EAST ST. LOUIS — An East St. Louis man with prior convictions, including second-degree murder, was sentenced yesterday to the maximum 15 years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm after a federal jury found him guilty in May 2026. Anthony D. Bradley Jr., 37, was convicted of possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Before trial, Bradley stipulated that he was a convicted felon and that he knew he was a convicted felon at the time of the offense conduct. “This
COTTAGE HILLS – A sex offender from Cottage Hills was recently charged with her latest registration failure in Madison County. Courtney A. Runion, 37, of the 1400 block of Lee Street in Cottage Hills, was charged on Sept. 1, 2026 with a Class 2 felony count of unlawful failure to register as a sex offender, her second such offense. On Aug. 5, 2026, Runion allegedly failed to register with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office within three days after changing her residence. She had previousl
CHICAGO — One lucky Illinois iLottery player is waking up as a millionaire after winning $1,420,131 on the FastPlay™ Ultimate Diamond Jackpot game last night. The latest win marks another major milestone for the Ultimate Diamond Jackpot, which awarded a nearly $3.3 million iLottery jackpot just last month. That prize was the second-largest jackpot win since FastPlay launched in 2020. Ultimate Diamond Jackpot is a $30 progressive FastPlay game. The jackpot begins at $75,000
JERSEYVILLE – A Jerseyville resident who pleaded guilty to stabbing a 17-year-old in Wittman Park will avoid further jail time after pleading guilty to a heavily amended battery charge. Trent J. Devore, 20, with no listed address, was sentenced on Aug. 17, 2026 to 24 months of conditional discharge after pleading guilty to a Class A misdemeanor count of battery. The charge was originally classified as a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery in a public place before being reduced to
GODFREY/WOOD RIVER - Riverbend Family Ministries does a lot to help those in need, and now they’re asking for the community’s support at their upcoming banquet. On Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at The Commons at Lewis and Clark Community College, RFM will host their annual “Building a Better Tomorrow” banquet featuring speakers, a catered meal, silent auction and more. The goal, explained Executive Director Christy Schult and Development Director Rachael Craddick, is to
ST. LOUIS — A former gymnastics coach admitted Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in U.S. District Court in St. Louis that he engaged in unlawful sexual activity with two 13-year-olds he met through gymnastics programs. Marco A. Zomphier, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said it will recommend a sentence of 25 years in prison. Zomphier admitted meeting the first victim in 2012, when she was a member of a YMCA dance and gymnastics
ROXANA - The Roxana Education Association and the Board of Education for Roxana Community Unit School District No. 1 reached a tentative agreement Monday evening, Aug. 31, 2026, on a successor collective bargaining agreement following negotiations, the district said. The agreement reflects a shared commitment to supporting students, recognizing educators and maintaining a strong educational workforce. Details of the agreement will be released after ratification by both the REA membership and
GODFREY - Tara Hurst never set out to become a life coach. But six years later, she’s proud to help people overcome their obstacles and grow. Tara Hurst started Tara Hurst Coaching & Consulting after her own weight loss journey led her to confront the “never-ending journey” of self-improvement. She began posting her meal plans and motivational content on social media, and she found that these topics resonated with people in the Riverbend community and beyond. Now, Hurst
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and law enforcement agencies throughout the state are reminding the public to drive responsibly by ramping up efforts to get impaired drivers off the roads during Labor Day holiday travel. “There's no excuse for driving impaired, period,” said Stephane B. Seck-Birhame, bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering at IDOT. “The consequences of driving impaired could be costly and deadly. Remember,
EDWARDSVILLE/ALTON — In Southwestern Illinois, the Illinois section of the St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois MSA had a July unemployment rate of 3.5%, down from 4.5% in July 2025. Total nonfarm employment in the area decreased by 800 jobs from a year earlier. Madison County’s unemployment rate was 3.5% in July, compared with 4.4% a year earlier. Jersey County was at 3.3%, down from 4.1%. Calhoun County was at 3.7%, down from 4.7%. Macoupin County was at 3.7%, down from 4.7%. St. Clair
EDWARDSVILLE – Continuing her steadfast commitment to supporting Illinois’ number one industry, State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) was recognized Monday night by the Illinois Farm Bureau as a Friend of Agriculture during a gathering of area farmers, producers and agriculture leaders. “Our farmers play a pivotal role in our state’s economy and workforce,” said Senator Harriss. “Representing the Horseradish Capital of the World, along with some of
CHICAGO – Attorney General Raoul joined the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a bipartisan coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against Amazon alleging the company engaged in deceptive and unfair practices that secretly inflated prices in its online search advertising auctions. In their lawsuit , Raoul and the coalition allege that for over seven years, Amazon has covertly and substantially increased the prices that more than one million brands and sellers were required
ALTON – The case of Mayor David Goins vs. the City of Alton has a new hearing date and now includes two new plaintiffs. The new hearing date has been set for Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 at 2 p.m. at the Madison County Courthouse. Judge Christopher Bauer is currently presiding over the case. The hearing concerns Goins’s motion for preliminary injunction and the city’s motion to dissolve his temporary retraining order (TRO), according to a court order entered by Bauer on Sept. 1,
ALTON - Stephens Planning will sponsor an informational lunch-and-learn covering taxes in retirement. From 12–1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2025, at The Wedge in Alton, financial advisor Curtis Stephens will cover basic tax strategies to reduce taxes for retirees. Stephens noted that his goal is to support people in managing their finances. He wants to make sure community members have the information they need to stay financially healthy. “It boils down to my heart. I feel that
Labor Day began not as a celebration, but as an argument over whose work mattered. For many people, the holiday means a long weekend, store sales, and the informal end of summer. Yet its roots are much more serious. Labor Day grew out of a time when many workers in the United States faced long hours, low pay, dangerous conditions, and almost no legal protection. The holiday was created to honor their role in building the country—and to recognize the pressure workers used to demand fairer
This Day in Music History: September 2 On Sept. 2, 1935, George Gershwin put his signature on the completed orchestral score for Porgy and Bess , a milestone in the effort to create a distinctly American opera. The work, drawn from DuBose Heyward’s novel and play Porgy , brought classical writing into conversation with jazz, blues, spirituals and folk-inflected music. Its songs, including “Summertime,” “It Ain’t Necessarily So” and “Bess, You Is My
On September 2, 1945, World War II formally came to an end when Japanese representatives signed the instrument of surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The fighting had already been halted by Japan’s acceptance of Allied terms in August, but this ceremony mattered because it marked the official close of the deadliest war in human history. At the time, it signaled relief for millions after years of global conflict, occupation, bombing, and mass loss of life. It still matters
Upcoming Events Bring Festivals, Music and Markets to the Riverbend The Riverbend calendar is packed with Labor Day weekend traditions, live music, markets, family activities and community celebrations. Find even more upcoming happenings on the complete RiverBender.com Events calendar. First Fridays in Downtown Troy returns Friday, Sept. 4, in Downtown Troy with entertainment, live music, bar and restaurant specials from downtown businesses, local shopping, street vendors, food trucks an
ALTON — Voters will have an opportunity to hear directly from candidates seeking three important public offices when YWCA Southwestern Illinois and the Alton Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) host a Candidate Forum on Tuesday, September 22, at 7:00 p.m. in the YWCA Gymnasium, 304 E. Third St., Alton. The forum is free and open to the public and will feature candidates in three races that will have a direct impact on residents of Madison County and the Metro East: ·
JERSEYVILLE – A full day of family fun comes to Jerseyville this Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 for Jersey County’s 250th Jubilee, bringing the city’s first-ever watermelon eating contest, a pickleball tournament and much more. Wock Lake Color Run The festivities start early at 7 a.m. with a Color Run at Wock Lake. Runners may arrive wearing white, but are sure to leave more colorful as they get showered in colored powder and cheers from the sidelines. The first 40 adult entrants
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