O'FALLON, Ill. - Last week, Jimmy Ford, Republican candidate for State Representative in the 112th District, joined the O’Fallon Police Department for a ride-along to see firsthand the critical work officers perform every day. “I was immensely grateful for the opportunity to ride along with the O’Fallon Police Department and see what these brave officers face on any given shift,” said Ford. “Every elected official should do this to understand the complexities
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered another scathing rebuke of the Trump Administration’s so-called “ Operation Midway Blitz ” in Chicago. Since the operation launched nearly three months ago, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have used extreme tactics to unlawfully detain residents
GRANITE CITY – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th District) welcomed nearly 50 high school students and educators to Southwestern Illinois College Sam Wolf Campus this month for her Fall Youth Advisory Council (YAC), an initiative designed to give students a firsthand look at state government. “I love hosting the Youth Advisory Council because it gives students a chance to see government in action and explore how they can shape their communities,” said Senator Harriss. “Watching
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in leading their Senate Democratic colleagues in calling on Leader John Thune (R-SD) to immediately bring the Epstein Files Transparency Act to the Senate floor for a vote, without delay or unnecessary process distractions. The Senators’ call follows the U.S. House of Representatives’
SPRINGFIELD – With temperatures falling, frosty mornings becoming common and snow starting to creep into the forecast, the public is reminded that it’s time for “Winter Weather – Get it Together.” The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and Illinois Tollway spend the entire year preparing for snow and ice season but are asking you to get ready for winter travel over the coming months. “At IDOT, we have been busy bringing in extra
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) reminds firearm deer hunters that mandatory check stations will be open this year in counties where chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected. The 2025 Illinois firearm deer season dates are Nov. 21-23 and Dec. 4-7. The detection of CWD in Bureau, Ford and Lee counties has prompted IDNR to open new check stations in 2025. Mandatory CWD surveillance counties now include Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy,
O'FALLON, IL. - One person died Tuesday morning, Nov. 18, 2025, in a multi-vehicle crash in a construction zone on eastbound Interstate 64 near O’Fallon, IL., the Illinois State Police has reported. The crash occurred around 8 a.m. on Nov. 18, 2025, and involved two tractor-trailers, a utility work truck, and a Ford Bronco. Authorities have not released the identity of the deceased pending an ongoing investigation. The right lane of eastbound I-64 remained open during the investigation.
GODFREY – Godfrey trustees are expected to vote on an ordinance next month setting new rules for video gaming licenses in the village. The proposed ordinance would lower the number of video gaming licenses allowed in the village by one each time an establishment with video gaming goes out of business. This move seeks to prevent such establishments from transferring their gaming licenses to other entities, since the number of allowed licenses would remain the same under the current
ST. LOUIS — A Rochester, New York, man was sentenced Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, to 54 months in federal prison for selling counterfeit Xanax on the dark web, both before and after his indictment. U.S. District Court Judge Audrey G. Fleissig handed down the sentence to 31-year-old John Cruz, who pleaded guilty twice to conspiracy to misbrand, introduce misbranded drugs, and sell counterfeit drugs. Cruz admitted to purchasing counterfeit Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication, on the darknet and resellin
EAST ST. LOUIS - State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) donated his pay raise for the month of November to Press Play x 2 Shinn, in the form of a food donation. He was more than happy to meet with Nancy Nixon and help her feed people in the community. Every month Rep. Schmidt donates his pay raise to a different local food pantry or non-profit organization throughout his district. “Nancy and I are both passionate about fighting food insecurity,” said Schmidt. “It’s
GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSofSI) has wrapped up the annual Fall Product Program for 2025. Girls in Southern Illinois sold over $485,000 in tasty treats, magazines, and other fun products. Let’s give a shout out to the following girls for being Fall Product Top Sellers for their respective areas: Cearena Chatman from the Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana Service Unit sold $1,517 in product Olivia Taylor from the Granite City/Madison/Venice Service Unit
SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias today announced a major technological milestone: Starting tomorrow, Illinois residents can securely add their Illinois-issued driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet and present their ID using their iPhone and Apple Watch. This marks a new era of convenience and digital innovation for the state, enabling residents to present their driver’s license and state ID in Apple Wallet in person, online and in apps at select
EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville has announced the winners of its 12th Annual Metro East Startup Challenge. The 2025 business plan competition attracted around 35 entrepreneurs competing for a share of a $28,000 prize package. Beyond Creative AI, of Alton, Illinois, was awarded the first-place prize of $10,000. Founder Tyler Duty laid the foundation for Beyond Creative AI in mid-2025. Beyond Creative AI is a video-editing agency helping brands to elevate their content o
GRAFTON — A bobcat weighing approximately 25 pounds was recently spotted near the Tara Point Inn in Grafton. The sighting, captured by Rachel Peters, was shared on the Riverbender.com Facebook page on Nov. 18, 2025, as a Photo Of The Day. The medium-sized bobcat in Peters' photo was confirmed by park ranger Scott Isringhausen. He said bobcats have a short bobbed tail with a white tip, ears that stand straight up, and a spotted coat with varying patterns. He said bobcats are known for their
ALTON - Community leaders gathered to learn more about AltonWorks FiberNet, which will increase internet access by delivering enterprise-grade fiber broadband to Alton residents. On Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, Alton residents heard from AltonWorks CEO John Simmons about his vision for the city and the reasons why AltonWorks decided to support the broadband project. Simmons referred to the event as “one of the most exciting days in Alton’s modern history,” highlighting the
BELLEVILLE — A local family is facing an extraordinary challenge as their 13-year-old son, Richard Mothersell, battled two rare cancers simultaneously and died recently, prompting a community call for support. Richard Michael Mothersell, 13, of Belleville, was born on February 13, 2012, in Belleville, and he died on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Richard, diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, in April 2023, underwent an intense
BELLEVILLE – A Belleville man accused of injuring a police officer and resisting arrest by fleeing at high speeds remains in custody on felony charges. LeCourtney A. Luckett, 45, of Belleville, was charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer (both Class 3 felonies) and one count each of resisting or obstructing a peace officer (a Class 4 felony) and driving while license is revoked (a Class A misdemeanor). On Nov. 11, 2025, Luckett allegedly attempted
WOOD RIVER - The Riverbend East Rotary Club recently recognized the October Service Above Self award recipients from East Alton-Wood River High School-Ayla Thomas and Malachi Carter. They were presented their certificates by club President Mark Smith. Ayla is a student whose dedication shines brightly in every endeavor she undertakes. Ayla's commitment to scholarship is evident in her impressive 3.7 GPA and her standing as an active member of the National Honor Society (NHS). She understands tha
ALTON — November 30, 2025, will mark 30 years since Felicia Rexford was fatally stabbed in the parking lot of the Target store in Alton. Rexford was shopping at the Alton Target on November 30, 1995, when she was attacked. Police believe the stabbing was the result of a robbery gone wrong. Her purse was found nearby with a broken strap, and the suspect is believed to have fled behind the building into a wooded area. Rexford reportedly told a bystander that the assailant was a gray-haired
ALTON - OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center's Imaging Services Department wants you to know they do a lot more than x-rays. Director of Imaging Services Fred SanSoucie, RT(R)(CT)(ARRT), and Manager of Imaging and Diagnostic Cardiology Services Jeff Worman, BS, CNMT, explained that imaging encompasses x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, mammography, ultrasounds, nuclear medicine, stress tests, and much more. They noted that St. Anthony’s has cutting-edge technology, and they’re always
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