Riverbender 🕸

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced a weekend lane closure on eastbound Interstate 64 between Illinois 157 and Illinois 159 in St. Clair County. Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, June 12, eastbound I-64 traffic will be reduced to one lane. Two lanes will reopen by 7 a.m. Monday, June 15, weather permitting. The lane closure is required for road construction as part of ongoing improvements in the corridor. Motorists should expect delays and are

ALTON - A motorcyclist crashed into the back of a vehicle Thursday afternoon, June 11, 2026, at East Broadway and East Landmarks Boulevard in Alton, sending the motorcycle to the ground. Still, no major injuries were reported, Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said. The collision happened on June 11, 2026, when the motorcyclist ran into the rear of the vehicle on East Broadway at East Landmarks Boulevard. The impact caused the motorcycle to slide into the nearby vehicle and fall to the ground.

GLEN CARBON – A shared use path connecting Glen Carbon residents to the Edwardsville High School campus and beyond is moving ahead with village approval. On June 9, 2026, trustees unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement between the Village of Glen Carbon, the City of Edwardsville, and the Madison County Transit District to build a shared use path on Route 157. The Village Board also approved a related agreement with TWM, Inc. for the Route 157 shared use path. Public Works

WOOD RIVER - Cameron Thornton, a senior at East Alton-Wood River High School, has been recognized as Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month for soccer after what he described as building strong connections with teammates on and off the field and maintaining his focus on faith, family, and academics. Thornton, who has played soccer for three years, said he enjoys “how fun it is to play and how competitive it can be.” He pointed to relationships with teammates as a

BETHALTO — The Bethalto Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the 200 block of St. Marys Place on Friday, June 12, 2026. When firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy smoke inside the home. Crews initially searched for the source of the fire but were unable to locate it. “We were unable to locate the fire at first, so we called a box alarm,” Bethalto Fire Chief Jay Grant said. “We were afraid the fire would take off on us before we found it. After walking

ALTON - Alton Middle School students recently took an exciting trip to Washington D.C. Seventh and eighth grade students in the Alton Community Unit School District #11 have the opportunity to travel to D.C. every two years. Dr. Brad Bolt, a social studies teacher who oversees the trip, noted that they had another great experience on June 4–6, 2026, and he will begin promoting the 2028 trip this fall. “Really, it really is an opportunity, I believe, that all students should

EAST ST. LOUIS/BELLEVILLE - Illinois State Police said Friday that special agents arrested two East St. Louis men on first-degree murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old Belleville man last week in East St. Louis. The agency said 18-year-old Rashad M. Bonner and 21-year-old Damontez F. Williams were arrested by the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Public Safety Enforcement Group. The arrests were announced on June 12, 2026. According

Wedding season feels modern, almost like a scheduling trend invented by venues, florists, and group chats. It is not. The idea that certain months are better for marriage than others goes back hundreds of years, shaped by religion, farming, money, travel, and even basic hygiene. Why “wedding season” exists at all Most people think couples simply pick dates they like. In reality, wedding patterns have long been shaped by what life allowed. For much of history, marriage was not jus

This date carries importance in the history of exploration and empire. In 1898, the Philippines declared independence from Spain during the Philippine Revolution. Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed independence at Kawit after years of anti-colonial struggle, inspired in part by Filipino nationalism and by the weakening of Spanish control during the Spanish-American War. The declaration did not lead immediately to widely recognized sovereignty, since the United States soon took control of the islands

EDWARDSVILLE - Vito Crowder pleaded guilty Thursday, June 11, 2026, to murder in the death of 13-year-old Ra'Niya Steward and was sentenced to 35 years in prison, closing one part of a case stemming from the fatal shooting of the Alton girl as she stood on her porch on Highland Avenue. Crowder was among five suspects charged in the shooting of Steward, who was struck in the head. Prosecutors initially charged all five with attempted murder, but amended the charges to first-degree murder after

GODFREY, Ill. — A motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries following a crash involving a motorcycle and another vehicle Thursday afternoon in Godfrey. According to the Madison County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded at approximately 4:55 p.m. on June 11, 2026, to the area of Godfrey Road near Crestwood Drive after receiving reports of a traffic crash involving a vehicle and a motorcycle. When first responders arrived, they found the motorcycle operator had sustained

ALTON - The plans for the Night Market scheduled for Thursday, June 11, 2026, have changed due to the weather forecast. The Night Market is typically held outside in the greenspace next to Catdaddy’s and Sugar Alley on West 3rd Street in downtown Alton. Due to forecasted storms, Alton Main Street announced in a Facebook post that the “outdoor portion” of Night Market is canceled for June 11. Tonight’s featured band, Miller Floyd, will instead play inside Catdaddy’s

EDWARDSVILLE – Two local police departments have charged East St. Louis and Missouri residents with unlawful weapon possession and other offenses. Saphone O. Redden, 28, of Black Jack, Mo., was charged on June 2, 2026 with one count each of aggravated unlawful possession of weapons (a Class 4 felony) and unlawful possession of cannabis (a Class A misdemeanor). Redden allegedly carried a Springfield 9mm handgun in a motor vehicle on Feb. 9, 2026 while engaged in a violation of the Cannabis

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (June 10, 2026) - We are proud to recognize the outstanding academic achievements of our Blugolds who have earned a place on the Dean’s List. Their commitment to excellence exemplifies the highest standards of scholarship at UW-Eau Claire. Congratulations on this remarkable accomplishment! Students from the Riverbend area who were named to the Dean's List are: Edwardsville, IL - Sam Wittek, College of Business Eligibility Requirements At the end of each semester

GLEN CARBON - The Village of Glen Carbon will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its homecoming with the Glentennial, complete with a parade, carnival, live music and plenty of fun. On Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20, 2026, community members can join the festivities by parking at Village Hall and taking the free shuttle to The Wooden Nickel, which serves as the entrance to the event. The Glentennial runs from 5–11 p.m. on Friday night and 3–11 p.m. on Saturday. The parad

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After Republicans on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) blocked her amendments to hold President Donald Trump accountable for his illegal war of choice against Iran and dangerous domestic deployments to American cities, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) voted against committee passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The defense bill will soon be considered by the full Senate. “Time after

EDWARDSVILLE — The Edwardsville Arts Center is proud to announce the opening of its first exhibition in a new gallery space at 246 North Main Street, marking an exciting step forward while plans continue for its future home. This inaugural exhibit celebrates the 100th anniversary of U.S. Route 66—the iconic highway that has long symbolized freedom, travel, and the American spirit. Bringing together regional artists working in photography, painting, and mixed media, the exhibition

GRANITE CITY – A Granite City man who allegedly tried fleeing police and two other local residents accused of possessing a stolen car face felony charges in Madison County. 43-year-old Danny G. Linhart Jr. of Granite City was charged on May 28, 2026 with two Class 4 felony counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer. Linhart allegedly knowingly attempted to flee from a Granite City Police officer who had signaled for Linhart to stop the vehicle he was driving

HIGHLAND - A semi truck and trailer hauling candles and perfume caught fire on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, on Interstate 70 near the 32-mile marker in Highland, shutting down the interstate for more than two hours as multiple fire departments responded, according to the Highland-Pierron Fire Department. “What may go down in history as ‘the best smelling fire’ was a semi truck and trailer on Interstate 70 near the 32-mile marker that was hauling candles and perfume,” the

JERSEYVILLE – Jerseyville City Council members approved various items at their June 9, 2026 meeting, from a new Library Board appointee to a grant for a relocating business and more. Shannon Maag Appointed To Library Board The council unanimously approved the appointment of Shannon Maag to the Jerseyville Public Library Board of Trustees. Maag will fill the unexpired term of Steve LeBlanc, with her term to expire on June 30, 2028. Mayor Kevin Stork explained that since LeBlanc is