Sheriff: Two People Found Dead in Southwestern Illinois Home

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) - Authorities are investigating the death of a woman and man whose bodies were found in their home near the southwestern Illinois city of Edwardsville. Authorities haven't publicly identified the bodies found Monday afternoon. Relatives went to the home after no one there responded to telephone calls. The Madison County Sheriff's Department says a preliminary investigation appears to show that the deaths were domestic-related. Illinois State Police are assisting in the probe. Autopsies are planned.  8J4XI

Illinois Backlog Adds to Schools' Money Problems

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois schools are getting less money from the state this year and they'll have to wait a long time to collect it.As the school year got under way, state government was already more than $449 million behind in education payments. Rockford schools, for instance, were waiting on nearly $7 million. Schools in the western Illinois town of Avon were due $47,800. The Chicago backlog dwarfed everything else - $112 million. Schools have cut teachers, dipped into cash reserves, postponed purchases, slashed training and delayed paychecks.Tremont Superintendent Don Beard says it has become the "way of doing business." The slow payments come at the same time state and federal funds are down. In all, schools will see an 8.4 percent drop.  rFdmm

Illinois to Be Part of 1st Nationwide Alert Test

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - On November 9th, Illinois radio and TV stations will participate in the first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director Jonathon Monken says the test will be at 1:00 p.m. for three minutes. Several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will participate in the test. Monken says the alert system is an important tool for providing information during emergencies. He says the nationwide test is ambitious, but critical to testing the system's viability. The test will be similar to those watchers and listeners are familiar with except all broadcast outlets will conduct it simultaneously. The system is available for the U.S. president to address Americans during crises. Authorities can use it to send alerts and warnings to local outlets.  5ONne

Regional Superintendents Lobbying Lawmakers To Reinstate Pay

Springfield, IL -- Veto session is just one week away and lawmakers are expected to find a way to reinstate pay for regional superintendents. Bob Daiber, with the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents, says the option to pay them from the Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax fund has stirred up a bit of controversy. "It's House Bill 3828, and some opponents are not for us being paid from that source of revenue in fear that it will be lost revenue", said Daiber. The 44-elected superintendents have been working for free for nearly four months. Governor Pat Quinn cut their salaries from the budget in an effort to save about ten-million dollars. Quinn wants the regional superintendents to be paid from the corporate personal property replacement taxes instead of from the state's operating budget.  GFzVs

Ameren Encourages Customers To Inspect Heating Systems

Springfield, IL -- Winter weather is moving in and Ameren Illinois' Leigh Morris says now's the best time to protect yourself from potential heating dangers. "Every year, there's news stories about somebody getting sick or dying from carbon monoxide poisoning", said Morris. Morris says customers should have their heating systems inspected and serviced to avoid the danger. He says inspectors will make sure the system is operating at its peak efficiency. If it's not working properly, Morris says it could cost you more to heat your home. He encourages customers to replace the system if its going bad so they're not without heat during the coldest winter months.  IG7ae