CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today led a coalition of 17 attorneys general opposing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to roll back several critical requirements for evaluating the risk of chemical substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The statute requires the EPA to evaluate the risks of chemical substances under circumstances for which exposures could be reasonably foreseen. However, the EPA’s proposed rule change would allow the
GRANITE CITY – A woman from Granite City with a history of domestic violence faces a new felony charge after allegedly stabbing a domestic battery victim with a pair of scissors. Rebecca J. Furlong, 44, of Granite City, was charged on Nov. 4, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated domestic battery. Furlong allegedly caused great bodily harm to a family or household member on April 26, 2024 by stabbing the victim with a pair of steel scissors. Charging documents state the stabbing
EDWARDSVILLE — The St. Louis Area Foodbank will host a large-scale free food distribution on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, to assist families affected by the ongoing government shutdown, disruptions to SNAP benefits, and rising inflation. The drive-thru event aims to feed 3,000 households from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ralph Korte Stadium parking lot on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus. Attendees will receive a variety of fresh produce, dairy, protein, and shelf-stable pantry
ALTON/GODFREY - Judy Rynders, a local travel agent, is excited to share more about her new space in Alton. Rynders previously had an office in Godfrey but has now officially moved into The Wedge in downtown Alton. She reminds clients to call her at 618-717-8085 or 618-709-6109 to schedule an appointment, and she emphasized that she is always eager to help people plan the trip of a lifetime. “It’s a job that I work 24/7,” Rynders said. “I hope people give a try and
EDWARDSVILLE - An Edwardsville fundraiser recently raised thousands of dollars for blood cancer research. Sherry Rosenberger, a local blood cancer survivor, works with Blood Cancer United to support patients with leukemia and lymphoma through the organization’s Light the Night campaign. She and co-captain Angie Key founded Team Unstoppable to support patients and research, and they had a successful evening at their “Cancer is a Drag” event at EXO Lounge last month. “My
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) tonight delivered remarks celebrating the 30th anniversary of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). In her remarks, the Senator highlighted AAPD’s achievements over the past three decades and the progress made through their fierce, tireless advocacy, while emphasizing how far our nation still has to go to become truly accessible for all who call it home. Key quotes: “Tonight, I am honored to b
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and combat Veteran U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth led U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), as well as U.S. Representatives Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-02), in sending a letter to the four Senate and House leaders of the Armed Services Committees to urge them to include provisions that support Rock Island Arsenal
PEORIA — Civic Memorial High School’s boys cross country team achieved a historic milestone by finishing ninth overall at the IHSA State Finals on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Detweiller Park in Peoria. This marks the best finish in the school’s history. The team’s standout performance was led by Max Weber, who claimed the state championship in the Class 2A race in a time of 14:08.54. Other finishers for Civic Memorial included Logan Kearbey in 74th place with a time
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 23 Senate Democrats in slamming the Trump Administration for its failure to address rising health care costs for American families. In a new letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the lawmakers highlighted the worsening affordability
ILLINOIS - Community members have the chance to receive assistance on their Ameren Illinois electric bills. The Warm Neighbors Cool Friends program provides energy assistance to people between 200–300% of the Federal Poverty Level or 80% of the county’s Area Median Income. For example, you qualify for federal assistance through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) if you are a household of one earning $0–3,332 a month. You qualify for the Warm Neighbors
GRANITE CITY – Felony charges have been filed against a man accused in two instances of home repair fraud, one involving an elderly victim. Michael T. Casaretto, 37, of East Carondelet, Ill., was charged on Nov. 4, 2025 with one count each of aggravated home repair fraud (a Class 2 felony) and home repair fraud (a Class 4 felony). From Aug. 27 to Sept. 17, 2025, Casaretto allegedly entered into an agreement with an individual 60 years of age or older to complete fence repairs at their
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Firefighter Joey Cruz was honored with an Employee Excellence Award last week for his fire safety outreach to preschoolers at the Edwardsville YMCA. The award recognized Cruz’s interactive and educational sessions designed to teach young children about fire safety. Edwardsville City Finance Director Jeanne Wojcieszak nominated Cruz, highlighting his recent presentation to the YMCA preschool. “His presentation was not only informative but also engaging,
WATERLOO/SAINT LOUIS - One family is making a difference for kids in the hospital this Christmas, and you’re invited to help. Three years ago, Angie Fouste and her daughter Mercedes Eberlin stumbled across an organization in Tennessee that provides Christmas trees to decorate children’s hospital rooms. Now, they are inviting the community to create their own trees to give back to St. Louis kids in an initiative called Light Up the Holidays. “It’s just a way of brightening
WOOD RIVER – A Wood River man with prior pending felonies faces three more felony charges after multiple firearms were reportedly found in his possession after his FOID card had been revoked. Craig A. Yost, 43, of Wood River, was charged on Oct. 28, 2025 with three Class 3 felony counts of possession of a firearm while his Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card was revoked. Yost was allegedly in unlawful possession of a Tennessee Arms CO AR-platform rifle, an Aero Precision M4E1 AT-platform
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is issuing a general reminder to the public about the potential dangers of consuming raw milk after at least eleven people were recently sickened by such products. While most milk products sold in the state are pasteurized, meaning they have been treated with heat to kill viruses, germs, and other substances that can cause illness, raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized, making it more likely to be a source of foodborne
CHICAGO – As part of his continued efforts to protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 26 states today filed an amicus brief opposing the Trump administration’s attempt to block a court order requiring full SNAP benefits to be delivered to the millions of Americans relying on them. The federal government’s motion, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit, comes after a federal judge in Rhode
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today led a coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit urging that court to affirm a lower court’s decision upholding California’s law regulating the purchase of long guns by individuals under the age of 21. In their brief , Raoul and the coalition explain that the Second Amendment gives states the ability to enact sensible regulations designed to promote gun safety an
ALTON - The City of Alton announced its 2025 leaf vacuum truck schedule, providing residents with a timeline for leaf collection services across different wards. The service begins Nov. 17, 2025, and runs through Dec. 23, 2025, with vacuum trucks operating in designated areas on specified dates. The leaf vacuum service requires residents to rake leaves to the edge of their yards but not into the street, as leaves in the roadway can clog the city’s stormwater drainage system. Raking leaves
ROXANA — The Roxana High School football team will face St. Joseph-Ogden in the second round of the Illinois High School Association Class 3A playoffs at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Roxana High School. The game will be streamed live on Riverbender.com, thanks to the Roxana Booster Club and other video sponsors. Roxana, which defeated West Frankfort 55-26 in the first round, enters the matchup with a 7-3 overall record. St. Joseph-Ogden also holds a 6-4 overall record heading into
GODFREY - King Air Conditioning and Heating is collecting toys for the Community Hope Center, and you can win big while giving back. From now through Nov. 26, 2025, you can drop off new, unwrapped toys at King Air Conditioning and Heating in Godfrey, or purchase a toy from their Amazon wishlist , for the chance to win two all-inclusive tickets to a Blues game. Kylie Wesley noted that King Air Conditioning and Heating tries to give back to the Riverbend community as much as possible.
stLouIST