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EDWARDSVILLE --- Makenzie Rayfield, who was a junior for the Alton High School softball team, had a good season for a young Redbird team, and was often the rock for the team when things got difficult. For the season, Rayfield was 5-17 in the circle, allowing 156 runs, 99 earned, on 166 hits in 101.1 innings pitched, having an ERA of 6.84, walking 52 and striking out 86. She also hit .203, with no homers and six RBIs. Rayfield is an Auto Butler Female Athlete of the Month. The Redbirds hung in and both worked and played hard all season, which ended with a 7-22 record, and in a postgame interview, felt good about her team's efforts in the game. "I'm feeling pretty good," Rayfield said. "I think we did good as a team altogether, and I think we worked hard to keep them where we kept them, for the most part." Although the Redbirds' season wasn't the best, the team persevered and grew as a team all season. "I feel like we had a lot of freshmen coming into the varsity season early,"

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today participated in a spotlight forum entitled “The Big Beautiful Betrayal—Working Folks Pay While the Mega Rich Profit.” The forum, which was hosted by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), focused on how the Republican tax bill funds massive tax breaks for the ultrawealthy by making the largest cuts in history to health care and food assistance programs that Americans rely on. During the hearing, Durbin questioned witnesses about Republicans’ false argument that SNAP and food assistance programs, which offers nutrition assistance to 42 million Americans, are riddled with fraud or waste, especially given the critical, but modest, average SNAP benefit of $6 per day. “I asked my staff, ‘how does a person apply for SNAP, food stamps, in my home state of Illinois?’ They handed me a 19-page application. Nineteen page application for $6 a day. And the twentieth

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The pro-Israel lobbying group has sent a flurry of communications to members of Congress, citing specific language for them to parrot in support of Israel’s strikes on Iran.

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 13 attorneys general, issued guidance affirming the necessity and legality of environmental justice initiatives. The guidance reinforces that despite the Trump administration’s recent efforts to brand these critical activities as illegal, public and private entities can still lawfully engage in environmental justice work to ensure a healthy environment for all people to live, play, work, learn and worship. “Efforts to advance environmental justice remain legal and essential to ensuring all communities have the opportunity to thrive,” Raoul said. “My office is committed to addressing environmental justice issues throughout Illinois, and I proudly join with my fellow attorneys general to support and defend this important work throughout the country.” In their guidance , Raoul and the attorneys general acknowledge that evidence-based studies and lived experience demonstrate that communities

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I’m old enough to remember Republicans claiming that any lawsuit against a Republican was “lawfare” and political persecution. But, as with so many things in the modern MAGA GOP, the reason they said such things was because, given the chance, they would totally seek to engage in actual political persecution and lawfare against anyone who […]

EDWARDSVILLE – The City of Edwardsville is taking advantage of a once-a-century opportunity to celebrate 62025 Day – the date that the City’s ZIP code and the calendar align. The festivities will take place this Friday, June 20, 2025, in City Park and include a concert, food, games, a commemorative overhead group photo and a charity pie-eating contest. “We couldn’t let this date pass without celebrating with some fun activities for the whole community,” Mayor Art Risavy said. “It will be a great day to visit and enjoy some of our terrific businesses in the 62025 ZIP code and then enjoy an evening in City Park.” Edwardsville’s 62025 Day celebration will begin at 5:30 p.m. in City Park, 101 S. Buchanan Street. Visitors can picnic in the park, taking advantage of a variety of local food and beverage trucks that will be set up on East Park Street adjacent to City Park. Visitors also could bring carryout from area restaurants and food

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A St. Louis couple has been charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child after their five-month-old son died in 2022 due to severe injuries suffered from a fall and head injury.

Grateful Dead fans will once again have the chance to head to the theaters to see their favorite band on the big screen, and this time the event will be…

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JERSEYVILLE - The Madison County Catholic Charities will be hosting a Christmas in July Trivia Night fundraiser on Saturday, July 19, 2025. This unseasonably festive event at the Jerseyville KC Hall will put your knowledge of holiday movies and traditions to the test! Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the event will run from 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. Your holiday knowledge could score you a cash prize if you are our first-place winner. There will also be special prizes for the ugliest sweater and best table decorations. Try your luck with our raffle baskets and a 50/50 drawing! Feel free to bring your own snacks! Soft drinks provided, alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Tickets are $20 per person or $120 for a table of six. Call 618.462.0634 ext. 221 with any questions, or to order your tickets today. R.S.V.P. by Friday, July 11th. “Our fundraisers provide us with critical funding to help meet the needs of our clients” said Denise Burton, Area Director of Madison County Catholic

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ALTON/SAINT LOUIS - Most people know Troy Green as the owner of Gumbo 2 Geaux , an authentic Cajun restaurant in Alton. But in his spare time, Green is a musician who can’t wait to share his music with the region. Green invites the Riverbend community to come out to STL miniFEST, a festival on July 19, 2025, at Broadway Boat Bar in St. Louis, to see his set. Not only will Gumbo 2 Geaux be onsite with jambalaya, nachos and hamburgers for sale, but Green will be performing his original music. “It’s a lot of good music, a lot of fun music, a lot of energy, pop music, something that everyone can really get down to,” Green explained. “I’m kind of getting my sea legs again with performing. I’ve done a few out in St. Louis and a few in Alton this past summer. I’m looking forward to my STL show.” STL miniFEST will run from 5:45–11:45 p.m. on July 19, and Green encourages people to arrive by 6 p.m. to see his set. Tickets

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ALTON—The Alton Fire Department quickly responded to a fire in the 600 block of Division Street in Alton and extinguished it in the early morning of Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Deputy Chief Matt Fischer said the fire call came in at about 1:56 a.m. on Wednesday about a fire in the bedroom of the Alton home. “Everyone was out when the firefighters arrived and they made a quick hit and stopped it.” Fischer said the fire likely started with a single-unit air conditioner window unit. Fischer said he is always proud of his firefighters but this was just another example of a quick response and quick work saved the home. The home has considerable smoke damage and fire damage the back part of the house. The utilities were also turned off at the home on Wednesday, Fischer said.

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Missouri's State Treasurer Vivek Malek is making the annual reminder to Missourians that they may have unclaimed money waiting for them.

RIVERBEND - Local police officers recently traveled to Washington, D.C., for National Police Week. The organization Mustache March 4 PD funded the weeklong trip in May for 11 officers and their spouses. While in D.C., travelers toured the city, visited the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, participated in a candlelight vigil, and connected with other officers from across the country. “It gives me some perspective to really appreciate my job and what I do,” said Sgt. Danny Green with the Jerseyville Police Department. “I really enjoyed getting back and being able to talk to my other officers about it and tell them what I took away from it. Hopefully they see that I have a little bit of pep in my step and they can see what a benefit it was. I still can’t believe it. I’ll be at work and just think back on that trip and just still, I can't believe I got to do that and was able to be supported in such a great way.” Mustache March 4

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ALTON - Gumbo 2 Geaux has grown exponentially over the past three years, and co-owner Troy Green couldn’t be more excited about the restaurant’s future. Green explained that he and his wife, Kyndra, moved to Alton from Louisiana in 2016. They opened Gumbo 2 Geaux as a way to pay homage to their Cajun roots. Located at 1818 Washington Avenue in Alton, the restaurant has become the go-to spot for Cajun food in the Riverbend region. “Since we’ve been here, it’s been nothing but blessings,” Green said. “We got our restaurant going after a lot of trial and error. We’re coming up on three years here in October.” Gumbo 2 Geaux has their normal menu as well as “crazy, kooky specials” that draw in new customers every day, Green said. You can check their official Facebook page for these daily specials. In addition to their takeout and pick-up options, the restaurant offers delivery, and they are building up their

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