Riverbender 🕸

COLLINSVILLE - Community members can enjoy a sweet night while supporting a local church’s work. At 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, St. John’s United Church of Christ will host their annual “Death By Chocolate” fundraiser, complete with a silent auction, live music, and plenty of treats. Attendees can enjoy a variety of chocolate-based foods while raising money for St. John’s soup kitchen, after-school program, and music ministry. “You can’t go

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to hold a hearing with Trump Administration witnesses as Congress debates the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) . The request follows a recent Committee hearing on the topic—without any Trump Administration officials present.

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general, four cities and one county on Wednesday in submitting a comment letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opposing its proposal to weaken corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light trucks. Historically, the NHTSA’s standards have reduced consumer costs by improving fuel efficiency for vehicles and decreasing gasoline demand. However,

CHICAGO — The Illinois Lottery today announced it has been re-certified at Level 4 – the highest possible standard – under the World Lottery Association's (WLA) Responsible Gaming Framework, reaffirming its commitment to player protection and responsible gaming practices. The WLA Responsible Gaming Framework is the global lottery industry's most comprehensive and rigorous certification program, evaluating lotteries across 10 core principles including research, employee training,

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, along with a bipartisan group of Senators hosted the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, and Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S., Olha Stefanishyna. U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ron Johnson (R-WI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT),

O’FALLON, Ill. – HSHS Medical Group is pleased to announce that Dr. David Shervin, board-certified orthopedic surgeon, has joined the team at HSHS Medical Group Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, located at 670 Pierce Blvd., in O’Fallon. Dr. Shervin specializes in hip and knee replacement surgery, including complex primary and revision procedures, as well as nonsurgical treatment of adult hip and knee conditions and lower extremity fractures. He is committed to compassionate,

GRANITE CITY – Granite City Elks Lodge #1063 recognized Granite City High School seniors Santiago Huerta and Katelynn Strubelt as Students of the Month for January. The Elks Student of the Month Program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for achievements in school and community life-fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry and farming. Nominees are judged on multiple achievements including leadership skills, good moral

WOOD RIVER – Wood River officials are researching a potential conflict of interest after a City Council member approved his own appointment to the Library Board of Trustees. At the Feb. 2, 2026, Wood River City Council meeting, council members voted 3-2 to appoint current Councilman Jeremy Plank to the Wood River Library Board. Voting against his appointment were Councilmen David Ayres and Bill Dettmers; voting in favor were Mayor Tom Stalcup, Councilman Scott Tweedy, and Plank himself.

GRANITE CITY - Granite City High School’s cheerleading team was honored before the recent boys basketball game against Belleville West, recognizing their upcoming participation in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Tournament. The Granite City cheer squad is Stillwater Senior Living Athletes of the Month. The Warriors cheer squad will compete for the fifth time in the program’s history on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, at Grossinger Motors Arena in Normal. The

ALTON – Multiple felonies have been filed against a local woman accused of fleeing from Alton police officers on two occasions: once after a retail theft and again in a stolen vehicle. Shamiya M. Seay, 30, of Cahokia Heights, was charged with one count each of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer (a Class 4 felony), unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle (a Class 2 felony), retail theft over $300 (a Class 3 felony), and fleeing or attempting to elude a peace

ALTON – The Alton Educational Foundation recently released their second grant opportunity this school year for the teachers and staff of the Alton School District. The Foundation provides grant funding to increase innovative programs and projects which directly benefit students, classrooms and schools. The new spring grant cycle, with applications due March 13, will once again seek new ideas and proposed projects from teachers and staff. Over the past 25 years, the Foundation has funde

GRAFTON — Three trips to Normandy, France, were "life-changing" for Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow and his wife, Lynne, and are a part of their beautiful love story. Normandy is a region in France, and its coastline includes legendary cliffs and beachheads, including Omaha Beach, the site of the famous D-Day landing. The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, is a permanent concession granted by France to the U.S government for the efforts in World War II to protect

GODFREY - A local playwright is ready to share her latest work with the community. “A Lil Sugar Will Do,” written by Leah Becoat and produced by 3 Purple Coats Productions, will premiere at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, at Hatheway Hall on the Lewis and Clark Community College campus in Godfrey. Becoat, an Alton native, expressed her excitement to produce the play, complete with original music, “magical storytelling,” and a cast of

EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville’s Leclaire Elementary School celebrated its 100th day of student attendance with activities, prizes and more fun. On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, the kindergarteners, first graders and second graders came prepared, dressed as 100-year-olds or pirates who “arrrr” 100 days smarter. Teachers filled the day with activities based around the number 100, including counting games and STEM activities. To Principal Donny Gunter, this dedication shows why Leclaire

EDWARDSVILLE - Shannon O’Brien, a 28-year-old described by her family as “an extraordinary person,” died last Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in a tragic shooting in Ferguson, Mo., and her former high school cross country coach in Edwardsville said he was shocked and saddened when he learned the news. O'Brien died after shots were fired in the 1700 block of Windward Court in Ferguson, Mo. She was pronounced dead at the scene. St. Louis County Police have not yet released full details

A lot of people assume they want to be left alone more when it’s cold and dark. Yet for many of us, the opposite happens: we start reaching out, checking group chats more often, and feeling a sharper sting when plans fall through. That pull toward other people in winter isn’t just “being needy” or “not handling it well.” It’s a mix of biology, habit, and culture. And once you understand it, the craving makes more sense—and becomes easier to work

On February 5, 1958, a U.S. Air Force B-47 bomber collided with an F-86 fighter jet during a training flight over Georgia, and the bomber crew released a Mark 15 nuclear bomb into the waters near Tybee Island to land safely. The weapon was never recovered. At the time, the incident underscored how quickly Cold War routines—constant drills, high readiness, and large stockpiles—could create real-world danger even without an enemy attack. It still matters today because it helped shape

This morning starts off with intermittent clouds and temperatures near 29 degrees. By afternoon, expect clouds to give way to some sunshine as the high reaches around 37 degrees. Winds will be from the south-southwest at about 9 mph, gusting to 18 mph, adding a slight chill to the air. This evening, skies clear to mostly clear with temperatures cooling off into the low 30s. Overnight, conditions stay mostly clear with lows dropping to near 29 degrees and a gentle west wind at 7 mph. Tomorrow's

ALTON – Plans for a permanent flood wall in downtown Alton are no longer moving forward as city officials consider other possible flood mitigation projects. At a meeting on flood mitigation options held at Alton City Hall on Feb. 4, 2026, Scott Weiner with Sheppard, Morgan & Schwaab (SMS) Inc. presented three potential projects aimed at preventing flooding in downtown Alton: A permanent concrete flood wall topped by removable aluminum planks which could be temporarily installed as

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure that would allow volunteer fire departments to apply for and receive state grants through the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. “We have several volunteer fire departments in the Metro East that would be able to take advantage of new funding,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Right now, only city-run fire departments have access to state grants for equipment and building upgrades; this will change that.”