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JERSEYVILLE - Two individuals have been charged with possession of several stolen items, including hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a GoPro camera, and several other items after both had previously been convicted of felonies, according to recent Jersey County court filings. Brenda L. Bonney, 53, of Murphy, Mo., was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and theft in an amount between $500 to $10,000. Patrick A. Greenwell, 40, of Brighton, was also charged with the same offenses, as well as unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Both were charged on June 20, 2023. The stolen items in this case include, but are not limited to, “three hundred seventy-two (372) .22 caliber rounds of firearm ammunition, a silver silverware set, a Daytona Bike Week 2000 Harley Davidson Hat, a GoPro 3 plus camera with accessories, a Vintorio Wine Aerator, and a portable welding kit,” according to court records. Greenwell also reportedly possessed less than five grams of

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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker joined federal, state, and local officials, along with the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, the Union Pacific Railroad, and project supporters at Union Station today to celebrate the start of 110 mph passenger rail service between Chicago and St. Louis. This multi-year project better connects the state’s communities and major institutions while improving safety, convenience, and accessibility. Starting with the first trains on Amtrak’s state-supported Lincoln Service this morning, the higher speeds are eliminating approximately 15 minutes from the previous 90 mph runtimes between the two cities and 30 minutes from the initial 79 mph schedule in place when the project broke ground. “Illinois is the only state where all seven of the nation’s largest railroads operate. That’s a unique economic advantage recognized by employers across the globe, helping our state attract and maintain quality jobs,” said Governor

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WOOD RIVER - Drake Champlin, an upcoming junior, had quite a season for the East Alton-Wood River baseball squad in 2023. He was All-Conference this year and is a Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete of the Month. Champlin thanked his parents for all their dedication and the time they have spent with him since he started playing Select Baseball at 7 years old. "I am thankful to all the coaches who have helped me reach my potential and who keep working with me to keep getting better," he said. "I would like to thank my parents for carting me around and being my biggest supporters." Champlin is a hard worker who trains both during the season and in the off-season. "I am very dedicated to this sport and have spent a lot of time at 643 in East Alton, hitting and other training during the season and also in the off-season," Champlin said. "I have been playing baseball for nine years. I have been a catcher for nine years and I really enjoy pitching as well. I just love the game of

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HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The students listed on the Dean's List of Academic Honors at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, are undergraduates who have achieved a grade point average of at least 3.5 out of a perfect 4.0 in all work attempted while enrolled in not less than 12 semester hours. The university would like to recognize the following area student for earning the honor for the Spring 2023 semester. Glen Carbon's Ryan Hicks.

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You will find a comprehensive list of fireworks and Independence Day celebrations around the area below. SATURDAY, JULY 1 BRIGHTON: Brighton, IL will host an Independence Day At The Park event on Saturday, July 1 at Schneider Park beginning with a Kid's Fishing Derby & Casting Contest at 8:30 a.m. Festivities will include food, vendors, and music throughout the day. Fireworks at dusk. EDWARDSVILLE: The City of Edwardsville and American Legion Post #199 are teaming up to provide an all day celebration of our nation's independence on Saturday, July 1. Festivities will include musical performances by Lanny and Julie from 4-6:30 p.m. and The Edwardsville Municipal Band from 7-9 p.m., food, and vendors throughout the day. Fireworks at approx. 9 p.m. GIRARD: Girard, IL will host their Annual Fireworks Show on Saturday, July 1 at Sunset Lake. Fireworks at dusk. GRANITE CITY: Granite City, IL will host a series of Patriots in the Park events at Wilson Park beginning

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumna Vicki LaRose, president of Civil Design, Inc.(CDI), and Civil Giving, CDI’s charitable branch, has started the first endowed scholarship for the School of Engineering’s (SOE) new four-year degree in surveying and geomatics .“Without my degree from SIUE, I would not be where I am today running a successful company for the last 26 years,” said LaRose. “As a civil engineer, I know our projects cannot start without a survey. Surveying is a specialized field, and it needed its own requirements different from construction or civil engineering.” “We are grateful for the support and encouragement of Civil Design, Inc. to address both the industry demand for surveying and geomatics professionals and the financial needs of our students,” said Chris Gordon, PhD, associate dean in the SOE. This pioneering endowed scholarship will enhance the opportunities available to our students

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ALTON - A new experimental film photography and darkroom studio opens at Jacoby Arts Center next month. Four pop-up workshops are available for registration in July, with weekly darkroom and film photography classes beginning in August. Executive Director Rachel Lappin and the Jacoby Board of Directors are pleased to announce the newest addition to their educational programming- a darkroom and experimental film photography studio. The darkroom will be housed in the former commercial kitchen space of the art center, located on Broadway in the Jacoby Arts & Entertainment District in downtown Alton. Utilizing grant funding from the Alton Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council Agency, Jacoby has cultivated a darkroom studio to rival the best in the area. An extensive collection of enlargers and a wide variety of educational classes are at the forefront of the program's offerings. “We are excited to offer this new program!” says Lappin. “Jacoby’s mission is

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined their Senate Democratic Caucus colleagues to introduce a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. The Senators’ resolution highlights the contributions LGBTQ+ Americans have made to our country, notes several major milestones in the fight for equal treatment of LGBTQ+ Americans, and resolves to continue efforts to achieve full equality. The resolution also recognizes the progress that has been made with the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act and the legal recognition of workplace protections for transgender people while acknowledging the continued attacks on the rights of LGBTQ+ people taking place in our legal institutions. “This weekend, cities across the globe—including Chicago—will be hosting their annual Pride parades. It will be a chance to join together in celebrating the LGBTQ+

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BETHALTO - When Bill and Diana Sloan opened their thrift shop, Sloan’s This & That, in March, they found a new community in the town they call home. “We want to be part of the community. We want to be involved in the community,” Bill said. “Our goal is to give our customers the best deals in the Riverbend.” Sloan’s This & That, located at 401 West Bethalto Drive, describes itself as “a mom-and-pop thrift store.” It’s easy to see why. The business is both veteran- and woman-owned, and just a few months after they opened, it has already become a local hotspot for furniture, jewelry, glassware and much more. For the owners, Sloan’s This & That is a dream come true. Both Alton natives, the Sloans moved around for a bit but eventually settled back in Bethalto. Diana used to manage a thrift shop and missed the experience. When the couple returned to Bethalto, she began going to auctions and organizing yard sales, which Bil

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O'FALLON, Il. - HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital recently welcomed high school students from across southwestern Illinois for its first Healthcare Bootcamp event of the year. The bootcamp for juniors and seniors interested in a career in health care is designed to give students a realistic look into various health care roles while also allowing an opportunity to make connections in the field. “Through these job shadowing opportunities, students are able to understand the roles and responsibilities of a health care career by allowing them a deeper look, which in turn will provide motivation to learn the role of the career, type of education that is required, skills that are performed, and network with our health care professionals,” says Gavin Halpin, community sourcing strategist at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and organizer of the Healthcare Bootcamp. “These students were able to experience hands-on skill sessions, and network with health care professionals

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced the appointments of 20 Illinois students she nominated to attend a United States Military Service Academy. Each year, Duckworth, along with a nomination committee, selects from hundreds of Illinois high school applicants a group of outstanding students to receive Congressional nominations to attend West Point, the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy or the Merchant Marine Academy. “It takes a young person with grit and love of country to succeed at a U.S. Military Service Academy,” Duckworth said. “The rigorous nomination process demands outstanding test scores, a high GPA and a commitment to community service. These impressive future leaders deserve our admiration and respect for making it through this process and receiving these appointments. I’m eager to see them make Illinois proud in the years to come, and I am so proud of their desire to serve our nation.”

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GODFREY - The supernatural, the paranormal, the sensational — the Haunted America Conference had it all this weekend with their 26th annual event at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey. “It’s a chance for people to be, as I like to say, around people who are as weird as they are. We all get to be weird together one weekend a year,” Troy Taylor said. Taylor is the founder of the Haunted America Conference, which he also calls “paranormal summer camp.” This year’s conference sponsored a vendor fair and “paranormal mixer” as well as several ghost tours and presentations, including presentations by Heather Moser about headless ghosts and Amanda R. Woomer about Victorian mourning customs. The full schedule can be found here . Taylor explained that while the conference has traveled throughout the U.S., it usually takes place in the Alton area. This year, the expanding event moved to Lewis and Clark Community College

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced the Attorney General’s office has charged a Wayne County man with alleged possession of child pornography. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online. Raoul’s office charged Brian J Wallace, 53, of Fairfield, Illinois, in Wayne County Circuit Court with 11 counts of possession of child pornography, Class 2 felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison. Wallace’s bond was set at $500,000. “Child pornography is a reprehensible crime. Individuals in possession of these horrific images must be held accountable to ensure innocent children are protected from exploitation that can potentially leave life-long emotional scars,” Raoul said. “These charges highlight the vital efforts of my office’s Internet

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O'FALLON - HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital recently welcomed high school students from across southwestern Illinois for its first Healthcare Bootcamp event of the year. The bootcamp for juniors and seniors interested in a career in health care is designed to give students a realistic look into various health care roles while also allowing an opportunity to make connections in the field. “Through these job shadowing opportunities, students are able to understand the roles and responsibilities of a health care career by allowing them a deeper look, which in turn will provide motivation to learn the role of the career, type of education that is required, skills that are performed, and network with our health care professionals,” says Gavin Halpin, community sourcing strategist at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and organizer of the Healthcare Bootcamp. “These students were able to experience hands-on skill sessions, and network with health care professionals from

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ALTON - Deena M. Brown, APRN, a board-certified family nurse practitioner (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners), is now offering women’s health specialty care appointments through OSF Medical Group in Alton. Female patients 14 years-of-age and older seeking access to women’s health specialty care can meet with Ms. Brown on Fridays from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., in the OSF Medical Group office location at 2 St. Anthony's Way, Suite 300 (Alton). Appointments with Deena can be scheduled by calling (618) 462-2226. Brown’s decision to expand her health care practice is centered on the objective to encourage preventive health for women. “There’s definitely a need for better access to women's health specialty care services in the Riverbend region,” says Brown. “I see this as an ideal opportunity to compliment my primary care practice – which I’ll continue to provide to local residents.” Ms. Brown’s women’s health

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DULUTH, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) has announced its Dean's List for Spring Semester 2023. Students on the Dean's List have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher while earning a minimum of 12 letter-graded credits. Edwardsville's Jaycie Hudson, a biology major, has earned the status. Hudson was a senior at the Swenson College of Science and Engineering. The four colleges within UMD are: College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) College of Education and Human Service Professions (CEHSP) Labovitz School of Business and Economics (LSBE) Swenson College of Science and Engineering (SCSE) About UMD One of five campuses that comprise the University of Minnesota System, the University of Minnesota Duluth integrates liberal education, research, creative activity, and public engagement and prepares students to thrive as lifelong learners and globally engaged citizens. With an enrollment of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students,

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ALTON - Alton Police recently issued an important reminder that with summer here there are many children out playing and on their bikes and motorists need to slow down around the city and be on the lookout. "We all can do our part to make this summer as safe as possible," the Alton Police Department said. "We love seeing all the kids out playing, and we hope they are all the best this summer. In order for this to happen, everyone needs to look out for one another, whether driving, biking, or playing."

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LIVINGSTON - The Livingston Summer Fest is returning for its third year on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at Veterans Memorial Park in Livingston. Featuring live music, vendors, and some new additions for this year, the event is set to be a full day of fun from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hannah McClellan, co-founder of the event, said Summer Fest is very family friendly with several activities that are either free or very affordable. “It’s a nice community event, it’s very family-friendly,” McClellan said. “The goal from the beginning has been to ensure that it is family-friendly and very affordable. It is free to attend, and most of the activities are free as well.” Brand-new this year is a Magic Show starting at noon which will be free to attend, McClellan said. There will also be bounce houses for kids to play in for free, and a free live musical performance by Lefty Daytona from 5 to 8 p.m. The Livingston/Williamson Fire Department will be grilling u

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WOOD RIVER - Multiple people were injured in a serious traffic crash at the intersection of Illinois Route 143 and Route 3 in Wood River late Saturday night. Two were airlifted to St. Louis hospitals after the accident. Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said Routes 3 and 143 in Wood River were closed for multiple hours. He also added the Illinois State Police reconstruction unit was also called to investigate with Wood River Police. Police continue to investigate the crash. Wells said the accident occurred just before midnight and that law enforcement worked the scene until 5 a.m. on Sunday. The chief added that more about the crash will be released on Monday. One of the drivers was attempting to make a left turn into Wood River when they were hit, the chief said. "Three of those injured were in one vehicle," Wells said.

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ALTON - A movement to form a new state separating the rest of Illinois from Chicago and Cook County, known as the “New Illinois” movement, is preparing talks with state legislators later this summer as they work toward achieving their goal, according to organization chair G.H. Merrit. Merrit discussed the movement’s roots and its overall purpose on an episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com . “Our movement is about following the process provided in the U.S. Constitution to pursue the formation of a new state separate from the State of Illinois,” Merrit said. She clarified that they’re not trying to remove Chicago from the state - rather, they aim to remove the rest of Illinois and form it into a new state, New Illinois. Merrit said the organization started about five years ago after she briefly considered moving out of the state, but ultimately decided to stay to take care of her parents while trying to fix the problems she saw with

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