Riverbender 🕸

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Tim Decker, Chair, President, & CEO of The Home Depot, to discuss the impact of credit card swipe fees. Earlier this year, Durbin and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) introduced their Credit Card Competition Act , bipartisan legislation that would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market, which is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. The legislation is estimated to save merchants and consumers $15 billion each year and this week, Durbin urged the Senate to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. “Visa and Mastercard set the fees on behalf of thousands of banks and tell merchants to take it or leave it. Merchants have no real choice but to accept the outrageous fees,” said Durbin. “In 2022 alone, U.S. merchants and consumers paid $93.2 billion in credit card interchange fees to line the pockets of the

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GLENVIEW— Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced today that UPSIDE Foods – a leading cultivated meat, poultry and seafood company will locate its first commercial-scale production facility in Glenview. As the first cultivated meat company to receive FDA approval, UPSIDE’s new Glenview facility marks a major milestone for cultivated meat production – supporting Illinois’ ecosystem and adding to the state’s dominance in the food processing industry. Bolstered by one of the first EDGE for Start Ups agreements, the company will invest at least $141 million and create a minimum of 75 new jobs. “On behalf of the State of Illinois, we are excited to welcome UPSIDE Foods to the Land of Lincoln and are committed to supporting their growth in the cultivated meat industry,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Here in Illinois, we are a hub for tech and innovation, thanks to our talented

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nomination of April Perry to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois: “We are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced the nomination of April Perry to serve as the next U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. She was highly regarded by our screening committee and brings strong qualifications and a wealth of experience from her time in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and in the private sector to the position. “While we would hope for quick consideration of Ms. Perry’s nomination by the full Senate, one Republican Senator continues to hold up Department of Justice nominees, including critical federal law enforcement officers—who prosecute violent crime, terrorism, and

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COTTAGE HILLS - Led by Cottage VFW Post Junior Vice Commander Tim Brown, the organization will host a Veterans Festival and the Global War on Terrorism Wall will be present for the event. Brown, who served in Iraq in the Army, has strong convictions about the wall and its meaning to veterans. He was a key person behind the event last year at St. Louis Regional Airport. The Cottage Hills VFW is the sponsor in 2023. Brown said the wall experience be “emotional, humbling and healing" for those who attend. He said the names of those lost in the Global War on Terrorism are on the wall, along with firefighters and police who died at the World Trade Center in New York City on the fateful Sept. 11, 2001, day. The U.S. recently marked the 22nd anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center. A total of 2,996 died in the attacks, including 19 hijackers who committed murder-suicide. Thousands were injured and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center took the brunt of the attacks.

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TROY - Troy Police Chief Chris Wasser announced that at 1:30 a.m. on September 13, 2023, the department responded to a welfare check in the 600 block of Lower Marine Road and discovered a 60-year-old female inside the residence, unresponsive and not breathing. “The victim presented obvious injuries not consistent with a natural death,” Wasser said. “Officers immediately began life-saving measures until Troy EMS arrived and all life-saving attempts failed and the victim was pronounced deceased on scene." Wasser continued and said: “Our investigators are following up on every detail. We anticipate the release of more information once the autopsy is complete.” If anyone has any additional information about the incident investigators can be reached at (618) 667-6731.

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ALTON - The proposed Route 3 and Buckmaster Business District in Alton is moving forward after a public hearing about the proposal was held on Wednesday night. The city’s goals for the district are to incentivize development and fill vacancies in the area while generating more sales tax revenue. The new district is set to be bordered by Homer M. Adams Parkway to the north, Buckmaster Lane to the west, Oakwood Avenue to the south, and to the eastern edge of the property currently occupied by Big Lots and Goodwill. Planning & Development Director Greg Caffey said potential new tenants have been identified, and while he couldn’t disclose them publicly yet, he said he expects the district to be at full occupancy. City Clerk Cheryl Ingle said at the public hearing that “the goal of installing this business district is to provide an incentive for a developer to renovate a shopping center within the district boundary and bring the property back to full occupancy,

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EDWARDSVILLE - After 19-year-old Adam Behrhorst’s passing, his loved ones knew they needed to do something in his honor to help other families dealing with pediatric cancer. They came up with the Go Gold Kid’s Fest for Childhood Cancer, a fun fall morning with tons of activities. From 9 a.m. to noon on Sept. 16, families are invited to Liberty Apple Orchard in Edwardsville, where Adam used to work. Proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society (ACS), with funds specifically directed to childhood cancer research. “I think I can safely say that cancer has touched everyone, in one way or another,” said Patty Barney, senior development manager for ACS in the Metro East area. “It’s really important to grow this event and for people to come and have fun and really make it child-centric and really have the kids out there. Last year, they had a great time.” Liberty Apple Orchard , located at 8308 Kuhn Station Road, will sponsor games, food,

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EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Engineering (SOE) celebrated a classroom dedication recognizing the founding chair of the Department of Construction Luke Snell, PE. Snell, a leading lecturer and specialist on concrete, contributed $100,000 to the Department of Construction in the SOE. The dedication ceremony and unveiling took place Wednesday, Sept. 13 in Engineering Building, Room 1008. “SIUE had a lot of faith in me and supported me with a lot of research possibilities when I was coming there to start the program,” said Snell. “This is a way of saying thank you for supporting me. I had several graduate students working with me on projects and the University supported a lot of the travel for the students. SIUE became a well-known group because of their successes. That got me well known in my professional societies.” Snell began the day of celebration with a lecture to the CNST210 class available to both in-person

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ALTON - The Mississippi Earthtones Festival, presented by Alton Main Street, the Sierra Club, and Jacoby Arts Center is a celebration of our river through art, music, and conservation. The 17th Annual event will be held on the riverfront at Alton Amphitheater on Saturday, September 16th from 12:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., and there is no charge for admission. This year’s theme is “Love Joy Flow”, and local artists have been commissioned to build large installations that will enhance the festival grounds. The Riverbend Yarn Bombers are knitting & crocheting a colorful textile canopy to provide shade for festivalgoers. Kooliverse will present eye opening artworks of wonder and intrigue, including a 16-foot kaleidoscope and a backdrop for the stage which will feature an amazing light show by local projection artists upon nightfall. Many local artists are collaborating to create a grove of larger-than-life whimsical mushrooms for a wonderous photo opportunity. JF Perspective

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today endorsed the recommendation by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the newly FDA-approved COVID-19 shots for everyone over the age of 6 months. The federal agencies have given the green light for updated mRNA vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer that target the currently circulating strains of the COVID-19 virus. Heading into the fall, IDPH is closely monitoring data on COVID-19 as well as other respiratory viruses including flu and RSV. The federal guidance comes as data indicates an uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations in Illinois and the nation, with a seven percent increase statewide in the week ending September 2, the most recent period for which data is available. There are currently 12 Illinois counties at a medium level for COVID-19 hospitalizations according to the CDC national dashboard , meaning they exceed ten new cases per 100,000 population in the last week.

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CARLINVILLE - An acclaimed writer and journalist will present a free, one-hour program at the Carlinville Public Library on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m.“My Life as a Storyteller” will discuss the career experiences of Walt Harrington of Carlinville, a former journalist at The Washington Post Magazine , where he authored profiles of Rosa Parks, Carl Bernstein, Jesse Jackson, Rita Dove, and President George H.W. Bush. The recipient of numerous journalism awards, Harrington also wrote many in-depth accounts for the Post of ordinary people who live extraordinary lives. Harrington has written or edited eleven books, including Crossings: A White Man’s Journey into Black America, The Everlasting Stream: A True Story of Rabbits, Guns, Friendship, and Family , and more recently, The Detective: And Other Stories . After leaving the Post, Harrington became a professor at the University of Illinois. He and his wife, Keran, retired to Carlinville in 2022 to be nea

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Every 3 minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with a blood cancer; more than 1.3 million Americans are living with or in remission from a blood cancer. 54-year-old Hartford, IL, resident Kevin Basden is a living embodiment of that statistic. After he and his wife helped fix a neighbor’s water pipes amongst mold and insulation (because she couldn’t afford to have them fixed), that for more than a month or more, he didn’t look well, felt a heaviness in his chest and experienced low energy - and put off seeking medical attention even at the encouragement of his wife, fellow church members, and a nurse. So before bed one night, because of his strong faith, he prayed that God would provide him a sign. Kevin was awakened at 3:30 a.m. by a loud voice telling him to go to the ER. He was shaken up because the voice was very clear. He went to the hospital and his blood levels were critically low – so low that his hemoglobin levels were only at 33% normal level an

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that road repairs will require intermittent daily lane closures in both directions of Illinois 157 between St. Louis Street and South University Drive starting, weather permitting, at 7 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 18. At least one lane in each direction will remain open throughout construction. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during construction. 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. The $8.1 million project, which consists of resurfacing, ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps and intersection improvements, is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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ALTON - Calling all Alton High School and Marquette Catholic High School alum! If you graduated in the 1960s or 70s, a downtown block party is the place to be on Sept. 23. From 5–10 p.m., former Redbirds and Explorers are invited to Mac’s Downtown on 3rd Street for a night of food, music and catching up with old friends. “A lot of these people, you think you see them around town all the time but you really don’t,” organizer Dave Wickenhauser said. “I get people all the time who say, ‘I don’t go to my class reunion because I see everybody anyway.’ You don’t. Believe me, you don’t.” Mac’s Downtown owner Mac Lenhardt has taken on the costs of the space and the band, so the event is completely free for block party attendees. Wickenhauser encourages people to grab dinner at Mac’s and enjoy the restaurant’s food and drinks throughout the night. Local band Number 4 Combo will take the

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EDWARDSVILLE - State Senator Erica Harriss (56 th -Glen Carbon) is collaborating with local governments by hosting a series of Mayors’ Roundtables across the 56 th Senate District. The first roundtable event was held Tuesday at Nickel Plate Station in Edwardsville. “I was very grateful to have so many local leaders on hand to get a pulse on the important issues in their communities,” said Senator Harriss, who also serves as the Minority Spokesperson on the Senate Local Government Committee. “Our mayors offered considerable insight into some of the most pressing local concerns, and I valued their unique perspectives to help better represent our district in Springfield.” More than a dozen municipalities were in attendance to discuss local issues pertaining to homelessness, mental health and healthcare services, economic development, and transportation. Senator Harriss plans to hold several mayoral roundtable events across the district during the upcoming

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CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker announced $449 million in tobacco bonds have been retired through a defeasance, benefiting taxpayers through debt service savings and interest earnings in an aggregate of $50 million. “Today’s action reflects Illinois’ strong fiscal position and my continued commitment to responsibly manage the state’s financial resources as we pay off the lingering debts from the Great Recession,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “During my administration, we’ve eliminated the state’s multi-billion-dollar bill backlog, built up the state’s Rainy Day fund balance to nearly $2 billion, made $700 million in public pension payments above required amounts, received eight credit upgrades and worked to grow the economy to more than $1 trillion.” The bonds represent what remained of a $1.5 billion debt associated with the Great Recession, dating back to 2010, when the state was struggling with a multi-billion bill

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GLEN CARBON - Glen Carbon trustees have approved a one-year extension to the site plan for the Meijer grocery store set to anchor the village’s Orchard Town Center development. The original site plan was set to expire next month, and while the building is still on track, builders need a little more time for completion. The building will still be completed sometime after the original deadline, prompting the request for an extension, but no further information about when the Meijer store is set to be completed and/or open was available at this time. Nothing else about the site plan has been changed. Director of Community Development Erika Heil wrote in a memorandum to village officials earlier this month that the Meijer site plan was set to expire on Oct. 11, 2023. According to previous correspondence contained in meeting packet documents, the civil engineer behind the Meijer project reached out to Heil at the end of August to request the extension. This will reportedly

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ALTON - Starting in October, the Alton Marina will welcome boaters from all over the world for Looper season. These boaters are traveling America’s Great Loop , a continuous route through eastern North America that takes boats down the Mississippi River, through the Gulf of Mexico, up the east coast and into Canada and the Great Lakes. The once-in-a-lifetime trip usually includes a stop in Alton, where visitors can enjoy the amenities at the Marina and prepare for winter on the water. “We get a lot of people coming through that really are impressed with and love it. The Loop is no exception,” Rob Honke said. “When they open the locks next month on the Illinois , we’re going to start seeing a lot of people coming through that are traveling.” Honke owns Seahorse Ranch Marine, Inc., which operates Alton Marina. He says that Looper season is one of his favorite times of the year and the boaters, called “Loopers,” will sometimes

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ALTON - Growing up in Alton, Shawn Banks admits he was a bit of a “class clown.” Now, the actor and stand-up comedian is returning to his hometown to emcee the upcoming Mayor’s Charity and Fundraiser Ball . “I started off being the funny guy and sort of the class clown growing up in Alton at some of the schools there, from North to middle school to Alton High School,” Banks said. “It’s an honor to have the opportunity to come back home to my city, Alton, Illinois, which I love so much, and to host the Mayor’s Ball.” The masquerade ball with a Mardi Gras twist will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7 and raise money for both Mayor David Goins’s campaign and local nonprofit the Overnight Warming Center. A silent auction and two bands will accompany the dinner and dance. The event will also honor community members and two NFL stars from Alton . Anyone who wishes to attend must RSVP by Sept. 16 at the event’s webpage

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ALTON - At the 17th annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival on Saturday, September 16, Sierra Club Illinois’ Three Rivers Project , Alton Main Street , and the Jacoby Arts Center will award three local activists with the 2023 Confluence Conservation Leadership Award. The festival organizers have recognized community members who have made significant contributions to environmental conservation in the Riverbend region since 2007. This year’s Confluence Conservation Leadership awardees include: Carla Cope, Clifford Clark, and Tim Podhorn. “All three award recipients have made significant contributions to environmental conservation in the Riverbend and are unsung heroes in our region,” said Virginia Woulfe-Beile, Co-Coordinator of the Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois. “Join us at 4:30pm on September 16 at the Mississippi Earthtones Festival’s main stage as we honor the work of these three leaders, who work tirelessly to advocate, educate,

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