Macoupin Co. April Consolidated Election Races
By Benjamin Cox on February 20, 2023 at 5:17am
Early voting starts on Thursday in the state for the April Consolidated Election. We have already given you a rundown of Sangamon, Morgan, and Scott counties. We are still awaiting ballots to be finalized in Greene & Cass. Macoupin County finalized their ballot over the weekend. Macoupin County Clerk Pete Duncan told Riverbender he expects […]
Jacksonville Man Arrested For Drugs, Weapons After Two-Vehicle Crash
By Benjamin Cox on February 20, 2023 at 5:16am
Jacksonville Police arrested a man after a two-vehicle collision at 6:19 Sunday evening near the intersection of Brooklyn Avenue and East Chambers Street. According to a police report, a vehicle driven by 44 year old Judy N. Bryson of the 500 block of West Brooklyn Avenue allegedly failed to yield at the intersection of East […]
Gov. Pritzker’s State of the State Draws Reactions Along Party Lines
By Benjamin Cox on February 19, 2023 at 9:54am
Governor J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State Budget address on Wednesday shows a clear division between state Democrats and Republicans. Pritzker unveiled a nearly $50 billion state budget that makes a heavy investment in early childhood education. The early childhood initiative called “Smart Start Illinois” will focus on the importance of pre-school, child care for […]
USDA Vegetable Report: Illinois #1 for Pumpkins Again
By Benjamin Cox on February 19, 2023 at 6:53am
Illinois is the Pumpkin State. Normally, known for its corn and soybean production, Illinois was once again named the nation’s top pumpkin producer according to the USDA vegetable report released this past week. Nearly 18,000 acres were planted with pumpkins last year in Illinois, the most of any state. For other crops, Illinois farmers planted […]
Duckworth Bill Is Aimed At Transparency for Commercial Flights To Help Disabled Travelers
By Benjamin Cox on February 19, 2023 at 6:48am
Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth has introduced legislation to make it easier for those with disabilities to travel on commercial flights. Duckworth and Nebraska Republican Senator Deb Fischer have co-sponsored a bill that would improve transparency surrounding the increasing disability-related complaints with air travel. The Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act of 2023 would […]
New Philadelphia Short Doc Produced
By Benjamin Cox on February 19, 2023 at 6:44am
The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition has announced an upcoming documentary short about “Free” Frank McWhorter and the story of New Philadelphia in Pike County. The short will be entitled “New Philadelphia Illinois: A Racially Diverse Community on the Illinois Frontier” and discuss McWhorter’s journey in platting the first town by an African-American in the […]
John Wood Truck Driver Training Expanding to Pittsfield
By Benjamin Cox on February 19, 2023 at 6:42am
John Wood Community College is expanding its Commercial Driver’s License training to its Pittsfield outreach center. WGEM reports that John Wood has maxed out its 6-week truck driver training classes at its Quincy campus, so lead instructor Phil Steinkamp told WGEM that they needed to expand. Classes meet Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 […]
Choate Developmental Center Under Threat of Closure Due to Ongoing Problems With Abuse of Patients
By Benjamin Cox on February 18, 2023 at 11:56am
Governor J.B. Pritzker is threatening to close a southern Illinois mental health facility for intellectual and developmental disabilities because of ongoing problems with alleged abuse of patients. Pritzker threatened to close Choate Developmental Center in Anna last September after reported abuse of patients at the facility were revealed by a ProPublica investigative report. Pritzker was […]
JSD117 To Install Security Fence on North Side of Lincoln Elementary
By Benjamin Cox on February 18, 2023 at 11:44am
Jacksonville School District 117 is taking care of security concerns at one of its elementary schools. The District 117 Board of Education approved a bid from AMC Fence for a black vinyl-coated 6-foot high security fence to encompass the north side of Lincoln Elementary School. Superintendent Steve Ptacek explains the need for the fence is […]
Medora Man Sentenced to 66 Years in Prison for 2018 Chesterfield Slaying
By Benjamin Cox on February 18, 2023 at 11:30am
A Medora man was sentenced yesterday in Macoupin County Court for a 2018 murder of a woman in Chesterfield. 39 year old David Buck, Jr. was sentenced to 66 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in the February 2018 shooting death of 34 year old Rachel E. Warren of Chesterfield. Buck was found guilty […]