CHICAGO (AP) — Two sisters accused of stabbing a West Side Chicago store security guard 27 times with a knife after he asked them to wear face masks and use hand sanitizer have been ordered held without bond. The alleged attack late Sunday by 21-year-old Jessica Hill and 18-year-old Jayla Hill left the 32-year-old victim…… Read more…
ILCS approves remote jury selection for civil trials
The Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday issued new orders regarding civil jury selections during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Court noted that most civil jury trials have been on hold during the pandemic and the pool of jurors available for selection and service has decreased due to the health and economic impacts of the pandemic.…… Read more…
Boyfriend pleads not guilty, demands Feb. trial in murder of Fairfield girl
WAYNE COUNTY — A 24-year-old Indiana man pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Wayne County, Illinois Court to charges accusing him of murdering a 15-year-old Fairfield, Illinois girl who was reported missing in the summer of 2014, only to be found buried in a shallow grave in Illinois more than three years later. Brodey Murbarger was…… Read more…
Area health departments reporting increasing COVID-19 cases, deaths
The Marion County Health Department on Monday reported 58 cases of the novel coronavirus were lab-confirmed over the weekend and on Monday. According to health officials, while none of the cases were in long-term care residents, four of the new cases were in school-age children. The 58 new cases bring the total number of Marion…… Read more…
Salem PD reports large amount of medications collected during Drug Take Back Day
SALEM — The Salem Police Department announced Tuesday that it collected 115 pounds of unwanted, unused medications at the Drug Take Back program on Saturday. Saturday’s total is the largest number of medications collected since October 2018 when 130 pounds were reported. However, October 2013 tops the list for the amount of medications relinquished to…… Read more…
Illinois residents urged to mitigate virus spread amid spike
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois governor again implored residents to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday during a stop at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria that there is a “COVID storm on the rise, and we have to get…… Read more…
Moon may hold frozen water in more places than suspected
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Scientists say the moon’s shadowed, frigid nooks and crannies may hold frozen water in more places and in larger quantities than previously suspected. That’s good news for astronauts at future lunar bases who could tap into these resources for drinking and making rocket fuel. In a pair of studies published…… Read more…
Clinton County priest suspended for “inappropriate conduct” with minor
CLINTON COUNTY — A priest at two rural Clinton County parishes has been suspended from ministry after he was accused of “inappropriate conduct” with a minor. According to a letter to Clinton County parishioners from Bishop Michael McGovern of the Belleville Diocese, Rev. Anthony Onyango, who was pastor at both St. Bernard Parish in Albers…… Read more…
Mt. Vernon man set to possibly change plea in child pornography case
JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 32-year-old Mt. Vernon man charged in Jefferson County Court with multiple counts of possessing child pornography has scheduled a possible change of plea next week. Philip Borcherding is facing 10 Class X felony counts of possessing child pornography depicting a victim under the age of 13. He’s remained in the Jefferson…… Read more…
Metro-East Region returned to tighter COVID-19 restrictions
The Metro-East Region that includes Clinton, Washington, and Bond counties will go back under tighter mitigations Wednesday as the region was over an 8-percent positivity rate for COVID-19 for a third straight day on Sunday. The rate is now at 8.2-percent. Mitigation measures take effect October 28 in Region 4 and include indoor dining and…… Read more…
Illinois woman, 99, has voted every election since 1944
PEKIN, Ill. (AP) — A 99-year-old central Illinois woman has voted in every presidential election since 1944 including this year. The (Peoria) Journal Star reports Harriet Harris of Pekin cast an early ballot Friday at the Tremont Community Center. She said she studied a sample ballot at home so she was ready to make her…… Read more…
Illinois reports more than 4,000 new confirmed virus cases
CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois health officials are reporting more than 4,000 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 24 additional deaths. The state’s Department of Public Health reported a 6.1% positive testing rate over the past seven days. Labs reported 72,097 tests over 24 hours with 4,062 positive cases. Since the pandemic began, 9,505 in Illinois have…… Read more…
Authorities: 3 teenagers dead in southern Illinois car crash
Authorities say three teenagers are dead after their car crashed in southern Illinois. Illinois State Police say the crash happened just before 3 a.m. on Sunday in Johnson County. Police say six teenagers were in a black Ford traveling westbound when the vehicle ran off the road and struck a tree. Killed in the crash…… Read more…
Mt. Vernon woman latest charged in connection with murder of Olney teen
JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 43-year-old Mount Vernon woman is the fifth person charged in connection to the murder last month of a 19-year-old man in Olney. On Thursday, Misty D. Whipple was arrested on a Jefferson County warrant charging her with one count of aiding a fugitive for her alleged role in the September 6 murder…… Read more…
Illinois governor orders police patrols amid COVID spikes
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois governor says sanctions are in store for bars and restaurants that disregard serving restrictions meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Thursday that the state faces a COVID-19 surge that could surpass the bleak early days of the pandemic last spring. The 4,942 new…… Read more…