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ST. LOUIS - March is National Nutrition Month, prompting me to wonder how often this column focuses on the links between what we eat and our health and well-being. The short answer is: a lot. Over the years, it’s been fairly rare that we don’t address eating in one way or another. What we eat may play a small role in one condition or a bigger role in another, but the overall message has been that choosing healthier foods and drinks is one of the best things we can do for our health. This not only can help us live longer, it also can help lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, dementia and cancer — among other serious conditions. Healthy eating can also help us keep weight gain in control, which brings many additional benefits. Admittedly, though, in a time of nonstop news and social media influencers, it can be hard to know what “healthy eating” exactly means. The good news is, when we take a step back, the basics of a healthy

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EAST ST. LOUIS - In recognition of National School Social Workers Appreciation Week, the Gordon Bush Alternative Center in East St. Louis celebrated the contributions of its School Social Worker, Catrice Johnson. The event featured cake and ice cream, bringing together students and staff to honor Johnson's vital role within the school community. Mrs. Johnson has been acknowledged for her significant impact on the lives of students and staff. "Mrs. Johnson is vital to the Bush Alternative Center School family and greatly appreciated for all that she does for the students and staff!" East St. Louis District 189 said in a statement about her efforts. The celebration highlighted the importance of social work in schools, particularly in fostering a supportive environment for students facing various challenges. The event serves as a reminder of the essential services provided by school social workers, who play a crucial role in addressing the social and emotional needs of students.

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Metro-East Lutheran High School scholar bowl team continues to dominate EDWARDSVILLE – Metro-East Lutheran High School’s scholar bowl team made school history last year by winning the IHSA Class 1A state championship, but after three of the championship team’s five starters graduated, Coach Shanna Covarrubias wasn’t sure what to expect for the 2024-2025 season. Turns out, the MELHS team has picked back up right where they left off. Led by outstanding performances from sophomore Dean Hemmer and junior Peter Curtis, the Knights Scholar Bowl team is heading into regional play with a record of 71 wins and two losses. “That number feels unreal,” Covarrubias said. “I really did not know what to expect coming into this year, but clearly the team has been pushing themselves hard to prepare during the off-season and continues to push themselves.” The Knights already have accumulated a list of tournament titles this season. They recently wo

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SPRINGFIELD - The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) reminds Illinoisans to test, inspect, and replace broken or expired smoke/CO alarms in their homes with new 10-year sealed battery alarms while they change the clocks this weekend as Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 AM Sunday, March 9. "Early warnings from smoke alarms are crucial, as on average, a person has less than three minutes to escape a home fire today,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. “Taking just a few minutes each month to test, inspect, and replace broken or expired alarms is simple, but working smoke alarms save lives. It’s also important to review and practice your fire escape plan, identify two ways out of every room, and designate a meeting place outside the home.” The time change serves as a bi-annual reminder to test all smoke and CO alarms in your home. If you find an alarm that is not working or is expired, replace the alarm immediately with a new 10-year

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ALTON - Dr. Tayna Patton works hard from the heart. Patton, one of the YWCA’s ten 2025 Women of Distinction, will be honored at the Y’s annual gala for her commitment to the community. As the superintendent of a St. Louis school district and a volunteer with her church and other community organizations, she believes in creating a better future for youth by building them up in the present. “I always tell my parents that we will love and nurture our students first and then we will educate them,” she said. “I don’t believe that children learn in environments where they are not valued, and so my focus has consistently been to build those environments where children feel welcomed, they feel nurtured and loved, and then I go about educating them.” At age 25, Patton went to school to obtain a degree in education. She started as a teacher’s assistant, then eventually became a teacher while getting her master’s degree. She soon took

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ALTON – An Alton resident faces multiple weapon charges after shooting someone in the abdomen and tossing the weapon into the Mississippi River. Chance M. Lyons, 18, of Alton, was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm (a Class X felony), two counts of aggravated unlawful possession of weapons (both Class 4 felonies) and obstructing justice (a Class 4 felony). On Feb. 28, 2025, Lyons allegedly shot a victim in the abdomen, causing injury, before throwing the firearm into the river. His possession of the weapon, a .40 caliber handgun, was unlawful as he was under 21 years of age and had no valid Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card at the time of the offense. The situation escalated after a verbal dispute unfolded in the 400 block of Cherry Street in Alton, according to a petition to deny pretrial release for Lyons. “Video showed that the defendant was the initial physical aggressor, approaching the victim on the front porch of ,” the petition

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HIGHLAND – A man from Highland remains in custody after firing a weapon near a 2-year-old child. Benjamin M. Mathenia, 24, of Highland, was charged on March 7, 2025, with two Class 4 felony counts of reckless discharge of a firearm and one Class A misdemeanor count of endangering the life or health of a child. On March 7, Mathenia allegedly shot a firearm while in a residence and in close proximity to a 2-year-old child and another individual. A petition to deny Mathenia’s pretrial release states he became intoxicated and angry before firing the weapon in the interior stairwell of a residence. The situation escalated even further before police arrived at the scene. “Victim’s child was in close proximity to the defendant at the time of discharge,” the petition states. “Victim reported that defendant then placed the fun to his head, threatening to kill himself if police were contacted. When police arrived, he put the gun down.” Mathenia reportedl

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EAST ST. LOUIS — A 33-year-old man - Dyuwaun Flowers - was shot multiple times and later died at a local hospital, authorities said on Friday, March 7, 2025. Flowers, a resident of 71st Street in East St. Louis, was pronounced dead at Touchette Regional Hospital in Cahokia Heights at 12:42 p.m. on Friday, the St. Clair County Coroner's Office said. The incident occurred Thursday night, March 6, 2025, at a Phillips 66 gas station located in the 8300 block of State Street, where East St. Louis Police responded to reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, officers found Flowers suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, as detailed in a report from the Illinois State Police. The investigation into the shooting is being conducted by the Illinois State Police Public Safety Enforcement Group. No further details regarding the circumstances of the shooting or any potential suspects have been released at this time.

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EDWARDSVILLE - Students at Edwardsville High School came together to recognize the Special Olympics program. On Friday, March 7, 2025, EHS’s Special Olympics team was honored with the Unified Champion Schools National Banner Award. This is the second time EHS has been recognized with this award, joining only four other schools in the State of Illinois that have received the award twice. “It’s really prestigious,” said Kayla Magruder, who oversees the Special Olympics program at EHS. Magruder explained that schools can be named Unified Champion Schools once every four years. She said “only a handful” of schools in Illinois receive the National Banner Award once, let alone twice. Schools must meet ten national standards of excellence to receive the Unified Champion Schools National Banner Award. For EHS to achieve this twice speaks to their commitment to inclusivity and their dedication to the Special Olympics program. Before the award presentatio

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JERSEY COUNTY — Jersey County Coroner Kevin Ayres confirmed on Friday afternoon, March 7, 2025, that the victim of a mining accident at Calhoun Quarry in Fieldon was identified as Anthony Sievers, a 67-year-old resident of Batchtown. Sievers was pronounced dead at the scene on March 5, 2025, following an incident that occurred at the quarry, located at 25840 Eldred Road, Fieldon. Authorities received a call reporting the accident at 4:19 p.m. on March 5, 2025. An autopsy has since been completed, but Ayres stated that the results are still pending, and he could not release the cause of death at this time. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident is ongoing. Further updates from the Jersey County Coroner's Office are expected as more information becomes available. Sievers was described by authorities as "a beloved member of the Calhoun County community" and his death is a great loss for the region. His full obituary is available here on Riverbender.com/obits

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ALTON – An 18-year-old from Alton faces criminal charges for a domestic attack that escalated even further after a witness stepped in to intervene. Dylan L. Franklin, 18, of Alton, was charged with aggravated domestic battery (a Class 2 felony) and domestic battery (a Class A misdemeanor). Franklin allegedly strangled a family or household member on Feb. 27, 2025 and struck them in the head multiple times with a closed fist, according to court documents. A petition to deny his release states a witness saw the incident unfold before taking action themselves. “The witness intervened in an attempt to separate the defendant from the victim,” the petition states. “The defendant then became combative with the witness. The witness struck the defendant to prevent himself from being battered by the defendant.” After being punched in the head multiple times, the victim “attempted to protect herself with a pair of scissors,” which Franklin cut his

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QUINCY – The Quincy Art Center is proud to present Thomas D. Mangelsen: A Life in the Wild , an exhibition showcasing 31 of Mangelsen’s most iconic and resonant wildlife images. The exhibition will be on display from March 14 to May 31, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, offering visitors a breathtaking journey into the world of some of nature’s most awe-inspiring creatures. An opening Reception for the exhibit will be held on Friday, March 14, from 7:00 – 9:00 PM, where guests can enjoy an evening celebrating the beauty of the natural world through Mangelsen’s masterful lens. At 7:30 PM, Elizabeth Swick, Director of Exhibitions at Quincy Art Center, will give a talk offering deeper insight into the significance of Mangelsen’s work and his impact on the field of wildlife photography. Additionally, attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to enter a drawing to win one of ten spots in a Photographing Wildlife Workshop with local wildlife photographer

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a coalition of eight attorneys general in opposition to the Trump administration’s unlawful termination of grant funding for K-12 teacher preparation programs. Beginning in mid-February, Illinois institutions received letters from the Department of Education purporting to terminate grants providing at least $13.4 million in critical funding to address the state’s ongoing teacher shortage through teacher preparation programs. “Teacher preparation grants are a key tool to address the serious teacher shortage crisis that continues to affect school districts across Illinois,” Raoul said. “The Trump administration’s shortsighted and unlawful termination of these grants would lead to larger class sizes, less one-on-one time with students and limit the ability for teachers to prepare students for their futures.” Congress established and allocated funding pursuant to the Teacher Quality

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ALTON - Michelle Matsche wants to build a better world for her son, and she’s helping a lot of people while she does it. Matsche, one of the YWCA’s ten 2025 Women of Distinction, will be honored at the Y’s annual gala for her commitment to the community. She works as the Director of Training and Development at Challenge Unlimited and serves as an ambassador for the Riverbend Growth Association. She also advocates for the neurodivergent community, a cause that is especially close to her heart after her 5-year-old son was diagnosed with autism. “It is my passion to educate the community on how we can be most inclusive of our autistic and other neurodivergent friends,” Matsche said. “What I’ve really been focused on the last couple of years, and hope to lean into even more going forward, is just joining different groups and giving different presentations to community organizations on practical things that they can do to create more inclusive

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WOOD RIVER - State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) is excited to once again partner with several Metro East organizations for her annual Community Shred Event and Cleanup Day on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Wood River. This event, held in recognition of Earth Month, will provide community members with an opportunity to safely dispose of sensitive documents, donate gently used items, and drop off unused prescription medications. “With spring cleaning in full swing, this event gives residents a convenient way to responsibly clear out household clutter while giving back to those in need,” said Senator Harriss. “From donating hygiene products to properly disposing of prescriptions, we are making it easy for the community to contribute to a cleaner and safer environment.” A shred truck will be available for the secure disposal of confidential documents. Additionally, the following organizations will be on hand to collect donations: I Support the Girls

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Democrats in filing a professional misconduct complaint against Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin with the D.C. Bar. In a letter to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel at the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, which handles complaints against lawyers who are barred in D.C., the Senators cite multiple abuses of power by Martin, including dismissing charges against his own client and using the threat of prosecution to intimidate government employees and chill the speech of private citizens. The Senators begin by articulating lapses in judgment involving failures to recuse from cases involving previous clients involved in the January 6th insurrection, writing: “While in private practice, Mr. Martin appeared as defense counsel in cases related to the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. On January

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ST. LOUIS – Celebrate Easter Sunday with an unforgettable brunch experience at 612North! On Sunday, April 20, 2025, starting at 9:00 AM, guests are invited to indulge in a festive buffet featuring house-made chicken & waffles, ham & prime rib carving station, a donut wall, quiche, bagels & lox, biscuits & gravy, fresh fruits & veggies, and more! Beyond the delicious spread, families can capture special memories with a free Easter Bunny photo op, a self-serve photo booth, and a complimentary Easter-themed drawing kit for kids. The stunning riverfront views and welcoming atmosphere make this the perfect way to celebrate the holiday with loved ones. "Easter Brunch at 612North is all about bringing families together for great food and joyful moments," said Munsok So, CEO at So Hospitality Group. "From our carefully curated menu to our festive activities, we’re excited to create a memorable experience for our guests." Seating is limited, and reservations are required. Secure

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01), Congressman Don Davis (NC-01), and Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02) introduced the bipartisan Rural Wellness Act to expand access to quality health care in rural communities by providing competitive grants for telemedicine projects, with an emphasis on projects focused on substance use disorder treatment. “No one should have to travel hours just to visit the doctor, and telemedicine is an efficient way to reduce the barriers to care so often faced by rural communities,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m proud to be working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to introduce legislation to expand access to this technology while prioritizing care for mental and behavioral health, as these challenges impact countless folks across the country – no matter where you live. I’ll always fight to ensure that rural residents can receive the high-quality,

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GODFREY - The Village of Godfrey has officially broken ground on a new dog park. On Friday, March 7, 2025, community leaders and Godfrey officials gathered at Glazebrook Park for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of the new dog park. “It’s something that’s been on the table off and on for quite a few years,” said Mayor Mike McCormick at the ceremony. McCormick pointed out that there was “a lot of controversy over a doggy daycare” at the village’s most recent board meeting , but that people are excited about the new dog park. He said that Godfrey resident Beth Heinz “got the ball rolling” when she came to his office with a presentation and the offer to help fund the park. Heinz shared that her father-in-law, Max Heinz, was on the Parks Board for many years, and he always wanted to open a dog park at Glazebrook Park. She is pleased to see his vision finally coming true. “I think this i

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GRANITE CITY - The Tyler Timmins Memorial Foundation honored Officer Andrew Halley of the Granite City Police Department with the 2024 Officer of the Year Award during a ceremony. This award, established by the foundation in 2023, aims to recognize outstanding law enforcement officers for their dedication and service to the community. The foundation, which is dedicated to celebrating the contributions and sacrifices of police officers, emphasized the importance of acknowledging the hard work of law enforcement personnel. "As a team, we feel as if there is not enough appreciation shown to our officers in the form of recognition," a representative from the foundation said. This sentiment stems from the experience of Officer Tyler Timmins, who received four awards posthumously, underscoring the foundation's mission to honor heroes who protect their communities. In selecting Officer Halley for the award, the foundation sought an individual who exemplified the work ethic and values that

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