The city of Aurora began the healing process Sunday.

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

Illinois’ political leaders want the 25,000 jobs that Amazon was going to bring to a second headquarters in New York, but some progressives don’t want the company here.

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

While Gov. J.B. Pritzker blames the previous governor’s administration for an expected $3.2 billion deficit in the coming fiscal year, a public finance watchdog said the state’s financial problems are larger than any single administration.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Key lawmakers said late Monday that they had reached a tentative agreement over immigration rules and funding for border barriers, a deal that if signed by President Donald Trump would avert another government shutdown set to start at week’s end.

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

From Illinois Review —

Illinois considers joining California, New York with $15 minimum wage

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers are preparing to introduce legislation nearly doubling the state’s minimum wage from $8.25 to $15 per hour. While anyone in Illinois would be delighted with a nearly 100 percent pay raise, there are negatives that experts warn could happen if such a dramatic hike were to take place – even spread out over ten years.
Illinois Food Retailers Association issued a statement Monday saying they opposed the minimum wage hike, if it does not include different rates for different regions within the state.
The IFRA asked their members to contact their state lawmakers and “urge them to vote no on any proposal that does not consider regional differences in the final starting wage proposal.”
If supporters are successful, Illinois will be the fourth state to enforce such a wage hike, after California and Massachusetts, whose $15 per hour rate will go into effect in 2022 and 2023. New York’s minimum wage of $12.50 will go into effect in two years, and will incrementally rise to $15,00 five years later.
Opponents of an increase argue that raising the minimum wage would likely result in wages and salaries increasing across the board. Such a hike would increase operating expenses for companies that would then increase the prices of products and services to cover their increased labor costs.
Many economists and business executives say labor is a major cost of doing business, and will be force businesses to cut jobs to maintain profitability. The 2013 CBO report estimates that raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour would result in the loss of approximately 500,000 jobs.
Higher minimum wage could result in increased labor market competition for minimum wage jobs, forcing the very people off the workforce that are making progress from the minimum wage level.
The measure is being discussed currently at the Illinois State Capitol. The new governor JB Pritzker has already said he would sign the bill into law. Former Governor Bruce Rauner vetoed a $12 per hour minimum wage last year.

INA, Ill. — Local woodworker Jason Michael recently donated this custom military flag to Rend Lake College. Michael, with EJ Woodwork, made the flag at the request of Kacie Hunter, a Financial Aid Specialist and Veterans Coordinator at RLC.

Hunter wanted to buy the piece to hang in her office. “I’m one of the first stops for our current military and veteran students,” she said. “Having that hanging in my office is just a little thank you to those students.” Michael had other plans though. “Jason didn’t even hesitate and just said that he would be honored to donate the flag,” she added.
“I try to donate at least one flag a year and with RLC being where I went to school, it just made sense to donate to them,” Michael said. “It’s just a small token of appreciation for everything veterans and active military do for us.”
More custom pieces by Michael can be found on the EJ Woodwork Facebook page @E-J-Woodwork.

INA, Ill. – Rend Lake College is pleased to announce 401 students have made the President’s and Vice Presidents’ lists of academic honors for the Fall 2018 semester.
The lists include 179 individuals named to the President’s List. Those students earned a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) during the semester as a full-time student earning 12 credit hours or more. Another 222 students were named to the Vice Presidents’ List. Students on the Vice Presidents’ List earned a 3.50 – 3.99 GPA during the semester as a full-time student.
“The President’s and Vice Presidents’ lists are a big honor and shows the time and dedication these students have put into their education,” said RLC President Terry Wilkerson. “So, on behalf of the institution, I just want to congratulate them on their accomplishment and encourage them to continue to put in the hard work both in and out of the classroom.”
RLC students receiving academic honors for Fall 2018, listed by communities, are:
President’s List
(All hometowns Ill. unless noted otherwise)
ALBERS – Eric Luevano
ASHLEY – Madison Bock, Megan Bock, Claudia Spotanski
AVA – April Froehle
BELKNAP – Jakob Korte
BELLE RIVE – Cameron Shelton
BENTON – Natalie Chang, Emberly Code, Gillian Emrich, Ethan Krieger, Andrew Lingle, Madilyn Mclain, Avery Miller, Morgan Montgomery, Mason Morris, Megann Nelson, Courtney Reno, Matthew Robertson, Kurtis Sanders, Olivia Sapp, Lindsey Seidel, Dillon Spencer, Lizbette Villa-Martinez
BLUFORD – Dylan Brown, Brenna Collins, Seirra Forristall, Kailey Groff, Tylar Hanson, Kylie Jackson
BONNIE – Fory Albert, Katie Newell, Brandon Page, Jera Sloat
BROUGHTON – Caleb Chapman
CARBONDALE – Jamie Veach
CARTERVILLE – Catherine Graves
CENTRALIA – Fiona Woods
CHRISTOPHER – Spencer Dennison, Autumn Gunter, Khortnee Kerkemeyer, Joshua Underwood
COELLO – Adrianna Fedderke
COLUMBIA – Hayden Anderson
COULTERVILLE – David Sprehe
CREAL SPRINGS – Darci Morrison
DAHLGREN – Carrie Rapp, Tim Staley, Kasey Whipple
DIX – Allysa Doza, Barbara Simmons
DUQUOIN – Megan Breslin, Justin Cavins, Hannah Dascotte, Gracie Mcdaniel
EWING – Kiley Carter
FAIRFIELD – Kasey Ingram
HARRISBURG – Chloe Bruno
HERRIN – Rachel Ward
INA – Anthony Amato, Brandon Davis, Jase Felker, Mac Hickman, Chelsea Hill, Ryan Payne, Caleb Reinhardt, Edward Zivic
IUKA – Cheyenne Wetmore
JOHNSTON CITY – Madison Pribble
LOGAN – Zachary Ozbourn
MARION – Derrick Davis, Grace Ryder
MCLEANSBORO – Krista Aud, Corrie Grubb, Raegan Halley, Tim Hart, Hillary Ingram, Jeremiah Mcdaniel, Angel Noe, Lane Parker, Matthew Rubenacker, Kyle Vanabbema, Justise Webb, Maude Wheeler
MOUNT CARMEL – Dawson Brown
MT. VERNON – Madison Bailey, Robert Blaydes, Ashley Chambliss, David Daniels, Joseph Davis, Lindsay Densch, Briea Dobbs, Dakota Frederick, Tayler Hayes, Drake Hess, Kelley Hiner, Tyler Joseph, Noah Karch, Coby Marquez, Raquel Minor, Hunter Morris, Michelle Nguyen, Kenny Rankin, Chase Regenhardt, Jaedyn Reich, Kayley Reininger, Gretchen Rich, Justin Robinson, Paige Saupe, Morey Shelton, Kaylea Stewart, Danielle Young, Tamara Drake
MULKEYTOWN – Madison Bates, Jason Cole, Shelby Hewlett, Afton Kirk, Madilyn Severs, Sarah Thompson
MURPHYSBORO – Brian Keels
NEW ATHENS – Chase Merlenbach
NORRIS CITY – Jebediah Baumgart, Allison Blair
OAKDALE – Ashley Kellerman
OPDYKE – Brooke Cash, Kelsi Ham, Jessica Roberts
PERCY – Rick Smith Jr.
PINCKNEYVILLE – Noah Conner, Max Fox, Keith Goldman, Hannah Hubbard, Jamie Newton, Claire Stotlar, Stephen Wagner
ROYALTON – Lacey Grammer
SALEM – Chad Morris
SCHELLER – Kaleb Bjorkman, Lauren Frisch, Kamber Pyszka
SESSER – Mitchell Bulla, Savannah Queen, Madyson Senior, Mackayla Tindall
SPARTA – Shayne Kempfer
TAMAROA – Debra Compton, Jacob Compton, Jacob Lacy
THOMPSONVILLE – Amanda Gardner
VALIER – Afton Frank, William Heard
WALNUT HILL – Kelsey Milt
WALTONVILLE – Olivia Massie, Tyler Newbury
WATERLOO – Victor Iwunze
WAYNE CITY – Stacy Andrews, Kennedy Sledge
WEST FRANKFORT – Dennis Coyle, Mary Linsley, Savannah Story
WHITTINGTON – Grace Coleman, Annie Gates, Dara Macdonald
WOODLAWN – Taryn Chesnek, Sabryn Griffin, Vanessa Seaman, Mason Smith
ZEIGLER – Kari Vaughn
Vice President’s List
BARTELSO – Coty Boruff
BELLE RIVE – Zebadiah Adams
BELLEVILLE – Kyle Bammer, Alford Gore, Dale Hoff, Erik Van Driel
BENTON – Makayla Abney, Brandy Collins, Fallon Dawson, Kaitlyn Johnson, Melanie Kelcher, Samantha Kraft, Elijah Lampley, Quincey Montoya, Tedgie Morgan, Brittni Motsinger, Taigan Neibch, Ashley Odom, Megan Purdie, Jared Rexing, Gavin Richardson, Parker Robbins, Dylan Sheeks, Brandon Smith, Morgan Swigonski, Vishnu Tailor, Jacy Walker, Anna Weaver, Gretchn Wilburn
BLUFORD – Rachel Buretta, Kobe Donoho, Tegan Gray, Victoria Sledge, Mikayla Stewart
BONNIE – Kaylie Bicanich, Shelby Coggins
BROUGHTON – Laci Williams
CARBONDALE – Meredith Ditz, Talia Jones, Ryleigh Vaughn
CARTERVILLE – Bryce Collins
CHRISTOPHER – Brooke Akers, Olivia Montgomery, Derek Mueller, Olivia Sweetin
COLUMBIA – David Shaffer
COULTERVILLE – Kelby Burns
DAHLGREN – Katie Coy, Autumn Cross, Aaron Karch, Scott May, Dalton Miller, Austen Tennyson, Caleb Wellen, Michael Wells
DIX – Arron Nelson
DUQUOIN – Sarah Breslin, Nathan Gates, Miranda Kish, Noah Saunders, Aaron Amann
ENERGY – Madalyn Toombs
ENFIELD – Abby Reynolds
EWING – Lucas Roberts, Allison Stubblefield
FAIRFIELD – Jacob Simpson, Logan Stewart
GLEN CARBON – Paige Hamel
GOREVILLE – Kaitlyn Schuetz
HERRIN – Kris Melia
INA – Jason Boulanger, Tanner Bradley, Austin Brock, Noah Brown, Townsend Ellis, Garrett Fritz, Brant Glidewell, Alexa Macy, Trevor Nicholson, Clayten Tubbs
IUKA – Dakota Barthelemy, Jared Woodward
JOHNSTON CITY – Paige Rich
KEENES – Cynthia Horton
LOGAN – Tyler Mcclerren
MACEDONIA – Baili Diefenbach, Adrianna Maxwell, Ross Rexing, Celia Summers
MARION – Ashton Stotlar
MCLEANSBORO – Peyton Donelson, Cindi Drew, Kaitlyn Flannigan, Gregor Garrett, Kristin Gibson, Austin Lemmons, Sarah Mead, Anna Miller, Taylie Payne, Taylor Prince, Brianna Wilson
MOUNT CARMEL – Dawson Brown
MT. VERNON – Katelyn Ashby, Heather Barkau, Alyssa Cariens, Christopher Clark, Casey Drennan, Cody Ellis, Noah Farmer, Jaycee Garner, Tangala Griffin, Raven Gudermuth, Hannah Hamerski,Tyler Hamilton, Jaxon Helm, jacque Helverson, Talia Hoffman, Hayden Jones, James Kallmbah, Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, Suzanna Lefebvre, Brandi Mccain, Cheyanne Mcgrath, Ryan Mckinley, Briana Meyer, Keagan Myers, Tyler Norris, Christopher Piper, Milton Skelly, Jade Stallons, Hannah Stocker, Matthew Taylor, Alexa Trapp, Collin Whitener, Sydney Winkleman, Derrick Gradford
MULKEYTOWN – Katelynn Baine, Madison Baine, Brianna Bowlin, Erin Eldridge, Rachael Johnston, Sydney Noto, Adrian Rapp, Huel Reynolds
MURPHYSBORO – Jayme Mcdonald, Shelby Mckown
NEW ATHENS – Jaxon Heintz
ODIN – Thomas Wolf
OPDYKE – Rebekah Cramer, Danielle Gregg
PINCKNEYVILLE – Dustin Engelhardt, Kiya Hagene, Natascha Haney, Keaton Hawk, Alexis Hirsch, Mason Hopp, Dylan Houghland, Logan Jones, Draeden Kreger, Jonathan Lee, Alexis Loos, Brady Louis, Autumn Mohr, Justin Restoff, Haylee Robinson, Stephany Winter
RED BUD – Albert Byrn, Matthew Fehr
SESSER – Elizabeth Crawford, Mariah Eader, Jenna Jones, Preston Launius, Paolina Marlo, Scott Nelson, Mallory Newbury, Sadie Payne, Cheyenne Smith, Gerrod Tolley, Josh Womack
STEELEVILLE – Joseph Minton
TAMAROA – Abigail Barnes, Keely Epplin, Consuela Moll
TEXICO – Hallie Jones, Joseph White
THOMPSONVILLE – Farrah Barry, Christina Biermann, Kailee Fox, Brandi Kerley, Lucas Lingle, Mallory Rone, Cory Wilce, Ivan Wysong
VALIER – Brittany Bright
WALTONVILLE – Jaylin Haley, Jordan Hoppa, Johnna Tomaszewski, Kaylie Williams
WAYNE CITY – Ethan Erwin, Remington Henson, Chelsea Jones, Braeden Payne, Colby Solomon, Kadie Steiner
WEST FRANKFORT – Jade Garner, Marlina Gentry, Daniel Hill, Joshua Rodely, Lucas Wolfe
WHITTINGTON – Alyssa Dardeen, Shannon Frayser, Makala Thompson
WOODLAWN – Destani Houle, Rachel Jackson, Randi Mcclain, Savanna Petersen
ZEIGLER – Samantha Bright, Magen Majors

2-1-19 Eric “Ricky” J. Henson age 50 of West Frankfort was arrested for battery. He was taken to the Franklin County Jail where he later posted bond.

2-3-19 at approximately 12:02 am Deputies received a call of a traffic crash in Plumfield. Kelly T. Baker age 47 of Benton was arrested for driving while under the influence. Baker was taken to the Franklin County Jail where she later posted bond.

2-3-19 at approximately 1:34 pm, Deputies responded to a disturbance call in Logan. Ada L. Mocaby age 31 of Logan was arrested for violation of bail bond. She is being held in the Franklin County Jail pending setting of bond by the States Attorney’s Office.

2-3-19 at approximately 11:07 pm Jordan A. Pennington age 32 of West Frankfort was arrested for driving while license suspended. Pennington was taken to the Franklin County Sherriff’s Office where he later posted bond.

WARRANTS

2-1-19 Caressa M. Pyles age 40 of West Frankfort. Violation of probation.

2-1-19 Alyssa C. Bonstell age 20 of Bluford. Failure to appear on possession of methamphetamine.

2-2-19 Steven R. Rutland age 54 of West Frankfort. Failure to appear on operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

2-2-19 Jason R. Wagner age 40 of West Frankfort. Failure to appear on retail theft.

2-2-19 Christopher W. Bozarth age 28 of Hurst. Burglary and theft.

2-3-19 Candice L/ Singleton age 41 of Hurst. Failure to appear for possession of cannabis.

The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

On February 1, 2019 at approximately 6 p.m. Benton Police were dispatched to the 100 block of East Reed Street in reference to a noise complaint. Upon investigating, police arrested Dustin E. Forby, age 43, of Benton for unlawful possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and retail theft. Forby was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On February 2, 2019 at approximately 3:05 a.m., Benton Police conducted a traffic stop in the 100 block of North Main Street.
Upon investigating, police arrested John D. Gass, age 21, of Benton for driving under the influence. Gass was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On February 3, 2019 at approximately 2 a.m., Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of McKenzie and South McLeansboro Street. Upon investigating, police arrested Brandtlee A. Brown, age 20, of Benton for driving under the influence. Brown was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The high-stakes gambler responsible for the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history sought notoriety in the attack but left his specific motive a mystery, the FBI said Tuesday as it concluded the investigation of the 2017 massacre that killed 58 country music fans.

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