SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Supreme Court has reversed a ruling that had stopped construction of a massive power line through eastern Illinois. The court's 7-0 ruling Thursday affects 35 Edgar County eminent domain actions by Ameren Transmission Co. to obtain land for the remaining section of a 375-mile cross-state power line. Justice Bob Thomas' opinion found that a circuit court did not have jurisdiction when it ruled that landowners were denied due process.

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Black women who have just given birth in Illinois are more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues within a year than non-Hispanic white women a new study finds. The Illinois Department of Public Health on Thursday released a study of statewide trends in maternal deaths. Researchers found an average of 73 Illinois women die within one year of pregnancy. They also found black women are six times as likely to die of a pregnancy-related condition as white women.

 

(Gibson City--jc)  Saving the district money, that was the main reason for a move to issue nearly 4 and one half million dollars in general obligation  bonds for one local school district. Members of the Gibson City Melvin Sibley school district gave their o-k to the idea. The G-C-M-S school district has several fund balances that are in the black and by consolidating into one bond,  district leaders say that could save G-C-M-S taxpayers around half a million dollars over the next decade.

 

(Woodworth--dg)  -- The 9th Annual Ford-Iroquois 4-H auction will take place Sunday November 18th at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Woodworth. A pork burger meal starts at 1:30 with the Auction starting at 2pm. Proceeds from this auction are used to cover participation fees for all 4-Hers in Ford and Iroquois County. There will be a wide variety of items to bid on including tools, seed corn, craft items, food and more. Items for sale are donated by local businesses, individuals, and 4-H Clubs. You can find a list of items on the Ford & Iroquois Counties 4-H Facebook page.

 

(Saybrook-ba)  -- The Saybrook American Legion Post 427 will host a chicken and fish fry today from 4:30 to 6:30pm. The menu for tonight includes whole catfish, chicken and walleye, baked beans, coleslaw, and baked potatoes. Walleye is all you can eat.

 

 

(Paxton--ba)  --The local PBL Panther Regiment is performing at a competition on Saturday. P-B-L High School  Drum Major Mikayla Jones gives more information as well as her own experience as Drum Major.

 

 

P-B-L High School Drum Major Mikayla Jones

 

 

(Paxton--ba)  - An Interstate 57 overpass is to be dedicated to local Illinois heroes. WPXN’s Braedon Arnett has the story.

 

 

(Bellflower--jc)  The Bellflower Country Opry’s is set to perform tomorrow night in the village. The country music show begins at 7 Saturday night at the Bellflower Community Center. Guest performer is Cindy Suttles Moore, a seasoned singer from Decatur. Admission to the show costs $10; children ages 12 and under enter for free. Prior to the show, starting at 5 p.m., a pulled-pork dinner will be served for a $6 fee.

 

The Paxton IGA is hosting a cookout from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, in its parking lot to help raise funds for the Lake Iroquois Women’s Club. The IGA is located at 144 W. Pells St. in Paxton. Pork chop sandwiches, chips and soda pop will be for sale.

 

(Undated--jc)  Illinois is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a state. Here is today’s BiCentennial minute…

 

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that a police canine's detection of drugs outside an apartment door in an unlocked building is an unlawful search. The court ruled 4-3 Thursday that the common area outside any apartment door is a legal part of a home. Justice Thomas Kilbride's opinion determined that police need a warrant before a drug-sniffing dog can search it.

 

 

(Springfield--jc)  The state’s unemployment rate held steady last month. The September jobless rate came in a four point one percent. That was the same as August, but a figure  Illinois has not seen in awhile says State Department of Employment Security’s Bob Gough..

 

 

State Department of Employment Security Spokesperson Bob Gough.

 

Chatsworth, IL – The Illinois State Rifle Association Political Victory Fund has formally endorsed Bruce Rauner for Governor and is urging all gun owners in Illinois to support Governor Rauner’s candidacy. Illinois State Rifle Association President Richard Pearson says the 2nd Amendment is not on the front page in  this election cycle Pearson says Governor Rauner has been an ally for  2nd Amendment rights and freedoms. Pearson believes JB Pritzker represents an existential threat to Illinois gun owners.  The group held an event in Marion to endorse Rauner in the

race for Illinois Governor

 

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — A 47-year-old central Illinois man faces federal charges of child sexual exploitation for allegedly using a social media site to try to contact and meet minors. Springfield's U.S. attorney's office says Charles A. Hewitt, of Creve Coeur, had been convicted in 2014 of a sex offense. An indictment returned this week accuses him of engaging in the sexual exploitation of three minors starting in 2017. He allegedly used phony names and profile pictures on the site to appear as a 15-year-old boy.

 

(Buckley--ba)  -- The last Sunday in the month is a good day for a good meal. On

October 28th, its Octoberfest in Buckley from 4pm to 6-30 at the Buckley American Legion. Christ Lutheran High School Spokesperson  Charlie Goldenstein says to come out and celebrate Octoberfest with the proceeds to help Christian education...

 

 

Christ Lutheran High School Spokesperson Charlie Goldenstein

 

MATTOON, Ill. (AP) — No, you're not seeing things: Those are pelicans out on by lakes in the Mattoon and Shelbyville area. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers natural resource specialist Lee Mitchell says migrating American white pelicans have been stopping by on their way to and from the Gulf Coast from the Dakotas every spring and fall in recent years.

 

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The remains of homes burned down during race riots that ravaged Springfield, Illinois in 1908 will be excavated and artifacts uncovered will be curated. The burned homes were found in 2014 during a building project to consolidate rail traffic through the city. The block-long site has remained untouched while the Federal Railroad Administration, the city, the Illinois Historic Preservation Office and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation formulated a plan and signed off on it.

 

(Paxton--ba)  -- The Paxton Buckley Loda High School Panther Regiment performs this Saturday night in El Paso. P-B-L  Band director Tim Hess says what kind of music the attendees can expect.

 

 

P-B-L Band director Tim Hess

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Four people who say they were sexually abused decades ago by five priests in parishes across Illinois are suing every diocese in the state for the abuse itself and what they say is a widespread and ongoing scheme to cover up clergy abuse. The lawsuit filed Thursday in Chicago alleges the abuse by the priests took place between the early 1970s until the late 1990s

 

The movie “Peter Rabbit” will be shown free of charge at 7 p.m. tonight at the Melvin Community Hall. Those attending are asked to bring a blanket or rug on which to sit.

 

 

The Ford County Republican Central Committee will meet from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday, at Ne’s Place in Piper City. The public is welcome to attend.