Video poker machines are more prevalent and profitable than ever before, according to a new state report.

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

MARION — A 3-month-old baby died Monday after a Friday call to law enforcement reporting child abuse.

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

Incoming Gov. J.B. Pritzker is preparing to take office, but his legal team is still fighting discrimination claims made against his election campaign.

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

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois hunters took nearly 59,000 deer during the first weekend of this fall’s firearm deer season.

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

Illinois last Top 200 list could be one of the toughest for voters. 

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

The Illinois High School Association said it has found no impropriety in the officiating of a high school football playoff game between Nazareth Academy and Simeon Career Academy that led to a lawsuit accusing a Nazareth parent of influencing the game’s outcome.

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

At 24, Dayna Less had the world in front of her. She was engaged to her childhood sweetheart, and she was in the first year of a pharmacy residency at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center. She was planning to go home to Indiana for Thanksgiving and spend the holiday with her family.

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

INA, Ill.  – The Rend Lake College Foundation is “Celebrating Champions: Past, Present, and Future” next month with the Alumnus of the Year award and several other special recognitions. The RLC Foundation Annual Dinner is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Mt. Vernon.

Guests are invited to enjoy cocktails at 6 p.m. before the dinner and program begin at 6:30 p.m. During the program, the RLC Foundation will posthumously honor Curtis Smith as the 2018 Alumnus of the Year. To read more about Smith and his contributions to RLC, visit www.rlc.edu/pressroom. There will also be a few surprise announcements to highlight the evening.

In addition to celebrating the RLC Foundation Children’s Center’s 20th Birthday, other special recognitions include Jo Ann Joy’s tenure on the RLC Foundation Board of Directors. Joy recently stepped off of the board after serving for 15 years. RLC Alums Rodney Cabaness and Shad Zimbro of Black Diamond Harley-Davidson will also be honored for their support of students at RLC and across Southern Illinois. Through charitable contributions to community colleges across the region, the duo have awarded $500,000 in scholarship funds over the last 10 years.

“The Annual Dinner is a very special evening for us to honor and recognize friends of the college and the foundation for their involvement and support of our mission. This year, we’re celebrating the life of several true RLC Warriors, like Curtis Smith, Mark Kern and Jim “Hummer” Waugh. We also have some special announcements to share,” said Kay Zibby-Damron, RLC Foundation CEO. “We welcome everyone to join us for this memorable evening.”

Tickets to the RLCF Annual Dinner cost $40 per person or $400 for a table of ten and must be purchased by Tuesday, Nov 27. To purchase tickets, contact the RLC Foundation at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1324 or foundation@rlc.edu.

In what one analyst called an alarming trend, nearly one-quarter of jobs created in the past year in Illinois were government positions.

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

MARION — The announcement that the long-beleaguered Illinois Star Centre Mall will finally be closing its doors came quietly Friday.

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