The busiest week of early voting in Georgia history concluded with over 1.8 million ballots cast before election day in the U.S. Senate runoff.

Here’s a link to the story.

PARADISE, Texas (AP) — A 7-year-old Texas girl has been found dead two days after being reported missing, and a FedEx driver who made a delivery to her home shortly before she disappeared was arrested in her death.

Here’s the link to the story.

(The Center Square) – Democrats and gun control groups are aiming to ban certain types of weapons in Illinois. A gun store owner says if that happens, they’ll file a lawsuit immediately.

Here’s the link to thes story at WSIL.

ST. CLOUD, Fla. (Gray News) – Authorities in Florida say a man is facing charges after he attempted to steal from a store filled with law enforcement.

Here’s the link to the story.

Infowars host Alex Jones filed for bankruptcy on Friday, after a series of defamation trials resulted in Jones owing nearly $1.5 billion to the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting, The Washington Post reported.

Here’s a link to the story.

SPRINGFIELD — Democrats in the Illinois House have unveiled a proposal to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines and eliminate the ability for most people under 21 to obtain a gun permit in the state.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers on Thursday passed a long-awaited amendment to the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform’s provisions that will eliminate cash bail when the calendar hits 2023.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

Rend Lake College and Southeastern Illinois College have been named co-winners of the Innovation Award from the Illinois Council for Community Colleges Administration (ICCCA) in coordination with the Illinois Community College Training and Resource and Information Network (weTRaIN).

Here’s a link to the story at the Rend Lake College website.

Two Franklin County offices are taking a giant step into the 21st Century.

In an effort to utilize technology that is available and to keep the public better informed the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the Franklin County Circuit Clerk’s office have both added separate apps that are specific to each office.

Captain Kyle Bacon, who has handled the project for the Sheriff’s Office, said TheSheriffApp.com serves more than 500 public safety agencies throughout the US and Canada.

“Now more than ever, apps are used to communicate information,” Bacon said. “We are very excited to utilize the Franklin County Sheriff’s App to better communicate with the communities that we serve. This new app will provide an avenue for the Sheriff’s Office to increase transparency by utilizing technology for public awareness and information regarding public safety.”
Bacon said the app is being paid for through funds from the jail’s commissary and will not be any cost to taxpayers.
The Sheriff’s App is a free download on both iPhone and Android phones. Simply go to your App Store and download Franklin County Illinois Sheriff

Features to be utilized on the Sheriff’s app include:

Push Notifications (weather, events, immediate public safety issues)
Tip Submission
Most Wanted / Warrants
Sex Offender Searches / Mapping
Press Releases
Info Regarding Sheriff Sales
NWS – Weather Integration Services
Recruitment
Contact / Directory
Inmate Commissary Services

Franklin County Circuit Clerk Jim Muir said the Circuit Clerk app will be an invaluable tool to help residents who utilize the office and court system.

“To me it’s just a matter of common sense to utilize technology that is available to us,” said Muir. “The Circuit Clerk App will allow users to check for court cases on Judici, pay on a fine or traffic ticket, get Zoom court information, check the daily court docket and many more things. It’s just an unbelievable asset that folks can have on their phone all in one place.”

Muir said the Circuit Clerk App is being paid for through interest from bond money that was invested and will be no cost to taxpayers.

Features to be utilized on the Circuit Clerk’s App include:

Push Notifications (weather, events, immediate public safety issues)
Judici to search court cases
Daily court docket
Pay a fine or ticket electronically
Inmate search and inmate release notification
Zoom Court instructions
Link to the Franklin County website
Downloadable court forms
E-File information
Jury Duty Information
Online resources for self-help litigants
Women’s Advocacy information
Filing fees

The Circuit Clerk App is a free download on both iPhone and Android phones. Simple go your App Store and download Franklin County Illinois Circuit Clerk.

SPRINGFIELD — With nearly 300 laws taking effect on New Year’s Day, Illinois lawmakers have resolved to hold themselves to a higher ethical standard, stay the government’s regulatory arm on young entrepreneurs and review ways to revive the struggling local journalism industry.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.