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SPRINGFIELD - Landmark legislation to prevent book banning was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced today. This new law sets a nationwide precedent in the fight against book bans, as libraries and librarians face unprecedented censorship of books and resources, including in Illinois. The bill passed the Illinois House in March and the Senate in May. Giannoulias, who also serves as the State Librarian, initiated HB 2789 after extremist groups – including the far-right nationalist group, the Proud Boys – targeted Illinois libraries, divided communities and harassed librarians, despite that the books are not required reading. “The concept of banning books contradicts the very essence of what our country stands for,” said Secretary Giannoulias. “It also defies what education is all about: teaching our children to think for themselves. This landmark law is a triumph for our democracy, a win for First Amendment

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CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker was joined by Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, advocates, and lawmakers today at the Harold Washington Library to sign legislation outlawing book bans in Illinois. This nation-leading legislation comes in the wake of a nationwide rise in extremists targeting literature, libraries, and books in an effort to censor the material students need to thrive in the classroom. Targeted books cover a wide range of categories and predominantly consists of stories by and about People of Color and the LGBTQ+ community. “Here in Illinois, we don’t hide from the truth, we embrace it,” said Governor JB Pritzker “Young people shouldn’t be kept from learning about the realities of our world; I want them to become critical thinkers, exposed to ideas that they disagree with, proud of what our nation has overcome, and thoughtful about what comes next. Everyone deserves to see themselves

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ST. LOUIS - This past weekend, Water Division employees responded to 16 water main breaks throughout neighborhoods in South St. Louis City, a domino effect started by Friday’s break at Donovan and Lansdowne due to changes in pressure. Water Division crews and contractors continue to work diligently to make repairs and restore full water pressure to impacted neighborhoods. Despite a proposed bill in 2016 , the Board of Aldermen has not adjusted the City’s water rate in nearly 13 years, requiring the Water Division to spend tens of millions of its reserves in order to maintain our water system and respond to these kinds of emergencies. As Mayor Jones made clear during this morning’s press avail, these recent breaks again make clear that the City cannot afford to keep kicking the can down the road as it has for more than a decade. The bill currently before the Board of Aldermen would institute a 2-time, phased-in rate increase of $5/month ($15/quarter) to ensure the Wate

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GODFREY – Beverly Farm Foundation has announced that its annual fireworks display is scheduled for Friday, July 14, 2023, and is again open to the public this year. “All our families and friends in the Riverbend area are invited to come out and enjoy our fireworks as we continue celebrating our 125 th anniversary this year,” said Beverly Farm Foundation CEO Crystal Officer. Where : 6301 Humbert Road, Godfrey, IL 62035 When : Friday, July 14, 2023 Fireworks to begin at approx. 9:30 p.m. Arrive as early as 8:30 p.m. “Come out and join the fun,” Officer continued. “Bring a blanket or lawn chairs to sit on. The lawn area north of our Administration Building is the best location from which to view our fireworks. You can arrive as early as 8:30 p.m. to find a spot on the lawn and wait for the stars to come out and our fireworks to light up the Godfrey sky.” If you will be attending the fireworks display, do not bring any personal fireworks

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ALTON - The Old Bakery Beer Company is hosting an artisan fair in honor of Pride Month. The Proud Market will showcase work by local LGBTQ+ and ally vendors. The market will open from 5–8 p.m. on Thursday, June 15. The event will also serve as a fundraiser for Alton Pride and the Metro Trans Umbrella Group, two local LGBTQ+ organizations. “We do a lot of markets throughout the year. We like to support local artisans. And they always do really well, so we thought it was a good chance to highlight specifically some of the LGBTQ+ artisans in our area,” Lauren Pattan, vice president and operations manager of The Old Bakery Beer Company, said. The event will include 12 local vendors, with products ranging from handmade patches to jewelry to candles and more. Pattan said that last year’s Proud Market was “really successful.” In addition to vendors, The Old Bakery Beer Company will offer their usual food and drink menu with a few special additions.

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AMES, Iowa - Nearly 4,600 graduates received degrees from Iowa State University this spring. Graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies were held May 11-13 at Hilton Coliseum. Bethalto's Lin Pizzo graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in interior design, Edwardsville's Adam Walters graduated Summa Cum Laude with a software engineering degree and Glen Carbon's Jack Raffaelle was awarded a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering. Raffaelle graduated Summa Cum Laude. Alumna Trudy Huskamp Peterson, the first woman archivist of the United States; and Temple Grandin, Distinguished Professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University, animal welfare pioneer and activist for people with autism, received honorary degrees during the undergraduate ceremonies.

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ALTON - Adreonna L. Reams, 30, of Alton, was charged for pepper-spraying two Alton Police Officers last Wednesday, June 7. She received two counts of Aggravated Battery, each a Class 2 felony. Court filings indicate Count 1 stems from an incident wherein Reams “sprayed Officer Storey in the eyes with chemical mace, knowing Officer Storey to be a peace officer of the Alton Police Department.” Reams was charged with an additional count of Aggravated Battery after also spraying Officer Bailey of the Alton Police Department in the eyes with the chemical mace. Both officers were engaged in the execution of their official duties at the time of the incidents, according to court records. Bond was set at $125,000, and Reams’ next court date is set for 9 a.m. June 12. More information and updates on this case (Case # 2023CF001306) can be found here . The issuance of charges is based solely upon probable cause and is not an indication of guilt. All subjects charged

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ALTON - State Representative Amy Elik recently gave a few updates on her work at the State House of Representatives, as well as what she wants to accomplish during the rest of her session and the great things going on in her district. Elik discussed these topics and more on a recent episode of Our Daily Show! On Riverbender.com . Last Friday, June 9, Elik said she received word that Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed three of her bills into law. “That’s always exciting, to see the bills that you wrote and that you worked on coming to fruition, and that they were signed and not vetoed, no surprises or anything like that came along." Among the bills signed was one requiring schools to recognize and celebrate Constitution Day, which she said despite some pushback in the Senate, ultimately passed with bipartisan support - something she seeks for all of her bills. “Any of the bills that I do, I’m always going to have bipartisan support on, because

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FULTON, MO. - Kaleb Hinkle-Pruett from East Alton was named to the Spring 2023 Dean's List for exemplary academic performance at Westminster College. Hinkle-Pruett is a Sophomore at Westminster. The Dean's List recognizes Westminster students who have shown high academic performance during the past semester. To be included on the Dean's List, a student must achieve a 3.60 semester grade point average with at least 12 hours completed that semester. The list of 220 students includes 44 freshmen, 58 sophomores, 65 juniors, and 53 seniors. President and Chief Transformation Officer Donald P. Lofe, Jr., recently commended the students for their exemplary academic performance. "These students worked extremely hard to achieve this honor," Lofe said. "On behalf of the entire Westminster College community, I want to congratulate each one of them for making an impact through this outstanding accomplishment." ABOUT WESTMINSTER COLLEGE: Founded in 1851 and home of Winston Churchill's

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GODFREY - Abby Kreitner Thurman didn’t set out to create a popular woman-owned gym, but that’s exactly what she did. With three passionate trainers and a growing list of clients, the business Ab’s Workout Plans is only growing. “We like to push people and drive people, and I think our clients see that energy,” Thurman said. “We’re going through our own journeys, too. We’re right there with them.” For the last year, Thurman’s journey has been this business. Ab’s Workout Plans offers individual training sessions, group sessions, consultations and workout and nutrition plans. They’ve expanded to a new location on Godfrey Road with a full calendar of available classes. While the gym’s success might have initially surprised Thurman, Ab’s Workout Plans has actually been in the works for years. In high school, Thurman participated in the Riverbend CEO program meant to foster entrepreneurial skills

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ALTON - Pride, Inc will be hosting its 2023 Garden Tour on Sunday, July 9. During this “Rain or Shine” event, attendees will have the opportunity to view selected private and public gardens in the Alton – Godfrey area. There will also be Master Gardeners, and Beekeepers in some locations available for questions and answers. The tour is from 12 – 5:00pm, and the cost is $20.00 per person. Tickets, tour maps and further information about the locations can be found by visiting https://pridegardentour.com/. Tickets may also be obtained at Karen Wilson’s State Farm Office at 225 Tolle Lane or Liberty Bank in Godfrey, or the Pride office in the Benjamin Godfrey Mansion. For more information contact Pat Stewart at pride@prideincorporated.org or call 618-467-2375 ABOUT Pride, Incorporated – Pride, Incorporated is a local, non-profit organization dedicated to community beautification. Since its Founding in 1966 by Dr. Gordon Moore, Pride, Inc. ha

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This is my super cool Dad, Quentin. My dad was born and raised in Hardin. He loves showing us his favorite places he used to enjoy as a kid. It could be something as simple as a creek or natural spring water he used to drink as a kid, but showing it off and having his three daughters absolutely love Calhoun County makes him the happiest camper. These adventures to Hardin happen every year and consist of a trip to the Hardin Drive-In for a quick lunch, followed by driving backroads, playing in the creek, and then taking the Kampsville Ferry home. These days were my favorite and still are to this day. It's a relaxing day full of plenty of laughs, good food, a possible sunburn, and so many memories. Sierra Palos If you have a Father's Day Memory to share with Riverbender.com, e-mail news@riverbender.com .

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ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District held a groundbreaking ceremony recently for the design and construction of a new 1,200 ft. x 110 ft. lock chamber adjacent to the existing 600 ft. x 110 ft. lock chamber in Winfield, Mo. The original Lock 25 opened May 18, 1939, as the third to the last lock built in the Mississippi River system and passes approximately 23 million tons of commercial commodities through annually. Eighty-four years later, the St. Louis District along with several dignitaries held the official kick off to welcome the new construction of the additional lock chamber that will allow for two-way traffic and the construction of a fish passage structure at Lock 22 in Saverton, Mo. Located in Winfield, Mo. (45 miles north of St. Louis), Lock and Dam 25 was selected for upgrades due to its location through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed into law by President Joe Biden in November 2022. The $829 million funding for the Mississippi Rive

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ALTON - Need something to do this summer? Melanie Holmes has you covered. Holmes’s fifth book, “100 Things to Do in Illinois Before You Die,” is out now and might add some fun new items to your bucket list. The book highlights Holmes’s appreciation for her home state. “I really wanted to tell a story — Illinois’s story, as told through a collection of experiences,” Holmes said. “I hoped to produce a book that says, ‘This is us. All of us.’” Holmes’s book is the latest to join the “100 Things to Do Before You Die” series , a line of guidebooks published by Reedy Press . The company allowed Holmes to make the book her own, with lists and region-specific tips for readers. With these additions, Holmes said there are nearly 200 experiences highlighted in her “bucket list book.” This includes a few nearby sites, including Cahokia Mounds , Litchfield’s Skyview Drive-In

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EDWARDSVILLE - Elsaventer Branch of Alton has been charged with Making A Terrorist Threat (a Class X felony), Aggravated Battery (Class 2), two counts of Resisting A Police Officer Causing Injury (Class 4), and Disorderly Conduct (Class C). Each of these charges stems from an incident that occurred on April 16, 2023. The Making A Terrorist charge reads as follows: "The defendant made a threat to commit or cause to be committed a terrorist act when he made the statement he would 'blow up' and 'shoot up' a McDonald’s Restaurant at 2400 Homer Adams Parkway. Police said he created a reasonable expectation of fear of throwing items onto the roof of the McDonald’s." He was also charged with the following: "Aggravated Battery of an Alton Police officer causing harm to the officer’s face with his hand. He also pulled away from an officer with Alton Police Department and failed to obey commands and pulled away from the officer. The Alton officer occurred injuries to his knees,

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ALTON - The Senior Services Plus 50th anniversary celebration on Saturday night at Lewis and Clark Community College was a night to remember. Sheila Goins was the emcee for the inaugural gala for SSP. She also serves as one of SSP's newest board members. Theresa Collins, CEO for SSP, presented Sheila with gifts, a flower arrangement, and a beautiful painting as a gift for emceeing the night. The Alton High School Jazz Band performed the evening's entertainment. State Rep. Amy Elik was also in attendance, along with many other community officials, including Alton Mayor David Goins. Recognized at the event were AARP Illinois because of their corporate partnership as well as Argosy Casino. BJC Alton Memorial Hospital was recognized as a Community Hero, Liberty Bank was a community partner honoree along with OSF Saint Anthony's Hospital. Zeke Jabusch was also recognized with a Community Volunteer Hero Award. The Senior Services Plus Board of Directors consists of Chuck Par as president,

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ALTON - Zeke Jabusch is most known for his Alton-Godfrey Business Association leadership as president since 1993. However, Saturday night, Zeke was recognized with a Senior Services Plus Hero Award. Zeke admitted he was truly touched by the honor. Senior Services Plus marked its 50th anniversary with the celebration on Saturday, and Zeke was one of the top honorees on that prestigious night. Zeke said he looks at what organizations like Senior Services Plus have done in the community, not at what he has done. “Senior Services Plus has achieved many positive results over the years,” he said. “It has been a very positive resource to the community and region beyond. I was on the board for nearly 20 years.” Zeke said Senior Services Plus’ programs speak for themselves, from the fitness center, wellness services, meal delivery, hosting a wide variety of events for seniors, home-care services, and even home repair and some lawn services and so much more. “Th

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JERSEYVILLE - A man from Winchester has been charged with indecent solicitation of a child after he “knowingly solicited three (3) twelve (12) year old girls” to perform a sexual act, according to court filings from the Jersey County Circuit Clerk’s office. Austin K. Williams, 25, of Winchester, reportedly committed the offense on June 5, 2023. He was charged with one count of Indecent Solicitation Of A Child, a Class 1 felony carrying a sentence of four to 15 years in prison. His bail was set at $75,000. More information and updates on this case can be found here . The issuance of charges is based solely upon probable cause and is not an indication of guilt. All subjects charged with criminal offenses are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly expanded in 2023, and it’s here to stay. ChatGPT, Snapchat and altered photos and videos are just some of the AI encounters people have on their devices daily. AI has many positives. But experts say when it comes to health advice, take it from a trained human being, not a robot. And if you’re scared of "the rise of the robots" – as they say in Hollywood – there are ways to cope. "You’re absolutely normal to be anxious when there’s the first stirrings of big shifts in technology or other things that might change our life," says Ari Lakritz, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at OSF HealthCare who says he sees these concerns often. Coming to grips with technology advances Common fears include technology making your job obsolete or providing you with misinformation. Dr. Lakritz suggests being proactive to the changes, not reactive. Learn how AI is changing your job or hobbies. "See if you might be able to be part

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ALTON - The Miles Davis Jazz Committee recognized recent Marquette Catholic High School graduate Paige Masterson for her devotion to music, academics and service. Masterson considers music to be a strong influence on her. She played flute throughout elementary and middle school before joining Marquette’s Ukulele Club in high school. “The most significant thing about music is being able to hear and feel the different parts of a song,” Masterson said. Masterson was a member of Marquette’s Art Club, women’s bowling team and Academic Challenge team. Outside of school, she plays ice hockey with the St. Louis Lyons Hockey Club and volunteers throughout the Greater St. Louis area. Masterson joined Marquette’s National Honor Society early in her high school career with a high GPA and over a hundred hours of volunteer work. Timothy Harmon, Marquette’s principal and social sciences teacher, credited this “prestigious distinction”

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