Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
Now that the state has a budget and lawmakers have left Springfield for their districts for the summer, the floodgates of legislation that cleared both chambers this year will soon hit Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
CHICAGO — Illinois’ imprisoned ex-governor, Rod Blagojevich, has filed paperwork asking President Donald Trump to commute his 14-year prison term for corruption that included seeking to sell an appointment to the Senate seat Barack Obama vacated to become president.
A spokesman for Blagojevich’s lawyers told the Chicago Tribune it was submitted Tuesday to the Department of Justice. The Chicago Sun-Times reports the paperwork is a formality and that Trump doesn’t necessarily require it to act.
Tim Morthland promised economic revitalization for Franklin County and Southern Illinois by opening Morthland College and its family of businesses — a research park that would produce energy drinks, a music conservatory, phone screen repair, even a cafe on top of a proposed hospital, and a four-year private college based on Christian values.
Here’s a link to the story, written by Isaac Smith, that appeared in the Southern Illinoisan.
A professor teaching in Chicago wants President Donald Trump to send in the military to deal with gang violence.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Liberty Counsel, which filed an amicus brief in the free religious exercise case in which the US Supreme Court sided with a Christian baker, says the decision could have an effect on Illinois as a state whose civil rights law mentions “sexual orientation,” “gender Identity” and “public accommodation.”
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois Review.
Democratic governor nominee J.B. Pritzker continued his record self-funding of his campaign, crossing the $100 million mark with a $25 million contribution.
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
State lawmakers passed a bill late Thursday meant to make it easier for patients with mental health and addiction issues to get insurance coverage for treatment
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Gov. Bruce Rauner said he will sign a budget that passed both chambers for the first time in his three-and-a-half years as the state’s chief executive despite concerns from a small group of lawmakers who said the budget isn’t balanced.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Lawmakers passed a bill that would mandate local public schools set minimum pay for teachers at $40,000 annually by the 2022-2023 school year.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Less than 24 hours after the Senate overwhelmingly approved a fiscal 2019 spending plan, the House followed suit Thursday and Gov. Bruce Rauner said he would sign it.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
