Korean War vet’s remains identified; to be returned to Harrisburg

http://www.dailyregister.com/news/20170725/korean-war-vets-remains-identified-to-be-returned-to-harrisburg

HARRISBURG, IL  – (Travis DeNeal, Harrisburg Register.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Edward L. Borders was a U.S. Army Reserve corporal and a member of the 2nd Infantry Division fighting in the Korean War when he disappeared in February of 1951.  He was 20.

According to information from his family, he was a member of Army Battery D 82nd Anti-Aircraft Artiller Automatic Weapons Battalion in the 2nd Infantry.

Though the North Korean government confirmed Borders had died in a prisoner of war camp later that same year, his remains were not positively identified until recently.

GOP senator: Gov. Rauner willing to discuss changes to education funding reform after he receives bill

https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/gop-senator-gov-rauner-willing-to-discuss-changes-to-education/article_383cefe4-72ec-11e7-80ae-335d3f63bb10.html

SPRINGFIELD, IL – (Greg Bishop and Dan McCaleb,  Illinois News Network.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Gov. Bruce Rauner is willing to negotiate with Democrats before he makes changes to an education funding bill that bails out Chicago Public Schools’ pensions, but only after he’s sent the measure by the Senate, a GOP lawmaker said Thursday afternoon.
State Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, said Rauner assured him he’d do that once Senate Democrats release Senate Bill 1, which passed out of the General Assembly in May.

“[Rauner is] willing to hold the bill then and then let’s have a negotiation,” Barickman said. “Let’s hear what it is the Democrats are willing to do to help resolve the impasse and resolve school funding.”

 

Bost Votes for Bipartisan National Security Funding Bill

from George O’ Connor – Communications Director for Congressman Mike Bost

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) voted for the Make America Secure Appropriations Act (H.R. 3219), the legislative package that funds national security priorities for the 2018 fiscal year. It includes the appropriations bills for defense, military construction and veterans, energy and water, and the legislative branch.

“The highest priority of Congress is to ensure the safety and security of our nation and the American people,” said Bost. “This bill does just that by giving our service members a much-deserved pay raise—the largest military pay raise in eight years. It also funds military infrastructure so that our service members can be safe and prepared, and takes care of our vets by providing the highest level of funding ever for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.  Additionally, the legislation secures our borders by providing funding for a wall on our southern border.”

 

 

Eads Bridge closed as tow trucks respond to tanker truck off overpass

KMOV photo

http://www.kmov.com/story/35984546/tanker-truck-hanging-off-overpass-in-downtown-st-louis

ST. LOUIS, MO  – (KMOV-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story and others regarding this incident.  Here is an excerpt below,)

The Eads Bridge is closed in both directions after a tanker truck crashed off the overpass of eastbound Interstate 44 at Washington in downtown St. Louis. A heavy emergency response was seen just after 7 a.m. Thursday when the truck was found hanging off the overpass.

Following the crash, a News 4 photographer on the scene noted the driver walked himself to a nearby ambulance.

 

Finger-pointing continues as Cullerton says he’ll wait until Monday to send education funding bill to Rauner’s desk

https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/finger-pointing-continues-as-cullerton-says-he-ll-wait-until/article_52118d0e-720f-11e7-a515-3ba5261c8f48.html

SPRINGFIELD, IL – (Greg Bishop and Dan McCaleb, Illinois News Network. Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

The first day of the latest legislative special session in Springfield boiled down to a “he said-he said” of accusations between Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic leaders in the General Assembly, but it did result in some clarity over the legislation at the heart of the dispute.

Senate President John Cullerton said Wednesday he would send a legislatively approved education funding bill to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk early next week if he can’t get a face-to-face meeting with the governor before then.

“That’s outrageous,” Rauner countered, noting that the education funding bill in question was approved by lawmakers back in May and should have been sent to his desk by early June.

Panera Bread Commercial filmed in Johnston City debuts

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35976941/panera-bread-commercial-shot-in-johnston-city-debuts

JOHNSTON CITY, IL – Above is a link to the WSIL story of  of the Panera Bread commercial filmed at the Johnston City Fireworks display.

Miners Announce Return Of Winter Wonderland

From the Southern Illinois Miners

MARION, IL – The Southern Illinois Miners are proud to announce that Winter Wonderland will return this coming December to Rent One Park.

Winter Wonderland will run from Thursday, December 7th through Monday, December 11th, 2017 and will include a spectacular fireworks show on Friday, December 8th. In addition, new this season will be opportunities for school groups to attend during the day. There will also be the chance for private companies to book events during Winter Wonderland on Thursday, December 7th and Monday, December 11th

More details on the schedule of activities during Winter Wonderland will come later via the team’s Facebook page and website. For more information, contact the Miners’ box office at (618) 998-8499.

Sentencing for Saline Co., IL doctor convicted of plotting to kidnap State’s Attorney postponed

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/35415690/sentencing-for-saline-co-il-doctor-convicted-of-plotting-to-kidnap-states-attorney-postponed

HARRISBURG, IL – (Brittany Jacob and Alicia Dobrinick, KFVS-TV.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

The sentencing for a Saline County doctor convicted of trying to have the state’s attorney kidnapped has been rescheduled.

from the Saline County Sheriff’s office

Brian Burns was scheduled to be sentenced on July 25, but he has requested new counsel. His new sentencing date is Aug. 29.

It took a Saline County jury less than two hours to convict Burns on felony charges of solicitation of aggravated kidnapping, conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping and attempted aggravated kidnapping. That trial took place in May 2017.

Rauner education secretary: CPS bailout is irresponsible

https://www.ilnews.org/news/schools/rauner-education-secretary-cps-bailout-is-irresponsible/article_19ef6a64-7182-11e7-a93e-0721797a9145.html

SPRINGFIELD, IL – (Greg Bishop, Illinois News Network.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

The first of four special session days called for by Gov. Bruce Rauner to address K-12 education funding begins today and the governor’s education secretary says using dollars meant for the classroom to pay for a neglected pension system is irresponsible.

Rauner’s Education Secretary Beth Purvis said the Democrats’ bill is an evidence-based plan, but it also provides hundreds of millions of dollars to Chicago Public Schools pensions above and beyond the funding formula.

Purvis said that in 1995, an agreement was made that, because the state didn’t pay for the cost of Chicago Public Schools pensions, it instead would send a block grant, which is about $250 million a year “that is over and above what they would otherwise get within the school funding formula.”
“And the idea was, ‘Chicago Public Schools, we’re going to give you that money and pay down your pensions’,” Purvis said. “Now CPS didn’t use that $250 million to pay down their pensions. In 11 of 25 years, they only made partial payment or no pension [payments].”

FOWLER WEEK IN REVIEW JULY 17 – 21

Press release from the office of State Senator Dale Fowler

HARRISBURG, IL – Illinois lawmakers are expecting to be called back to Springfield for another special session on education funding reform, according to State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg).

Primary and secondary education funding is still not finalized as part the budget that took effect on July 1, in part due to legislative language that made it subject to passing a new education funding formula. Additionally, with the uncertainty of not having schools totally funded yet, many Southern Illinois educational districts lack the funds to open their doors for a full school year.

The road block to educational funding for the 2017-2018 school year has been a parliamentary hold that was placed on Senate Bill 1, by the Senate’s majority leadership. Even though the legislation passed in late May, the bill has yet to be sent to the Governor’s desk for action, which in effect makes Illinois students political hostages because of a proposed bail out for Chicago schools.

The Governor’s Office has vowed to issue an amendatory veto of the legislation, to remove a controversial proposal which would serve up hundreds of millions in additional revenues to the failing Chicago Public School system. With the Governor’s veto, more monies would be freed up for the remaining 851 school districts across Illinois.

Fowler hosts inaugural agricultural advisory committee

Senator Fowler hosted a July 22 agricultural advisory committee meeting in Harrisburg, with the purpose of hearing from local agricultural producers and leaders. Illinois Director of Agriculture Raymond Poe joined the group to discuss the latest issues facing farmers. Topics varied from environmental regulations to rural road weight limits and farm taxation policy. The meeting’s importance cannot be stressed lightly, as one out of every four Illinois jobs are tied to agriculture.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News