Bob Vail with the Bernardi Securities, Inc. gave a presentation at last night’s Princeton City Council meeting. Bernardi Securities is a municipal bond underwriting firm from Chicago and Vail proposed a way to save the City of Princeton nearly one million dollars of interest on four major bonds by refinancing the debt. Vail said he will be approaching the local banks first and if they agree to the proposed interest rate of 3 percent, the firm will also discount their service fee. Mayor Keith Cain said the city has worked with this firm before and they’ve done an excellent job.  The council voted unanimously to convert the ordinances to bond issues. By doing that, they will then hold a public hearing on March 5th and then vote on the final savings at the April 6th meeting.

Lawmakers Look To Regulate Abortions

(Springfield, IL)  --  It looks like lawmakers are taking a stand against abortion in Illinois.  A House committee approved two measures yesterday aimed at imposing stricter regulations on facilities that perform the procedure.  One bill requires clinics to ask women if they'd like to see the baby's ultrasound before going through with the abortion.  It only applies to women who are beyond seven weeks pregnant.  The other seeks to make clinics that perform more than 50 procedures a year comply with all the rules and regulations of an ambulatory surgical treatment center.  Both bills were met with strong opposition but now head to the House floor for a full vote.

Senator Has Yet To File Suit

(Chicago, IL)  --  One state lawmaker is backing down from a threat to sue the Secretary of State.  Senator Annazette Collins made the claim after Jesse White compared her to convicted former governor Rod Blagojevich.  White says he sees patterns of dishonesty in the woman he once supported.  Collins says she's

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More information is being released regarding the weekend fatal home invasion shooting in rural Earlville.  La Salle County Sheriff Tom Templeton says the homeowner, who was the shooter in the case, has been arrested.  47-year old Joel Contreras of Earlville is charged with the felony of growing marijuana.  Also in custody is a California man, 24-year old Marcus Samarripa.  He’s charged with felony home invasion.  The identity of the shooting victim was released as well.  Templeton says he’s Raymond Maldonado, 22, also of California.  Police say Maldonado and Samarripa broke into Contreras’ home at about 3 am Sunday.  Maldonado was armed with a pistol and was confronted by Contreras, who shot him twice.  Samarripa fled the scene and was later caught near Ottawa.  During the investigation at the residence of Contreras, deputies found marijuana growing in the basement.  Contreras posted bail, but remains held due to his immigration status.  Samarripa remains jailed on $1 million bail.  The investigation into the home invasion and shooting continues.

Princeton Park District Recreation Coordinator Ryan Luecke reported on the following upcoming activities at last night’s board meeting:  A Health and Fitness Fair at the Metro Center on Saturday, March 17th.  A Baseball and Softball Clinic at “The Player’s Edge” indoor sports facility in Kewanee for boys and girls 3rd-8th grades, also on March 17th.  A Run/Walk for the Kids, 1st Annual Zearing Park Half Marathon to take place April 28, 2012 at Zearing Park which is co-sponsored by Easter Seals of LaSalle and Bureau Counties.  Also, a Zearing Park Soccer tournament, whose date will be announced at a later time.  The board also discussed a customer satisfaction survey that will be distributed to members on the backs of their monthly statements. The surveys will need to be returned to the Metro Center.

Illinois Seeks NCLB Exemption

(Springfield, IL)  --  No Child Left Behind is doing just what it's designed not to.  Education officials in Illinois say the program is leaving kids behind and more than half of the state's schools aren't meeting its goals.  Now, the Illniois State Board of Education is asking the federal government if they can be exempt from some of the NCLB standards.  They're submitting a waiver which will give them a bit of flexibility and six years to boost student performance by 50-percent.

Rutherford: More Detailed Closure Plan Necessary

(Jacksonville, IL)  --  A new plan is circulating for the Jacksonville Developmental Center.  State Treasurer Dan Rutherford is proposing a five year closure plan that will give residents and parents time to determine their next steps.  Governor Quinn wants to shut the facility down this year.  He says the building has structural

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More information is being released regarding the weekend fatal home invasion shooting in rural Earlville.  La Salle County Sheriff Tom Templeton says the homeowner, who was the shooter in the case, has been arrested.  Joel Contreras, 47, of Earlville is charged with Production of Cannabis plants.  Also in custody is a California man.  Marcus Samarripa, 24, is charged with Home Invasion.  The identity of the shooting victim has not been released yet.  Police say Samarripa and the unidentified man broke into Contreras’ home at about 3 am Sunday.  The unidentified man was armed with a pistol and was confronted by Contreras, who shot him twice.  Samarripa fled the scene and was later caught near Ottawa.  During the investigation at the residence of Contreras, deputies found marijuana growing in the basement.  An autopsy was being done on the shooting victim, and the investigation into the home invasion and shooting continues.

Lawmaker Threatens To Sue Secretary Of State

(Chicago, IL)  --  A lawsuit may be in the works against Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.  State Senator Annazette Collins says she'll file suit against White if he doesn't apologize for calling her, quote, "the most unethical person in government."  White compares Collins to former, convicted governor Rod Blagojevich in a weekend "Sun-Times" article.  Collins says the comments are malicious and irresponsible and says the Secretary can expect a legal battle if he doesn't issue an apology by tomorrow.  White stands by his comments and says he will not offer an apology.

Quinn Wants Nine-Percent Cutback

(Springfield, IL)  --  Governor Quinn is asking state agencies to scale back by more than nine-percent next year. So far at least one Constitutional Officer is on board with the plan.  A spokesperson for Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon says they're looking to cut their budget by about 200-thousand dollars, which means

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One person is dead and another in custody after an apparent home break-in gone bad over the weekend in Earlville.  La Salle County Sheriff Tom Templeton says at around 3 am Sunday, his office was notified of an alleged home invasion south of Earlville on Highway 1.  Two people had reportedly entered the residence at which time one of them was shot by the homeowner.  That person was taken to Mendota Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room.  After fleeing the scene, the second suspect was taken into custody by Ottawa Police when they stopped his vehicle on the north side of Ottawa.  No names have been released yet for the person shot or the person in custody.

Former Belleville West Teacher Charged

(Belleville, IL)  --  A former teacher at Belleville West High School is being held on a 250-thousand dollar bond, accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student.  Shiloh resident Ryan D. Endsley is charged with criminal sexual assault, for a suspected sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.  Police are concerned there may be other victims and ask parents to call the police department if their child may have had contact with Endsley.  

Alma Mater Statute To Undergo Makeover

(Champaign, IL)  --  The famous Alma Mater statue on the UI-Champaign campus will disappear soon.  That's because the iconic statue is in desperate need of some repairs and maintenance.  The cost of Alma Mater's makeover will be

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No one was injured in a house fire in Princeton yesterday afternoon at 430 South Pleasant Street.  Fire departments from Wyanet, Bureau, Spring Valley, and Malden assisted Princeton in extinguishing the flames. Putnam County ambulance was also called to the scene. Princeton Fire Chief John Petrakis said there were no injuries.  Petrakis hesitated to say whether the one and a half story stucco home was a total loss.  He says there was one person inside the home at the time of the blaze, but that person refused medical treatment.  An investigation continues into the cause of the fire.