Finlaw Sentencing on Hold, New Trial Hearing Continued to Next Week
By Jeremy Coumbes on April 1, 2022 at 11:41am
The fate of a Morgan County man convicted of first-degree murder will remain on hold for at least another week. 22-year-old Dustin Finlaw appeared in Morgan County Court this morning for sentencing after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder in January. Finlaw was found guilty of the stabbing death of Robert Utter in Meredosia […]
Blue Cross-Blue Shield of IL Gains New President Amid Springfield Clinic Rift, ILGA Hearings
By Benjamin Cox on April 1, 2022 at 11:06am
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois announced yesterday they have new leadership. Stephen Harris is now listed on the company’s website as president. Steve Hamman had served in that position since being appointed in 2019, according to another press release on the company’s website. In the announcement yesterday, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois says […]
Edgar County Watchdogs Accuse Sullivan Campaign, County Sheriffs of Improper Electioneering
By Benjamin Cox on April 1, 2022 at 10:52am
An Illinois watchdog group has accused an Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate of improper electioneering in a recent campaign ad. Illinois Leaks, also known as the Edgar County Watchdogs, believe that GOP candidate Jesse Sullivan has “improperly used public property for campaign purposes” due to the depiction of 5 Illinois county sheriffs appearing in a campaign […]
Lincoln College To Close in May
By Benjamin Cox on April 1, 2022 at 5:24am
Another Central Illinois private liberal arts college is closing its doors permanently in May. WAND-TV reports that Lincoln College will officially cease operations permanently on May 13th after 157 years in existence. According to a press release from the school, it went through difficult times during the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation hurt recruitment and fundraising […]
Two People Perish in Greenfield Fire
By Benjamin Cox on March 31, 2022 at 7:33pm
Two people fell victim to a structure fire in the City of Greenfield this afternoon. Greenfield Fire Chief Cory Hudson says that initial calls came in for a kitchen fire at a single-story residence on Green Street in Greenfield at 12:23PM. A Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy and Greenfield Police Officer were the first on the […]
Public Schools May Be Required To Provide Vegan, Vegetarian Lunch Options Under New Legislation
By Benjamin Cox on March 31, 2022 at 1:05pm
Illinois lawmakers have voted to require public schools to offer vegan and vegetarian-friendly lunch options to students under a new law passed yesterday. State Senator Dave Koehler of Peoria sponsored the legislation to mandate that school districts provide plant-based options to students requesting them. House Bill 4089 requires the lunches to follow federal nutritional requirements […]
Fire Consumes Southern White Hall Residence
By Benjamin Cox on March 31, 2022 at 12:48pm
Fire consumed the inside of a home on White Hall’s south side yesterday afternoon. White Hall Fire Chief Garry Sheppard says that initial calls came into local dispatch at approximately 1:40 yesterday afternoon from a neighboring residence at 301 Tunison Avenue. Sheppard says that heavy flames were showing out of two second story windows of […]
7 JMH RNs Awarded For ICU Service During Covid Surge
By Benjamin Cox on March 31, 2022 at 12:24pm
Seven registered nurses at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital were recently recognized with DAISY Awards for their extraordinary patient care during the Covid-19 pandemic surge in December Kali Gutierrez, Sadie Coursen, Laura Ward, Marissa Lindsey, Jamie Smith, Cassidi Ladely, and Jessi Evans are members of the hospital’s post-anesthesia care unit and ambulatory surgery teams. They were then […]
Two More Members Out at IL Prison Review Board on Monday, Pritzker Defends Nominations
By Benjamin Cox on March 31, 2022 at 11:54am
Two more members are out at the Illinois Prison Review Board on Monday. Nominee Oreal James resigned from his nomination on Monday just hours before his confirmation hearing in front of the Illinois Senate. James announced the resignation in a letter to Governor J.B. Pritzker and leaders of the Illinois Executive Nominations committee. Nominee Eleanor […]
Safety Repairs to Lair Building Entering Final Stage
By Jeremy Coumbes on March 31, 2022 at 11:32am
Work will soon resume on a downtown Jacksonville building that suffered a collapse last year. The City of Jacksonville has been on the hook for repairs to make the Lair Building safe since a portion of the roof collapsed overnight in mid-October. The rear portion of the building that faced North West Street had to […]