SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner plans to visit Clinton on Wednesday to sign a bill overhauling Illinois’ energy policy and creating $235 million in annual ratepayer subsidies that allows 
Exelon Corp.’s nuclear power plants there and near the Quad Cities to stay open. The governor’s office did not respond immediately Monday to a request for confirmation, and as of Monday afternoon, the bill hadn’t been sent to his desk. Energy giant Exelon said it would close the unprofitable Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear plants, which together employ about 1,500 full-time workers and generate millions in property tax revenue for schools and local governments, if the General Assembly didn’t approve subsidies during the fall veto session. Please follow the story from Dan Pertella of the Bloomington Pantagraph.
Rauner to sign energy bill Wed. in Clinton
Labor board formalizes AFSCME ruling; union will fight
Mendoza on state’s financial crisis: ‘We’re going to get out of this’
Wife of Gov.-elect Greitens robbed at gunpoint in Central West End
Mo. Governor Eric Girtens’ family after his primary win
Mr. Kevin Gray, 51 of Akin
Kevin Douglas Gray, age 51 of Akin IL, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2016 at his home..
Kevin was born on February 22, 1965 in Benton, the son of Max M. Gray and Laverne (Mundell) Gray.
Kevin was a BCHS graduate of the Class of 1983. He worked as a laborer with Productive Products in Akin, until its closure. Prior to working at PPI, he worked for the Dallas Morning News newspaper.
Kevin was an avid baseball enthusiast, and enjoyed NASCAR.
He is survived by a sister Crystal Heumann and husband Wilford “Bubby” Heumann of Benton; a brother Kyle Gray of Benton; two nephews Matt Davis and Travis Gray and a niece Alexa Heumann; an uncle Roger Mundell of Benton; and several cousins.
Kevin was preceded in death by his parents, and his paternal and maternal grandparents.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 10, 2016 at the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery with Pastor Kurt Sanders officiating. There will be no visitation, family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Kevin, to the American Cancer Society.
The Leffer Funeral Home of Benton has been entrusted with the arrangements.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Kevin, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com
Cecil Ray Bennett – Benton, IL
BENTON — Cecil Ray Bennett, 73, passed away Sunday morning, Dec. 4, 2016, in SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon.
He was born Dec. 8, 1942, in Logan, the son of Fred and Lorene (Neunlist) Bennett.
He married Donna (Filkins) on June 10, 1963, and she survives.
He was a retired coal miner.
Mr. Bennett is survived by his wife, Donna Bennett of Benton; three children, Rebecca Lynn Bennett Melvin of Benton, Lisa Anne Bennett Filson and husband, Todd Alan Filson, of Du Quoin, Steven Ray Bennett of Pickle City; 10 grandchildren, Meranda Tate and husband, Seth, Mirya Melvin, Angela Darst and husband, Travis, Dallas Filson and wife, Danielle, Alisha Cockrum and husband, Daniel, Alex Melvin, Jessica Stephens and husband, Drew, Jacob Melvin and wife, Halee, Courtney Burroughs and husband, Garrett, and Samantha Bennett; 15 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at noon Wednesday, Dec. 7, in the Logan Church of God, with Pastor Earl Young officiating. Burial will be in the Logan Church of God Cemetery. Visitation will be after 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton is in charge of arrangements.
For more information or to sign the online guest register, please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com.
The Officiating Crisis: What Can I Do?
Long time official Bobby Blondi with C-Z-R assistant football coach Buddy Velasco (Randall Risley photo)
NOTE: This was passed on to me by long time official Bobby Blondi. It is getting tougher to find officials as the days go on. This has been a matter of discussion for years. Please click to read the following article from The National Federation of High School Sports….For the past several years, state association leaders have warned that we were about to face a crisis relative to the number of officials we have. The crisis is upon us and it has reached epidemic proportions. Newspapers across the country all have the same headline in the sports section: “Schools forced to reschedule games due to officials’ shortage.” The next headline will be even worse: “Games cancelled due to a lack of sports officials.” The writing has been on the wall for quite some time but little has been done to truly heed the warning and to address the problem – the “why” of where we are and the “how” to fix it…
Caterpillar, LeTourneau spurred earthmoving success for Allies in World War II
As the story goes, Admiral Bill Halsey was ranking the determining factors that contributed to the Allied Forces prevailing in World War II. He rattled off submarines, radar and planes. But he surprised listeners with his final answer — the bulldozer. The freshly merged 
company known as Caterpillar Inc. moved its headquarters to Peoria a little more than a decade before the United State officially entered World War II. Caterpillar operated only two plants at the time, one in East Peoria and the other in San Leandro, Calif., with the East Peoria plant dominating tractor production. Please read the link out of the Peoria Journal-Star.
Michigan to begin recount; legal fight moves to Pennsylvania
A judge has ordered a hand recount of Michigan’s presidential results to begin by noon Monday, and the Green Party is trying to force a federal court order for a statewide recount in Pennsylvania. 
Green Party candidate Jill Stein is trying to force recounts in three states. The count is underway in Wisconsin. In Nevada, a partial recount of the race was requested by independent presidential candidate Roque De La Fuente. Judge Mark Goldsmith issued his ruling early Monday that rejected an effort by Michigan state officials to wait two business days before starting to hand-count about 4.8 million ballots. The move increases the chances that the state could complete the count ahead of a Dec. 13 deadline. Please click to read entire story in the Washington Times.
Donald Trump renews defense of his call with Taiwan leader
NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is using Twitter to renew his defense of his engagement with the leader of Taiwan, a breach of diplomatic protocol as the U.S. shifted recognition from 
Taiwan to China nearly 40 years ago. In a series of Sunday evening tweets, Trump groused about criticism that he didn’t work with China ahead of the contact. China considers Taiwan a rogue province. “Did China ask us if it was OK to carry out a number of actions such as build up disputed islands in the South China Sea or take economic measures hurtful to the United States,” Trump tweeted. Please click on to read the entire story from the Associated Press
