Riverbender 🕸

CHICAGO — Governor Pritzker announced today that after decades of extensive sexual assault forensic backlogs, the number of pending sexual assault forensic assignments older than 180 days has reached zero. This is down from a backlog of 1,815 sexual assault forensic assignments that were pending longer than 180 days in March of 2019. Illinois State Police (ISP) utilized a variety of strategies to reduce turnaround time, including ramping up the use of forensic technologies and robotics, and hiring additional forensic scientists who work collaboratively instead of analyzing data independently. The benefits of these initiatives, along with other improvements, are continuing to unfold. “Under my predecessor, there was a massive backlog of DNA from sexual assault cases waiting to be processed, letting criminals off the hook and failing survivors,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “When I came into office, my administration made it our mission to support survivors in

Continue Reading

Photos may be purchased for personal use at: https://www.randymanning.com/Miles-Davis-Jazz-Fest-Alton ALTON – The 17 th Annual Miles Davis Jazz Festival honored the legend who always called Alton his home and awarded scholarships to three area youth Saturday night at the Post Commons, 300 Alby Street in Alton. Abe Lee Barham was the chairman of the event and Alderwoman Rosie Brown was the Mistress of the Ceremony. “Miles Davis always remembered Alton as his home,” Barham said. “We are also glad to be able to present the educational scholarships for youth to help us endure with the kids. I was also excited about the Hall of Famer here in The Lady J. Huston Show by Joyce Huston and The Black and White Band with saxophonists Kelvin Evans and Kenneth Black. Huston said Miles Davis inspired her to play and she was so thankful for Barham for the invitation to play. She said she has a new CD coming out on July 22. Barham said the Miles Davis group is always

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Multiple fire departments were called to an intense blaze on Fourth and Bryant in Edwardsville around 5 p.m. on Sunday. Smoke billowed in the sky for a long distance away from the fire. Multiple departments joined Edwardsville to battle the fire, from Glen Carbon, Collinsville, Maryville, Troy, Bethalto, and possibly more. The fire destroyed the garage and much of the home and a nearby residence also had siding damage but was saved by the fast fire department response. All those in both the home involved and the next-door home were safe and able to get out of the residences with some assistance. More to come.

Continue Reading

PAWNEE - On Jun 3, 2022, in continued celebration of the Illinois State Police (ISP) 100th Anniversary, the ISP Division of Academy and Training (DAT) hosted a driving and vehicle knowledge training, Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) competition on May 31, 2022, at the ISP Pawnee Training Facility EVOC Track. Participants were tested in various areas of emergency vehicle operations competency. Each ISP Division (Division of Academy and Training, Division of Criminal Investigation, Division of Forensic Services, Division of Internal Investigation, Division of Justice Services, Office of the Director) provided one participant for the training competition, with the exception of the Division of Patrol, which provided one participant from each ISP district. ISP DAT Colonel Marcus Gipson, Deputy Director offers his hearty congratulations to the Statewide Patrol Support Command, Division of Patrol Trooper Kenneth Patterson #6083 who completed the course with the lowest overal

Continue Reading

COLLINSVILLE - A 34-year-old Edwardsville female died in an accident on westbound Collinsville Road just west of Arlington Avenue in St. Clair County at 11:38 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022. The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by the Illinois State Police WHAT: Two-Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash WHERE: Collinsville Road, west of Arlington Avenue, St. Clair County VEHICLES: Unit 1 – 2002 green Cools ATV Unit 2 – 2004 red Dodge Ram DRIVERS: Unit 1 – Brian K. Smith, a 42-year-old-male from Collinsville, IL Unit 2 – Daniel E. McNatt, a 59-year-old-male from Caseyville, IL PASSENGER: Unit 1 – 34-year-old-female from Edwardsville, IL – Deceased PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1 and Unit 2 were traveling westbound on Collinsville Road just west of Arlington Avenue. Unit 1 was towing black disabled moped without working taillights. Unit 1 passenger was

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor, James T. Minor, PhD, joined East St. Louis Mayor Robert Eastern III during the annual State of the City Address held Thursday, May 26 at the SIUE East St. Louis Center. “I have had the great pleasure of spending time in East St. Louis even before my March arrival to listen and learn about the history and just how resilient this community is and has been,” Minor shared in his opening remarks. Minor went on to reflect on and highlight a couple of celebrations, which marked significant points along the educational continuum. In May, he shared in the milestone achievement of young, local scholars as they graduated from the SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start program’s end of the year celebration. That same day, he spoke at the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) commencement ceremony. CHS valedictorian Evan Bonner will attend SIUE in fall 2022, a remarkable demonstration of the successful

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE – On Friday, May 27, the Illinois Industrial Biotechnology Partnership Act was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker and establishes the Industrial Biotechnology Public-Private Partnership as a State-sponsored board consisting of specified members to promote and market Illinois as a destination for research, development and commercialization for industrial biotechnology. The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has been a leading institution for research in industrial biotechnology in Illinois and the United States since its doors opened in 2003. Today, it celebrates the signing of this historic legislation. The bill was passed unanimously by both the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate with bipartisan support. The Partnership will consist of 12 members, including the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois Department of

Continue Reading

NORMAL - In Illinois as elsewhere, Civil War troops came from a wide variety of occupations. In one regiment, many men were future teachers. The 33rd Illinois Infantry, which originated at Illinois State University in Normal, was famously known as the “Teacher’s Regiment” since a high number of the men were students. The nickname was a nod to the original purpose of Illinois State, which was teacher training. A number of men from the Riverbend area were in the 33rd, which holds a special place in the history of both the university and the state. The outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861 riveted the university, which had been founded only four years before as the state’s first public institution of higher learning. Many students remembered that the war was foremost on everyone’s minds, and students could barely concentrate on their studies. President Lincoln’s first call for troops was for a ninety-day enlistment, but it soon became apparent

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE - Lincoln Middle School math teacher Faith Jordan has her dream job, is living in a community she loves and will soon have a new home that she can call her own. The path to get there, however, has been far from easy. In 2018, Jordan's life fell apart. She had moved to Colorado with her then husband and three daughters but ended up getting divorced, which left with her little money and bad credit. “We were transient for a couple years. We stayed with a family for a few months until we could make it back to my parents in St. Louis and then stayed with another family.” All while that was happening, Jordan finished her degree at UMSL to teach middle school math. She did her student teaching at Ferguson Middle School but had gotten her provisional license so she could get paid while teaching. Her goal during this time was to return to the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area and to work for District #7. “We were living in Ferguson when everything

Continue Reading

ALTON - Eddie Sholar Jr., owner of Fast Eddie’s in Alton, has always been a strong supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of Alton, and once again he has come through for the club with a submission of $10,000 to sponsor the “Eddie Sholar Youth Game Room.” Al Womack Jr., the long-time club's executive director, made the announcement on Friday. The sponsorship for this particular game room was $6,000 and the additional $4,000 will be used for improvements and amenities, Womack Jr. said. Sholar is always an active donor in the community, but he is not one to seek publicity or accolades for his community actions; he gives like his father, Eddie, Sr., with humility. “Eddie has been with us since we first opened here with sponsorship,” Womack said. “We are very thankful now and always for his constant support of the club. He made a commitment for a three-year sponsorship.” Womack stressed that now the club can make improvements to the Eddie Sholar Game

Continue Reading

EAST ALTON - A recent book signing event for Amoriah Gray, the 7-year-old author of “Amoriah’s Magic Afro Puffs,” was widely successful as teachers, administrators, friends, and classmates gathered on the last day of school at Eastwood Elementary School in East Alton to have their books signed by Amoriah. The event was held last Tuesday, May 31, and lasted from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., during which time Amoriah was greeted by several of her former teachers and current classmates, Amoriah’s mother Angela Gray said. “It went great,” Angela said of the book signing event. “A lot of former teachers, the superintendent and the new, incoming superintended attended, the principal … several classmates attended and even students she didn’t know attended - and parents.” Some arrived with a copy of Amoriah’s book in hand, ready for her signature - others purchased the book there at the book signing event. Angela

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - ACE Hardware of Bethalto has been a long-time supporter of causes in the area for both St. Louis Children’s Hospital, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, and member hospitals of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals of Greater St. Louis. All told, ACE Hardware generated more than $45,588 from the Bethalto store in 2021 Throughout the year, Ace Hardware of Bethalto participated in Ace Bucket Day, yearlong round-up, item of the month promotions, World Famous Chocolate candy sales, BBQs, etc. With their customers, vendors, and other community support, ACE Hardware of Bethalto raised over $35,588. The total raised by ACE Hardware of Bethalto made it one of the top ten fundraising stores for ACE nationwide. Duracell Battery awarded Gary Johnson (Owner of ACE Hardware of Bethalto) an additional $10,000 for being a top-ten single-store retailer. One hundred percent of funds remained local, benefitting CMN-STL member hospitals, St. Louis Children’s

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County to consider lowering its food truck permit fees. The Health Department Committee discussed amending the county’s food sanitation ordinance on Friday. The committee voted 4-1 to reduce the fee from $375 to $175. Director of Public Health Toni Corona said that currently there are 18 licensed mobile establishments in the county. She said that the health department charges fees for food permit licenses based on the categories of each food establishments, which is 1 through 3. Mobile food trucks are considered Category 1 and Category 2 establishments and inspected the same as a “brick and mortar” restaurant and eateries. Category 1 and 1a facilities receive three inspections per year, or two inspections per year if one of the following conditions is met: A certified food service manager is present at all times the facility is in operation; or Employees involved in food operations receive HACCP training exercise, in-service training

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE – Earlier this week, the Madison County Auditor’s Office officially filed the county’s fiscal year ending November 30th, 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report with the Illinois Comptroller’s Office and the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). This is Madison County’s official audited annual financial report. “State law requires that all general-purpose local governments publish within six months of the close of each fiscal year a complete set of financial statements presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a firm of licensed certified public accountants,” Michael said. “I am very pleased to report to the taxpayers of Madison County that the county received a clean (unmodified) opinion from our external auditor, Scheffel Boyle.” The goal of the independent audit is to provide reasonable assurance that

Continue Reading

MADISON — Governor JB Pritzker today announced that the sold-out NASCAR Cup Series race, Enjoy Illinois 300 – which is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Illinois Office of Tourism – is expected to attract more than 83,000 fans and produce at least $60 million in economic impact for the region. The event is the track’s first-ever sell-out and is World Wide Technology Raceway’s (WWTR) largest single-day crowd to date. In advance of WWTR’s inaugural Cup Series, Governor Pritzker also proclaimed June 5, 2022 “Richard Petty Day.” The proclamation honors Petty, the most decorated NASCAR driver of all time. “NASCAR Cup Races are some of the biggest and best sporting events in the world – and as Sunday’s first-ever sold-out race indicates, nobody does it better than Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The Enjoy Illinois 300 is a unique experience that will bring millions

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-2) have introduced a Congressional resolution establishing June 3, 2022, as “National Gun Violence Awareness Day” and designating June as “National Gun Violence Awareness Month.” Today, communities across the country will participate in a Gun Violence Prevention Day of Action. Every day, 321 people are shot in the United States according to Brady United. This resolution asks citizens and community leaders to give heightened attention to gun violence during the month of June, as gun violence typically spikes at the start of the summer months, and to work together to make our communities safer long-term. Kelly and Durbin have introduced the resolution each year since 2016. This resolution, in part, also honors the life of Hadiya Pendleton. Just days after performing at President Obama’

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker today signed two pieces of legislation that allow for the expanded use of expressway cameras, empowering law enforcement agencies to investigate criminal activities along expressways and State highways. “There is nothing more important than keeping Illinoisans safe—in our schools, in our parks, and on our expressways,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The tragic incidences of gun violence on our highways requires aggressive and intentional action. By signing this bill, law enforcement agencies will have the tools to respond to criminal activity in a timely and efficient manner—ensuring the safety and security of our residents, while holding perpetrators accountable.” “Automated license plate readers play a growing, critical role in ISP investigations and arrests in the Chicagoland area,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “ISP now routinely uses this technology to track down expressway shootings

Continue Reading

TROY - Are you ready to start the kids’ summer off right? Let’s fill them with a world of pure imagination! Goshen Theatre Project will be performing Willy Wonka, Jr., the captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl’s fantastical tale. The musical will feature the well-known catchy tunes from the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Performances will take place at Triad High School (Troy, IL) kicking off on June 9 and 10 at 7:00 p.m., with a matinee on June 11 at 3:00 p.m. These family-friendly shows are estimated to be 90 minutes, which includes a 15 minute intermission. Tickets can be purchased immediately at https://gtp.booktix.com/ . Use code PURPLE on Sunday, June 5 th and earn 15% off of your ticket price! Before the show, audience members are encouraged to visit our creative concession stand which will include anything from chocolate squirrels, inflatable gummy bears, candy kebabs, a popcorn bar, and even Wonka bars (will you get the Golden Ticket?)!

Continue Reading

(THE CONVERSATION) - Individual states and some cities are taking legal steps to either limit or allow abortions, gearing up for what will likely be a fierce national battle if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the constitutional right to abortion. The Supreme Court is set to soon release a final verdict on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization , one month after a leaked Supreme Court draft majority opinion showed it could reverse Roe v. Wade. But a ruling – likely to come sometime in June or July 2022 – will be only one important step in the ongoing national abortion saga. While 13 states, including Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, have “trigger laws” that would almost immediately restrict abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, the legal future for abortion in 10 states is uncertain . As a professor of health law, public health law and medical ethics, I think it is important to understand that it may take time to see the full effects o

Continue Reading

ALTON - Back by popular demand, the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau is celebrating all things epic with a local focus on the epic foodie experience throughout southwest Illinois during the month of June. Kicking off the month-long event is Epic Pizza Week which runs from June 6 – 10. Enjoy epic pizza specials at the participating restaurants located throughout southwest Illinois. Epic Pizza Week is followed by Epic Wing Week June 13 – 17, Epic Burger Week June 20 – 24 and closes up with Epic Ice Cream Week June 27 – July 1. “We started highlighting our epic foods last year and it was an amazing success,” said Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. “We had dozens of locally owned and operated restaurants participate serving up thousands of burgers, pizzas and ice cream treats to residents and visitors alike. Now we want to take our epic foods to the next level and the participation has grown. We have more

Continue Reading