US Corps of Engineers Preventative COVID-19 Closures

Benton, IL – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) St. Louis District will close all visitor centers, museums, beaches and project offices to the public beginning tomorrow while day use areas and boat ramps will remain open and available.

USACE campgrounds that are currently open will honor active reservations through Thursday March 19th. Any individuals with reservations on or before Thursday, March 19th will be able to camp for the entirety of their reservation. First-come, first-serve campsites will not be available after Thursday, March 19th.

Further, reservations scheduled between 20 March and 3 April are cancelled. Refunds will be provided through Recreation One-Stop (1-877-444-6777 or recreation.gov). Unopened USACE campgrounds will have an indefinite delay in their previously advertised seasonal openings. All other events, including USACE-sponsored events, interpretive programs, fishing tournaments, lock-and-dam tours and site visits scheduled from 17 March through 3 April are now cancelled.

The USACE regrets any inconvenience caused by these closures. The USACE must keep the safety and health of all visitors as well as its employees as our priority. These preventative moves allow the USACE to continue to best deliver its other critical services uninterrupted at this time.

Additional information on modifications, closures or other restrictions related to USACE Project Areas will be announced as soon as possible.

RLC’s Paolina Marlo and Raquel Minor receive Phi Theta Kappa All-USA Nominations

INA, Ill. — Due to their high academic achievement, a pair of Rend Lake College students have been selected as Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-USA nominees.

Sophomores Paolina Marlo of Sesser and Raquel Minor of Mt. Vernon will represent RLC’s Rho Xi chapter at the Illinois PTK banquet April 14 in Springfield. Nominees from around the state will be recognized at the banquet and finalists will receive a scholarship and spot on the All-USA Community College Academic Team.

Marlo, a biological science major, said she joined Phi Theta Kappa for the chance to take on new experiences and for the scholarship opportunities. The nomination came as a surprise, she said.

“I was shocked that I was in the All-Illinois selection and very honored to be able to represent Rend Lake College,” Marlo said. “I am looking forward to being able to represent RLC the best I can along with meeting other members of PTK that are on the same journey as I am. I am excited to gain insight into the world of PTK society.”

Marlo, a graduate of Sesser-Valier High School, said she plans on transferring to the University of Illinois at Chicago to continue studies in biological science with a concentration on evolution, ecology and environmental biology. She is pursuing a career in wildlife research and conservation. The daughter of David and Cathy Marlo, she is also a member of the National Society of Leadership Success and has made the President’s list of academic honors at RLC.

Minor, a pre-veterinary medicine major, said she joined Phi Theta Kappa for the added experience the honor society offers. She said the nomination helps bolster that decision.

“I was very excited to be chosen to represent Rend Lake because it has been a great starting place in my education career with lots of support from the professors,” Minor said. “I am looking forward to meeting other PTK members from around the state because it will be my first PTK event.”

Minor, a graduate of Mt. Vernon Township High School, plans on continuing her education in animal science at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale before transferring to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She plans for a career as a large animal veterinarian. The daughter of Stacie Chambliss and Mike Minor, she is also a member of RLC’s AmeriCorps chapter and has made the President’s list of academic honors.

To learn more about Phi Theta Kappa at RLC, contact Director of Academic Advisement and PTK Advisor Jena Jensik at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1293 or jensikj@rlc.edu.

Illinois sheriffs say new policy ‘aids and abets’ undocumented immigrants released after felony convictions

SPRINGFIELD — Sheriffs and Republican state lawmakers are calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to scrap a new policy that they say prohibits communication between state, federal and local law enforcement agencies when an undocumented immigrant is released from a state prison after serving a felony sentence.

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

Pritzker backs Cairo port project championed by Sen. Fowler, earmarks $40 million in capital budget

SPRINGFIELD — Governor JB Pritzker said Wednesday that he is backing the development of a multimillion-dollar river port in Cairo, at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

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

Advocates rally to end cash bail in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD — Criminal justice reform advocates rallied Tuesday at the Statehouse in hopes of making Illinois one of only a handful of states to eliminate cash bail in all or most criminal cases.

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

Bipartisan push would repeal Illinois car trade-in tax

A bipartisan group of Illinois lawmakers has gotten behind a proposal to repeal the state’s new car trade-in tax and replace it with a different fee structure.

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

Report: Illinois has second-highest property taxes in nation

It may not come as a surprise to residents that a new report again found Illinois’ property taxes were the second-highest in the nation, but the debate about how to address the problem continues, including among members of the Illinois Property Tax Relief Task Force.

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

Pritzker says wiretapped calls with Blagojevich in 2008 have ‘nothing to do with where we are today’

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Thursday the secretly-recorded conversations he had with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2008 have no bearing on his efforts to fight corruption in Illinois.

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

Woman is dead, gunman wounded after shooting at Maryland Heights Community Center

MARYLAND HEIGHTS — A gunman walked into the Maryland Heights Community Center Monday night and began shooting, a witness said.

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

Recreational marijuana sales in Illinois generated more than $10 million in tax revenue in January

Recreational marijuana sales in Illinois generated more than $10 million in tax revenue in January, putting the state on track to surpass Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget estimates.

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

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