Riverbender 🕸

SPRINGFIELD – Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration: Illinois State Museum Board Jenny Davis will serve as a Member of the Illinois State Museum Board.* Davis is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and Associate Professor of Anthropology and American Indian Studies at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). There, she directs the American Indian Studies Program. From 2017-2020, she served as Acting Officer of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) for the Department of Anthropology and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at UIUC. Additionally, she has served as Co/Chair of the campus NAGPRA Advisory Committee since its establishment in 2020. She has served as Member of the Commission for the Ethical Treatment of Human Remains (TCETHER) of the American Anthropological Association since 2023. In 2021, Davis received the Dynamic Woman

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of 12 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from unlawfully reallocating federal homeland security funding away from states based on their compliance with the administration’s political agenda. On Saturday, without any notice or explanation, and four days before the end of the federal fiscal year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) significantly cut funding to certain states that are unwilling to divert law enforcement resources away from core public safety services to assist in enforcing federal immigration law while reallocating those funds to other states. The move came days after Raoul secured a permanent injunction along with an opinion holding that the agencies violated the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by conditioning all federal funds from FEMA and DHS on states’ agreement to assist th

Continue Reading

ALTON - Community members are invited to learn more about spirituality at a free spiritual wellness experience. A group will gather at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, at River Bend Yoga in Alton to talk through the topic “The Goal of Spiritual Mastery.” Flora Van Koten and Sheila Aehle, who will lead the discussion, noted that there is no right or final answer that will lead to spiritual mastery, but it’s about embarking on the journey. “The goal is to just keep moving,” Van Koten said. “The benchmark is to do a little bit better today than I did yesterday.” This is the third of a three-part series called “Ancient Wisdom for Today,” though there is no requirement to have attended the other discussions. The sessions are led like conversations between attendees, with everyone invited to share their spiritual experiences. Van Koten and Aehle practice Eckankar, the path of spiritual freedom that encourages your personal connection

Continue Reading

SHILOH — Investigators with the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force attempted to apprehend a person of interest connected to a stolen U-Haul cargo van on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in the area of 3400 Greenmount Road, Shiloh. According to authorities, the individual entered the stolen vehicle and, when confronted by law enforcement, rammed the van into a police car occupied by an officer before fleeing the scene. The Metro East Auto Theft Task Force is seeking assistance from the public to identify the suspect. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Investigator Phil Fernandez at 618-825-5431. Tips may be submitted anonymously. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Continue Reading

BELLEVILLE - Senior wide receiver Gavin Frey caught perhaps the most important touchdown pass of his career on Sept. 26, 2025, when he took a pass from quarterback Yale Weaver, and fought his way into the end zone from 21 yards out to give Edwardsville a dramatic and big 41-39 win over Belleville East at Charlie Woodford Field. It climaxed an incredible game between the two sides, in which the Lancers came back from being down 35-20 to take a 39-35 lead with less than a minute to go, only to see the Tigers go 80 yards in the final minute to win the game on Frey's touchdown reception. Frey is a Spencer Homes Male Athlete of the Month for the Tigers for his last-second heroics against Belleville East and his performance overall in the contest. It was Frey's third touchdown of the game, in which he caught 12 passes for 206 yards to lead the Edwardsville receivers, having touchdown catches of 65 and 20 yards in the first half. For the season, Frey has a team-leading 30 receptions

Continue Reading

GRANITE CITY – Two Granite City men have been charged in separate domestic battery cases with attacking elderly and disabled family/household members. Robert C. Nemeth III, 40, of Granite City, was charged on Sept. 22, 2025 with one count each of aggravated battery (a Class 3 felony) and his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery (a Class 4 felony). On Sept. 21, 2025, Nemeth allegedly pushed a household or family member who was 60 years of age or older, causing the victim to “strike his back against a dresser,” according to charging documents. Nemeth had previously been convicted of domestic battery in 2022, also in Madison County. The latest case against Nemeth was presented by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and he has since been granted pretrial release from custody with additional conditions. Among the conditions imposed on Nemeth’s release are that he have no contact with the victim from this case and remain at least 300 feet

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville wants students to not only benefit from its many recreational and sporting activities, but to look and feel good while doing it. More than 50 students attended the Athletic Wear and Sports Equipment Giveaway on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at the SIUE Wellness Center. The drive was organized and hosted by the SIUE Campus Recreation and the SIUE Cougar Cupboard. Some of the items given away included T-shirts, socks, shorts, leggings, joggers, shoes, water bottles and more. There were no eligibility requirements, and any student could participate. “Clothing support is very important,” said Lealia Williams, Student Care and Advocacy Coordinator in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. “We don’t want students to miss working out or playing sports, because they don’t have the right clothes or shoes. This is one way we can give back by helping students focus on their health and well-being,

Continue Reading

BELLEVILLE — The unemployment rate in St. Clair County showed a slight decrease in August 2025, dropping to 4.9 percent from 5.0 percent in August 2024, according to recent labor statistics. The data, released this week, also highlighted variations in unemployment rates across several counties and cities within the region. Monroe County's rate in August 2025 was 3.3 percent, a small increase from 3.2 percent the previous year. Bond County experienced a decrease, with its rate falling to 4.5 percent from 4.8 percent in August 2024. Clinton County's rate remained steady at 3.5 percent compared to the same period last year. Among cities, Belleville's unemployment rate edged up slightly to 5.3 percent in August 2025 from 5.1 percent in 2024. Collinsville saw a slight decline, with the rate dropping to 4.1 percent from 4.3 percent. East St. Louis recorded a notable improvement, with unemployment decreasing to 7.9 percent from 9.0 percent in the previous year. Granite City's rate also

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE — Unemployment rates in several southwestern Illinois counties showed slight changes in August 2025 compared to the same month last year, according to recent data. Overall, the unemployment rates throughout area cities and counties remain close to the national average of 4.3 percent. Edwardsville's unemployment rate decreased to 4.1 percent in August 2025, down from 4.2 percent in August 2024. Similarly, Alton's rate fell to 5.5 percent from 5.6 percent a year earlier. Madison County saw a small decline as well, with its rate dropping to 4.4 percent from 4.5 percent. In contrast, Greene County's unemployment rate increased marginally to 4.0 percent from 3.9 percent in the previous year. Jersey County experienced a decrease, with its rate moving from 4.2 percent to 4.0 percent. Calhoun and Macoupin counties reported higher unemployment rates compared to the prior year. Calhoun County's rate rose to 5.1 percent from 4.3 percent, while Macoupin County's rate increased

Continue Reading

ALTON – OSF HealthCare Rehabilitation Services in Alton will be holding its monthly lymphedema education meeting on Thursday, October 2, with the discussion topic: Breast cancer and Lymphedema. Riverbend region residents are invited to join the OSF Lymphedema Therapy Team for this free educational session about Lymphedema and meet other people with lymphedema. The September lymphedema education meeting will be held: Thursday, October 2, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. OSF HealthCare Rehabilitation Services 228 Alton Square Mall, Alton, IL Enter the Rehab office from the upper mall parking lot, facing Alby Street, under the "OSF HEALTHCARE" sign Interested individuals should direct questions or requests for additional information to OSF Rehabilitation Services at (618) 463-5171. Lymphedema refers to tissue swelling caused by an accumulation of fluid that is usually drained by the body's lymphatic system. Some lymphedema facts include: It most

Continue Reading

ILLINOIS - As National Kinship Care Awareness Month comes to a close, representatives from Brightpoint are sharing more about their work to keep kids with family members. As an organization, Brightpoint provides foster care and support services to kids and families across the state of Illinois. Loni Wilson, LCSW, Statewide Director of Foster Care, shared that while there will always be a need for traditional foster parents, Brightpoint makes kinship care — foster care that places a child with a relative or someone else known to the child — a priority. “We know that outcomes for our families are going to be so much better if we can keep families together at their core,” Wilson explained. “We really do try to make sure whenever possible we can keep kids with their family, however that is defined for them…Our goal is always to ensure that our kids are stable and that they are loved and that they’re able to maintain those cultural connections,

Continue Reading

O’FALLON, Ill. – HSHS Medical Group is pleased to welcome Dr. Roula al-Dahhak, a board-certified neurologist, to HSHS Medical Group Multispecialty Care - St. Elizabeth’s at 3 St. Elizabeth’s Blvd., Suite 5000, O’Fallon, Illinois. Dr. al-Dahhak has more than 30 years of clinical experience. She specializes in neuromuscular diseases, clinical neurophysiology and cognitive rehabilitation. As a staff physician at John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis, Dr. al-Dahhak founded the Memory Training Center, where she offered personalized cognitive training programs for adults experiencing memory and attention difficulties. She holds board certifications in neurology, clinical neurophysiology and neuromuscular medicine from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. After earning her medical degree from Damascus University Faculty of Medicine in Damascus, Syria, Dr. al-Dahhak completed her neurology residency at Ohio State University Hospital in Columbus,

Continue Reading

BELLEVILLE - Caritas Family Solutions recently celebrated an Adoption Day event at the St. Clair County Courts, where 15 children in Caritas’ care officially joined their forever families. Held at the St. Clair County Courthouse in collaboration with Judge Elaine LeChien, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and other adoption and family services agencies, Adoption Day is expected to become an annual event where families gather to celebrate and finalize adoptions. “Adoption Day has quickly become one of our favorite days of the year and serves as a reminder of why we do what we do,” said Brooke Portz, Assistant Program Director of Foster Care at Caritas. “There is nothing that compares to the joy of seeing children find safe, loving, and permanent homes. These moments reflect the heart of our mission, while also honoring the dedication of the families who open their hearts and homes, and the tireless commitment of caseworkers

Continue Reading

MARYVILLE - Maryville Christian School has welcomed back alumna McKayla Hendrick as part of its teaching staff, where she now educates students in sixth-grade social studies and seventh-grade Bible. Hendrick, a 2020 graduate of Maryville Christian School, returned to her alma mater after earning a degree in History and Secondary Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In her second year of teaching at Maryville Christian School, Hendrick expressed appreciation for the community that shaped her experience as a student. “When I was a student at MCS, my favorite thing was the family-like community I experienced and the care and intention I received from my teachers. It’s what inspired me to become a teacher myself!” she said. Hendrick described her current role as a privilege, and said: “I feel both blessed and privileged that I now get to continue experiencing the care and community of MCS as a staff member.”

Continue Reading

JERSEYVILLE - As the harvest season commences, students at Jersey Community High School have started an initiative to promote road safety for farm vehicles. The JCHS Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter formed the Safety in Agriculture Committee to support farmers. They recently launched the "Start Seeing Farmers" initiative, which aims to bring awareness to farm vehicles and the importance of patience when encountering these vehicles on the road. “I decided that the ‘Start Seeing Farmers’ initiative would be good because we’re a very large farming community, and it could help us,” said Tucker Woolsey. “I feel like it would help the community, being able to get it out there and say, ‘Hey, there are these things that we could do to help prevent other issues.’” Woolsey, a sophomore at JCHS, serves as the 2025–2026 FFA sentinel. He is leading the Safety in Agriculture Committee and has worked hard to spread the word

Continue Reading

BELLEVILLE — The Belleville Police Department is investigating a suspicious incident reported near the intersection of West Main Street and Carbon Street on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 25, 2025. The department was notified around 4 p.m. on Sept. 25, 2025, after a student from Belleville West High School reported the incident. Authorities have not confirmed the nature of the event and are addressing conflicting statements. "We are aware that there are other social media posts classifying the incident as a Child Abduction or an Attempted Child Abduction circulating on social media," the Belleville Police said. “At this time, there are conflicting statements regarding what occurred,” the Belleville Police Department said in a statement. “This is an ongoing investigation.” Officials are urging anyone who was in the area around the time of the incident and who may have witnessed anything or has information to contact the Belleville Police Department. No

Continue Reading

VIRDEN — A 28-year-old Virden man faces multiple charges after allegedly breaking into two homes and damaging a police vehicle in the same community. Timothy J. Garrison was charged with two counts of residential burglary and one count of criminal damage to government property. On September 20, 2025, Garrison allegedly broke into two residences on the same street in Virden with the intent to commit theft. Additionally, he is accused of damaging a Virden police car by breaking a door handle. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued a statement in support of Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield’s lawsuit filed against the Trump administration in response to its unlawful takeover of the National Guard to deploy troops to Portland. “I proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with my colleague Attorney General Dan Rayfield as he challenges Donald Trump’s unlawful, un-American takeover of Oregon’s National Guard. And I absolutely condemn the president’s deployment of American servicemembers against their fellow Oregonians, in direct violation of the Constitution. “It is unlawful for the president to deploy National Guard units without the consent of and over the opposition of state and local leadership. It is unlawful under the Posse Comitatus Act for National Guard units to perform routine law enforcement functions, such as searches, seizures and arrests, that our local law enforcement officers conduct in our communities each day.

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – Gov. Pritzker released the following statement in response to the federal deployments in the Village of Broadview: “The State of Illinois is closely monitoring the federal deployments in the Village of Broadview. Public safety is always my top priority, and the Illinois State Police remain in close communication with the Broadview Police Department to monitor and maintain public safety. “Whether it be in Broadview here in Illinois or in Portland, Oregon, the Trump Administration is intentionally creating chaos to threaten sending military troops to American cities and suburbs. The suggestion that chemical agents like tear gas or pepper spray could be used indiscriminately against peaceful demonstrators, or even first responders, is unacceptable and not normal. "Illinois will always defend Americans’ right to peacefully protest and make their voices heard. We denounce any violence against the general public, members of the media, and law enforcement

Continue Reading

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. – Today, 25 Southern Illinois Democratic County Chairs met in Mt. Vernon to discuss the impacts of the Trump Administration’s harmful agenda on rural communities in Southern Illinois and beyond. Leaders highlighted the escalating crisis in healthcare access, failing infrastructure, and the crushing toll tariffs are taking on local and regional farmers, just some of the devastating consequences of Trump’s failures. “Donald Trump’s agenda is devastating our rural communities. He’s recklessly cut healthcare access and education funding, all while our farmers are being crushed by his needless tariffs,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “It’s completely irresponsible and against the best interests of all Southern Illinoisians. They deserve people who will fight for them, and as long as I’m governor that’s what I’ll do every single day.” “Southern Illinois families deserve leaders wh

Continue Reading