Routt Catholic High School graduate and pitcher for the University of Hawaii Cory Ronan has signed as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Royals organization.
KHON reports that the left-handed pitcher went undrafted in this week’s Major League Baseball amateur draft, but signed the following day with the Royals organization.
As a junior in 2025 at the University of Hawaii, Ronan finished strong, going 4-2 with a 4.81 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings despite nagging injuries. For his UH career, he made 35 appearances, posting a 5-3 record with a 4.87 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings.
Ronan has been pitching in the MLB Draft League this summer with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in Niles, Ohio. So far he’s 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA striking out 4 across 5 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.
Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott & Cass Counties are requesting information to assist the Jacksonville Police Department in their Investigation of a recent attempted burglary.
Sometime between 5 p.m. on July 11 and 6 p.m. on July 12, unknown individuals damaged an exterior door to make entry into a vacant building located in the 300 block of North Main Street. Interior damage was caused after making entry.
Police are asking anyone with information concerning this incident to submit a a tip online by visiting the Morgan, Scott, Cass Crime Stoppers Facebook Page. Click on the ‘Contact Us’ button at the top of the page and fill out the form. You may also leave a tip online at their website morganscottcrimestoppers.com. Click on the “Submit a Tip” button at the top of the home page.
Remember Crime Stoppers want your information and not your name. If your tip leads to an arrest or recovery of stolen property, you may be eligible for a cash reward.
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced at a press conference this morning that she will not seek a fourth term as the state’s Comptroller.
Mendoza made the announcement at a Little Village restaurant in Chicago today, likely setting up a campaign for her to seek office as the Mayor of the City of Chicago. Mendoza, the first woman to serve as Chicago city clerk, served in that role under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel before winning a special election to replace former Illinois Comptroller Judy Barr Topinka.
Mendoza has been highly critical of current mayor Brandon Johnson during his first two years in office. Mendoza has awhile to think over a run at mayor, as the seat won’t be up for election until 2027.
The Pike County Sheriff’s Department is looking for information regarding the theft of several off-road vehicles over the last two months.
On or about May 31st, 2025, a red and white colored Honda 70 dirt bike was stolen from a property in the 1000 block of Bainbridge Street, Barry, Pike County, Illinois.
On or about June 9th, 2025, a gray colored CF Moto 800 four-wheeler was stolen from a property in the 36000 block of County Highway #2, Baylis, Pike County, Illinois.
On or about June 11th, 2025, a green colored 2020 Polaris was stolen from a property in the 500 block of State Highway 106, Barry, Pike County, Illinois.
On or about July 9th, 2025, a green and black Polaris Ranger UTV was stolen from a property in the 18000 block of US Highway 54, Rockport, Pike County, Illinois.
If you have any information regarding the location of the off-road vehicles or the suspects involved, please get in touch with the Pike County Sheriff’s Department at (217) 285-4471. To be eligible for a reward, please call Pike County Crimestoppers at (217) 285-1500.
A Jacksonville man is being held at the Morgan County Jail after his pretrial release was revoked yesterday in Morgan County Circuit Court.
19-year-old Jakaar T.J. Jackson of Jacksonville was ordered detained after the State’s Attorney’s office filed an order of violation of pretrial release conditions. Jackson is currently awaiting trial on two Class 4 felonies – aggravated fleeing of police and possession of a controlled substance.
Jackson was arrested last July after he fled from police in an attempted traffic stop at South West Street and College Avenue. He was also arrested at that time for a previous car crash in which he allegedly fled from the scene at West Douglas Avenue and North Fayette Street.
Jackson’s detainment is likely linked to an incident that occurred in the Morgan County Courthouse parking lot on July 9. Jackson is an extended family member of the late Trenton Jackson of Springfield. Jackson was allegedly murdered by Larry W. Taylor in the 300 block of West College Avenue last June. Taylor had a court appearance scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on July 9. Shortly after the hearing was completed, Morgan County Court bailiffs had to separate the two families in the court room. The dust up is said to have spilled outside in which a gun was allegedly pulled. The weapon was not fired and no one was injured, according to police reports.
After further investigation, Jakaar Jackson was arrested on Monday on a Class A misdemeanor charge of aggravated assault on public property.
Jakaar Jackson’s next court appearance is schedule for a conference on the aggravated fleeing charges as well as a host of other traffic charges on July 29. He is then set to reappear in court on August 6 on the new aggravated assault charges.
Two local news television stations are coming under new ownership as a part of a larger media acquisition.
Rincon Broadcasting has finalized its acquisition of five regional television stations across the Midwest from Sinclair.
The stations include WVTV (CW, MyNetworkTV) in Milwaukee, Wis.; WICD (ABC) and WICS (ABC) in Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, Ill.; KHQA (CBS, ABC) in Quincy, Ill., Hannibal, Mo., and Keokuk, Iowa; and KTVO (ABC, CBS) in Ottumwa, Iowa, and Kirksville, Mo.
The $29.4 million acquisition was approved by the FCC, who granted the transfer of licenses, according to a press release.
In granting the waiver, the FCC stated that the public interest benefits of the transaction outweighed potential harms. The commission cited preservation of local news services in the affected markets and found that the deal would not pose competitive harm.
The license transfer faced opposition from public interest group Frequency Forward, which petitioned the FCC to deny the application. The group cited Sinclair’s prior use of operational partnerships to bypass ownership limits.
All stations will continue to provide operational and administrative services to GOCOM Media television stations under Rincon’s ownership.
Rincon Broadcasting Group is a privately held media company that acquires and operates mid-market television stations. The company is led by Todd Parkin. Parkin is a former advertising sales representative for the Bally Sports-branded regional networks, which Sinclair once owned. Parkin also served as the Managing Director of Media and Vice President of Growth at Atlanta-based Think Consulting as recently as January 2025. He was the Vice President of Ad Sales and Strategy for the Bally Sports regional sports networks from February 2020 to April 2022, according to a Muddy River News report.
The sale will not affect any current broadcast schedule operations.
A Jacksonville man arrested in an FBI raid earlier this year has pleaded guilty to charges in relation to the case in Western Michigan federal court.
Hart L. Buckley, 24, formerly of the 500 block of South Westgate Avenue pleaded guilty to Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity on June 10 in the Western District federal court in Michigan.
According to the federal indictment, in 2022, Buckley allegedly began to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor male subject in MIchigan from his home in Illinois through the Internet and through a cell phone. According to the document, Buckley used a rideshare program to transport the minor from around Wyoming, Michigan to Jacksonville with the intent to engage in sexual activity with the minor in January.
Buckley was arrested in an FBI swat raid at his home in Jacksonville on February 19. You can read more information about the arrest at this link.
Buckley remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s service. He is due to be sentenced on September 30.
Buckley faces a sentence of 10 years to life imprisonment.
Two people were injured in a head-on collision overnight on West Morton Avenue.
According to a Jacksonville Police report, a vehicle driven by Connor D. Sims, 24, of the 100 block of Easy Drive, was traveling eastbound in the 900 block of West Morton Avenue at approximately 12:35 a.m. Sunday, when for an unknown reason, the vehicle left its lane of travel and entered the middle turn lane striking a vehicle driven by Charles W. Law, 23, of the 2200 block of West Street head on. Law’s vehicle had been traveling westbound on West Morton Avenue, according to the report, when it merged into the left turn lane where it came to a stop at the intersection with Lincoln Square, yielding to Sims’ oncoming vehicle. According to the report, Law’s vehicle was struck head on while it was stopped at the intersection. The caller who reported the crash said that a crowd was gathering at the scene of the crash prior to police and EMS arriving to the scene.
Both Law and Sims were transported from the scene by ambulance with injuries. Both vehicles were towed from the scene after both were rendered inoperable by the crash.
Sims was later cited and arrested for improper lane usage and driving under the influence.
A New Mexico semi truck driver is behind bars in Morgan County for allegedly trafficking a large amount of cocaine on Interstate 72.
According to a press release, yesterday afternoon, Morgan County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, while conducting criminal interdiction on Interstate 72 near the 71-mile marker, seized approximately 30 kilograms of powder cocaine. The narcotics were recovered from the cab of a Freightliner semi-truck. Subsequently, 42-year-old Jose Cleofas Cereceres of Deming, New Mexico was arrested for Controlled Substance Trafficking, Manufacture / Delivery of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Substance. The estimated street value of these narcotics is approximately $3 million.
The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Central Illinois Enforcement Group and the Illinois State Police.
Cereceres is being currently being held at the Morgan County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Federal prosecutors are seeking a six-year prison term for former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s right hand man from Quincy.
Prosecutors said in federal court filings Thursday that Michael McClain’s “tight connection” with the former speaker led to McClain “making demand after demand of ComEd to fulfill Madigan’s directives,” as a jury concluded in May 2023. The 77-year old McClain is from Quincy and his legal counsel is seeking leniency with a two-year probation sentence due to McClain’s health and age.
McClain was convicted as a part of the “ComEd Four” case that was heavily linked to the political machine that was ran by his former boss and close confidante. Jurors in the case found McClain guilty of a scheme to pay $1.3 million to five Madigan allies to curry favor with the former House Speaker and to influence energy legislation before the Illinois General Assembly. Prosecutors have already recommended prison sentences of 56 months for Hooker and 70 months for Pramaggiore.
Top row left to right: John Hooker, McClain. Bottom row left to right: Pramaggiore and Jay Doherty.
Convicted along with McClain in that case were former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and onetime Chicago City Club President Jay Doherty. All four face sentencing before U.S. District Judge Manish Shah in the coming weeks.
McClain went to trial a second time along side his former friend but the jury was hung as to his involvement in that case while Madigan was convicted. McClain’s name was also referenced multiple times in the federal trials of former Madigan chief of staff Tim Mapes and former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza. It’s bound to come up again when La Schiazza is re-tried in January.
The fall from grace for McClain was quick and harsh. Dubbed by his hometown newspaper the Quincy Herald-Whig as having a “long, successful career as a lobbyist” in his retirement announcement in 2016; McClain spent several years in the Illinois legislature. He was first appointed to the Illinois House as a representative of the 15th District in 1972 after the death of his father Elmo. He won re-election four times and then was unexpectedly defeated in 1982 by Jeff Mays, a Quincy Republican. It was the first election after the Cutback Amendment eliminated multi-seat legislative districts. McClain served as assistant minority leader under Madigan from 1981 to 1983 in his final term in office.
At the time of the announcement of his retirement from lobbying, McClain was respected for working across the partisan divide to get legislation passed and for being a champion of West Central Illinois. With an interview at the State Journal Register at the time, McClain criticized the Rauner Administration for deepening the partisan divide in the state, calling the state’s budget impasse at the time “horrific” for its lack of civility.
“I feel like I’m very close to him and I love him like a brother, and I’m loyal to him,” McClain said of Madigan at the time while both State Democrats and Republicans were launching salvos and blame for the budget impasse.
McClain was technically retired, but as an investigative report by the Better Government Association and WBEZ, he was still getting paid for work for ComEd, shelling out $361,000 to McClain for “legal services” in the two years after his retirement in December 2016, even though he was no longer authorized to practice law in Illinois, records show.
In May 2019, the cracks in the foundation began to happen as federal agents raided McClain’s home in Quincy. According to the Chicago Tribune at the time, authorities knocked on McClain’s door around the same time they executed search warrants at the homes of two other close Madigan allies: former Chicago 23rd Ward Alderman Michael Zalewski and former Madigan political lieutenant Kevin Quinn. Quinn’s sexual harassment case that involved Pleasant Plains native and campaign worker Alaina Hampton was the first domino to fall hard on the former House Speaker, causing federal agents to take a deeper look at Madigan’s inner circle.
The relationship between Madigan and McClain took a massive hit during Madigan’s corruption trial. McClain’s defense attorney Patrick Cotter has long argued that McClain did nothing more than legal lobbying. Cotter has said McClain simply passed along job recommendations from Madigan to ComEd and has claimed there’s no evidence proving there was any intent by McClain to exchange jobs for official action from Madigan in a quid pro quo exchange. Madigan testified at trial that his relationship with McClain had survived, “until recently,” according to a Chicago Sun-Times report. Madigan’s attorneys tried to paint McClain as just another Springfield lobbyist. During closing arguments in their trial earlier this year, McClain’s attorney Cotter said McClain was once Madigan’s “good friend.” Madigan’s attorneys downplayed the relationship in efforts to unlink the two of them. Cotter said the loss of the friendship was likely one of the “casualties” of the case. The portrayal of the relationship by Madigan on the witness stand in the case had some calling for perjury charges.
Despite what has and has not been said in the Chicago federal courtroom, the two men will now be forever linked to one of the largest political schemes in Illinois political history.
