A new study put Illinois near the bottom in a ranking of state economies. The reasons the state landed 35th include stagnant wages and high taxes.

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

On June 21, 2018 Benton Police were dispatched to the 500 block of Madison Street in reference to a battery complaint.

Upon investigating, police arrested Ashley L. Tison, age 31, of Benton for battery.

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

On June 22, 2018 Benton Police arrested Dustin H. Keller, age 33, of Benton for unlawful failure to register as a sex offender.

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

On June 23, 2018 Benton Police arrested Jarrett J. Mintz, age 32, of Benton for an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear.

Mintz was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On June 23, 2018 Benton Police were dispatched to the 500 block of North Main Street in reference to hit and run.

Upon investigating, police located the driver of the vehicle identified as John S. Williams, age 27, of Newark, DE who was arrested for driving on a suspended license.  The passenger was also located and identified as Khiara M. Braden, age 40, of Ashland City, TN who was arrested for obstructing justice.

Both Williams and Braden were charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On June 24, 2018 Benton Police were dispatched to the 300 block of South Main Street in reference to a report of a stolen vehicle.

Upon investigating, police later arrested James M. Lenzie, age 29, of West Frankfort, for theft of a motor vehicle.   Lenzie was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

MEDIA RELEASE

6-15-18 at 4:50 pm a traffic stop in Benton resulted in the arrests of Amanda M. Mangrum age 33 of Benton for unlawful possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing justice. Rickey R. Mangrum age 37 of Benton was also arrested for unlawful possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear on theft charges.

6-15-18 at 6:20 pm while booking an inmate, court ordered to serve weekend in the Franklin County Jail, Correctional Officers recovered a controlled substance on the inmate. Matthew S. Greathouse age 34 of West Frankfort is charged with possession of a controlled substance and for bringing a controlled substance in a penal institution.

6-16-18 at 12:35 am Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural West Frankfort. The investigation resulted in the arrests of Blake E. Meracle age 23 of West Frankfort and Bryce E. Meracle age 23 of West Frankfort. Both were charged with domestic battery.

6-16-18 at 9:12 am Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Il. State Hwy. 37 at Il. State Hwy. 154. A 2002 Ford F150 pick-up truck driven by Sherry G. Hilderbrand age 50 of Walling, Tn. Was east bound and sideswiped a camper that was being pulled by a 2012 GMC Sierra, driven by Timothy B. Anderson age 37 of Benton. The GMC and camper were turning from Rt. 37 to proceed west on Rt. 154. There were no injuries and Sherry G. Hilderbrand was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and for operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

6-16-18 at 10:27 am Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural West Frankfort. The investigation resulted in the arrests of Ethan M. Bowers age 21 of Orient for aggravated domestic battery and a 17 year old female, also charge with aggravated domestic battery.

6-17-18 at 6:43 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Il. Rt. 154 at Gun Creek Trail. A 2015 Chevrolet K-2500 driven by Joseph R. Drinkwine age 30 of Kawkawlin, Mi. was east bound and rear-ended a 2015 Chrysler 300, driven by Jean A. Scroggins age 87 of Waltonville, that was attempting a right turn (south) onto Gun Creek Trail. A passenger in the Chrysler, Carol A. Glisson age 63 of Livington, Il. received unknown injuries and was transported to a local hospital by Abbott E.M.S. Joseph Drinkwine was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

6-18-18 at 9:40 am Deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a home invasion at a residence in Coello. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Joshua J. Key age 29 of Christopher for home invasion and battery.

6-18-18 at 9:22 am Deputies reported to a report of a suspicious person walking through yards in Valier and appearing disoriented. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Darian L. Miller age 23 of Belle Rive for obstructing a peace officer.

6-18-18 at 6:16 pm Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural West Frankfort. The investigation resulted in the arrests of Megan C. Brown age 32 of West Frankfort and Garett R. Blankenship age 35 of West Frankfort. Both were charged with domestic battery.

6-19-18 at 3:13 pm Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural West Frankfort. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Franklin E. Hubbard age 50 of West Frankfort for aggravated battery, domestic battery and unlawful restraint.

6-19-18 at 8:30 pm a traffic stop in Benton resulted in two arrests. Victoria K. Atchison age 23 of Benton was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was also wanted for failure to appear on previous drug charges in both Franklin and Williamson Counties. Also arrested was Samuel L. Sweet age 24 of Thompsonville, for driving while license suspended, unlawful possession of methamphetamine and a failure to appear warrant for traffic charges in Williamson County.

WARRANT ARRESTS

6-15-18 Joshua B. Wright age 29 of Bucker. Identity theft

6-15-18 Amanda M. Mangrum age 33 of Benton. Failure to appear for bringing a controlled substance into a penal institution

6-18-18 Dustin R. Stites age 25 of West Frankfort. Failure to appear for identity theft

6-19-18 Marranda K. Booten age 27 of Marion. Failure to appear for retail theft

6-19-18 Justin L. Peak age 30 of Marion. Failure to appear on retail theft

6-22-18 Curtis B. Moss age 34 of Norris City. Failure to appear for theft

Ensures access to quality health care for 3 million Illinoisans

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Bruce Rauner today announced that the federal government has approved the state’s plan to protect safety net and rural hospitals while ensuring continued federal support for quality healthcare to more than three million Illinoisans.

“This is a critical step in the making sure our safety net and rural hospitals can keep their doors open in underserved communities,” Rauner said. “Our teams worked hard to build a more equitable model while making sure hospitals can offer more urgent and outpatient care in their communities.”

The plan was created with Senate Bill 1773, bipartisan legislation that Rauner signed in March. It ensures the state will continue to receive federal matching funds to offer services for Medicaid beneficiaries through the Hospital Assessment Program, which brings in $3.5 billion annually. The new program takes effect July 1.

A bipartisan group of legislators worked with the Illinois Health and Hospital Association and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to redesign the program, create a more equitable reimbursement process, and ensure more efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

“The Department is pleased that the federal government has approved this plan, which will mean that dollars follow services for Medicaid patients more closely,” said Teresa Hursey, Interim Director of HFS. “The new program reflects the reality that healthcare delivery has changed dramatically over the last ten years, and it draws down as much federal revenue as we believe is permissible.”

Prior to the new program, the state used old data sets, which were sometimes based on care that was provided as far back as 2005, to reimburse hospitals for Medicaid services. The new model applies updated data and also ensures that more of the reimbursements are based on actual services hospitals provide.

It also dedicates more than $260 million to help hospitals transform their operations to better serve their communities, such as offering more urgent and outpatient care.

Millions of workers across the country could have the right to work for their government without having to pay fees to a union with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this week on the Illinois case Janus vs. AFSCME.

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

Of the more than 170 open cases the Illinois State Board of Education has of educator misconduct from around the state, 40 of them deal with allegations of a sexual nature.

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

Mandates coordination between departments; names new Executive Director of Human Rights Commission

SPRINGFIELD  – Gov. Bruce Rauner today issued an executive order mandating that steps be taken to eliminate the backlog of over 1,000 cases at the Illinois Human Rights Commission (IHRC) dealing with anti-discrimination and equal opportunity complaints. Executive Order 18-08 will streamline government services to provide due process for Illinois residents.

In addition to the executive order, Gov. Rauner has appointed Philip Dalmage as the new Executive Director of the Illinois Human Rights Commission to oversee the commission’s coordination efforts.

“Our administration has made government transformation a priority from day one,” Rauner said. “With this executive order, The Human Rights Commission will have 60 days to create an 18 month plan to eliminate the thousands of backlogged cases that prevent taxpayers from receiving due process, and the assistance they need in their cases. I’m confident that under the new leadership of Executive Director Dalmage all of the goals of this executive order will be met in a swift manner.”

In 2016, Rauner directed the creation of a Bureau of Administrative Hearings at Central Management Services (CMS) to study the efficiencies the state could realize though consolidation of administrative hearing caseloads. Recognizing that the IHRC has one of the most egregious hearing backlogs in state government, and knowing these hearings affect the state’s most vulnerable populations, in 2017, the governor proposed Executive Order 17-02, the reorganization of IHRC into the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) to expedite anti-discrimination cases brought by Illinois citizens. Without explanation, the General Assembly rejected the governor’s reorganization executive order later that year.

“This backlog must be addressed so that the victims of discrimination and harassment can receive the legal assistance they deserve,” said IDHR Director Janice Glenn. “This executive order will ensure that all harassment and discrimination cases receive due process.”

Nearly every year since 2008, the backlog of cases waiting final decision at IHRC has grown. Individuals and businesses, often parties without great financial means or legal assistance, wait longer and longer for a decision on their cases. On average, parties wait more than four years from the time of filing a charge of discrimination until a final decision is reached.

“This executive order will provide the tools necessary to directly resolve the backlog of charges of discrimination pending before IHRC. By sharing expertise and resources with CMS and IDHR, I am confident that we will accomplish this objective. I look forward to working with Phil Dalmage on this effort,” IHRC Chair Rosemary Bombela said.

Executive Order 18-08 mandates coordination between the Bureau of Administrative Hearings, IHRC, and IDHR to eliminate backlog and improve due process. Coordination includes:

• Within 60 days, creating a plan to eliminate IHRC’s backlog within 18 months.
• Drafting or amending legislation, administrative rules, and internal policies to streamline the transfer and administration of cases between IDHR and IHRC.
• Tracking and transparently reporting on backlogs.
• Developing a shared case management system with the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT).
• Surveying parties appearing before IDHR and IHRC.
• Participating in training, including Rapid Results training.
• An annual report from the Bureau on the success of coordination and other process improvements, to be filed with the governor and the General Assembly.

The newly appointed executive director is a former Chief Administrative Law Judge at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS), and served as the Director of the Business Enterprise Program at the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Most recently, Dalmage worked as a practicing attorney dealing with civil and family cases, specifically working with IDCFS abuse and neglect cases. He holds a B.A. from Marquette University and a J.D. from the John Marshall Law School.

“It is an incredible honor to be appointed Executive Director of the Illinois Human Rights Commission,” Dalmage said. “I am aware of the long and storied history of the Illinois Human Rights Act in Illinois and look forward to using this role to adjudicate civil rights violations in as fair, just, and expeditious a manner as possible. I thank Governor Rauner for giving me this great opportunity.”

A group of school district leaders is urging Gov. Bruce Rauner to veto a bill that would require a $40,000 starting salary for teachers by 2022.

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