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ALTON - Centerstone’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) aims to prevent substance use before it starts by supporting children. Alexandria, the clinical coordinator for the Illinois RCORP, explained that the federally-funded grant program provides free mental health support for youth ages 3–18. The program also connects parents and families with other services through their coordinated care approach. “Our theory is if children receive the mental health support they deserve at an early age, they are less likely to engage in substances,” Alexandria said. “We just want to let everybody know what we are here to help, and our goal is to help each individual who connects with Centerstone to have a transformative experience so that they can thrive.” In Illinois, RCORP serves families in Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Franklin, Macoupin, Montgomery, Perry, Saline, Union and Washington counties. These counties experience higher

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BETHALTO – Riverbender.com is excited to announce the latest expansion to our live coverage of local government. Starting Monday, April 14, 2025 , all Bethalto Village Board meetings will be streamed live on Riverbender.com/video/live . The Village Board meets on the second Monday of every month at 7 p.m. As seen on the Riverbender.com Live Video page and the Village of Bethalto website , the next Village Board meeting is set for April 14, 2025 at 7 p.m. The village website also features a full meeting calendar for 2025 , as well as relevant meeting agendas and minutes . Village Trustees include Brady Dugger, Rachel Sontag, Maria Perkhiser, Tim Tweedy, Terri Keister, and Jeff Mull. As the leading source for news in the Riverbend region, Riverbender.com has long made our livestreams of local government meetings available to the public. While Bethalto is the latest municipality to join our live coverage lineup, Riverbender.com also broadcasts meetings for the Alto

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TROY — A gasoline spill occurred at the 4-0 Quick Shop on South Main Street on Saturday, April 5, 2025, prompting a swift response from multiple agencies to contain the incident and monitor environmental impacts. Rob Hancock, the Director of Public Works for the City of Troy, confirmed that the spill does not pose a threat to the public water supply. He emphasized that the city's water wells are not located in the vicinity of the spill. Officials are currently on the scene managing the cleanup efforts and ensuring safety. Residents are advised to avoid the area while crews work to address the situation. The City of Troy continues to prioritize public safety and environmental protection during this incident. A 4-0 Quick Shop representative said it is hoped the business will reopen as of Monday, April 7, 2025, but nothing definite has been determined yet. As of Saturday morning, Troy Police said all businesses and roads one block north, east and west of 804 South Main Street

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GRANITE CITY – A man from Granite City faces five felony charges after a series of vehicle break-ins. Jeremy A. Mitchell Jr., 27, of Granite City, was charged with five Class 3 felony counts of burglary and a misdemeanor count of obstructing justice on April 4, 2025. On Sept. 30, 202 3 , Mitchell allegedly entered a series of motor vehicles with the intent to commit theft, including a 2018 GMC Sierra, a 2019 GMC Sierra, a 2019 Ford F-150, a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado, and a 2022 Jeep Gladiator. Mitchell was additionally charged with obstructing justice for providing a Pontoon Beach Police Officer with a false name. The case against Mitchell was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department, and he 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 31-year-old woman from Wood River will remain in custody following a ruling by Associate Judge Emily Nielsen, who granted the State’s petition to deny pretrial release in a case involving serious drug-related charges. Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced the decision on Friday, stating that the continued detention of Valerie N. Hartkopf was necessary for public safety. Hartkopf faces multiple charges, including fentanyl trafficking, aggravated battery, and resisting or obstructing an officer. The charges stem from incidents that allegedly occurred on March 31, 2025, when Hartkopf is accused of bringing more than one gram of fentanyl into Illinois from Missouri and possessing between 15 to 100 grams of methamphetamine. In a separate incident, she is alleged to have deliberately exposed a State Police trooper to fentanyl by emptying capsules of the substance inside the trooper’s vehicle. After being taken to a hospital, Hartkopf reportedl

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, is suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of three federal agencies that provide services and funding supporting public libraries and museums, workers and minority-owned businesses nationwide. In March, the Trump administration issued an executive order that would dismantle federal agencies created by Congress that collectively provide hundreds of millions of dollars for programs in every state. As a result of this executive order, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – one of the targeted agencies – has placed almost its entire staff on administrative leave and will cut hundreds of grants for state libraries and museums. The lawsuit filed today by Attorney General Raoul and the coalition seeks to stop the targeted destruction of the IMLS and two other agencies targeted in the administration’s order that millions of Americans rely on, especially

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EDWARDSVILLE - The first week of April marks Global Asbestos Awareness Week, and in its efforts to advocate for victims of asbestos exposure, The Gori Law Firm is proud to once again partner with the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) to reinforce the importance of education, prevention and action. Throughout April 1-7, the ADAO offers unique opportunities for participation and champions initiatives that share the life-changing effects of asbestos and push for policy changes that protect everyday citizens from future exposure. This week is also a time of remembrance for victims of diseases caused by dangerous asbestos exposure, with a special candlelight vigil held on day seven to honor those individuals around the world. The 21st Annual Global Asbestos Awareness Week will also preview the launch of ADAO's new AI-powered chatbot, which will deliver on-demand, accurate, accessible and actionable information about asbestos exposure, prevention and policy in more than 100

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ALTON – Since 1958, National Library Week has been a week to celebrate the role that libraries, librarians, and library workers play in communities across the country. This year’s National Library Week theme, “Drawn to the Library," will be celebrated April 6–12, 2025. People across the country visit their local library each week, from young families stopping in for story time to seniors searching for tech help or their next page-turning read. Plot your next library visit to Hayner Library and find adventure by browsing the stacks or joining one of our book clubs. Trace your family history with our library’s genealogy resources. Make your mark and get involved with your library by volunteering or spreading the word. Whatever draws you in, the library has something for everyone! To celebrate National Library Week, Hayner Library will host a drawing contest for three age groups: children (ages 2-12), young adults (ages 13-17), and adults (ages 18+). Hayne

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and nine of their Senate colleagues who are LIHEAP champions in sending a letter urging the Trump Administration to reverse course on the recent reported elimination of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) workforce. The letter comes in response to the Trump Administration’s reduction of about 10,000 employees from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These cuts reportedly include the entire staff running the $4.1 billion LIHEAP, which helps millions of American households afford their heating and cooling bills. The federally funded LIHEAP program is a crucial lifeline that helps more than six million low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes afford their energy bills, including those who use natural gas, propane, electricity, and home heating oil. Without this assistance, many Americans

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt scored a win for Metro East manufacturing and labor with the passage of his bill to enhance career and technical education opportunities. “If we want to bring back and build up manufacturing in the Metro East, we need to build the labor pool,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Career and technical education can help a young person create a stable career, leading to a stable family and ultimately a stable Metro East.” Senate Bill 58 would expand a current program that is successful in other parts of the state to the Metro East. The program allows manufacturing companies to partner with local community colleges and high schools to set up technical training programs that would translate directly into a job. This creates a targeted labor pool that connects prospective workers with the manufacturers in their community. “We have an opportunity to uplift our young people by giving them hands-on experience, higher earning

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 19 attorneys general, today filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over an executive order President Trump signed in March, which is an unconstitutional attempt to impose sweeping voting restrictions across the country. The executive order attempts to conscript state election officials into the president’s campaign to impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements when Americans register to vote. It also seeks to upend commonsense, well-established state procedures for counting ballots – procedures that make it easier for Americans’ voices to be heard. “The authority to modify the rules Congress established for U.S. elections lies within Congress. Instead of imposing voting restrictions across the country, we should focus our efforts on encouraging more Americans to participate in the democratic process,” Raoul said. “I will continue to defend Illinois law, which

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GRANITE CITY – Senior Elijah Kolb was named the 2024-25 Granite City High School Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as announced by GCHS. Kolb will be recognized at Busch Stadium on May 6 as part of the 59th Annual St. Louis Post-Dispatch Scholar Athlete Team. In addition, he will be featured in the special section of the newspaper and online at STLhighschoolsports.com on May 6. "I am very grateful and thankful to be nominated to receive this prestigious award," Kolb said. "Receiving this award has shown me that all the hard work in the classroom and in sports pays off. A two-sport standout in football and wrestling, Kolb is attending Montana State University in the fall to pursue a degree in microbiology on a pre-med track. He is the son of Michael and Trista Kolb. "The Scholar Athlete of the Year Award is a very prestigious award and Elijah has earned this recognition through his hard work in the classroom and in athletics," said GCHS Athletic Director John Moad. " Athletic

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GODFREY - Lewis and Clark Community College will hold a community concert, April 6, 2025, in an effort to feature local talent. Among those performing are The Blancas, Greenville University’s Fusion, Rosalind-Denise Evans and the Inner Ear Youth Orchestra, Cole Tarrant and many more. Concert organizer and Blancas member Brenda Lancaster was inspired to plan the event to highlight the many talented musicians in the area. “We have many naturally gifted young black musicians in our community,” Lancaster said. “We understand from experience it takes more than a natural gift and Tik Tok to be successful in the music business.” Many types of music will be preformed, including showtunes, ballads, classical, gospel, jazz and pop. The concert will take place at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 6, in The Commons, located in the McPike Math and Science Complex at Lewis and Clark Community College. The show is free and open to the public, with a reception immediately following.

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EAST ST. LOUIS/WOOD RIVER – Because of the threat of flooding in the Metro East over the next week, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is adjusting its trout stocking plan to ensure a successful opening weekend of the spring trout season. Frank Holten State Park’s Main Lake will not be stocked with trout as originally planned because of the possible loss of fish to the Mississippi River should flooding occur at the park. Instead, IDNR will stock trout at the following nearby locations: Jones Lake , 2500 Argonne Drive, East St. Louis Willow Lake , 8900 New Athens Darmstadt Road, New Athens Belk Park Pond , 880 Belk Park Road, Wood River The 2025 Illinois spring trout fishing season will open Saturday, April 5 at various ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state. IDNR stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the spring season. An additional 80,000 trout will be stocked fo

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CHICAGO – In observance of safe digging month, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is reminding citizens they can reduce utility outages by calling 811. The state’s annual proclamation is a reminder to professional excavators and DIY homeowners alike to call 811 to safely mark utility lines before starting a digging project. “The warmer weather can inspire us get started on home improvement projects, but underground utility lines can be unintentionally damaged during a digging project. Remember to call 811 before you dig for projects of any size,” said ICC Chairman Doug Scott. Illinois law requires all homeowners and professional excavators to call the Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators (JULIE) at 811 before digging at least two working days prior to starting excavation. The project must begin within 10 days of the call, and locate requests have a 25-day life. The State One-Call Center, managed by JULIE (DIGGER within the City of Chicago)

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COLUMBIA – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that intermittent shoulder closures on Interstate 255 from Illinois 3 in Dupo to half a mile north of Illinois 157 in St. Clair County will begin, weather permitting, Monday, April 7, through Wednesday, April 9, 2025. The shoulder closures are necessary for the evaluation of pavement conditions. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all signage and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com .

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EDWARDSVILLE – R.P. Lumber, a family-owned, full-service retail home center and building materials supplier, is proud to announce the opening of its 89th retail location at 3200 Broadway Street in Quincy, IL. The new store promises to bring a new level of convenience and expertise to DIY homeowners and professional contractors in the region. The store will be opening the week of April 7th. "We've always wanted to have a store in Quincy, and we're thrilled to finally have the opportunity," said Robert L. Plummer, CEO of R.P. Lumber. “Quincy is fortunate to be an exciting, growing community. Local leadership is doing a phenomenal job bringing opportunity to the area. Mayor Troup and his entire team have been welcoming and supportive. They clearly wanted to see more good jobs for the citizens and more options for the consumers. It was a refreshing experience to work with the City of Quincy on this great project.” As an Illinois-based company, R.P. Lumber is prou

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EAST ST. LOUIS - East St. Louis School District 189 is seeking an extension for its ESSER III funding, which the school district says is critical for ongoing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) renovations across its facilities. The district, which serves a predominantly low-income student population, has faced delays in completing these upgrades due to post-pandemic challenges, including supply chain issues and labor shortages. Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grants have provided federal pandemic relief funding to enable schools to operate safely during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and support social-emotional and academic recovery. The district's request comes after the original extension, approved on Jan. 22, 2025, allowed until March 28, 2026, to complete the necessary HVAC projects. Sydney Stigge-Kaufman, Executive Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships for the district, emphasized the importance of modernized HVAC

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ALTON – Ray Strebel released the following statement regarding Tuesday’s election results: “ I want to congratulate David Goins on his victory this week. While the results did not go our way, I am proud of the campaign we ran and the connections I built with so many residents during my campaign for Mayor. Alton is my hometown and I hope to see Mayor Goins succeed because at the end of the day, we are one community and I only want the best for Alton. Thank you to everyone who supported me with their vote, thank you to our volunteers for their countless hours of hard work to help our campaign, and thank you to my family for their ultimate support.” About Ray Strebel: Ray Strebel is a third generation Alton resident, local leader, and small business owner.

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EDWARDSVILLE – R.P. Lumber Co., Inc. has announced the acquisition of Aldrich Home Center in Powell, Wyoming, with the deal set to close on April 11, 2025. Located at 115 E. Park St., Aldrich Home Center is a family-owned hardware store and lumberyard that has been an integral part of the Powell community for decades. This will be the Midwestern chain’s third location in the Equality State and first in Park County. Renowned for its wide selection of tools, paint, and building materials, the store has long been a trusted resource for both professional tradesmen and DIY homeowners. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Aldrich Home Center was originally founded in 1949 as Aldrich Lumber, and in 2001, Ken VanGrinsven purchased the business after working there for 18 years. For the past few years, Ken and his wife, Jan VanGrinsven, have been looking for a successor to continue the legacy of the business and secure their retirement. “When we met with R.P.

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