Riverbender 🕸

EAST ST. LOUIS - One teenager has been charged as an adult for the murder of five individuals in East St. Louis this past weekend. A 16-year-old has been charged as an adult in connection with the killings of five people and the shootings of two others this past weekend in East St. Louis, according to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office. The St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office announced a 12-count indictment against Ja’ymier Davis, 16, charging him with fiv

ALTON - The Old Bakery Beer Company will host several upcoming events to bring people together and celebrate the community. On Thursday, July 16, 2026, OBB will host their annual Bark Market for dog lovers and their pets. A percentage of proceeds will go to Hope Animal Rescues . The restaurant will also sponsor a puzzle competition on July 23, followed by Oktoberfest in July on July 25 and the Nerd Market on Aug. 15. Lauren Pattan, owner of The Old Bakery Beer Company, noted that it’s

ALTON – Local event and festival organizers may be eligible for thousands in grants from the City of Alton. An ordinance establishing a microgrant fund for city-wide festivals and events was given a second reading and final approval at the July 8, 2026 Alton City Council meeting. Under the city’s new microgrant program, eligible applicants can secure grants of up to $1,000 for each event, with a cap of $10,000 awarded per applicant each fiscal year. Multiple application deadlines

GRANITE CITY - Granite City Mayor Mike Parkinson said he is excited for Union Pacific Railroad’s Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive to pass through Granite City on Saturday, July 18, 2026, as the historic engine travels back to Cheyenne, Wyoming. The locomotive, the only operational survivor of the 25 Big Boy steam locomotives built in the 1940s, is expected to pass through Granite City shortly after 1 p.m., according to information provided about the trip. The train is scheduled to leave

EDWARDSVILLE — Metro-East Lutheran High School graduate Lucas Lorenz has received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, marking his next step after a high school career that included varsity basketball, volleyball and golf. Lorenz was a multi-sport athlete during high school. He played varsity basketball, served as an outside hitter and captain on the varsity volleyball team, and also competed in varsity golf. Lorenz is a BJ's Printables Male Athlete of the Month for Metro

GRANITE CITY – Madison County authorities have reported a wide variety of items stolen in recent weeks. Dustin M. McCallum, 38, listed as homeless out of Granite City, was charged on July 9, 2026, with a Class 3 felony count of theft. Between June 17 and June 23, 2026, McCallum allegedly knowingly stole two “Pokémon collectible albums filled with Pokémon collectible cards,” according to charging documents. The stolen cards reportedly had a total value exceeding

ALTON — Mayor David Goins is addressing the unnecessary controversy surrounding his recently scheduled time off — not because properly scheduled and communicated personal time requires justification, but because misleading attention surrounding it has caused genuine and unnecessary concern among residents. The mayor says the facts are straightforward. Mayor Goins was away from the office for previously planned personal time. The appropriate individuals were informed i

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Metropolitan Police District 1 officers are seeking the public’s help in identifying and locating a man and vehicle connected to a July 2, 2026, robbery at a restaurant in St. Louis’ Southampton neighborhood, where a 65-year-old man was injured, according to authorities. Police said the robbery happened at about 11:50 a.m. July 2, 2026, inside the Jack in the Box in the 4200 block of South Kingshighway. A preliminary investigation found that the 65-year-old

EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced ramp closures on Interstate 70 at the I-64/55/70 interchange in St. Clair County for bridge repairs as part of a $3.8 million bridge rehabilitation project. Beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, July 20, the following ramps will be closed: Westbound I-64 to westbound I-70 One lane of westbound I-55/70 to westbound I-70 The westbound I-64 to westbound I-70 ramp will be fully closed, while one lane of the westbound I-55/70

ALTON - The Alton Powerboat Nationals will return to the Riverbend this weekend. From July 17–19, 2026, community members can enjoy the Alton Riverfront and F1 powerboat races on the Mississippi River. Tim Seebold, managing director of the races, noted that this year’s experience promises to be bigger and better than ever. “It’s going to be awesome,” he said. “Come out to Alton Riverfront Park and let’s have some fun.” The events on Friday,

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs' measure to expand investment opportunities for non-profit organizations across the state is now law after Gov. JB Pritzker recently signed the bill. Senate Bill 2968 creates the Non-Profit Investment Pool, a safe and efficient investment option allowing eligible nonprofits to make the most of available funds while reducing administrative burdens. The law is intended to help nonprofits strengthen their financial stability and maximize

GLEN CARBON — Father McGivney Catholic High School announced that Shea Guinn has been named one of the 2026 Young Philanthropist Award recipients by the Glennon Guild Junior Board, recognizing her leadership in school service efforts that benefited people in need. The school said Guinn earned the award for coordinating McGivney's winter coat drive and a spring Dress Down Day benefiting the Shining Star School. According to the school, her work reflected leadership, dedication and

EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville’s Route 66 centennial celebration is continuing this fall with a new round of events, including a three-day festival featuring concerts and events that put Illinois in the spotlight, a documentary premiere, and an interactive Route 66-themed adventure, courtesy of Madison County Transit. Beginning Friday, October 9, Edwardsville will host “A Weekend of Songs and Stories: Celebrating 100 Years of Route 66 in Illinois” as part of Great Rivers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reduce the boundaries of two national monuments—Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante. In 2017, the first Trump Administration put 27 national monuments under review with the requirement they were established after 1996 and were over 100,000 acres. Then-Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke recommended six monuments for reduction,

EAST ST. LOUIS - Miranda May is grieving the loss of her mother, grandmother, and brother after a targeted mass shooting this past weekend left five people dead and at least two others wounded, according to Illinois State Police and the East St. Louis Police Department. Authorities said the victims were shot at multiple locations in the East St. Louis area. Those who died in the shooting were identified as Cherie L. May, 49; Devin D. May, 24; Patricia A. May, 74; Quentin L. Thompson, 21; and

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced she will vote against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (NDAA) unless her amendment to end President Donald Trump’s illegal war against Iran is included. Specifically, Duckworth’s amendment would halt additional funding for offensive operations against Iran—while still allowing for self-defense, defense of allies and intelligence gathering—until the American people

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) recognized U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) lifetime of public service following his sudden passing this weekend. “Last week, I joined several of my colleagues from the Senate and the House at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye… Last Wednesday, we had a dinner hosted by the U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack. There must have been 50 or 60 people there,

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced the Gateway Arch National Park Boundary Revision Act , bicameral legislation that would add nearly 50 acres to the Gateway Arch National Park into Illinois. Expanding the site into Illinois, including Malcolm Martin Park and East St. Louis, will promote economic development in Illinois by attracting more visitors to the Illinois side of the river. Expanding the site

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA OHS), in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and local municipalities, is promoting multiple Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) to assist residents and businesses impacted by the severe storms on June 10, 11 and 17, 2026. These disaster declarations cover the primary counties of Cook and LaSalle for the June 10, 11 storms and Coles and Effingham for the June

ALTON - Lydia Schrumpf has been named The Eardley Agency, LLC, Female Athlete of the Month for the Alton Redbirds, following a junior tennis season in which she posted a 23-16 overall record and earned Southwestern Conference All-Conference and Academic All-Conference honors in 2025. She is expected to be the Redbirds' top singles player in 2026. Schrumpf recorded notable wins last season over Belleville East and O’Fallon. Alton High girls tennis coach Jesse Macias said Schrumpf is expected