Riverbender 🕸

JERSEYVILLE - Students of a quilting class offered by Joan and Meredith Dougherty with the Jersey County Arts Council successfully learned the fundamentals of creating large block quilts and T-shirt quilts. The class took place at the First Presbyterian Church in Jerseyville, each Monday night throughout March 2025. The program, designed to introduce participants to the art of quilting, attracted a diverse group of students eager to develop their sewing skills. "The class has been a great opportunity for community members to come together and learn a new craft," said Joan Dougherty.

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EDWARDSVILLE – In recognition of Mother’s Day and the essential needs of families in the Metro East, State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) is proud to announce the launch of her 3rd Annual Mother’s Day Diaper Drive, taking place from April 14 to May 9, 2025. The drive aims to collect essential childcare items for local mothers and children in partnership with Safe Families for Children Metro East. “This initiative is about lifting up the incredible mothers in our community who are working hard every day to care for their children,” said Senator Harriss. “We want to ensure they feel supported and appreciated this Mother’s Day.” Members of the public are invited to contribute by donating new, unopened items. Requested items include diapers (sizes 3, 4, and 5), pull-ups (boys and girls, 2T–5T), sippy cups, baby wipes, toddler-sized socks and underwear, toothbrushes and toothpaste for toddlers, shea moisturizing shampoo

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GRAFTON — The annual Grafton Easter Egg Hunt drew a lively crowd on Saturday morning, April 12, 2025, at Red Hawk Park, where families gathered to celebrate the arrival of spring and partake in a cherished community tradition. The event commenced at 11 a.m. Saturday, welcoming children from six months to fourth grade, all eager to search for brightly colored, candy-filled eggs hidden throughout the park. The Easter Bunny made a special appearance, greeting the young participants as they prepared for the hunt. Each age group had the chance to find a Golden Egg, with the finders receiving a special Easter basket that included a gift certificate from Go-Go May’s ice creamery. The event was made possible through the generous donation from Go-Go May’s, which was recognized by the community for its support. The Grafton Community Outreach Committee, chaired by First Ward Alderwoman Donna Smith, sponsored the event. Chris Petrea, a member of the Children’s Committee,

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PONTOON BEACH – A man from Cicero faces his sixth DUI charge after allegedly driving drunk with a minor passenger in his vehicle before being arrested by state police. Fernando Orozco, 45, of Cicero, Ill., was charged with his sixth offense of aggravated driving under the influence, a Class X felony. Orozco was additionally charged with a Class 4 felony count of aggravated driving under the influence and a Class A misdemeanor count of endangering the life or health of a child. In this case, a 15-year-old child was a passenger in the vehicle Orozco was operating under the influence on I-270 and IL-111 in Pontoon Beach. Orozco’s driver's license had also been revoked or suspended at the time of this latest incident. Charging documents state Orozco had previously been convicted of driving under the influence on five prior occasions from 2007 to 2022, each in Cook County, Ill. A petition to deny Orozco’s pretrial release states the Illinois State Police responded t

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ST. LOUIS - Registration is now open for FreightWeekSTL 2025, set for June 2-6, 2025. The St. Louis Regional Freightway is hosting the conference for the eighth consecutive year. The week-long freight and logistics event features panel sessions, interviews, a riverboat tour through the Ag Coast of America and more. FreightWeekSTL spotlights the latest trends and innovations impacting global freight movement and highlights the leadership role the St. Louis region continues to play in advancing major infrastructure projects that support its position as a world-class logistics hub. “FreightWeekSTL will once again deliver a wealth of timely information for those engaged in the industrial real estate, manufacturing and logistics sectors. It also will spotlight the St. Louis region’s continued advancement as a key hub in the global supply chain,” said Mary Lamie. Lamie is Executive Vice President of Multimodal Enterprises for Bi-State Development, which operates the St.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released its updated Illinois School Vaccination Coverage Dashboard . The updated dashboard includes data from the current 2024-25 school year. The interactive platform provides valuable insight into statewide, county, and school district vaccination trends, using publicly available data collected by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). “Providing Illinois residents with access to real-time data to guide their medical decision-making is a critical IDPH priority,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “The updated school vaccination dashboard now allows parents and caregivers to review the latest vaccination trends in their local school districts. As a pediatrician, I know how important vaccinations are for protective children from preventable illnesses. As measles outbreaks spread through various parts of the United States, it is now more important than ever to make sure yo

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TROY - Triad High School's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter is seeking financial support as it prepares for the national competition in Anaheim, Calif., this summer. The organization, which aims to equip high school students with essential business skills, has qualified two students for the prestigious event after successfully navigating local and state competitions. FBLA, a nationwide organization established in the 1940s, provides students with opportunities to learn about various aspects of business, including finance, economics, and small business management. This year marks the second year of competition for the Triad High School chapter, which has achieved significant success with ten national qualifiers. However, due to scheduling conflicts, only two students — seniors Mary and Andrea — will attend the national competition. The estimated cost for each student to participate is approximately $1,695, which includes registration fees, travel expenses,

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JERSEY COUNTY — A motorcycle crash on Illinois Route 100 at Scenic Drive resulted in the death of the driver at 6:16 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, 2025, according to the Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 8. ISP said preliminary reports indicate that the single-unit crash involved a motorcycle that struck a guardrail. Emergency responders pronounced the driver deceased at the scene. The ISP is currently gathering more information, but no further details have been released at this time.

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GRAFTON - The Great Mushroom Hunt at Raging Rivers WaterPark was another successful event. On Saturday, April 12, 2025, hundreds of Riverbend residents stopped by Raging Rivers to hunt for mushrooms and Easter eggs on the park’s property. Attendees could enjoy major prizes and a vendor fair in addition to the hunt. General Manager Jeremy Hayes said the fifth annual event was a great experience for all involved. “It’s really awesome,” Hayes said. “It's just keeping Raging Rivers fresh in everybody’s minds and another way for us to give a little bit of family events and family things to do. That’s what Raging Rivers is all about, just making memories for everybody. We hope to make lasting memories for people, whether it be at the water park or one of our events. However, wherever, we're out to make memories for people.” Attendees could visit with the Easter Bunny and other mascots, including the Raging Rivers Mississippi Monster.

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ALTON - Pride, Inc. hosted their biannual City Wide Litter Pickup. On Saturday, April 12, 2025, community members across Alton participated in the cleanup. Pat Stewart, president of Pride, Inc., expressed her gratitude to the many groups and individuals who came out to help the community. “We had a great turnout. We’re so appreciative of everybody,” Stewart said. “Obviously, trash is more than a twice-a-year problem, so the more we can get the message out, maybe people will start carrying a trash bag in their car. And who knows, if they see a nasty street, maybe they’ll just pull over and continue to do this cleanup throughout the year.” Stewart said many “concerned citizens” took time to help out on Saturday, including the Alton Boys and Girls Club and St. Ambrose School. She emphasized the importance of getting the youth involved and teaching kids about how to properly dispose of trash and care for the community. "It’s

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 21 attorneys general sent a letter regarding a raft of proposed changes that would undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA), making it more difficult and expensive for individuals to enroll in health coverage on federal and state exchanges. Changes would also bar Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients from buying health insurance on the exchanges. If allowed to take effect, the proposed ACA changes will cause up to two million Americans to lose health insurance coverage in 2026 and will create significant health and economic damage to the states as more people are forced to go without health insurance, driving up costs for everyone. “These proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act are unnecessary and disturbing,” Raoul said. “Everyone in this country deserves access to lifesaving health services and these changes could cause hundreds of thousands of Americans to be uninsured. I will

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BELLEVILLE - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today awarded more than $19 million in funding to 38 program recipients serving 1,900 community members statewide to expand the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The program creates a qualified talent pipeline of diverse candidates in the construction and building trades. The Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program launched in 2021 with the goal of increasing diversity and access to apprenticeship programs in well-paying fields. Comprehensive pre-apprenticeship programs help participants gain admission to apprenticeship programs, which provide a greater opportunity to obtain employment in the construction trades and secure a lifelong career. “The greatest resource we have is the hardworking people of Illinois, and the greatest return on investment we have is training and educating them,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “That’s why workforce development

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced $24 million from the 2023 Juul Labs settlement will support efforts by Truth Initiative, the country’s largest nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing youth and young adult nicotine use and addiction, to provide Illinois youth with vital resources for vaping prevention and cessation through Truth Initiative’s EX Program, the Vaping: Know the Truth curriculum, and a targeted media campaign. Truth Initiative’s EX Program is an evidence-based quitting resource developed in 2008 by Truth Initiative with Mayo Clinic. EX Program can increase the odds of quitting nicotine by up to 40%, by offering young people personalized digital quitting support accessible via their phones, internet and social media that is tailored to their lifestyle. “E-cigarette use is an ongoing epidemic among youth in Illinois as flavored, disposable vaping products that appeal to teens and youth have flooded

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SPRINGFIELD - As construction season gets underway, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is issuing a reminder about the state’s prevailing wage laws, requiring fair pay to workers on publicly financed projects. The prevailing wage is set by county, marking the least amount of money and benefits a contractor is required to pay workers. Besides ensuring fair pay, these laws are also necessary to help create a level playing field and fair bidding process for all contractors on taxpayer funded projects. “I want the hardworking people of Illinois who are building our roads, re-enforcing bridges and putting up new structures to know that we have their back,” said Comptroller Mendoza. “As state comptroller, I am the state’s chief fiscal and accountability officer and the last line of defense in making sure workers on public projects are paid properly.” In 2019, Comptroller Mendoza signed an executive order to give state prevailing wage laws more teeth

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EDWARDSVILLE – Main Street Community Center is excited to partner with Sunrise Tours to offer the Dakotas Showcase Travel Trip, an unforgettable journey through the American frontier. This adventure, scheduled for June 10-17, 2025, will feature a Theodore Roosevelt Experience in Medora, a full-day tour of the Black Hills, and visits to iconic landmarks such as Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Badlands National Park. To provide interested travelers with all the details, Main Street Community Center will host an informational meeting on April 22, 2025 at 10 a.m. at its location in Edwardsville, Ill. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the itinerary, pricing, and registration process. As an added incentive, everyone who attends the meeting will be entered into a drawing to win $100 off their trip, provided they sign up that day or have already registered. This trip, organized by Sunrise Tours, offers a unique chance to explore the rich history and breathtaking

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ALTON – YWCA proudly announces the 2025 Josephine Marley Beckwith Future Leader (JMBFL) Scholars: Elizabeth Blackmon and Cameron Conwell. Elizabeth, a standout student at Alton High School, plans to major in computer science and/or mechanical engineering, while Cameron, another exceptional student from Alton High School, aims to pursue a major in Biology with a Pre-Med direction. In addition to these remarkable scholars, the following students have qualified for renewal scholarships: Jada Bruce (Alton), Guadalupe Calixto (Bethalto), Isabella Hall (Alton), Samantha Kulish (East Alton), and Emma Smith (Bethalto). These young women have demonstrated ongoing academic excellence and commitment to leadership, earning them continued support through the Josephine Marley Beckwith Scholarship. YWCA awards $1,000 renewable scholarships to deserving young women, honoring the legacy of Mrs. Josephine Marley Beckwith, a Woman of Distinction in the Class of 2002. These scholarships empower

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul co-led a coalition of 21 attorneys general today in filing two amicus briefs supporting law firms challenging unconstitutional executive orders imposing severe sanctions on the firms in retaliation for doing work disfavored by the Trump administration. “Attacking attorneys because they represented a client in a matter adverse to the government or made arguments disfavored by the government threatens our First Amendment rights, right to counsel principles and the independence of law firms,” Raoul said. “I join my fellow attorneys general in asking the courts to block these orders and defend lawyers from political retribution. As our states’ top legal officers, we stand with all our colleagues in the legal community, in Illinois and across the country, who stay true to the ideals and values of our profession.” President Donald Trump has issued executive orders retaliating against law firms whose advocacy, clients

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week joined U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and 15 Senate colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to help ease the financial cost of adoption and support prospective and adoptive families. The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act restores the refundable portion of the Adoption Tax Credit. By allowing the tax credit to be refundable, families will be able to access the full amount as a refund, even if the credit exceeds a family’s tax burden. The existing Adoption Tax Credit allows adoptive families to deduct up to $16,810 in qualified expenses. “We should be doing everything we can to make things more affordable for families,” Duckworth said. “Adoption can put a financial strain on families, but by making the Adoption Tax Credit fully refundable we’re helping ensure these families can keep more of their hard-earned money to pay for their loved ones’

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced his appointment of Brandon Ragle, a leader in IT strategy and management with 20+ years of experience, to lead the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology. Ragle currently serves as interim Secretary following the departure of Sanjay Gupta. Before his position as Interim Secretary, Ragle served as Deputy Secretary and Deputy Chief Information Officer from 2023-2025. “As part of our continued efforts to bolster the technology and innovation sectors across our state, I’m excited to appoint Brandon Ragle as the next leader of DoIT,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m confident that his extensive expertise and leadership experience will optimize software systems and support staff across the agency. I look forward to leveraging his distinct operational knowledge to further DoIT’s critical statewide initiatives.” Ragle began his career with the State of Illinois in May 2002, working as a software

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06) and Don Bacon (R-NE-02) reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would help expand leave benefits for the millions of devoted health professionals serving in the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps. Despite being responsible for leading our nation’s emergency response to dangerous public health crises, PHS officers are still the only federal entity—civilian or uniformed—without access to essential leave benefits, including extended parental leave, emergency leave, court appearance leave and rest and recuperation leave. The lawmakers’ Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act would rectify this issue by ensuring PHS officers have access to the same authorized leave that is available to members of th

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