BISMARCK, N.D. — Winter’s sharpest bite in years moved past painful into life-threatening territory Tuesday, prompting officials throughout the Midwest to take extraordinary measures to protect the homeless and other vulnerable people from the bitter cold, including turning some city buses into mobile warming shelters in Chicago.

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

Herrin Police are seeking assistance in a suspicious death investigation.

According to a news release from the Herrin Police Department, Jeffery D. Ennis, 50, of Herrin, was found dead at around 5:18 a.m. Sunday in his residence in the 700 block of North 17th Street.

The death is considered suspicious, though no further details about the crime have been released. An autopsy is scheduled with the Williamson County Coroner’s Office.

Those with any information about this crime are asked to contact Herrin police at 618-942-4132.

From the Southern Illinoisan

One of the coldest air masses in years will envelop the Midwest and the Northeast this week bringing potentially life-threatening low temperatures to the Chicago area that will feel even harsher in tandem with strong winds

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

A Kenosha man arrested in Wisconsin on an Illinois warrant was being held in connection with the traffic collision-related death of Illinois State Trooper Chris Lambert, officials said.

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

CARBONDALE — Southern Illinois Healthcare administrators unveiled the organizaton’s new logo and talked about its newest robotic surgical system during an open house Friday at SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

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

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information on the whereabouts of Allen K. Woolard, age 42. He is a white / male, 5’9, 165 lbs., brown hair, blue eyes. Mr. Woolard was last seen wearing a light blue t-shirt,, blue jeans, and a white bandana on his head. Mr. Woolard was last seen walking away from a residence in the Village of Buckner, Il. on Jan. 23rd, 2019 at 11:00 P.M. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mr. Woolard are asked to contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at (618) 438-4841.

Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker has picked St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly to be the new head of the Illinois State Police, according to a statement Tuesday from the governor’s office.

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

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois is offering $100 million in state funds to finance low-interest or interest-free loans to federal workers going without pay during the record government shutdown, officials said Wednesday.

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

MARION — A Williamson County man was arrested Tuesday in Cape Girardeau and charged with three counts of first-degree murder. He is accused of killing a Marion man with what police are calling a “machete-type weapon.”

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

The Illinois Innocence Project at the University of Illinois Springfield has announced that Grover Thompson, who was wrongfully convicted in 1981 and died in prison in 1996, has received executive clemency based on actual innocence by former Gov. Bruce Rauner.

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