QCOnline Illinois AP News

Illinois aims to help military veterans find jobs

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Illinois is launching a new program meant to help military veterans find jobs when they return to civilian life.

The project is being called 'Operation Employ Veterans.' Officials say the project will educate employers about

Quinn promises action on campaign finance bill

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

CHICAGO (AP) Gov. Pat Quinn promises action soon on a measure that would establish Illinois' first limits on campaign donations.

Quinn said he would take action likely after Thanksgiving on a bill the Senate sent him that would

Feral cats issue needs control

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

BULL VALLEY, Ill. (AP) In the morning, Mary Valenti would feed her four cats. At night, she would go outside to feed another.

The one outside she thought it was a male got the same food:

llinois road closures to be suspended for holiday

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) The Illinois Department of Transportation says where possible it will suspend lane closures along state roadways over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

State Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig said Friday that the department is doing all it

'La Familia' drug cartel members indicted

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

CHICAGO (AP) Fifteen people with ties to the Mexican drug cartel La Familia Michoacana have been indicted on charges of taking part in a major Chicago-area cocaine conspiracy, prosecutors announced Friday.

The people charged in indictments returned Thursday

Head of police sergeants group arrested

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

CHICAGO (AP) A Chicago police sergeant who heads a local sergeants association has been arrested on charges he stole more than $600,000 from the organization.

Sgt. John Pallohusky, president of the Chicago Police Sergeants Association

Homeless Naperville man reclaims property

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (AP) Police in Naperville say the Chicago suburb's best-known homeless man has reclaimed his personal property after it was confiscated by officers.

Police confiscated Scott Huber's belongings while they were locked to a bench

New law means more federal money

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

CHICAGO (AP) A new law will help the state get more federal money to pay hospitals that care for the poor.

The state is expecting to get more than $1.1 billion from Washington because the federal government

Chief opens Illinois 'supermax' prison to show reforms

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

TAMMS, Ill. (AP) Although he's confined to his cell for all but about an hour on most days, Steven Wuebbels doesn't mind being isolated at Illinois' lone 'supermax' prison a place human rights activists consider inhumane.

State senator fights gunman at his Peoria business

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) A state senator from Peoria says he fought off an armed robber who interrupted him while he was doing some remodeling at his business.

Democratic Sen. Dave Koehler says he was painting Thursday night

Company closing southern Illinois coal mine

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

ROYALTON, Ill. (AP) An underground southern Illinois coal mine will close by the end of the year.

Knight Hawk Coal says the 50 workers at the Royal Falcon mine near the boundary of Franklin and Jackson counties

H1N1 flu update: Illinois reports nine new deaths

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Illinois is reporting nine new deaths and 241 new hospitalizations from swine flu.

The Illinois Department of Public Health's weekly update brings the total number of deaths in the state from the virus to

Ethics committee: No punishment for Burris

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate ethics committee admonished a U.S. senator on Friday for making "inconsistent, misleading or incomplete" statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the Senate seat once held by Barack Obama. The committee recommended no action

Police: Store clerk shoots, kills robbery suspect

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) Authorities say an East St. Louis store clerk being robbed by six armed men opened fire, killing one of the suspects.

Investigators say 26-year-old Larando King was killed in the shooting Thursday

Three plead guilty in Illinois in dogfighting sweep

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) Sentencing will be in March for three Illinoisans swept up in the largest dogfighting raid in U.S. history.

Derrick Courtland of Cahokia, Joseph Addison of East St. Louis and James Milburn III

Police: Two found dead in house fire had been shot

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

CAIRO, Ill. (AP) Authorities say two women found dead in a burning house in the far southern Illinois town of Cairo had been fatally shot.

Illinois State Police say 29-year-old Beatrice Barber of Cairo and 27-year-old Eva

Hospital's Facebook chat offers H1N1 flu answers today at noon

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

CHICAGO (AP) Got a swine flu question? Get an answer during a live Facebook chat offered by Chicago's Rush University Medical Center.

The hospital has lined up two infectious disease experts for Friday's hour-long chat, starting at

Illinois motorists told to prepare as winter nears

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Illinois motorists have been urged to start getting ready for winter driving.

The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police said Thursday that they are making final preparations for snowy and

Questions for Quinn over Thomson prison

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

CHICAGO (AP) Gov. Pat Quinn says he'll review a letter he received from Illinois Republicans about a possible deal to sell a state prison to the federal government to house Guantanamo Bay detainees.

Seven lawmakers, including Congressmen

College prof charged with child porn

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

CHICAGO (AP) Federal agents have arrested a college biology professor on charges of using his computer to send images of child pornography.

The agents charged 41-year-old Kevin Fuller after searching the computer in his Oak Park home

Fa-la-la felony? Sneaky decorator escapes charges

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

HERSCHER, Ill. (AP) The home-invading Christmas elf has been identified, and it turns out to be a teenage prankster.

Police in the Kankakee County town of Herscher had been puzzling over who decked the halls of an

Former prep analyst indicted in bank robberies

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) A federal grand jury in Peoria has once again indicted a former prep basketball talent analyst on bank robbery charges.

Former Springfield resident Stephen Wacaser was indicted Wednesday for the Oct. 19 robbery of

63-year-old baby sitter convicted of sexual abuse

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

ST. CHARLES, Ill. (AP) A 63-year-old Aurora man faces as long as 37 years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a child he was baby sitting.

A Kane County jury convicted Jerald Spring on

VFW post commander dies of robbery injuries

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

MIDLOTHIAN, Ill. (AP) Authorities say the commander of a VFW post in Chicago's southern suburbs has died of injuries suffered when he was beaten and robbed while depositing money from a veterans' fundraiser.

Bill Burtner, commander of