Morthland College Vice President of Development Steve Rhoads said that a donation recently given to Morthland College to secure the purchase of land where its football field and athletic complex will be built is the result of the plan MC put in place when it hired him to tap into the world of private donors.

The Rend Lake Water Conservancy District board of trustees met Monday morning to discuss repairs to damaged equipment, board perks and extending water services to taxed but unserved areas.

Here’s a link to the story in the Benton Evening News.

Major improvements to Sesser’s park and homes will soon become a reality thanks to two grants recently awarded to the city.

The mother of a 20-year-old Harrisburg man missing for more than three weeks is asking the public to join her Friday night for a candlelight vigil.

Here’s the link to the story.

Bruce Rauner completed a furious first week as governor of Illinois. His high-profile wife is not far behind.Diana Rauner is gearing up as first lady, hiring a prominent Springfield political aide as chief of staff and contemplating initiatives that could include children’s advocacy and restoring the capital city’s Executive Mansion.
Here’s a link to the story.

Keeping schools and social services funded. Making higher education more affordable. Addressing crowded prisons. Possibly redoing pension reform.

Here’s the link to the story.

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka has died, less than 24 hours after having a stroke.

Here’s the link to the story.

By David Mercer
The Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN — The re-hiring of 1970s radical William Kilgore has created more controversy at the University of Illinois.

University of Illinois-Chicago graduate Richard C. Hill has backed out on a $4.5 million donation. And a state senator says he’ll push legislation barring felons from university jobs.

Kilgore was a member of the Symbionese Liberation Army who spent six years in prison for his role in a 1975 bank robbery that left a woman dead.

The university sought to end its relationship with him when it found out. But faculty said he deserved a second chance and sought to have him rehired.

Trustees Chairman Christopher Kennedy doesn’t believe the university should rehire Kilgore. But he says it is in the best interests of the school not to let the issue prolong recent tensions.

Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner won’t raise your income tax next year.

Or maybe he will.

Here’s the link to the story in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Gov. Pat Quinn’s former campaign manager has decided to pursue overtures to become executive director of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, setting the stage for a lame-duck maneuver that could rankle Mayor Rahm Emanuel and tie the hands of Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner.

Here’s the link to the story.