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.
ALTON — Under head coach Alyssa Maher and assistant coaches Amy Strobel, Doug Dey, and Brooke Webber, the Alton Redbirds girls softball team showed improvement in 2026, finishing with nine wins and returning a roster heavy with underclassmen. With only three seniors listed on the...
BETHALTO — Keely Windsor, a 2026 graduate of Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto, has been named a Tom Lane State Farm Female Athlete of the Month after finishing high school with a 4.270 GPA, helping the Eagles girls basketball team to a 23-8 record in the 2025-2026 season, and earning...
ALTON - Two Alton sisters, Koran Mason-El and Kamren Mason-El, are making history in their family as first-generation college graduates who are pursuing law degrees together at Saint Louis University School of Law. Koran, a rising third-year law student, and Kamren, who will enter the law school...
ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE/BELLEVILLE — Local and Illinois officials have urged residents in Madison County, St. Clair County and across the state to take precautions as heat indices are expected to top 100 degrees from June 28 through July 3, with many people likely to spend time outdoors ahead of...
SPRINGFIELD - Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 1700 into law Friday, June 26, 2026, creating a technical trailer bill for Illinois’ Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act after the measure passed the General Assembly on May 31, 2026, as lawmakers moved to clarify implementation...
ST. LOUIS — A 19-year-old father, Ca’Marion Pawnell, has been charged with second-degree murder and child endangerment after a 7-month-old girl was fatally shot Friday afternoon, June 26, 2026, inside a north St. Louis home, according to St. Louis Metropolitan Police. The infant, identified...
ST. LOUIS, GLEN CARBON/MARYVILLE, IL. - The National Weather Service in St. Louis has issued an Extreme Heat Watch for Madison and St. Clair counties and nearby areas from Sunday afternoon, June 28 through Thursday evening, July 2, 2026, warning that heat index values of 105 to 110 are possible a...
ST. LOUIS — A 7-month-old baby died after being shot Friday afternoon, June 26, 2026, inside a home in the 8400 block of North Broadway, and investigators say a 10-year-old boy was responsible for the shooting. District 6 officers responded just after 4 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2026, to a shooting...
ALTON - James “Jimmy” Griggs Sr. and Frank “Thurman” Anderson Sr., lifelong friends who were born on the same day in 1936, will be honored at a birthday celebration July 5 at Gordon Moore Park’s Munsterman Building as they prepare to turn 90 on July 9, 2026....
ST. LOUIS - A 7-month-old girl died Friday afternoon, June 26, 2026, after she was shot inside a home in St. Louis’ Baden neighborhood. The shooting happened around 4 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2026, in the 8400 block of North Broadway, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Officer...
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