CARBONDALE — Two pillars of the Carbondale and SIU communities died over the weekend — Harvey Welch and Seymour Bryson.

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

The city of Rockford is ramping up its efforts to land a new casino.

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

A Department of Children and Family Services worker who had in-home interaction with Andrew “A.J.” Freund and the worker’s supervisor have been placed on administrative duties as the state agency investigates what it could have done differently to prevent the 5-year-old boy’s death. That’s according to Acting DCFS Director Marc Smith, who was grilled during a legislative hearing Friday afternoon in Chicago, just two days after Freund’s body was found and his parents were charged with the boy’s murder.

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

A man who fatally shot a would-be carjacker in the Loop has been cleared through investigation and will not be charged with a crime, Chicago police said Sunday morning.

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

Lawmakers return to Springfield on Tuesday facing a five-week deadline to resolve a host of controversial issues that form the centerpiece of new Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s agenda and first state budget

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

The Illinois State Police say there is a disturbing trend in crashes, and deadly crashes, in the state.

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

With both federal and state government mulling gas tax hikes, Illinois residents could potentially see higher prices at the pump.

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

Illinois spends more on public school administrators per student than any other state in the nation.

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

MARION — Watermark Auto Group announced Monday that Brad Poole, chief operations officer, has been named Watermark’s new president, effective immediately.

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

It’s on to the state House for legislation that would require towns that hire part-time firefighters to pay part of their full-time pensions.

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