Former St. Louis officer pleads not guilty in killing
ST. LOUIS (AP) – A former St. Louis police officer accused of killing a man in 2011 has pleaded not guilty. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Jason Stockley entered the plea Monday. A grand jury indicted him on a charge of first-degree murder for the on-duty shooting death of Anthony Lamar Smith in 2011. Stockley…
Illinois State Fair Foundation formed to maintain grounds
( KTRS ) Agricultural leaders have established a not-for-profit Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation to catch up on nearly $200 million in needed maintenance. The foundation’s task will be to raise funds to maintain the fairgrounds in Springfield and DuQuoin. Combined, the fairgrounds need to raise $180 million to pay for overdue maintenance. Gov. Bruce Rauner supported…
Aetna to leave Illinois health insurance exchange for 2017
CHICAGO (AP) – Aetna is leaving the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchange in Illinois for 2017, further reducing competition. Aetna’s announcement late Monday leaves six companies selling plans for next year to individuals and families on the Illinois “Obamacare” marketplace. Illinois Department of Insurance spokesman Michael Batkins says two insurers remain selling plans to…
Police investigating fatal shooting in home owned by key figure in murder case
A man fatally shot in O’Fallon, MO, was reportedly attempting to burgle a house owned by Pamela Hupp, a key figure in a Lincoln County murder case. Just after noon Tuesday, police were called to a home in the 1200 block of Little Brave Drive. Police Chief Roy Joachimstaler told the St. Louis Post Dispatch…
Record set as group buys champion steer at Illinois fair
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Gov. Bruce Rauner was among a group of buyers making a record bid the champion steer at the Illinois State Fair. Rauner and a group calling itself Friends of the Exhibitor on Tuesday paid $104,000 for the 1,324-pound cross-breed Grand Champion Steer named “David L.” The bid bested the previous Illinois…
Pham Sparks Cardinals in Houston
Garcia Allows Three Homers, But Still Prevails