Thundersnow drops more than 5 inches of accumulation at O’Hare, cancels more than 1,000 flights

A spring storm dumped more than 5 inches of snow on parts of the city and brought sightings of a rare weather phenomena — thundersnow — on Sunday, nearly breaking the record for snowiest day this late in the season, according to meteorologists

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

Illinois House once again approves $40,000 minimum teacher salary

It looks like some teachers in Illinois are going to get a raise this time around.

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

House OKs measure to stiffen penalties for illegally passing school bus

Democrats opposed to enhancing penalties for criminal violations weren’t successful in trying to stop representatives in the House from approving a measure to increase penalties for illegally passing a school bus.

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

Racist flyers return to John A. Logan College

CARTERVILLE — It’s been about seven months since neo-Nazis left flyers on community college campuses around Southern Illinois, and some are reporting they have made a return.

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

Illinois Farm Bureau helps prepare next generation of farmers

Young farmers in Illinois are getting a chance to develop skills with help from the Illinois Farm Bureau.

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

Pritzker to change state’s Medicaid policy to cover sex reassignment surgery

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Friday that the state’s Medicaid program will use state and federal funds to cover sex reassignment surgery, but the governor’s office hasn’t said how much the policy change could cost.

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

Batavia High School on lockdown as police investigate report of person with rifle

Batavia High School was placed on lockdown early today, preventing students from entering the building, as police investigated a report of a person with a rifle.

Officers were sent to the school around 6 a.m. after getting a report of the person entering the school. As of 7 a.m., nothing was found, according to Batavia police. The school remained on lockdown.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Department report busy week

3-31-19 Ryan D. Wallace age 38 of Benton was arrested and charged with driving while license suspended, methamphetamine delivery and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held in the Franklin County Jail.

4-2-19 Jovan D. Bardle age 31 of West Frankfort was ticketed for failure to wear a seatbelt.

4-2-19 Daryl D. Gostowski age 54 of Thompsonville was ticketed for failure to wear a seatbelt and operating an uninsured vehicle.

4-2-19 Harley E. West age 20 of Benton was ticketed for operating an uninsured vehicle.

4-3-19 Jenna E. Herbst age 28 of Marion was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

4-3-19 Rebecca L. Braddy age 43 of West Frankfort was ticketed for a Scott’s Law violation, use of cell phone while driving and operating an uninsured vehicle.

4-4-19 Samuel A. Miller age 30 of Benton was arrested for domestic battery. He was transported to the Franklin County Jail where he later posted bond.

4-4-19 Justin L. Barnhart was arrested and charged with driving while license revoked. He was transported to the Franklin County Jail where he later posted bond.

4-4-19 Christine M. Lake age 36 of Wentzville, MO was ticketed for using a cell phone while driving.

4-4-19 Tamara D. Smith age 48 of Benton was ticketed for using a cell phone while driving.

4-4-19 Richard J. James age 23 of West Frankfort was ticketed for using a cell phone while driving.

4-4-19 Megan A. Whiting age 37 of Elburn, IL was ticketed for using a cell phone while driving.

4-4-19 April D. Miles age 47 of Benton was ticketed for using a cell phone while driving.

WARRANT ARRESTS

3-25-19 Larry E. Levault age 35 of Benton. Failure to appear for driving under the influence.

3-27-19 Jeremy M. Toth age 31 of Benton. Failure to appear for driving while license suspended.

3-27-19 Nicole J. Brown age 40 of Wadesville, IN. Failure to appear for permitting truancy.

3-29-19 Michael L. Moulton age 43 of Benton. Failure to appear for theft.

3-29-19 Briesha L. Rush age 20 of Mt. Vernon. Failure to appear for speeding.

3-29-19 Brian K. Caraker age 21 of Benton. Failure to appear for retail theft.

3-29-19 Amy M. Ward age 45 of Benton. Failure to appear for retail theft.

3-31-19 Darrian N. Willis age 23 of West Frankfort. Warrant for unlawful delivery of methamphetamine.

4-1-19 Michael S. Ellis age 38 of Mt. Vernon. Failure to appear for domestic battery.

4-1-19 Chalieah E. Butler age 23 of Logan. Failure to appear warrant for speeding.

4-1-19 Antwon M. Brown age 30 of Marion. Failure to appear warrant for retail theft.

4-2-19 Zachary L. Conaway age 29 of West Frankfort. Failure to appear driving on revoked license.

Benton police make arrests

On April 2nd, 2019 at approximately 6p.m., Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Espy and Studell Street.
Upon investigating, police arrested Shaina A. Tucker, age 30, of West Frankfort on an active Franklin County warrant for petition to revoke.
Tucker was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Office gets 17 first responder life vests, for free

Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies will be outfitted with life jackets, thanks to an in-kind donation from a Minnesota-based company.

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

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News