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.
ATLON - Rosetta Brown and Tammy Perry will launch their Youth Summer Road Trip program on Friday, May 29, 2026, in Alton with a trip to see the St. Louis football Battlehawks play the Dallas Renegades at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. The annual program is intended to provide safe,...
EAST ST. LOUIS - East St. Louis School District 189 says a state grant aimed at easing Illinois’ teacher shortage has helped the district sharply reduce vacancies, improve retention, and recruit 23 international teachers to fill hard-to-staff classrooms. East St. Louis School District 18...
GLEN CARBON - Father McGivney Catholic advanced to the final of its regional Saturday, May 30, 2026, after defeating Breese Mater Dei Catholic 9-8 in a regional semifinal on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the Father McGivney Regional. The host Griffins, now 27-9, built an early 4-3 lead after two innings...
EDWARDSVILLE — Jack Kirgan singled home Hunter Baugh in the 10th inning Wednesday, May 27, 2026, lifting Edwardsville to a 1-0 win over Granite City in an IHSA Class 4A regional semifinal at Tom Pile Field and ending a dominant pitchers’ duel that sent the Tigers into the regional final....
EAST ALTON - A fire in the 400 block of Whitelaw in East Alton on Wednesday night, May 27, 2026, displaced duplex residents after flames were reported behind a refrigerator in one kitchen and spread quickly, East Alton Fire Chief Jeremy Dively said. The first report came in at 9:42 p.m. on Wednesday,...
GRANITE CITY — Granite City High School senior exchange student Jacopo Salato was reunited with his mother, Sabrina, before a recent IHSA boys volleyball regional match against Alton, as she traveled more than 5,000 miles from Italy to see him for the first time in nine months. The reunion...
ST. CLAIR COUNTY - Authorities in St. Clair County are asking for the public’s help locating Douglas “Scott” Litsey, a 64-year-old white man who was reported missing May 24, 2026, from his home in the Signal Hill neighborhood of Belleville, according to the St. Clair...
BELLEVILLE - The Belleville Police Department said it has received several reports of scam phone calls from people falsely claiming to be Capt. Keilbach, warning residents not to return the calls and instead contact the department directly at 618-234-1212. In the alert, the department...
ALTON - Michael H. Holliday Jr., regarded as one of the best bowlers to ever come out of the region, is being remembered by friends and family for his smile and kindness. He died Saturday, May 16, 2026, at his residence. He was 57 years old. Michael "Doc" Holliday Sr., a Madison County Board member,...
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - A second suspect has been charged in the April 2026 fatal shooting of a Steak ’n Shake employee in north St. Louis County, prosecutors said Wednesday, May 27, 2026. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on May 27, 2026, charged Torriono Baker, 22,...
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