The Illinois Senate Executive Committee defeated legislation allowing the public possession of firearms, a bill that just last week passed the House 85-30.

Here’s the link to the story.

The Illinois Senate Thursday approved a bill that bans the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.

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

Franklin County authorities continue to investigate the death of a 23-year-old Whittington woman who was shot and killed Friday night in Benton.

Brittany M. Andrews died as the result of a gunshot wound to the head, according to Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler.

Donald Lee has been charged with charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

Benton police were called to an East Main Street parking lot where they discovered Andrews.  She was taken to Franklin Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 11:20 p.m.  Donald A. Lee, age 39, of Elkville, was taken into custody at the scene and subsequently charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

A spokesperson at the Benton Police Department said Monday morning that the investigation is continuing.  State police and the coroner’s office is also involved in the ongoing investigation.

There was a big turnout and show of support for Mayor-elect Jason Ashmore at Wednesday night’s special meeting of the Sesser City Council.

Here’s a link to the story written by Becky Malkovich in the Southern Illinoisan.

Certificate of Need application met with unanimous support

(CARBONDALE, IL) Southern Illinois Healthcare today received unanimous approval from the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board in Chicago to build the region’s first freestanding cancer center.

The approval came on the heels of overwhelming regional support for the 42,000 square foot facility to be located on Route 13 in Carterville on 15 acres of wooded property just west of John A. Logan College.

“We are excited to move forward. From the beginning, this project has received substantial community support by way of the many letters sent to the Review Board on our behalf and fundraising support through our SIH Hope is Home campaign. We look forward to building the region’s first comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer center,” said SIH President and CEO Rex Budde.

The new center will bring all of SIH’s cancer care services—radiation, medical and surgical oncology, infusion therapy, cancer rehabilitation, clinical trials, specialty clinics and support groups—under one roof.

“This will improve quality and coordination of care, not to mention convenience for patients in the region who are at risk for or are fighting cancer,” said SIH Cancer Institute Administrative Director Jennifer Badiu.

The park-like setting along Route 13 provided the ideal location SIH was looking for in terms of its central location. The site selection was critical in terms of accessibility, as many southern counties are among those with the highest cancer incident rates in Illinois.

“Of the 16 counties in our primary and secondary service areas, Franklin, Johnson and Alexander fall in the top 10 for cancer incidence rates in the state. With the exception of Jackson County, the majority of counties in deep southern Illinois have cancer rates that are higher than the state average,” Badiu said.

A union-backed pension bill was approved by the Illinois Senate on Thursday by a vote of 40-16.  The approval by the Senate now leaves the General Assembly in a quandary with both chambers approving legislation that is vastly different.

Here’s the link in the Springfield State Journal-Register.

An Illinois House committee on Wednesday approved a proposal to raise the speed limit on interstate highways in Illinois from 65 to 70 miles per hour.

Here’s the link in the Southern Illinoisan.