On April 14, 2018 Benton Police were dispatched to the 1000 block of East Webster Street in reference to a hit and run.  Upon investigating, police arrested Carl G. Gunter, age 41, of West Frankfort for leaving the scene of an accident. Gunter was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On April 15, 2018 Benton Police were dispatched to the 1200 block of North Maple Street in reference to a domestic disturbance.  Upon investigating, police arrested Zachary A. Wilson, age 25 and Dakota W. Wilson, age 19, both of Benton for domestic battery.  Both were charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

Nearly a decade after his predawn arrest on sweeping corruption charges, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is likely down to his last legal hope Monday as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to announce whether it will take up his appeal.

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

Shortly after the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees voted down a proposal to shift $5.1 million in state appropriation funding from Carbondale to Edwardsville on Thursday, SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook sent out a message to his campus community.

Here’s the link at the Southern Illinoisan.

A new plan at the Illinois Capitol could require local school districts to give some teachers a raise, but doesn’t provide any additional funding to do so. 

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

Count Illinois National Guard troops in for guarding the nation’s southern border, if an official request is made by the Trump administration. President Donald Trump announced using guard troops to assist border patrol agents along the U.S.-Mexico border to stem the flow of illegal immigration.

Here’s a link to the story.

Request includes Iroquois, Kankakee and Vermilion Counties

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Bruce Rauner today asked President Donald Trump to approve federal assistance to help people in Iroquois, Kankakee and Vermilion counties recover from severe storms and flooding in February. 

“Many people affected by this flood event face a difficult road to recovery,” Rauner said. “Federal assistance is needed to help them repair their homes and replace personal property that was destroyed.”

Rauner noted that for many residents of Watseka, the February flood marked the third significant flood event they’ve experienced in the last three years, and the fourth in the past 10 years.

Joint assessment teams from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) reviewed damage in the three counties in March. Nearly 1,100 residences were impacted during this event, including 157 homes found to have sustained major damage and one home that was destroyed.

If Governor Rauner’s request for Individual Assistance is approved, people in the approved counties would be eligible to apply for grants and low-interest SBA loans. In addition, affected businesses would be able to apply for low-interest SBA loans.

A cuts budget, or a no-cuts budget? Either way, whatever Illinois lawmakers pass before the May 31 deadline is likely to include all of the $5 billion income tax increase passed over the governor’s veto last summer.

Here’s the link at Illinois News Network.

Rend Lake – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake is announcing that the Rend Lake Dam Road will be closed to all through traffic from April 16 through mid-morning on April 23, 2018 so that contractors may safely repave and restripe the road.

The area affected begins at the intersection of the Dam Road and Rend City Road and ends on the east side of the Spillway Bridge, including River Road.  Access to the South Marcum Boat Ramp, Spillway Recreation Area, Spillway Dedication Lot, and the Rend Lake Bike Trail will remain open during the closure. Watch for closure signs at Sugar Creek parking lot and the west entrance to the Rend Lake Dam Road. The staff of the Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake reminds you to exercise caution when near these areas as construction will be taking place.

Updated information on this project will be posted on the Rend Lake Project Office/Visitor Center Facebook page.  For further information, contact the Rend Lake Project Office and Visitor Center at 618-724-2493.

Discusses legislative agenda at Illinois Chamber of Commerce Luncheon

SPRINGFIELD — At the Illinois Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Annual Luncheon on April 11, Gov. Bruce Rauner reiterated his call for the legislature to pass a balanced budget without new taxes.  He said that restoring the fiscal integrity is a critical first step in revitalizing the state’s economy and delivering more jobs.

“I’ve asked the four legislative leaders to meet with me to agree that we need a full year plan that is based on certified revenue projections and a pledge to spend within our means,” Rauner said. “If we can pair a balanced budget with tax relief, a new era of business, job and personal income growth is sure to begin.”

In February, the governor presented a balanced, 12-month budget plan to the legislature. His plan halts deficit spending and puts the state on path to fiscal accountability and tax reductions in the years ahead. He also told Chamber members that passing a comprehensive pension reform package could produce up to a $1 billion tax roll back in FY19.

Rauner said that the goal of his economic development measures is to entice business investment and attract growth companies to Illinois. He said economic growth was the only way to reverse the outmigration of people and businesses from the state. Illinois was the only state in the Midwest to suffer population declines last year.

Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Todd Maisch echoed the need for a fiscally healthier climate in the state. 

“Our members want to keep and grow their businesses in Illinois, but this legislative session they need to see that Illinois is heading down a better fiscal track,” IL Chamber President Todd Maisch said. “Unbalanced budgets create uncertainty, which drives away valuable long-term business investment and job opportunities. Sound tax and fiscal policy resulting from this session would do wonders for the Illinois business community.”

The governor also thanked the ICC for its role in honoring the state’s milestone 200^th year. The Illinois Chamber Foundation intakes and disburses Bicentennial funds and provides administrative support for related functions.