Patoka
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Patoka School Board approves three-year teachers contract; gets ready for student registration
The Patoka School Board Thursday night approved a new three year contract with the teacher’s association. Superintendent Justin Verhines says teachers will get a five percent pay increase the first year, a half-percent in the second year plus the district paying three-percent of the teacher retirement, and another half-percent in the third year with the district paying six-percent of teach retirement.
Salem man enters plea deal on stolen vehicle and burglary charges
MARION COUNTY, IL — A Salem man was sentenced Wednesday in Marion County Court to a five-year prison term for crimes dating back to 2021 and up until 2023 across multiple southern Illinois counties. 25-year-old Tristan Rankin entered a plea deal admitting to a June 2023 incident involving unlawful...
Pritzker enacts 68 bills impacting drivers, immigrants, child victims, mobile homes
(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed 68 bills Friday that affect drivers, those who violate immigration laws, victims of child abuse, mobile homes and more. During the spring session that ended in May, the Illinois General Assembly approved more than 450 bills out of both chambers. On Friday, Pritzker’s office announced dozens are now law, including a measure preventing professional license denial or disciplinary action against someone based solely on immigration status or an immigration violation. ...
Fox River's high water levels forcing temporary Illinois ban on recreational boating
The state is banning recreational boating on a long stretch of the Fox River because of hazardous conditions. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) says water is high on the Fox River
Illinois quick hits: Police look for suspect after murder of USPS worker; State EPA announces waste collection days
Police look for suspect after murder of USPS worker Chicago police are looking for the suspect in connection with the shooting death of a United States Postal Service letter carrier. The 48-year-old woman was shot around 11:30 a.m. Friday. According to police, the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. No one is in custody. State EPA announces waste collection days ...
Illinois Comptroller takes step to address state’s pension challenges
(The Center Square) – The Illinois Comptroller says she is confident that the condition of Illinois’ pension system is headed in the right direction. The state’s unfunded pension liabilities have been a sore thumb for decades. The Commission of Government Forecasting and Accountability reported that Illinois’ pension system experienced growth in debt last year of about $2.5 billion. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza recently made the first pension prepayment as allowed...
Satellite runs across Illinois help support Memphis to Peoria St. Jude run fundraising efforts
PEORIA, Ill. – Each summer, runners from central Illinois journey down to Memphis, Tenn. for the St. Jude Runs, running 465 miles back to Peoria and raising money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. But they’re not alone in their effort. Nearly 30 satellite runs from all...
Central IL county, city services report system issues amidst network outage
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — A worldwide outage of the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike is striking Microsoft devices throughout Central Illinois, disrupting state, county and municipal systems. In Champaign County, officials said on social media that the outage resulted in the Brookens Building being closed for the remainder of Friday. They said they hope to reopen the […]
Illinois Attorney General defends gun ban with reference to attempted assassination of former president
(The Center Square) – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the attempted assassination of former President Trump demonstrates why the state’s gun ban should remain in place. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that Illinois’ ban is ‘highly suspect because it broadly prohibits common semiautomatic firearms used for lawful purposes.” In a discussion at the City Club of Chicago, Attorney General Raoul questioned whether the text of the Second...
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