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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) today introduced legislation designed to help students manage costs by making high quality textbooks easily accessible to students, professors, and the public for free. The legislation, known as the Affordable College Textbook Act , would authorize a competitive grant program to support the creation and expansion of open college textbooks—textbooks that are available under an open license, allowing professors, students, researchers, and others to freely access the materials. U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-CO-02) will introduce companion legislation in the House. Textbook costs are one of the most overlooked costs of going to college, but they can be a substantial barrier to pursuing a college education. According to the College Board, the average student at a four-year public institution of higher education spent $1,290

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This weekend offers a delightful variety of events, from creative workshops and live music to community gatherings and culinary experiences, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy. For a full listing of events happening in the area, visit RiverBender Events . Featured Join the community in Edwardsville for the exciting Choco-Lotta-Fun Crawl! This event will showcase local retailers, restaurants, and service providers offering delicious chocolate-themed specials. Enjoy a variety of activities including a Choco-Lotta-Fun Skate Session at R.P. Lumber Center, a special $3 movie at The Wildey Theatre, and special treats at participating businesses. Come indulge in all things chocolate and support local businesses! Experience the ultimate chocolate indulgence at Choco-Lotta-Fun Crawl at EXO . Guests can enjoy a chocolate fountain bar with an assortment of fresh fruits, cookies, and cakes for dipping. Additionally, EXO will feature limited-time services such as the Chocolate-Covered

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WEST ALTON, Mo. – A traffic crash near the Dirt Cheap area on Highway 67 North has led to significant delays for motorists as emergency responders attend to the scene. As of 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, multiple emergency vehicles have been reported in the vicinity, and traffic is being diverted away from the area. Witnesses in the traffic have described the backup as considerable, affecting travel for those attempting to navigate through West Alton. Motorists are advised to avoid the area for the time being. St. Charles County Police have been contacted for additional information regarding the incident, and updates will be provided as they become available.

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ALTON - Post Commons will host their third annual Wedding Expo for brides and grooms to chat with local vendors. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 9, 2025, community members are invited to the expo at Post Commons, located at 300 Alby Street in Alton, to browse and shop. Tickets cost $15 and include a free mimosa upon arrival. The coffee bar will also be open, and attendees are encouraged to meet with local vendors and find everything they need to plan their special day. “We’ve had so many brides and vendors tell us how much they love and appreciate it,” said Ashley Bifano, the event organizer. “We grew from the year before to last year, so we’re hoping to continue that trend, to really offer this over on the Illinois side and get a lot of our local vendors out there for people to see.” The event encourages couples to utilize local vendors, such as local photographers and bakeries, when planning their weddings. With nearly 30 vendors

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ALTON - A 73-year old male lifelong Riverbend region resident is the first patient of the Heart Center at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center to receive the CardioMEMS™ HF System, a new implantable, wireless monitoring sensor to manage heart failure (HF). The Abbott CardioMEMS™ HF System is the first and only FDA-approved heart failure monitoring device that has been clinically proven to significantly reduce hospital admissions when used by physicians to manage heart failure. According to the American Heart Association (AHA) and the Heart Failure Society of American (HFSA): 6.5 million adults in the United States have heart failure Approximately 600,000 patients have enhanced heart failure More than 350,000 deaths are attributed to heart failure annually in the United States “Heart failure is a chronic debilitating condition that worsens over time. Typically, heart failure is caused by heart damage from a heart attack, longstanding untreated

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ALTON — Nathan A. Johnson was arrested around 11:45 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, in the 1400 block of Milton Road in Alton, where officers established probable cause for Johnson’s arrest in a traffic stop. During the investigation, the Alton Police Department said officers recovered drugs and a firearm at the scene. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office subsequently reviewed the case and authorized several charges against Johnson: Count I: Possession of a Firearm by a Repeat Felony Offender Count II: Armed Violence Count III: Unlawful Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance Count IV: Felon in Possession of a Weapon Count V: Unlawful Possession of a Stolen Firearm An arrest warrant was signed by the Honorable Judge Nielsen, and Johnson is currently being held at the Madison County Jail, pending a detention hearing. The Alton Police Department had this statement about the arrest: "This case highlights the exceptional

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COLLINSVILLE – A Collinsville resident was released from custody pending his second domestic battery case in Madison County. Stacey D. Thomason, 57, of Collinsville, was charged on Feb. 18, 2025 with his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery, a Class 4 felony. On Feb. 17, 2025, Thomason allegedly struck a household or family member “about the face with his hands, causing pain,” according to court documents. Thomason has previously been convicted of domestic battery in a 2009 criminal case, which was also filed in Madison County. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office presented the latest domestic battery case against Thomason, who was granted pretrial release with additional conditions. Among the conditions of his release are that he have no contact with the victim and refrain from entering their residence for at least 72 hours upon his release. Thomason was also ordered to surrender any firearms and Firearm Owners Identification Card in his possession

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February 26, 2025 - Craig Ohlau, a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus and former student-athlete, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2004 and later earned his master’s degree at SIUE in educational administration in 2014. Ohlau has gone on to make a lasting impact in the Edwardsville community as an educator, award-winning author, and as a highly decorated coach for the Edwardsville High School Baseball team. Dedicating his life to making a lasting impact on and off the field, Ohlau continues to inspire those around him, exemplifying Cougar excellence. During his playing days at SIUE, Ohlau became a true standout player and is still mentioned in the SIUE record books five different times in the following categories: a lifetime on-base percentage of .432, starting 155 games, hitting 43 doubles, collecting 84 walks, and 16 hit-by-pitches. Reflecting on his athletic experience, Ohlau stated, "Playing for SIUE was a defining time in

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EAST ALTON — Fred H. Bright, Jr., a prominent area figure in local law enforcement and politics, died at the age of 82 on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at his home. Bright's death marks the end of a significant chapter in the Village of East Alton, where he dedicated much of his life to public service. Born on June 24, 1942, in Granite City, Bright served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War before embarking on a lengthy career in law enforcement. He began his career with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department at the County Jail, later joining the Alton Police Department. His tenure culminated in a role as Chief of Police for the Village of East Alton, after which he served as Major with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department. Notably, Bright was a graduate of the FBI Academy. Bright also held the office of Mayor of East Alton for five terms, during which he was known for his commitment to the village and its employees. Darren Carlton, the current Mayor of East Alton,

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GLEN CARBON – Three Glen Carbon police officers received promotions on Tuesday, rising to their next respective ranks at the Feb. 25, 2025 Village Board meeting. Sergeant Jeffrey Blind was promoted to Lieutenant, while Detectives Ross Tyler and Christopher Johnson were both promoted to Sergeant. Lieutenant Jeffrey Blind Police Chief Todd Link said Blind has been a police officer for nearly 18 years. After earning his Criminal Justice degree from SIUE in 2006, he was hired by the GCPD in 2007 and previously served as a patrol officer, firearms instructor, and field training officer. “In 2016, I assigned Jeff to Investigations, where he was an outstanding detective,” Link said of Blind. “He was a member of the Major Case Squad for Greater St. Louis and as a member … he helped investigate several murder cases throughout this region and other towns.” Blind also served on the Child Death Investigation Task Force and the FBI Task Force. During hi

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CHICAGO - Today Governor JB Pritzker joined advocates, healthcare professionals, and patients to announce that the latest round of relief in the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program has abolished more than $220 million dollars in medical debt for approximately, 170,000 additional individuals statewide. The average amount of debt abolished per person during this round is nearly $1,300, bringing the program’s total erased debt to more than $345 million dollars for nearly 270,000 Illinois residents. This event comes on the heels of the Governor’s State of the State address and FY26 proposed budget, where he laid out the state’s plans to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for Illinoisans. “We started this program with a simple premise: in a healthy and functioning society, no one should be in financial ruin simply because they get sick,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This program makes a major impact on the lives of the most vulnerable Illinoisans

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Springfield, IL – On Wednesday, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) joined Senator Celina Villanueva and Representative Will Davis to unveil legislation to reform the Illinois Commercial Safety Towing Law and crack down on predatory towing practices. ICC Chief of Police Ruben Ramirez Jr. joined the lawmakers at a Springfield press conference to express support for the enforcement changes. “As ICC Chief of Police for the last five years, predatory towing operations have been a consistent thorn in our side. My officers conduct weekly joint details to catch irresponsible towers in the act, and our agency has raised violation fines, but we’re limited with what we can do in our enforcement efforts,” said ICC Police Chief Ruben Ramirez Jr. “Instead of fining the same bad actors again and again, the ICC needs stronger enforcement tools to stop predatory towers from being able to tow peoples’ cars in the first place.” Repeat offenders have racked

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) released the following statement after voting against the House Republican budget resolution. The resolution would raise the federal deficit by more than $4 trillion through tax breaks for billionaires and large corporations. At the same time, it calls for making as much as $2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, nutrition assistance, education programs, and other vital public programs. "This budget proposal from President Trump and House Republicans clearly signals that they care more about tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations than protecting healthcare, nutrition assistance, child care, or early childhood education,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “By proposing devastating cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, they are risking the well-being of more than 90,000 children in my district. A 60-year-old couple with a household income of $85,000 could see their health insurance costs increase by more than $24,000.

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CHICAGO- Today, Governor JB Pritzker, Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Tammy Duckworth, and various members of the Illinois congressional delegation issued a joint letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director, Russell Vought. The letter demands action and accountability from OMB on the approximately $1.88 billion in funding that is being withheld from taxpayers despite numerous court orders and a rescission of the original OMB memo issued on January 27, 2025. The letter provides an update that as of mid-February many agencies and organizations in Illinois have reported an inability to access funds, with some in danger of needing to pause operations, cancel projects, or lay off staff. Impacted grant programs and organizations include, but are not limited to: Nine state agencies, boards, and commissions have a total of $692 million in federal funds obligated but not yet received, and they are unable to access those funds. 10 state agencies, boards, and commissions

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CHICAGO- Today, Governor JB Pritzker delivered remarks on day one of the 2025 Together for Democracy conference, hosted by Democracy Forward at the National Press Club. The Together for Democracy Conference audience included around 250 lawyers, advocates, and organizational leaders working to navigate and counteract the unlawful actions of the Trump administration. Other speakers included Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), and former Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The Governor’s full remarks are included below. 2025 Together for Democracy Conference Tuesday, February 25, 2025 *Remarks as Prepared for Delivery* Good afternoon, everyone! I am honored to be here at the 2025 Democracy Forward Conference. I want to begin with a thank you. Thank you to the lawyers, activists, advocates, and thought leaders assembled here today. Thank you for your late nights, for your early mornings, thank you for leaving family functions to formulate legal

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ALTON – Coming Spring of 2025 Print Media Corporation and PMC Signs are proud to announce the official opening of their new facility at 3401 E Broadway, Alton, IL 62002 . The opening marks an exciting new chapter for both companies, offering expanded space, enhanced capabilities, and an even greater commitment to delivering high-quality signage, digital and traditional marketing, and printing solutions to clients across the region. The new location will serve as the central hub for PMC Signs, known for providing innovative custom signage solutions, including Digital Messaging LED Centers, Channel Letters, Wayfinding Signs, Monument Signs, and much more. The facility also houses Print Media Corporation, a leading provider of custom printing, branding, and design services, offering everything from business cards and brochures to custom apparel. Lance A. DeMond , President of PMC Signs, expressed his excitement about the expansion: "Today marks a significant milestone for

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked for unanimous consent (UC) to pass a resolution he introduced with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), as well as 21 other Senators, that would pledge support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as President Trump and Elon Musk continue to illegally cut funding and resources at NIH. The resolution simply says that the work of NIH should not be subject to interruption, delay, or funding disruptions in violation of the law, and it reaffirms that the NIH workforce is essential to sustaining medical progress. U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) rejected Durbin’s UC request. “All the progress we have made , all the progress we hope to make is in danger because of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. That’s right—these two men promised to bring down the price of eggs, gasoline, and make housing more affordable. None of that ha

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Congressman David Valadao (CA-22), Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11), and Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) announced the reintroduction of the Federal Retirement Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation to address a gap for federal employees who began their careers as temporary workers and were thus unable to make retirement contributions. The Federal Retirement Fairness Act will allow these workers to make catch-up contributions to ensure they can retire as planned. In the absence of this provision, many face an unfair choice: exit the federal service without complete retirement benefits or delay retirement to achieve full benefits. “Federal workers keep America running and these dedicated public servants deserve to retire with dignity,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “However, many federal workers – like postal employees – got their start in “non-career” roles that do not count

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CHICAGO - The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state’s college access and financial aid agency, has contracted leading global education company Kaplan to provide free test preparation courses to all students enrolled in Illinois’ public universities. Five Illinois community colleges are also included as part of a pilot program. Students at these institutions will have free access to Kaplan’s best-in-class preparation for professional licensing exams, graduate-level admissions exams, and credential exams, including comprehensive prep for the GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT®, MCAT®, NCLEX-RN®, USMLE®, Illinois State bar exam, real estate and securities exams, and more. They will also have access to a suite of professional and academic skills development courses from Kaplan. “Providing free test and licensing preparation courses for students is an important measure to help remove some of the financial barriers students face in advancing

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ALTON - Community members came out to the YWCA to speak one-on-one with Alton’s candidates ahead of the April 1, 2025, consolidated election. On Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, the YWCA and National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) hosted a Coffee with Candidates event that allowed community members to meet Alton’s mayoral, aldermanic, City Clerk and treasurer candidates. Attendees could chat with the candidates about their platforms and ask specific questions about issues affecting them. “We definitely want everybody to vote, but we want you to be educated,” explained Tanjela Johnson, president of NCNW. “We know a lot of people will hear Republican, Democrat, Independent, but we want you to be educated on what each candidate is standing for, what you’re voting for…We want you to be able to have conversations. Rather than being a debate, have conversations with the people that are running. Have those personal conversations and let the citizens ge

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