Riverbender 🕸

ALTON - As Duke Bakery gears up for its 75th anniversary, co-owner Ben Hollis is proud of the work they do to engage with the community. Hollis shared that he has been going on a “Baker Ben tour” to local schools and libraries to read to kids. Duke also implemented free breakfast programs and additional initiatives to help community members when SNAP benefits were paused. Hollis emphasized the importance of giving back like this and shared his excitement to continue providing

ST. LOUIS — A church official from Illinois accused of producing child pornography was arrested Wednesday and appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis, according to court documents. Michael William Mohr, 54, of Springfield, was charged by complaint in St. Louis with one count of producing child pornography. He waived his right to a detention hearing and will be held in jail until trial. Mohr is the president of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church — Missouri

ALTON - Alton Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department is asking the community to donate new teddy bears and other comfort items through April 30, 2026, as part of its annual Teddy Bear Collection Drive, an effort aimed at helping the nearly 3,000 children who come through the department each year as patients or visitors. A visit to an emergency department can be stressful for anyone, but hospital staff say it can be especially frightening for children amid loud noises, unfamiliar equipment

ALTON - Duke Bakery will introduce a mobile food trailer for parties and events. Starting in June 2026, the bakery will have a trailer that can travel to homes and event venues so you can enjoy your Duke Bakery favorites during special occasions. Ben Hollis, co-owner of Duke, shared that the trailer will travel to communities throughout the Riverbend to bring treats to people near and far. “We’re hoping to have that on the road by the first of June this year,” he said.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Prosecutors have charged a 49-year-old man with abandoning a corpse after police conducting a welfare check found a woman’s body inside an apartment in the 8800 block of Dragonwyck Drive, authorities said. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, it issued a charge of Abandonment of a Corpse against Terrance Smith, 49, of the 8800 block of Dragonwyck Drive in St. Louis, Mo., 63121. Smith is being held on a $100,000 cash-only

ALTON - State Representative Amy Elik reflected on her plans for the year as the midterm election approaches. In a recent interview on “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello , Elik pledged to focus on policies that will make life more affordable for District #111 residents. She emphasized her focus on affordability and helping people who are struggling, including those who recently lost their jobs through Alton Steel’s closure. “I have always told people who I am

Few phrases feel as instantly personal as “the cold shoulder.” One minute you’re chatting like normal, and the next you’re getting short answers, no eye contact, and a silence that seems to have weight. It’s not just rudeness—it’s a message. The interesting part is that this expression may have started as something much more literal than a frosty attitude. Depending on which origin story you follow, “cold shoulder” comes from either a real

On February 4, 1945, leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union opened the Yalta Conference, a wartime meeting that helped shape how Europe would be governed after World War II. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin met in Crimea to settle urgent questions: how to finish the war against Nazi Germany, how to handle liberated countries, and what kind of international system might prevent another global conflict. At the time, the stakes were immediate—armies

BETHALTO/WOOD RIVER - Hit-N-Run will bring back its drive-thru service on a limited schedule starting Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, reopening first at its Bethalto location after what owner Dwight Fowler described as "strong customer demand." The Bethalto Hit-N-Run drive-thru is set to reopen from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at 515 North Bellwood Drive in Bethalto. The Wood River Hit-N-Run is expected to open its drive-thru on Monday, Fowler said. “A lot of feedback showed people wanted it, and w

The day starts off very cold with temperatures near 15 degrees and a feels like of 13. Mostly clear skies in the early morning make for a brisk start. As the morning progresses, clouds will intermittently break, offering some sunshine but the cold persists with highs topping out around 29 degrees. Winds from the north at about 7 mph, gusting up to 14 mph, keep the chill in the air noticeable. By evening, the skies will clear again, leaving mainly clear and cold conditions as temperatures drop towar

JERSEYVILLE – Jerseyville officials are looking into adding recycling services at the city dump site. Mayor Kevin Stork gave a brief update on the city’s search for new trash and recycling options at the Feb. 3, 2026 Jerseyville City Council meeting. This comes after several residents spoke out against an exclusive city-wide contract for residential trash pickup at a packed public hearing last month . Jerseyville residents have long requested some type of recycling service , whic

SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS ROUNDUP BOYS BASKETBALL BELLEVILLE EAST 68, BELLEVILLE ALTHOFF CATHOLIC 54: East led Althoff at halftime 30-25, and went on to win in a crosstown rivalry game at Glenn Schott Center. Kyle Johnson led the Crusaders with 18 points, while Luke Smith had 16 points, and Michael Franklin, Jr. scored 10 points. The Lancers are now 9-14, while Althoff slips to 11-12. COLUMBIA 47, PINCKNEYVILLE 45: In a shootout at Pinckneyville, the host Panthers le

EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department will be able to equip its officers with special crisis care response kits, thanks to a $13,875 grant awarded by the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation®. The crisis care response kits contain items used to administer aid in the event of a critical emergency until medical personnel can arrive. They will be placed in all active police fleet vehicles for quick access to improve the department’s lifesaving capabilities. “We

LOUISVILLE, IL. — Darren Bailey, former State Senator and candidate for Governor, is urging lawmakers to enact recently introduced legislation to opt the state into the federal “No Tax on Tips” policy. House Bill 4519 would give hospitality workers the same state tax benefits they currently enjoy on the federal portion of their taxes. It would exempt state taxes on tips up to $25,000. “It is time for both Democrats and Republicans to act in the best interests of

TROY, IL. – The Tri-Township Public Library and its Board of Trustees are proud to announce a landmark update to its membership policy. Following a unanimous vote during the board meeting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the library has officially approved the expanded Cards for Kids Act. This initiative ensures that every child between the ages of 5 and 18 within the community now has access to the library’s full suite of resources at no cost. By removing financial and residency barriers,

ALTON – Sheila Goins is proud to announce the opening of its fifth annual Black History Month exhibit, which will take place from February 9 through the end of the month. The exhibit will be open to the public from 8 AM to 5 PM, mirroring the hours of Alton City Hall. This year, First Lady Sheila Goins is thrilled to present an enriching showcase of the profound contributions made by African-American pioneers in Alton, Illinois. “I am especially excited to share the robust history

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) voted against a Continuing Resolution that would provide additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security, citing ongoing failures in leadership, accountability, and public safety. “The American people have witnessed firsthand the deadly consequences of mismanagement and a complete lack of accountability at DHS. That must change now. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that federal agencies protect public safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Mary Miller said in two recent social media posts on her two Facebook pages that “mass migration from regions that reject Western values” is bringing ideologies “like Sharia law” to the United States and that “a strong majority of Americans support enforcing immigration laws and deporting illegal aliens,” while criticizing “Democrats” and part of the news media. Miller, an Illinois Republican, made the

CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker reaffirmed his commitment to the core principles he outlined in his FY2025 budget proposal to manage Illinois pension commitments through a set of proposals designed to build on the state’s recent fiscal progress and further reduce long-term risk for taxpayers and retirees. The plans follow steps already taken that have produced Illinois’ strongest pension funded ratio in nearly two decades and reflects a continued focus on doubling down on fiscal

JACKSONVILLE - Congratulations to students who were named to the Illinois College Dean's List for Fall 2025. Candidates for the Dean's List must complete at least 12 graded semester hours and post a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. All grades must be "C" or better, no more than one "C" grade is allowed and the student must have no “Incomplete” grades. The students are as follows: Bailey Abbott, Junior, Banner, IL Katy Adler, First Year, Mead, CO Ysabell