On December 30, 2018 at approximately 3:20 a.m. Benton Police conducted a traffic stop near Central Street.

Upon investigating, police arrested Colton B. Richardson, age 20, of Benton for driving under the influence.

Richardson was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On January 1, 2019 at approximately 12:45 a.m. Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Iowa and Petroff Road.

Upon investigating, police arrested Dakota S. Overturf, age 24, of Whittington for driving under the influence.

Police also arrested Sarah R. Walters, age 25, of Marion for unlawful use of weapons.

Both Overturf and Walters were charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On January 1^st, 2019 at approximately 2:30 a.m.,  Benton Police arrested Joseph E. Shepard, age 31, of Benton on an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear.

Shepard was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

A freshman Democratic state representative is filing discrimination claims against House Speaker Michael Madigan after she says he sent women lawmakers to coerce her to vote for him as speaker.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Some take on serious issues such as the safety of children, sexual harassment or synthetic marijuana that led to multiple deaths in 2018. Another abolishes a task force on farmers markets that hasn’t met in two years.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

A recently-retired Republican lawmaker is searching for leadership inside his party.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

 

Among Illinois’ 250 or so new laws for 2019 are a pair of hotly debated new gun laws. 

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

A sex abuse survivors network wants attorneys general in other states to follow Illinois’ lead in independently investigating the Catholic Church and holding it accountable failing to report allegations of child sex abuse.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

CARBONDALE — A year into a legal battle with the Illinois Department of Corrections, Strawberry Hampton, a transgender inmate who alleges she’s been abused at state men’s prisons — including Menard and Pinckneyville — has been transferred to a women’s facility.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

State government researchers released a new report this week detailing how Illinois’ taxes and business climate compare to other states as lawmakers study ways to pay for transportation projects throughout the state and Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker looks to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

CARBONDALE — Nathan Duffield has found a lot of junk on the river: sunglasses that usually are too scratched to be used, fishing lures, pocket knives — mostly things that don’t float when someone’s boat flips.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.