Riverbender 🕸

GODFREY - Vitality Women's Clinic proudly celebrated its official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday, May 6 at 12:30 p.m., welcoming more than 40 attendees from across the Riverbend region for a meaningful afternoon of connection, collaboration, and community celebration. The event brought together representatives with State Representative Amy Elik’s office, representatives from OSF St. Anthony's Healthcare, CALC, the clinic’s Board of Directors, local businesses, churches, nonprofit

SWANSEA - TWM, Inc., one of the top engineering and geospatial firms in the metro-east St. Louis area, is proud to announce Adam Bilzing, a senior at Belleville West High School, as the recipient of the inaugural Jim Barganier Memorial Scholarship. The $2,500 scholarship was established in honor of TWM’s late colleague and surveyor, Jim Barganier, PLS, to support students pursuing STEM-related degrees. Josh Hoffmann, Director of Geospatial Services at TWM, Jim’s wife Lori Barganier,

CENTRALIA - Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and Intermountain Electronics announced the company will invest more than $15 million to expand their operations by adding more than 108,000 square feet of manufacturing space while creating 60 new full-time jobs and retaining their current workforce. “Illinois has a storied tradition as a manufacturing powerhouse, and we are thrilled Intermountain Electronics chose to expand in Centralia.

EDWARDSVILLE - A crowd gathered at the Glen-Ed Food Pantry for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the construction of their new building. On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the Glen-Ed Food Pantry officially broke ground on their new facility, located next door to the current site at 125 Fifth Avenue in Edwardsville. The new facility will cost $3 million, raised through donations, and will serve community members in need for many years to come. “Hunger has been here since the beginning

TRENTON, Ill. — A 59-year-old man identified as David Jordan died after being struck by a vehicle late Tuesday in the 200 block of Wesclin Road in rural Trenton, according to the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Clair County Coroner’s Office. At 11:51 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle. Clinton County Sheriff Dan Travous said on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Law enforcemen

ALTON – An Alton resident who allegedly fired a weapon in a densely populated neighborhood, fled on foot from police, and more, faces his latest set of felony charges in Madison County. Joseph B. Davis, 57, of Alton, was charged on May 14, 2026 with one count each of unlawful possession of weapons by a felon (a Class 2 felony), reckless discharge of a firearm (a Class 4 felony), and resisting a peace officer (a Class A misdemeanor). On April 28, 2026, Davis allegedly knowingly discharged

GODFREY/HAMEL - Madison County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a suspect on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, after a pursuit that crossed multiple jurisdictions and ended at the Love’s Truck Stop in Hamel, Illinois, where authorities said the suspect fled on foot, attempted to hijack an occupied vehicle, and was taken into custody. Madison County Chief Sheriff's Deputy Marcos Pulido said deputies first responded at about 3:06 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, 2026, to Walmart in Godfrey after asset protectio

EAST ST. LOUIS - Even as a champion in the NBA with the Boston Celtics, Jayson Tatum has not forgotten his hometown roots. NBA player Jayson Tatum visited Dr. Katie Harper Wright Elementary School in East St. Louis School District 189 recently, where he met with student-athletes, spent time with the Wright Elementary basketball team and Coach Khalil Rainey, and congratulated the team on its season. The Celtics secured their most recent NBA title in the 2023-2024 basketball season and have

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – University of Saint Mary Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Michelle Metzinger has announced the Spring 2026 Dean's List. The following USM students ended the semester with a 3.5 GPA or better. HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME Carrollton, IL Maddy Flowers The University of Saint Mary is a Catholic co-educational applied liberal arts university founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The University of Saint Mary main campus is located

LITCHFIELD — Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) to announce new investments in Litchfield to expand LLCC’s Truck Driver Training Program. The State of Illinois will provide $2.6 million for design and implementation of infrastructure improvements, which will create a new training site. This investment will help meet the growing need for licensed commercial drivers,

SPRINGFIELD – Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff to the summer boating season, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and Illinois Conservation Police are urging people to wear life jackets anytime they’re on the water and to only operate boats while sober. National Safe Boating Week is May 16-22, the week leading up to the Memorial Day holiday weekend, to raise awareness about safety on the water. “As boating season gets underway, IDNR’s

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and more than 200 law enforcement agencies throughout the state are teaming up to remind the public to buckle up and drive sober over the Memorial Day weekend. The effort coincides with the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign running through May 26. “Wearing a seat belt should be second nature for every driver and every passenger,” said Stephane B. Seck-Birhame, IDOT’s

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure that would prohibit retailers from refusing cash payments up to $500. “For many Illinois residents, cash remains a dependable and necessary way to pay for everyday purchases,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “People deserve the freedom to choose how they pay.” Belt’s measure would prohibit retailers from refusing cash payments up to $500 or posting signage that cash is not accepted. The measure includes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation—today excoriated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford for failing to implement urgently needed recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) final report on the DCA midair collision that would strengthen the safety of our aviation system and prevent future tragedies. During today’s

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – In celebration of Memorial Day and our nation’s upcoming 250th birthday, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois and U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft proudly recognize Robert “Bob” Gill, 99, from Jerseyville, as the recipient of the Hometown Hero Award. Over the course of his 30-year military career, Gill served the United States in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Gill’s lifetime of extraordinary servic

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure designed to remove unfair barriers to employment for people living with disabilities. “People living with disabilities deserve the same opportunity to work, build a career and live with dignity as anyone else,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “They should not be denied opportunities because of outdated hiring practices that fail to account for how people actually travel in their communities.” The legislation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing entitled “Enforcing Callais : Implementing the Supreme Court’s Command Against Racial Gerrymandering.” The hearing follows the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Louisiana v. Callais , in which the Court further eviscerated the VRA and held that Louisiana’s congressional

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) recognizes the importance of Illinois’ hospitality industry and the vital role it plays in supporting economic development throughout the state. Illinois breweries, brew pubs, distilleries, and wineries not only create jobs, but also serve as gathering places where communities come together to celebrate and connect. To continue supporting our licensees and promoting these businesses, the ILCC now offers a Brewery, Brew Pub,

UPDATED 5.19.26: The closures on Interstate 55/70 in St. Clair County previously scheduled to begin May 18 have been rescheduled for Monday, June 1, due to weather and anticipated Memorial Day travel. Traffic impacts and project details remain unchanged. MADISON – The Illinois Department of Transportation is continuing multiple coordinated improvements along the Interstate 55/70 corridor in St. Clair County to improve safety, mobility and road conditions. Beginning Monday, May 18 Jun

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of states, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education over a new rule that unlawfully limits access to federal student loans for students pursuing professional degrees, including in healthcare and other critical workforce fields. “This rule will cut off access for many qualified students and will worsen nationwide labor shortages in vital fields, including nursing and physical therapy. Students interested