LATEST ILLINOIS NEWS
Agriculture, livestock futures mostly fall
Agriculture futures mostly fell Wednesday on the Chicago Board of Trade. Wheat for May delivery shed 2.5 cents to $4.87 a bushel; May corn dropped 2 cents to $3.67 a bushel; May soybeans added 1.5 cents to $9.49 a bushel; while May oats fell 6 cents to $2.19 a bushel.
Ex-teacher wants new trial on drug charges
A former teacher and athletics director at a southern Illinois high school wants a new trial on charges that accused him of selling cocaine to an undercover police officer. Jurors in Saline County last month convicted 38-year-old Timothy Monroe of Harrisburg. The former Galatia High School teacher was accused of selling cocaine to an undercover law enforcer within 1,000 feet of a church in February 2008.
Chicago hospital resolves issues with government
Rush University Medical Center says it's corrected technical problems that led to allegations that the hospital violated the False Claims Act. The hospital has agreed to pay more than $1.5 million to resolve the allegations. The U.S. Justice Department announced the settlement Tuesday.
Streator mayor dies at 68
Streator Mayor Ray Schmitt has died. He was 68. The LaSalle County coroner's office says Schmitt was taken from his home to Saint Mary's Hospital by ambulance Tuesday and later died.
Culver's founder leads cheers for franchise owners
Craig Culver admits those television commercials about Culver's Butterburgers and Frozen Custard, the company he co-founded and turned into a fast food gold mine, are embellished. "I was never that skinny," he said a few days ago while in Peoria. "And I don't recall Mom bringing lunch to me at school like that."
Ill. officials removing trees from state park
Diseased and damaged trees are coming down at Illini State Park south of Marseilles. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is beginning the removal this week to limit the spread of tree diseases at the park.
Quinn budget to mean painful choices for Ill.
After a year of insisting Illinois should raise taxes, Gov. Pat Quinn is set to propose a new budget that would leave tax rates untouched. Instead, he'll address the state's massive deficit mostly by borrowing money and letting bills go unpaid. But top aides hint that he will also present higher taxes as an alternative to the deep cuts in social services that would be likely if state government continues letting bills pile up.
Case involving Northwestern students due in court
The murder case of a man who Northwestern University journalism students say has been wrongfully convicted is due back in court. Northwestern students say they've uncovered evidence that Anthony McKinney is innocent of the 1978 killing of a security guard. McKinney has been in prison for more than 30 years.
Petition backs Krishnamoorthi IL lt gov
Indian Americans are pushing for a leader of their community to be the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor. Raja Krishnamoorthi (RAH'-jah krish-nah-MOOR'-thee) is a former deputy Illinois treasurer. In February, he narrowly lost the primary race for comptroller.
Illegal immigrant youth plan 'coming out' day
Dozens of illegal immigrant students plan to "come out" about their immigration status at rallies nationwide. Their goal is to call attention to the plight of an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. and demand federal reform, even at the risk of deportation.
2 boys found safe after alleged Ill. abduction
Police in Decatur say two young boys have been found safe after an Amber Alert was issued in their apparent abduction. Police canceled the Amber Alert early Wednesday, saying the children were recovered and two suspects were apprehended.
2 young boys reportedly abducted in Decatur
Police in Decatur say they have issued an Amber Alert in the apparent abduction of two young brothers from an address matching that of Webster-Cantrell Hall, a residential facility for dependent and neglected children. Decatur police say the Amber Alert was issued Tuesday afternoon after 4-year-old Terry Antonio Smith and his 1-month-old brother, Amarcus Upchurch were reportedly abducted.
Williams gets better of Rose, Jazz beat Bulls
His right wrist wrapped in ice, Deron Williams insisted he feels no pain when he soars for dunks. It hurts when he shoots, though. The way he played Tuesday, it was hard to tell.
4 coyotes trapped and killed near Wheaton
City officials in Wheaton say the Chicago suburb's attempt to rid itself of predatory coyotes is off to a successful start. Authorities say four coyotes were captured near Wheaton and killed on Monday - the same day the city announced it had hired a trapper to get rid of them.
Skeletal remains found in St. Charles
St. Charles Police and the Kane County Coroner's office are investigating the discovery of skeletal remains in a wooded area on the western edge of the far western Chicago suburb. Police said a passer-by made the discovery early Tuesday afternoon just south of the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve.

Kankakee teachers go back to the bargaining table
The Kankakee Federation of Teachers Union and the Kankakee School District 111 Board of Education will return to the bargaining table tonight. The 4 o'clock mediation session at the Lincoln Cultural Center will be the 14th time the sides have
Weekend Fan Plan
A large net is required to cover the various sporting events offered this weekend. The Winter Olympics begin today, and the opening ceremonies promise to be more dazzling than the cover of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Edition. Has Brooklyn ever looked so stunning? There are also the Blackhawks, the NBA All-Star Game and everybody's favorite sporting event in Kankakee, the Daytona 500. What about high school action? Well there are a couple of quality hoops match-ups, local girls pin-poppers...
Siphons, nature to attack ice
JOLIET - Will County is teaming up with Mother Nature in trying to prevent ice jams on the Kankakee River.
Two students, three Taser shocks, suits allege
Read the lawsuit I Read the lawsuit II A federal lawsuit filed Thursday in Urbana alleges one Kankakee Junior High School student was shocked by a Taser gun in two separate incidents while supervised by
Police, school sued in tasering of 12-year-olds
Read the lawsuit I Read the lawsuit II The Kankakee Police Department and Kankakee School District 111 are facing two lawsuits seeking $26 million each for two black students who were shocked with a Taser
Smith to lead Kankakee County GOP committee again
Students planning a teaching career in Illinois can get some financial assistance from a state-sponsored scholarship program. The Illinois Future Teacher Corps Scholarship, in existence for several years, offers financial assistance to juniors or senior level who are enrolled in
Search for Manteno man intensifies
A full-scale search began this morning at Sumava Resorts in Indiana for the Manteno man believed to have drowned Sunday in the Kankakee River. River ice at Sumava has hampered search efforts and frustrated family and friends anxious to recover
Lawsuits: Boys zapped in Ill. school stun gun demo
Two federal lawsuits each seek more than $10 million on behalf of two 12-year-old boys who allege a Kankakee police officer shocked them with a stun gun during an in-school demonstration. The lawsuits were filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Urbana. Police officials in Kankakee placed the officer on administrative leave after he allegedly used a stun gun on students Tuesday as part of an unauthorized demonstration of the device at Kankakee Junior High School.
Cops: Officer used Taser on 3 boys
Kankakee, Ill., police say an officer assigned to a junior high school has been placed on administrative leave after he allegedly shocked three boys with a Taser as part of an unauthorized demonstration of the device. Authorities say the incident occurred Tuesday at Kankakee Junior High School.
Police: Cop does unauthorized Taser demonstration
Police in Illinois say an officer assigned to a junior high school has been placed on administrative leave after he allegedly shocked three boys during an unauthorized Taser demonstration. Authorities say the incident occurred Tuesday at a junior high in Kankakee, which is about 60 miles south of Chicago.
Search for Manteno man stalled
Search efforts have stalled for a Manteno man believed to have drowned Sunday in the Kankakee River at Sumava Resorts in Indiana. Newton County Police are waiting for warmer weather to break up the dangerously jagged and unstable ice where
Pilot has 'no memory' of river crash
Kankakee County Circuit Court Judge Clark Erickson is expected to hand down a sentence Friday for a Chebanse pilot who crashed in the Kankakee River in August and had a blood-alcohol level more than four times the legal limit to
Weekend activities to celebrate Martin Luther King...
With the theme "Aspire to Inspire before you Retire," programs honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are planned this weekend in Kankakee through Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The programs are sponsored by the local Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Knights of Columbus moving to PONY
Knights of Columbus Little League is a Little League no longer. The Kankakee youth baseball league is moving to the PONY organization starting this year, and its 11- and 12-year-old players -- youth baseball's most popular age division -- will
Police: Cop does unauthorized Taser demo at...
KANKAKEE -- A police officer is on leave, students are puzzledand parents are outraged as the fallout from a Taser demonstrationgone awry rippled through the halls of Kankakee Junior High Schoolon
Tax deferral forms available
Application forms for the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral Program are now available at the Kankakee County treasurer's office, 192 N. East Avenue, Kankakee; or the Iroquois County treasurer's office, 1001 E. Grant St. in Watseka. The program allows qualified
Group takes control-operated planes, helicopters...
They soar. They hover. They do loops and barrel rolls. And they land with grace. But their feet never leave the ground. They are members of the Kankakee Valley Model Flyers. They give their battery-powered planes and helicopters -- and
Area students set for Team Quest regionals
Students from 17 schools across Kankakee and Iroquois counties will be competing on Jan. 26 through Jan. 29 for regional honors in the TeamQuest Academic Challenge at Arcola. The competition teams students from different grades to solve "real world" problems.
Kankakee County Board changes mind, Taylor...
The Kankakee County Board unanimously voted James Taylor Jr. to the board's 18th District seat at Tuesday's meeting. "I feel pretty good," the 41-year-old Kankakee resident said after his confirmation. "We're looking forward to dealing with some tough issues." This
Pilot's wife said husband in AA after plane crash
A Chebanse man who allegedly was drunk when his homemade airplane crashed into the Kankakee River last August, broke down in tears Tuesday during the first day of his sentencing hearing. Jeffery J. Piontkowski, 45, of 7896 S. Sugar St.,
Cop placed on leave after Taser incident
A Kankakee police officer has been placed on administrative leave after he used a Taser on Tuesday to stun three boys -- students at Kankakee Junior High School. A press release issued by the Kankakee Police Department this morning said
Starfish home is O'Connor's next goal
Sue Ann O'Connor's got a goal. She wants to make sure children in the foster care system in Kankakee County have a more stable homelife. And she and a group of other people believe that can happen with Starfish Family
Sue Ann O'Connor honored for a lifetime of giving
"I'm passionate. If I believe in something I can sell it," said Sue Ann O'Connor. Fortunately for Kankakee County, what she has believed in, for years, has been her community. Over and over, using her marketing savvy, O'Connor has not
Fewer pets likely to perish
Dogs and cats in Kankakee County can breath a little easier today thanks to a donation of life-saving oxygen equipment to local fire departments. Chad Lowell, owner of Invisible Fence of Mid-Illinois, based in Charleston, has donated nine oxygen recovery
Update: Driver of pickup identified in Amtrak...
Peotone police have identified Yozet Andrade, 19, of Kankakee, as the driver of the pickup hit by an Amtrak passenger train Wednesday morning. "Our preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of the pickup truck did not stop at the signal
Cops: officer used Taser on 3 boys
KANKAKEE, Ill. ? Kankakee police say an officer assigned to a junior high school has been placed on administrative leave after he allegedly shocked three boys with a Taser as part of an unauthorized demonstration of the
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