Riverbender 🕸

EAST ST. LOUIS – U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe released information today that a U.S. District judge sentenced two Chinese nationals to more than 12 months imprisonment for their involvement in a gift card scheme directed at Target shoppers across the Midwest, including Belleville. Hongying Wang, 53, and Guangwei Gao, 38, pleaded guilty to one felony count of using and trafficking in a counterfeit access device. The pair have been incarcerated since Jan. 21, 2023, and so have served their full prison time. In January 2023, a Target security officer observed Wang and Gao placing gift cards onto the racks in the Belleville store for customers to purchase. Upon further review, the gift cards were altered with the codes scratched off and covered by stickers to appear untouched. “The defendants placed fake gift cards onto sales racks with the intention of stealing the loaded funds once purchased by patrons,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “The investigation

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EDWARDSVILLE/GLEN CARBON - On Feb. 22, 2024, the Autism Clinic at Hope invites you to “play with purpose” and enjoy ten rounds of glow-in-the-dark bingo to help fund the programs sponsored through Hope. With over $1,000 in cash prizes available and a glow hat included with every ticket, the night promises to be a fun way to help out. Jodi Ogilvy, Chief Communications and Development Officer at Hope, explained that the organization is expanding, with plans to offer more programs and clinics in the future. The fundraiser will help them to do this. “Being a nonprofit, it’s difficult to really have the funds to expand as quickly as we need to,” Ogilvy said. “But that’s where some of these fundraising events that we have come into play. It helps us to further our mission more and to meet the needs in the communities that we serve.” Located at the Moose Lodge in Edwardsville, the fundraiser invites attendees to play bingo with

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ALTON - Calling all Broadway fans. The Alton Symphony Orchestra will host a free Afternoon of Musical Pops concert on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, at Hatheway Hall on the Lewis and Clark Community College campus. The concert will begin at 3 p.m. with selections from theater favorites like “Swan Lake,” “The Sound of Music," “Hamilton,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “West Side Story” and more. The senior students from the Alton Youth Symphony will also perform, along with up-and-coming violinist Aiden Moon, the Marie Stillwell Concerto Competition Winner. Shane Williams, the maestro of the Alton Symphony Orchestra (ASO), promises a fun time for all community members who come to listen. “At the Alton Symphony, we want to make the music come alive for all, and that means everybody in the community come and enjoy and just have a great experience,” Williams said. As a performer and conductor, Williams has an impressive musical

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ALTON - A GoFundMe has been set up for the family of Ra’niya Steward, a 13-year-old girl who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Alton. According to her father , Steward was a “great girl” who loved TikTok and was excited to welcome a new sibling soon. Megan Tyler of Sacred Spaces of CARE organized the GoFundMe with the permission of Steward’s family. A Ra’niya Memorial Fund account is also set up at Liberty Bank in Alton, where you can make in-person cash donations. Both the GoFundMe and the Ra’niya Memorial Fund money will go to the family. “Our community has suffered a tragic loss, and it is time for us to honor Ra’niya by wrapping around those who loved her most through the giving of resources, love, and prayers,” Tyler said. “Ra’niya was a young, beautiful, vibrant 13-year-old who will be missed dearly. There are no adequate words and nothing of value in this world that can ease the pain of this significant

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Mueller Furniture & Mattress Company is proud to announce the business has received the “2024 Retailer of the Year” award from the Home Furnishings Association. The growing 4th generation family-owned business now has four locations throughout St. Louis and the Metro East including Lake St. Louis and Ellisville in Missouri and Belleville and Fairview Heights in Illinois. This national recognition acknowledges the furniture industry’s highest achievers and is determined by judges on an industry panel. Several categories are judged for the award, including customer experience, company culture, social responsibility, innovation, adaptability, industry contribution, marketing and achievements. The business is being recognized in the category of 50 employees or less. Owner & President of Mueller Furniture, Mark Mueller, said the business has specialized in providing quality, American-made furniture since his great grandfather John Mueller opened

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COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting to discuss the study for the proposed improvements on U.S. 40 from Formosa Road to Bethany Drive in Madison County. The meeting will be held: Wednesday, March 6 4-7 p.m. CA Henning School 520 U.S. 40, Troy IDOT, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, has initiated the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study of U.S. 40. This section of U.S. 40 is located in the city of Troy as well as unincorporated Madison County. The Phase 1 study will look at options to address traffic capacity and mobility through the study area. The purpose of the meeting is to introduce the project and obtain public input. Handouts and display boards will be available for public review, as well as information regarding engineering, land acquisition and environmental processes. Representatives from IDOT and the project consultant, Volkert, Inc., will be available to discuss the project

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EDWARDSVILLE - On Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, Kellsie’s Hope Foundation will host their eighth and final Bad to the Bone Party for a Cure. Starting at 5 p.m. at the Edwardsville Moose Lodge, attendees can enjoy a silent auction, raffles, a catered meal from Fire and Smoke and music by City Heat. All proceeds benefit osteosarcoma research through Kellsie’s Hope Foundation, an organization that funds trips and gifts for children with cancer. “We’re just having a party,” explained Dawn Merkel, who organizes the event. “It’s very important to us because we lost our son to osteosarcoma in December of 2015. And he, like most kids do, he loved having a good time and he loved food and loved to be around friends and family. So this is our way to celebrate him and do what he really loved to do. It just makes everybody feel good. It’s a night just for Sam.” Merkel started the Bad to the Bone Party for a Cure in honor of her son. Eight year

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Central Committee overwhelmingly passed a resolution last week that denounced anonymous mailers. The resolution read, in part, “….disclaimer laws (which are in effect in all 50 states), are intended to foster transparency and accountability in the political process and provide voters with accurate and useful information about who is behind the political advertising…” Ray Wesley, the Madison County Republican Chairman, is echoing the Central Committee’s resolution, and urging Republican voters to beware of some of the campaign materials they may be receiving. “It is at the core of the Republican ethos to promote accountable, lawful elections,” said Wesley. “Therefore it is very concerning that there have been some reported instances recently where anonymous mailings have been sent to Republican voters in support of (or attacking) certain Republican primary candidates, with no group or person taking responsibility

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ALTON - Alton Main Street hosted its quarterly “What’s Up Downtown” meeting on Feb. 13, 2024, to share information about businesses and happenings in downtown Alton. Business owners spoke about plans for their shops and new businesses coming to downtown Alton. Fred Pollard spoke about plans to consolidate his shops, Mississippi Hippie and Mom Said No , into one space. Quint Long with Picture This and More shared information about his collaboration with Strangelovely . AP Cigar Company explained their plans to give away gift cards to local businesses at the end of the month. New restaurant Bentley’s Bar and Grill announced their opening dates. Local artist Kooliverse shared updates about The Conservatory . Caleb Lewis gave opening dates for Moon Drops + Wellness and Honeybee Vintage . A representative shared information about upcoming cleanups and events sponsored by the local chapter of the Sierra Club . Fred

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ALTON - The Alton River Dragons are proud to announce that they have been honored as the 2024 Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Partner of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes the outstanding contributions of the River Dragons in promoting tourism and economic development in the Riverbend area. The partnership between the Alton River Dragons and Great Rivers & Routes has been instrumental in bringing significant sporting events to the region, with a standout example being the hosting of the National Club Baseball Association (NCBA) Division I & Division II World Series at Lloyd Hopkins Field in May of 2023. Over a two-week period, 16 college club baseball teams descended upon the Riverbend, generating over $1 million of economic impact for the local community Building upon the resounding success of the 2023 NCBA World Series, both the NCBA DI and DII competitions are set to return to Lloyd Hopkins Field once again this May. This reaffirms the River Dragons' commitment to fostering

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GRANITE CITY - State Representative Amy Elik’s office will be hosting mobile office hours in Granite City on Wednesday, February 21 to meet with constituents who need help with issues concerning a State of Illinois agency. Rep. Elik’s staff will be available to meet with constituents from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 21 at Granite City Township, 2060 Delmar Avenue, Suite B in Granite City. Traveling office hours are open to the public. Appointments are encouraged but not required, however scheduled meetings will take place in the order in which they were received. To schedule a meeting, please call State Representative Amy Elik’s district office at 618-433-8046.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) in leading 13 colleagues in calling on Secretary Antony Blinken and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to expand assistance for relatives of U.S. citizens stranded in Gaza. The Senators expressed concerns about the current limited eligibility criteria for State Department assistance, and advocated for the State Department to press all conflicting parties to include additional family members beyond current practices. They also urged the Department of Homeland Security to implement expedited processes for adjudicating Gaza residents’ applications for humanitarian parole to the United States. Additionally, the Senators requested information on the current processes in place to assist individuals stuck in Gaza who would otherwise be eligible for visas or visa renewals. “We thank you for your steadfast leadership during this trying time,

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office returned nearly $17.2 million in missing money during January, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced today. The total includes more than $15.7 million in cash and interest and more than $1.4 million in stock value. All told, 25,434 claims were paid. “Putting money back in the hands of people is better for our state’s economy than letting it sit in a bank,” Frerichs said. “You can check our website any time, enter your name, and find out if you or someone you know has cash or property to claim.” What is unclaimed property? When items such as rebate checks, uncashed vendor checks, stocks, unpaid life insurance claims, the contents of safe deposit boxes and the like cannot be returned to their rightful owners by companies and banks, by law the money ends up at the State Treasurer’s Office, which tries to reunite people with their missing money. I-CASH is one of the state’s

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WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Caucus, celebrated Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution to designate February 2024 as American Heart Month. The resolution reaffirms the government’s commitment to fighting cardiovascular disease by supporting research; improving access to affordable, quality care to reduce long-term disability and mortality; and recognizing and championing efforts to address the long-term implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular health and mortality rates. “As the leading cause of death in the U.S., heart disease has touched nearly every American family. We must put forward a concerted effort to research and treat those suffering from cardiovascular diseases,” said Durbin. “I’m encouraged that my Senate colleagues saw the value in raising awareness around the damaging impacts of cardiovascular disease

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MILSTADT, Ill. - State Representative Kevin Schmidt honored local gymnastics sensation Colleen Costello last Friday with a special sign from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). The presentation took place at St. James Catholic Grade School, where Colleen and her mother work. The sign will be proudly displayed at two entrances to Millstadt throughout the next calendar year. Colleen Costello made Millstadt proud by winning an incredible four gold medals and one silver at the Special Olympics World Games in Germany. She excelled in categories such as all-around, clubs, hoop, ribbon, and rope, showcasing her outstanding skills and dedication to the sport. After 26 years of hard work, she achieved something truly amazing. Rep Schmidt expressed his admiration for Colleen, saying, "Colleen's achievements are a source of pride for our community. Her dedication and resilience are an inspiration to us all." Colleen, who was a last-minute addition to the Special Olympics team

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COLLINSVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting to discuss an upcoming project for rehabilitating and resurfacing approximately 3.5 miles of Interstate 255 from Illinois 15 to Illinois 157 in St. Clair County. The meeting will be held on Thursday, March 7 frmo 4-7 p.m. at Wirth/PArks Middle School located at 1900 Mousette Lane, Cahokia Heights. The project, which consists of significant bridge repairs, safety improvements, new lighting, upgraded signing and drainage improvements, will restore the road and bridges to a smooth and safe condition for motorists and will support future investment in the region. The work will be completed under a full closure for approximately six months and is scheduled to begin in early 2025. Handouts and display boards will be available for public review. Representatives from IDOT and the project consultant, Chastain & Associates LLC, will be available to discuss the project and answer questions, including

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today introduced legislation to improve emergency communication technology that could help save lives. The ITS Codification Act would codify the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), which currently serves as the research and engineering laboratory at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and require ITS to develop emergency communication and tracking technologies to help locate trapped individuals in confined spaces where conventional radio communication is limited. “It’s critical that our first responders have access to reliable technology that can help them successfully locate and rescue individuals that find themselves trapped in confined spaces, often without any access to outside communication,” said Duckworth. “I’m proud to introduce this

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Director Chiquita Brooks-LaSure expressing their support for Illinois’ application for a Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver. If accepted, the waiver would accelerate efforts in Illinois to use the Medicaid program to address the opioid epidemic, maternal mortality, violence prevention, mental health challenges, homelessness, hunger, and additional interrelated public health challenges. In Illinois, approximately 3.5 million individuals receive health insurance coverage through Medicaid. “The State’s 1115 application builds upon existing efforts to enhance the delivery of targeted services to the most vulnerable populations—which holds the promise of reducing health care costs and improving health care outcomes. The 1115 application also aligns with several legislative, regulatory,

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CHICAGO - Today Governor JB Pritzker announced the appointment of Mary Killough, a lifelong advocate for seniors, as the next director of the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA), pending Senate confirmation. Killough currently serves as Vice President of Operations and Government Relations for AccentCare, a national leader in home health and hospice services. She previously served as Deputy Director of IDoA from 2011-2015. Killough, a licensed attorney, has over 30 years of experience serving Illinois’ senior population. “Our seniors deserve the highest level of dignity, respect, and care, and I am confident that Mary Killough will be an exceptional leader for the Illinois Department on Aging as we work to deliver on that promise,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Her years of experience serving seniors perfectly position her to bring Aging into its next era and advance the goal of ensuring aging Illinoisans and their caregivers have the resources they need to

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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee—met with Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara to discuss their shared priorities in building on the over 190 years of diplomatic relations between our two nations—an alliance that both have mutually benefitted from militarily, diplomatically, economically and culturally. B-roll of the Senator’s meeting is available at this link and photos of the Senator’s meeting are available at this link. “For over 190 years, the United States and Thailand have helped one another grow and evolve militarily, diplomatically, economically and culturally,” said Duckworth. “As a proud Thai-American, it was a pleasure to welcome Deputy Prime Minister Bahiddha-Nukara to my office and discuss the ways we can build on our powerful, long-standing alliance. Time and again, it’s been

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