a Better Bubbleโ„ข

Riverbender ๐Ÿ•ธ

Fatal Stabbing Outside Busch Stadium Under Police Investigation

1 week 3 days ago
ST. LOUIS — Police are investigating the fatal stabbing of a man in his 20s following an overnight dispute outside Busch Stadium in St. Louis, where two contractors were working, authorities said. The stabbing happened about 2:45 a.m. Monday, May 4, 2026, on the property outside Busch Stadium in the 700 block of Clark Avenue, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Police said the incident involved two third-party contractors working overnight at the stadium. Officers

Alton's Public Safety Network Helps Secure Charges in Park Shooting

1 week 4 days ago
ALTON - The Alton Police Department has filed felony charges against a 20-year-old Alton man in connection with a shooting at Salu Park that police said followed a physical altercation on April 27, 2026. Police said officers were dispatched at about 12:47 p.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting a fight at the park and a firearm being discharged. Officers determined that after the fight, a male retrieved a handgun and fired multiple shots in the direction of several individuals, according t

Alton Police Charge One In Alleged Killion Park Shooting

1 week 4 days ago
ALTON – An Alton area man remains in custody after reportedly firing shots at two people in James H. Killion Park. Jacob C. McAfoos, 20, listed as homeless out of Alton, was charged on May 1, 2026 with two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm (both Class 1 felonies) and one count each of possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number (a Class 3 felony), aggravated unlawful possession of weapons, and reckless discharge of a firearm (both Class 4 felonies). McAfoos is accused

Mississippi and Illinois Rivers Begin Predicted Decline

1 week 4 days ago
ALTON/GRAFTON/HARDIN - As previously predicted, the Mississippi River and Illinois River levels are dropping. Grafton Ferry officials said it will resume operations Sunday, May 3, 2026, after being closed since the middle of last week because high water affected the Missouri-side landing in St. Charles County, Mo. However, river levels along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers were forecast to fall, according to recent reports citing the National Water Prediction Service. Flood warnings for

Japan's Postwar Constitution Took Effect on May 3, 1947, Marking a Historic Turning Point

1 week 4 days ago
On May 3, 1947, Japan’s postwar constitution took effect, reshaping the country from an empire at war into a parliamentary democracy under the rule of law. It mattered immediately because it set new ground rules for political power, civil rights, and the relationship between the state and the individual after the devastation of World War II. It still matters today because it continues to define how Japan governs itself, how citizens understand their freedoms, and how the country approaches

Sam Roberts Selected As Grand Marshal For Alton Memorial Day Parade

1 week 4 days ago
ALTON - Sam Roberts, a retired Marine Corps sergeant major and longtime Alton business owner, has been selected as grand marshal of the 159th Alton Memorial Day Parade, which is scheduled to step off at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, 2026, from Alton Middle School in Alton, Illinois, parade organizers announced. The Alton Memorial Day Parade Committee of the East End Improvement Association, Alton Area Optimist Club, and the RiverBend Growth Association, sponsors of this year’s parade, said Robert

Belt Champions Consumer Choice With Cash Payment Measure

1 week 4 days ago
SPRINGFIELD– State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure that would prohibit retailers from refusing cash payments up to $500. “Cash is still a reality for millions of families, seniors and small-business owners,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “No one should feel excluded from participating in routine transactions simply because they choose to pay with cash.” Belt’s measure would prohibit retailers from refusing cash payments up to $500 or posting signage that

1,000 Smoke Alarms Installed: Decatur Earns State Recognition

1 week 4 days ago
DECATUR – State and local fire safety experts gathered at the Decatur Fire Department to raise awareness about the importance of working smoke alarms in homes and to highlight a no-cost smoke alarm installation program in place for city residents. “Working smoke alarms save lives, it’s that simple! The OSFM is a proud partner in the “Be Alarmed!” Smoke Alarm Installation Program, a proven lifesaving initiative. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the dedicated

Attorney General Raoul Welcomes New States, Files Amended Complaint In Nexstar/Tegna Challenge

1 week 4 days ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 11 attorneys general, filed an amended complaint against Nexstar Media Group Inc. (Nexstar) and Tegna Inc. (TEGNA) in the ongoing challenge of the broadcast giants’ merger. Last month, Raoul and seven attorneys general filed a lawsuit challenging the merger of Nexstar and TEGNA , a deal that is expected to create the largest broadcast station group in the United States, put more broadcast programming

Attorney General Raoul Announces Former City Of Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg As Chief Of Staff

1 week 4 days ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced changes to his office’s leadership team. Starting May 1, former city of Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg joins the office as chief of staff. “I am excited to welcome Deborah Witzburg to the Attorney General’s office. Deborah served the city of Chicago with distinction, and her experience as inspector general and a former prosecutor gives her perspective to lead the office prioritizing efficiency and

Mississippi Riverscapes Plein Air Art Competition to Return to Riverbend in May

1 week 4 days ago
ALTON – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rivers Project, in partnership with Jacoby Arts Center, Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, and Mooneyham Art LLC, is excited to announce its second annual Plein Air art competition, “Mississippi Riverscapes.” This event is an open-air painting and drawing competition at Rivers Project recreation areas throughout the month of May and is open to all amateur and professional artists ages 16 and up. Artists will compete for regional

Jerseyville OB-GYN Elected Trustee-at-Large of Illinois State Medical Society

1 week 4 days ago
CHICAGO – Tim C. Kisabeth, M.D., was elected trustee-at-large of the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) at its recent annual meeting. Dr. Kisabeth is an obstetrician-gynecologist at JCH Healthcare in Jerseyville, Illinois. He earned his medical degree at Ohio State University and served his residency at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan. A member of ISMS since 1986, he has served as chair of the Council on Membership and Advocacy and as a downstate delegate to the ISMS Annual Meeting

Lane And Ramp Closures On Eastbound I-55/70 iIn St. Clair County Begin On May 4, 2026

1 week 4 days ago
MADISON – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced upcoming lane closures on eastbound Interstate 55/70 in St. Clair County to allow for bridge maintenance. Beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, May 4, traffic will be reduced to two lanes on eastbound I-55/70 between Illinois 203 and Exchange Avenue. In addition, beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, May 4, the ramp from westbound I-64 to eastbound I-55/70 will be closed. All lanes, including the ramp, are expected to reopen by 6 a.m. Wednesday

Alton Police Engage Students on Forensic Work Opportunities

1 week 4 days ago
BETHALTO - Detective Lee Bazzell represented the Alton Police Department on Thursday at the Micro Career Fair at Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto, speaking with students about careers in law enforcement and forensic work. Bazzell, who serves as the department’s Criminal Investigation Division crime scene and evidence detective, discussed what a typical day looks like, the training required, and the realities of working crime scenes, according to a post from the Alton Police Department.

Attorney General Raoul Encourages Illinoisans To Know Their Rights When Setting Up Autopay

1 week 4 days ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today urged Illinoisans to understand their rights when setting up automatic payments – often referred to as autopay – for recurring fees like gym memberships, utility bills, subscriptions, student loans, car payments and mortgage or rent payments. “While many consumers enjoy the ease of paying for recurring fees and memberships through autopay, it is important they have information on their rights and options when issues do arise,”

100 Years Ago: Charles F. Zeuch Reweds First Wife Weeks After His Second Wife's Death

1 week 4 days ago
Mrs. Lottie Zeuch, second wife of Charles F. Zeuch, died Tuesday, March 2, 1926. By the end of April, Charles had remarried his first wife, Stella. At the time of their second wedding, Charles was 66 and Stella was 63. They were first married in 1879 and had three daughters. Then, “after a series of petty quarrels,” they divorced in 1894. Two years later, Charles married Miss Lottie Green of New York. Charles and Lottie did not have children, but she clearly considered Charles’s

May Is Foster Parent Appreciation Month

1 week 4 days ago
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is proudly recognizing May as Foster Parent Appreciation Month, a time to acknowledge and celebrate the extraordinary foster families and relative and kinship caregivers across the state who have opened their hearts, their homes and their lives to care for the state’s most vulnerable children. “Our incredible foster parents, relative and kinship caregivers are our true partners as we work to transform

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing

1 week 4 days ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Michael J. Hendershot, to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio; Arthur Robert Jones, to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas; Jeffrey T. Kuntz, to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida; and John George Edward Marck,

May 2 in History: Berlin Falls, Leonardo da Vinci Dies, and Other Turning Points

1 week 5 days ago
On May 2, 1945, the Battle of Berlin effectively ended when Soviet forces captured the German capital and its defenders stopped organized resistance. The fall of Berlin mattered immediately because it marked the collapse of Nazi Germany’s ability to wage war in Europe, even though the formal surrender would come days later. It also mattered for what followed: the end of the war opened the way to rebuilding shattered societies, holding leaders accountable for wartime crimes, and redrawing

Duckworth Secures VA Commitment to Improve Maternal Health Care for Veterans

1 week 5 days ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) pressed U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials today to protect access to maternal health care for Veterans. During the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) hearing, Duckworth raised her longstanding concerns about the VA’s failure to provide every Veteran in need of perinatal care with the world-class care and support they deserve—especially Black, rural and disabled Veterans,