Salem Burglary Broken Up Tuesday Night

Salem Police arrested a 25-year-old Salem woman on several charges when she allegedly in the process of breaking into a neighbor's home. Ashley Allison of South Lincoln had allegedly broken a window in the front door and was trying to pry open the door at the George Snodgrass home on South Lincoln Street when police arrived. Allison was arrested for alleged possession of burglary tools, criminal damage to property and failure to appear in court on a reckless driving charge. Bond on the warrant is set at $10,000. Police had responded to the Snodgrass home when a witness called to report the alleged burglary attempt. The incident occurred at 10:06 Tuesday night. - http://goo.gl/OxYRv

Lawmakers Look To Reduce All-Time High Prison Population

Springfield, IL -- More people are gettinglocked up in Illinois and now lawmakers must find a way to cut the costs,. John Maki, with the John Howard Association, says the answer is to only imprison violent offenders and seek diversionary programs for others. "Prisons are best served if we use them to place violent people, people who pose real violent threats to public safety. Most people who have drug problems or who have mental illness, they can be dangerous, but prison is not the best place for them", said Maki. The Inmate population is at an all-time high with corrections facilities at 144-percent over capacity. Representative Art Turner has proposed a bill that would begin to address the issue. - http://goo.gl/otVr8

Security guard shoots man at St. Louis MetroLink station

PAGEDALE, Mo. -- Police are investigating after a security guard at a St. Louis County light rail station shot a man who was involved in a scuffle.

The shooting happened Tuesday evening in Pagedale. The security guard, employed by a private company that contracts with Metro, saw two men involved in a disturbance. One of the men had a gun.

Police say the guard shot the armed man. He is hospitalized but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. His gun was recovered at the scene.

Names of the guard and the man who was shot have not been released. - http://goo.gl/d84Ka

New Ill. law: Schools have to redesign report cards for parents

CHICAGO -- Schools and districts will have to offer parents more user-friendly reports with academic information, demographics and education statistics under a new law signed by Gov. Pat Quinn.

Schools already have to send so-called report cards, but advocates of the legislation say they're hard to read, long and not easy to compare to other schools.

Examples of the revamped reports were printed in color and featured pie charts.

The law takes effect immediately. The report cards will be available in the 2013 to 2014 school year for elementary, middle and high schools.

Quinn signed the law Tuesday.

He says he didn't think there would be any additional costs occurred in implementing the bill. - http://goo.gl/sJqKe

Ill. man with revoked license gets 4 years in prison for driving mower

ALEDO, Ill. -- A judge in western Illinois has handed down a four-year prison sentence for a man caught driving a riding lawnmower with a revoked license.

Mercer County Judge Greg Chickris sentenced 43-year-old William White on Tuesday. It's the sixth time White has been sent to prison.

Defense attorney Dan Dalton argued that he'd never seen someone sent to prison for driving a mower. But the judge countered that he'd considered a variety of factors, including White's prior crimes.

The Rock Island Argus reports that White has 57 previous felony and misdemeanor convictions, starting when he was 15 years old. Court records show the latest was White's eleventh conviction for driving on a revoked license. He's also been convicted six times for driving under the influence of alcohol. - http://goo.gl/yMRd1

University of Illinois President Apologizes About Emails

URBANA, Ill. (AP) - University of Illinois President Michael Hogan has apologized for anonymous emails sent to faculty from his former chief of staff's computer. Hogan told faculty leaders Monday he regrets that the emails embarrassed the university. The News-Gazette in Champaign reports that Hogan says the emails were his responsibility as president. When questioned about whether there was an ethical lapse on his part, Hogan pointed to a recent report that found no evidence he did anything wrong. The report found former chief of staff Lisa Troyer wrote emails signed as if they came from an anonymous faculty member. The emails were intended to sway faculty on an enrollment management plan that some have opposed. Troyer resigned but has denied writing the emails. - http://goo.gl/ocaEh

Marion County Police Beat for Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

A 26-year-old Centralia man has been arrested for aggravated battery. Tod Allen Vernor of Linden Street was taken into custody following an altercation at the Hide Out Tavern in Junction City. 32-year-old
Billy Joe Smith of Bryan Street in Salem posted $300 bond and was released on outstanding Fayette County felony warrants. He was arrested by sheriff's deputies. 28-year-old Jerold Phillips of Moonglow Road in Centralia posted $100 bond after being arrested by the Marion County Sheriff's Department on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal damage to property.
Salem Police report a car reported stolen just before midnight was found five hours later parked at the Salem Super Wal-mart store. Jeb Harrell of Farina reported the car was taken from an alley off the 100 block of West Main Street. Police say the car was not damaged. No one was around the vehicle. Salem Police are investigating the theft of a tool box from the Shane Garrison residence in the 11-hundred block of North Jefferson Street in Salem. - http://goo.gl/4pQss

Mt.Vernon/Jefferson County Daily Arrest Record - January 24, 2012

Mt. Vernon Police Department Arrests

• Nashanda N. Feggins, 24, of the 4000 block of Willow Springs, was arrested at 2:23 a.m. Friday on a probation violation. Bond was set at $3,000.
• Matthew R. Phillips, 19, of the 400 block of North Sixth Street, was arrested Friday at 8:33 a.m. on a charge of domestic battery. Bond was set at $5,000.
• Christopher S. Campbell, 22, of the 100 block of Linnview Drive, was arrested Friday at 12:15 p.m. on a charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license. Bond was set at $1,500.
• Adam M. Skortz, 25, of the 800 block of South 21st Street, was arrested at 10:03 p.m. Saturday on a charge of failure to register as a sex offender. Bond was set at $20,000.
• William L. Bell, 52, of the 300 block of South Eighth Street, was arrested Friday at 10:38 p.m. on a charge of driving with a suspended/revoked license. Bond was set at $1,500.
• Edward R. Heider, 52, of Millstadt, was arrested Saturday at 12:49 p.m. on a charge of aggravated battery. Bond was set at $1,500 and Heider was released.
• Christopher W. Urba, 49, of Bluford, was arrested at 3:25 a.m. Saturday on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Bond was set at $10,000 and Urba was released.
• Marcus D. Collins, 57, of the 700 block of Herbert Street, was arrested at 3:34 a.m. Sunday on a charge of criminal trespass to state property. Bond was set at $1,000 and Collins was released.
• Jeremy A. Terry, 26, of the 1000 block of South 21st Street, was arrested Saturday at 4 a.m. on a charge of criminal trespass to state property. Bond was set at $1,000 and Terry was released.
• Michael G. Kuschel, 42, of the 400 block of North Ninth Street, was arrested Saturday at 10:56 p.m. on a charge of driving with a suspended/revoked license. Bond was set at $5,000 and he was released.
• James M. Hicks, 20, of the 1300 block of 12th Street, was arrested Sunday at 1:36 a.m. on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Bond was set at $1,500 and Hicks was released.
• Bobby D. Gregory, 21, of the 900 block of Salem Road, was arrested Sunday at 4:05 a.m. on a charge of aggravated battery.
• James E. Holenka, 30, of the 700 block of South 21st Street, was arrested at 8:32 a.m. Sunday on a charge of failure to register as a sex offender.
• Jason P. Hunt, 31, of the 600 block of Harrison Street, was arrested Sunday at 7:15 p.m. on a charge of contempt of court. Bond was set at $2,500.
• Mary L. King, 28, of the 700 block of South 20th Street, was arrested Monday at 3:03 a.m. on a charge of contempt of court. Bond was set at $1,000.

Jefferson Co. Sheriff's Office Arrests

• David L. Puckett, 33, of the 19100 block of East Third Street in Opdyke was arrested Friday at 1:03 p.m. on charges of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident with damage, driving under the influence of alcohol, aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of stolen property, driving with a suspended or revoked license, resisting, obstructing or disarming an officer and motor vehicle theft. Bond was set at $100,000.
• Steve G. Wilson, 37, of the 5700 block of East Richview Road in Woodlawn was arrested Sunday at 4:20 p.m. on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Bond was set at $1,000 and Wilson was released.

Illinois State Police Arrests

• Scott Wuebbles, 44, of Valley View, was arrested Sunday at 1:36 a.m. on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Bond was set at $1,000 and Wuebbles was released.
• Dustin A. Powers, 21, of the 2900 block of Brownsville Road, was arrested Monday at 3:03 a.m.. on an in-state warrant. - http://goo.gl/kPYFZ

Romney had Swiss bank account, but now closed

WASHINGTON -- Advisers to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney are acknowledging that he once had a Swiss bank account but that it was closed in 2010 as prepared to enter the race for the White House.

The Swiss account is listed on Romney's newly released 2010 federal income tax return. It had been opened by a Boston lawyer who oversees the Romney family investments and a blind trust containing millions of dollars in assets.

Romney's net worth is estimated at as much as $250 million.

R. Bradlford Malt, the trustee, said Tuesday that he closed the account in early 2010 because "it just wasn't worth it." He acknowledged that the account might be inconsistent with Romney's political views. Malt has dropped other investments that conflict with Republican Party views. - http://goo.gl/NdU9o

Marion County Police Beat for Monday, January 23rd, 2012

A 36-year-old Centralia woman escaped injury, but was jailed on multiple charges after her car crashed into a power pole at 8th and Elm in Centralia just before midnight Saturday night.
Centralia Police say Patricia Gregory of Devonia Drive knocked down the pole and street light, with the live power lines falling across her car. Reports indicate Gregory was able to get out of the car without electrical shock. She was ticketed for driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, no mandatory auto insurance, and on outstanding Marion and Clinton County warrants. A 25-year-old Centralia man had to be tazed twice as Centralia Police were attempting to take him into custody on Saturday on outstanding Marion and Clinton County warrants.
Shane Littleton of South Hickory remained in the Marion County Jail Monday morning on the two warrants as well as a new charge of resisting arrest. Centralia Police say they initially were called to a domestic disturbance at Littleton's home. He allegedly fought with police when they attempted to handcuff him. He eventually was taken to the ground, but had to be tazed twice before allowing police to complete the handcuffing process.
Three others remained in jail Monday on outstanding warrants. 28-year-old Amber Foltz of North Park in Central City is being held on an outstanding DUI warrant. 20-year-old William Timms of South Cherry in Centralia was arrested on a Marion County ordinance violation warrant. 41-year-old John Brumfield of North Maple in Centralia is being held on an outstanding St. Clair County warrant. 38-year-old Lashanda Webb of East Rhodes in Centralia posted bond on a Jasper County traffic warrant and was released. Bond was set at $150.
The Marion County Sheriff's Department is investigating a residential burglary at the Nancy Smith home on North Merritt Street in Odin. A flashlight, food, and candy are missing along with $16 taken from her purse. The burglary was reported at 2:28 Sunday afternoon. - http://goo.gl/cIrL5