Illinois residents asked to leave fireworks to the pros
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – State officials are asking Illinois residents to leave Fourth of July fireworks displays to professionals. In a news release, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Office of the State Fire Marshal say it’s illegal to sell and use hand-held fireworks like bottle rockets and firecrackers. And they’re warning organizations…
Senate Democrats to propose $750M education funding increase
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Senate Democrats plan to put forward an education funding plan Tuesday that increases money for public schools this fall by $750 million. The plan released to The Associated Press late Monday would pump $286 million more into Chicago Public Schools. Both the Senate and House return to session in Springfield on…
The Latest: Girl survives Colorado crash that kills family
LAS ANIMAS COUNTY, Colo. (AP) – A 4-year-old girl is the sole survivor of a crash between a minivan and an Amtrak train that killed her parents and three sisters in southern Colorado. The Colorado State Patrol says the girl was hospitalized with serious injuries after the train headed from Chicago to Los Angeles hit…
Police: Officer involved shooting in Kinloch
( KTRS ) Authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred in St. Louis County. The shooting happened just after 9 am Monday morning when a Kinloch police officer responded to a call for a stolen vehicle in the 8000 block of School Way. The officer was attempting to contact a suspect when he…
Granite City woman gets 22-year sentence for fatal stabbing
EDWARDSVILLE, Mo. (AP) – A woman convicted of fatally stabbing another woman in Granite City in 2013 has been sentenced to 22 years in prison. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/28ZXpRu ) reports Circuit Judge Kyle Napp sentenced 21-year-old Breanna Maldonado after a jury found her guilty of first-degree murder in March. Authorities say Maldonado and…
Suit dropped, but will file complaint against university
ST. LOUIS (AP) – A women’s basketball player is dropping her lawsuit against Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, but will pursue a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights. Brittany Jackson filed suit earlier this month, saying she was wrongly accused of drug possession and suspended for a year after denying a dean’s…