Dan Brannan is Content Director of RiverBender and EdGlenToday.com. Dan started at Riverbender.com/Edglentoday.com in December 2014. He is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with degrees in Journalism and Psychology. Having previously served as the Executive Editor of The Telegraph in Alton, his 17-year tenure led the paper to over 350 awards including several General Excellence awards in the Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press, Freedom Communications, Southern Illinois Editorial Association and Journal Register Company contests. Brannan was chosen to lead Freedom Communications' national pilot on social media.
He is the author of eight nonfiction books including: "The Courage to Live," a biography about Donna Gustavel, a young woman with multiple disabilities; "Everyday Angels," an inspirational book of moving human interest stories; "Live Life to the Fullest: Stories of People Coping With Diabetes" which is endorsed by the American Diabetes Association; "Boy Giant: The Story of Robert Wadlow The World's Tallest Man;" "Damn Cold and Starving" written with Sgt. Marion Ray; "You Can't Kill the Dream" co-written with fellow journalist Ande Yakstis; and "A Life in Parts," the story of Loretta Goebel and endorsed by Beatle Paul McCartney.
Dan, an avid exercise enthusiast, is a member of the American Diabetes Association and lives in Maryville. Dan has two children in college - Savannah and Sierra.
ROXANA — At approximately 10:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, a piece of operating equipment at the Wood River Refinery, located at 900 South Central Avenue in Roxana, Illinois, tripped, prompting a safety response, refinery officials said. In accordance with safety protocols,...
ST. LOUIS — Ongoing heavy snowfall continues to disrupt travel across the St. Louis area Sunday morning, Jan. 25, 2026, with an additional 1 to 5 inches expected through the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. As of 9 a.m, Sunday, Collinsville reported the highest area snowfall...
MADISON COUNTY/ST. LOUIS - At approximately 4:20 a.m. Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, a Madison County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a black Chevrolet Silverado on Nameoki Road in Granite City for a traffic violation and to investigate suspected criminal activity, according to Chief Deputy Marcos...
BELLEVILLE — The Belleville Police Department and the City of Belleville officially welcomed two new officers on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. Officers Hardin and Winegarner were sworn in as lateral hires, joining the department in their new roles. The department extended congratulations...
EAST ST. LOUIS — A Fayette County woman was sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in a foreign-based scam conspiracy that defrauded victims of tens of thousands of dollars through identity theft and money laundering. Elizabeth Conrad, 55, of Ramsey, pleaded guilty to multiple charges,...
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois collected more than $8.1 million in civil and criminal actions during fiscal year 2025, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced. The office collected $3,937,603 in criminal actions and $4,188,354.34...
GRANITE CITY — Granite City’s girls basketball team, led by Coach Ron Twitchell, enters the Carrollton Invitational with a 15-5 overall record and a noon matchup against Lincolnwood on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. The Warriors split their games earlier this week, losing 55-28 at home to Freebur...
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Two St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers were seriously injured and two men died following a crash on the flyover ramp from southbound Interstate 170 to eastbound Interstate 64 on January 23, 2026, authorities said. The incident occurred just before 2:30...
PLEASANT HILL — At 6:07 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2026, the Pike County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a juvenile allegedly in possession of a firearm during a school sporting event at Pleasant Hill School. School administrators and staff monitored the juvenile until...
EAST ALTON — A lumber delivery truck crashed into a vacant building at the corner of West Main in East Alton on Friday afternoon, Jan. 23, 2026, after the driver failed to stop at a stop sign, authorities said. The incident occurred at approximately 1:31 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2026, when the driver,...
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