Riverbender 🕸

EAST ALTON – Felony charges have been filed against an East Alton man accused of stealing thousands of dollars from victims who hired him to build various pool projects at their homes across the Riverbend. Chad A. Phillips, 30, of East Alton, was charged on May 11, 2026 with three Class 4 felony counts of home repair fraud, two Class 2 felony counts of theft over, and a Class 3 felony count of theft over $500. From July 23, 2022 to Oct. 1, 2024, Phillips allegedly entered into an agreement

ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 families will register their children in person this year as an opportunity to connect families with school resources. In late July, parents and caregivers will stop by the Alton High School gymnasium for in-person registration. Families must bring certain documents and information to registration to ensure their children are ready to go for the school year. Director of Student Services Angela Kuchnicki explained that the goal is to connect

May is Women’s Health Month — a time to highlight the important role nutrition plays in supporting women at every stage of life. From the teenage years through menopause and beyond, nutrient needs shift, but one thing remains consistent: building and maintaining strong bones, muscles and overall health require a steady foundation of key nutrients. “Dairy foods such as milk, yogurt and cheese provide a unique package of calcium, vitamin D, high-quality protein and other essential

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today hosted a celebration to highlight the achievements of community leaders during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The event, which was held at the state government building at 555 W. Monroe St. in Chicago, honored eight people for their contributions to their communities: a CEO, a strategy and innovation officer, a school principal, a leader of an education and advocacy group, a state lawmaker, a labor leader,

A front-page article on the Alton Evening Telegraph in May 1926 announced that well-known Alton attorney William P. Boynton “may perhaps enjoy the distinction of being the first Altonian who tried to make a trip from Alton to California in a motor bus.” By this time, many locals had made the trip by automobile, but Boynton was set to become “the pioneer Altonian in making the round trip riding all the way in commercial motor busses.” Boynton took a bus from St.

A person can be sitting down and still be “standing tall.” You’ve probably said it yourself—about someone who faced a setback, refused to be bullied, or owned up to a mistake. The phrase sounds physical, but its real power is about something you can’t measure with a ruler: dignity. “Standing tall” is one of those expressions that feels simple until you look closer. It can mean confidence, courage, honesty, or self-respect. Sometimes it even means staying

On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Brown v. Board of Education , ruling that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. At the time, the decision challenged a long-standing legal system that treated separate schools for different races as acceptable, even when those schools were unequal in funding, facilities, and opportunity. It mattered immediately because it gave legal force to the idea that equal citizenship required equal access to education.

EAST ST. LOUIS – Illinois State Police (ISP) conducted a violent crime suppression detail on May 13 and 14, 2026, in St. Clair and Madison counties, focusing its efforts on East St. Louis and neighboring Metro East communities. ? The operation utilized intelligence and technology to focus enforcement efforts on known high crime areas, violent offenders, and structured criminal groups in the communities of the Metro East. Detail Results Arrests 23 Total Criminal Charges 33 Felo

ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District to host Get Outside! A Survey of Alton Area Parks Past and Present book signing on Saturday, May 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Jennie D. Hayner Park, corner of State Street and West Fourth Street, Alton, IL 62002. Get Outside! A Survey of Alton Area Parks Past and Present is an 88-page hardcover book offering one, two and 4-page photographic spreads with basic information and a brief history of the parks in active use in 2026 located in Alton,

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 that career field as brokers. An individual must pass a total of 75 hours of instruction to take the Real Estate Broker’s licensure exam. Lewis and Clark is offering three different classes of Real Estate, all of which are needed for the exam: Real Estate Brokerage (REAL 135-T60) – 7-8:50 p.m., Monday and Wednesday,

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Columbia College recently announced its dean's list for the Spring 2026 Semester (January-May 2026). To be named to the dean's list, a student must have completed 12 undergraduate credit hours in a 16-week period and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0-point scale. Students from the area who received this honor include: HOMETOWN; NAME, CAMPUS ATTENDED Alton Cierra Johnson, Online Edwardsville Kimberly Eichelberger, Online Jerseyville Samantha Malley,

WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Republicans are pressing Illinois Democrats to take up a package of proposals they say would lower costs for families before the General Assembly’s session ends, arguing that political disagreements should not delay action on affordability measures. State Reps. Bill Hauter, Mike Coffey and Brad Fritts held a Capitol news conference Thursday to renew what they described as House Republicans’ push for Democrats to consider “affordability plans” tha

ALTON - Church members and leaders from across Alton gathered for the Alton Area Church Women United organization’s May Friendship Day. On Thursday, May 14, 2026, community members met at Main Street Methodist Church in Alton for the program. Church Women United is a national movement that unites women of different churches and faith backgrounds to worship and serve the community together. Diane Foster and Sandra Revels shared information about the organization and its May Friendship

EDWARDSVILLE - The Glen-Ed Pantry will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking on May 20 for a new facility at its site in Edwardsville, as the nonprofit works to expand services for local families facing food insecurity. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Glen-Ed Pantry, 125 5th Ave., Edwardsville, IL 62025. Representatives and leadership of the pantry are expected to attend, including Board President Libby Levin, past president Pam Harrison, and Executive Director Jane

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reminding Illinoisans that warmer weather means an increased potential for exposure to several illnesses that can be carried by animals or biting pests. While enjoying outdoor activities, people should take appropriate precautions to reduce their risk of contracting serious illness. “Spring and summer provide so many opportunities for outdoor fun all across Illinois,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “It

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2026 to expand access to critical mental health care services and increase federal investments for supporting corrections officers, whose suicide rate is estimated to be seven times higher than that of the general population. Last year, U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01) introduced the companion legislation of this

EDWARDSVILLE - Madelyn Moore has been selected to receive a 2026 Illinois Sheriff’s Association Scholarship, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office has announced. The Madison County Sheriff, Jeff Connor, said Moore was chosen as a scholarship recipient and cited her “hard work and dedication." Moore plans to pursue “a career in chiropractic medicine,” Connor said. “We are proud to announce that Madelyn Moore has been selected as a recipient of

BELLEVILLE - The Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce and PremierU are proud to co-host The M Factor 2: Before the Pause on Wednesday, May 28, at 6:30 PM at the historic Lincoln Theatre, bringing together women from across the community for an evening focused on education, empowerment, and honest conversations surrounding hormonal health, perimenopause, menopause, and overall wellness. This impactful event is designed to help women better understand the physical, emotional, and mental changes

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Forest Service today announced an additional 2026 recreation fee-free day on June 6 in celebration of National Trails Day, providing no cost use of all standard amenity recreation sites on national forests and grasslands. National Trails Day was established by the American Hiking Society in 1993 and occurs annually on the first Saturday in June. It brings together federal land managers, partners, and volunteers to celebrate trails and accomplish trail stewardship

The strange thing about sacrifice is that people often praise it even when it looks like a loss. A parent skips a vacation to pay for a child’s classes. A friend drives across town at midnight. A worker stays late so the team doesn’t fail. No one celebrates the missed sleep or the empty wallet. They celebrate what the sacrifice means . Traditions honor sacrifice because it turns private cost into shared value. It signals commitment, builds trust, and makes groups feel real. When