Five Injured in Accident on U.S. 51 South of Patoka, Road Closed for Nearly Three Hours

Initial information indicates five people were transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia following a wreck on U.S. 51 on the south side of Patoka shortly after eight Monday morning. Heavy fog was reported in the area at the time. The wreck closed the highway for nearly three hours until the wreckage was removed. State Police were continuing their investigation at noon and no information was yet available on the names of those injured or on how the crash occurred. The injured were transported to St. Mary's by Patoka, Sandoval and Lifestar Ambulance Services. Marion County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency members rerouted traffic onto other roads around the accident scene. - http://goo.gl/1v9mX

Illinois' Audio Recording Law Under Scrutiny

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois residents don't have the right to record audio of their conversations with police, a law that some state legislators say needs to be changed, especially with the likelihood of protests at this spring's NATO and G8 summits in Chicago. Illinois' strict eavesdropping law requires all parties in a conversation to give consent in order for it to be audio-recorded. Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, is sponsoring a bill that would allow for exceptions. She says she doesn't believe there is an expectation of privacy for public officials on public property doing public duties. The current law faces multiple challenges in state and federal court. Illlinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed for the state Supreme Court to address the law after a Crawford County judge declared it unconstitutional last September. - http://goo.gl/uJBcA

Gun Group Appeals Illinois Concealed-Carry Ruling

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A gun-rights group has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after a federal judge in Illinois ruled against allowing people to carry firearms on the street. The Second Amendment Foundation announced Monday it's appealing the decision by federal district Judge Sue Myerscough. Currently only Illinois and the District of Columbia prohibit the concealed carrying of weapons. Gun owners say that infringes on their 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Myerscough ruled Friday that the 2nd Amendment allows citizens to protect themselves with guns in their home but not on the street. Second Amendment Foundation founder Alan Gottlieb says citizens "don't check our constitutional rights at the front door." A similar Illinois-based lawsuit backed by the National Rifle Association remains in federal court. - http://goo.gl/5tjTa

Bald Eagle Presentation to Be Held at Carlyle Grade School February 11th

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be hosting a program called "All About Eagles" on Saturday, February 11th at 12:30pm at the Carlyle Grade School Gymnasium. The program is being presented by the World Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary will have a live Bald Eagle on display for an up close view. After the presentation, eagle viewing will take place at various locations around Carlyle Lake. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars and dress accordingly for the weather. Bald Eagles have recently been sighted in various locations at Carlyle Lake. Carlyle Lake staff performed the "Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey" at the lake on January 14th and 15th. Three-bald eagle sightings were confirmed in the one-hundred miles surveyed in the lake area. Two-eagles ere identified as mature birds, with one immature eagle spotted. The population of Bald Eagles in Illinois has steadily increased over the past several years due to Federal laws and conservation efforts. In past years, active nests have been located at Carlyle Lake. With the increased numbers of eagles visiting the lake, it is possible that additional eagles will remain in the area and nest. For more information on the presentation, or on Bald Eagles, please contact the Carlyle Lake Project Office at (618) 594-2484, or email at carlylelake@usace.army.mil. - http://goo.gl/Je2bJ