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SPRINGFIELD – The Trump Administration notified the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) that it is terminating federal grants nationwide that had been already awarded to support the ongoing work to protect the public from infectious diseases. The termination pulls back $125 million in funding for IDPH and 97 local public health departments, which had been allocated by IDPH for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Disease (ELC) program and other uses. The funding was awarded to Illinois through 14 separate budget lines in the federal bipartisan CARES Act passed during the first Trump Administration. In addition to rescinding $125 million in previously approved investments, this Trump Administration is also blocking $324 million for future work to prevent and treat infectious disease in Illinois. As originally passed, the bill would have provided up to $449 million in direct long-term support for the state’s

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ALTON/SWANSEA - This week, neighbors are invited to join in celebration, community, and compassion at the Block Party for Good, taking place at two locations on Friday, March 28. Alton: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM At the Soulcial Square , adjacent to Morning Star Baptist Church and the Crisis Food Center Swansea: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM at the Soulcial Kitchen Campus, 127 North belt Easy Swansea IL These family-friendly events will feature free hot meals, fresh grocery giveaways, and community resources all with a focus on feeding both body and soul. Featured food trucks include: Tony's Tacos in Alton, serving up crowd favorites with heart and Soul-Full in Swansea, dishing out soulful comfort with purpose Meals and groceries are available at no cost to participating residents, as part of the ongoing effort to deliver dignity-driven food access to those facing food insecurity. At the heart of both events is a special highlight: the ongoing partnership with the St. Louis Area Foodbank.

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ALTON - Aaron Hall loved playing with LEGOs as a kid. Now, his own LEGO set will hit stores next month. Hall, an Alton native, designed the River Steamboat LEGO set in 2018, based on the steamboats he watched chugging down the Mississippi River. He submitted the design to LEGO in 2021, and now it will be available for purchase on April 7 for LEGO insiders and April 10, 2025, for the general public. “I wanted to do something that had never been done before,” Hall said. “LEGO does boats all the time, but there’s never been a steamboat. I thought steamboats are extremely visually interesting, and you could have a good thumbnail image that gets somebody to at least initially look at it and then hopefully support it from there. It worked out.” Hall designed the River Steamboat set using computer-aided design software. He has designed several LEGO sets over the years as “a fun pastime,” but there was something special about this one. He

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Letter to the Editor: I am urging all residents of Godfrey to vote for Mayor Mike McCormick on Tuesday, April 1. As County Board Chairman, I speak to Mike on a regular basis. I know I can always count on him to work collaboratively with the County for what is best for Godfrey and what is best for Madison County. He is tireless in his pursuit of making Godfrey a great place to live and work. Prior to my election as Chairman, I served as Madison County Treasurer. In that role I learned that you always must watch the bottom line. Nobody does a better job of that than Mayor Mike McCormick. The Village of Godfrey has the LOWEST municipal property taxes in all of Madison County, with a smaller government and NO municipal debt. This is a huge accomplishment that impacts your tax bills. Additionally, Mayor McCormick consolidated the Village and the Township several years ago, which eliminated wasteful spending on politicians and extra administration and lowered your property taxes.

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EDWARDSVILLE – Metro-East Lutheran High School’s scholar bowl continued to dominate at this year’s IHSA state tournament, bringing home the state champion once again. The Knights went undefeated in the state tournament in Bloomington over the weekend to win the IHSA Class 1A state championship. This is the second consecutive win for the MELHS team, which made school history by winning the state championship in 2024. The Knights were victorious in four matches throughout the tournament against the top teams in the state to secure the state trophy. The Knights beat Northridge Prep by a score of 510-260 in the first match of the day. The second round game was the closest match of the day, with MELHS beating the St. Teresa Bulldogs by just ten points, with a final score of 370-360. The Knights beat Johnston City 480-230 to move on to the championship match, in which they defeated Pleasant Plains 350-270. “This year’s Class 1A pool of teams competing

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SPRINGFIELD - Medical students at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (SIU) received pivotal news regarding their future careers on March 21, 2025, as they participated in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) to determine their residency placements. A total of 71 students from the Class of 2025 successfully matched into residency programs, contributing to a national total of 43,237 positions filled across the country. Edwardsville, Granite City, O'Fallon, Belleville and Collinsville students were on the SIU Med residency match list. The area students were as follows: Maia Cain of Granite City (Obstetrics-Gynecology) has matched with the University of Missouri-KC Programs. Kiri Evans of Belleville (Emergency Management) has matched with John Peter Smith Hospital-Texas. Kaitlyn Frick, Edwardsville (Psychiatry) has matched with Emory University SOM-GA., Sydney Nyquist, Highland (Psychiatry) SIUE SOM Affil Hosps-IL., Jay Patel, Collinsville, (Emergency Medicine)

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Did you know that just 30 minutes of walking a day can reduce your risk of heart disease by up to 40%? This statistic might sound surprising, but it highlights the profound impact of a simple daily activity: walking outdoors. In a world dominated by technology and sedentary lifestyles, the ancient practice of walking has been largely overlooked. Yet, the benefits of incorporating this basic exercise into your daily routine can enhance both physical and mental well-being in remarkable ways. The Physical Benefits of Walking Walking is one of the most accessible forms of exercise available to nearly everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. Here are some key physical benefits: 1. Cardiovascular Health Regular walking strengthens the heart, improves circulation, and lowers blood pressure. Studies have shown that people who walk daily have a significantly lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. The act of walking increases heart rate, which strengthens the heart muscle

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March 27 has been a significant date throughout history, marked by remarkable events that have shaped our world. Let's back up to 1964, and we find a significant milestone: the Good Friday Earthquake struck Alaska. Measuring a staggering 9.2 on the moment magnitude scale, it remains one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. The catastrophe lasted approximately 4.5 to 6 minutes and resulted in widespread destruction, including tsunamis that affected coastal areas as far away as Hawaii and California. Over 130 people lost their lives, and the aftermath of the quake led to significant advancements in engineering and earthquake preparedness, shaping the way communities respond to seismic threats today. On this same day in 1977, the world witnessed a tragic aviation disaster that would change air travel forever: the Tenerife Airport Disaster. Two Boeing 747 jumbo jets collided on the runway in Tenerife, Canary Islands, resulting in the deaths of 583 people, making it the worst

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ALTON – Ward 2 Alderwoman Carolyn MacAfee outlined her priorities, goals, and more for our State of the Race 2025 coverage as she seeks re-election for another term in the upcoming April 1, 2025 elections. In addition to serving on the board of Pride, Inc. since 1984, MacAfee has been Alton’s Ward 2 Alderwoman for the past 12 years – which she takes as a sign she “must be doing something right.” “I’m very quick to act. I know what to do, I know where to go,” MacAfee said. “About once a month, I will drive my whole ward, and if I see something I think should be corrected, I turn it in myself. “All aldermen should be aware of what’s going on in their ward, and I am.” MacAfee also wants Ward 2 residents to know what’s going on in their neighborhoods. Going forward, she plans to hold Ward 2 meetings every month, mirroring and possibly combining with ongoing Ward 1 meetings. These public forums, open to al

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BROOKLYN - A Brooklyn, Illinois, police officer was injured recently while trying to deploy spike strips during a vehicle pursuit, prompting charges against a man involved in the incident. The officer is expected to recover from his injuries. This incident brought back terrible memories for Tammy Pierce, mother of Brian Pierce Jr., who was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, by a fleeing vehicle while attempting to deploy spike strips on the McKinley Bridge during a vehicle pursuit. The chase began following an incident at a nightclub in Brooklyn. Tammy Pierce said the emotional trauma for her family of her son's death was more than she could ever describe. She said her son was such a good person and had several jobs and was trying to set up a bright future for himself. In a quick moment, his life ended tragically, she said. Tammy is under the contention that spike strips should not be allowed in the state. She had this comment on the recent incident involving

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EAST ST. LOUIS – A 17-year-old male from Fairview Heights has been arrested and charged with First Degree Murder in connection with a homicide that occurred on March 23, 2025. The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Public Safety Enforcement Group made the arrest following a request for assistance from the East St. Louis Police Department. The incident took place in the 2500 block of Bond Avenue, where 41-year-old Cicero C. Maple of East St. Louis was shot multiple times while waiting at a bus stop. Maple was pronounced deceased at the scene. Following a thorough investigation, the case was presented to St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric, leading to the filing of charges against the juvenile suspect on March 26, 2025. The suspect is currently being held at the St. Clair County Juvenile Detention Center, with his identity withheld due to his age. No further information has been released regarding the case.

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ALTON – A free new outdoor workout center is officially coming to the Alton riverfront. Alton City Council members on Wednesday unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement between the city and Alton Township. Under the agreement, the township will provide $100,000 for the construction of a Fitness Court, as previously reported on Riverbender.com . What Is A Fitness Court? Developed by the National Fitness Campaign (NFC), a Fitness Court is basically an outdoor gym which is free and open for the public to use. Seven different “movement zones” feature equipment focused on certain workouts and muscle groups, such as pull-up bars for upper body workouts, platforms for squats and lunges, and more. The NFC claims each court is “designed to provide a full body workout in only seven minutes.” The City of Jerseyville opened its own Fitness Court in 2022 during the first phase of its Lions Club/Wittman Park improvement plan . Shown above

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ALTON - Hundreds of community members came together to welcome home Celia Sinclair, a 12-year-old girl who has been battling leukemia for the past five months. It was an emotional afternoon on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, as Godfrey and Alton residents gathered at the Alton Amphitheater for a homecoming parade. St. Mary’s and Evangelical students waved signs and popped confetti as Celia and her family traveled into the park with a police escort. “This is the best way to welcome her home,” said Tony Keller, who organized the parade. “We just said, we’ve got to do this all together. We’ve got to come together and let Celia know that, hey, you are #CeliaStrong and we’re here for you.” Keller is a close friend of Celia’s mother, Stephanie Schwegel. He explained that five months ago, Celia returned home looking pale. She had a regularly scheduled doctor’s appointment a few days later and underwent bloodwork that revealed somethin

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ALTON - Centerstone’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic offers a holistic approach to mental health and substance use care. Elaina Ward explained that the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) are “a really different shift in model” that provides wraparound care for clients and additional support for staff. Instead of solely focusing on a client’s mental health symptoms, clinicians within the CCBHC model coordinate with other providers to address physical and mental health needs. “If someone walks through Centerstone's door, the goal is that whatever your needs are, we’re going to get you linked up with someone to be able to address those needs,” Ward said. “That is the goal of CCBHC: open door, no wrong door, whatever you need, we’re going to try to help you meet those needs, trying to provide that holistic, wraparound safety-net kind of care.” Ward noted that clinicians start with an

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JERSEY – The JCH Foundation Ambulance Association is proud to announce the purchase of 40 LifeVac devices, which are being distributed by the organization to local restaurants in Jersey County. This proactive initiative aims to enhance public safety and ensure that restaurant patrons have immediate access to a life-saving device in the event of a choking emergency. The LifeVac device is a non-invasive, easy-to-use tool designed to clear airway obstructions and save lives in critical choking situations. With the addition of these devices, Jersey County’s local dining establishments will be better equipped to respond to choking incidents, ensuring the safety of their customers and providing peace of mind to both restaurant staff and diners. "The JCH Foundation is deeply committed to improving the health and safety of our community," said Charity Roth, JCH Foundation Director. "By providing LifeVac devices to local restaurants, we are not only enhancing the safety o

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ALTON - St. Mary’s Catholic School will have their second annual O’Baby Resale event to raise money for their classrooms. Community members are invited to purchase a table in Suddes Hall to sell children and baby items, clothing, toys and more. From 4–7 p.m. on Friday, April 4, and 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6, 2025, the Riverbend community can stop by St. Mary’s to shop the sales and support the school. “It’s amazing how much stuff we have there, everything that you could think of that you would need for your kids,” said Mary Rivera, principal of St. Mary’s. “Everything that we make off of it goes directly back into replenishing our classrooms with the supplies that they need to teach our students.” Sellers can purchase a table in Suddes Hall for $20, and then set up their items on April 2 and 3. The sale starts on Friday, April 4, and is open to the public. The early-bird sale on

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Equal Pay Day yesterday, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) along with the entire Senate Democratic caucus in reintroducing the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation to combat pay discrimination and help close the gender pay gap by strengthening the Equal Pay Act of 1963, ending the practice of pay secrecy and strengthening available remedies to help ensure wronged employees can challenge pay discrimination and hold employers accountable. U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) led the reintroduction of the Paycheck Fairness Act in the House. “Every single day, women across our nation contribute so much to the success of their families, their communities and their country—and yet, women continue to make hundreds of thousands of dollars less over the course of their lifetimes due to pay disparities,” said Senator Duckworth. “When women are hel

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings led a coalition of 21 attorney generals in issuing an open letter to the legal community warning of illegal attempts by the Trump administration to deter lawyers from challenging the administration’s actions or representing clients disfavored by the administration. The attorneys general call on the legal community to resist attempts at bullying or retribution and uphold the values of their profession. “Attacking attorneys because they argued a case against the government or represented a particular client cuts to the heart of the legal profession and threatens our work,” Raoul said. “It is also dangerous for the president to attempt to vilify the judiciary whenever they don’t agree with him. I join my fellow attorneys general to make clear that we will not allow the rule of law to be undermined by political retribution. We will stand with all our colleagues in the legal

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ALTON/COTTAGE HILLS – Two Riverbend residents have been criminally charged in separate but related cases of mob action. The following individuals were each charged with a Class 4 felony count of mob action on March 18, 2025: Kiana D. Garrett, 25, of Alton Recardia C. Bailey, 28, of Cottage Hills According to court documents, both individuals acted together and without legal authority by using force against the same victim on Jan. 1, 2025. Specifically, they are accused of striking the victim “about the face and body.” Both cases against Garrett and Bailey were presented by the East Alton Police Department. While both were remanded to jail for their initial court appearance, Madison County Sheriff’s Office records indicate they have since been granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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ALTON – Two Alton organizations have joined forces to help promote the city and keep it beautiful with a T-shirt fundraising campaign. Carolyn MacAfee and Missy Kasten with Pride, Inc., joined Cory Jobe, president and CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to discuss their joint venture for a good cause. “We have been watching Pride, Inc. and their efforts downtown here … and it really is nice,” Jobe said. “To continue to attract visitors and spending in our downtown area, we’ve got to create a nice atmosphere.” To support Pride Inc.’s ongoing community beautification efforts, they and Great Rivers & Routes have launched a new line of Alton-themed T-shirts which are only available at the Alton Visitor Center at 200 Piasa St. The center is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The new blue T-shirts feature illustrations of downtown Alton, the Piasa Bird painting, an

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