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.

MURPHYSBORO — After a being cancelled in 2020, Praise The Lard – Murphysboro Barbecue Cook-Off drew nearly 100 teams from 14 states to compete for prizes totaling $27,500.

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

The Eurma C. Hayes Center is a mess today due to construction, but Bob Wills, executive director of the center, says the mess is necessary to renovate and bring services to Carbondale’s Northeast community.

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

Amid all the focus on COVID-19 vaccinations, U.S. health experts have another plea: Don’t skip your flu shot.

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

Ten teachers in the Metro East who refuse to comply with statewide vaccine and mask mandates are suing their school districts over the policies.

Here’s a link to the story at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.