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ATLANTA - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofits (PNP) organizations of the June 30 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by a tornado occurring July 14-15, 2024. The disaster declaration covers the Illinois counties of Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark and Woodford. Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises. EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, an

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 announced enrollment and registration is now open for the 2025-26 school year. Families can register by using your SKYWARD account, and will have to make a designation to receive bus transportation. For all NEW enrollments, visit our Enrollment/Registration website for required documents prior to visiting our enrollment center. In accordance with enrollment and registration requirements, families currently restricted from accessing the Online Registration option will soon receive further instructions to complete the registration process. James J. Greenwald Administration Building 3200 Maryville Road Granite City, IL 62040 Admin Office Hours: Monday through Thursday: 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday: 7 a.m.-Noon Enrollment Office Hours: Monday through Thursday: 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday: 7-11 a.m. Students will not be allowed to attend school on the first day if not registered or enrolled.

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ALTON – Now that school’s out, there’s no doubt a variety of activities that can fill a junior high student’s calendar to stay occupied during the summer. We’ll find them on the athletic fields, around the pool or on a beach, maybe even exploring current or new hobbies. Maybe not so surprisingly, one area of focus that many junior high/middle school-aged students begin turning their interest to is career exploration. While it's not uncommon for career exploration to begin in high school, experts now recognize that junior high/middle school is a more suitable time to begin discovering career passions and interests. This allows students to engage in exploration with less stress and a greater openness to different possibilities. With the goal of assisting Riverbend region junior high/middle school students with an interest in a health care career, OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center will be sponsoring its first-ever Health Care Camp for Riverbend

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GRANITE CITY – A man from Granite City remains in custody after using a firearm during a domestic assault and battery. Brandon L. Fletcher, 42, of Granite City, was charged on May 30, 2025 with felon in possession of a weapon (Class 3 felony), domestic battery (Class A misdemeanor), and aggravated assault (Class A misdemeanor). On May 30, 2025, Fletcher allegedly assaulted a household or family member with a Smith and Wesson M&P .380ACP firearm by placing the firearm to their mouth. A petition from the State’s Attorney’s Office to deny Fletcher’s pretrial release states officers responded to a reported domestic disturbance before contacting the victim. The victim told officers Fletcher “began to make threats and retrieved a firearm” before the situation escalated further. “Upon retrieving the firearm, the defendant placed the firearm to the victim’s mouth,” the petition states. “Officers located the defendant, and he was

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COLUMBIA - The Monroe County State’s Attorney, Ryan Webb, has issued charges against a Collinsville man and a Cahokia 17-year-old for a Sunday morning, June 1, 2025, after an incident with an Uber driver in the Columbia Police Department parking lot. Collinsville’s Kareem Weaver, 20, has been charged with the following: Vehicular Invasion (Class 1 Felony). Attempted Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking (Class 1 Felony). Aggravated Unlawful Restraint (Class 3 Felony). Aggravated Kidnapping (Class X Felony). A 17-year-old Cahokia Heights juvenile has been charged with the following: Attempted First Degree Murder (Class X Felony). Aggravated Battery With A Firearm (Class X Felony). Vehicular Invasion (Class 1 Felony). Attempted Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking (Class 1 Felony). Attempted Discharge Of A Firearm (Class 1 Felony). Aggravated Unlawful Restraint (Class 3 Felony). Aggravated Kidnapping (Class X Felony). The juvenile is being held at the Juvenile Detention

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has kicked off their Summer Reading Program. This program is made up of free events for kids and teens to enjoy. Participants also complete reading challenges for the chance to win prizes. Mary and Sharon, librarians who oversee the program, explained that it’s a chance for kids to learn to love reading. “The point — I mean, obviously, it’s to have fun. It’s so the kids come into the library and associate the library as a fun place, a place to make memories,” Mary explained. “But also, there’s a thing called the summer slide…where kids’ literacy rates sort of start to slide down. So the Summer Reading Program, the point is to get kids in the library, get them reading, keep their reading going so that they don’t have that academic slide backwards. So it’s fun for them, but there’s also the ulterior motive of keeping them reading and keeping them engaged wit

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GRAFTON — A power outage affected the entire city of Grafton on Monday afternoon, June 2, 2025. Ameren Illinois officials reported to Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow that an issue with one of the power lines caused a substation outage along Illinois Route 3, disrupting service to the area. Morrow said the utility company is investigating and attempting to remedy the problem. Morrow added that Grafton City Hall was temporarily closed for the remainder of the day on Monday, starting at 2 p.m. Signs were posted at the front of the building, and police and city workers were informed of the closure. Outlying areas of Dow and Elsah are also involved in the power outage. Ameren has been contacted to find out more about the outage. Morrow said Ameren anticipates that power will be restored later Monday, or by Tuesday morning at the latest. If necessary, the company may deploy a temporary substation to expedite service restoration. Morrow said residents reported hearing a popping noise nea

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GODFREY – St. Ambrose Catholic School recently released their fourth quarter High Honor Roll and Honor Roll lists for 2024-2025. 4th Grade High Honor Roll Sophie Hoefert Reid Pruetzel 4th Grade Honor Roll Chrisley Bechtold Colton French Hunter Johnson Cayla Kory Lucas Lacy Jordan McCormick Ella Schroeder Lily Yemm 5th Grade High Honor Roll Benjamin Burns Tucker Eberlin James Erwin Jackson Lacy Maizy McCahill Miles Schroeder 5th Grade Honor Roll Elijah Baird Holly Franklin Kamryn Hollinger Audrina Klasner Alysa Kochan Barrett Kohl William Monahan Marley Palmer Eileen Rodriguez-Frias 6th Grade High Honor Roll Danica Dornes Finn Kane Lydia Lara Caroline Morrissey Neal Pichee 6th Grade Honor Roll Ruth Beck Stella Copple Charles Droste Rylan Estes Charlotte Hendrickson Emma Kory Liam Rose Isla Stevenson Thomas Stirnaman Ryan Terry 7th Grade High Honor Roll Piper Adams Kayli Jacobs Charlotte Kohl Parker William

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City Elks Lodge #1063 recognized Granite City High School seniors Gracie Roberts and Dylan Sanchez as Students of the Month for May. The Elks Student of the Month Program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for achievements in school and community life-fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry and farming. Nominees are judged on multiple achievements including leadership skills, good moral character, community involvement, extracurricular activities, honors and award and scholastic ability. Each student receives a $100 U.S. savings bond and an Elks certificate of achievement. GRACIE ROBERTS Contributed to 16 productions at GCHS in various capacities, including acting, assistant directing, sound technician, ushering, and videography ... Vice-President of Thespian Society ... Renaissance Top-10 ... Personal Choice Award ... Two-year Honor Roll ... Member of Thespian Society and

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ALTON - There’s a new store for plant lovers in downtown Alton. Plant Em, located at 302 East Broadway in Alton, sells a variety of rare, tropical and exotic plants. Owner Emily Tucker shared that plants helped her get through a tough time, and she hopes to help other people, too. “My store is my therapy,” Tucker said. “I finally made it happen.” Plant Em is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 12–4 p.m. on Sundays. Tucker is currently splitting her time between the store, her full-time job as a dental assistant, and her children, but she hopes to expand the store’s hours in the future. She shared that she first discovered new coping mechanisms 10 years ago at an eating disorder recovery center. A few years later, Tucker was going through “something really stressful” and stumbled across a bear’s paw succulent on TikTok. She soon became fascinated with rare plants and devoted herself to the searc

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today introduced the bicameral “Wear Orange” Resolution, which designates June 6, 2025, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the entire month of June as National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Each year, nearly 43,000 people in the United States are killed, and 97,000 injured by gun violence. June 2 is the birthday of Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed in a Chicago park in 2013, just days after performing in the parade for President Obama’s second inauguration. This tragic event moved the lawmakers to designate the first Friday in June as a time to recognize Hadiya nationally. In Hadiya’s memory, the resolution encourages people to wear orange, the color hunters wear for safety, to promote awareness of gun violence, and to serve as a reminde

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SPRINGFIELD — Last week, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) toured First to the Finish, a sporting apparel store in Edwardsville, Ill., and Martinelli’s Market, Bakery and Deli in Champaign, Ill., to highlight the impact of President Trump’s tariffs on small businesses. “President Trump campaigned on lowering costs, protecting American industry, and bringing home good-paying jobs. However, imposing sweeping tariffs on our closest trading partners is not the way to get there. Instead, this approach has saddled folks with rising prices and deep uncertainty about their futures,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “Last week, I spoke directly with the owners of First to the Finish and Martinelli’s Market, to hear their concerns about running a business in this volatile economy. I assured them that I’ll keep fighting to put their needs first, hold the President accountable, and work to bring down costs for working families.” Congresswoman

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BRIGHTON - Following are the High Honor Roll and Honor Roll lists for Southwestern High School’s second semester of the 2024-2025 academic year: HIGH HONOR ROLL Senior Class of 2025 High Honor Roll List for Semester 2 Cadence Ater, Ike Austin, Lainie Behrends, Reagan Beilsmith, Ian Brantley, Logan Custer, Gracie Darr, Madison Fenstermaker, Kyle Foss, Hailey Gula, Ashlyn Hall, Alexis Harrop, Addison Jeffers, Ella Kadell, Kori Laubscher, Ryan Lowis, Nicholas McGee, Ava Pulley, Nicholas Ragsdale, Anneliese Shatley Junior Class of 2026 High Honor Roll List for Semester 2 Gage Alexander, Ava Ballard, Bram Beuttel, Levi Brantley, Taylor Cairns, Alivia Cecchini, Lucy Childress, Madelyn Egelhoff, Madelyn Gordon, Josie Hagen, Wyatt Lahr, Miranda Lenger, Kinley Lucas, Christian Ruyle, Olivia Schneider, Alyssa Schuchman, Dalton Scott, Isabella Snyder, Amelia Walden, Vivian Zurheide Sophomore Class of 2027 High Honor Roll List for Semester 2 Briann Anderson, Jaden Basnett,

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EAST ST. LOUIS — After 25 years of dedicated service, Larry Sorrell is retiring from East St. Louis School District 189, where he has been recognized as a passionate and inspiring teacher. Sorrell’s career, spanning a quarter-century, has been marked by his commitment to student success and his genuine care for each learner. Known for sparking curiosity and guiding students with patience, Larry has empowered countless individuals through knowledge and encouragement. “Sorrell has been a pillar of excellence in the classroom,” the district said in a statement celebrating his retirement. “He has left an unforgettable mark on our schools and in the hearts of all who had the privilege to learn from him.” East St. Louis School District 189 expressed gratitude for Sorrell’s wisdom and mentorship, noting his role in shaping the future one student at a time. The district wished him well as he begins his retirement.

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JERSEYVILLE – Jersey Community High School recently released their Honor Roll and High Honor Roll lists for grades 8-12 for the second semester of the 2024-2025 school year. HIGH HONOR ROLL Seniors Baro, Jayce C. Bellet, Jacob R. Benedict, Katreona G. Benz, Abbigail M. Bockstruck, Charlie L. Bolds, Jordan M. Brunaugh, Jaxon J. Burney, Ava L. Carey, Gage V. Carter, Halie M. Coffman, Adam R. Dahn, Noah L. Dean, Jacob D. Deist, Bradley M. Derrick, Corah M. Dougherty, Meredith J. Eads, Jaren A. Finkes, Peyton R. Finkes, Talan W. Goetten, Dax J. Hansen, Angela C. Hardwick, Aiden W. Heineman, Hailey M. Herrera, Timothy S. Hileman, Jovee E. Hudson, Kate M. Huitt, Logan M. Hutchens, Reese M. Johnson, Camryn A. Johnson, Tyler J. Jones, Jayden L. Kelly, Addison G. Kiel, Joseph C. Koenig, Hunter A. Kuebrich, Alexis M. Laird, Ellie M. Lamparter, Olivia R. Leslie, Arianne R. Lorton, Reese A. Maag, Matthew J. Marmino, Hayleigh M. Marshall,

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JERSEYVILLE – The car show coming to Liberty Village of Jerseyville is on hold for a week as unfavorable weather conditions are expected. Originally set for this Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the car show has now been rescheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025. The time of the event will remain the same, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and will feature a variety of classic rides proudly on display from members of the Jersey County Street Machine Association and White Hall Drag-O-Way. Liberty Village of Jerseyville made the announcement on Monday morning. “Being so close to Father’s Day, we will be honoring the fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers as well as all the other residents at Liberty Village,” they stated. “We hope everyone can adjust their schedules and join us for this event.” Stay tuned to Riverbender.com for the latest updates and more car show coverage soon to come.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is joining Illinoisans in celebrating 2025 Pride Month throughout the month of June by showcasing programs and services that improve the health and wellness of the state’s diverse LGBTQIA+ community. A highlight of the 2025 Pride Month in Illinois is Chicago’s Pride Parade on June 29. IDPH will be hosting a contingent marching in the parade, which this year features the theme “United in Pride.” More information on Pride festivals around across the state can be found at Pride Festivals in Illinois | Enjoy Illinois . “During Pride Month, IDPH is extremely proud to join the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies across Illinois in celebrating the strength we gain through unity and common purpose,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “A mainstay of the health of our society is the ability of every resident to be their true and authentic selves. We recognize this at IDPH,

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CASEYVILLE/EDWARDSVILLE - A local organization will host the National Beep Baseball Association World Series for blind and visually-impaired baseball players. MindsEye Radio, an organization that works with blind and visually-impaired community members in the St. Louis area, will sponsor the world series from July 20–25, 2025, at Glen-Ed West Soccer Complex in Edwardsville and Reiniger Memorial Soccer Park in Caseyville. Beep baseball players from across the country will travel to the region to compete. “What we do at MindsEye, we translate vision to audio to build a more inclusive community for those in the blind or visually-impaired community,” explained President Jason Frazier. “It’s called beepball because the ball actually beeps. I was just fascinated by all the aspects of this sport… all these things are so visual. And here’s a sport, America’s pastime, that is played without the use of vision at a very high level.”

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is lifting the temporary suspension on the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets and auction markets. The suspension was initially issued in February in response to the ongoing threat of H5N1 avian flu and continued through today. “We have closely monitored the threat posed by avian flu and have taken appropriate measures to ensure biosecurity for the safety of both the public and the poultry industry,” said Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA State Veterinarian. “Should the situation change, we will re-evaluate, but for now, we feel it is safe to resume poultry exhibition and sales.” Avian flu is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds (especially waterfowl). Avian flu virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to chickens, and can spread rapidly from

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul applauded the Illinois General Assembly’s passage of legislation that would require all local law enforcement agencies in Illinois to participate in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) eTrace platform, which allows law enforcement to submit firearm tracing information for crime guns to the ATF National Tracing Center. House Bill (HB)1373 passed the Illinois House of Representatives April 8 and then passed the Illinois Senate today with bipartisan support. Illinois Rep. Curtis Tarver and Sen. Bill Cunningham sponsored the legislation, which now goes to the governor’s desk for final approval. “I appreciate the General Assembly passing this legislation to ensure all Illinois counties’ law enforcement agencies participate in the ATF’s data-sharing platform, which is critical to identifying violent gun patterns and keeping our communities safe,” Raoul said. “Advocating

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