THOMPSONVILLE — Three people have been arrested following a Thompsonville break-in.

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

A political reform advocacy group says it has grave concerns about the amount of big money in Illinois elections.

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

The new chairwoman of a committee designed to hold state lawmakers accountable for wrongdoing said she expects a new legislative inspector general to be approved by lawmakers this month.

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

On Tuesday, Illinois voters will choose a governor, as well as numerous federal, state and local officials.

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

Early voting for the upcoming midterm election in Illinois has already eclipsed that of the 2014 midterm statewide, but just what that means for overall turnout is to be determined.

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

On October 23, 2018 at approximately 11:40 a.m., Benton Police were dispatched to the 400 block of West Church Street in reference to a domestic disturbance.  Upon investigating, police arrested Kameron S. Russell, age 20, of McLeansboro for unlawful consumption of alcoholic liquor.  Russell was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On October 24, 2018 at approximately 5:50 p.m. Benton Police were dispatched to the 1200 block of North Main Street in reference to a domestic disturbance.  Upon investigating, police arrested Sisali L. Diggs-Mack, age 29, of Charles City, VA for domestic battery.  Diggs-Mack was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On October 25, 2018 at approximately 1 a.m., Benton Police were dispatched to the 400 block of Lawrence Street in reference to a domestic disturbance.  Upon investigating, police arrested Christopher Garafola, age 60, of Benton for aggravated domestic battery.

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

On October 26, 2018 at approximately 8:30 a.m., Benton Police were requested to assist in locating a juvenile taken from Cass County Missouri by the child’s father.  An arrest warrant had been issued out of Cass County for Vance M. Fustin, age 39, of Garden City, Missouri for the offense of Child Abduction in that Fustin, the father, failed to return the child to the legal custodian.  Upon investigating,  Benton Police located Fustin and the child at a residence in the 500 block of W. Sixth Street. Fustin was taken into custody without incident and a legal guardian subsequently took custody of the child.   Fustin was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On October 27, 2018 at approximately 1:05 p.m., Benton Police were dispatched to the 300 block of West Park Street in reference to a domestic disturbance.  Upon investigating, police Cynthia R. Keller, age 55, of Benton for battery.

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

On October 30, 2018 at approximately 11:50 a.m., Benton Police were dispatched to the 300 block of Hudelson Street in reference to a criminal trespass complaint.

Upon investigating, police arrested Eli C. Elders, age 21, of Benton for criminal trespass to real property.  Elders was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

A lawsuit filed by a former campaign worker against the Democratic Party of Illinois alleging harassment and retaliation is moving forward after a judge denied the party’s motion to dismiss the case.

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

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis emphatically denied a reporter’s suggestion Wednesday that the deployment of thousands of active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border is part of a political stunt ahead of next week’s midterm elections.

Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.

CHICAGO — Gov. Rauner issued the following statement on the Illinois Attorney General’s action today on Sterigenics.

“Earlier this month through the Illinois EPA, our administration referred an enforcement action to the Illinois Attorney General against Sterigenics in Willowbrook based on findings by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and information provided by the U.S. EPA. We sought the order out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of area residents and asked that the company pause operations until U.S. EPA provides clarity on the health risks of ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions. After many discussions and collaboration, the Attorney General moved on our referral. It is the right thing to do.”

President Donald Trump will make another trip to the heartland before next week’s election.

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