Riverbender 🕸

ALTON – In response to our nation’s mental health crisis, and due to local demand for mental health resources in the Riverbend region, OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center – Psychological Services will offer a third FREE mental health first aid training session to interested individuals. This groundbreaking skills-based training session will give participants the tools to identify, understand and respond to someone who might be struggling with a mental health or substance use challenge — and connect them with appropriate support and resources when necessary. The Mental Health First Aid training course will be held on Friday, September 26, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., in the 3rd floor Psychological Services Group Training Room at OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center (1 St. Anthony’s Way, Alton, IL, 62202). Lunch will be provided during this all-day training course. Space is limited for this FREE training session and registration is required – online

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GODFREY - Established in April 1982 by Joe and Vicky Neeley, TK Carpet Gallery provides Godfrey and the surrounding areas with a comprehensive arrangement of affordable and professional flooring installation along with cleaning services. TK Carpet Gallery provides superior quality flooring removal, installation, repairs and refinishing. The company name was derived from sons, Tom and Kevin. Have a pet? They will have carpets looking, feeling, and smelling like that four-legged friend was never even there. Struggle with allergies? TK Carpet Gallery has the equipment to remove the dirt, dust and allergens that are buried deep in the carpet. Regardless of the size of the job or the toughness of the stains, cleaning services will ensure that carpets are as clean as the day they were installed. The company offers hot water extract cleaning for upholstery and area rugs. Hot water extraction cleaning is a method that uses hot water mixed with cleaning agents, which is injected into

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ALTON — The Marquette Catholic girls' tennis team concluded its recent tournament with a 3-1 record, securing wins against Marion High School and Richwoods from Peoria before being eliminated in the first round by Waterloo High School. The Marquette Catholic tennis girls are Tucker's Automotive Repair & Tire Female Athletes of the Month. The tournament matches took place recently in Alton, where the Marquette team faced off against several regional opponents. In the opening round, Marquette was defeated by Waterloo High School with a score of 5-1. The only singles victory for Alton came from Maddie Waters, who defeated Ella Brown 6-4, 6-3. Waterloo’s Lily Starek, Ava Hemmer, Zoey Jones, Marie Starek, and Lucy Baldwin all won their singles matches, with two matches decided in close third-set tiebreakers. Following the loss, Alton Marquette rebounded with an 8-1 victory over Marion High School. Maddie Waters again led the way with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Ellie Weston. Other single

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CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker visited the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC) and met with leaders from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and its member organizations to highlight their critical work to support immigrant communities as the Trump Administration increases federal deployments in Chicago. With reports from across the country of ICE indiscriminately arresting and detaining individuals and Border Czar Tom Homan’s warning of “more collateral arrests,” Governor Pritzker met with ICIRR and its member organizations to discuss their work to protect the Constitutional Rights of Illinois residents. To combat tactics that leave communities at risk of having their rights violated, the state supports Illinois’ strong network of community organizations that provide legal and services support. “Many families who have lived in Illinois for years are fearful to pick up their kids from school, go to work,

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PONTOON BEACH – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that in addition to the ongoing closure of Illinois 111 at Interstate 270 in Madison County, a weekend lane closure of eastbound I-270 from Illinois 203 to Illinois 111 will begin, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. The closure is necessary for ramp construction and is expected to be lifted by 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 15. Work on the entire interchange is anticipated to be completed by the end of October. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this lane closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction 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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ELDORADO – The Illinois State Police arrested 25-year-old Jesse W. Trout of Eldorado, IL, for First-Degree Murder (Class M Felony) following a homicide investigation conducted at the request of the Eldorado Police Department. On Sunday, September 7, 2025, shortly after 5:00 a.m., Eldorado Police Department Officers responded to a 9-1-1 call in reference to an individual shot near the corner of Benton Street and First Street in Eldorado. Upon arrival, Eldorado Police Department located a 44-year-old male, identified as Michael J. Wiseman of Eldorado, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Wiseman was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Following a thorough investigation, Jesse W. Trout was arrested. On September 8, 2025, the Saline County State’s Attorney’s Office formally charged Trout with First Degree Murder. Following a detention hearing on September 8, 2025, the defendant was detained in the Saline County Jail pending trial.

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WASHINGTON – The Make America Healthy Again Commission today released the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, a sweeping plan with more than 120 initiatives to reverse the failed policies that fueled America’s childhood chronic disease epidemic. The strategy outlines targeted executive actions to advance gold-standard science, realign incentives, increase public awareness, and strengthen private-sector collaboration. Chaired by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Commission is tasked with investigating and addressing the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis, with a focus on childhood chronic diseases. “The Trump Administration is mobilizing every part of government to confront the childhood chronic disease epidemic,” Secretary Kennedy said. “This strategy represents the most sweeping reform agenda in modern history—realigning our food and health systems, driving education, and unleashing science

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NASHVILLE, TENN. - Two nonprofit behavioral health providers will finalize the merging of their organizations at a ceremonial signing event in Springfield. Executives from Nashville-based Centerstone and Springfield-based Brightli will sign a master transaction agreement (MTA) on Sept. 9, formalizing the merger of the two organizations to form the largest nonprofit behavioral health care provider in the United States. Following the merger’s closing in early November, David C. Guth, Jr. will be the Chief Executive Officer of the merged organization. Brightli CEO C.J. Davis will be CEO-elect, becoming the CEO in January 2027 when Guth becomes CEO Emeritus. Guth will then retire later in 2027 after having served the organization for 39 years. “I am confident in the leadership and vision that C.J. brings to help continue the growth of Centerstone as a leader in the industry. He is guided by a deep mission of expanding care to the people in our communities,” Guth

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GRANITE CITY – Three people from around the Riverbend were charged on the same day with possession of stolen vehicles in a series of cases presented by local authorities. Paige M. Keils, 29, of Granite City, was charged on Sept. 4, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of offenses related to motor vehicles. Keils allegedly possessed a 2010 Ford Fusion bearing an Illinois registration number which she knew to be stolen on July 26, 2025. The case against Keils was presented by the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force on behalf of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. She was granted pretrial release from custody. Laura R. Williams, 37, listed as homeless out of Granite City, was also charged on Sept. 4, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of offenses related to motor vehicles in a separate case. Williams is accused of knowingly possessing a stolen Chevrolet Silverado on July 31, 2025. Paul T. Porter, 46, of Collinsville, was charged in another separate case filed on Sept. 4, 2025

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BELLEVILLE - The Belleville chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution invites the community to join them for a bell-ringing awareness campaign on Constitution Day. At 3 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2025 — the date recognized as Constitution Day in the United States — the Belleville DAR ladies will ring bells on the courthouse steps in Belleville to raise awareness and encourage conversations about the Constitution. Becky Juelfs, the Constitution Chairperson for DAR, invites community members to join them in their celebration of Constitution Day. “Everybody’s supposed to BYOB — bring your own bell,” Juelfs joked. “You don’t want anybody to forget . We’ve got to keep it right there in the forefront of our minds and treasure it, because you don’t want it to disappear someday or anything. We’ve got to keep repeating it, keep teaching the kids and setting an example to appreciate history.” Juelfs explained that

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GODFREY - Financial advisor Scott Mandrell has some advice for clients who come to his Godfrey Edward Jones office. “Definitely start saving,” he said. “You can’t really be an investor if you’re not a saver.” While that advice seems straightforward, Mandrell acknowledges that managing your money can be a daunting task. He encourages community members to meet with a financial advisor, no matter what your financial situation is, to talk about how to grow your wealth. Mandrell has been in the financial industry for a long time, and he loves working in the Riverbend region. He enjoys getting to know his clients and advises people to look for that personal connection when choosing a financial advisor. A lot of people tell Mandrell that they don’t have enough money to look into investment opportunities. Mandrell disagrees. He argues that no matter what your financial situation is, you can always benefit from having that conversation

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CHICAGO — The State of Illinois, through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS), has launched a new series of strategic partnerships with the Chicago White Sox, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and Northern Illinois University (NIU) to promote career opportunities in state government. These partnerships include a series of in-person career activations at sporting events this fall, where fans will be able to engage directly with CMS representatives, learn about state job openings, and explore careers in public service. The initiative kicked off with great success on August 29 at Chicago White Sox Puerto Rican Heritage Night, where hundreds of fans engaged with CMS staff and learned about the variety of career paths available with the State of Illinois. Upcoming on-site activations include: September 10: Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays — Nurse Appreciation Night September 19: Chicago

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ST. LOUIS — September is National Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross of Greater St. Louis urges everyone to protect their loved ones by getting their households ready now. This spring, Missouri experienced a series of destructive tornadoes that serves as a stark reminder of the growing frequency and intensity of natural disasters across the country. Between July 2024 and June 2025, the Missouri and Arkansas region of the American Red Cross responded to over 15 disaster relief operations including those spring tornadoes. Additionally, the Red Cross of Greater St. Louis responded to over 500 home fires assisting nearly 2,000 people. Following the May 16th tornado in St. Louis, the Red Cross opened eight shelters to serve those who had been displaced, providing more than 27,000 overnight stays. At the height of the response, we had approximately 260 people in five different shelters. Other partners including Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis also provided shelter

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COLLINSVILLE - The Collinsville Area Community Foundation presented the organization's first Community Impact Grant to the Collinsville Food Pantry. The Community Impact Grant program was initiated to provide financial support to local organizations that enhance the quality of life for residents within Collinsville Community Unit School District #10. The program aims to support impactful projects that might not otherwise be funded through existing resources, foster collaboration between tax-exempt organizations and benefit a broad range of residents. Collinsville Area Community Foundation (CACF) sought applications earlier this year between May 1 and July 1. Criteria for receiving the grant includes: 1. Enhancing Quality of Life: The project must directly improve the quality of life for residents of CUSD10. 2. Lack of Existing Resources: The project must address a need that is not adequately supported by current community resources. 3. Fostering Cooperation: The project must facilitate

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GODFREY — Mathew David Fields, a 37-year-old man from Godfrey, died this past Wednesday evening after being struck by a vehicle on Martin Luther King Boulevard, according to Madison County Coroner Nicholas P. Novacich. The incident occurred around 9:22 p.m. Sept. 3, 2025, approximately a half mile south of Godfrey Road on U.S. 67. Emergency responders, including the Godfrey Fire Department and deputies from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, arrived promptly at the scene. Investigator Samuel Stone from the Madison County Coroner’s Office pronounced Fields dead at 10:15 p.m. on Sept. 3, 2025. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Metro East Crash Assistance Team to aid in accident reconstruction. The cause of death is pending the results of a forensic autopsy and toxicology testing. The investigation remains active and involves the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the Metro East Crash Assistance Team, and the Madison County

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul co-led a multistate coalition in opposing proposed changes to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights’ (OCR) biennial Civil Rights Data Collection. The proposed changes would halt data collection on nonbinary students, remove “gender identity” and “sex characteristics” from the OCR’s definitions of harassment and bullying on the basis of sex, cease collection of data on harassment and bullying on the basis of gender identity, and remove “harassment on the basis of actual or perceived sex” from the definitions of “rape” and “sexual assault.” The impacts of failing to collect this data are significant. The OCR’s Civil Rights Data Collection is the largest and, in some instances, the only source of nationwide publicly available civil rights education data. The data is a critical resource for OCR, federal agencies, policymakers, researchers, educators

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SPRINGFIELD - Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointment in his administration: Chicago Transit Authority Board Reverend Dr. L. Bernard Jakes will continue to serve as a Member of the Chicago Transit Authority Board.* Jakes currently serves as Vice-Chairman and Chairman of Finance and Budget on the Chicago Transit Authority Board, overseeing fiscal strategy and governance. Jakes is also Senior Pastor of West Point Baptist Church in Chicago, where he has preached for over 23 years. Additionally, Jakes serves as Trustee for Elmhurst College, and he was inducted into the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of International Preachers of Morehouse College. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Elmhurst College, his Master of Arts from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University, and his Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary. *Appointment pending confirmation by the Illinois

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is partnering with Governor JB Pritzker, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA), and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) to promote Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week this September 7-13, 2025. The FCC’s Lifeline program offers monthly discounts to help eligible residents access voice or broadband services. “Staying connected is crucial when looking for jobs, scheduling healthcare services, or calling 911 in an emergency. The FCC’s Lifeline program makes it easier for low-income customers to afford their phone and broadband bill,” said ICC Chairman Doug Scott. Under the federal Lifeline program, low-income customers who participate in certain public assistance programs, or qualify based on income can receive monthly discounts up to $9.25 a month for broadband or bundled phone and

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) released today 2026 Plan Year rates for the Get Covered Illinois Marketplace . Similar to national trends impacting states across the country, Illinois’ average rate increase is rising due to the devastating impacts of Trump’s budget bill, which will result in the loss of the federal enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs) as well as a much higher rate of uninsured Illinoisans, thereby increasing the cost of care. While health plan availability and rates vary based on where consumers live, the statewide weighted average rate increase for individual plans is 28.8 percent compared to last year. These increases could be substantially reduced if Congress decides to extend the federal enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs) which have played a pivotal role in lowering costs and driving enrollment increases nationally. Preliminary estimates would place the average rate increase in Illinois at approximately 10 percentage point

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BELLEVILLE — Three young Belleville area men were recently honored with the Eagle Scout rank, the highest achievement in the Boy Scouts of America. Sultan Al-Uqdah Jr., 15, a sophomore at Althoff Catholic High School, and twins Khalil and Khalif Morehead, both longtime Scouts, received the distinction that only 4 to 6 percent of Scouts nationwide attain. Al-Uqdah has been involved in scouting since he was about 8 years old. Khalil and Khalif began their participation at age 10. Khalil attends Belleville East High School, while Khalif is enrolled in a high school program at Southwestern Illinois College. State Representative Kevin Schmidt congratulated the new Eagle Scouts, saying, “Congratulations Khalif Morehead, Khalil Morehead, and Sultan Al-Uqdah!” Althoff Catholic High School also issued a statement celebrating Sultan’s accomplishment, calling it “an amazing achievement.” The Eagle Scout rank requires completion of an extensive

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