Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - The City of Alton and the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau will once again host the Alton Powerboat Nationals. From July 17–19, 2026, community members and visitors can enjoy the Alton Riverfront and several thrilling races on the Mississippi River. There will also be a free meet-and-greet street party on July 17 at Mac’s Downtown. Grace Sakry, a spokesperson with Great Rivers and Routes, noted the excitement of preparing for the races and bringing people together

GODFREY - Village of Godfrey officials have approved a renovation project for the vortex chamber at the Great Godfrey Corn Maze, a popular feature of the village’s haunted maze attraction in Glazebrook Park, Mayor Mike McCormick said. Trustees approved at the Tuesday night, July 7, 2026, board meeting a proposal from Stutz Excavating Inc. for structural work on the vortex chamber, which is located near the corn maze and gazebo in Godfrey. McCormick said the work involves reconstruction

GLEN CARBON - Illinois State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash involving an SUV and a truck tractor semi-trailer on Interstate 270 westbound near South Glen Carbon in Madison County at about 6:27 a.m. July 8, 2026, according to Troop 8. A preliminary investigation indicates the crash occurred at Milepost 11 on I-270 westbound, Illinois State Police said in information provided by Trooper Genelle Jones of the agency’s Public Information Office. Unknown injuries were reported at the

EDWARDSVILLE - Main Street Community Center hosted a lively and well-attended USA 250 Celebration BBQ, bringing together over 120 community members, volunteers, staff, and Board members for an afternoon filled with food, music, and patriotic celebration. The event honored America’s upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026 with a red, white, and blue themed gathering focused on community connection, engagement, and shared enjoyment. Guests enjoyed a classic summer barbecue spread featuring hot

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general and two state governors, today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in response to HUD’s renewed attempt to unlawfully cap funding for permanent housing projects to address homelessness in states. In their lawsuit – filed today in federal court – Raoul and the coalition argue that HUD’s decision would result in tens of thousands o

ST. LOUIS – Today, Mayor Cara Spencer announced five new City of St. Louis Strategic Priorities and 25 underlying initiatives, outlining a clear direction for the City for the coming years. “By developing and sharing strategic priorities for the years ahead, we set clear expectations for where my administration and the City overall will focus our time, energy and resources,” said Mayor Cara Spencer. “These priorities are not meant to encompass all the important work don

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski’s (IL-13) office helped an Illinois resident recover $394,000 in long-delayed Social Security benefits after years of navigating a complex and frustrating process with the Social Security Administration. To listen to the full story, click HERE . After Lisa Ash lost her sister, she stepped up to become the legal guardian of her nephew. While her sister was terminally ill, Lisa was notified by the Social Security Administration (SSA)

July 8 has brought together moments of power, discovery, creativity, and change across many parts of the world. In 1497, Vasco da Gama set sail from Lisbon on the voyage that would eventually carry him around the Cape of Good Hope to India. This journey opened a direct sea route between Europe and South Asia. For Portugal, it was a major commercial and strategic success, helping it build a far-reaching maritime empire. The voyage also changed world trade by linking regions more directly by sea,

A hot room can turn a minor annoyance into a full-blown argument. That idea sounds dramatic, but many people have felt it. A long wait in traffic feels longer. Small mistakes seem harder to ignore. Patience runs thin. Heat does not change personality overnight, but it can push behavior in noticeable ways. It affects mood, attention, sleep, energy, and even the way people treat each other. Understanding that link helps explain everyday friction, from family tension at home to sharper tempers

ALTON - The Alton Police Department announced the results of its Fourth of July traffic safety enforcement campaign in Alton, Illinois, saying officers issued dozens of citations and apprehended two fugitives as part of a statewide effort tied to impaired driving and seat belt enforcement. “The Alton Police Department today announced the results of its Fourth of July Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click It or Ticket safety campaigns,” Alton Police Sgt. Mike Roderfeld

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County prosecutors have charged a Florissant, Mo., man in connection with a July 4, 2026, shooting at a gas station on Lusher Road in which authorities say gunfire was exchanged between people in a vehicle and an off-duty Riverview Gardens police officer working secondary security. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Sunday, July 5, 2026, that Brandon Green, 40, of the 5300 block of Delcastle Drive in Florissant, was charged with two

ALTON — Alton Police and firefighters responded at 7:41 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, to reports of a pedestrian struck on Landmarks Boulevard, and the injured person was taken to a St. Louis-area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said. The Alton Police Department said it received 911 calls about the crash and dispatched several officers along with the Alton Fire Department. Alton firefighters transported the pedestrian directly to the hospital,

ALTON – An upcoming “Lunch & Learn” event in Alton aims to make long-term financial planning easy to navigate for local families. The free event is set for 12 to 1 p.m. this Friday, July 10, 2026 at The Wedge in downtown Alton, where lunch will be provided. Registration is required and can be completed online here . Curtis Stephens of Stephens Planning and Elizabeth Heller of Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, P.C. will break down the complexities of wills, trusts, estate taxes,

BELLEVILLE - The Belleville Police Department on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, swore in Probationary Police Officer Levi Seaton, who joins the department with six years of previous law enforcement experience. “We are excited Officer Seaton chose to join the Belleville Police Department and look forward to him being a part of our team,” the department said.

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Megan E. Green said Tuesday that she plans to call two additional meetings during the board’s summer recess to advance legislation setting zoning regulations for data centers in the city. Green announced the move July 7, ahead of the Board of Aldermen’s final regular meeting before recess on Friday, July 10. The additional meetings are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday, July 20, and Friday, July 24. The board will resume regular meetings

Two pediatric trauma leaders at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria are sounding the alarm on the rapid rise of severe injuries tied to e-bikes and e-scooters, emphasizing that the high-speed, heavy devices should be treated more like motorcycles than bicycles, especially for kids. Charles Aprahamian, MD, FAAP, FACS, surgeon-in-chief at OSF Children’s Hospital says with the rise of battery-powered devices, surgeons have seen an increase in injuries, especially

ST. LOUIS –U.S. District Judge Cristian M. Stevens on Tuesday sentenced a man who was involved in a drug conspiracy that caused one fatal and one nonfatal overdose to 200 months in prison. Haeder Jameel, 23, was also ordered to pay $51,005 in restitution to the parents of the teen who died. Jameel was one of three men charged in the case. He and Zaki Salman, 23, pleaded guilty to one of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and on

WOOD RIVER – The Wood River Fire Department is now being lead by a longtime department member and lifelong city resident. Deputy Chief Nate Kamp was promoted to chief of the Wood River Fire Department at the July 6, 2026 Wood River City Council meeting . “We are so lucky to have him step into the spot that became vacant,” Mayor Tom Stalcup said of Kamp. “We’re looking forward to his future with the city.” This comes just under three weeks after former

ALTON - Tiffany Tanner has provided an update on her mother, Brenda Tanner, a well-known Alton area resident, who is in a battle with Stage IV sarcoma. Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that develops in the body's connective and supportive tissues, such as bones, tendons and blood vessels. Tiffany has asked for community support through prayer for her mother and a GoFundMe campaign after doctors diagnosed the sarcoma following kidney removal surgery, she said. Tiffany Tanner said they initially

EAST ST. LOUIS — The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of Terrien A. Metcalf-Fennoy as the new Interim Principal of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Academy. The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation has appointed Terrien A. Metcalf-Fennoy as interim principal of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Academy in East St. Louis, Illinois, effective July 1, 2026, bringing in an educator with more than three decades of public education experience. The foundation announced the appointment