SWANSEA, Ill. (AP) – The southern Illinois city of Swansea is the latest in the region to allow residents to raise chickens in their backyards. The Belleville News Democrat reports that Swansea village leaders recently voted unanimously to allow chickens in neighborhoods that are zoned residential. That’s different than four years ago when the village…
VIENNA, Ill. (AP) – Authorities in southern Illinois have identified the four people who died after a single-engine plane crashed in a wooded area on New Year’s Eve. Johnson County Coroner David Rockwell says 34-year-old Curt Terpstra, 37-year-old Krista Green, 35-year-old Jordan Linder and his 26-year-old sister, Jasmine Linder, died in Saturday night’s crash. All…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The temporary Illinois budget plan agreed to last summer expires with the new year. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the General Assembly have hardly talked about how to replace it. Elementary and high school funding continues through June. Billions more gets spent because it’s court-ordered or is automatically…
( KTRS ) The Illinois State Police want motorists to know, that with the new years comes some new laws. One law that goes into effect on January 1st, is the “Move Over” law, that requires motorists change lanes when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights. Starting Sunday that law will also apply…
Authorities have identified a man whose body was discovered in a car pulled from the Mississippi River in Grafton, IL. The Belleville News-Democrat reports that the Jersey County Coroner has identified the deceased as 26 yr old James Edward Smith, of Florissant. Witnesses told police they saw the car enter the river Saturday night near…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Community health centers across Illinois are receiving federal grants totaling more than $12 million. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says the money from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services “will help community health centers across our state continue to improve health outcomes and reduce patient costs.” Community health centers deliver…
GRAFTON, Ill. (AP) – Police in Southern Illinois are looking for information about who might have been driving a car that went into the Illinois River. The (Alton) Telegraph reports (http://bit.ly/2ibCK35 ) a vehicle went into the river Saturday night just upstream from the Grafton lighthouse. The landmark is located about 40 miles north of…
CHICAGO (AP) – One of the last options former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has of early release from prison rests on a pending decision with the man whose Senate seat Blagojevich was convicted of trying to sell, President Barack Obama. The Department of Justice confirms the 60-year-old Blagojevich submitted a request to have his 14-year…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the state’s largest public-employee union, a move union leaders call an attempt to intimidate their members. Rauner’s filing Thursday says it costs the state $2 million a day and is seeking damages. Union spokesman Anders Lindall calls the…
CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has contributed $50 million to his own campaign fund as he prepares to seek re-election in 2018. The donation from the multimillionaire former private equity investor was made public in documents filed Thursday. Republicans say Rauner’s contribution is intended as a warning shot as several Democrats weigh…