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.

JEFFERSON COUNTY – Two people are dead following a two-vehicle crash along Interstate 57 on Wednesday.

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

WAYNE COUNTY, Ill. — The family of a sheriff’s deputy who was killed here by a man who went on to carjack, rob and shoot more people during a two-state manhunt this week said Friday their son, husband, father and friend was a hero.

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

Chicago has recorded nearly 800 criminal homicides just before the New Year’s Eve holiday, according to police, marking a small increase over last year and a more than 60% increase from 2019.

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

WAYNE COUNTY – Charges have been brought against Ray Tate for the alleged fatal shooting of a Wayne County deputy while various organizations raise funds for the family.

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

A man suspected in the shooting of one police officer and wounding of another at a northern Illinois hotel has been taken into custody, the Illinois State Police said Friday.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

INA, IL – Rend Lake College is once again inviting the community out for a “Spooktacular” night of music just in time for All Hallows’ Eve.

The Halloween Concert will be held in the RLC Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. The free event features performances from the RLC Choir, the RLC Concert Band as well as the Southeastern Illinois College Choir.

RLC Music Professor Sara Alstat-Sanders said the first collaborative Halloween Concert happened in 2019. The blending of the two college choirs provides the chance to work on more complicated arrangements.

“It gives our students an opportunity to perform with a larger choir,” Alstat-Sanders said. “We will be able to combine additional voices and have more selection.”

Musical selections for the choirs include songs from popular film and stage productions. The setlist features “The Hanging Tree” from “The Hunger Games” movie franchise; the title track from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas;” and a medley from the hit Broadway show “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Others included in the collaborative performance are “Old Abram Brown” and “Et in terra pax.”

The RLC Concert Band includes college and high school students as well as members of the community. For the Halloween Concert, the band will bring its own brew of performances. Renditions include “Mars,” “Shadow Waltzes,” “The Witching Hour” as well as selections from “Suite from Symphonie Fantastique.”

With the Halloween holiday right around the corner from the concert date, Alstat-Sanders said the return of live performances on the RLC campus is sure to be a hauntingly good time.

“We’re hoping to get everyone in the spirit,” she said.

For more information about the RLC music department, visit rlc.edu/music.