More than 30 people were hospitalized after an accident in the Chicago suburb of Beach Park last month after tanks of anhydrous ammonia, a compressed gas used to fertilize corn, leaked into the atmosphere.

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

BENTON, IL- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District Commander Col. Bryan Sizemore will visit the Rend Lake Project Office & Visitor Center on Thursday, May 23, 2019 for a Partnership Ceremony. The Commander will honor two Franklin County Deputies for their acts of valor while saving a young woman’s life at Rend Lake. The Colonel will also sign a partnership agreement for the North Marcum Improvement Project which includes construction of an archery complex and mountain bike trail. Lastly, he will recognize Rend Lake’s partners which worked diligently to complete the new Pollinator Trail Project and open the new area with a ribbon cutting.

09:30 – 09:50 Welcome and Introductions (Operations Manager Jackie Taylor)
Recognition of Franklin County Deputies (COL Bryan Sizemore)

09:50 – 10:10 Project and Partner Summary (Operations Manager Jackie Taylor)
Signing of the North Marcum Improvement Partnership Agreement
(COL Bryan Sizemore and Partner Representatives Sign)

The North Marcum Improvement Project Partnership Agreement brings multiple local, regional, and national partners together to provide a 40 acre archery complex, including both a range and a trail, and 12+ miles of mountain bike trails.

10:10 – 10:30 Move to the Pollinator Trail
Project and Partner Contribution Summary (Park Ranger Cassie Magsig)
Recognition of the Pollinator Trail Project Partners (COL Bryan Sizemore)
Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of the Pollinator Trail Project
(All Trail Project Partners, Operations Manager Jackie Taylor, and COL Bryan Sizemore)

Fourteen partners came together to provide Rend Lake visitors with a new 1200 foot long universally accessible trail encircling the Catfish Cove Pond; four accessible fishing piers; a covered bench; a half mile long nature trail; and over 5 acres of native pollinator plantings.

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ capital-city newspaper, a 188-year-old institution tied intimately to Abraham Lincoln, is without a news chief after its editor resigned in hopes of sparing more layoffs, according to a staff writer.

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

An expert says Lyme disease cases in Illinois will likely continue to rise this year after having shown a gradual increase in recent years.

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

On this Earth Day, the Illinois Department of Transportation is getting in on the good-for-the-planet action.

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

Illinois’ governor said the flooding in Illinois is worse and more frequent than in the past.

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

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.