Riverbender 🕸

Did you know that travelers who plan their trips at least six weeks in advance are 30% more likely to report a higher satisfaction rate with their vacation? Whether it’s the thrill of exploring new landscapes or the desire to unwind from daily stresses, a well-organized trip can transform a simple escape into a memorable experience. Yet, the secret to a perfect getaway lies not just in the destination but in the thoughtful planning that precedes it. Defining Your Ideal Getaway The first step in crafting the perfect spring getaway is understanding what you want to get out of the experience. Are you seeking adventure, relaxation, cultural enrichment, or a bit of everything? This self-assessment will influence every other decision, from location to itinerary. Consider the following questions: What activities bring you joy or relaxation? Are you traveling solo, as a couple, or with family? How much time can you realistically dedicate to your trip? What budget constraints d

Continue Reading

May 2 has been a day marked by significant historical events that have shaped the course of history across the globe. One of the most profound events happened in the 20th century, marking an end to a turbulent period and the start of a new chapter in history. On May 2, 1945, during the closing days of World War II, the Battle of Berlin culminated with the surrender of the German forces in the city, signaling the imminent fall of Nazi Germany. This event was pivotal, as it effectively ended the war in Europe, leading to the Allied victory and setting the stage for the post-war reconstruction and geopolitical realignment that shaped the modern world. But May 2 is not just about wars and conflicts; it's also a day of discovery and innovation. Going back to 1519, the death of Leonardo da Vinci marked the passing of one of history’s greatest polymaths. Da Vinci was a visionary artist, inventor, and scientist whose work continues to inspire innovation and creativity centuries later

Continue Reading

ROXANA - The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Riverbend, presented by OSF HealthCare, is proud to announce an exciting new format for its 2025 signature event. Taking place on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the RoxArena in Roxana Community Park, this year’s event will be a Relay For Life Survivor and Team Dinner with the theme —“Re-Lei for a Cure!”. In a shift from the traditional Relay format featuring fundraising tents and continuous walking, this year’s Relay For Life of Riverbend will focus on a special Survivor & Team Dinner Event, followed by a Luminaria Remembrance Ceremony. The new event format invites the community to come together in a refreshed and inspiring way to honor cancer Survivors, support Caregivers, and celebrate the commitment of Relay teams and participants. “We’re excited to launch a new format that keeps the heart of Relay alive while offering a more connected and meaningful experience,”

Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the Dream Act , today delivered remarks at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) forum. In his remarks, Durbin spoke about meeting Tereza Lee, the daughter of South Korean parents who fled to Brazil following the Korean War. Born in Brazil, Ms. Lee and her family moved to the United States when she was just two years old in 1985. While applying to colleges, Ms. Lee’s status as an undocumented immigrant created complications. She contacted Durbin’s office in hopes of remaining in the United States and attending college in the country. Her story inspired Durbin to immediately begin drafting the Dream Act . “Twenty-four years ago, Senator Hatch and I first introduced the Dream Act after I met Tereza Lee, a musical prodigy who immigrated to the United States at just two years old. She, like so many other Dreamers,

Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after he voted against moving forward with the nomination of Frank Bisignano to lead the Social Security Administration (SSA): “As if it wasn’t enough to tank the economy and decimate Americans’ retirement accounts, President Trump has put forth a nominee to lead the Social Security Administration that would be complicit in closing SSA offices, limiting SSA phone services, and perpetuating delays in Americans receiving their hard-earned retirement benefits. “In casting their vote to move forward with Frank Bisignano’s nomination, Senate Republicans greenlit President Trump and unelected billionaire Elon Musk’s grand plan to destroy Social Security.”

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – May is National Foster Care Month, a time to recognize the important role child welfare professionals, community social service agencies, caregivers and the public play in supporting children and families. This year’s theme, “Engaging Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities,” aims to raise awareness about the importance of involving youth in the decisions being made about their welfare, the significance of maintaining connections to important people in their lives and how to best support youth as they transition out of foster care. “Every child and youth in our care deserves to feel safe and loved” said Illinois DCFS Director Heidi E. Mueller. “It is because of our incredible foster parents across the state that children, youth and siblings can have a home and foster parent who has opened their heart, home and even their family so that a child can have the love and stability they need during a very difficult time.”

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ long-awaited off-highway vehicle park in southern Illinois will officially open to riders on Friday, May 2, 2025. Sahara Woods State Recreation Area near Carrier Mills in Saline County features Illinois’ first state-managed off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail system in Illinois. The nearly 30 miles of two-way trails are designed to meet a growing demand for motorized recreation. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Monday. Vehicle permits are $20 per day or $65 for a four-day pass. Riders can go online to purchase permits and complete the registration form and liability waiver. OHVs cannot be wider than 64 inches, consistent with the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code. Riders also must abide by safety rules. Visit Sahara Woods online for details. The Sahara Woods trails were funded in part by federal grants and IDNR capital funds. The land at Sahara Woods was the site of an active coal mine

Continue Reading

GLEN CARBON - Devin Ellis, a senior midfielder for the Father McGivney Catholic High girls soccer team, scored perhaps the biggest goal in the program’s history on April 30, 2025, when she sent a header to the inside of the far post off a corner by Rachel Kretzer into the back of the net to give the Griffins a 1-0 win over Edwardsville in a very well-played game by both sides at McGivney. The goal came in the 79th minute to give the Griffins the win. For Ellis, it was her sixth goal of the season to go along with three assists. She’s emerged as a key player on the team, who kept their 100 percent record alive at 16-0-0. Ellis is a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Female Athlete of the Month for the Griffins. In her post-match interview, Ellis, to say the least, was very happy with the winner and how things turned out in the game. “I’m feeling ecstatic,” Ellis said. “It’s the first time we’ve played Edwardsville, just feeling all the

Continue Reading

GRANITE CITY – Three individuals face similar charges after working in pairs on a series of Granite City burglaries. David L. Miller, 50, and Robert D. Kelly Jr., 43, both of Granite City, were each charged on April 22, 2025 with Class 2 felony counts of burglary. On Oct. 25, 2024, the two allegedly knowingly entered a building without authority in the 2400 block of Delmar Ave. in Granite City with the intent to commit theft. The Granite City Police Department presented both cases against Miller and Kelly, and both were granted pretrial release. Three months later on Feb. 2, 2025, Kelly was once again charged with a Class 2 felony count of burglary – as was Mary A. Gentle, 34, listed as homeless out of Granite City. In this case, the two reportedly entered a building without authority and intending to commit theft in the 2500 block of W. 20th St. in Granite City. The cases against Kelly and Gentle were presented by the Granite City Police Department, and both were ordered

Continue Reading

ALTON - National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) shines a spotlight on the U.S. travel industry’s essential role in driving economic growth, creating jobs and enhancing the nation’s global competitiveness. The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau is showcasing it’s role in the travel industry with a series of travel segments on KMOV-TV throughout the week culminating with a live broadcast of Great Day St. Louis at Aerie’s Resort on Friday, May 9. “Southwest Illinois is a dynamic region and travel provides a powerful economic engine for our six counties and 39 communities,” noted Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. “Travel fuels our local economies and enhances the quality of life in our region.” The Great Rivers & Routes region had over $827 million in travel spending in 2024 which generated $31.6 million in local tax revenues. Travel and tourism in the region supported $203.2 million in hospitality

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department announced it issued 61 citations for hands-free law violations and 13 for other violations during April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month enforcement campaign. “While we enforce traffic laws for various reasons, our primary focus is to save lives,” Sgt. Matt Senci said. “This increased enforcement was implemented to help motorists avoid the potentially life-altering consequences of distracted driving.” The Edwardsville Police Department joined forces with the Illinois State Police, local law enforcement and highway safety partners for this enforcement effort. The Illinois distracted driving campaign is funded with federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) spoke from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to honor the victims of Monday’s car crash in Chatham, Illinois. Budzinski expressed her condolences for the families of the four young lives lost: Alma Buhnerkempe, 7; Kathryn Corley, 7; Ainsley Johnson, 8; and Rylee Britton, 18. WATCH: Budzinski Honors Chatham Crash Victims from the House Floor

Continue Reading

TROY - Are you ready for a party in the street! The first event for the First Friday in Troy Series will take place on Friday, May 2, from 5-8 p.m. in downtown Troy. The event will bring together downtown businesses, artisan market vendors, downtown restaurants, food trucks and entertainment. Mike Sonderegger will be the featured entertainment for this event. The event will take place between 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. People are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and can even leave them in a secured tent while walking around downtown. The event will be based on Main Street, between Clay and Market Streets, where the street will be blocked. Attendees will be encouraged to grab some food from the Troy VFW fish fry or make a selection from the Time Out Menu. The food trucks that will be located in the Jarvis Township parking lot will be Franko’s Hot Dogs, Sticky Fingers Ice Cream and Spud Shack. Everyone can bring their food and drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

Continue Reading

ALTON – A Precious Organization, in partnership with the Alton Police Department and YWCA Southwestern Illinois, is excited to announce the return of Ballin’ With A Cop from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the YWCA Gymnasium, located at 304 E. Third St., Alton. Now in its 10th year, Ballin’ With A Cop brings together local youth and members of the Alton Police Department for a fun-filled afternoon of basketball and connection. The event creates an opportunity for young people to engage with police officers in a relaxed, team-oriented environment that encourages respect, communication, and community spirit. Tammy Smith, CEO of A Precious Organization, launched the initiative with a vision of building bridges between law enforcement and residents, particularly youth. “When we were based in the YWCA building, using the gym to create a meaningful experience made perfect sense,” Smith shared. “Our goal was to create something positive

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Foster’s Light in the Dark will host their second annual fundraiser to further their mission of honoring those lost to drug overdose and suicide. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, 2025, community members can stop by the Edwardsville Moose Lodge at 7371 Marine Road for a chicken dinner. A portion of the proceeds benefit Foster’s Light in the Dark, a nonprofit that aims to create a memorial park for community members who have lost their lives to substance use and mental illness. “Our loved ones, yeah, they died,” said Christina Foster Beegle. “But they’re on the other side wanting us to live a life that they never got to. And that’s how we can memorialize them.” Foster Beegle, who is in recovery herself, started Foster’s Light in the Dark after losing three brothers to suicide and her best friend to an overdose. Over the past year, she has worked hard to spread awareness and raise money for the memorial

Continue Reading

CHATHAM — Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said at a press conference on Thursday, May 1, 2025, that early evidence suggests the recent Chatham crash may have developed because of some type of medical emergency involving the driver. Kelly said at this time, ISP can report initial toxicology test results are negative for alcohol and controlled substances. “Some evidence has been developed into a medical emergency leading up to crash,” Kelly said at the press event. However, he emphasized that the Illinois State Police investigation is ongoing and no final conclusions have been reached. “We follow the facts to come up with conclusions,” Kelly said. “Conclusions have yet to be determined.” The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, identified as 44-year-old Marianne Akers of Chatham, was uninjured and taken to a hospital for evaluation, but was released. Kelly again identified the crash victims at the press conference as Ainsley

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS – Today is a disappointing day for our community and for the city as a whole. The St. Louis Development Corporation’s Board of Directors has made the decision to release Neal Richardson, a dedicated leader who has tirelessly worked to foster development and economic growth in our city, particularly in North St. Louis. Neal Richardson’s leadership has been instrumental in driving initiatives aimed at revitalizing our neighborhoods and empowering residents. Most notably, Mr. Richardson was the driving force behind the creation of the North Side Economic Empowerment Center, a vital resource designed to support North City residents in starting and growing small businesses. His commitment to ensuring that development benefits all corners of our city, especially the underserved North Side, has been truly commendable. “In a political climate where equity is threatened and DEI programs are being dismantled, frameworks like Mr. Richardson’s Economic Justice

Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA-39) for the bicameral reintroduction of the Equality Act in an effort to push back against escalated attacks from the Trump Administration, MAGA Republicans, and state legislatures on the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ Americans nationwide. “It is absolutely unacceptable that someone can be fired from their job, evicted from their home and experience discrimination just because of who they are or who they love,” said Duckworth. “As Trump continues his dangerous anti-LGBTQ+ attacks and we see a growing wave of legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community across the country, we must protect their rights at the federal level. I’m proud to join Senator Durbin and my colleagues in re-introducing the Equality Ac

Continue Reading

GRAFTON — Get ready for a tail-wagging, book-loving celebration! At 10 a.m. on Saturday , May 10, 2025, Grafton’s beloved Grove Memorial Park will come alive with laughter, stories, and the pitter-patter of tiny paws as the community kicks off Reading in the Park: Meet Dash the Dachshund! At just 12 weeks old, Dash is already embarking on his first book tour — and Grafton gets to host his official debut! Families, kids, and book lovers of all ages are invited to meet Dash, enjoy free entertainment, and receive one of over 100 free children’s books being gifted during this magical morning. Special guests include a singing princess from Frozen — who will guide little ones through beloved songs like “Let It Go” and “Into the Unknown.” Local artist Lou Ann Branz will lead interactive screen printing projects , sparking kids' creativity and curiosity. And of course, Dash and author Jackie Duty will be there to

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias today announced the winners of the office’s 2025 Organ & Tissue Donor Poster Contest. Katherine Bersnak, a 5th grader at St. Francis Xavier School in suburban La Grange took the top prize. The Secretary of State’s office will distribute Katherine’s poster to schools, libraries and DMVs throughout the state to encourage Illinoisans to sign up to become organ and tissue donors. “As we highlight the importance of organ donation this month, it’s important to encourage and empower young people and provide them with the knowledge and tools to become advocates in their communities and amplify their voices for positive change,” Giannoulias said. “Congratulations to each of the winners and all the contest participants who remind us of simple actions we can take to inform Illinoisans and save lives. We’re proud to showcase their creative talents and promote their work.”

Continue Reading