CHAMPAIGN — Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation today creating a merit-based scholarship program for Illinois students and a task force to help share college and career interest data between high schools and higher education institutions. Both initiatives are products of the Higher Education Working Group focused on making the state’s colleges and universities more affordable and accessible for Illinois students.

“Our future as a state is dependent upon people wanting to live, work and attend school here in Illinois,” Rauner said. “We want to create a place where our young people want to learn and put what they have learned into practice through careers that enrich our economy and make Illinois a better place to live.”

 From 1991 to 2014, enrollment at Illinois public universities and community colleges declined by 50,000 students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. From 2011 to 2016, undergraduate enrollment at Illinois public universities fell 5,127 students, a decline of more than 8 percent.

“For too long, our ‘best and brightest’ have been leaving Illinois,” said Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet. “This brain drain and enrollment decline has not only devastated several of our universities and the communities they sit in, it also has hurt Illinois’ future as these students do not return. They instead pay taxes elsewhere, create, invent, and move another state’s economy forward with their work and efforts. People think that this is a new phenomenon. It is not. Demand for public higher education has been sliding for over 25 years, and we have been a net exporter of intellectual talent since the 1970s. It was well past time for the General Assembly to stand up and lead on this issue.”

A new law in Illinois enhances the punishment for texting behind the wheel.

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

SPRINGFIELD — Attendance and sales at the Illinois State Fair declined from last year, vendors said.

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

Even with 600 more officers on the street, nearly as many people were shot in Chicago over the weekend as earlier this month, when a spike in violence prompted the boost in deployment.

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

Three of every four students entering kindergarten aren’t fully prepared, according to results from the Illinois State Board of Education’s first look at kindergarten readiness.

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

On August 16, 2018 at approximately 4:30p.m., Benton Police were dispatched to the 100 block of Hickory Street in reference to a criminal trespass complaint.

Upon investigating, police arrested Lowell V. Moore, age 41, of Benton for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

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

On August 16, 2018 at approximately 12:30 a.m., Benton Police were dispatched to the area of Joplin and Frisco Street in reference to a male suspect blocking the roadway and making threats to a motorist.

Upon investigating, police arrested Justin A. Fairbun, age 28, of Florida for aggravated assault.

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

Billionaire J.B. Pritzker has pumped another $20 million into his Democratic campaign for governor, bringing his record self-funding total to $126.5 million with 2½ months to go before the Nov. 6 general election.

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

Gov. Bruce Rauner and political opponent J.B. Pritzker are trading sharp barbs in the lead up to the November election.

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

SPRINGFIELD — Joe Biden bowed out as keynote speaker but Illinois Democrats matched the verbal salvos from Republican opponents at their annual state fair rally on Thursday that marked the informal start of the fall campaign.

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

On August 15, 2018 at approximately, 11 p.m., Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of North McLeansboro and East Main Street.

During the stop,  Benton Police K9 “ Ranger” alerted to the odor of illegal narcotics in the vehicle.

Upon investigating further, police arrested Bryce J. Sneddon, age 25, of Benton for unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

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