WOOD RIVER – A Wood River man with prior pending felonies faces three more felony charges after multiple firearms were reportedly found in his possession after his FOID card had been revoked. Craig A. Yost, 43, of Wood River, was charged on Oct. 28, 2025 with three Class 3 felony counts of possession of a firearm while his Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card was revoked. Yost was allegedly in unlawful possession of a Tennessee Arms CO AR-platform rifle, an Aero Precision M4E1 AT-platform
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is issuing a general reminder to the public about the potential dangers of consuming raw milk after at least eleven people were recently sickened by such products. While most milk products sold in the state are pasteurized, meaning they have been treated with heat to kill viruses, germs, and other substances that can cause illness, raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized, making it more likely to be a source of foodborne
CHICAGO – As part of his continued efforts to protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 26 states today filed an amicus brief opposing the Trump administration’s attempt to block a court order requiring full SNAP benefits to be delivered to the millions of Americans relying on them. The federal government’s motion, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit, comes after a federal judge in Rhode
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today led a coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit urging that court to affirm a lower court’s decision upholding California’s law regulating the purchase of long guns by individuals under the age of 21. In their brief , Raoul and the coalition explain that the Second Amendment gives states the ability to enact sensible regulations designed to promote gun safety an
ALTON - The City of Alton announced its 2025 leaf vacuum truck schedule, providing residents with a timeline for leaf collection services across different wards. The service begins Nov. 17, 2025, and runs through Dec. 23, 2025, with vacuum trucks operating in designated areas on specified dates. The leaf vacuum service requires residents to rake leaves to the edge of their yards but not into the street, as leaves in the roadway can clog the city’s stormwater drainage system. Raking leaves
ROXANA — The Roxana High School football team will face St. Joseph-Ogden in the second round of the Illinois High School Association Class 3A playoffs at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Roxana High School. The game will be streamed live on Riverbender.com, thanks to the Roxana Booster Club and other video sponsors. Roxana, which defeated West Frankfort 55-26 in the first round, enters the matchup with a 7-3 overall record. St. Joseph-Ogden also holds a 6-4 overall record heading into
GODFREY - King Air Conditioning and Heating is collecting toys for the Community Hope Center, and you can win big while giving back. From now through Nov. 26, 2025, you can drop off new, unwrapped toys at King Air Conditioning and Heating in Godfrey, or purchase a toy from their Amazon wishlist , for the chance to win two all-inclusive tickets to a Blues game. Kylie Wesley noted that King Air Conditioning and Heating tries to give back to the Riverbend community as much as possible.
ALTON - This is a statement from Alton Mayor David Goins about late-night liquor licenses in Alton: “The City of Alton has developed a reputation as a late-night party destination. While vibrant entertainment is part of our community’s charm, the associated activities and behaviors are harming our city’s reputation and safety. This summer, I personally witnessed images and videos depicting conduct that does not align with the values of our community. "For years, Alton has been
ALTON — On the evening of Nov. 6, 2025, Eugene Tillman, 64, of Alton, was taken into custody following a single-vehicle crash in the 2500 block of College Avenue that resulted in damage to a building. At approximately 9:55 p.m. on Thursday, the Alton Police Department was notified that a vehicle had struck the east side of a building located at 2528 College Avenue. Upon arrival, officers confirmed the vehicle had caused damage to the brick exterior. Tillman, the sole occupant and driver,
Key Takeaways: A new pilot in Bloomington uses AI and genetic testing to identify people with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a hidden genetic disorder that causes dangerously high cholesterol. Most people with FH don’t know they have it, but early detection and treatment, even in children, can prevent heart attacks and strokes. The program uses simple cheek swab tests, mobile-friendly education, and aims to reach families to stop this silent killer across generations.
Walking is one of the simplest ways to keep your body in good shape. A simple stroll around the block each morning might be the ticket. But sometimes, different styles of walking trend online as a “hack” to get better results. John Rinker, MD , an internal medicine physician at OSF HealthCare who focuses on longevity, breaks down what you need to know. The styles Backward walking: “It works different muscle groups than forward walking. You’re going to work different
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is calling on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to stop its coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the secret detention of American citizens. In letters to FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Department of Justice Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume, Duckworth highlights the alarming practice of federal agents arresting American citizens as part of the Trump Administration’s immigration raids,
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Senate Democrats in speaking on the floor condemning the Trump Administration’s efforts to undermine the right to vote. The floor speech comes after a successful election night for Democrats—where the American people overwhelmingly rejected the Trump Administration’s disastrous policies. During his remarks, Durbin highlighted the numerous
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps on Monday, November 10, with a ceremonial cake-cutting and program. The annual birthday cutting ceremony, steeped in history and tradition, honors the sacrifices and achievements of Marines. “We look forward to honoring Marines across Illinois with the traditional cake-cutting ceremony commemorating the 250th anniversary of its founding,” said Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Director
SWANSEA — To kick off the giving season, State Senator Christopher Belt and State Representative Jay Hoffman are collecting canned goods ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. “Let’s come together to address the pressing need for food in our community,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Every little bit helps. Giving back is a small way we can all make a big difference in our community.” Residents are encouraged to drop off cans of green beans, gravy and cranberry
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — Mayor Mark Kupsky presented a $5,000 donation to the Fairview Heights Area Food Pantry on Thursday morning, Nov. 6, 2025, to support families facing increased food insecurity amid the ongoing government shutdown and cuts to SNAP benefits. The donation aims to help the pantry maintain adequate supplies during a period of heightened demand. “With more families relying on local food assistance due to the ongoing government shutdown and reductions to SNAP benefits,
EAST ST. LOUIS - Cynthia Roller, a seventh and eighth-grade English language arts teacher at Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence in East St. Louis School District 189, has been named an honoree for Emerson’s 2025 Excellence in Teaching Awards. The recognition highlights her dedication and commitment to student learning. The announcement was made by the East St. Louis School District, which praised Roller for her passion and educational excellence. “Ms. Roller is a shining exampl
ALTON - Riverbend residents might notice activity at the Grand Theatre over the next few days as construction crews work to stabilize the building after spring storms. On Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, crews were busy at the theater fixing the roof following storms earlier this year. Located at 230 Market Street in Downtown Alton, the Grand Theatre is owned by AltonWorks and is known for its impressive history. The Grand Theatre opened on Dec. 4, 1920, and at one time was the largest theatre in
MADISON COUNTY — A Madison County jury has awarded $27.5 million to a 21-year-old motorcycle accident victim injured in a July 4, 2023, collision in Highland. The jury returned a unanimous verdict this week after a four-day trial before Judge Patrick King, finding the pickup truck driver 100 percent at fault for the crash at the intersection of Route 160 and Broadway in Highland. Attorneys Mary Simon and Tim Cronin of Simon Law represented the plaintiff. According to the trial, the pickup
GODFREY – A $10,000 gift from the Village of Godfrey will support the ongoing upkeep of the Monticello Sculpture Gardens at Lewis and Clark Community College. Trustees unanimously voted during Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting to approve a $10,000 donation to the Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation for continued maintenance at the gardens – a task Development Director Debby Edelman with Lewis and Clark said is more intensive than most might expect. “Maintaining
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