Court: Chicago Teachers Don't Have Rehire Rights

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that laid-off tenured teachers in Chicago do not have a right to be rehired later. The 5-2 ruling Friday came after budget cuts in 2010 forced the city to lay off nearly 1,300 teachers. The Chicago Board of Education later recalled about 715 tenured teachers. But the Chicago Teachers Union sued when laid-off tenured instructors did not get first dibs on other open positions. The court ruled the school board's layoff and rehiring procedures do not mimic those in other districts and state law does not require preference for out-of-work tenured teachers. Spokesmen for the school board and union did not immediately respond to requests. - http://goo.gl/bcsvj

Marion County Police Beat for Friday, February 17th, 2012

A 59-year-old Mt. Vernon man was being held Friday morning in the Marion County Jail for being an intoxicated pedestrian. Ernie Whipple of North Cherryville Road was taken into custody by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies. 25-year-old Jesse Gilbret of East 15th Street in Centralia was taken to the Marion County Jail on a Centralia ordinance violation for possession of drug paraphernalia and on an outstanding Marion County warrant for domestic battery. Three others remained in jail Friday morning on outstanding warrants. Both 19-year-old Colby Wood of West 16th Street in Wamac and 37-year-old Michelle Halbrook of West Broadway in Centralia were arrested by Central City Police on outstanding misdemeanor warrants. 38-year-old Amy Jones of Martin Luther King Drive in Centralia was arrested by Centralia Police on outstanding Marion and Clinton County warrants. 19-year-old Caleb Webster of Radio Tower Road in Salem was arrested by Salem Police during an early morning traffic stop for violation of the O tolerance law and for illegal consumption of liquor by a minor. 28-year-old Jason Lewis of Lovell Street in Salem posted $150 bond and was released for driving on a suspended license. Salem Police are investigating the theft of some drilling parts over the past few weeks from PJ Repair on West Blair Street. - http://goo.gl/UyFx7

Big Powerball Jackpot Raises $14.5M for Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The run up to last week's Powerball jackpot raised $14.5 million for Illinois schools, roads and bridges. Illinois Lottery officials announced Thursday that as the jackpot grew to $336 million, sales of lottery tickets also grew. Sales reached nearly $10,000 per minute during the evening of February 11th. Drawing-to-drawing sales grew during the last two drawings by 41-percent and 61-percent. In Illinois, the total Powerball sales for the jackpot totaled $34.6 million. Nearly $15 million in sales were during the last two drawings, when the announced jackpot was $250 million and $325 million, respectively. The largest jackpot in U.S. history was $390 million in March 6th, 2007, when two winning Mega Millions tickets were sold in Georgia and New Jersey. - http://goo.gl/d9dxA

Caterpillar Picks Georgia For New Plant

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal confirmed that Caterpillar plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Georgia, a project company officials say will create more than 4,200 U.S. jobs. Caterpillar said in a statement Friday morning that its planned one-million-square-foot-facility near Athens is expected to directly employ 1,400 workers once it's fully operational. Company officials said they estimate the project will create another 2,800 full-time jobs in the U.S. among suppliers and at other companies. Deal said in a statement that Georgia's business climate offers the logistics, workforce, speed and efficiency that global industries such as Caterpillar are looking for. At a Friday morning news conference at the Capitol, Deal described the project as the largest growth of new jobs in Georgia since a sprawling Kia Motors manufacturing facility was built. - http://goo.gl/yoG0O

State Representatives Blasts Tax Credit After Sears' Layoffs

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (AP) - A Democratic state legislator says the layoffs reported at Sears aren't a surprise to him after the Illinois legislature approved a tax credit for the Hoffman Estates company. Rep. Jack Franks of Marengo was a vocal opponent of the credit. In December, legislators approved a $150 million tax credit for Sears after the company threatened to move out of state. The credit depends on the company's ability to maintain 4,250 jobs at headquarters. But the company has more workers than that. Franks says that means that Sears could still lay off numerous workers and get the benefit provided by Illinois tax payers. He says the approval of the tax incentives showed weak leadership in the General Assembly. Sears Holding Corp. said Thursday that it's laying off about 100 people.  full story

Illinois Budget to Include State Facilities Closures

HAZEL CREST, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn says he'll propose closing "quite a few" state facilities in his budget address next week. The Democrat told The Associated Press Thursday that the closures are necessary for a better budget. He declined to give any specifics on the closures, saying details would come during his budget address Wednesday. Quinn announced last month that he wants to close a Tinley Park mental hospital and a Jacksonville center for people with developmental disabilities in an effort to move people out of state institutions and into community care, like group homes. His budget office predicted the two closings would save nearly $20 million. Quinn has said his budget proposal will also include cuts to Medicaid. Quinn wants to slash about $2 billion of Illinois' approximately $14 billion Medicaid budget.  full story

Centralia Man to Spend 180 Days in Jail for Yelling Obscenities in Marion County Court Wednesday

A 20-year-old Centralia man will spend the next 30 to 180 days in the Marion County Jail after yelling obscenities at the judge and those in the courtroom on Wednesday. Lonnie Williamson of North Poplar had been brought over from jail following his early Wednesday morning arrest for alleged illegal consumption of liquor by a minor and resisting arrest.

While no new charges were filed, prosecutors had asked to increase Williamson's bond on his pending unlawful possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia charges based on the new offenses, failure to abstain from alcohol and drugs, and failure to submit to a drug test at the jail. Judge Sherrie Tungate agreed to increase the bond to $25,000. When Williamson allegedly became disruptive, the Judge warned Williamson about his behavior.
As the outburst continued, Tungate found Williamson in direct contempt of court for allegedly yelling obscenities and crumpling up paperwork on his case.  full story

Sears Laying Off 100 at Illinois Headquarters

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (AP) - A published report says Sears is laying off 100 workers at its Illinois headquarters. Sears Holding Corp. spokesman Chris Brathwaite told Crain's Chicago Business the company is laying off "about 100 people" Thursday at its headquarters in Hoffman Estates. He says the layoffs take effect immediately.

Brathwaite told Crain's the layoffs don't violate the terms of a $150 million tax credit for Sears approved by the Illinois Legislature in December after the company threatened to move its headquarters out of state. The Sears spokesman says the legislation doesn't go into effect until next fiscal year and the job levels in the legislation are well below the figure Sears will reach even with Thursday's layoffs. - http://goo.gl/67mWp

Mt. Vernon/Jefferson County Daily Record — February 15, 2012

Mt. Vernon Police Department Arrests

    Timmel J. Porter, 18, of the 1200 block of South 24th Street, was arrested Friday at 4:01 a.m. on a charge of residential burglary.
    Jessica S. Joslin, 22, of the 1100 block of Gaskins, was arrested Friday at 9:09 a.m. on a charge of retail theft. Bond was set at $1,000 and Joslin was released.
    Jillianne N. Snyder, 21, of Ashley, was arrested Friday at 10:20 a.m. on a charge of driving with a suspended license. Bond was set at $1,500 and Jillianne was released.
    Harry N. Benson, 31, of the 500 block of South 25th Street, was arrested Friday at 2:26 p.m. on a charge of burglary. Bond was set at $15,000 and Benson was released.
    Matthew R. Phillips, 19, of the 400 block of North Sixth Street, was arrested Friday at 9:57 p.m. on charges of possession of cannabis and a probation violation. Bond was set at $5,000 and Phillips was released.
    Jerry A. England, 35, of the 300 block of South Second Street, was arrested Saturday at 2:03 a.m. on a charge of contempt of court. Bond was set at $3,000 and England was released.
    Shane C. Williams, 20, of Texico, was arrested Saturday at 2:45 a.m. on a charge of possession of cannabis. Bond was set at $1,000 and Williams was released.
    Kevin J. Johnson, 19, of the 900 block of South Sixth Street, was arrested Saturday at 4:03 a.m. on a charge of driving under the influence of drugs. Bond was set at $3,000 and Johnson was released.
    Joshua R. Hurst, 22, of the 100 block of Webster Hills, was arrested Saturday at 4:17 p.m. on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, fleeing or eluding police and resisting, obstructing or disarming an officer. Bond was set at $5,000 and Hurst was released.
    George E. Williams Jr., 52, of the 400 block of South 17th Street, was arrested Sunday at 1:49 a.m. on an in-state warrant. Bond was set at $1,500 and Williams was released.
    Edward J. Strand, 55, of Fairfield, was arrested at 3:34 a.m. Sunday on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Bond was set at $3,000 and Strand was released.
    Kristina M. Vincent, 23, of the 900 block of Ellis Drive, was arrested Sunday at 4:43 a.m. on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. Bond was set at $5,000 and Vincent was released.
    Steven W. Graham, 21, of the 1600 block of Cherry Street, was arrested at 1:49 a.m. Monday on a charge of resisting, obstructing or disarming an officer. Bond was set at $1,000.
    Jhytrenton C. Ladd, 20, of the 700 block of South 17th Street, was arrested at 3:03 a.m. Monday on a charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license. Bond was set at $1,500 and Ladd was released.
    Roberto M. Roman, 23, of the 1200 block of Welkins Street, was arrested Monday at 3:40 p.m. on charges of assault and criminal trespass to residence.
    Jeffrey K. Warnick, 29, of the 1100 block of Shawnee, was arrested Monday at 7:30 p.m. on a charge of violation of an order of protection.
    Carissa L. Johnson, 18, of the 1300 block of Casey Avenue, was arrested Monday at 10:35 p.m. on a charge of retail theft. Bond was set at $1,000.
    Bart L. Edmison, 40, of Opdyke, was arrested Monday at 11:12 p.m. on a charge of contempt of court.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Arrests

    Lana M. Grimes, 39, of Christopher, was arrested Friday at 3:17 a.m. on an in-state warrant. Bond was set at $1,500 and Grimes was released.
    Charles E. Riley Jr., 24, of the 1900 block of Broadway, was arrested Friday at 11:05 a.m. on charges of aggravated domestic battery and aggravated unlawful restraint. Bond was set at $60,000.
    Christina A. Shelby, 29, of the 800 block of South 24th Street, was arrested Friday at 11:13 a.m. on an in-state warrant. Bond was set at $3,000 and Shelby was released.
    Stephanie J. Wood, 36, of the 1200 block of South 17th Street, was arrested Friday at 1:50 p.m. on a charge of fraud. Bond was set at $10,000 and Wood was released.
    William A. Turner, 51, of Opdyke, was arrested Saturday at 12:31 a.m. on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol level at or above .08. Bond was set at $3,000 and Turner was released.
    Richard B. Kimpel, 68, of Ina, was arrested Saturday at 4:11 a.m. on three charges of solicitation of a sexual act and two charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
    Amy J. Bivens, 36, of the 500 block of Fairfield Road, was arrested Monday at 5:57 p.m. on a charge of contempt of court. Bond was set at $1,500.  full story

Illinois' Attack On Gun Owners Could Force Hunters to Leave State

Harrisburg, IL -- State Representative Brandon Phelps says a constant attack on gun owners in Illinois could be the death of hunting in the state. "It more or less wants to get rid of semi-automatic shot guns and anything that can fire a 50-caliber round. That's every hunting gun, and then you've got the single shotgun that can fire a 50-caliber round. Those would be banned", said Phelps.

Phelps says hunters would more than likely leave Illinois is that bill becomes law. He's also upset over a bill backed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. That one seeks to create a statewide registry for handgun owners, who'd be required to pay 65 dollars to register each handgun they own. Phelps says the proposed gun bills could hinder progress on his proposal to legalize conceal carry.  full story