At least two floors of the Illinois Capitol were evacuated Wednesday afternoon on the second day of the fall veto session after an apparent bomb threat.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Veto session resumes after evacuation of parts of statehouse in Springfield
November 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Illinoisans share tax concerns with lawmakers
November 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Taxpayers gathered at the Illinois capitol Wednesday to share concerns about the state’s high taxes.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
After winning state comptroller re-election, Susana Mendoza announces Chicago mayor bid
November 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment
CHICAGO — Eight days after winning re-election as state comptroller, Susana Mendoza announced her bid for Chicago mayor on today to help shape “the next generation, not just the next four years.”
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
‘It can’t hurt.’ Bears kicker Cody Parkey practices at Soldier Field tonight
November 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Cody Parkey is hitting the road in an effort to break out of his slump of knocking kicks off the uprights.
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Carterville woman charged with harassing Illinois Sens. Durbin, Duckworth
November 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment
A Carterville woman has been charged with repeated harassment of Illinois’s senators in U.S. District Court in Benton.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
SIU Women’s basketball signs three for 2019-20 season
November 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University women’s basketball head coach Cindy Stein has announced the signing of three highly-decorated student-athletes for the 2019-20 season.
Signing national letters of intent with the Salukis are guard Francesca Kokkines (Lombard, Ill.), forward Alyson Potter (El Dorado, Kansas) and guard/forward Awa Keita (Bamako, Mali).
“All three of these signees bring a different element to our team but they join together in having the high energy, strong drive and toughness that we want in all our players,” sixth-year head coach Cindy Stein said. “They will not be out-worked! Additionally, they are all strong in the class room, bring maturity and love SIU!”
Signing national letters of intent with the Salukis are guard Francesca Kokkines (Lombard, Ill.), forward Alyson Potter (El Dorado, Kansas) and guard/forward Awa Keita (Bamako, Mali).
“All three of these signees bring a different element to our team but they join together in having the high energy, strong drive and toughness that we want in all our players,” sixth-year head coach Cindy Stein said. “They will not be out-worked! Additionally, they are all strong in the class room, bring maturity and love SIU!”
Francesca “Frankie” Kokkines is a native of Lombard, Ill. and plays for Montini Catholic, who has advanced to the final four of the Illinois Class 4A state tournament in back-to-back seasons. This past year, Motini went 34-3 and finished the season ranked No. 22 nationally by Blue Star after it placed second in the state. Kokkines averaged 5.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists for the Broncos. Following the runner-up finish at the state tournament, the 5-foot-10 guard was named the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) Frank Kladis Memorial Outstanding Athlete of the Year.
One Saluki that Kokkines won’t need an introduction to is Makenzie Silvey. The two squared off several times in high school, most notably in the 2017 Class 4A state semifinals. Silvey hit a go-ahead jumper with :27 seconds to play to secure Edwardsville’s trip to the state title game. Kokkines and Montini got their revenge last season, as the Broncos defeated the Tigers, 37-30 to advance to the 2018 state title game.
“Frankie is a scrapper, defender, rebounder and always going to hit the open shot,” Stein said. “She can play any of the guard spots and can handle the ball, attack the basket or hit the three-point shot. She is a natural leader and fits in well with our style of play. She is from one of the top programs in the state and has been extremely well-coached throughout her career.”
An inside/outside threat that can guard all five positions on the floor, Alyson Potter is a four-time all-conference and a three-time all-state selection from El Dorado, Kansas. Potter began her prep career at Neodesha playing for her father, Don, where she averaged 17.5 points per game as a freshman and was named all-state honorable mention. The following season, Potter averaged 19.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game during an injury-shortened sophomore campaign.
Prior to her junior season, Potter transferred to Circle High School and averaged 10.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game to again earn All-State honorable mention honors. The 6-foot-2 forward was ranked 31st at her position in the 2019 class by ESPN Hoop Gurlz. An exceptional student, Potter maintains a 3.96 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society.
“Allea (pronounced “Al ee”) gives us great length at the wing and forward position,” Stein said. “Allea can out-smart you on the floor and is very fundamental, has three-point range and an extremely high work ethic and drive. She is a very mature and intelligent young lady that is sure to be a success within our system. We are excited to have someone of her caliber join our team.”
Awa Keita is coming off a season in which she was chosen as the ACCAC Division I Player of the Year after she averaged 13.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 1.7 blocks per game for Cochise College in Sierra Vista, Nev. The 6-foot-1 guard/forward helped Cochise go 29-3, including a 21-1 record in league play. The Apaches advanced to the second round of the NJCAA Division I National Tournament.
Keita was born and raised in Bamako, Mali, which is also the hometown of Saluki men’s basketball’s Sekou Dembele. The 2017 NJCAA Second Team All-American will arrive in Carbondale with extensive international playing experience,having played for the Mali National Team at numerous tournaments including the FIBA U19 World Championships. She will become the first student-athlete from another continent on the Saluki women’s basketball roster and just the second international player in Saluki women’s basketball history.
“Awa can change the game defensively with her great length and quickness,” Stein said. “Another young lady that can play wing or forward and can defend any spot on the floor. Her athleticism is top-notch and she works her butt off every day to get better. Awa will be a threat offensively anywhere on the floor. Her playing experience will come in handy as well in our pursuit of championships.”
SIU Basketball signs Lance Jones
November 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois men’s basketball program announced the signing of Lance Jones to a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday morning. Jones, a combo guard from Evanston, Ill., will be a freshman at SIU in 2019-20.
“Lance not only has great basketball skill, but also great character,” SIU head coach Barry Hinson said. “He will represent our basketball program, our region, and our university in a first-class manner.”
Jones (6-2, 190) led Evanston Township High School to a third-place finish at the Illinois Class 4A state tournament. He averaged 15.5 points and led them to a 27-6 record. Jones earned a spot as an All-State and All-Conference selection. SIU assistant coach Justin Walker was the lead recruiter on Jones.
“He’s a dynamic combo guard,” Walker said. “He’s versatile; he’s already strong enough to play college basketball and can create his own shot. He gets after it on the defensive end and can pick up 94 feet. He has been listed as a top-10 player in the state of Illinois. We’re excited to see what he can do here.”
Jones played for the Meanstreets AAU program, coached by Tyrone Slaughter. He picked Southern Illinois over UAB and Illinois State.
The early signing period remains open until next Wednesday, November 21.
Jones (6-2, 190) led Evanston Township High School to a third-place finish at the Illinois Class 4A state tournament. He averaged 15.5 points and led them to a 27-6 record. Jones earned a spot as an All-State and All-Conference selection. SIU assistant coach Justin Walker was the lead recruiter on Jones.
“He’s a dynamic combo guard,” Walker said. “He’s versatile; he’s already strong enough to play college basketball and can create his own shot. He gets after it on the defensive end and can pick up 94 feet. He has been listed as a top-10 player in the state of Illinois. We’re excited to see what he can do here.”
Jones played for the Meanstreets AAU program, coached by Tyrone Slaughter. He picked Southern Illinois over UAB and Illinois State.
The early signing period remains open until next Wednesday, November 21.
Five join SIU Softball in recruiting class
November 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment
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CARBONDALE, Ill.- Southern Illinois head coach Kerri Blaylock has announced the addition of five student-athletes that have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Saluki softball program in the fall of 2019.
Signing NLIs with the Salukis are pitcher Carlee Jo Clark (Carol Stream, Ill.), pitcher Sarah Harness (Bowling Green, Mo.), outfielder Aubree DePron (Blanchard, Okla.), catcher/infielder Kerrigan Gamm (Ulman, Mo.) and utility player Tori Schullian (Herrin, Ill.).
“We are so excited to sign these five student athletes,” Blaylock said. “We needed to focus on pitching, speed, power and versatility and we feel that we accomplished all of those traits. We are getting five young ladies that have played at the highest level of club ball and have succeeded greatly. We also got five great students and people. Our culture is so important to us here at Southern and these five fit in perfectly.”
A native of Carol Stream, Ill., Carlee Jo Clark currently attends St. Francis High School where she has been named all-state three times in her career. She hit .506 as a junior with 12 home runs and 49 runs batted in and posted a 1.28 earned run average with 108 strikeouts over 71 innings of work. As a sophomore, Clark earned All-State First Team honors after she hit .380 with 14 home runs and 45 runs batted in to go along with a 14-1 record on the bump and a 1.01 earned run average.
She has spent the past three seasons playing for the Illinois Chill in Northbrook, Ill. under the direction of Gerry Quinn. This summer, Clark helped Illinois Chill Gold 16U take fifth at the prestigious Boulder IDT, which was the best finish of any Midwest program. Clark is an exceptional student as well, as she currently maintains a 3.98 grade point average at SFHS.
“I saw Carlee for the first time when she was 14 years old,” Blaylock said. “She did a great job on the mound and also with her bat. She is such a hard worker and has improved herself every year by adding another pitch or just gaining strength, etc. She is a versatile athlete that will be able to pitch and hit for us.”
Sarah Harness is a senior pitcher at Bowling Green High School where she helped the Lady Cats win back-to-back Missouri State Championships. The Bowling Green, Mo. native is a four-time All-District and All-Region honoree who has amassed a 59-9 career record in the circle with a microscopic .83 career earned run average. She struck out more than one-third of the batters she faced during her four seasons, as she struck out 623 of the 1628 batters she faced with a nearly 6:1 strikeouts-to-walk ratio. During one game last fall, Harness struck out all 21 batters she faced.
Harness has been named to three-straight All-State teams, including back-to-back turns on the All-State First Team. During the summer, she has played for the Illinois Force travel team. A solid student, Harness has maintained a 3.9 grade point average.
“We are so excited that Sarah chose SIU,” Blaylock said. “She has such a great presence on the mound. She has good speed and movement and commands the game. She is a two-time state champion that knows how to win and that is such an important factor at the Division 1 level. She gets better and better every time I see her throw.”
A native of Blanchard, Okla., Aubree DePron led Bridge Creek High School to the 4A Regionals in 2018. A versatile athlete with top of the lineup speed, DePron ran the anchor leg of the 4×400 relay for Bridge Creek’s track team and took second in the long jump at the Oklahoma 4A state meet. On the diamond, she hit .627 as a junior with 51 runs batted in and swiped 71 bases. A two-time Little All-City First Team selection, DePron was picked as a starter on the 2018 Middle West All-State team after she hit .563 and stole 46 bases during her senior campaign.
On the travel ball circuit, DePron played for the Oklahoma Ultimate.
“Aubree will be the fastest athlete that we have ever had here at SIU,” Blaylock said. “She can fly but also can hit the gaps. She is a great athlete that competes extremely hard. We felt we needed more speed in our lineup and she will give us that.”
Kerrigan Gamm attends Osage High School in Ulman, Mo., where she rewrote the school record books and will leave the program as it’s all-time leader in nearly every offensive statistical category including career batting average (.483), on-base percentage (.535), slugging percentage (.866), hits (149), doubles (34), triples (7), home runs (21), runs scored (113) and stolen bases (17). Gamm also pitched for the Indians and posted a 19-6 career record with a 1.73 earned run average. During her sophomore campaign she led all Missouri hitters with a .609 batting average.
A three-sport athlete, Gamm is also a standout on Osage’s basketball and track and field teams. A three-time state qualifier in the javelin, the Ulman, Mo. native finished third in the state in the event in 2018. She was also named as one of Missouri RoundBall Magazine’s “Elite 30” girls basketball players and is a two-time all-conference player on the hardwood.
She has played travel ball for the past four seasons for the KC Zephyrs under the direction of Justin Corona. In addition to her athletic success, Gamm is a tremendous student and has earned three Academic All-State honors.
“Kerrigan is such a strong and versatile athlete,” Blaylock said. “She can literally play every position but pitcher. She hits for tremendous power and has an elite arm. Her versatility will allow her to play all over the field when needed.”
Tori Schullian is a senior at nearby Herrin High School where she led the Tigers to three-straight regional appearances. A starter since her freshman season, Schullian delivered big hit after big hit for the Tigers, including a go-ahead double in the sectional championship game as a sophomore that advanced Herrin to the state quarterfinals. She has been named to the All-Conference, All-South and All-State teams in each of her three seasons, including a turn on the All-State first team after a junior season in which she hit .505 with a .550 on-base percentage to go along with four home runs and 21 runs batted in.
Schullian has played travel ball for the Illinois Force, which has produced several notable Saluki alumnae including the school record holder in career on-base and slugging percentage Shaye Harre. Current Salukis Bailee Pulley and Nicole Johnson both played for the Force. The Herrin, Ill native is an exceptional student and holds a 4.2 grade point average.
“I have watched Tori since she was very young,” Blaylock said. “She is a very good athlete that will play both the infield and outfield. She can hit for power and average. Again, her versatility is what drew us to her.”
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The GOP’s woman problem
November 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment
It has been long rumored that the Republican Party has a woman problem, so much so that a few years ago GOP congressmen sent aides to classes on how to talk to and about women.
Here’s a link to the editorial at the Southern Illinoisan.
Independent counsels are a handy way to settle political scores
November 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment
CBS News reported Tuesday that special counsel Robert Mueller may soon issue new indictments. It’s not clear who will be charged, but there are indications of it. Some suggest that political consultant Roger Stone may be on the list.
Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.
