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BETHALTO - On April 17, 2025, the Bethalto Police Department presented charges to the Madison County State’s Attorney's Office for Justin S. Banks, 35, of Bethalto. The following charges were filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney's Office: Justin S. Banks: CT I: Child Pornography (Class X Felony) CT II: Child Pornography (Class X Felony) CT III: Child Pornography (Class X Felony) CT IV: Child Pornography (Class X Felony) CT V: Child Pornography (Class X Felony) CT VI: Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony) CT VII: Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony) CT VIII: Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony) CT IX: Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony) CT X: Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony) On Jan. 30, 2025, the Bethalto Police Department Investigations Division received an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) cybertip from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. The cybertip showed that Child Pornography was being disseminated. Investigators were able t

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ALTON - The first-ever A-Tilla Fest is coming to the Alton Amphitheater this summer. On Saturday, July 26, 2025, community members are invited to an all-day, kid-friendly festival on the riverfront, complete with music from local bands and major headliners. The fun starts at 2 p.m. and runs until 10 p.m. with music from The Dirty Muggs, Borderline, Marquis Knoxx, NGK Band, Big Boogie, and Boosie Badazz. “The hype is there, and it’s still early, so that’s always a good sign,” said organizer Delancy Smith of D. Smith Promotions. “It’s probably one of the biggest shows that’s been down here in a while.” Smith explained that he has organized many shows over the years, but this is his first festival. He thanked the Amphitheater Commission for their support as he finalizes the details of the festival. He also expressed his appreciation for his team, 12 community members who have collaborated with him to create A-Tilla Fest. Borderline

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SPRINGFIELD - In an event sponsored by area Sen. Erica Harriss, during the Spring YAC, students were assigned different legislative roles such as citizen proponent/opponent, lobbyist proponent/opponent, Democrat/Republican lawmakers, and press/media to debate their proposed legislation in a mock committee hearing. “I am really interested in policymaking and the legal system, and eventually I want to be a lawyer. I really like politics and want to make a change in the world,” said Hannah Kypra of O’Fallon Township High School. “I am definitely going to take away communication skills, public speaking skills, and debate skills. It is fascinating to see how everything looks and works. It’s really great for learning how government works and how laws are made and passed.” Students also had the opportunity to hear from Illinois Supreme Court Judge David Overstreet. This year, Senator Harriss held a Capture the Capitol photo contest, which allowed

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) welcomed more than 50 high school students and educators to Springfield this month as part of her Spring Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Edwardsville, Marquette Catholic, Alton, Metro East Lutheran, East Alton-Wood River, Roxana and other area schools participated. “Each year, students from high schools throughout the district are nominated by their schools to visit Springfield and get an up-close look at how state government operates,” said Senator Harriss. “This is one of my favorite events because it helps empower the next generation by giving them firsthand experience with the legislative process.” Senator Harriss’ YAC is a two-part series. High school students came together in the 56th District in the fall at Lewis and Clark Community College to draft bill ideas to debate during the spring council. “I was interested in learning more about our Capitol, our state, and the

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JERSEY - Jersey Community High School’s freshman and sophomore boys track team competed against 16 teams at the Highland Invite on April 15, 2025, delivering strong performances highlighted by standout athlete Jack Deist. Deist secured second place in the 400-meter race with a time of 53.08 seconds and finished fifth in the long jump, recording a season-best leap of 17 feet, 8.25 inches. He also contributed as a member of the 4x400 relay team. Earlier in the season at the Freeburg Meet, Deist posted a personal record of 52.64 seconds in the 400. Deist is a Sparklight Male Athlete of the Month for Jersey Community High School. Recognized for his versatility and impact on the team, his performances have marked a promising sophomore season for the Jersey Panthers as they continue their track and field campaign.

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a bipartisan coalition of 41 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter urging Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. to require better cooperation with local law enforcement from the next operator of the National Human Trafficking Hotline. “Law enforcement relies on tips from the public to effectively combat human trafficking,” Raoul said. “Ensuring that information gets to law enforcement in a timely manner without compromising victims’ safety can save lives, which is why I am joining with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to call on HHS to require the next operator of the National Human Trafficking Hotline to do a better job of partnering with local law enforcement and promptly forwarding human trafficking tips.” Since 2007, the nonprofit organization Polaris Project (Polaris) has operated the National Human Trafficking Hotline with millions of dollars

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SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Christopher Belt secured $550,000 to help Southwestern Illinois College build pathways to good-paying jobs in the construction and building trades in the Metro East. “We often talk about the importance of getting more people into the trades — but talk alone doesn’t build careers,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This funding will provide resources to train the next generation of skilled works right here in our community.” The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded $19 million in grant funding through the Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship Program to 38 organizations across the state. The purpose of the funding is to create more pathways for kids to access pre-apprenticeship programs and registered apprenticeships, which provide greater opportunities to secure lifelong careers in the construction trades. In Belt’s district, Southwestern Illinois College will see a total of $550,000 to support

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Board voted to repeal an earlier decision denying Armoracia Solar a special use permit to develop a commercial solar energy facility in Collinsville. During the Board’s regular meeting on April 16, 2025, Chairman Chris Slusser explained that the Board voted on Feb. 19, 2025, to deny the special use permit, effectively stopping the development of the facility at the southeast corner of Interstate 55 and Pleasant Ridge Road in Collinsville. But since then, Slusser said Armoracia Solar has “made a lot of concessions.” Slusser, Board member Mick Madison and the State’s Attorney’s Office met with the company to talk through these conditions. Armoracia Solar will plant pine trees to shield the view of the solar farm from the nearby neighborhood. They will also develop a green space area to the west. Most of the project is also moving farther north. “They made a lot of concessions,” Slusser said. “They

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SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) to prevent school gun violence was unanimously passed by the Illinois House of Representatives last week. Davidsmeyer filed his legislation after hearing of an incident in his district where a student threatened to commit an act of gun violence against another student. The victim told the school staff about the incident, but they did not report it to the principal because it was just a threat. House Bill 1316 requires all school officials to immediately notify the principal’s office in the event of any threat of gun violence on school grounds. The principal shall attempt to notify the offending student’s parents as soon as possible so that the parents may ensure that the student does not have access to a firearm. “I don’t want to take any threats of violence lightly,” Rep. Davidsmeyer said. “My legislation will help prevent school gun violence while not

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EDWARDSVILLE - During the regular Madison County Board meeting on April 16, 2025, the Board voted 21–5 to oppose House Bill 2827, also known as the Homeschool Act. The Board voted for a nonbinding resolution titled “Defending Parental Rights in Education.” This resolution voices Madison County’s objection to HB2827 and asks the Illinois General Assembly to reject the bill. During the public comment period of the meeting, 13 Madison County residents spoke against HB2827 and urged the Board to vote in favor of the resolution opposing it. Speakers compared the bill to “a dictatorship” and “a slippery slope.” They expressed that the bill is unclear on what it would require from homeschool families, and they also brought up concerns about parental rights. “I’ve never been a big proponent of homeschool,” said Board member Paul Nicolussi. “I’ve never encouraged people to, but I think people should have the

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SPRINGFIELD – Following the decision by the Trump Administration to grant the request of certain Midwest states to opt out of an E10 RVP waiver, Illinois consumers faced a summer of higher prices and lower supply, had something not been done to address the looming deadline. Today, the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association issued the following statement of support for Governor Pritzker and the other Midwest Governors who signed the joint letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, asking any emergency E15 RVP waiver also apply to E10: “The Illinois Fuel and Retail Association thanks Governor Pritzker for his efforts to protect Illinois consumers, especially those in Southern Illinois who would have experienced supply issues and increased prices.” said Nate Harris, CEO and Vice President of the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association (IFRA). “Terminals in Norris City, Illinois and Cape Girardeau, Missouri were going to be under intense storage capacity issues dealing

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CHATHAM — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) hosted a town hall meeting at Chatham Glenwood High School. More than 370 constituents attended the event to ask questions, hear about Budzinski’s work in Congress, and share stories of the local impacts of the Trump administration’s policies. “Tonight, I had the opportunity to hear directly from people across Illinois’ 13th district – and their voices are top of mind. Every day that I’m in Washington, I’m fighting for them – to make groceries more affordable, childcare more accessible and healthcare more reliable. These are the issues that keep people up at night, and I hope tonight’s town hall made it clear that I’m focused on delivering real solutions,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “Many attendees expressed deep concern about the chaotic shake ups coming out of the White House that threaten the services they rely on. I will never stop standing

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Did you know that nearly 30% of the waste thrown into household bins is organic material that could be composted? This staggering statistic highlights an often-overlooked opportunity to reduce landfill burden while enriching our gardens and communities. Starting a compost pile at home is more than just a method of waste disposal—it’s a practical, environmentally sound practice that delivers numerous benefits to individuals and the planet alike. Reducing Household Waste and Environmental Impact One of the most immediate benefits of home composting is the significant reduction in the volume of waste sent to landfills. Organic waste such as food scraps, vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and yard trimmings constitute a large portion of household garbage. When these materials end up in landfills, they decompose anaerobically (without oxygen), producing methane—a greenhouse gas over 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere. By diverting

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April 17th marks a day filled with events that have significantly shaped the course of history across various continents and cultures. Traveling back in time, April 17, 1492, saw Christopher Columbus receive official royal approval from Spain’s Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, to embark on his historic voyage across the Atlantic. This authorization set the stage for Columbus’s expedition later that year, which would lead to the European discovery of the Americas. While celebrated as a milestone in global exploration, the consequences of this encounter were complex and far-reaching, reshaping the world's demographic, cultural, and political landscapes in ways that continue to be discussed and debated today. In the realm of science and technology, April 17, 1961, marked a significant yet tragic moment during the Cold War when the Bay of Pigs Invasion began. This was a failed military invasion of Cuba undertaken by a CIA-sponsored paramilitary group of Cuban

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JERSEYVILLE – Jersey County has a new acting treasurer while an investigation concerning missing taxpayer funds continues into the county’s former treasurer. Jersey County Board members this month officially announced a vacancy in the Treasurer’s office after accepting the resignation of former treasurer Katie Abbey at last month’s board meeting. In Abbey’s absence, Chief Deputy Treasurer Becca Strang has been appointed to fill the vacancy and serve as acting treasurer. Strang has already been carrying out the office’s duties for months after Abbey took a “personal” leave of absence starting in October of 2024. Strang has been running the office with the help of former Treasurer Gilbert Ashlock, who now serves as a consultant. Strang’s appointment was recommended to the County Board by the Jersey County Republican Central Committee. Strang will serve as County Treasurer for the remainder of Abbey’s term, which expires

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ALTON - This weekend, Old Bakery Beer Company will host the 14th annual Riverbend Earth Day event, complete with vendors, live music, environmental education and more. From 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, 2025, community members can stop by Old Bakery Beer Company in Alton for a day full of sustainable, environmental fun. Lauren with Old Bakery Beer Company expressed her excitement to welcome the community in. “It’s free to come. Enjoy the live music. See the environmental organizations,” Lauren said. “Of course, we’ll have beer and food and all that jazz available for purchase that day, as well.” Lauren explained that OBB previously served as the rainout location for the Riverbend Earth Day event. After hosting for several years in a row, they eventually took on the duties of sponsoring the event, too. On April 19, Beth Bombarra will provide live music from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., followed by Universal Groove Society

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PONTOON BEACH – Two area men face the same set of charges after damaging and stealing money from a gaming machine in Pontoon Beach. Deontae T. Spates, 24, of Cottage Hills and Christopher F. DeBoise, 25, of East St. Louis, were each charged on April 9, 2025 with Class 3 felony counts of theft and misdemeanor counts of criminal property damage. On Jan. 30, 2025, the two allegedly caused damage to a gaming machine and stole between $500-$10,000 from the device. The machine was property of Accel Entertainment and located at a Conoco gas station and convenience store at 4086 Pontoon Road in Pontoon Beach. The Pontoon Beach Police Department presented both cases against Spates and DeBoise, both of whom were granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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EAST ALTON – Chris Stotts, owner of Advanced Wiring Solutions in East Alton, stopped by Our Daily Show! On Riverbender.com to share how he and the region’s business community came together in support of the Alton Boys & Girls Club after their facility was broken into earlier this month . Stotts said the break-in led to thousands of dollars in replacement costs for a window that was shattered during the incident. Shortly after the burglary unfolded, Stotts helped provide police with surveillance footage from the site, aiding the investigation. While the perpetrator stole an Xbox gaming console from the Boys & Girls Club, Stotts said another local business owner has since stepped in to replace the Xbox. This continues a tradition of local business support for the club after Hit-and-Run owners Dwight and Teresa Fowler donated some updated security cameras to the club in 2019, which were then installed for free by Stotts. However, Stotts said about 14 cameras on the

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ALTON – A man from Alton faces four domestic battery charges after strangling a witness who tried to stop him from strangling another victim. Aryion E. Sanders, 26, of Alton, was charged with two Class 2 felony counts of aggravated domestic battery and two Class 4 felony counts of domestic battery. Sanders allegedly strangled two household or family members on April 5, 2025. Among several prior charges of battery and more, he had previously been convicted of violating an Order of Protection in a Madison County case from 2024. A petition filed to deny his pretrial release states Sanders got into an altercation with the first victim, during which he strangled and threatened to kill them. When another household or family member witnessed the incident and attempted to intervene, Sanders ceased attacking the first victim and began strangling the second victim “before brandishing a knife.” The petition notes Sanders has repeatedly failed to appear in court, deeming hi

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EDWARDSVILLE - Ivy Hall Dispensary has a special plan to celebrate 4/20. On April 20, 2025 — the date commonly known as “4/20” in the cannabis community — Ivy Hall Dispensary at 6197 Old Alton Edwardsville Road in Edwardsville will offer deals, food and free Easter specials. Director of Marketing Jonny Boucher expressed his excitement for the event and encouraged everyone to come out and join in the fun. “4/20, the day of, is going to be bonkers,” Boucher said. “We are having some real fun.” Starting at 8 a.m. on Sunday, April 20, the first 100 customers will receive a golden Easter egg. Each egg has a prize inside, from a $500 Visa gift card to Six Flags season passes and plenty of gift certificates for local restaurants, tattoo parlors and more. At 1 p.m., 200 customers will receive a free frozen Lou Malnati's pizza with every purchase. Boucher noted that this is especially exciting because it combines Ivy Hall’s roots

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