Riverbender 🕸

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Rockhurst University has announced the dean's list for the fall 2025 semester. This honor recognizes students who have achieved a grade-point average of 3.5 or above. The following students earned a place on the list: Granite City, IL Ella Wilmsmeyer Isa Wilmsmeyer Rockhurst University, founded in 1910 and located in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, is a Catholic university in the Jesuit tradition committed to providing inclusive, innovative and transformative education

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Terrell Jackson, 22, of Florissant, Mo., has been charged with second-degree murder and other felonies following a head-on crash that killed two passengers and injured two St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers, authorities said Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. The charges include: Two counts of Murder 2nd Degree - Felony Murder - During Perpetration/Attempted Perpetration/Flight from Perpetration of a Felony, a Person Dies Two counts of Assault

CARLINVILLE – Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 at 20733 North Broad, inside ImpactLife Donor Bus. What: Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics Community Blood Drive When: Monday, February 9, 11:00 am - 2:30 pm Where: ImpactLife Donor Bus, 20733 North Broad, Carlinville, Ill. Appointments: To donate,

ALTON – Alton police have charged a local sex offender with failing to register after he plead guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse earlier this month. Robert P. Glover, 53, of the 3700 block of Franor Street in Alton, was charged on Jan. 21, 2026 with a Class 3 felony count of unlawful failure to register as a sex offender. On Jan. 19, 2026, Glover allegedly failed to register as a sex offender with the chief of the Alton Police Department within three days after being convicted

EAST ST. LOUIS - Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School, the last remaining Catholic school in East St. Louis, invites prospective families, community members, and supporters to attend its Open House on Sunday, February 01, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., at the school’s campus, 8213 Church Lane. The Open House offers families an opportunity to tour the school, meet faculty and staff, learn about academic programs, and explore how Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School nurtures the whole child through

ALTON - Community members have the chance to shop at women-owned businesses and support Oasis Women’s Center at an upcoming Galentine’s Experience event. From 4–8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at Post Commons in Alton, True North Aesthetic Co. owner Mandie Clark will host a vendor fair featuring female entrepreneurs. Services range from permanent jewelry to vitamin injections and more. Clark hopes many people come out to enjoy the Galentine’s Experience while

Letter To Editor: The following is a statement from Marsie Geldert-Murphey, candidate for Illinois State Senate in the 56th District , in response to the sudden closure of the Alton Steel plant : “The news about Alton Steel is devastating. It’s devastating for our community and, more importantly, for the 250 workers and families who woke up to their lives being turned upside down. “For so many families, this was more than a job. It was the stability they built everything

ALTON — Rosie Brown, an Alton alderwoman and candidate for Illinois State Representative in District 111, expressed some strong opinions on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, after Alton Steel, Inc., announced on Jan. 26, 2026, that it will cease operations this week. This will end nearly 25 years of production for Alton Steel and immediately affect approximately 253 workers, along with contractors and vendors. Company leadership attributed the closure to “insurmountable” structural challenges

This morning starts off bitterly cold with temperatures near 8 degrees, feeling like 3 below zero. The sky is clear, and winds come from the west-northwest at 10 to 14 mph with gusts around 29 mph. By afternoon, conditions become mostly sunny with a high near 28 degrees. It will be breezy but not as cold as recent days. Evening lowers the temperature with clear skies remaining and a light breeze. Expect temperatures to drop to a low near 3 degrees, feeling like 3 below zero again overnight. Winds

GODFREY – Godfrey is one step closer to passing new regulations on video gaming within the village. Village Board members gave an “Ordinance Regulating Liquor and Gaming” a first reading at their Jan. 20, 2026 meeting , with a second reading and final vote set for Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. Currently, businesses holding Class A and Class N liquor licenses are eligible for video gaming licenses in Godfrey. Class A licenses apply to restaurants, while Class N licenses apply t

GLEN CARBON - State Senator Erica Harriss (56 th -Glen Carbon) has released the following statement following today’s closure announcement of Alton Steel: “I am truly shocked by today’s announcement. Just weeks ago, Alton Steel was actively hiring, and there were no indications that these jobs or this facility were at risk. Families built their plans and their futures around this work, and that sense of stability has been pulled out from under them without warning. “An

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) is collecting ‘Valentine’s for Veterans’ cards and drawings at his district office in Cahokia Heights. Representative Schmidt is encouraging students and residents of all ages to make Valentine cards with a special thank you, including well-wishes to veterans that served our nation in the U.S. Armed Forces. “I believe the small things we do for the men and women who served our country makes a big difference

ALTON – State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) released the following statement following news that Alton Steel Inc. plans to cease operations this week: “I am stunned to learn about Alton Steel’s decision to shut its doors. First and foremost, my concerns are with the over 250 employees whose lives are upended by this closure. I will engage with state and local partners to do everything I can to assist with job placement. "I am thankful for the 25 years that Alton Steel

ALTON/JERSEYVILLE - Denise Sparks of Sparks Junk Removal wants to see more choice in the trash industry. Sparks recently stopped by “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello to talk about Jerseyville’s public forum held on Jan. 20, 2026, regarding the city’s curbside trash pickup . She commended Mayor Kevin Stork for “really listen to what the people had to say,” but emphasized that Jerseyville residents don’t want the city to enter into an exclusive

ALTON – Meeting participants at Alton City Hall may soon have less time to address the city’s elected officials. Alton Committee of the Whole members are set to consider a resolution at their next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 which would shorten the time limit for public comments from the current five minutes to three minutes per speaker. If more than 10 people sign up to make comments at the same meeting, each individual’s time would be limited further to just two

WORDEN/EDWARDSVILLE - Worden Elementary School students learned about sportsmanship in a schoolwide hockey tournament. On Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, Worden students faced off in their PE classes to see who would win the coveted hockey stick, which will hang in the hallway outside of the winners’ classroom for the remainder of the school year. But most importantly, the kids learned more about working together and supporting one another on and off the field. “You couldn’t have

EDWARDSVILLE — In accordance with Senate Bill 1523, Madison County Recorder, Linda Andreas, officially established a new Fraud Referral and Review Process aimed at enhancing the integrity and transparency of county recorder operations. This process will facilitate the review and referral of suspected fraud related to documents or election-related filings processed by the Recorder’s Office. SB 1523, which became effective January 1 st , 2026, mandates county recorders to implement

ALTON – Alton Steel Inc. announced on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, "with deep sadness" that it will cease operations effective this week. After nearly 25 years of steel production in Alton, the company faces insurmountable challenges, including aging infrastructure, intense market competition, and industry consolidation that make continued operation economically unsustainable. The closure will impact approximately 253 employees, plus contractors and vendors. “This is an incredibly

ALTON - Marshall Pfahler, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis, reported frigid temperatures across the region on Monday morning, Jan. 26, 2026. Alton recorded the lowest temperature at minus 6 degrees, with other areas experiencing similar cold conditions. According to Pfahler, Cahokia had a low of minus 1 degree, while St. Louis Lambert Airport and Millstadt both registered lows of minus 5 degrees. Wind chills further intensified the cold, dropping temperatures to

CENTERVILLE - Centreville, Illinois, recorded the highest total from weather watchers this past weekend at 10.5 inches, according to Marshall Pfahler, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Centreville is a community in St. Clair County. Nearby communities in Illinois also saw substantial snowfall: Columbia received 9.5 inches, Collinsville and Edwardsville each reported 8.5 inches, Granite City had 7.8 inches, Swansea measured 7.7 inches, and Godfrey reported 7.3 inches. An official