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CHICAGO- Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed SB3479 into law, also known as the Veteran’s Consumer Fraud Bill. The legislation broadens the definition of “veteran or military benefits services” to include any consultation services that would assist in obtaining, changing, or appealing benefits decisions. The bill also targets predatory “claim sharks,” or non-VA accredited individuals or companies that charge for consultation and filing services. These services are offered for free through government and non-profits across Illinois. “Our state’s veterans and military members always deserve clarity and protection when navigating the social services process,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With these amendments to the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, we can ensure claim sharks are prevented from charging Illinoisans hefty fees for services that are offered for free statewide. I want to thank my partners in the General

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CARROLLTON - Boyd Healthcare Services is bringing to Carrollton "Disbelief," St. Louis’s premier magic and comedy show on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. This exciting presentation will astound and mystify guests as they experience magic and comedy routines by interacting with the performers. This big-time entertainment event is part of Boyd’s efforts to keep providing quality healthcare services to area residents. In turn, it is a real opportunity for area residents to contribute to help ensure that these services will continue to be offered at sites close to home, and have a jolly good time in the process. A matinee show for kids will begin at 4 p.m. and will include light snacks and drinks. Those ages five and younger are free, with a $10 charge for each of those ages 6 through 12, and kids 13 and above are $15 each. The main event, which includes dinner along with interactive magic and comedy, begins at 6:30 p.m. The dinner will be prepared and served by the Knights of Columbu

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ALTON, IL - The next American Red Cross blood drive at Alton Memorial Hospital will be from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024 in the AMH café meeting rooms. To register, go to www.redcrossblood.org/give or call the Red Cross at 800-733-7267. All who donate blood to the Red Cross during the month of August will receive a $20 Amazon gift card. The Red Cross needs donors of all blood types - and especially Type O blood - to give blood this summer to help meet daily hospital demands. People with Type O blood are considered universal donors, meaning their blood can be used to transfuse people with any other blood type.

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EAST ST. LOUIS - The State of Illinois African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission (ADCRC) announces the second stop on its series of statewide public hearings it will host to discuss reparatory actions for Black Americans in Illinois who are descendants of American Chattel Slavery. This hearing will take place at the East St. Louis Senior High School on Saturday, August 10th and will feature expert speakers who will present the intergenerational impact of enslavement, racial terror, political disenfranchisement, and ongoing racial discrimination. Subsequent hearings will occur throughout Illinois. The ADCRC is committed to gathering diverse perspectives from the public to shape recommendations for tangible actions toward justice and restitution. These public hearings are crucial for understanding the varied experiences and impacts of historical and systemic injustices faced by African American descendants of slavery in Illinois. “A critical first step in the work of the

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From engaging workshops and Scotty McCreery LIVE in concert to riveting theater performances and community fairs, the variety and appeal of events happening this August are sure to captivate attendees of all ages and interests. For a full listing of these exciting events, visit Riverbender Events . If you want to make sure even more of the region is aware of your event email cj@riverbender.com and explore our range of Event Promotion Services! Featured Scotty McCreery Live in Concert will be held at the Alton Amphitheater on August 9, 2024, with gates opening at 6 p.m. and the concert starting at 8 p.m. Enjoy the sounds of award-winning country artist Scotty McCreery, with opener Matt Jordon performing at 7 p.m. VIP tickets are priced at $79, reserved tickets at $59, and general admission tickets at $39, plus applicable taxes and fees. Tickets are available at www.Metrotix.com. Don't miss the chance to see this talented artist live! Wild Clay Ceramics Workshop will take

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EDWARDSVILLE - Logan Barnes, who swims for the Paddlers Swim Club in Granite City, enjoyed an excellent 62nd Southwestern Illinois Swimming Association championship meet at Edwardsville High School's Chuck Fruit Aquatic Center on July 21, 2024. Barnes came in fourth in the boys 13-14 100-yard freestyle with a time of 1:05.19, was a part of the winning team in the 200-yard medley relay at 2:15.20, placed fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke at 1:31.41, finished third in the 100-yard backstroke at 1:21.33, and was the third swimmer of the championship-winning 200-yard freestyle relay team, with a time of 1:49.33. Logan is a Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete of the Month for Granite City. Barnes sees a very good future in the sport for himself, and feels optimistic about his chances. "I see myself in the future getting a scholarship for swimming," Barnes said. Barnes also felt that the Pirates had performed well, also. Overall, Barnes has felt that he's improved as the season went

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August 7th has been a significant date throughout history for various reasons. Let's take a journey back in time and explore some of the notable events that have occurred on this day. 1942: The Battle of Guadalcanal Begins On August 7, 1942, the United States Marines launched the first major offensive against Japan during World War II, marking the beginning of the Battle of Guadalcanal. Located in the Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal was strategically important for both the Allies and the Japanese forces. The battle, which lasted for six grueling months, was a turning point in the Pacific Theater, as it halted Japanese expansion and allowed the Allies to gain a foothold in the region. 1959: The Explorer 6 Satellite is Launched In the realm of space exploration, August 7, 1959, saw the United States launch the Explorer 6 satellite. Often referred to as the 'Paddlewheel Satellite' due to its distinctive solar panel design, Explorer 6 was the first satellite to send back television

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EDWARDSVILLE - United Way of Greater St. Louis will once again host its Power of the Purse fundraiser to raise money for local families and individuals in need. On Aug. 22, 2024, community members can enjoy a silent auction, a live auction, live music and food from Bella Milano at the Power of the Purse fundraiser. Located in the Leclaire Room of the Lewis and Clark Community College N.O. Nelson Campus in Edwardsville, the event will raise funds for 118 organizations located in nine counties across Illinois. “When our agencies are reaching out and we can help, it’s just a blessing to know that we’re making a real difference in our community,” said Debra Pitts, civic leader with the Auxiliary Board of the Illinois Region North. “The Power of the Purse is awesome. We get to have accessories, purses, see people, eat good food from Bella Milano. But the bottom line is, it’s a fundraiser, we raise money, and it all goes back to the community.”

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ALTON — At Duke Bakery, the term "family business" takes on a literal meaning. This summer, the bakery employed three sisters, Paige, Brooke, and Morgan Rister, continuing a long-standing tradition of hiring family members. Ben Hollis of Duke Bakery remarked on the bakery's generational workforce, stating, "Employing family members truly means Duke Bakery is a family business! These kids become part of our family as well - it is just so awesome to watch them grow up, go to college, get married, and start families of their own. It's always a treat to have former employees include us in their milestone events or just to stop by with the next generation of employees." Paige Rister, 18, is preparing to leave for college soon. Her sisters, Brooke, 17, and Morgan, 14, who received a work permit in June, are also part of the team. Hollis mentioned, "Since Paige will be off to college in a short time, I had to schedule the sisters together one last time!" Paige expressed her appreciation

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BELLEVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced lane restrictions will be encountered at the intersection of Illinois Route 161 and South Green Mount Road. Beginning Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at 6 a.m. through Friday, August 10, 2024, the right lane of EB IL 161, the WB IL 161 left turn lane, and SB South Green Mount Road between IL 161 and Weatherstone Drive will be CLOSED. Access to IL 161 will remain available from both North Green Mount Road and South Green Mount Road. All lanes and access will be restored by 7:30 p.m. daily.These restrictions are required to safely to perform much needed pavement repair work to the southern half of the intersection. Electronic signage has been deployed to alert motorists to this work and the needed traffic restrictions. IDOT Maintenance forces will implement these improvements. All lanes will be reopened as soon as possible each day. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this

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Parents who don’t use all the money in their Illinois 529 College Savings Accounts (Bright Start and Bright Directions) are now able to roll over the funds into a Roth IRA under Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ plan that was signed into law . “This will give parents another option when deciding what to do with the money they’ve saved for their children if they don’t use all of it,” said Treasurer Frerichs, who thanked Gov. JB Pritzker for signing the legislation and State Sen. Steve Stadelman and State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock for sponsoring it. “A common question we get from parents is what they can do with their Illinois 529 money if their child doesn’t go to college or gets a scholarship, and there is money left over in the account, and we have good news to share with them.” The option is possible because Congress approved a measure in December 2022 changing Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code to authorize tax-

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GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that an intersection replacement project on Illinois 3 between Niedringhaus Avenue and Rock Road will begin, weather permitting, at 6 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 12. To complete the necessary work, Illinois 3 will be closed to through traffic at 20th Street. Motorists should follow the marked detour as follows: Illinois 3 northbound: Illinois 3 to Plank Road to Packers Avenue to eastbound Interstate 70 to northbound Interstate 255 to westbound Interstate 270 to Illinois 3. Illinois 3 southbound: Illinois 3 to eastbound I-270 to southbound I-255 to westbound I-55/70 to Illinois 3. The work is expected to be completed by mid-September. Drivers are urged to remain alert while traveling the marked detour throughout construction. Drivers should reduce speed, obey all construction signage and refrain from using mobile devices while driving the detour route. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us

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EDWARDSVILLE - Area veterans will be the recipients of free clothing, door prizes, employment, community and educational resources and services, and will have the opportunity to be interviewed on site by employers during the upcoming Resource and Job Fair, co-hosted by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Veterans Upward Bound (VUB). VUB, in partnership with the City of Florissant, The Kaufman Fund and Florissant area veterans service organizations, will hold the Fair from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14 at the John F. Kennedy Community Center, 315 Howdershell Road, St. Louis, Mo. According to VUB Outreach Coordinator Bill Schnarr, who is also an U.S. Army veteran, the event is at capacity for providers, with 45 vendors registered to attend. “We are extremely excited to be offering a Resource Fair of this magnitude,” said Schnarr. “We look forward to assisting veterans in various ways, particularly in finding employment.” “Taking care of veterans

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ALTON - In the most recent episode of “You’re Beautiful” with Brian Trust, Cole Abell shared his perspective on fulfillment and obedience to God. Abell, a Christian music artist, spoke about the power of prayer and reading the Bible to help people connect to God. He believes this is how to build a relationship with Him. While Abell has struggled with feelings of unfulfillment, his faith has guided him through these periods of uncertainty. “Faithfulness and obedience will always take you further than staying complacent,” Abell said. “If I want to build my relationship with God, what do I have to do? Doing nothing gets me nothing. If I want to build my relationship, I have to do what? Get in the word, pray, go to church, worship. There’s all these things in His word. We act like we don’t know what to do when it comes to God, but it’s all right there in His book. All we have to do is read it.” Abell encourages

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High sophomore softball player Grace Oertle was one of the heroes for her team when she slammed a three-run first-inning home run in the Tigers' 7-4 IHSA Class 4A regional final win over Belleville West on May 23, 2024, at the Edwardsville Sports Complex. Oertle hit a three-run homer off the top of the fence in left-center field that bounced over to start the Tigers off on the right foot Edwardsville then scored four times in the second. After the regional championship, Oertle was hitting .368, going 32-of-67, with two home runs and 22 RBIs. She was one of the hottest hitters for the Tigers late in the season. Grace is a Spencer Homes Female Athlete of the Month for the Tigers. "It was a good outcome, and it's a good feeling to win regionals for the seventh time in a row," she said after that big game. Oerlte's homer came about on a pitch that was right inside her wheelhouse, and she knew exactly what to do with the ball once it got to the plate.

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ALTON - Four food trucks will give away a total of 500 meals in the housing developments under the Alton Housing Authority. Community members can receive a free hot meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2024. The food trucks will stop in the housing developments at Oakwood Estates, Alton Acres, Toledo Estates and Alton Manor, and each food truck will give away 125 meals. “We’ll just enjoy one another and use food as a way to connect and bless the people,” explained John Michel. Michel oversees the operations of Soulcial Kitchen and Currency of Caring, two programs that fall under the Food is Love brand and aim to fight food insecurity in the St. Louis metro area. He explained that the Currency of Caring program allows people to purchase $8 tokens to provide a free meal to their neighbors. This month, Alton Township decided to purchase 500 tokens to provide meals to community members. Michel said Alderman Ray Strebel was “instrumental”

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ALTON - iMerge Community Center is hosting a three-day house music festival to raise funds to help the center continue to offer programs for youth as well as meeting and party space for area groups. The Once in a Blue Moon House Music Festival and Fundraiser will be held during August’s blue moon phase, from Friday, August 16 through Sunday, August 18, at iMerge, which is housed in the Riverbender.Com building, 200 W. 3rd Street in Alton. Brigit Holt, Executive Director of iMerge, has recruited a robust lineup of DJ’s from Chicago, St. Louis, and Tennessee. “We have 15 DJ’s lined up so far, most of whom are from Chicago,” Holt said. “In fact, it was a Chicago DJ who inspired me to host a House Music festival at iMerge,” she said. World renowned DJ Gene Hunt visited Holt in Alton after performing at a venue in St. Louis. “I gave him a tour of iMerge Community Center, and he was really impressed with the facility. He said it would be

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CHAMPAIGN – Today , the Pritzker Administration announced that SEquity Ventures (LLC dba The Dispensary Champaign) became the 100th social equity cannabis dispensary to open its doors in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issued a full adult use cannabis dispensary license to The Dispensary Champaign on June 6, 2024, who applied for and was selected in the Social Equity Criteria Lottery (SECL) and met the lottery's criteria . “From day one of legal cannabis sales in Illinois, my administration has been committed to making sure we don’t sacrifice a fair, equitable opportunity to join the industry – while also undoing decades of wrongs in the failed War on Drugs – just for the economic gains,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “More than three years later, we’ve consistently learned and made our industry more accessible, while also seeing strong, consistent year-over-year revenue growth.”

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GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois proudly recognizes Kennedy Cason from East St. Louis, Illinois for her recent achievements. Kennedy is a member of the 2024 Girl Scout Gold Award class and recipient of a $5,000 scholarship from Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) for her work in creating a literacy library for the seniors of East St. Louis Township. The Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouts, and those who earn it set themselves apart from their peers through their perseverance and grit. Nationally, close to 3,000 Girl Scouts in the 2024 Gold Award Class found meaningful ways to address some of the most pressing issues facing their communities, acted on issues they are passionate about, and discovered they have the power to create the future they want. This year’s class of world-changers raised over $1.6 million of support for their projects and invested over 287,000 hours toward creating long-term solutions to community issues they’re passionate

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CARBONDALE - Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) and the Southern Illinois University Faculty Association (SIU-FA) have reached a collective bargaining agreement that has been ratified by the SIU-FA membership, the university and the association announced today (Aug. 5). The agreement is effective July 1, 2024. “Our most valuable resource is our employees,” said Chancellor Austin A. Lane. “We appreciate the faculty association bargaining with us in good faith to reach a common goal: compensation that is more fair, equitable and competitive.” SIU-FA represents more than 400 tenured and tenure-track professors. This agreement marks a historic accomplishment for both the union and university, bargaining successfully to a tentative agreement prior to the expiration of the previous agreement on June 30, 2024. “This agreement is an excellent step in addressing compressed faculty salaries and raises our lowest paid faculty to a more competitive wage,&rdquo

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