ACLU Brings accusations against IYC in Harrisburg

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/35909376/aclu-illinois-juvenile-center-unfairly-seeks-charges

CHICAGO – (AP, through KFVS-TV.  Click for the full story on the link above. Here is an excerpt.)

The ACLU accuses a juvenile detention facility in southern Illinois of improperly and unnecessarily seeking prosecutions of several dozen detainees.

The civil liberties group made the allegation about the Illinois Youth Center in Harrisburg in a filing in an ongoing federal lawsuit in Chicago. It blames center staff disgruntled about court-approved limits on how long juveniles can spend in solitary confinement.

The ACLU says that among the infractions that have led to criminal charges were detainees spitting at youth-center staff. ACLU lawyer Lindsay Miller calls such prosecutions “vindictive.”

Montemagno hopes to implement a vision for the university and achieve it by 2025

http://dailyegyptian.com/70135/showcase/montemagno-hopes-implement-vision-university-achieve-2025/

CARBONDALE, IL (Cory Ray, Daily Egyptian.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Newly-appointed Chancellor Carlo Montemagno proposed what he called the need to discover and implement a vision for the university in his first public address since he was appointed chancellor by the SIU Board of Trustees on July 13.

“We have to be successful,” he said to a crowd of people on Thursday. “As SIU goes, Southern Illinois is going to go.”

Specifically, Montemagno said the vision will be a set of goals and objectives for what people believe the university should look like by 2025. He said the vision itself will be implemented by November.

Severin to Hold Satellite Officer Hours July 24 – 28

He will be at the Benton Public Library on Monday

Press release from State Representative Dave Severin

Marion…. State Representative Dave Severin (R- Benton) will be holding satellite office hours at several locations during the week of July 24th. Rep. Severin’s staff will be available to meet with constituents to address concerns and receive feedback on the issues most important to them. Dates, times, and locations for these office hours are:

Monday July 24th, Benton Public Library, 502 S Main St. in Benton, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm..

Wednesday July 26th, Johnston City Hall, 100 West Broadway Blvd. in Johnston City, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.

Friday July 28th, McCoy Memorial Library, 118 S Washington St. in McLeansboro, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.

If you have any questions, please contact Rep. Severin’s District Office at (618) 440-5090 or through the contact form on his website at www.repseverin.com.

Harris new principal at FCHS

by Steve Dunford

WEST FRANKFORT, IL –  The Frankfort Community District School Board completed their administration team last night, by hiring Brock Harris as the new high school principal.  Earlier, long time FCHS coach and science teacher Jory Dial was named as the district’s athletic director and assistant principal at the high school.

Harris is entering his second year with District 168.  He was the principal at Frankfort Intermediate School last year.  He came to West Frankfort from Webber Township High School in Bluford, where he was high school principal.

Before taking the position at Webber, he was a long time teacher, coach, and served a few years district’s AD at Thompsonville CUD #174.  He lives in the T’ville area also.

If there were any other major personnel moves or action taken by the West Frankfort School Board last night, I will keep you updated.

Democrat’s school funding bill latest in series of “blackmail” bills

https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/breen-democrat-s-school-funding-bill-latest-in-series-of/article_6a391f56-6b56-11e7-8dc7-4f031db91327.html

SPRINGFIELD, IL – (Greg Bishop, Illinois News Network.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

The next battle at the Illinois Statehouse is likely over state funding for public schools, which are in desperate need of checks next month. But that money may not be there without funding reform, and critics of the majority party say waiting until the last minute to resolve problems seems to be the Democrats’ modus operandi.

State Rep. Peter Breen, R-Lombard, said Senate Bill 1 is a Chicago Public Schools bailout and another of what he called “blackmail bills,” where lawmakers are pressured at the last minute to support things that aren’t good for taxpayers.

Breen referenced several examples. One was the threat that 911 services would be shut down unless, according to Breen, unnecessary fee increases were approved. Another was the threat of a downgrade of state bonds to junk status if lawmakers didn’t approve a budget with $5 billion in tax increases.

“No compromise. No other options,” Breen said. “[It’s just], ‘You’ve got to vote for this bill.’”

Breen said the same thing is happening with the school funding reform bill.

Small chance of pop up storms this afternoon…..temps in the upper 90’s Thurs. through Sat

This may come in handy this week. It is important to understand that this chart is not for those who are out working or physically active in the full sun. The heat index chart takes the air temperature, shown on the column on the right side of the image, and the relative humidity, shown along the row on the top of the image to determine heat index values. As an example, we will use an air temperature of 92 degrees and a relative humidity value of 50%. To find the heat index value for the air temperature and relative humidity, look for the relative humidity value of 50% at the top of the chart. Go down the column until you reach the row corresponding to the air temperature of 92 degrees. The value inside of that square is 99 degrees. That is the expected heat index for the given air temperature and relative humidity. The Darker shading on the chart corresponds to the health impact of prolonged exposure and/or physical activity under those weather conditions. Dangerous and even deadly consequences can occur if you stay out too long in the summer heat, without taking precautions. Keep a watch on children, persons with serious health conditions, and pets during the summer heat. (NWS Paducah)

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Paducah KY
357 AM CDT Tue Jul 18 2017

.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight

Widely scattered thunderstorms are possible, with lightning,
locally heavy rain, and gusty winds the primary hazards.

The heat index will reach near 100 this afternoon.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Wednesday through Monday

An Excessive Heat Watch is in effect for Wednesday through Sunday.
Refer to the Watch product for details.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…

Spotter activation is not expected.

URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Paducah KY
224 AM CDT Tue Jul 18 2017

…Conditions setting up for Dangerous Heat Wave Wednesday
through Sunday…

.As high pressure exerts increasing control over the mid
Mississippi river valley this week, expect a corresponding rise
in temperatures and humidity to dangerously high levels for our
area. Heat indices nudging to the triple digits will start to
show up today, and increase and become more commonplace in the 100
to 105 range through the remainder of the week and into the
weekend, offering our first prolonged duration heat event of the
summer.

…EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING…

* TIMING…Wednesday afternoon through Sunday evening.

* HEAT INDEX VALUES…peaking near 105 degrees each afternoon.

* IMPACTS…The combination of hot temperatures and high
humidity will lead to an increased risk of heat related stress
and illness. The very young, the elderly, those without air
conditioning, and those participating in strenuous outdoor
activities will be the most susceptible. Also, car interiors
will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

An Excessive Heat Watch means that a prolonged period of hot
temperatures is expected. The combination of hot temperatures and
high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in
which heat illnesses are possible. Drink plenty of fluids, stay
in an air conditioned room, stay out of the sun ,and check up on
relatives and neighbors.

Detailed Forecast

Today
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10am and 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Calm wind.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Light south wind.
Thursday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Southwest wind 3 to 6 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 75. South southwest wind around 5 mph.
Friday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 76. South southwest wind around 7 mph.
Saturday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South southwest wind 7 to 9 mph.
Sunday
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. West southwest wind around 7 mph.
Sunday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
Monday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph.

 

Storm damage in Jackson County

by Steve Dunford

Around 3:00 p,m, this afternoon a severe storm rolled through Murphysboro causing multiple trees down through the city according to local law enforcement.

At latest count, Ameren Illinois reported over 1200 without power on their website.

As far as here in Franklin County, there is a cell that is intensifying rapidly in the Thompsonville/Akin area.  The storm is at the time moving slowly in a SSW direction.

There is an Excessive Heat Watch issued for Franklin County from Wednesday through Sunday.  I will post the details shortly.

Broadway Avenue in Johnston City will be closed Wed.-Thurs.

From the Johnston City Police Department

TRAFFIC DETOUR: this Wednesday (7/19) and Thursday (7/20) Broadway Avenue  will be shut down at the rail road tracks. The crossing is getting a complete replacement. Avoid this area and seek alternate routes.

Body recovered near Cairo

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/35901057/body-recovered-from-the-confluence-of-mississippi-ohio-rivers

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, MO  (KFVS, TV.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Emergency crews have recovered a body from the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers near the 60/62 bridge.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a fisherman called at 7:41 a.m. on Monday, July 17 to report a body in the water

The victim has not been identified, but Captain Barry Morgan with the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department confirmed it is an adult man.

Wreck on Southbound I 57 north of the Benton exit

by Steve Dunford

Franklin County EMA is reporting traffic is congested north Exit 71 on Interstate 57 due to a traffic crash.

There have already been two minor incidents on the interstate this morning.  One on the North Bound lanes south of Benton, and one near the Marion area.

Please take alternate routes, and as in incidents in the past, Route 37 will be backing up quickly.

I will provide further updates when they become available.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News