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A March 5, 1925, article in the Alton Evening Telegraph announced that a 1924 graduate of Alton High School, Alonzella Banta, 700 Alby Street, played basketball at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. “Men alone are not the only ones to take advantage of the great indoor game of basketball, which is at its height at the University of Illinois just now, for practically every woman registered in the university is a member of some basketball team, unless taking physical training work of another nature which has been prescribed by the department of physical welfare.” Other “physical training” sports the women could participate in included volleyball, swimming, track, bowling, tennis, baseball, and apparatus (gymnastics). The University of Illinois first admitted female students in 1870, but it took more than a century for gender equality to be standard in sports at the University. To quote the Women’s Athletics page of the 1909 edition of The Illi

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ALTON - Kim Hunt had people who advocated for her, and it’s her goal in life to repay the favor. Hunt, one of the YWCA’s ten 2025 Women of Distinction, will be honored at the Y’s annual gala for her commitment to the community. She serves as the founder of the nonprofit Saving Black Minds, and she aims to support kids and families through back-to-school and women’s empowerment initiatives. “Growing up, I had an absolutely amazing village. Part of my goal in life is to provide that village to children who might not have had that same opportunity,” she shared. “I am a supporter. That’s really my call in life, to support people. How that pans out depends on the scenario and depends on what’s needed.” Hunt started Saving Black Minds in 2015, and the organization is “not about the color of the skin, but about the condition of the mind.” They work in the Greater St. Louis area to provide opportunities for local

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ALTON – An Alton man with multiple prior convictions past faces five new felony charges after a traffic stop yielded drugs and a stolen firearm. Nathan A. Johnson, 40, of Alton, was charged with the following: Possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender (Class X felony) Armed violence (Class X felony) Unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (Class 1 felony) Felon in possession of a weapon (Class 2 felony) Unlawful possession of a stolen firearm (Class 2 felony) On Feb. 21, 2025, Johnson allegedly possessed of a stolen Taurus G3C 9mm handgun and one to 15 grams of methamphetamine after being convicted of multiple prior felonies. Among his prior convictions are three cases of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm from 2005, 2010, and 2016, each filed in Madison County. A petition was filed to deny Johnson’s pretrial release, stating the illegal items were found after officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle

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WOOD RIVER — The City of Wood River is set to hold a Special Council meeting at 5 p.m. on March 6, 2025, in Council Chambers at City Hall. The primary agenda item will be a discussion and vote on an ordinance aimed at aligning local regulations with Illinois State Statute regarding the calling of special meetings. According to Mayor Tom Stalcup, the proposed ordinance would require that any special meeting be called either by the mayor or by three members of the city council. "As we move forward, we will continue to bring any outdated ordinances into compliance with Illinois State Statute," Stalcup said. He said the meeting reflects the city's ongoing efforts to ensure that its ordinances are up-to-date and to keep community members informed of progress and changes at various governmental levels. The meeting is live on Riverbender.com at 5 p.m. Thursday. Click here.

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Dear Editor: It is my pleasure to wholeheartedly endorse Mayor Mike McCormick for re-election as Godfrey Mayor. As a Godfrey resident, I have seen first-hand Mayor McCormick’s dedication and love for the Godfrey community. I was reminded of his dedication and creative management this weekend when I attended Coffee with the Mayor. The owner of the Ranch House reminded everyone there of the Mayor’s COVID-19 voucher program that infused more than $800,000 to support local small businesses and assist Godfrey families at a very difficult time. This voucher allowed a family to buy a voucher for a local restaurant or business at half the normal price. The rest of the voucher was paid for by the Village of Godfrey out of the Village Business District Fund. The family benefited from the reduced cost and the business benefited from business that may have been lost due to COVID. The owner of the Ranch House said this program allowed her to put people back to work at a time when

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ALTON - Following a recent shooting , Alton community members gathered for a rally against gun violence. On Thursday, March 6, 2025, community members met at the 1200 block of Central Avenue in Alton to talk about gun violence and its impact on youth. The event, organized by Alderwoman Rosetta Brown and activist Lee Barham, drew community leaders from across the Riverbend region. “Alton is one of the most precious cities in Illinois, and we refuse to let it become corrupt,” Brown said to kick off the rally. “We’ve gathered here today to show that we care, and that’s what it means. We care, and we are taking our streets back, and we are going to cover our youth and we’re going to cover our neighborhoods.” Alton Mayor David Goins recognized the Alton Police Department for their investigative work in the most recent shooting. “Hopefully we can send a message to the individuals that if you try something in Alton, you’re

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ROXANA — Village Administrator Bob Coles commended the Roxana High School seniors for their participation in the annual “Senior Assassin” game, a tradition that fosters camaraderie and creativity among students. This year, 42 seniors are engaged in the game, which involves students secretly assigned targets to “eliminate” with water guns while protecting themselves from being eliminated. The game has garnered attention for its lighthearted nature, as students don floaties or swimming goggles to avoid detection. Coles highlighted the positive spirit of the community, and said, “At a time when so much attention is placed on negative news, it’s refreshing to see our youth engaging in clean, wholesome fun.” Participants have been spotted around town in their floaties, creating amusing scenes in various settings, including workplaces and local stores. One student shared his experience of removing his floaties at the gym to avoid standing out,

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CHAMPAIGN- Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, teachers, school administrators, and municipal officials to propose a classroom cell phone ban in schools across Illinois. A key initiative mentioned in the Governor’s State of the State Address, the legislation would require all public school districts in Illinois to adopt a wireless communication device policy that limits the use of personal devices during class instruction time. “It’s imperative that the state set students up to achieve their full potential – not just by investing in them, but by fostering a healthy and productive classroom environment,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Study after study has demonstrated the benefits of a ban on classroom use of cell phones not just on student performance – but on overall health and wellbeing. This legislation will allow our teachers to focus on what matters most – delivering a quality education that opens up opportunit

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SPRINGFIELD - Following the Congressional hearing on sanctuary city policies and Mayor Brandon Johnson’s embarrassing testimony, Illinoisans are left with more questions than answers on how taxpayer dollars are being used to support illegal immigrants. The Illinois House Republican Organization is calling on House Democrats to demand that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson testify before a legislative committee in Springfield after his evasive and inadequate responses before Congress. During his testimony in Washington, D.C., Johnson attempted to shift blame for Chicago’s sanctuary city crisis onto state law, citing the Illinois TRUST Act. If Mayor Johnson believes state law is the problem, then he should appear before the General Assembly and advocate for repealing the very policies that have made Illinois a magnet for illegal immigration. If he is right, House Democrats will need to answer for policies that have given the Mayor the greenlight to protect violent criminal illega

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Housing Development Authority’s Homeownership Department (IHDA Mortgage) is proud to announce the recipients of its “2024 Lender and Loan Officer Awards.” These awards recognize the banks, mortgage lenders, credit unions, and loan officers who assisted the most homebuyers utilizing IHDA Mortgage programs over the past year. With more than 160 lenders currently partnered with IHDA Mortgage across Illinois, the lender awards recognize the institutions and individuals who excelled in serving low- to moderate-income homebuyers. “Affordable homeownership isn’t just about family stability. It’s about building strong communities and a competitive economy that offers opportunities for all Illinoisans,” IHDA Executive Director Kristin Faust said. “Our lending partners play a key role in this work, ensuring homebuyers in every community across the state have direct access to IHDA’s housing counseling, mortgage

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SPRINGFIELD – On Wednesday, more than 70 nurses from Illinois’ Magnet hospitals met with Illinois lawmakers to stress the importance of investing in healthcare, while also advocating for policies that prioritize patient safety, support clinical leadership and innovation, and preserve access to quality care for all Illinois residents. "Illinois is home to world-class hospitals dedicated to excellence,” said A.J. Wilhelmi, Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) President and CEO. “IHA congratulates Illinois’ Magnet hospitals for this significant distinction and celebrates all Illinois hospitals for their unwavering commitment to patient care. We are especially grateful for our nursing workforce, whose dedication goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional service and improve health outcomes across the state." During Magnet Hospital Day, attendees had the opportunity to network, celebrate the journey to Magnet status, and share with legislators

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WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, asked for unanimous consent (UC) to pass a simple resolution he introduced condemning Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children and called on Russia to work with the international community to return all abducted Ukrainian children to their families. Since Russia’s full-scale war of aggression started in 2022, the Russian government has abducted, forcibly transferred, or facilitated the illegal deportation of at least 20,000 Ukrainian children. Senate Republicans rejected the resolution. They also objected to every other straightforward resolution offered by Senate Democrats, including urging Russian President Putin to end the war, clarifying that Russia started the war, stating that Russia committed war crimes, reaffirming the U.S.-Ukraine relationship and support for its sovereignty, and clarifying that no nation should forcibly seize

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FIELDON — A man was pronounced dead Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at the Calhoun Quarry, located at 25840 Eldred Road, following an incident involving falling rock, according to the Jersey County Coroner's Office. Authorities received a call regarding the situation at 4:19 p.m. on March 5, 2025. The Jersey County Sheriff’s Office requested mutual aid, prompting responses from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and Calhoun EMS. Jersey County Coroner Kevin Ayres, who arrived at the scene, confirmed that the man was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. “The initial cause of death appears to be from falling rock,” Ayres said. Jersey County Sheriff Nick Manns said the victim was a 67-year-old man. "It appears to be an accidental death, which occurred during mining operations at the quarry," Sheriff Manns said. The coroner indicated that the victim's name will be released once all family members have been notified. The investigation into the circumstances

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SPRINGFIELD – The Administration of Governor JB Pritzker announced that Illinois recorded an 8.3% drop in overall drug overdose deaths in 2023, exceeding a nationwide decline of 4%. Specifically, opioid overdose deaths declined 9.7% in the state, compared to 3% nationally. The new data shows 3,502 overdose deaths in Illinois from all causes in 2023, 317 fewer than in 2022. The new data comes as the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) unveiled an expanded Overdose Data Dashboard that shares more data and makes the tool easier to use for both researchers and the general public. Governor Pritzker also announced in his Budget Address that, subject to review by the General Assembly, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) will consolidate its mental health and substance use divisions into an integrated Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery in order to improve access to care and positive outcomes for consumers. “My administration has worked closely with

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SPRINGFIELD - The public overwhelmingly favors retaining the current state flag, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced following the five-week voting period to consider a redesign of the flag. Voters had the option to choose their favorite design from one of the Illinois Flag Commission’s Top 10 new designs, or one of three former flag designs, including the current one, which has not had a major redesign in the past century. Of the nearly 385,000 votes that were received, over 165,000, or 43 percent, were cast for the current Illinois State flag, which received more votes than the next five top designs combined. “Some may call it an SOB – a seal on a bedsheet – and the vexillogical community may hate it, but people overwhelmingly prefer our current state flag,” Giannoulias said. “Thank you to everyone who made their voice heard on the future of this important symbol of state pride.” The Illinois Flag Commission will prepare

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke against efforts by the Trump Administration to intimidate judges and undermine the rule of law. Durbin then asked unanimous consent (UC) to pass a resolution that simply affirms that the Constitution vests the judicial power in the federal courts. It also affirms that both the Constitution and established precedent require the executive branch to comply with all federal court rulings. U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) objected to Durbin’s unanimous consent request. Durbin was joined on the Senate floor by Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who spoke in support of his resolution. “In recent weeks, several federal judges have issued orders blocking unlawful actions taken by the Trump Administration. In response, the Administration’s officials and allies have made worrisome statements criticizin

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ALTON – Rock the Hops returns to Downtown Alton, Illinois, bringing together music lovers, art enthusiasts, and community stakeholders for an electrifying afternoon of live performances, visual artists, makers, and handcrafted libations. The festival will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. on August 9th at several locations, and the producers are excited to invite potential sponsors, venues, musicians, visual artists, beverage makers, and volunteers to be a part of this collaborative community event. Rock the Hops pairs music and art with craft beverages. Attendees can “hop” around between the official venues to catch live music and to observe and purchase art. Ticket holders gain the full experience, with access to free shuttles and the option to taste dozens of styles of locally crafted beer, seltzers, coffee, and more. Over the years, Rock the Hops has showcased over 180 local bands, totalling over 700 musicians who live, work, and create in our community. Sponsorships

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) continues to gather resumes, cover letters, and supporting documentation for applicants interested in serving as the next U.S. Attorney or U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois. The Southern District encompasses 38 counties ranging from the Metro East region eastward to the Illinois-Indiana line and all points south. Interested candidates who have yet to reply or yet to receive confirmation from Bost’s office are encouraged to contact Myles Nelson at (618) 622-0766 or myles.nelson@mail.house.gov to schedule an interview with the congressman.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today voted against the nomination of Todd Blanche to be Deputy Attorney General. In a speech on the Senate floor ahead of Mr. Blanche’s confirmation vote, Durbin spoke about the weaponization of the justice system since President Trump took office and argued that Mr. Blanche will not provide the necessary independence to rein in the President or the army of allies he has installed at the Justice Department. Mr. Blanche has served as President Trump’s personal criminal defense attorney since 2023. Although Durbin observed that nothing suggests that Mr. Blanche was unethical or unprofessional in this capacity, Durbin expressed concern that this representation calls Mr. Blanche’s independence into question. Notably, Mr. Blanche defended the President in the hush money prosecution brought by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, for which

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Letter To The Editor: ALTON – Today, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced his endorsement of Ray Strebel in the 2025 Alton mayoral race. Haine, a respected regional leader on public safety and fifth-generation resident of Alton, cited Strebel’s proven commitment to community safety and governmental reform as key reasons for his support. “I’m proud to back Ray Strebel for Alton Mayor in this crucial election. As Alderman, he took on problem businesses, pushed for real reforms, and fought to keep our parks safe. He is a strong supporter of Alton Police Department’s excellent efforts at proactive policing and will add new energy and new resources from City Hall to their fight against crime. He also knows the importance of strong and ongoing community engagement, and will renew outreach efforts to every part of our city. In short, Ray Strebel is a leader who gets things done, and as Mayor, he’ll bring the commonsense, results-driven

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