLC for 53 E. Ferguson Ave. and a separate agreement with AMERICAINS LLC at 84 E. Ferguson Ave. The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office lists

ALTON — At 2 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, Soulcial Kitchen will unveil its newest mobile addition — The Chef & The General food truck — at the Block Party for Good in downtown Alton. The debut marks far more than the launch of another food truck. It is the next chapter in Soulcial Kitchen’s Currency of Caring movement and a public statement that food, done right, is one of the most powerful tools we have to restore dignity, build community, and remind every neighbor

HARDIN — Repairs began Monday, May 18, 2026, on the Joe Page Bridge in Hardin, with two-way traffic maintained by temporary signals. IDOT said construction is projected to be completed by June 30, 2027. “IDOT is investing $22 million to maintain the bridge in a state of good repair,” IDOT said. “This work will include daytime lane closures.” IDOT urged motorists to plan for delays during the work. “Motorists should expect long delays and are encouraged

EDWARDSVILLE - The University of Illinois Extension’s Madison County 4-H is recognizing senior Karlie Knebel as the school year comes to an end, highlighting her experiences in the youth program and her plans to attend Murray State University to study animal and equine science. Knebel, whose parents are Corey and Stacey Knebel, said the best part of participating in 4-H was the people she met through her club and at the fair. She is completing five years in 4-H. “The

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Mike Bost welcomed a group of St. Clair County police officers to Washington during National Police Week, including Fairview Heights Police Officer Molly Muennich, whom he described as having been shot in the line of duty last May and was honored at the U.S. Capitol. Bost said Muennich was shot in the face at close range after what he described as a routine call that “quickly turned dangerous.” Despite what he called critical injuries, Bost said, Muennich

ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Metropolitan Police on Monday, May 18, 2026, identified a man whose body was pulled from the Mississippi River last week as 20-year-old Antonio Arellano-Banda, 20. Arellano-Band's body was discovered along the riverbanks in the Carondelet neighborhood. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed Monday morning, May 18, 2026, that Arellano-Banda was the victim recovered after officials were called Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to the area of South Broadway

GODFREY – A Jerseyville resident accused of stealing hardwood flooring and more from an unfinished Godfrey home faces felony charges in Jersey County. Keith S. Ward, 41, of Jerseyville, was charged on May 11, 2026 with a Class 2 felony count of burglary and a Class 3 felony count of theft. Ward allegedly knowingly entered a residence on State Highway 3 in Godfrey without legal authority which was under construction at the time of the offense on May 5, 2026, when he reportedly intended

JERSEYVILLE – Jersey Community High School has released the full list of recent graduates from the JCHS Class of 2026: John David Adams III Gerson Junior Alejo Josselyn Ann Allen Morgan Victoria Allen Makayla Kathleen Allison Julia De Souza Almeida Katy Dianne Arnold Clifford Henry Baldwin Zoey Jean Barnett Abigail Leigh Behl Justin Hunter Bell Haley Elizabeth Belt Ethan Thomas Benner Kyler Ethan Bick Matthew Austin Bishop Adrian Jaylynn Blasa Clark Birk Blasa Madalyn

EDWARDSVILLE – At a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping higher education, Sinan Onal, PhD, chair of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Industrial Engineering Department is helping lead the conversation on how universities can rethink teaching and learning in the AI era. Onal has been selected as one of 14 fellows in the inaugural Illinois Innovation Network Fellows Program , a new initiative connecting faculty leaders from 12 public universities across

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) is accepting nominations for the 2026 induction class of the Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame through June 1. “The Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame recognizes remarkable older adults who continue to inspire growth, connection, and purpose at every stage of life," said IDoA Acting Director Mary Killough. "Please consider nominating someone you know for this meaningful award.” Each year, four older adults are inducted into

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Duckworth (D-IL) announced the release of military spouse Deisy Rivera Ortega from ICE detention after the Senator personally called U.S. Department of Homeland Security Director Markwayne Mullen this week advocating on Ms. Rivera Ortega’s behalf. Duckworth’s call comes after Ms. Rivera Ortega—wife of U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jose Serrano—was arrested and detained by ICE during a routine immigration

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today led a coalition of 16 attorneys general opposing a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal to repeal national emission standards for ethylene oxide (EtO) used by commercial sterilization facilities. According to the EPA’s own assessment, EtO is a known human carcinogen and among the most toxic pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act. “When new scientific research concluded that EtO is far more harmful than previously

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After a series of high-profile emergency evacuations over the last year, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)—authors of the EVAC Act in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 —today called on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford to provide a status update on the implementation of the Senators’ legislation. As our nation continues to see more emergency evacuations failing to meet federal safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) grilled Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Admiral Brad Cooper about the Trump Administration’s lack of strategy and clear end state in its illegal war against Iran, setting us up for a forever war at great cost to our servicemembers and the American people. Through a series of questions at today’s U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing, Duckworth pressed Admiral Cooper

EDWARDSVILLE - The Metro East Lutheran High School graduating class, guided by the motto “Compete, Succeed, Conquer,” includes dozens of students recognized for academic honors and leadership, according to a list of graduates and class details released with the ceremony materials. The class includes graduates marked as members of the National Honor Society and Illinois State Scholars, and it names four class officers. The class song is “Thank You for the Music” by ABBA.

EDWARDSVILLE – The following students have been named to the Honor Roll at Metro-East Lutheran High School for the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year: Grade 9 – Honor Roll with High Distinction (g.p.a. 4.0) Mitchelll Althardt, Swansea Lucas Cook, Bethalto McKenzie Cordero, Collinsville Austin Imhoff, Alhambra Reagan Moss, Edwardsville Anna Mosser, Staunton Dani Spann, Collinsville Shane Stewart, O'Fallon Grade 9 – Honor Roll with Distinction (g.p.a. 3.75-3.99)

ALTON - Here is a list of all of our Class of 2026 Marquette Catholic High School graduates: Graduates. Ahne, Charles Allen, Makenzie Anselm, Abby Atkins, Eric Bagwill, Brianne Barnard, Corbin Bartlett-Nealeigh, Charlotte Bauer, Carson Beaber, Michael Belden, Andrew Bennett, Ashlynn Bequette, Cali Berchtold, Reagan Blocker, Nya Bridegroom, William Brown, Luke Bryson, Adelaide Bryson, Isabella Cain, Caroline Callahan, Elizabeth Campbell, Alex Chandler, Liam Clary, Xander Davenport, Karly Davis,

BRIGHTON - At 1:17 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026, the Brighton Fire Department responded to a reported attached garage fire in the vicinity of Cove Drive, where high winds contributed to rapid fire spread that hampered extinguishment efforts, according to the Brighton Betsey Ann Fire Protection District. Brighton Police arrived within minutes and advised of heavy fire showing and spread to an adjacent residence to the west, fire officials said. When firefighters arrived, the first