CHAMPAIGN - An Illinois State Senator - Scott Bennett, a Champaign Democrat died at 1:15 p.m. Friday at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana at the age of 45. First responders were called to Bennett's home in Champaign just before 3 a.m. Thursday. Stacy, Sen. Bennett's wife, said in a statement that he died of complications of a large brain tumor. These are various statements from throughout the state about Bennett's death. Gov. Pritzker Statement on the Passing of State Sen. Scott Bennett Following the passing of state Sen. Scott Bennett (D-Champaign), Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement: “Today, the state of Illinois mourns the loss of a dedicated public servant and devoted father. Senator Scott Bennett was a good man who always operated with the best interest of his constituents in mind. Throughout his time in Springfield, he fiercely advocated for the institutions that shaped his life, from his upbringing on a Gibson City farm, all the way to the University
I previously wrote about legislation to increase salaries of St. Louis City Alders to $72,000 without requiring them to devote all their time to their public office. Now there’s an effort to amend the City Charter to make Alders full-time City employees. The problem is Alder Joe Vaccaros’ Board Bill 126 is one of two … Continue reading Don’t Fall for the Full-Time Alder Scam →
ALTON - Today, the City of Alton and Hayner Public Library Board of Trustees President unveiled ongoing discussions to transform the Haskell House into a fully-updated Children’s Library in partnership with the anticipated Children’s Museum. “We are making this public now due to an increasing amount of questions about it, and also to spread the word to other interested community partners who may want to be involved as the process continues,” said Kevin Botterbush, Hayner Board of Trustees President. " Alderman Strebel has presented this idea to members of our Board, and though the specifics still need to be filled in and there is much work to be done on the Haskell House to make it suited for renovation into a library, I see a real path forward. I look forward to discussing more specifics with my Board as they develop. It is a very exciting time for all.” “We are thrilled with the possibility of working with Hayner and its board to bring this
LOVINGTON – The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officials announce the arrest of 52-year-old Matthew E. Nation of Lovington, IL for First Degree Murder (Class M Felony). On September 26, 2022, at approximately 3:30 a.m., the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department responded to a residence in Lovington, IL, where they located a 54-year-old male victim with multiple stab wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. After a thorough investigation by the ISP, Nation was identified as a suspect. On December 7, 2022, the Moultrie County State’s Attorney’s Office presented its case before a grand jury who approved a four-count indictment for First-Degree Murder against Nation. An arrest warrant was issued, and Nation was taken into custody by the Lovington Police Department. Nation is being held at the Moultrie County Jail on a $250,000, 10% to apply bond. There is no further information
The budget for an infrastructure improvement fund critical for the city’s street department and forestry division has not been updated in two years — a delay blocking millions in funding for employee pay, sidewalks, road repairs and more. The fund in question, St. Louis Works, uses a percentage of utility and motor vehicle taxes to fix sidewalks, repair roads, provide equipment upgrades and cover a select few city employees’ pay.
Starting a small business and finding financial support and mentorship to get dreams up and running is … difficult. The University of Missouri-St. Louis’ DEI Accelerator aims to make “making it” less difficult. Their third cohort of startup founders are each receiving $50,000 grants, including Cami Thomas of My Friends and I and Kay Wells of Posie Pots. They share their stories along with UMSL Acclerate’s Director of Operations, Michael Butler.
The issue of how far legislators can go when they change a bill with amendments will be debated again Tuesday afternoon in a Cole County courtroom. Overland, a city in St. Louis County, is asking Circuit Judge Daniel Green to throw out a 2021 law used as a hammer by Attorney General Eric Schmitt in [...]
EAST ST. LOUIS - The Illinois State Police and East St. Louis Police Department are requesting assistance in identifying the vehicle involved in a fatal hit-and-run incident in late November. At 3:48 a.m. on November 27, 2022, a 42-year-old male from Arnold, Mo., was the victim of a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred on Illinois Route 157 at Church Lane in East St. Louis, Illinois. The vehicle is described as a silver sedan, possibly a 2011–2016 Chevrolet Cruze. ISP said the vehicle would have front end and driver’s side damage including damage to the driver’s side mirror. Anyone with knowledge of the incident is asked to contact Crimestoppers by phone at 1-866- 371- 8477 (TIPS) or visit https://www.stlrcs.org/ . Witnesses can remain anonymous.
A southeast Missouri man who was shot and killed by sheriff's deputies is believed to have killed his father and brother before officers confronted him, law enforcement authorities said.
CARLINVILLE – The legacy of a late Carlinville man is now felt all the way to eastern Africa. The Jacob Library in Katovu, Uganda honors the memory of Jacob Glenn, a Carlinville resident who died at age 22 in October 2013. Construction of the library was spearheaded by Jacob’s mother, Becky Miller Root. Root provided a program at the Jacob Library at the Carlinville Public Library on Thursday, Dec. 8. The free, half-hour program was open to the public and featured a brief slide/Power Point presentation on both the Jacob Library and the culture of Uganda. Root’s visit to the site in October was emphasized. Cultural items and refreshments were featured during the program. The idea for the Jacob Library originated during the 2012-13 school year, when Root served in Uganda as an English Language Teaching Fellow, coordinated by the U.S. State Department’s exchange program. She saw that the area needed a library, and provided the seed money for the building in
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