Riverbender 🕸

RIVERVIEW, MO. - The mayor of Riverview, Mo., was the person charged Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 , with multiple sex crimes by the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The charges stem from alleged incidents involving minors that occurred between 2016 and 2026. The St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives are handling this investigation. Mike Cornell, 39, of the 9500 block of West Avenue in St. Louis, faces the following charges: Four counts

WEST ALTON, MO. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has conducted a controlled burn on approximately 80 acres near the end of Riverlands Way, producing smoke visible for miles. The prescribed fire aimed to reduce hazardous fuel loads and improve ecosystem health in the area. Photos by 618 Drone Service show the prescribed burn. Controlled burns, also known as prescribed fires, are a management tool used by the Corps of Engineers to prevent severe wildfires and restore natural processes in the

BELLEVILLE — Kalyn Reid, a senior at Belleville East High School and treasurer of the school's Literary Lancers, was recently featured in the National English Honor Society’s international publication, the NEHS Museletter. Reid's essay, titled “Immortal Words: Bram Stoker’s Eternal Influence on Gothic Horror,” appeared in the Dec. 9, 2025, edition. The essay highlights Reid’s exploration of Bram Stoker’s lasting impact on the gothic horror

VANDALIA — A Vandalia woman is still reeling after winning a $3 million top prize on the Illinois Lottery’s $30 Royal Riches scratch-off ticket—thanks to a last-minute change in plans on Christmas Eve. The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, said she originally planned to purchase a ticket at another retailer, but the store was closed for the holiday. “I was going to stop at another gas station, but it was closed for Christmas Eve,” she said. “Phillips

ALTON - Calvary Christian School is offering several open houses and admissions opportunities for interested families. Located at Calvary Baptist Church in Alton, the school follows a four-day classical Christian model. Head of School Pastor Wade Dobson and Children’s Pastor Mike Harrelson expressed their excitement to share Calvary Christian School’s work with the community. “The school is a big entry point for kids to get to know God and His truth and His beauty an

A heavy wool coat can keep you warm even when it’s damp, while a cotton hoodie can feel cold and clammy in the same conditions. That difference isn’t just about thickness. It’s the result of centuries of trial, trade, invention, and changing ideas about what “good” winter clothing should do. Winter clothing didn’t simply get warmer over time. It got smarter. People learned how to trap air, block wind, shed water, and manage sweat. They also learned how to

On January 16, 1920, the United States began enforcing Prohibition, a nationwide ban on the manufacture and sale of alcoholic drinks. The change came from the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act, and supporters hoped it would reduce crime, improve public health, and strengthen families. Instead, the policy quickly reshaped daily life in unexpected ways. It encouraged illegal markets, boosted organized crime in many cities, and strained trust between citizens and law enforcement. Even after Prohibition

Friday morning starts mostly cloudy with temperatures around 19 degrees. By afternoon, expect a high near 44 degrees with breezy west winds gusting up to 29 mph and a chance for a light snow shower—up to a coating in total. Evening brings continued breezy conditions with a couple of snow showers and temperatures dropping into the lower 30s. Overnight lows reach 19 degrees, with lingering flurries and gusty winds continuing around 24 mph. Saturday remains cloudy and very cold, with high temperatures

ROXANA — Lyndon Thies etched his name into Roxana wrestling history tonight in a packed gym. The Roxana senior reached a major milestone on the mat, breaking the 163-career-win mark to become the program’s all-time wins leader with 164, a testament to years of hard work, consistency, and dedication to the sport. The record was held by Tommy Hill, who reached it in 2006, and Tol Calvin, who reached it in 2005. Thies secured the record-breaking victory convincingly, controlling

EDWARDSVILLE – A Missouri man faces a felony in Madison County after allegedly firing shots at another driver during a “road rage incident” in Edwardsville. Brendon T. Sydnor, 25, of Ballwin, Mo., was charged on Jan. 8, 2026 with a Class 4 felony count of reckless discharge of a firearm. Sydnor allegedly knowingly discharged a firearm in a reckless manner on Dec. 5, 2025, endangering the bodily safety of another individual. He is specifically accused of firing two rounds fro

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. — On Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Michael Cornell Jr., 39, of the 9500 block of West Avenue in St. Louis, with multiple offenses including four counts of statutory sodomy in the second degree, three counts of sodomy or attempted sodomy in the first degree, one count of first-degree harassment, and one count of possession of child pornography. Cornell is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond with no

GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSofSI) is proud to announce that Sarah Grace Brenner of Shiloh, Illinois, has been awarded Girl Scouts’ Medal of Honor – a lifesaving award she received for demonstrating heroism while saving a life. October 27, 2025, started as a normal day in the Brenner household. The children went to school, and father Michael was working upstairs in his office, wearing noise canceling headphones as he always does. Mother Lindsay was completing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), author of the historic bipartisan Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Law, today sought to block $125 million in Republican cuts to lead service line replacement projects by redirecting a portion of Trump’s exorbitant $2 billion U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) slush fund that the agency has shown time and again it does not deserve and cannot be trusted with. “ICE isn’t making our communities

GRANITE CITY – QuestBridge has announced the results of the 2025 QuestBridge National College Match, recognizing senior Melody Hang of Granite City High School as one of this year’s Match Scholarship Recipients. Hang was selected from a competitive pool of high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds nationwide and earned a full four-year scholarship through QuestBridge’s partnership with 55 of the nation’s top colleges. Her selection reflects both he

CASEYVILLE — A Caseyville police officer attempted to stop a vehicle for reckless driving on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, but the driver fled at high speed into Collinsville before crashing and fleeing on foot, authorities said. The vehicle struck a curb in Collinsville and became disabled on the side of a hill. The driver, identified as Hunter A. L. Smith, 21, was apprehended a short distance from the crash site, according to a news release from the Caseyville Police Department. Smith was

JERSEY COUNTY - The Dr. Silas Hamilton Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recently donated a braille American flag to the Jersey County Public Library for public display. The Braille American flag donation reflects the chapter’s ongoing commitment to education and accessibility in the community. The flag will be available for public viewing at the Jersey County Public Library. The donation, made by the local chapter of NSDAR, took place in Jerseyville,

ALTON - A local woman is calling attention to Alton through a one-woman protest outside of City Hall. Dorothy Moss began her daily protests outside of City Hall on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. She took a break on Wednesday but was back at it on Thursday, Jan. 15, with neon green signs and a message for the mayor and anyone who might want to join her. “I love Alton, and I know Alton can do better,” Moss said. “I’ve got to at least try. I don’t know if it’s goin

CHICAGO – To support its ongoing investigations, today the Illinois Accountability Commission (IAC) announced a new submission process where individuals who witnessed or experienced potential misconduct by federal agents during Operation Midway Blitz can submit video or narrative information to the Commission. This pilot process will expand the IAC’s outreach efforts by engaging people who cannot attend a hearing but would like to create a public record that can be used to demand

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) today reintroduced legislation that would ensure prison disaster plans protect the health, safety and rights of incarcerated individuals during emergencies. The Correctional Facility Disaster Preparedness Act would require the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to submit annual damage reports after disasters, require the National Institute of Correction (NIC) to hold field hearings on how to better incorporate considerations

CHICAGO — As Illinois enters the new year, the state is already achieving record-breaking wins for working families. Thanks to Governor JB Pritzker’s tireless efforts, Illinois is investing in job opportunities and career success for everyone. New rankings from Site Selection Magazine put Illinois #1 in the Midwest, and #3 in the nation for workforce development. This is a direct result of Gov. Pritzker and his administration’s relentless commitment to delivering good-payin