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Montgomery man sentenced to life for murdering wife who was considering court order
KANE COUNTY, Ill. — A Montgomery man was sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife who was considering a court order. Timothy Gordon was accused of shooting his wife, Yajaira, to death on Halloween 2022. He received 50 years for the murder plus an enhancement to a...
Review: MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET at Stolp Island Theatre Aurora
Little did Elvis know when he recorded that song how appropriate it would be for December 4, 1956, at Sun Record Studios in Memphis. The new Stolp Island Theatre in Aurora is presenting Million Dollar Quartet as its premiere production. Rock and roll pioneer Sam Phillips (Sam Pearson) started the studio in 1950. During the course of the day, Carl Perkins (Christopher Wren) had come into the studio to record some new material. Jerry Lee Lewis (Garrett Forrestal) was yet unknown and he was in the studio to play the piano on the Perkins session. Later in the afternoon, 21 year old Elvis Presley (Alex Swindle) stopped by to pay a casual visit. Elvis’ girlfriend, Dyanne (Madison Palmer), is along as well. She has a few solo numbers and joins in on the harmony. She holds her own against this million dollar group. As the Perkins session started, Elvis joined in. During the session, Johnny Cash (Bill Scott Sheets) arrived at the studio. The woman running things in the control booth is Marion (Haley Jane Schafer). She is in the booth the entire show until the end when the jam session is really going on. She sings some beautiful harmonies. This group of extraordinarily talented actors – they are also gifted musicians – entertained the audience in the new, intimate 98 seat Stolp Island Theatre for 2.5 hours. You are right there. You feel you are part of the show. Sam Phillips is the “narrator” if you will. He takes the audience through the story of that day plus all the other things these recording artists were going through. Lots of talk about RCA and Columbia record companies and contracts. He is a wonderful weaver of stories. For those who do not know, Carl Perkins wrote Blue Suede Shoes and he was not thrilled that Elvis sang it on the Sullivan show. He felt he should have been the one. The songs performed in this show are the ones that they actually sang on December 4. There was a studio engineer who had the sense to realize this session needed to be recorded. We should be very grateful he did. These were four of the best musicians and recording artists – all pioneers. It’s about time Sam Phillips gets some well deserved recognition. He created it. The music is classic rock and roll. You will sing, clap and cheer. Completely spontaneous. These performers bring Elvis, Carl, Johnny and Jerry Lee back to life. Jerry Lee was the last of this quartet. He passed in October of 2022. At the end of Sam’s telling of this once in a lifetime session, he brings out a camera and takes the very famous photo of the 4 of them around the piano. You do see it and hear the actual recording. It is an emotional moment. What might have been…
Gov. Pritzker, Illinois Democratic leaders endorse Kamala Harris for president
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and state Democratic Party leaders are endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president Monday, one day after President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Harris himself. The endorsements from Pritzker and state Democratic leaders come about a month before the Democratic National Convention […]
Big Changes Coming to 23 Illinois Costco Stores in September
The more things change, the more they stay the same. That's actually not true for 23 Costco store locations in Illinois that will be changing in September and I predict many will be unhappy with what's coming. Let me be clear that I'm not business expert and I have no...
Don’t Go in the Water – 38 Illinois Places Have Swimming Warnings
Summertime is all about getting outside and enjoying the nice weather and swimming is a vital part of that. However, there are now 38 places in Illinois that now have urgent swimming warnings about staying out of the water. As a general rule, I check the Illinois Beach Guard System...
4YOU: Kloss Furniture holds fundraisers, drives for Southside ECC
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Kloss Furniture is proud to sponsor 4YOU, supporting SouthSide Early Childhood Center. As part of their sponsorship, Kloss is holding several drives and fundraisers at their stores in July, August, and September. Each event takes place at one of the four Kloss Furniture...
ILLINOIS STATE NEWS BRIEF (07/22/2024)
(SPRINGFIELD) Governor J.B. Pritzker signed 68 more bills into law this past Friday. One of the four measures that take effect January 1st, 2025, is House Bill 5457 prevents professional license denial or disciplinary action against someone based solely on immigration status or an immigration violation. House Bill 5465 allows human trafficking victims, who were children at the time of the crime, to have their juvenile records expunged or sealed of any criminal acts they were forced to take part in while being abused. House Bill 5370 expands the state’s “Move Over Law” requiring drivers to reduce their speed in & around emergency crash scenes. House Bill 5238 requires newly built manufactured homes to have weather radios installed, plus also promotes regular maintenance of safety devices in mobile home communities. To look over the list of new laws, go to gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com.
Hazardous waste collection coming to Central Illinois in September
BLOOMINGTON – If you have hazardous waste, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is making it easier for you to get rid of it. The Illinois EPA is hosting numerous hazardous waste collections in partnership with local governments this fall. On Sept. 28, you can get rid of your waste at McLean County Fairgrounds in Bloomington.
Illinois teen Isabella Coleman-Sullivan looks to shine at Miss Amazing Summit
ROSEMONT, Ill. - In this morning’s Good News Guarantee, the Miss Amazing National Summit is taking place this weekend in Rosemont. The program shines a spotlight on women with disabilities who go tot extraordinary lengths to help their communities. Isabella Coleman-Sullivan is the Illinois Miss Teen Amazing. She uses...
Illinois Attorney General defends gun ban with reference to attempted assassination of former president
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.”
Rural student “didn’t see any changes” after Illinois LGBTQ+ history law passed
CUBA — Amber Cannon came out as nonbinary in fifth grade in rural, western Illinois. Around that time, in 2019, a new Illinois law also came out requiring public schools to teach LGBTQ+ history every year. Cannon followed the news of the law and saw little change in Cuba’s...
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