Riverbender 🕸

ALTON/ST. CHARLES COUNTY — Dead carp have been reported recently near the Melvin Price Lock and Dam area in Alton, along the Great River Road near the city and in the Mississippi River in Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles counties, where state wildlife officials said warm temperatures and low oxygen in shallow water are primarily causing mass fish deaths, not a chemical spill. The photo above was taken this week and shows dead carp floating in the Mississippi River along the

EAST ST. LOUIS — A 15-year-old East St. Louis juvenile was arrested after a 78-year-old Jennings, Mo., man was stabbed to death Sunday night, Aug. 3, 2026, while waiting at a bus stop in East St. Louis, Illinois State Police said. The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6 Public Safety Enforcement Group said special agents arrested the juvenile male on a charge of first-degree murder, a Class M felony, after the stabbing attack that killed John W. Allen. East

On August 7, one of the most far-reaching events in modern history is the start of the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942, when United States forces landed in the Solomon Islands during World War II. The campaign was the first major Allied offensive against Japan in the Pacific. At the time, it mattered because it challenged Japanese expansion and helped protect sea routes linking the United States and Australia. It still matters today because it marked a turning point in the Pacific war, showing

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought demanding that the Trump Administration restore funding for the 33 energy grants totaling more than $580 million to the State of Illinois that were unlawfully terminated in October 2025. The Trump Administration

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, made a closing statement during today’s Committee consideration of the Farm Bill where he argued in support of Democrats’ request for a two-year delay to Republicans’ requirement that forces states to provide a share of the cost of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The two-year delay is supported by a bipartisan coalition including the Nationa

CHAMPAIGN – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced Regional Site Readiness Program awards totaling $35 million to support site readiness activities at 22 sites across Illinois. To date, the State has awarded $115 million to support 63 projects across Illinois in their site preparedness efforts. The Regional Site Readiness Program prepares sites to attract future industrial investment and new job opportunities across Illinois

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today led 17 of her Senate Democratic colleagues in introducing legislation that would stop Donald Trump’s desperate attempt to obscure how long his illegal war against Iran has lasted, dishonor the sacrifice of our troops injured and killed in combat and hide the true cost of his disastrous war from the American people. The Senators’ Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Troops in War Act would ban the Secretary

CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker sent a follow-up letter to President Donald Trump demanding that his administration provide direct relief to Illinois working families as some of the nation’s largest and wealthiest corporations receive billions of dollars in refunds. Illinois families, who were forced to pay higher prices because of the President’s unlawful tariffs, have yet to receive anything. The letter comes 165 days after Gov. Pritzker sent President Trump a

GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College is meeting the changes and challenges in the growing real estate field by offering classes to help individuals enter the industry as brokers. An individual must pass a total of 75 hours of instruction to take the Real Estate Broker’s licensure exam. LC is offering three different classes of Real Estate, all of which are needed for the exam: Real Estate Brokerage (Two sections available) REAL 135-01: 9:30-10:45 am., Tuesdays and

EDWARDSVILLE – A new parking ban along a narrow Edwardsville street aims to ease trash pickup issues for neighborhood residents while improving access during emergencies. Edwardsville City Council members unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting parking on the east side of Maple Street at their Aug. 4, 2026 meeting. Alderman Chris Farrar was absent. The ordinance specifically prohibits parking on Maple Street from St. Louis Street to Randle Street at all times. The new parking ban

ALTON — Two Alton men were charged Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in connection with an investigation into the sexual abuse of a child after Alton police said officers found a registered child sex offender alone with an 11-year-old child in June 2026. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office, led by State’s Attorney Tom Haine, charged Terry W. Davis, a 56-year-old male from Alton, with six counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child. Also charged is Andrew J.

ALTON - The Marching 100 will give the crowd an early look at its season at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, when Alton High School Band Director Matt Chesner leads a preview show at Piasa Motor Fuels Stadium, weather permitting, or in an Alton High School gym if rainy weather interferes. Chesner said the event will show what the band has been working on, including the Star-Spangled Banner, the fight song, pregame material, and the halftime material learned so far, which he described as about half

WOOD RIVER - Riverbend Family Ministries has officially announced its new executive director, and the team is excited to welcome Christy Schult to their mission. Schult previously worked with Community Hope Center. In the nine days since she has taken on the executive director role at RFM, she has learned a lot about the Riverbend’s unhoused community members and families that need assistance to remain housed. This is one of the biggest goals of RFM — to prevent homelessness and

ALTON — The Alton Police Department issued a warning to the public about automated scam voicemails claiming a $1,299 purchase was made on an account. Alton Police said the calls are intended to create uncertainty and urgency so people respond before verifying whether there is a problem with one of their accounts. The Alton Police Department said the voicemails may begin with a message such as, “There’s been a $1,299 purchase on your account…” and

JERSEYVILLE - The Jersey County Sheriff’s Office recognized Greg McDaniel for decades of public service and wished him well in retirement after a law enforcement career that began in 1987 and included service at the courthouse in Jersey County. McDaniel joined the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office as a part-time deputy in 2015, bringing decades of law enforcement experience with him, the office said. In 2020, he moved into a full-time role. During his time with the Jersey

CASEYVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced intermittent lane closures on Illinois 157 from Collinsville Road to Millstadt Road in St. Clair County beginning, weather permitting, at 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, for pavement patching. Flaggers will maintain two-way traffic. The work is expected to be completed by mid-September. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be aler

ALTON – Another Riverbend resident has been charged with child solicitation and more after messaging an adult posing as a minor and arranging to meet at an Alton Walgreens. 39-year-old Aaron G. Settles of Carrollton was charged on Aug. 3, 2026 with one count each of indecent solicitation of a child, solicitation to meet a child, grooming (each Class 4 felonies), traveling to meet a minor, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine (both Class 3 felonies). Settles allegedly knowingly discussed

EDWARDSVILLE - A 1972 cross-country motorcycle trip and a rediscovered manuscript inspired an Edwardsville writer to finish his long-awaited debut novel. Stephen L. Miller took an 11,000-mile ride across the country, then wrote a novel about the trip on his red Valentine Olivetti typewriter in his freshman dorm room. Over 50 years later, Miller dusted off the manuscript and used modern technology to self-publish it. He is proud of the story’s timeless themes of youth, recovery and firs

ST. LOUIS - A 34-year-old man was shot and killed late Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in the Walnut Park West neighborhood, where homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances of the shooting. Officers received a call for a shooting just before 11:40 p.m. Aug. 4 in the 5600 block of Hiller Place. When they arrived, they found the man on a porch suffering from gunshot wounds. EMS responded and pronounced the man dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is

GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney Catholic sophomore right fielder Paddington Martin drew praise from Griffins head baseball coach Chris Erwin after hitting over .300 in spring 2026, with Erwin citing Martin’s production, defense and role in the team’s culture. “Paddy played really well for us this past season,” Coach Erwin said. Paddy hit .315 and had 28 hits, 20 RBIs and five doubles for the varsity team. He wore No. 2 for the Griffins this past spring. Paddy is a Byron