Former Springfield Mayor Frank Edwards and his wife, Sangamon County Coroner Cinda Edwards, were two of the three people killed when a small plane crashed in a central Illinois field, authorities said Wednesday.

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

Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker used his State of the State address Wednesday to urge lawmakers to confront the “scourge” of political corruption in Illinois amid a wide-ranging federal probe that threatens to undermine his second-year agenda.

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

Attorneys for actor Jussie Smollett have subpoenaed a slew of documents about the scandal that led to the ouster last month of Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, including any paperwork showing he was “untruthful or misleading in any statement.”

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

A man pulled out a shotgun at a Texas church service and killed two people Sunday before he was fatally shot by congregants who quickly returned fire, police said

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

On November 17, 2019 at approximately 2:35 a.m., Benton Police responded to a traffic crash at the intersection of East Main and McLeansboro Street.
Upon investigating, police arrested Caleb M. Hart, age 29, of Benton for driving under the influence.
Hart was charged and transported to the Franklin County jail for further processing.

On November 17, 2019 at approximately 7:15 p.m., Benton Police were dispatched to the 1200 block of North Main Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
Upon investigating, police arrested Steven H. Klingel, age 55, of Valier for unlawful possession of methamphetamine.
Klingel was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

SPRINGFIELD — A measure preventing lawmakers from receiving pay for days they did not hold office has remained in legislative limbo since its introduction in January. Its sponsor said the “simple, common sense” fix is necessary to address the General Assembly’s “culture.”

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

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign a measure to consolidate the state’s 649 suburban and downstate police and fire pension funds into two funds to maximize investment returns after the legislation passed the Senate on the final day of the fall veto session.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Two ideological heavyweights sparred Wednesday in Chicago not only about Illinois’ proposed progressive income tax change, but about whether high taxes cause people to leave.

Here’s the link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Illinois’ fiscal stability was recently ranked by U.S. News and World as the worst of all states in the nation, but Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to change the narrative about the state.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

A Benton man was arrested Friday after he allegedly fled police in a stolen car.

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