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Did you know that over 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins are produced annually in the United States alone, with a large percentage carved into jack-o’-lanterns? Pumpkin carving isn’t just a creative pastime; it’s a tradition that brings people together in a fun and collaborative way. Hosting a pumpkin carving contest can transform a simple gathering into a memorable event filled with laughter, friendly competition, and artistic expression. Setting the Stage: Planning Your Pumpkin Carving Contest Before the knives and pumpkin guts come out, thoughtful planning ensures your event runs smoothly and everyone has a great time. Start by deciding the scale of your contest. Will it be an intimate gathering of close friends or a larger community event? The number of participants will influence your venue choice, supplies, and timing. Choosing the Venue: A spacious, well-lit area with easy cleanup options is ideal. Outdoor spaces like a backyard or patio work well, especially

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September 24 is a date that has witnessed pivotal moments across the globe, shaping the course of history in politics, science, culture, and more. In 622 AD, the Islamic calendar marks the emigration (Hijra) of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, an event commemorated annually and foundational to Islamic history. While the exact date of the Hijra is often cited as July 16 in the Gregorian calendar, the 24th of September holds relevance in some historical reckonings related to early Islamic events, reminding us of the complexities in tracing ancient timelines. Jumping to the modern era, September 24, 1789, saw the establishment of the United States Department of the Treasury. This institution played a critical role in shaping America's economic foundation, overseeing fiscal policy, and managing government revenue. Its creation was vital for the young nation's financial stability and growth, setting standards that continue to influence global finance today. In 1948, the first

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GREENVILLE - Two Greenville University students face Class X felony charges for child pornography after authorities allege they distributed an explicit image involving a minor. Ricardo Castillo Cosano, 24, and Alessandro Parolin Romero, 18, both residing on the 300 block of East College Avenue in Greenville, have been charged. Authorities said both men, who are attending Greenville University from Spain, are accused of disseminating a photograph depicting a female minor under the age of 13 engaged in a sexual act with an adult male. During a video conference appearance from the Bond County Jail, Cosano pleaded not guilty to the charge, waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and requested a trial by jury. Romero also appeared via video conference, was appointed an attorney, and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday. The Greenville Police Department is handling the case. Further proceedings are expected as the legal process continues. Defendants are presumed innocent

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This morning will start cool at 56°F, rising to a pleasant 74°F by afternoon. Mostly cloudy skies dominate the day, but be ready for a couple of thunderstorms in the afternoon and early evening. Winds will come from the north-northeast at 8 mph, gusting up to 13 mph. Rainfall is expected to be moderate, with about 0.21 inches. The night will remain cloudy with some light showers, with temperatures dropping to about 56°F again. Allergy indexes today show a low level for grass and ragweed, but mold is high, so those sensitive should take precautions. The air quality is good. Tomorrow's Outlook: The sky will clear up to partly sunny with clouds giving way to sun. The high will warm up slightly to 76°F, with a low around 50°F. Expect a dry day with light winds from the north-northwest at about 8 mph and gusts near 20 mph. Allergy conditions remain similar with mold still high. Stay updated on the latest weather at https://riverbender.com/weather .

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GLEN CARBON – Major upgrades are coming soon to Schon Park in Glen Carbon after a $1.4 million bid to build the park’s third phase of improvements was unanimously approved. On Tuesday, the Village Board of Trustees approved a $1,418,466.58 bid from Byrne & Jones Construction for the construction of Schon Park Phase 3 improvements. Director of Public Works Director Scott Slemer said the third phase of Schon Park improvements will include the installation of new tennis courts, pickleball courts, and basketball courts with interconnected sidewalks. He expects construction to begin this October and be completed by October of 2026. Glen Carbon has secured $750,000 in total grant funding towards the completion of this project, including a $600,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant and a $150,000 Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD) grant. Earlier this year , trustees approved $260,000 for Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen (TWM), Inc. to perform

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), co-chair of the bipartisan Maternal Care Caucus and Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust, released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced that the Food and Drug Administration will update labels to discourage pregnant women from using acetaminophen, falsely linking the over-the-counter painkiller with autism. “President Trump’s ability to stretch and break reality knows no bounds, but this is truly ridiculous. There is no causal relationship between acetaminophen and autism; in fact, acetaminophen is the safest drug for pregnant women to take for fevers and pain. It is deeply concerning that President Trump, anti-vaxxer RFK Jr, and reality TV host Dr. Oz are setting public health standards. We are dealing with real crises that have real consequences. Women die every day due to preventable pregnancy-related causes like post-partum depression, hemorrhage, heart conditions, blood clots, and preeclampsia.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology's (DoIT) Office of Supplier Diversity and the IT Procurement Office (ITPO) announce the launch of a new Office Hours program, with the inaugural session scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM (CT) as part of the "Leveraging Diversity in Technology Procurement" educational series. “We're launching this Office Hours program to break down barriers and create more accessible pathways for vendors to engage with state procurement,” said DoIT Chief of Supplier Diversity Alice Rivera-Alfaro . “This new initiative provides a direct line of communication where vendors can get real-time answers and personalized guidance from our experts.” This new Office Hours program represents an innovative approach to vendor support, providing an open forum for current and prospective vendors to ask general questions and receive direct guidance on key topics including: State

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HOLIDAY SHORES — A hay trailer caught fire in a field near the intersection of Illinois Route 140 and Illinois 159 on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 23, 2025, according to authorities. The incident occurred in the Holiday Shores area, where the trailer caught fire. Madison County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Marcos Pulido said deputies helped manage traffic while fire departments worked to extinguish the blaze. There were no reported injuries in the situation. The cause of the fire has not been disclosed.

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SPRINGFIELD, IL – Governor JB Pritzker announced the Illinois State Fair and Du Quoin State Fair attendance totaled over 1 million in 2025. “Illinois state fairs are a part of a time-honored tradition for generations of families,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “This year’s attendance figures are proof of the enduring value of state fairs as over 1 million attendees from across Illinois and throughout the nation joined in celebration of our state's proud agricultural heritage.” Springfield welcomed 723,079 attendees to the Illinois State Fair, marking the second-largest turnout in its history. The Du Quoin State Fair drew 282,202 people, breaking the previous record of 204,004 set in 2024. “Illinois is fortunate to have state fairs that bring people together, creating a shared space for celebrating food, family fun, and Illinois agriculture,” said Jerry Costello II, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture . “Our tea

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EDWARDSVILLE - Sophie Antonini, a junior running back on Edwardsville High's girls flag football team, has helped the Tigers get their new program off to a tremendous start, as the Tigers are 4-1 overall. Edwardsville encountered its first loss in the program's history to East St. Louis 25-7 on Sept. 17, 2025, at Tiger Stadium, but will return to action at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, against Belleville West , and at Belleville East at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. Antonini has high expectations of success for the next two games. For the season, Antonini has run for 38 yards and has 11 pass receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers have gotten off to a tremendous start. In the loss to the Flyers, the Tigers hung in there and played hard throughout. In her postgame interview, Antonini stayed upbeat despite the defeat. Antonini has been explosive in the backfield with her quick starting speed and has been difficult for opponents to stop. Once she is at

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In the world of electric distribution, safety, precision and reliability are paramount. But for Joey Anthony, East Region managing engineer for Ameren Illinois, the job doesn’t end when the voltage stabilizes. Beyond the substations, power line extensions and smart grid technology, Anthony is also a certified master naturalist through the University of Illinois Extension—a role that brings ecological awareness into the heart of infrastructure planning. From Circuits to Conservation Anthony’s journey began at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he earned his electrical engineering degree in 2011. He joined Ameren Illinois the following year at its Paxton Operating Center, diving into the technical challenges of grid modernization and system reliability. But engineering wasn’t always smooth sailing. “I wasn’t a straight-A student in college,” Anthony admits. “It was humbling. You go from being one of the smartest kids

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that total nonfarm payrolls decreased over-the-month in August, down -13,300 (-0.2%) to 6,153,700. The July monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from -2,500 to -1,100. The industry sectors with over-the-month jobs increases included: Information (+800), Manufacturing (+400), and Construction (+300). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll jobs decreases included: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-4,500), Private Education and Health Services (-4,000), and Professional and Business Services (-2,600). Compared to a year ago, total nonfarm payroll jobs increased by +5,900 jobs. The industry groups with the largest jobs increases included: Private Education and Health Services (+18,600), Information (+4,800), and Financial Activities (+3,500). The industry groups with the largest jobs decreases included: Professional and Business Services (-11,600),

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GODFREY - St. Ambrose Parish and School will host their annual Applefest this weekend. On Sept. 26, 27 and 28, 2025, St. Ambrose invites the community to come out for the festival complete with games, inflatables, food vendors, live music, basket raffles, a silent auction and plenty more fun. Principal Bob Baird encourages people to enjoy the weekend and support the parish and school. “This is our biggest event of the year. We’re looking forward to it,” he said. “There’s lots of fun to be had this weekend. We certainly invite all those associated with St. Ambrose to come out, and certainly anyone else in the greater area to come check us out.” The fun runs from 5–10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025 with games, inflatables, a food tent, hair tinsel and temporary tattoos, and vendors like Jewel Ice Cream Company, Apple Market and Lulu’s Nice Ice. The Godfrey Fire Protection District will provide a demonstration with their firetruck

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, released new fall respiratory virus vaccine guidance and issued a statewide standing order to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, for routine, non-seasonal vaccines, IDPH recommends that healthcare providers continue to follow the CDC immunization schedules for children and adults issued as of August 7, 2025, which are based on years of science, research, data, and best practices. These measures are being taken in accordance with the executive order issued by Governor Pritzker earlier this month . The fall vaccine guidance was adopted by IDPH after robust discussion and votes made by the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee (IL-IAC) on September 22, 2025. The IL-IAC is composed of a group of 20 highly qualified experts spanning epidemiology, infectious diseases, pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, nursing, pharmacy,

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GRANITE CITY – A man from Cahokia faces his latest felony as Granite City Police have charged him with sexually abusing a then-15-year-old victim in 2024. Dallas L. Rivers, 33, of Cahokia, Ill., was charged on Sept. 16, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Rivers allegedly committed an act of sexual abuse against a victim who was 15 years old at the time of the offense on Nov. 7, 2024. The investigation began after the Granite City Police Department received a report of a missing 15-year-old female, according to the state’s petition to deny Rivers’s pretrial release from custody. “Officers responded and found her in the backseat of a vehicle with the defendant and they appeared to be in various states of undress,” the petition states. “ was later interviewed and said that she and the defendant had sexual intercourse after she told him that she was only 15 years old.” The petition adds Rivers was out on pretrial

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City has always been a steel town. Its factories and workers are the heartbeat of our community - providing strong union jobs that support families and fuel the local economy. That’s why the recent decision to continue steel slab production at Granite City Works (GCW) is more than good news - it’s a victory for the Metro East. Earlier this month, U.S. Steel announced plans to halt slab production at GCW. The impact would have been devastating: hundreds of workers and their families thrown into uncertainty and a community shaken. We knew we had to act. Our fight to protect these jobs has been ongoing. In 2018, President Trump visited GCW and pledged to revive American steel manufacturing—a promise that led to new tariffs on foreign steel, the return of hundreds of good-paying manufacturing jobs, and the restart of blast furnace B. But in 2023, GCW faced another blow when primary operations were indefinitely idled. Since then, we’ve worked

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EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville School District #7 showcased its artistic talent at the inaugural "Chalk This Way" Chalk Art Competition held Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Glen Carbon. Students from elementary through high school levels participated, with Edwardsville High School art teacher Cassie Flynn serving as one of the event judges. The competition recognized outstanding student artists across three age categories. Oakleigh Furlong from Woodland Elementary won the elementary division, Abby Mollet from Liberty Middle School took first place in the middle school category, and Jazmin Hayes of Edwardsville High School earned top honors in the high school group. In addition to the category winners, Taylor Finch from Lincoln Elementary received the People’s Choice award. Jazmin Hayes was the runner-up for this popular vote. The event highlighted the district’s commitment to fostering creativity among its students and celebrating their achievements in the arts.

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education spoke about how to spend the remaining $10 million in the 2023 bond and how the money could be used to address abatement and construction at Hamel Elementary School. Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton explained that the district held community engagement sessions in 2022 to get a better understanding of their facility needs. At this point, there were also conversations about consolidating Hamel and Midway Elementary Schools. Through these engagement sessions and surveys, the district identified the top three project priorities. These priorities were installing double-entry doors at the remaining schools and rebuilding Lincoln Middle School on-site. The district finished both projects this past summer. The third priority was Hamel Elementary School asbestos abatement and classroom build. The district decided not to move forward with the Hamel-Midway consolidation at that time, which meant Midway

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CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed Executive Order 2025-05 directing state agencies to identify up to 4% of Fiscal Year 2026 General Funds appropriations to reserve in order to mitigate the impact of Trump’s disastrous economic policies while working to maintain core services. The action comes as all states, including Illinois, are forced to manage the Trump and Congressional Republicans’ budget bill that threatens state revenue streams and places pressure on Illinois’ fiscal stability. Trump’s reckless economic policies are wrecking state economies, stifling job growth, and increasing unemployment in key sectors. At the same time, Trump’s tariffs are taxing working families, increasing the costs of everyday goods and disrupting supply chains. This chaos is making it harder for businesses to hire, expand production, or maintain payrolls. In the coming months, Trump’s budget bill will further compound these pressures, creating uncertainty

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O’FALLON, Ill. – Prairie Cardiovascular is pleased to welcome Rece Portell, PA-C, to its team in O’Fallon. Portell is a knowledgeable physician assistant who holds a Master of Science in physician assistant studies from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. She has assisted in advanced cardiac procedures, interpreted diagnostic tests, and participated in the care of patients with heart failure, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and other chronic conditions. She believes every patient deserves to feel heard and empowered in their health care journey. Portell prioritizes building strong relationships with her patients, taking time to listen to their concerns and involve them in decision-making. Her goal is not only to treat medical conditions but also to improve her patients’ overall quality of life. She looks forward to welcoming new patients and providing compassionate, expert care tailored to everyone’s needs. To learn more about the

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