The first hearing in the case seeking Sheriff Alfred Montgomery’s removal from office featured procedural wrangling, a trial date and the presentation of birth certificates.
There could be more retired teachers returning as substitutes and more home-schooled students will be able to participate in sports and other school activities, thanks to a stack of bipartisan education bills signed Wednesday by Gov. Mike Kehoe. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed 13 bills Wednesday, including numerous education provisions passed in a handful of […]
I recently sat through this hour-long interview between New York Times opinion columnist Ross Douthat and Peter Thiel. It was honestly a somewhat hypnotic experience for me. And on reflection, deeply disturbing. Not because Thiel said anything overtly monstrous—quite the opposite. He was thoughtful, articulate, intellectually sophisticated. He demonstrated genuine insight into technological stagnation, political decay, and civilizational risk. […]
ALTON - The Lucy Haskell Playhouse has a few events lined up to celebrate Lucy’s legacy. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, 2025, community members can stop by the playhouse in Middletown for an open house. Families can play old-fashioned games and tour the playhouse. This will be followed by Lucy’s birthday party from 6:30–8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, where you can enjoy cake, ice cream, games, pony rides and more. “It’s building that sense of community,” said Sarah, one of the volunteers. “I just love the legacy of the Haskell family, the fact that Florence Haskell donated this house and playhouse and land to the City of Alton for the education and recreation of children. It’s beautiful to be able to continue that legacy for the family. I just love the sense of community that it builds for all of us.” All of the Lucy Haskell Playhouse events are completely free to attend. Organizers Sarah and Margaret
GRANITE CITY — President Donald Trump announced in late May 2025 a revised partnership agreement between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel, reversing earlier opposition to the acquisition that officially closed June 18, 2025. The deal includes commitments to keep U.S. Steel’s headquarters in Pittsburgh, maintain an American CEO, and ensure a majority of U.S. citizens on the board. Nippon Steel pledged $14 billion in U.S. investments, including $2.4 billion for facilities in Pennsylvania’s Mon Valley region. Despite these assurances, officials and community leaders in Granite City and Illinois state legislators have raised concerns about the future of the local U.S. Steel plant. The legislators are on both a statewide and a national level. Granite City Mayor Michael C. Parkinson has expressed frustration over the absence of clear investment plans for Granite City Works, which reopened in 2018 following President Trump’s monumental visit to the community and the steel
If your ash tree’s canopy is thinning, bark is flaking off in patches, or woodpeckers are suddenly interested in your trunk, you may be seeing the signs of an emerald ash borer infestation. These bright green beetles may look harmless—no bigger than a penny—but their larvae are devastating tree killers, and they’ve been sweeping through the Midwest for years. In late spring, adult emerald ash borers lay eggs in the cracks of your ash tree’s bark. When the eggs hatch, the tiny larvae chew their way under the surface and begin tunneling through the soft layer just beneath the bark. That’s where your ash moves water and nutrients. As the larvae feed, they leave behind winding S-shaped galleries that slowly choke the tree from the inside out. Over time, your tree’s upper branches begin to die off, bark splits open, and shoots sprout directly from the trunk—a desperate attempt by the tree to survive. Left untreated, the damage builds year afte
A new trailer for the documentary on T-Rex frontman Marc Bolan has just been released.The film, Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan and T-Rex, got its world premiere at the…
This week, Elon Musk’s Grok AI started spewing extreme antisemitism, responding with conspiracy theories about Jewish people, and for a brief period telling people to call it “MechaHitler.” The incident perfectly illustrates why Alex Komoroske’s manifesto about the dangers of centralized AI, which we ran less than a month ago, has been making waves. When […]
From lively summer camps and vibrant county fairs to engaging cooking classes and exciting concerts, the variety of events happening across the Riverbend offers something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for family fun, community gatherings, or unique local experiences, there’s plenty to explore and celebrate. For a full listing of upcoming events, be sure to visit https://www.riverbender.com/events/ . If you want to make sure even more of the region is aware of your event email cj@riverbender.com and explore our range of Event Promotion Services! Featured GGCA Summer Camp invites kids ages 3 to 12 to embark on an unforgettable adventure with their 2025 Summer Camp themed "Bible Explorer: Trek through Truth!" This engaging camp, held at Greater Glory Christian Academy in Alton, Illinois, offers a full schedule of outdoor and water games, crafts, weekly field trips to local attractions and the NCG Cinema, and daily hot meals. Operating weekdays from Jun
On Monday, July 7, District 4 officers received a call for a Robbery at 3800 Lindell. A 55-year-old woman told officers she was getting in her vehicle when a male grabbed her and knocked her to the ground. He took her keys and drove away in her Subaru Forester. She said she then saw the […]
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