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CHICAGO – Today, the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) Director Jim Bennett and the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH) issued a letter to remind public officials and local units of government of their obligations under the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), the Illinois Civil Rights Act of 2003, and the Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act (BRHA). The letter was issued following the recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion addressing laws that regulate camping and other sleeping activities on public property. It reinforces that Illinois law requires the administration of access to public spaces in a non-discriminatory manner, including to persons who may be seeking shelter. While most localities have not changed their approach of providing care and compassion to people experiencing homelessness, several units of local government have enacted or are considering enacting ordinances that may restrict access to public spaces by creating penalties, fines and,

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PIASA - Southwestern High School recently received official notice that multiple students had been selected as the 2025-26 Illinois State Scholars for their outstanding academic achievement. The students are as follows: Ike Austin Lainie Behrends Reagan Beilsmith Ian Brantley Gracie Darr Ava Pulley Piper Voorhees If you have Illinois State Scholars from your school you wish to have published, e-mail news@riverbender.com with the names and a photo.

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City Elks Lodge #1063 recognized Granite City High School seniors Mackenzie Przybysz and Cleison Miranda-Gomez as Students of the Month for February. 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. MACKENZIE PRZYBYSZ President of Book Club ... National Honor Society ... Member of Book, Photography and Science Club ... Daughter of Adam and Kristen Przybysz. CLEISON MIRANDA-GOMEZ Two-time Cross Country and Track & Field team captain ... Four-year High Honor Roll ... National Honor

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)—co-chairs of the Girl Scouts’ Honorary Troop Capitol Hill—introduced a bipartisan resolution to recognize the 113th birthday of the Girl Scouts of America and celebrate its historic legacy of empowering girls and building powerful female leaders across the country. “I still use the leadership skills that I developed in the Girl Scouts as a young woman every day,” said Duckworth. “For 113 years, Girl Scouts have instilled the values of service and how to always ‘be prepared’ in generations of girls, empowering them to lead wherever they go—in business, science, public service and beyond. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution to commemorate and honor this historic organization.” “I am proud to have grown up as a Girl Scout in Caribou and to now be a member of Troop

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—joined her fellow SASC Democratic colleagues Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) in demanding answers from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth regarding his threats to cut efforts to adapt to climate change at the Department of Defense (DoD), which would put thousands of American lives and billions of American taxpayer dollars at risk. In their letter, the lawmakers underscored how DoD officials, generals and admirals have warned that the consequences of climate change may harm the organization, training, equipping and planning of military services. Climate change threatens instability in some of the world's most volatile regions and presents significant national security challenges for the United States. The lawmakers wrote: “Surely, as a Secretary of Defense that claims to be ‘laser

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois leaders with the National League of Cities as they visited Capitol Hill. During their meeting, Durbin and the local leaders spoke about a number of Illinois priorities, including continuing infrastructure and transportation projects that are impacted by President Trump’s decision to freeze federal funding. Earlier this week, Durbin sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy seeking clarity on the future of funding allocations from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and urging the Secretary to provide insight into its actions on awarded grants and upcoming grant cycles. Leaders from Peoria, Illinois; Sesser, Illinois; and Normal, Illinois, attended the meeting. “I sat down with Illinois leaders from across the state today to talk through our collective priorities and how we can best serve our constituents. As the Trump Administration continues to turn its back on

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COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Empty Bowl, serving 4.5 gallons of chicken taco soup among a selection of over 20 soups to benefit the Collinsville Food Pantry. Additionally, during the event, Board President Bob Uhrig and Vice President Derek Johnson of the Collinsville Charities for Children received the Township Jerry Christopher Community Volunteer Award, recognizing their contributions to the community. The event, which drew a large crowd, featured not only a variety of soups but also a live band, a 50/50 raffle, and dessert options. Attendees filled their trays multiple times, contributing to the festive atmosphere. "The crowd was amazing," said a spokesperson for the Chamber, thanking all who participated in making soup, volunteering, and attending the event. All proceeds from the Empty Bowl will be donated to the Collinsville Food Pantry, highlighting the community's commitment to supporting those in need. The Empty Bowl

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) again asked for unanimous consent (UC) to pass a resolution he introduced with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), as well as 21 other Senators, that would support the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as President Trump and Elon Musk continue to illegally cut funding and resources for researchers discovering cures at NIH. The resolution simply states that the work of NIH should not be subject to interruption, delay, or funding disruptions in violation of the law, and it reaffirms that the NIH workforce is essential to sustaining medical progress. Last month, Durbin asked UC to pass this resolution and Senator Barrasso (R-WY) rejected. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) rejected Durbin’s UC request without an explanation despite the fact that Oklahoma receives approximately $160 million in NIH funding annually—which supports nearly

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COLLINSVILLE – Anderson Medical Group celebrated the grand opening of its new Medical Office Building in Collinsville today. The event welcomed community leaders, including the Mayor of Collinsville, local officials, and members of the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce; along with Anderson Board Members, Staff and building contractors. The celebration featured a ribbon-cutting photo, with Anderson Healthcare CEO, Mike Marshall, and Anderson Medical Group’s Chief of Operations, Melissa DeGroot, officially cutting the ribbon to mark the occasion. Guests also enjoyed tours of the new facility and refreshments as they explored the modern space designed to enhance local access to primary care. “We are excited to expand our presence in Collinsville and continue our commitment to providing exceptional care close to home,” said Marshall. “This new facility represents our ongoing investment in the health and wellness of the community.” The new office will

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EDWARDSVILLE – An improvement project is scheduled to begin Monday, March 17, on Troy Road between Franklin Avenue and Fifth Avenue. As part of the work, this section will be resurfaced, some existing gaps in sidewalk infrastructure will be filled, and two crosswalks will be added -- one signalized and another with a flashing beacon -- to increase visibility for pedestrians and cyclists. Drivers are asked to remain alert for workers as well as lane shifts that will be necessary while the road’s three lanes are milled and resurfaced. Slowdowns are to be expected; drivers may want to consider alternate routes. Barring unforeseen or weather-related delays, the work is expected to wrap up in about 12 weeks. Among planned improvements are the addition of a signalized crosswalk at the intersection of Troy Road and Montclaire Avenue. Sidewalks also will be added along portions of the west side of Troy Road. A crosswalk with a flashing beacon to alert drivers to pedestrians and

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EAST ALTON – A local sex offender is facing his second charge of failing to register with authorities. Gary L. Vancil, 62, listed as homeless out of East Alton, was charged with unlawful failure to register as a sex offender, a Class 2 felony and his second or subsequent such offense. On Jan. 8, 2025, Vancil allegedly failed to register with local authorities within three days after moving from his Sangamon County address, as required under the Sex Offender Registration Act. Vancil had previously been convicted of the same offense in a Madison County case from 2022. The East Alton Police Department presented the case against Vancil, who was granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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WOOD RIVER – A Wood River resident with an extensive criminal past faces new charges after being found with drugs and a firearm. Timothy R. Vanausdoll III, 38, of Wood River, was charged with possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender (a Class X felony), felon in possession of a weapon (a Class 2 felony) and possession of a controlled substance (a Class 4 felony). On March 5, 2025, Vanausdoll allegedly possessed a Smith & Wesson M&P .45 Shield M2.0 handgun. The weapon was unlawful for him to possess as a felon previously convicted of unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine in a 2021 Madison County case. A petition to deny his pretrial release states authoritative made contact with Vanausdoll after he was seen exiting stolen vehicle. At the time of these latest offenses, Vanausdoll was reportedly on parole and had an active arrest warrant out of St. Clair County from February of 2025. “Defendant was placed under arrest and found to be in possession

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ST. LOUIS - Residents in the area should prepare for potentially severe thunderstorms on Friday, March 14, 2025, as the National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm risk warning. The storms are expected to bring widespread damaging winds, with gusts exceeding 70 mph possible, according to Marshall Pfahler of the National Weather Service in St. Louis. The threat of tornadoes cannot be ruled out, Pfahler said, and large hail is also a concern. Pfahler emphasized that the most significant risk is associated with damaging winds, which are anticipated to be the primary hazard. The NWS predicted timeframe for these storms is projected to occur between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday, March 14, 2025. Pfahler noted that the storms are expected to move quickly, impacting locations for only a short period but delivering intense conditions. He advised residents to have a reliable method for receiving weather warnings and to be prepared with a plan in case of severe weather alerts. As

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Letter To The Editor: The residents of Alton are lucky to have Cheryl Ingle as their City Clerk and would be wise to reelect her for a second term. I had the great pleasure of working with Cheryl Ingle in the City’s Community Development Department for several years. Prior to that, I was aware of Cheryl’s friendly disposition and her willingness to help anyone in need, but it wasn’t until I worked alongside her that I became truly aware of her intelligence, vast knowledge and dedication to the City of Alton. Cheryl’s technical expertise regarding government guidelines, her ability to work on complicated budgets, and her immense number of personal contacts were a huge benefit to our department. These skills, abilities and relationships are what have led her through a successful first term as City Clerk. Cheryl possesses all the traits that make someone a great public servant: she has a desire to work for the good of the people of the City of Alton, she is

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ALTON – The Alton Police Department is currently investigating a burglary that took place at Funky Cards and Collectibles shortly after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Officers responded to a report of a broken window at the store, located at 104 W 3rd Street. Upon their arrival, officers found evidence of further damage inside the business and confirmed that several items had been stolen. No suspects were present at the scene when law enforcement arrived. The case has been assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division of the Alton Police Department, which is actively pursuing leads related to the incident. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the burglary to contact the Alton Police Department at 618-463-3505 ext. 634.

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Letter To The Editor: I am writing this letter in support of Godfrey Village Clerk, Susan Robbins. I first met Susan in October 2021 at a week-long training. During that week, I was impressed with Susan’s knowledge of City government, her very kind demeanor, and professionalism. My opinion of Susan has not changed since that week, and as I have gotten to know her over the past 4 years, I am 100% confident she is the best choice to continue as the Godfrey Village Clerk. What you may not know is that Susan is a Certified Municipal Clerk. That is an extraordinary accomplishment, and an achievement that requires dedication, determination and a willingness to devote a lot of time outside of work to achieve. In addition to that, she is working on the Masters Municipal Clerk certification, a designation that few Clerks achieve. I am so proud of what she has accomplished and am excited to see what she will accomplish in the future for the Village. Beyond a doubt, Susan Robbins is

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WOOD RIVER — Camden Seibert, a senior at East Alton-Wood River High School, is being recognized for his dedication to baseball, a sport he has played for approximately 10 years. Seibert, who has consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic both in athletics and academics, attributes much of his success to the unwavering support of his mother. Seibert expressed gratitude for his mother's encouragement throughout his baseball journey. "She’s been my biggest supporter throughout my baseball career and I wouldn’t be anywhere without her support and her belief in me through the years," he said. Under the guidance of Coach Tim Bond, Seibert has developed skills that have contributed to his recognition. He noted that balancing sports and academics has honed his time management abilities, allowing him to excel in both areas. Seibert is a Midwest Members Male Athlete of the Month for the Oilers. "You’ll never see me half-working for anything," he said, emphasizing

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EDWARDSVILLE - At a recent candidates forum, candidates for the Lewis and Clark Community College District 536 Board of Trustees introduced themselves to voters. On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, community members gathered at The Wildey Theater in Edwardsville for the forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters and the NAACP. There are four candidates running for three seats. Tammy Smith-Williams was unable to attend the forum. Abigail Eilerman, Donna Ware and George Ellis introduced themselves and answered questions about their goals for the students and administration at LCCC. Abigail Eilerman is a first-time candidate and lifelong Riverbend resident. She graduated from Jerseyville High School and attended SIUE School of Pharmacy. She opened and managed a specialty pharmacy for Walgreens in Springfield. Currently, she teaches at the SIU School of Dental Medicine. She has four children and lives in Jerseyville. “I think that I’m kind of uniquely qualified for a

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WOOD RIVER - Camey Adams, a senior at East Alton-Wood River High School (EAWR), is being recognized for her outstanding achievements in softball. With a decade of experience in the sport, Adams has dedicated herself to honing her skills year-round, supported by her coach, Mike Beachum, and her family. Adams is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for the Oilers. Adams attributes much of her success to the encouragement from her mother and younger sister, who have been her steadfast supporters throughout her athletic journey. “My mom and my little sister have always been there to support me,” she said. Playing softball for approximately 10 years, Adams has developed a passion for the sport, particularly enjoying its competitive nature. “I love the competitiveness of it,” she said, highlighting how the sport has shaped her character and leadership abilities. In addition to her accomplishments on the field, Adams has excelled academically.

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ALTON – The Funky Cards & Collectables store in downtown Alton was broken into and robbed Tuesday night. Fortunately, an outpouring of community support has helped them reopen as of Wednesday. The suspect or suspects, who currently remain at large, smashed the store’s glass front door and a glass case of vintage Pokémon cards, stealing most of the cards inside. In an announcement on social media, store representatives said the “perpetrator rode away on a bicycle.” Several community members commented on the post stating they were willing to help with clean-up efforts. An employee of Players Corners Trading Cards said they will contact Funky Cards & Collectables if anyone attempts to sell them products they suspect were stolen from the store. As of Wednesday morning, March 12, 2025, Funky Cards & Collectables announced they had made repairs and were ready to reopen for the evening, thanking the community for their support. A GoFundMe campaign

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