Madigan’s ‘on your side’ ad panned by some viewers as tone deaf

No, you didn’t travel back in time to just before the November midterm election. But that is a partisan political ad you might be seeing on TV.

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

Citing Janus decision, Illinois health care workers to ask for new hearing on forced dues refunds

Home health-care workers in Illinois seeking reimbursement of union dues taken from them in recent years without their permission are asking a court to reconsider their case, opening up the union to potentially tens of millions of dollars in refunds.

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

Emanuel orders audit of workers’ compensation program formerly overseen by Burke

In the latest fallout stemming from the criminal charge against powerful Ald. Edward Burke, Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Sunday ordered an outside audit of the city’s $100 million-per-year workers’ compensation program previously handled by the city’s longest-serving alderman.

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

Benton police report

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 1st, 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.

Calling capitol an ‘unsafe workplace,’ freshman Democratic lawmaker to file discrimination claims against Madigan

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.

Consolidation measures could cut a few of Illinois’ nearly 7,000 units of government

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

More than 250 Illinois laws take effect Jan. 1. Here’s what you need to know.

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.

Republican lawmaker wants to see more party leadership

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

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

Illinois to see longer waiting period for guns, new order of protection in 2019

 

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.

Sex abuse survivors group not shocked by revelation of 500 additional allegations against the Catholic Church

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.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News