Riverbender 🕸

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As “AI toys” become more and more common, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) are urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to launch an investigation into whether Mattel and other toy companies are unfairly and deceptively marketing age-inappropriate toys to parents and putting our youngest children at risk. Earlier this year, artificial intelligence powerhouse Open AI put out an explicit warning that ChatGPT is not meant for

EDWARDSVILLE - The Lincoln Middle School Math Team took first place this week at a regional competition, outpacing dozens of other teams in Madison County. Theo L., Sam P., Grayson W., and Will C. earned first place at the Madison County ROE 41 Jr. Olympiad on Tuesday, according to Edwardsville School District #7. The Lincoln Middle School team competed against 41 teams from across the region. “It was impressive to watch the team jump out to an early lead and then maintain

COLLINSVILLE — Illinois State Police K9 Zeus has received a bullet- and stab-protective vest through a charitable donation from Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides protective gear and other assistance to law enforcement dogs across the United States. The vest for K9 Zeus was sponsored by Vested Interest in K9s and embroidered with the sentiment “Born to Love - Trained to Serve - Loyal Always.” Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established i

ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 students had the opportunity to write their own books. On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, over 100 students and their families gathered at Alton High School for the annual Young Authors banquet. Kids in kindergarten through eighth grade had the chance to enter the Young Authors program, which encouraged them to write and illustrate their stories. Jody Meggos, the district’s Director of Curriculum, expressed her excitement to share this experience

EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Sheriff’s Office will join the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation in a stepped-up traffic safety campaign from March 13 through 6 a.m. March 23, 2026, to deter drunk, high, or drug-impaired driving around St. Patrick’s Day in Madison County, Illinois. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations often include “parades, parties, green beer and more” across the state, the sheriff's office's Capt. Matt Werner said

Letter to the Editor: I am running for County Clerk on the March 17, 2026, Republican primary. Why? Because I believe we can do a better job, especially when it comes to #1 property taxes and #2 election management. First, I’m a real Republican and I can prove it. I’m Pro-Life, Pro-Second Amendment and Pro-Constitution. For the last 14 months, I have been Executive Director or Eagle Forum Education and Legal, which was founded by Phyllis Schlafly in Alton, and our office is a

JERSEYVILLE – An employee of the Jerseyville Public Library faces 10 felony counts of child pornography possession after a joint investigation between the Jerseyville Police and Illinois Attorney General’s Office. Adam Hurley, 42, of Jerseyville, was charged with 10 counts of possessing child sexual abuse material, each Class 2 felonies punishable by up to seven years in prison. The charges were issued by the office of Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. Hurley is currently

GODFREY - The YWCA’s 11 Women of Distinction were honored with a gala to celebrate their accomplishments in the community. On Thursday, March 12, 2026, the women, their loved ones, and community members gathered at Lewis and Clark Community College for the event. This year’s honorees included Lynne Burnett , Tomeika Carter , Barb Erwin , Mary Jason , Carol Morris , Debbie Sheary , Dr. Tandra Taylor , Dr. Tracy Webster-Cooley , Kathleen Wilson , Beverly

BETHALTO – A Bethalto resident faces multiple charges after allegedly lying to police officers after a reported domestic battery. Joseph A. Yancey, 37, of Bethalto, was charged on Feb. 27, 2026 with one count each of aggravated domestic battery (a Class 2 felony), obstructing justice (a Class 4 felony), and domestic battery (a Class A misdemeanor). Yancey is accused of knowingly committing an act of domestic battery against a family or household member on Feb. 25, 2026, causing great

EDWARDSVILLE - Brady Bishop’s season at Metro East Lutheran included standout scoring in many games and a recent honor that his athletic director said reflected months of work with his teammates. Bishop, a Metro East Lutheran player, was recently named to the Gateway Metro all-conference boys first-team squad, and Metro East Lutheran High athletic director Jason Batty said that was a tremendous honor. Bishop’s season included a 24-point game against rival Maryville Christian on Feb.

ILLINOIS - As the race to the Illinois primary heats up, comptroller candidate Holly Kim shared more about her philosophy that it’s important to help the working class. The primary is scheduled for March 17, 2026, and Kim (D) is eager to use her background as a village trustee, township trustee, and county treasurer in the comptroller’s role. She explained that she is interested in helping the working class because she has experienced hardship herself, and she encourages Illinois

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a coalition of 24 states, asked the U.S. Court of International Trade to rule in the states’ favor and block implementation of President Trump’s latest efforts to impose illegal tariffs on products purchased by American consumers and businesses. Raoul and the coalition filed a lawsuit challenging the tariffs earlier this month. “Despite our clear and decisive Supreme Court win in our first illegal tariffs lawsuit,

GODREY – The scholarship application deadline for the 2026-2027 academic year at Lewis and Clark Community College is fast approaching. “With nearly 250 scholarships totaling about $750,000, Lewis and Clark is committed to ensuring that students have the tools to navigate their educational journey,” said Debby Edelman, Director of Development for the Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation. Nearly half of the awards cover full tuition and fees, removing financial

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) Aviation Subcommittee—today called on the Inspectors General (IGs) of the U.S. Departments of Transportation (DOT), Defense (DOD) and Homeland Security (DHS) to launch a joint investigation into the Trump Administration’s unacceptable missteps and failed interagency coordination that resulted in chaotic airspace closures in El Paso and Fort Hancock,

KANKAKEE COUNTY – Governor Pritzker visited the communities of Kankakee and Aroma Park this afternoon to assess the damage done by the significant storms that hit the state Tuesday night. During the visit, the Governor received briefings from Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) leadership, local officials, and emergency responders on the ground detailing the extent of the injuries suffered and the damage inflicted. “My thoughts are wit

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ),Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in following up on their demand that Republican Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) ensure the relevant committees of jurisdiction in the Senate hold immediate public hearings on the Trump-Vance Administration’s ongoing unconstitutional war in Iran. This follows the Senators’ filing

BELLEVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that improvements at the intersection of Illinois 161 and Illinois 158 in St. Clair County will require daily lane closures beginning Tuesday, March 17, weather permitting. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while

EDWARDSVILLE – As part of a system-wide initiative, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has partnered with Google and the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH) to provide Google Career Certificates to students as co-curricular offerings or embedded into academic programs. SIUE students, faculty and staff now have the opportunity to Grow with Google and earn no-cost training licenses in the form of Google Career Certificates and Specialization. SIUE Online Services

EDWARDSVILLE - The City of Edwardsville has a variety of projects on the table, and Mayor Art Risavy is looking forward to their completion. Risavy and Edwardsville’s Communications Coordinator Cathy Hensley recently spoke about the projects and events happening in Edwardsville. They shared that residents have a lot to look forward to, with plans for two new parks, a new indoor sports facility, a new space for the Edwardsville Arts Center, and more. “We’ve got a lot

RIVERBEND - Your little bunny can hop into some Easter fun with our ultimate Easter egg hunt guide! If you have an Easter egg hunt to add, send it to news@riverbender.com. Godfrey’s Annual Easter Egg-stravaganza When: Sunday, March 22, 2026 Time: 1–4 p.m. Where: Glazebrook Park in Godfrey For more information, click here . Easter Eggstravaganza When: Saturday, March 28, 2026 Time: 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Where: Bethalto Church of God in Bethalto