Ex-Alton police officer indicted in crash that killed man

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) — A former southwestern Illinois police officer has been indicted on a drunken driving charge stemming from a highway crash that killed a man last fall. A grand jury in St. Clair County charged

SIU Carbondale to hold in-person graduation ceremony

CARBONDALE, Ill. (WJPF) — SIU Carbondale will hold in-person commencement exercises this spring. Chancellor Austin Lane says a three-day event, scheduled for May 7-9, will honor both 2020 and 2021 graduates. Last year, about 3,000 graduates who

Cutler man charged with possession of child pornography

CUTLER, Ill. (WJPF) — A Cutler man is now facing child pornography charges. Timothy Hedrick, 40, has been charged with five separate counts of possession of child pornography. If convicted, Hedrick faces over thirty years in prison.

Court rules in Madigan’s favor in dirty tricks allegation

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Monday in a case involving former Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan that it doesn’t have the authority to penalize a politician for unethical actions voters tolerate. Jason Gonzales

Black Caucus’ law broadens school programs for diverse rolls

CHICAGO (AP) — The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus celebrated another victory Monday in its multi-pronged approach to equity and fairness when its proposal to bolster public education became law. The plan expands early childhood learning, invests in vocational training,

Some Illinois lawmakers are trying once again to reverse a massive increase on small trailer registration fees

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) — Some Illinois lawmakers are trying once again to reverse a massive increase on small trailer registration fees. Annual license renewals on class TA trailers in the state, defined as 3,000 pounds or less,

Family leave expansion bill would include benefits for more part-time education workers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) — A bill that would allow more part-time education workers to be included in the state’s Family and Medical Leave Act is headed for the House floor. Critics say it’s another unfunded mandate on

Illinois Senate returns with leaders from both sides eying state’s troubled finances, population decline

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) — As the Illinois Senate prepares to return to the Illinois Capitol Tuesday, leaders from opposite sides of the aisles are eying the state’s troubled finances. Senate President Don Harmon. D-Oak Park, told the