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BELLEVILLE – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) announced on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, the arrest of 38-year-old Thomas Conner III of Belleville, for Involuntary Sexual Servitude of a Minor under 17 (Class X Felony), Involuntary Sexual Servitude of a Minor Under 18 (Class 1 Felony), 2 counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse (Class 2 Felony), and Solicitation of a Sexual Act (Class A Misdemeanor). ISP said on July 22, 2022, the East St. Louis Police Department received a report that Conner had sexually assaulted a minor. The ISP Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began a joint investigation into the allegation. After a thorough investigation, the case was presented to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office. On November 14, 2023, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney charged Conner with the above charges. Conner was taken into custody at his residence by the

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RIVERBEND - Riverbender.com has been working hard to promote local businesses and the community for 18 years. We’re asking you now more than ever to shop local on this Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season. Whether it’s on Our Daily Show! or one of the hundreds of news articles we publish every week, we often sit down with small business owners in the Riverbend community to talk about their story. All of these people have one thing in common: They’ve worked hard for years to see their business succeed, and they want to give back to the community they love. It’s the small businesses who support Little League teams, school fundraisers and other local charities. It’s the business owners who live in our community who care about it and want to see it thrive. From Walmart to Starbucks, these brand names are popping up more often in the Riverbend region. Even if you decide to do your holiday shopping at these big box stores,

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GLEN CARBON – The Village of Glen Carbon has announced Panda Express is interested in locating at Orchard Town Center (OTC). On Tuesday, Nov. 28, the Building and Development Committee will consider the concept plan provided by Panda Express. The restaurant offers dishes that merge Chinese flavors with American flair and would be part of the development at Troy Road and Governors Parkway in Glen Carbon. Panda Express’s 2,600-square-foot building would be adjacent to the existing Chick-fil-A Restaurant and offer both dine-in and drive-through options. With over 2,300 restaurant locations in the United States and many locations in international markets, it is a world leader in the Asian dining experience. If the concept plan is approved, the project will continue through the Village’s site development process. Mayor Bob Marcus is enthusiastic about the new restaurant in the Village. “It’s not just about serving popular food options for our residents

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CHICAGO – With hospitalizations for COVID-19 rising in the state ahead of the Thanksgiving Holiday, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is urging Illinoisans to stay informed about conditions in their area and to take steps to get fully protected from the range of seasonal viruses as cases. Twenty counties in Illinois are listed at a medium level for hospitalizations according to the CDC’s national COVID Data Tracker as of the week ending November 11. Across the state, 740 hospitalizations were recorded, a 17% increase from the previous week. The uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations comes as hospital data is also showing increases in flu and RSV. “As hospitalizations for COVID-19, RSV, and flu increase across Illinois, I want to encourage our residents to use all of the tools at their disposal to protect themselves and their loved ones this Thanksgiving Holiday weekend,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Vaccines for COVID-19, flu and RS

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WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator and member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after an agreement was reached to pause hostilities in Gaza for four days and release 50 hostages who have been held by Hamas since their terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7 th , enabling the delivery of much more humanitarian aid to innocent civilians suffering there: “While my heart breaks for every single innocent soul lost in the violence we’ve seen since October 7th, I am deeply grateful that this agreement will finally allow the families of these hostages—including 3 American hostages—as well as the innocent civilians in Gaza to breathe a sigh of relief today. This agreement is a good first step and I commend the Biden Administration for the significant role they played in making it happen. I remain fully committed to supporting a resolution to this crisis that reunites all hostages with their families,

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CHICAGO - Ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Attorney General Kwame Raoul is reminding Illinois residents to exercise caution when shopping online. In particular, Raoul is urging shoppers to do research before taking advantage of “buy now, pay later” offers, using services to split the cost of a purchase into several payments, or accepting offers of loans. “Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest e-commerce days of the year, and it is important that shoppers do not let their pursuit for deals allow them to be vulnerable to hidden fees or scams,” Raoul said. “My office provides advice and resources to help people avoid identity theft and assist those who think their information may have been compromised. I encourage those who need more details to visit my office’s website.” Some businesses and retailers offer “buy now, pay later” plans that allow shoppers to make a purchase right away, but defer payment over

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CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) reminds Illinois taxpayers to remain watchful against potential online threats while conducting Black Friday and other holiday shopping this year. “IDOR, members of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and other state tax administrators all work together to safeguard taxpayers year-round,” explained IDOR Director David Harris. “Whether shopping online or browsing social media sites, people can put their personal information at risk to criminals.” Without proper online safety, thieves can potentially steal personal information. Below are some safety tips to help protect against these attacks: Protect personal information . Refrain from revealing too much personal information online. Birthdates, addresses, age, and financial information, such as bank accounts and Social Security Numbers, are among things that should not be shared freely. Use strong passwords . Consider using a password manager to store passwords

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ALTON - The National Great Rivers Museum (NGRM), in partnership with Meeting of the Rivers Foundation (MTRF), is now accepting entries for their third annual “Winter on the River” Photography Contest. MTRF is looking for artists to capture the beauty of winter along the river for a community photo contest that will be exhibited at the NGRM beginning January 6, 2024. All entries will remain on display as part of this exhibition through the end of the winter season. Artists will be able to submit up to three photos for an entry fee of $10.00 per photo that will benefit the mission of MTRF in promoting and inspiring lifelong, environmental stewardship for the Mississippi River and Great Rivers system. The contest is open to photographers of all skill levels with no age restriction. Entries must be mailed or brought to the National Great Rivers Museum no later than December 18, 2023. Contest eligibility, regulations, and registration for the contest can be found online at

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ENERGY, Ill. – Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 10 officers helped celebrate retired ISP Sergeant Sam Garnati’s 100 th birthday last week. The officers fulfilled a last-minute request by Sergeant Garnati’s family members to share his special day. “ISP as an agency is only one-and-a-half years older than Sergeant Garnati,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Our century long lifespans have shared a common theme, and that theme is the motto of the Illinois State Police – Integrity, Service, and Pride. I wish Sam a very happy belated birthday and thank him for his dedication and service to this country and the people of Illinois.” Sergeant Garnati served the people of Illinois for nearly 34 years. He joined ISP in March 1949 and spent his entire career on patrol in District 13 (Troop 10). He was promoted to corporal on July 1, 1961 and then promoted to sergeant on October 1, 1965. Sergeant Garnati retired from ISP in October 1965

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GRANITE CITY - Granite City Community Unit School District #9 announced a Special Meeting of the Board of Education on Monday, November 27 and Tuesday, November 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the James J. Greenwald Administration Building at 3200 Maryville Road in Granite City, Ill. The purpose of this meeting is to interview Superintendent candidates in Executive Session. For more information about Granite City School District #9, visit www.gcsd9.net .

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CHICAGO – President Joseph Biden has approved Governor Pritzker’s request and signed a Disaster Declaration , allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to offer Individual Assistance for residents in Cook County, Illinois who were impacted by severe weather in September. FEMA's Individual Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and businesses owners recover from the effects of the storms. "Thank you to President Biden and FEMA for recognizing the devastating effects of recent extreme weather in Cook County by taking the appropriate action to ensure impacted residents can get back on their feet," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Residents and businesses in Cook County who were most impacted are now able to access additional resources necessary to rebuild and revitalize, and I know Cook County will build back stronger than ever." On September

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of 16 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court urging it to reverse a lower court decision holding that only workers who are employed by a company in the transportation industry can be exempt under the transportation-worker exemption to the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). Raoul and the coalition filed their brief in support of workers in Bissonnette v. LePage Bakeries. At issue in the case is whether truck drivers for a food company and similar “private fleet” drivers fall within the exemption for transportation workers in the FAA. The FAA requires workers to raise claims against their employer in private arbitration proceedings when they have signed an arbitration agreement. However, there is an exemption within the FAA for transportation workers. “We have seen the critical role all truck drivers play in keeping our states running efficiently, and there is no reason to treat

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ALTON - The Alton City Council on Tuesday fell one vote short of overriding a veto that was issued by Mayor David Goins earlier this month. The mayor’s veto was upheld following a 4-3 vote from council members. Aldermen Nate Keener, Rosetta Brown, and Stephanie Elliott all voted against a motion to reconsider the veto. The veto keeps a proposed requirement for separate directors of Code Enforcement and Building and Zoning off the books for now - Greg Caffey currently serves as the director of both departments. Alderwoman Betsy Allen proposed the requirement, stating the responsibilities of both departments were too much for any one person to handle. Shortly after Mayor Goins vetoed Allen’s ordinance, Alderwoman Carolyn MacAfee pursued a council vote to override the veto. While it couldn’t be voted on at that meeting, it was up for a vote on Tuesday night when it ultimately fell one vote short of overriding the mayor’s veto. A motion to reconsider

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ALTON - The Alton Community Unit School District #11 (ACUSD11) Board of Education recognized the Alton Middle School (AMS) football team for their undefeated season during the Board’s regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. AMS Principal Dr. Cindy Inman introduced coaches Terry Mitchell, Benny Williams and Lloyd “Rusty” Bilbruck. She explained that they ended the season 10-0, and she credited the coaches for their successful team. “They don’t just coach them. They look at them as their students, as their kids. They work hard each day with them,” Inman said. The AMS team was also undefeated in 2019 under the same coaching staff. Inman added that Mitchell, Williams and Bilbruck are great coaches, but also positive mentors for their players. If a football player is acting out at the middle school, Inman said she can contact the coaches and know they will sit down and have a conversation with the student about what’s going on. “They

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GODFREY - Steve Tassinari with Tassinari Insurance Agency recently shared more about his business, the work they do, and the agency’s membership in the North Alton-Godfrey Business Council. The Business Council includes several local businesses which are being highlighted in a series of spotlight segments on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . Unlike “captive” insurance agents which are tied to only one carrier, Tassinari is an “independent” agent, meaning he can shop across multiple different carriers for the best coverages at the best rates for personal and business lines. “People ask which company I work for or which companies I work for, and the simple answer is, I say, ‘I work for you,’” Tassinari said. “My job is to find the best coverages at the best rates, and so I have multiple companies that I can look for.” Tassinari describes the process like a consultation - all customers have to do is

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GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney Catholic senior baseball pitcher Ryker Keller signed a letter of intent to attend Concordia University in River Forest, Ill., in suburban Chicago, in a recent ceremony held in the school's chapel. Keller, who's become one of the St. Louis area's premier relief pitchers, was an outstanding 4-0 with five saves in 19 appearances in the 2023 season as the Griffins went 37-2, winning their first 29 games and advancing to the IHSA Class 2A sectional final before losing to Columbia. Keller had a 1.14 ERA and allowed only 13 hits on the season, walking eight and striking out 23. Keller is a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Male Athlete of the Month for the Griffins. Keller had a variety of reasons why he chose Concordia, both baseball and academic. "I really liked the school," Keller said in a post-ceremony interview, "the coaching staff, and I liked how they were really approaching the baseball side and the side of growing young men." The fact that the school

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EDWARDSVILLE — It’s that time of year again — gift-giving season. As you start to check family and friends off your Christmas shopping list, please consider adding just one more — a child in need. Every holiday season, organizations large and small hold toy drives to collect donations of new and unwrapped toys and other needed items (clothing, shoes) for children of all ages and this year Madison County Community Development (MCCD) will join them in collecting items. “Unlike other toy drives, MCCD’s is different,” Homeless Coordinator David Kerr said. “We know exactly who is getting the toys.” MCCD put up a tree in the lobby of the Administration Building, 157 N. Main St., Edwardsville, IL 62025 with “ornaments” on it that include the ages and items that children would like for Christmas. The new items will go to boys and girls whose families have or are experiencing homelessness and are currently part of the county’s

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ALTON - The Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education rejected all bids for the McKinley School building during the Board’s regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. The McKinley School building has not been occupied by the school district for a few years. Kreative Kids Learning Center previously occupied the building but relocated last year. The district decided to sell the building and “has received several inquiries so far from prospective bidders regarding McKinley School,” said Superintendent Dr. Kristie Baumgartner in an email. The district opened sealed bids on Nov. 21, 2023. During their meeting, they moved into a closed session to “discuss setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body,” according to the meeting agenda. The Board then resumed open session and voted to reject all bids. “The proposed motion is that the Board of Education refuse and reject all bids received during the sealed

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FIELDON - The Jersey County Sheriff’s Office recently released more detailed information about a burglary that took place at Betty's Get-N-Go in Fieldon earlier this fall. Cash and other items of value were reportedly stolen from the business. “During the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, JSCO deputies responded to a report of a burglary at Betty's Get-N-Go in Fieldon,” The Sheriff’s Office stated in a recent press release. “Upon arrival, deputies found that someone had forcibly entered the business.” After conducting the initial investigation, JCSO deputies contacted Detective Marshall Lewis, who arrived and processed the crime scene. The department credits Detective Lewis with a “significant follow-up investigation and persistence” which led to the identification of two suspects, Hardigrew C. Bridger (age 58) and Cameron S. Crockarell (age 54), both of Granite City, Illinois. Both suspects were subsequently charged

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ALTON - A ban on public camping within Alton city limits was given final approval by members of the City Council, who voted 6-1 to pass the item after months of debating and laying the item over. Resident Sam Lloyd urged council members to vote for the new ordinance, stating inaction on Alton’s homelessness issue could impact the city, its citizens, their home values, crime rates, and more. “I encourage council members to vote for this ordinance, as such behavior could have a detrimental effect on the citizens of the city,” Lloyd said. “Our parks and city property should be available to citizens and visitors, and should not be designated as temporary camping for the homeless. It was never the city’s original intent or citizens’ expectations of the use of the property. “For citizens, their home values may deteriorate if campaign activity becomes aknowledgeable … citizens may also be impacted on the rate of crime. A population o

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