October was a bad month for high school football.

Here’s the link in the Chicago Tribune.

The following is an op-ed written by University of Illinois Springfield Professor Kent Redfield for the U of I’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs:

Here’s the link at wusi.org.

CHICAGO — The heated race for Illinois governor is shattering state records for campaign fundraising and spending, fueled by a deep-pocketed GOP candidate and intense national interest in what’s expected to be one of the closest contests in the country.

Here’s the link to the story in the Springfield State Journal Register.

CHICAGO — A legislative panel said Tuesday that it wants more time to decide whether rules written by the Department of Natural Resources to govern hydraulic fracturing in Illinois can take effect.

BENTON, Ill. (AP) — A southern Illinois judge on Tuesday convicted a West Frankfort man of setting his girlfriend on fire.

Christopher Rollins, 30, was accused of dousing Tessa Leech with cleaning solvent and setting her ablaze after Rollins said she was being unfaithful. Leech survived but sustained burns over much of her body.

“God have mercy on your soul because the devil sure won’t,” Leech said Tuesday. “That’s what I would like to say to him.”

Rollins waived his right to trial by jury and had a one-day bench trial earlier this month. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 18. He has been in custody at the Franklin County jail since he was arrested in August 2012

CHICAGO (AP) — Some members of Illinois’ congressional delegation appear to be somewhat behind President Obama’s plan for a military campaign to “degrade and ultimately destroy” Islamic State militants in two Middle East nations.

In an address to the nation Wednesday, Obama announced he was dispatching nearly 500 more U.S. troops to Iraq to assist that country’s besieged security forces.

Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Channahon, said the nation must be focused on eradicating the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, and “strong leadership from President Obama will be key in the coming weeks and months.”

In his statement after Obama’s speech, Kinzinger said no options should be off the table in the destruction of ISIS.

US. Sen. Dick Durbin said although he remains resolute no ground troops be used, it is critical the U.S. work jointly with international partners to contain and eliminate ISIS.

Echoing Durbin, 10th District Democratic Congressman Brad Schneider also said he is opposed to the use of U.S. ground troops against ISIS. He added the battle against ISIS must be thoughtful and sustained.

INA – Four students got up close and personal with their chosen health profession, thanks to the Rural Health Experience program, sponsored by the South Central Illinois Area Health Education Center (SCI-AHEC) and hosted at four local hospitals.

The Rural Health Experience program is a three- to five-day immersion program wherein students shadow health professionals and others in a rural area. It is intended for college, graduate, or professional-level students in their first or second year in a health profession program to learn about the health care system in a rural community. The local hospitals serve as host sites for the students, connecting them to various health care organizations during their study.

Washington County Hospital in Nashville hosted Mariah Sisson of Virden. Sisson is currently enrolled in the RMED (Rural Medical Education) program at the University of Illinois, College of Medicine. Also enrolled in U of I, College of Medicine’s RMED program is Cameron Overcash of Ottawa. Overcash attended the Rural Health Experience program at Pana Community Hospital in Pana.

“Although I myself might not be making home care visits in the future, I now have a newfound respect for these dedicated nurses who do make these visits,” said Overcash of his time at Pana Community Hospital. “I don’t think I would have ever known exactly what these nurses do if it wasn’t for this opportunity.”

Crawford Memorial Hospital in Robinson hosted Linda Nystrom of Western Springs. Nystrom is currently enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at North Park University in Chicago.

Kelly Kyle of Crawfordsville, Ind., attended the Rural Health Experience program at St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia. Kyle is currently enrolled in the PA (Physician’s Assistant) program at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind.

Of her experience, Kyle said, “I not only got to experience the overall ideal of what it took for the hospital to run, but I also began to complete the puzzle of the many roles and responsibilities of each health care team member who I had the privilege of shadowing.”

For more information about SCI-AHEC or the Rural Health Experience program, contact Kelli Stover at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1280 or stoverk@rlc.edu.

Illinois voters will get a chance in November to weigh in on whether millionaires should pay an additional income tax to help fund schools after Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Tuesday adding a nonbinding resolution to the ballot.

Here’s the link at Fox Business News.