Riverbender 🕸

SPRINGFIELD – To support the Illinois Commerce Commission’s (ICC) efforts to raise awareness about the need for safe digging, Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed August 11, 2026, as 811 Day in Illinois. Every few minutes in the US, underground utility lines are unintentionally struck by someone who failed to have utility lines marked, causing service interruptions, environmental damage, personal injury, or even death. Making the simple, free call to 811 can protect excavators, homeowners,

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in leading an extensive group of Senate and House Democratic lawmakers in pressing the Trump Administration on its efforts to coordinate to arrest, detain and deport hundreds of Veterans and military families. In their letter to the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Customs and Border

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul has led a coalition of 23 attorneys general warning that the Trump administration’s rollback of commonsense firearms regulations will endanger their communities, many of which – like Chicago – have seen levels of gun violence drop dramatically in recent years. In May, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced the “most comprehensive regulatory reform package in the history of ATF,”

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation designed to keep rural ambulance services staffed and on-call to help save lives has been signed into law. The legislation, sponsored by State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) and State Senator Steve McClure (R-Springfield), provides important flexibility to rural ambulance services to meet legally mandated staffing requirements. Representative Davidsmeyer has been working with local ambulance service officials for the past couple of years on th

CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law three bills that will keep Illinois children from falling through the cracks in the systems that are meant to support them as they grow up. This includes developing more comprehensive next steps to support young people aging out of the foster care system, clarified definition and identification of sexual misconduct within schools, and efficient information-sharing systems for the teams who investigate cases of reported abuse.

EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville- The Route 66 Centennial Celebration will become part of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s own story during Homecoming & Family Weekend, Sept. 23–27. This year’s theme, “All Roads Lead Home,” celebrates the miles traveled, memories made and Cougar connections that continue to bring alumni, students, families and community members back to campus. "'All Roads Lead Home' is more than a theme, it's a

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general and two state governors, announced a win in their second lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) illegal attempt to cap funding for permanent housing projects to address homelessness in states. On Friday, a judge with the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island granted critical parts of Raoul and the coalition’s motion for summary judgment,

A widely recognized global turning point tied to this date came in 1972, when the last United States ground combat troops left South Vietnam. Although American involvement in Vietnam did not end completely on that day, the withdrawal marked a major shift in a long and costly war that had shaped international politics for years. For the United States, it was a sign that direct battlefield involvement was winding down after heavy casualties, public protest, and growing doubt about the war’s

EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education meeting drew a crowd of Edwardsville Education Association (EEA) members, who called for the termination of an unnamed elementary school principal. On Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, the room was full for the Board of Education’s regular meeting, and seven EEA members spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting. All seven educators spoke about an unnamed administrator who, they say, displays “abusive”

ALTON – Reports of the Alton Public Works Department potentially going on strike have prompted calls for updates as contract talks remain underway. At the Aug. 10, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting , Alderwoman Rosie Brown said reports of a possible Public Works strike raise concerns given the impact of the department’s work on local families. Brown commended Director John Mitchell and his staff for recently completing new crosswalks as the Alton School District’s first

BETHALTO — The Bethalto Board met Monday night in Bethalto for a brief meeting with little on the agenda, hearing monthly reports from department heads and voting on liquor license and zoning changes. Bethalto Fire Chief Jay Grant told board members the fire department responded to 146 calls last month. He also said the new Starcom radio system should be done Sept. 14. Bethalto Police Chief Ryan Dugger reported that the police department had 651 calls last month. He also reminded everyone

SOUTH ROXANA - For the second time in two days, South Roxana Police responded to a standoff, this time involving an armed suicidal subject barricaded inside a residence in the 400 block of Roxana, where officers worked to resolve the incident peacefully. The South Roxana Police Department said officers established a perimeter and communicated with the subject during the incident. Because the residence was near Dads Club Park and the American Legion, both organizations were notified and asked t

JERSEYVILLE - Jersey County Correctional Officer Bethany Krankel has graduated from the Southwestern Illinois College Corrections Academy after completing an intensive eight-week program in corrections training, the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office said. The program included training in defensive tactics, firearms and legal academics, according to the sheriff’s office. The Jersey Sheriff's Office said the training is intended to prepare participants for the challenges and

GODFREY - Jamie Criter is the owner of Modern Daisy Boutique . Before opening her business, she spent her entire career in healthcare. Most of that time was spent working in Ophthalmology (the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the eye). Mrs. Criter was the director of a surgery center and worked on one of the largest Ophthalmology randomized clinical trials, OHTS, and published in JAMA Ophthalmology medical journal for various glaucoma

JERSEYVILLE/GRAFTON - The community has a chance to support local emergency services at the fifth annual Lucky Duck Derby Race for the Rescue. From 4:30–8 p.m. on Sept. 10, 2026, the JCH Foundation will host their annual Lucky Duck Derby at Raging Rivers WaterPark. This event brings together community members to bet on rubber duck races at the water park while enjoying raffles, a silent auction, games, water attractions and more. All proceeds go to the JCH Foundation, which supports

GLEN CARBON – The Riverbend’s latest child solicitation suspect is now in custody following an online predator sting operation and arrest by Glen Carbon Police. Kyle V. Green, 43, of O’Fallon, Ill., was charged on Aug. 7, 2026 with one count each of traveling to meet a minor (a Class 3 felony), indecent solicitation of a child, solicitation to meet a child, and grooming (each Class 4 felonies). From Aug. 4-6, 2026, Green allegedly used the dating application Jaumo to solicit

EDWARDSVILLE - Bonifest, a two-day Memorial Day weekend tradition in Edwardsville for 40-plus years, has permanently shut down because of rising costs and increasingly complex insurance, security and safety requirements, event co-chair Emily Gates said. The event was held on the St. Boniface Church grounds at North Buchanan and Fillmore streets in Edwardsville. It featured carnival rides by American Banner Amusements, pork steaks, fried fish, bands and a 5K and 3K run/walk that Gates described

ST. LOUIS – A man from Sparta, Illinois has been accused of promoting and facilitating the prostitution of a woman found dead of an overdose in 2025. Jared Anders, 30, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on July 22 on three felonies: sex trafficking, use of interstate commerce with intent to distribute prostitution and use of interstate facilities to promote prostitution. He appeared in court Friday and pleaded not guilty. The indictment alleges that Anders benefited

ALTON — Highway of Holiness Church of Deliverance in Christ Inc., Sacred Spaces of CARE and the Alton Police Department hosted a Back to School Resource Event this past Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in the Alton Police Department front parking lot to help children prepare for the school year. Organizers said free backpacks with school supplies were distributed, along with wellness resources, treats, and snacks. Highway of Holiness Church of Deliverance in Christ Inc. described the event as

ALTON - A local attorney and financial advisor will team up to educate community members about estate planning and taxes. At 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, community members can attend an educational dinner at The Wedge in Alton for free pizza, giveaways and advice. Elizabeth “Liz” Heller with Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, P.C., and Curtis Stephens with Stephens Planning will host the seminar, and they encourage attendees to come with questions. “We work well together,”