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EAST ST. LOUIS — Students at Bush Alternative School in the East St. Louis School District 189 are taking action to support their community through a monthly mobile food pantry. The students recently assisted 71 needy families by partnering with the St. Louis Area Foodbank. The initiative aims to address food insecurity in the local area, demonstrating the commitment of students to help their neighbors. "When we come together, we make a stronger community," a representative from the alternative school said in a statement. The food pantry has become a vital resource for families facing challenges in accessing nutritious meals. This effort highlights the role of educational institutions in fostering community engagement and support. The next pantry date for the students is April 23, 2025.

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ST. LOUIS — A section of the westbound exit ramp from Interstate 64 to Forest Park Avenue and Grand Boulevard was closed around noon today for emergency repairs to a retaining wall. The closure, which affects both the ramp and the westbound lanes of Forest Park Avenue between Compton Avenue and Grand Boulevard, is expected to last three to four months. The decision to close the ramp was made after inspections revealed excessive horizontal movement of the retaining wall toward the Forest Park Avenue traffic lanes. In response, the City of St. Louis has completed the design for the necessary repairs and contracted a firm to carry out the work. To assist motorists during the closure, detour signs will be installed as soon as they are ready. Drivers on Market Street or Compton Avenue can access Forest Park Avenue via several routes, including north on Jefferson Avenue or Compton Avenue, west on Olive Street/Lindell Boulevard, south on Grand Avenue, or directly on Forest Park Avenue.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Authorities are investigating a triple shooting that occurred on Duenke Drive in Bellefontaine Neighbors, resulting in life-threatening injuries to two men and a woman. The incident took place at approximately 1:39 p.m. on Friday when officers from the Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department responded to a call regarding the shooting. Upon arrival at the residence in the 9400 block of Duenke Drive, officers discovered two adult males and an adult female suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. All three individuals were subsequently transported to nearby hospitals for life-saving treatment. The St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons has taken over the investigation. Detectives are currently working to gather information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have urged anyone with information to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. For

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BELLEVILLE - The St. Clair Sheriff's Department and the Belleville, Illinois, Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors, this week reflected on the anniversary of the death of Lamont C. Reid, one of their officers who died on active duty 15 years ago. On March 26, 2010, St. Clair County Deputy Sheriff Lamont Reid suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after assisting with the search for a suicidal man. At approximately 2:45 p.m. on March 26, 2010, Reid collapsed during a shift meeting and was transported to Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. Deputy Sheriff Reid left behind a wife and three children at the time of his death. He was 55 years old.

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COLLINSVILLE – Collinsville CUSD 10 Special Education Coordinator Karen Truran was recognized by Saint Louis University at the School of Education's 100th anniversary Celebration of Women Educators" reception on March 26, 2025. She was honored for her efforts in special education. The honorees were nominated and recognized for the positive impact they have had on other educators. Truran was nominated by Caseyville Elementary School Principal Chelsea Clark, a graduate of SLU's School of Education. The call for nominations specifically asked for women who have played a "pivotal role in the educational journey of others." Clark immediately knew who she thought was deserving of recognition. In her nomination of Truran, Clark wrote: "As a special education coordinator, Mrs. Truran works with multiple schools, administrators and families. Although her role could easily lend itself to being behind the scenes in these schools, she strives to be visible, communicative with each team,

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department announced it is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies to step up April enforcement efforts across the state in recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. “Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 58 lives in Illinois in 2023. We need everyone’s support in making our roads safer, which includes staying focused behind the wheel,” said Lt. Brandn Whittaker. “We’re excited to support IDOT’s efforts in educating all road users about the importance of putting your phone away, setting your navigation before your trip begins and driving distraction-free.” “It has become all too common to see people driving down the road while looking at their phones,” said Lt. Whittaker. “People know texting and driving is both dangerous and illegal, but they do it anyway, putting themselves

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Letter To The Editor: My name is John Barry Julian. I have known Mayor Mike McCormick since 1976 when I moved into the house next door to his. Mayor McCormick was a good neighbor so I was not surprised to see what an excellent Mayor he is. Mayor McCormick was a local business owner/operator for many years by owning an IMO’S pizza franchise. He ran his business well, managed his money and ultimately sold the franchise and retired. After retiring Mayor McCormick entered the world of politics. If my memory is correct he served as a Godfrey Trustee for several terms then decided to run for Mayor. He was elected Mayor. During the time he has been Mayor Mike McCormick has done an admirable job of managing the city of Godfrey. He has shown fiscal responsibility and good business sense and Godfrey has flourished. Mayor McCormick is getting things done for Godfrey. He is constantly looking out for taxpayer’s best interests and is doing the job for love not just to get a

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ALTON - John Meehan loves his neighborhood. In a recent conversation on “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello , Meehan, current 5th Ward alderman, explained his vision for the 5th Ward and the City of Alton. He emphasized the importance of knowing and taking care of his neighbors, which he has tried to do as an alderman. “You do stuff like that and you get to know people, and there are so many good people in Alton,” he said. Meehan was appointed to the 5th Ward alderman seat after long-time Alderman Charles Brake retired in 2023. He shared that he had a close relationship with Brake, and he decided to run “this one time, out of respect for him.” Since taking the position on the City Council, Meehan has made it a priority to get to know his constituents. He keeps a log of each person he talks to and their issues, so he can follow-up and make sure these problems are resolved. Meehan often drives through his ward and takes note of house

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ST. JACOB – A man from St. Jacob faces major felony charges after sending multiple videos of child pornography through an online messaging platform. Andrew S. Bailey, 45, of St. Jacob, Ill. was charged on March 25, 2025 with five counts of child pornography, each Class X felonies. From May 30 to Nov. 25, 2024, Bailey allegedly sent five different videos depicting prepubescent and juvenile children involved in various sex acts via the Kik messaging application. A petition to deny Bailey’s pretrial release contains more details on the investigation that lead to his arrest. After the Madison County Sheriff’s Office received multiple CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), authorities sent search warrants to Home Telephone Co., Snapchat Inc., Yahoo, Kik, and Verizon Wireless. The IP addresses associated with the CyberTips were linked to Bailey, resulting in a search a warrant being executed at his residence. “The defendant

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ALTON - Rodney Smith wants Alton’s 4th Ward to grow. In a recent conversation on “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello , Smith, a candidate for Alton’s 4th Ward alderman seat, shared his vision for the ward and the City of Alton. He said he is most concerned about safety, the roads and continued growth. “I think about the kids and my dream for the kids and the City of Alton,” Smith said. “I go to these other communities and I see how they grow, like Edwardsville. I just want that for the City of Alton. That keeps me going. We have to do something for our kids to save our kids and our community as well.” After graduating from Alton High School in 1999, Smith joined the military and then the Department of Corrections. He was upset with how many children came through the prison system, and this led him to quit his job and take on a new position with Alton’s Catholic Children’s Home. He currently works as a residential

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Letter to the Editor I am voting for Ray Strebel because he is the best candidate to help improve and grow Alton. In 1990, I began building Hopp Hollow Estates in North Alton, and today, we have 45 homes built and occupied. At the start of the development, the city offered an incentive, contributing over $1 million toward streets and sewers, and I spent similar or even more towards the same. The city got their investment for streets and sewers back in just 15 years through its share of property taxes. The homes should last another 100 years, so the city will make money for a long time. And these homes have not just been financially helping Alton; these developments created jobs and have kept people living in Alton. So why have none of the recent mayors done anything similar with any other builders in our area? Why are we not developing homes in large groupings or on single lots? Older towns that have been struggling for a variety of reasons need incentives to attract builders

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O’FALLON - Community members are invited to the 25th anniversary celebration for United Congregations of Metro-East. At 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025, United Congregations of Metro-East (UCM) will host a celebration at The Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon. Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III will provide the keynote address, and other community leaders will share more about UCM’s mission and impact on local communities. “Join us as we celebrate 25 years of faith, unity, and action with United Congregations of Metro-East!” the organization said in a statement. “For a quarter of a century, UCM has been at the forefront of empowering communities, driving social change, and fostering collaboration across the Metro-East region. As an organization, UCM unites people of faith across Southwestern Illinois to protest systemic injustices. They advocate for environmental justice, transformative justice and more voter engagement, among other issues. U

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SAINT JACOB - On March 17, 2025, Jason Tomlin and his family of Saint Jacob had to face an unimaginable tragedy when his 10-year-old son, Jacob, and the child's mother, Ashley, were killed in a head-on collision caused by a reckless driver. The incident left Tomlin not only grieving the loss of his child but also facing the challenge of finding a stable home for his surviving children, who are currently without a permanent residence. The accident occurred when a driver collided with Ashley's vehicle. Both Jacob and Ashley lost their lives that night, leaving behind three children, who had been living with their mother. Jason is struggling to secure housing quickly enough to accommodate the three surviving children, who live at their mother's home. In light of this tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist Jason and his children during this difficult time. The campaign seeks donations, resources for housing, and community support to help the family rebuild their lives.

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ALTON – Tiana Gipson, candidate for Ward 2 Alderwoman and the Alton School Board , stopped by Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to share more about her experience and priorities ahead of the April 1, 2025 elections. Gipson was appointed to the Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education in 2023. In the race for Ward 2 Alderwoman, Gipson is challenging longtime incumbent Carolyn MacAfee and competing against another challenger, Martha Pfister. Asked why she decided to run in both the school board and aldermanic races, Gipson expressed a passion for giving back to her community in every capacity possible. She added that her conversations with city officials like 4th Ward Alderwoman Rosetta Brown, Mayor David Goins, and others also inspired her to run. “Acts of service always been a great passion of mine … I said, ‘You know what? Let me give it a shot, and see how I can better equip the community that I love,’” Gipson said.

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - LovelyLoons Luxury Event Rental and Balloon Decor has a new space in Fairview Heights, and owner Nancy Quiroz couldn’t be more excited. Quiroz founded LovelyLoons three years ago, and it has taken off as the top spot to rent chairs, backdrops, tables, tents or “anything you might need,” she said. They also help plan parties, weddings, quinceañeras and more. Their new store, located at 111 Union Hill Road in Fairview Heights, will open on April 2, 2025, and offer party supplies and rental items for all events. “I started with my daughter. She had a birthday party and we hired someone, and I was like, ‘Maybe I could do that too. I could probably start doing it and making other little kids happy,’” Quiroz remembered. “It just took off. We started with one party and it just took off.” Over the past three years, the family-owned business has expanded to offer a variety of services. They specialize

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ALTON — Germania Brew Haus, a beloved local coffee shop, is set to relocate just a few blocks from its original home after eight years at 617 E. Broadway in Alton. Owner Carolyn Brynildsen announced the move, expressing gratitude for the memories created in the flagship location. The new site at 700 E. Broadway in Alton will feature a dedicated drive-thru for quick pickups, as well as a rooftop and all-season patio seating. Brynildsen said, “This exciting change will allow us to better serve even more coffee lovers.” The shop will remain open at its current location through the summer months while construction of the new site is completed. Brynildsen mentioned plans for a farewell event to celebrate the shop's history and to thank the community for their support. “We would love for you to join us, so stay tuned on dates for that,” she said. Brynildsen also expressed appreciation for the assistance from City Alderman Ray Strebel and Alton City Hall,

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BELLEVILLE — The St. Clair County Sheriff's Department is remembering the 15-year anniversary of the death of Deputy Sheriff Lamont C. Reid, who died on duty after suffering a heart attack. He died on March 26, 2010. Reid, 55, was assisting in the search for a suicidal man when he collapsed during a shift meeting during that time. The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office said at that time Reid was immediately transported to Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Deputy Reid has been with the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office for more than 20 years. Reid was survived by his wife and three children.

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COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Police Department has issued a notice regarding a man wanted for multiple felonies, including unlawful use of a credit card and financial exploitation of the elderly. Andrey W. Wilke, whose last known address is in Collinsville, is also sought for identity theft by another agency. The announcement was made during the department's weekly "Fugitive Friday" segment, aimed at soliciting information from the public about wanted individuals. Authorities encourage anyone with knowledge of Wilke's whereabouts to contact the Collinsville Police Department at 618-344-2131, extension 5209. Tips can be submitted anonymously. The police department emphasized that individuals with information can leave a voicemail, and it urged Wilke directly to surrender himself at any police department in Illinois or nearby states, noting that their facilities are open 24/7. The charges against Wilke are based on probable cause, and he is presumed innocent until proven

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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), and Intersect Illinois, joined by public and private sector leaders from across the state, will lead a trade mission to Mexico from March 30-April 2, 2025. This trade mission will focus on the importance of deepening economic ties and fostering greater cooperation between the State of Illinois and Mexico. The delegation will engage with Mexican counterparts to discuss enhancing collaboration in key sectors such as agriculture and food processing, finance, and manufacturing, all of which are vital to growing the Illinois economy and creating jobs. Through this mission, Illinois seeks to strengthen its longstanding partnership with Mexico, paving the way for future investment and shared success. “Illinois is a prime destination for businesses seeking to invest and grow in the U.S. market. Our state's forward-thinking policies,

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—joined fellow SASC and SFRC member Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and 14 other Senate colleagues in calling on the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), SASC and SFRC to hold hearings to investigate why members of President Trump’s national security team were recklessly discussing classified military operations on unsecured devices. In the letter, the Senators also criticized the incompetence and carelessness of how these Trump officials mishandled the situation and inadvertently added a journalist to the group chat. The letter comes after new reporting detailed the classified military plans that were discussed in the commercial, unclassified messaging app. “We write to you with grave concern regarding the recent revelations reported in The Atlantic about

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