A retired Episcopal priest in southwestern Illinois is facing deportation to his native England for what he says was mistakenly voting 12 years ago.

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

On September 14, 2018 at approximately 7:15 p.m., Benton Police were dispatched to the 500 block of E. Main in reference to two intoxicated male subjects.  Upon investigating, police arrested Derrick L. Edwards, age 21, of Herrin for unlawful delivery of alcoholic liquor to a minor.  Jesse J. Montgomery, age 20, of Carbondale was arrested for unlawful consumption of alcoholic liquor.  Both Edwards and Montgomery were charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On September 15, 2018 at approximately 8p.m.,  Benton Police, while conducting a narcotics investigation, arrested two suspects identified as Jenny E. Hebbeler, age 41, of Benton and Brandon Fitzpatrick, age 38, of Benton.  Hebbeler was charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of methamphetamine.  Hebbeler also had an active Franklin County warrant for petition to revoke.  Fitzpatrick was arrested for unlawful possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Both Hebbeler and Fitzpatrick were charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On September 16, 2018 at approximately 3:25 a.m., Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Mitchell and Maple Street.  During the stop, Benton Police K9 “Ranger” alerted to the odor of illegal narcotics in the vehicle.  Upon investigating, police arrested Amanda Morrison, age 31, of Benton for unlawful possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Morrison also had an active warrant for Johnson county.  Morrison was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On September 17, 2018 at approximately 9:15 p.m., Benton Police were dispatched to Wiggs Bicycle Shop in reference to a burglar alarm .

Upon investigating, police later located a suspect identified as Jeremy L. Roberson, age 39, of Benton.  Roberson has been charged with burglary, theft and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.  Roberson was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On September 18, 2018 at approximately 7:10 a.m., Benton Police were dispatched to the 1400 block of Bailey Lane in reference to criminal trespass complaint.  Upon investigating, police arrested Joey A. Cesar, age 38, of Benton for criminal trespass to real property. Cesar was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

As the time nears for Illinois to decide whether it will request a waiver to exempt work requirements for federal food assistance, a central Illinois Republican and the candidate running to replace him are asking Gov. Bruce Rauner to forgo the waiver request.

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

CARBONDALE — It happens to everyone this time of year. Cruising to work or on the way home, one catches the glimpse of a massive, green piece of field machinery, corn husks bouncing from its underpinning and a thin layer of dust covering its body.

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

CARBONDALE — “This is a small room, but the equipment we have here is the best in the region,” Professor Jiyong Lee told a group of five high school boys, as he led them past a massive grinding wheel in Pulliam Hall’s glassworks studios. “We’re one of the only schools in the country where you can access some of these tools.”

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

Jon Burge, the disgraced Chicago police commander and felon whose sordid legacy of torture and other misconduct exacted an agonizing price from the city, has died in Florida at age 70, according to police union officials and a Florida funeral home.

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

Illinois joins nearly half of the country that has obesity rates of at least 30 percent, according to new data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

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

SPRINGFIELD — Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was campaigning against states regulating student-loan companies when she called her friend, Gov. Bruce Rauner, in August 2017.

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