Riverbender 🕸

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC)—joined U.S. Senator and SVAC Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and a group of 34 Democratic Senators calling on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to immediately reinstate the more than 1,000 VA employees terminated last week who serve Veterans and their families nationwide, including critical employees addressing Veteran suicide working at the Veterans Crisis Line. The Trump Administration’s mass terminations of VA employees, which included a substantive number of Veterans and military spouses, comes at a time when VA faces critical staffing shortages and increased demand for its services, such as urgently needed mental health care to reduce the Veteran suicide rate. In addition, many of these terminated employees had exemplary performance records and multiple years of work experience i

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DURBIN CRITICIZES TRUMP AND MUSK FOR DISMANTLING OF USAID AND HARMING AMERICAN FARMERS IN SENATE FLOOR SPEECH In his remarks, Durbin also debunked Kremlin-fostered falsehoods about USAID that have been circulated by Trump, Musk, and foreign adversaries and called on Republicans to speak up WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) criticized President Trump and Elon Musk’s ill-advised mission to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)—the largest distributor of humanitarian aid in the world. Consequently, programs that provide clean drinking water, treat debilitating disease, and advance human rights have been shut down, recklessly gutting American soft power and providing a huge strategic opening to China. “This month, President Trump and Elon Musk attempted to dismantle USAID, the largest distributor of humanitarian aid on this earth. Musk was gleeful when he said

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County is announced it will be awarding $25,000 in funding for its new Clean Communities Litter Grant program. “We wanted to do something to get people more involved in helping to keep their communities clean,” Chairman Chris Slusser said. “For the past five years we’ve offered citizens litter kits to assist in keeping communities clean and this grant opportunity is the next step.” Slusser said Building and Zoning is overseeing the new grant program, which is promoting environmental stewardship, engaging residents in cleanup efforts and fostering pride in shared public spaces. Building and Zoning Administrator Chris Doucleff said the grant will provide funding up to $2,500 in matching funds. “This is a 100 percent match grant,” Doucleff said. He said the grant is intended to provide financial assistance and support for municipalities, townships, park districts and partners that help combat litter in their

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — An officer-involved shooting on January 13, 2025, near the intersection of W. Florissant Avenue and Ferguson Avenue resulted in the death of 37-year-old Durell Dorn, of St. Louis. The incident unfolded shortly after 9:52 a.m. when Country Club Hills police officers responded to reports of a motor vehicle crash in the vicinity. While en route to the crash site, officers received updated information indicating that the driver of the vehicle was firing a gun at passing vehicles. Upon arrival, St. Louis County police officers observed Dorn, armed with a handgun featuring an extended magazine, walking westbound on W. Florissant Avenue. According to the police, Dorn fired a shot at one of the officers, prompting a return of gunfire from the police. Following the exchange, Dorn fled west on W. Florissant Avenue towards Ferguson Avenue, where he was subsequently struck by a St. Louis County police vehicle at the intersection. Officers on the scene provided immediate

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ALTON – YWCA ANNOUNCES 2025 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION HONOREES YWCA Southwestern Illinois is thrilled to announce the 2025 Women of Distinction honorees: Dr. Jerrica Ampadu, Julie Botterbush, Rebecca Cowart, Rose Gibson, Kim Hunt, Anne Johnson, Tanjela Johnson, Michelle Matsche, Megan Tyler, and Dr. Tanya Patton. These remarkable leaders will be inducted into the prestigious Women of Distinction (WOD) Academy, joining over 300 outstanding female leaders from Madison County. Join us in celebrating their incredible achievements at the annual Women of Distinction Gala on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Desira Caffey, YWCA Board Member and Woman of Distinction Co-Chair, shares her excitement, "Each year, YWCA proudly recognizes extraordinary women who embody our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. Our 2025 WOD honorees are exemplary leaders, innovators, and role models. We're thrilled to spotlight their inspiring stories as we build excitement for our upcoming gala." The Women

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District will host a special program focused on Forest Park’s owls. At 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at Hayner’s Alton Square Mall location, community members are invited to learn more about local owl populations at a lecture titled “Forest Park Owls: Hiding in Plain Sight” by Mark H.X. Glenshaw. An award-winning naturalist, Glenshaw has been studying great horned owls at Forest Park for two decades. He will talk about the birds, their behaviors and his observations. “I think one of the biggest things they’re going to come away with is that this is all in our backyard, and not just Forest Park, but all over the place,” Glenshaw said. “I’ve seen owls in every corner of the St. Louis Metro region. Illinois, Missouri, suburban, urban, rural, big, small, you name it.” Glenshaw regularly hosts “Owl Prowls” through Forest Park, allowing him and his guests to observe the

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ALTON – OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center is proud to announce it has received the Sustainability Champion Award in recognition for exceptional efforts in environmental stewardship and sustainable health care practices. The award, administered through a sustainability program sponsored by Medtronic, a global health care technology leader in the medical equipment manufacturing sector, is a remarkable achievement that reflects the hospital’s commitment to creating a healthier, more sustainable future for patients, the Riverbend region, and the planet. “Through our partnership with Medtronic, OSF Saint Anthony’s has made significant strides in our sustainability program. By successfully reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills, we are not only minimizing our environmental impact but also contributing to the global movement for a more sustainable health care system,” says Sister M. Beata Ziegler, F.S.G.M., vice president, Support

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JERSEYVILLE – Three educators from Jersey Community Unit School District (CUSD) #100 have earned “Those Who Excel” Awards from the Illinois State Board of Education. Becca Leslie, a librarian at Jersey Community High School (JCHS), has earned an Award of Meritorious Service. JCHS Spanish Teacher Andrea Lamer and West Elementary Early Childhood SPE teacher Stacey Kuebrich have both earned Special Recognition Awards. All three award winners will be honored at the 31st annual “Those Who Excel” Banquet, hosted by the Illinois State Board of Education this summer. “Congratulations to these Jersey CUSD #100 outstanding educators who have been selected by the Illinois State Board of Education for ‘Those Who Excel Awards!’” the school district wrote in a press release. “They will be recognized by ISBE at the Those Who Excel Banquet in Bloomington on May 17, 2025. “Educators presented with the Award of Meritorious Service

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EAST ST. LOUIS – Local nonprofits, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation (JJKF) and Lansdowne UP have been awarded subgrants by The Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI). The subgrants, ($499,632.94) and ($280,120.50), respectively, are awarded to improve the community tree canopy. The three-year subgrants, launched in the first quarter of 2025, are used for projects that increase the tree canopy, improve forest health, and create or enhance community forestry programs. From helping to mitigate flooding and reduce pollution, to improving people's mental and physical health, community forest projects make neighborhoods greener and healthier. Together, the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation and Lansdowne UP will plant over a 1,000 trees in East St. Louis over a 3-year period. "This is an exciting partnership," Mark Mestemacher, Lansdowne UP President stated, "Lansdowne UP and the JJKF worked together on securing these grants knowing the great contribution a healthy

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COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Police Department is mourning the loss of retired telecommunicator Alan Lacquement, who died last week. Lacquement, a lifelong resident of Collinsville, dedicated 36 years of service to the department before retiring in 2017. Alan was described as a devoted husband to his late wife, Elizabeth Lacquement. Alan's commitment to the Collinsville community extended beyond his role at the police department. Lacquement also volunteered as a special officer and was an active member of the Collinsville Emergency Management Agency. His influence and dedication to public service are remembered fondly by colleagues and residents alike. Alan was a great outdoorsman, particularly treasuring the time he spent camping with his wife, Elizabeth, in Eminence, Mo. Alan is survived by his son, Joseph Kemper, and his wife, Jocelyn, along with their children, Christopher and Abigail. He is also survived by his son, John Stanek, and his children, Nate and Annie. The

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) today introduced the Protecting Patients from Deceptive Drug Ads Act , bipartisan legislation that would protect public health and close regulatory loopholes by having the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) address false and misleading prescription drug promotions by social media influencers and telehealth companies. The prevalence of online promotions and direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs—such as weight loss, gastrointestinal, or psychiatric medications—has drastically increased in recent years, notably through influencers and telehealth companies—most recently during the Super Bowl—and on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. FDA oversees manufacturer-sponsored prescription drug advertisements by ensuring that promotions by manufacturers are accurate, risks and benefits are disclosed, and information o

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs (SVAC)—led her fellow Democratic SVAC colleagues Ranking Member Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) in demanding that the Trump Administration and unelected billionaire Elon Musk immediately restart operations at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), specifically sounding the alarm about the dangerous impacts that dismantling the agency would have on Veterans and servicemembers. In their letter to U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought and Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins, Duckworth and her colleagues emphasized that dismantling CFPB would do nothing to advance Musk’s publicly claimed goal of weeding out fraud and abuse but rather leave the men and women who volunteer to serve our country even more vulnerable to financial scams. The lawmakers

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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois state historic sites in Springfield will present a variety of engaging hikes, talks, tours, and films to commemorate Black History Month in February. All events are free, open to the public, and require no reservations. Programs are put on in partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources ; the Illinois State Museum ; Lincoln Library , Springfield’s public library; the Illinois State Military Museum ; and Fever River Research . Visitors can participate in these special events at the following locations. Illinois State Museum to explore Black Lives in Springfield The Illinois State Museum’s Research and Collections Center will host “Black Lives in Springfield Part I: Work and Home Life” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 and “Black Lives in Springfield Part II: Military Service” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26. These are free, public events. The Research and Collections Center is at 1011 E. Ash St. in

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ST. LOUIS – On Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, the Missouri House of Representatives voted to overturn the will of the people of Missouri in order to take away local control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and give it to a group of governor-appointed business owners who don’t live in the City. Mayor Jones issued the following statement: "To this day, no lawmaker who supports state takeover of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has been able to say how it would make the City of St. Louis safer," said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. "They also cannot explain why they are so determined to overturn the will of nearly two-thirds of Missourians who voted for local control. Today's vote is politics at its worst. I'm thankful to Chief Robert Tracy and every member of the SLMPD for all the work they continue to do for the people of St. Louis.” House Bill 495 will now head to the Senate. Further context The bill sponsor has said that this bill is “not

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JERSEYVILLE – Winter weather hasn’t stopped the progress being made at Jerseyville Public Library, where a major expansion project is getting closer to completion. As “finishing touches” are being made, the library will be temporarily closed from Monday, March 3 to Friday, March 7, 2025. The library is set to re-open on Saturday, March 8 from its regular Sunday hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. “As you may have noticed when driving past the corner of Pearl and Liberty streets in Jerseyville lately, an impressive construction project has been in the making for the past several months,” library staff wrote in a press release. “The Jerseyville Public Library is in the midst of a long-awaited expansion project and part of that project requires the Library to be closed to the public to put some finishing touches in the building.” While library patrons wait to revisit in-person, they can still access all the online resources that come free

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ALTON - On Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, former Mayor and current Mayoral candidate Brant Walker issued the following statement outlining his opposition to the proposed Lovejoy Housing Development slated for consideration by the Alton Committee of the Whole on Monday, February 24, 2025 and called on his opponents in the race for Mayor to clearly articulate their positions on this issue: At the February 12, 2025, City Council meeting, the 7th Ward Alderman curiously referred a resolution to the Committee of the Whole for the City of Alton to enter into a redevelopment agreement with McCormack Baron Salazar for the “Lovejoy Development Project” located within the 3rd Ward on and near the corner of Ridge and East 4th Streets. This resolution indicates this development project is for construction of 70 units of mixed income housing partially funded by Alton taxpayers in the form of TIF, ARPA, and Community Development Block Grant funds. The developer is also seeking low-income

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On Feb. 20, 1925, 9-year-old Gaspar Marone ran away from home. The Alton Evening Telegraph newspaper announced the next day that “Alton has a new champion runaway boy.” At 4:45 p.m., the Chicago & Alton Railroad’s fast Chicago-St. Louis train left the Alton station with an unexpected passenger. Gaspar perched himself on the pilot (also called a cowcatcher) at the front of the engine and clung there for eight miles as the train went down the track. The train normally made no stops between Alton and St. Louis, but a telegraph operator at the Roxana station saw something white at the front of the engine and threw a semaphore signal, which brought the train to a stop. The train crew came out to see what was wrong and found Gaspar sitting quietly on the cowcatcher. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article, “He was cold but contented and a little angry at being stopped so soon on his adventure out into the world.” He told the train crew that he was

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WOOD RIVER/ROXANA - Rusty Wheat, the one-man “Chain Gang” who picks up trash along the roads in Wood River and Edwardsville, has officially found his biggest piece of trash yet. Over the past two years, Wheat has picked up thousands of pounds of trash along Illinois Route 143. But he was always bothered by a huge Styrofoam block in the middle of a nearby field. On Feb. 11, 2025, Wheat decided he was finally going to do something about it. “It just seemed like it needed to be gone. That’s it,” he said. “It was just driving me crazy. It’s one of those things that just drives me crazy, and you see it every day. Well, I just came to the conclusion that day that I was going to go take care of it.” The field is often muddy and difficult to navigate, but on a dry day earlier this month, Wheat parked his truck, put out his normal “Chain Gang” signs, and walked to the middle of the field to survey the Styrofoam block.

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Ali M. Summers has been named the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. As Acting U.S. Attorney, she is the chief federal law enforcement official in the Southern District of Illinois. Acting United States Attorney Ali Summers is a career prosecutor who became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2012. She has prosecuted a wide variety of federal crimes for the District to include murder, armed robbery, carjacking, violent gun offenses, drug trafficking, and crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. She has served the office as Criminal Chief since July 2018 and most recently as First Assistant. She also served as Chief of the Violent Crime Unit from July 2016 to September 2023. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Acting U.S. Attorney Summers was a law clerk to the Honorable David R. Herndon in the Southern District of Illinois. Upon completion of her two-year term judicial clerkship, she worked as a state

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — Rachelle Aud Crowe, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, has officially departed from her position, effective February 18, 2025. Crowe has served as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the district since her appointment, expressing gratitude for her time in office. “It has been my honor to serve the Southern District of Illinois as the United States Attorney,” Crowe stated. “Announcing my departure accompanies many emotions, but my heart is full of gratitude.” Throughout her tenure, Crowe led a team of attorneys and legal staff, contributing to policy and management discussions as a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and the Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee. She emphasized her collaboration with local, state, and federal law enforcement to seek justice for victims and enhance public safety. In addition to prosecuting hundreds of criminal cases, Crowe’s office

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