A Wisconsin man accused of abducting 13-year-old Jayme Closs and holding her captive for three months made up his mind to take her when he spotted the teenager getting on a school bus near her home, authorities said Monday.

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

On January 5, 2019 at approximately 5 p.m. Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of North Maple and Fourth Street.

Upon investigating, police arrested Kathryn F. Wilkerson, age 33, of Benton on an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear.

Wilkerson was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On January 7, 2019 at approximately 10:15 p.m. Benton Police conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of Huddelson Street.

Upon investigating, police arrested Timothy D Schultz, age 26, of West Frankfort for unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of cannabis.

Schultz was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On January 11, 2019 at approximately 12:15 p.m., Benton Police arrested James L. Weir, age 21, of Benton on an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear.

Weir was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On January 13, 2019 at approximately 1:15 a.m. Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Buchanan and Washington Street.

Upon investigating, police arrested Jory A. Dial, age 31, of West Frankfort for driving under the influence.  Dial was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On January 13, 2019 at approximately 1:55 a.m. Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at Route 37 and Bowling Alley Lane.

Upon investigation, police arrested Gary M. Hobbie, age 56, of Benton for driving under the influence.

Hobbie was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

Illinois’ next governor plans to match the state salaries of his top employees with his own money, a practice that one Republican lawmaker said raises enough ethical questions that he’s considering filing legislation to prohibit it.

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

On his way out, the Republican governor made another push for reducing property taxes and other reforms.

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

Franklin County authorities have identified the body of a white female discovered Saturday in a rural area near Zeigler.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s office is investigating the death and said the name of the deceased woman will be released pending the notification of family members. Unconfirmed reports are that the woman is in her early 20s and is a local resident. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department is heading up the investigation and said the woman’s name will be released as soon as family members are notified.

Authorities also emphasized that the woman is not Lauren Pree, a missing West Frankfort woman who has been missing since September 2018.

The body of the unknown white female was discovered in a rural area west of Zeigler IL. She was reportedly alive by unresponsive when authorities arrived on the scene. The female was located by individuals operating an all-terrain vehicle. Authorities were notified and the female was transported to the Herrin Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

If anyone has any additional information please contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s office at 618-438-4841.

An 11-year-old boy who fell through the ice on a Naperville retention pond was rescued Sunday afternoon by the Naperville fire and police departments, authorities said.

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

The grandfather of a 13-year-old northwestern Wisconsin girl who authorities say escaped a man who killed her parents and held her captive for three months said Sunday she’s in “exceptionally good spirits.”

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

The Action for Dental Health law signed by the president last month is like the dental floss of federal initiatives: designed to reach those hard-to-reach people and places. Communities throughout Southern Illinois stand to benefit as the law specifically targets the advance of dental health care in struggling rural and urban communities, experts say.

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

Longtime Ald. Edward Burke has spent decades at the pinnacle of the city’s power structure, but in the end, he may have buried himself with his own words.

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

In a Golden Globes chock full of upsets, the Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” took best picture, drama, over Bradley Cooper’s heavily favored “A Star is Born” and Glenn Close bested Lady Gaga for best actress.