Riverbender 🕸

ALTON — Mayor David Goins is addressing the unnecessary controversy surrounding his recently scheduled time off — not because properly scheduled and communicated personal time requires justification, but because misleading attention surrounding it has caused genuine and unnecessary concern among residents. The mayor says the facts are straightforward. Mayor Goins was away from the office for previously planned personal time. The appropriate individuals were informed i

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Metropolitan Police District 1 officers are seeking the public’s help in identifying and locating a man and vehicle connected to a July 2, 2026, robbery at a restaurant in St. Louis’ Southampton neighborhood, where a 65-year-old man was injured, according to authorities. Police said the robbery happened at about 11:50 a.m. July 2, 2026, inside the Jack in the Box in the 4200 block of South Kingshighway. A preliminary investigation found that the 65-year-old

EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced ramp closures on Interstate 70 at the I-64/55/70 interchange in St. Clair County for bridge repairs as part of a $3.8 million bridge rehabilitation project. Beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, July 20, the following ramps will be closed: Westbound I-64 to westbound I-70 One lane of westbound I-55/70 to westbound I-70 The westbound I-64 to westbound I-70 ramp will be fully closed, while one lane of the westbound I-55/70

ALTON - The Alton Powerboat Nationals will return to the Riverbend this weekend. From July 17–19, 2026, community members can enjoy the Alton Riverfront and F1 powerboat races on the Mississippi River. Tim Seebold, managing director of the races, noted that this year’s experience promises to be bigger and better than ever. “It’s going to be awesome,” he said. “Come out to Alton Riverfront Park and let’s have some fun.” The events on Friday,

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs' measure to expand investment opportunities for non-profit organizations across the state is now law after Gov. JB Pritzker recently signed the bill. Senate Bill 2968 creates the Non-Profit Investment Pool, a safe and efficient investment option allowing eligible nonprofits to make the most of available funds while reducing administrative burdens. The law is intended to help nonprofits strengthen their financial stability and maximize

GLEN CARBON — Father McGivney Catholic High School announced that Shea Guinn has been named one of the 2026 Young Philanthropist Award recipients by the Glennon Guild Junior Board, recognizing her leadership in school service efforts that benefited people in need. The school said Guinn earned the award for coordinating McGivney's winter coat drive and a spring Dress Down Day benefiting the Shining Star School. According to the school, her work reflected leadership, dedication and

EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville’s Route 66 centennial celebration is continuing this fall with a new round of events, including a three-day festival featuring concerts and events that put Illinois in the spotlight, a documentary premiere, and an interactive Route 66-themed adventure, courtesy of Madison County Transit. Beginning Friday, October 9, Edwardsville will host “A Weekend of Songs and Stories: Celebrating 100 Years of Route 66 in Illinois” as part of Great Rivers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reduce the boundaries of two national monuments—Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante. In 2017, the first Trump Administration put 27 national monuments under review with the requirement they were established after 1996 and were over 100,000 acres. Then-Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke recommended six monuments for reduction,

EAST ST. LOUIS - Miranda May is grieving the loss of her mother, grandmother, and brother after a targeted mass shooting this past weekend left five people dead and at least two others wounded, according to Illinois State Police and the East St. Louis Police Department. Authorities said the victims were shot at multiple locations in the East St. Louis area. Those who died in the shooting were identified as Cherie L. May, 49; Devin D. May, 24; Patricia A. May, 74; Quentin L. Thompson, 21; and

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced she will vote against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (NDAA) unless her amendment to end President Donald Trump’s illegal war against Iran is included. Specifically, Duckworth’s amendment would halt additional funding for offensive operations against Iran—while still allowing for self-defense, defense of allies and intelligence gathering—until the American people

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) recognized U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) lifetime of public service following his sudden passing this weekend. “Last week, I joined several of my colleagues from the Senate and the House at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye… Last Wednesday, we had a dinner hosted by the U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack. There must have been 50 or 60 people there,

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced the Gateway Arch National Park Boundary Revision Act , bicameral legislation that would add nearly 50 acres to the Gateway Arch National Park into Illinois. Expanding the site into Illinois, including Malcolm Martin Park and East St. Louis, will promote economic development in Illinois by attracting more visitors to the Illinois side of the river. Expanding the site

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA OHS), in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and local municipalities, is promoting multiple Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) to assist residents and businesses impacted by the severe storms on June 10, 11 and 17, 2026. These disaster declarations cover the primary counties of Cook and LaSalle for the June 10, 11 storms and Coles and Effingham for the June

ALTON - Lydia Schrumpf has been named The Eardley Agency, LLC, Female Athlete of the Month for the Alton Redbirds, following a junior tennis season in which she posted a 23-16 overall record and earned Southwestern Conference All-Conference and Academic All-Conference honors in 2025. She is expected to be the Redbirds' top singles player in 2026. Schrumpf recorded notable wins last season over Belleville East and O’Fallon. Alton High girls tennis coach Jesse Macias said Schrumpf is expected

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, reflected on his recent trip to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Ankara, Türkiye. During the summit, they discussed congressional support for the transatlantic relationship, the war in Iran, as well as continued Russian aggression and interference in western democracies. During his remarks, Durbin reflected on the life

Standard Oil Company broke ground for the Wood River Refinery in 1907, and it was operational the following year. Wood River “startled the nation” with a 1,000 percent increase in population from 1910 to 1920, almost entirely due to the establishment of the Refinery. By the mid-1920s, there was a large enough population that Standard Oil decided to fund an impressive pool for Wood River, which opened July 3, 1926. The Wood River Pool was open to all, and there were no residency

ALTON - Community members and visitors are encouraged to come out for a meet-and-greet street party to kick off the Alton Powerboat Nationals. On Friday, July 17, 2026, a street party at Catdaddy’s Tavern in Alton will spill into 3rd Street, featuring live music and the chance to chat with the racers and their crews. This party is free to attend and sponsored by the City of Alton, Alton’s Parks and Recreation Department, and Catdaddy’s. The band Leadfoot takes the stage

A festival can turn strangers standing shoulder to shoulder into a crowd that feels like a community. That change happens fast. One moment, people are checking their phones, hurrying past each other, or keeping to their own group. Then the music starts, a parade rolls by, lanterns rise, drums echo, or food is passed around, and the mood shifts. People smile at someone they have never met. Families point things out together. Neighbors who barely speak during the week stop to chat. Festivals d

On July 14, the single event most widely associated with the date is the storming of the Bastille in Paris in 1789. A crowd of Parisians seized the fortress-prison during the early French Revolution, searching for gunpowder and striking at a symbol of royal power. At the time, it showed that the French monarchy was losing control and that ordinary people could shape events directly. It still matters today because it became a lasting symbol of political change, citizenship, and the idea that government

BETHALTO — The Bethalto Village Board on Monday recognized two local figures during its meeting, as new Deputy Police Chief Michael Hogan had his badge pinned on and recent Civic Memorial graduate Max Weber was honored for his state track championship. Hogan, who was sworn in on June 15, was formally recognized during the Monday, July 13, board meeting when his wife pinned on his badge before a packed room. He will take over for Scott Hale, who has been on administrative leave for severa