Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - Auroras may be visible from Alaska to Maine on Thursday night, Nov. 13, 2025, as geomagnetic storm conditions continue, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are expected to be visible across parts of the northern United States on Nov. 13, 2025, as charged particles from recent solar eruptions interact with Earth’s atmosphere. These interactions create colorful waves of

EDWARDSVILLE - Senior golfer Rachel Johnson, who was one of the top girls golfers in the St. Louis area this past season, signed a letter of intent on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, to play for Butler University in Indianapolis during a ceremony at the auditorium of the Jon Davis Wrestling Center. Johnson completed her successful senior season by winning the IHSA Class 2A regional for the third consecutive year, shooting an even-par 72 to win the O'Fallon regional at Tamarack Golf Course in Shiloh

ALTON – In response to the ongoing government shutdown and the uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits, Senior Services Plus will provide one free hot meal per day, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Meals are available to SNAP recipients of any age as well as to unpaid or furloughed federal workers due to the government shutdown. There is no application or proof of need required; meals must be picked up in person at SSP’s Alton location, 2603 N. Rodgers Ave. Guests

ALTON - Alton Elite Jiu-Jitsu invites the community to come together for a “party.” From 4–8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, you can stop by Alton Elite for their grand opening celebration. Free food and drinks, live music, activities for kids and four grand prize giveaways promise a fun evening for all. Owner Adam Marburger noted that the new martial arts academy is the go-to spot for learning life lessons and improving your jiu-jitsu skills. “It’s a place

ALTON - Robert E. Ryan, a World War II veteran and longtime attorney from Alton, died early Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at the age of 102. Ryan died at 1:54 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Luke’s Surrey Place in Chesterfield, Mo. Born Sept. 23, 1923, in Alton, Ryan was the son of Martin G. and Mary Therese (Flynn) Ryan. He served as a navigator in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. In May 1944, his B-17 bomber was shot down near Normandy, and he was captured as a prisoner of war in Germany.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) released the following statement on her vote against Congressional Republicans' funding bill. “My constituents deserve a better deal – one that addresses Republicans’ manufactured healthcare crisis and prevents skyrocketing premiums. This deal failed to deliver those results – and therefore I could not support it. “Soaring premiums in Central and Southern Illinois are forcing families in my district

PONTOON BEACH – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that one lane in each direction of Interstate 270 between Illinois 203 and Illinois 111 in Madison County will close this weekend for guardrail installation. The closure will begin at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, and all lanes are expected to reopen by 5 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this lane closure. Drivers are urged to reduce

CHICAGO — Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 16 attorneys general, took action to defend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants, including many who have lived, worked and raised their families in the United States for years. In an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, Raoul and the coalition urge the court to uphold a lower court’s ruling that found the administration’s

ALTON – State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) and State Representative Regan Deering (R-Decatur) held a press conference today to call out Governor JB Pritzker for his political posturing. Last month, Governor Pritzker directed his agencies in Executive Order 2025-05 to identify immediate spending reductions, but blamed the Trump Administration rather than his own for the need to rein in spending. Governor Pritzker gave his agencies a deadline of October 23rd to identify areas to cut.

ALTON — A rear-end collision occurred Tuesday morning, Nov. 11, 2025, at the intersection of Golf and Homer Adams in Alton, involving a truck and another vehicle, authorities said. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford reported that a vehicle struck the back of a truck in the crash. "The driver and passenger of the vehicle that struck the back of the truck were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries," Chief Ford. Further details about the cause of the accident were

PONTOON BEACH/ST. LOUIS — A man was charged and a woman taken into custody following an early Wednesday morning, Nov. 12, 2025, pursuit and standoff that began at Horseshoe Lake State Park and ended in north St. Louis, authorities said. The incident started shortly after 1 a.m. when Pontoon Beach police officers patrolling Horseshoe Lake State Park, which had closed the previous evening, noticed a vehicle parked off-road in a grassy area. Upon approaching, officers observed a man inside

GRANITE CITY – Two men from Granite City face the same set of felony charges after allegedly damaging and burglarizing three storage units. Michael J. Caban, 47, and Douglas S. Ray, 45, both of Granite City, were both charged on Nov. 4 with three counts each of burglary (all Class 2 felonies) and one count each of criminal damage to property (both Class 4 felonies.) The two reportedly entered three different storage units without authority and with the intent to commit a theft on Aug.

ALTON - Santino’s Steak and Pasta House has added international cuisine and a chef who loves his job. CJ Nasello recently stopped by Santino’s at 180 E. Center Drive for a taste test. As he tried new dishes, he talked with Chef KK about what makes Santino’s special. “The best part of all of Santino’s is, most of the food is homemade food, made with love by our staff,” KK said. “We make it from scratch, so it takes some time, but it’s

JERSEY COUNTY - On Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, first-grade students in Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 connected virtually with Chief Warrant Officer 3 Aaron Wunderlin to mark Veterans Day. Through a Google Meet session, the students had the opportunity to engage with Wunderlin, who has been deployed to Europe since February. Wunderlin, a Chinook helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army, shared his experiences serving overseas in Germany, Romania, and London. During his deployment,

GODFREY — Union Pacific Railroad will temporarily close the Tolle Lane railroad crossing on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for routine maintenance and repair work, village officials announced Wednesday. The one-day closure will affect motorists and residents in the area, who are advised to use alternate crossings at North Alby Lane, Pearl Street, and Bethany Lane during the shutdown. Chris Sichra, Godfrey’s Public Safety Administrator and Emergency Management Coordinator,

GRAFTON — The Grafton Chamber of Commerce is seeking volunteers to dress as holiday characters for the city’s upcoming Holiday Treat Trail on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. The event aims to engage visitors with festive entertainment and create memorable experiences throughout the community. Organizers are encouraging individuals and groups to bring creativity and holiday spirit by adopting fun and unconventional costumes. Suggested characters include Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, figures

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — Denali Group, Inc., an Alaskan transportation company, has agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false customer satisfaction surveys while impersonating U.S. Department of War and Coast Guard personnel. The fraudulent activity reportedly took place between January 2015 and March 2019. Denali participated in the Defense Personal Property Program (DP3), which provides moving and storage services to Department

GODFREY - The Alton Area Optimist Club once again displayed 100 flags for Veterans Day. On Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, club members were up early to display the flags in Glazebrook Park in Godfrey. The club showcases the flags five times a year — Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Veterans Day — and always looks forward to sharing unity and patriotism with the community. “It’s just a win-win for everyone,” said Craig Rathgeb with the Optimist

RIVERBEND - Community members have the opportunity to engage with local artists in their studios as part of ARTEAST. From 12–6 p.m. on Nov. 22 and 23, 2025, you can travel throughout the Riverbend region to visit almost 50 artists and view their work. Sponsored by the Edwardsville Arts Center and partners, the ARTEAST experience aims to connect artists and community members and inspire creation. “We are an art stronghold. That was the whole goal behind bringing ARTEAST back,&rdquo

Did you know that the average American consumes about 53 pounds of bread annually? Yet, few take the time to craft this staple from scratch, especially when the holidays arrive—a time when the simple act of baking bread can transform a gathering into a memorable feast. Homemade bread is more than just food; it is a tactile connection to tradition, a sensory experience, and a gift of warmth shared with loved ones. Exploring the art of making bread at home during the holidays reveals not