SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Auditor General’s office said Tuesday that understaffing at the state’s child welfare agency led to a massive backlog of cases of suspected child abuse or neglect during the administration of former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. It also said the agency often failed to follow its own protocols for investigating cases and filing timely reports.

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

On May 1st, 2019 at approximately 10 p.m., Benton Police were dispatched to the 900 block of East Webster Street in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon investigating, police arrested Jacob R. Thomas, age 37, of Benton for domestic battery. Thomas was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On May 3rd, 2019 at approximately 11 p.m., while on routine patrol Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of South Main and Adams Street. Upon investigating, police arrested the driver, Austin A. Moore, age 18, of West Frankfort for driving while license suspended. Moore was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On May 4th, 2019 at approximately 12:10 a.m. ,Benton Police arrested Jakeb B. Lambert, age 23, of Benton on an active Franklin County warrant for petition to revoke. Lambert was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On May 4th, 2019 at approximately 12:55 a.m., while on routine patrol Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Bailey Lane and Mark Franklin Drive. Upon investigating, police arrested the driver identified as Casey G. Kiselewski, age 38, of McLeansboro for driving under the influence. Police also arrested the passenger identified as Michael L. Jackson, age 41, of McLeansboro on an active Hamilton County warrant for failure to notify of a change of address as a sex offender. Both Kiselewski and Jackson were transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On May 4th, 2019 at approximately 2:10 a.m., while on routine patrol Benton Police heard a disturbance in the 1300 block of East Main Street. Upon investigating, police arrested Jerry R. Wilson, age 51, of West Frankfort for aggravated battery to a peace officer. Wilson also had an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear. Wilson was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On May 6th, 2019 at approximately 1:10 a.m., Benton Police were dispatched to the 800 block of Highland Street in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon investigating, police arrested Laura C. Huff, age 35, of Benton for criminal damage to property, aggravated battery, and resisting a peace officer. Huff was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

Chicago Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot spent her first day in Washington seeking to build relationships with powerful national figures, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka in hopes of getting help with solving the city’s deepest problems.

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

Hundreds of factory workers may have just been laid off from jobs at a large automotive plant in northern Illinois, but the economy is likely to help put them back to work.

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

The Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee could take up a package of bills Thursday centered on allowing a progressive income tax structure in Illinois.

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

Illinois lawmakers are one step closer to putting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature campaign promise on the 2020 ballot: A proposed change to the Illinois constitution that would allow for higher income tax rates on higher levels of income.

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

SPRINGFIELD — House Speaker Michael Madigan doesn’t make a lot of media appearances, but Monday morning he talked with student journalists who are covering the Statehouse in a graduate school program.

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

SPRINGFIELD — One of the nation’s leading credit rating agencies said Monday adopting a graduated income tax system in Illinois probably would provide some much-needed revenue, but whether state’s credit rating would be improved depends on how the state uses the new money.

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

Kathie Kane-Willis wants people to think about the 2020 census not just as a questionnaire but a tool that can wield power and money.

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

SPRINGFIELD — A 532-page proposal to legalize adult-use cannabis in Illinois by Jan. 1, 2020 was filed in the state Senate on Monday, but the state’s powerful House speaker said its passage is “not guaranteed today.”

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