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.
EAST ST. LOUIS - Illinois State Police special agents have arrested a Summerfield man and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder after the shooting death of his 31-year-old son in East St. Louis, authorities said. Anthony L. Powe, 49, was arrested by Illinois State Police...
JARVIS TOWNSHIP - Madison County Coroner Nicholas P. Novacich has identified a man who died on April 12, 2026, after being struck by a train on railroad tracks in Jarvis Township in Madison County. The victim was Lonnie L. Dickerson, 56, a man who the coroner said was unhoused. The incident occurred...
WOOD RIVER - Taven Wardein, a senior at East Alton-Wood River High, is being recognized for cross country and track and field after a year of training that he said helped him improve his personal record time while maintaining a grade point average above 4.0. Wardein said his progress came from consistent...
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Two men killed in a shooting in Country Club Hills have been identified as Demetrius Wagner and Alex Taylor, both 29, as St. Louis County police continue to investigate the double homicide that occurred late Thursday, April 9, 2026, in the 5600 block of Gatesworth Avenue. The...
ALTON — Senior Margaret Powers has been named the latest Remarkable Redbird and is recognized for her kindness, perseverance, and dedication to making a difference in the lives of young children. Margaret has a strong passion for giving back, particularly to students at the Early Childhood...
COLLINSVILLE - Last week, the Collinsville Police Department, working with more than a dozen other local agencies and the Collinsville Community Unit School District #10, conducted a multi-agency active-shooter drill at Dorris Intermediate School. Collinsville Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Reis, who organized...
ALTON - April is Autism Awareness Month, and the Alton Police Department says it is showing support for individuals and families in the community affected by autism by allowing officers to wear a special Autism Awareness shoulder patch. The Alton Police Department said officers are authorized to...
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Police officers responded about 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, to a traffic incident on Illinois State Route 157 involving a motorcycle and a vehicle that left two people seriously injured and prompted a multi-hour road closure, authorities said in an update on Monday...
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on Sunday, April 12, 2026, filed felony charges against a 62-year-old Florissant man accused of shooting another man during an argument in the 13000 block of East Lakeridge Drive. Prosecutors charged William Borak, 62,...
EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Sheriff’s Office deputies and other area law enforcement responded on Friday, April 10, 2026, to a report of a barricaded subject in the 200 block of 3rd St. in unincorporated Collinsville. This incident affected traffic in the surrounding neighborhood...
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