SPRINGFIELD, IL (AP) — Illinois Democrats are gearing up for a record turnout for their annual state fair gathering, but they’ll be missing their star. Former Vice President Joe Biden was scheduled to keynote the Democratic County Chairs Association brunch. But the Democrat announced Tuesday night he’s ill and doctor’s orders prohibit his travel. The…
SPRINGFIELD, IL (AP) — The field director for Republican U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis’s re-election campaign has been charged with felony aggravated battery after he allegedly got into a physical altercation at a campaign event for Davis’ opponent. The (Decatur) Herald & Review reports that its media partner WCIA obtained a video that appears to show Levi Lovell…
Silex, MO (KTRS) An Endangered Person Advisory is in effect for a missing Lincoln County teen. Police say 16-year-old Ryann Marie Stroup hasn’t been seen since late Monday night. Stroup has a medical condition that requires daily attention and she does not have the necessary medical equipment with her. Police say she may be with 24-year-old…
(AP) U.S. health officials are eliminating special regulations for gene therapy experiments, saying that what was once exotic science is quickly becoming an established form of medical care with no extraordinary risks.A special National Institutes of Health oversight panel will no longer review all gene therapy applications and will instead take on a broader advisory…
Pennsylvania (AP) Six Roman Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania joined the list this week of those around the U.S. that have been forced to face the ugly truth about child-molesting priests in their ranks. But in dozens of other dioceses, there has been no reckoning, leading victims to wonder if the church will ever truly take…
By KELLI KENNEDY , Associated Press PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) — Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School returned to a more secure campus on Wednesday as they began their first new school year since a gunman killed 17 people in the freshman building. But some say they still won’t feel protected despite $6.5 million in…
By JOHN O’CONNOR , AP Political Writer SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Republicans, led by Gov. Bruce Rauner, rallied the faithful Wednesday by pledging to make the GOP the state’s majority party in the November election. Republicans at the annual Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair were buoyed by predicted thunderstorms that failed to…
JEFFERSON CITY, MO (AP) — Missouri’s unemployment has dropped slightly to hit its lowest rate since June 2000. Department of Economic Development data released Wednesday show the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.4 percent in July. That’s down from 3.5 percent in June. Missouri unemployment was at 3.6 percent in July 2017 and hovered…
By MORGAN LEE , Associated Press TAOS, N.M. (AP) — Three people accused of child abuse at a ramshackle desert compound were awaiting release Wednesday in New Mexico, where security was boosted at a courthouse amid threats against the judge who cleared the way for the defendants to leave jail. The ruling by District Judge…
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A St. Louis couple has been charged in the drug overdose death of their 8-month-old daughter. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that 52-year-old Robert Hasenfratz and his girlfriend, 27-year-old Samantha Poppleton, were charged Tuesday with child endangerment resulting in a child’s death. Hasenfratz also is charged with illegal gun possession. Bond is…