http://www.riverbender.com/news 20 Latest News Stories en-us Copyright 2012 RiverBender.com http://backend.userland.com/rss/ Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:42:45 EST http://www.riverbender.com/2005/images/ToppersLeft/riverbenderlogo.jpg http://www.riverbender.com/news Students, staff and others at Marquette High School in Alton shaved their heads for charity yesterday, and surpassed expectations as far as participation and fundraising.  At least 19 students from the school, a couple from St. Mary's, and... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=21071 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:31:59 CST A Madison County Grand Jury has indicted three people in connection with financial exploitation cases involving elderly victims.  In one case, a 91-year-old woman was allegedly victimized by her cousins, another by an unrelated... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=21070 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:52:27 CST Alton's Amphitheater is heading into its fourth year of operation, and city officials are bringing back Triple Jam Productions to promote a series of summer concerts this year. The venue annually hosts a variety of concerts, including the The Big Gig and... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=21098 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:02:57 CST Checking overnight police activity, Alton Police were holding 41-year-old Lester E. Ingram of the 2,700 block of Hillcrest for domestic battery; 43-year-old  Terry D. Elsperman of the 200 block of Sering for possession of drug equipment;... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=21100 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:23:06 CST Gov. Pat Quinn had his first chance Wednesday to respond to criticism of his State of the State address.   Asked where he would get the money to support some of the tax breaks he is pushing, such as abolishing the state tax on natural... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=21069 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:50:27 CST Big corporations got tax breaks last year, and the state’s largest public employee union is still asking: what about us?   Hundreds of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 members demanded... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=21064 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:36:36 CST Businesses may soon be banned from requiring potential employees to divulge their social media passwords, for sites such as Facebook and Twitter, during the hiring process.  State Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) says businesses have been... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=21062 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:32:13 CST WBGZ Radio is celebrating a birthday today. The station began broadcasting on February 3, 1948 as WOKZ from the Hotel Stratford in downtown Alton. The station currently operates 24 hours a day at 1570 AM, providing local news, sports and talk for the... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=20939 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:59:04 CST Should faith-based organizations be forced by the federal government to provide health coverage for procedures such as sterilization and abortion that violate their moral beliefs?     Yes –... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=21076 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:24:19 CST A new twist on an old industry is coming to Grafton. Many river towns have a thriving fishing industry, but the invasive Asian Carp has pushed many native species out. A group of entrepreneurs have decided to locate in Grafton and harvest as much of the... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=20947 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:30:46 CST What does mowing the lawn, picking up trash and keeping an eye on drug dealers have in common? All speak to the various aspects that can either build a neighborhood up or tear one down, based on quality of life issues. That as one of the main goals Alton... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=20951 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:16:24 CST One man is dead and a woman was injured after an all-terrain vehicle crash on Old Alton Road in Madison County. Police said 41 year old Donald W. Enyart Senior of Granite City and 28 year old Shelly Smith of Madison crashed after trying to change lanes on... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=20991 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:26:45 CST State Senator Bill Haine of Alton's recent letter to President Obama in opposition to a recent mandate by the Secretary of Health and Human Services is gaining support, at least locally. Kathleen Sebelius (pictured) says all health insurance plans must... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=20952 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:28:14 CST The Catholic Schools Week visits concluded Thursday at WBGZ with students from Our Lady Queen of Peace School in Bethalto.   All the Catholic grade schools in the River Bend sent students to appear on the air this... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=20936 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:41:05 CST The sinking of fill dirt under a portion of Illinois 255 to Humbert Road is still a head-scratcher for IDOT. Last September cracks began forming in the pavement of the unopened segment near Seminary Road, preventing the stretch to Humbert Road from... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=20946 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:14:03 CST A Republican candidate who ran unsuccessfully two years ago against Congressman Jerry Costello is out of this years primary after being removed from the ballot. Teri Newman of Highland did not have enough valid signatures on her nominating petitions, and... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=20983 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:52:11 CST The governor wants to expand Medicaid in Cook County to comply with national healthcare overhaul standards, but state Republicans want him to look before he leaps.  State Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) says the Department of Healthcare... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=20955 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:54:18 CST Now that Indiana is a right to work state, what does it mean for Illinois?  It’s no surprise that when asked about Indiana taking the non-union route, Democratic Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, a champion of unions, dubbed the... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=20954 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:52:11 CST Yesterday's State of the State address by Governor Pat Quinn left many area lawmakers scratching their heads. Illinois is still dealing with a multi-billion dollar debt, as Quinn proposed an estimated half-billion dollars in new economic initiatives. ... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=20933 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:35:43 CST Illinois’ Republican Treasurer says he’s encouraged by some of what the governor said during Wednesday’s State of the State address, and will wait until the budget address before fully judging the fiscal implications of the... http://www.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=20930 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:25:31 CST