Illinois Summary - 9/29/11

Pumpkin Patches Could Come Up Short This Year

(Centralia, IL)  --  Illinois' pumpkin supply may come up a bit short this year.  And if it is, blame it on the weather.  Justin Talley of Frey Farms in Wayne County says pumpkin seeds were planted later than usual due to the wet spring.  Pumpkins could be smaller this year compared to last year.  Talley says some planters could see smaller crops but things are looking just about average at Frey Farms.  The shortage is no reason for consumers to worry though, as Talley says there will be plenty of pumpkins in retail stores because they've been shipped from across the country.  However, you may not see many pumpkins at roadside stands like in years past.

Southern Illinois Mining Company Accused Of Sex Discrimination

(Marion, IL)  --  A southern Illinois coal-mining company is accused of discriminating against women.  According to a federal lawsuit, the Mach Mining company in Marion hasn't hired any women since it opened five years ago,

despite the fact that many qualified women have applied for employment.  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit, claiming the company is in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Mach Mining is not commenting on the lawsuit.  It has 60 days to file a response.

Lieutenant Governor Slated To Address Downstate Economic Summit

(Springfield, IL)  --  Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon is expressing her support for President Obama's American Jobs Act.  She's slated to speak at an economic development summit in Effingham today, where she will discuss how the president's plan will benefit Illinois.  Simon says the plan could pump more than a billion dollars into improving the state's public schools and another 200-million into community colleges.  She says it could also support more than 35-thousand jobs in the state in areas of education, emergency response, and transportation.

Thousands Of Pounds Of Ground Beef Recalled

(Springfield, IL)  --  If you have ground beef in your freezer, you may want to check the dates.  The USDA announced that ground beef sold in Illinois and at least 15 other states may be contaminated with E.coli.  Tyson Fresh Meats Incorporated has issued a recall.  Kroger brands sold at Kroger stores and Butcher's Beef brand sold at Food Lion supermarkets are included in the recall.  Generic brands at Food-4-Less, SAV-A-LOT, Supervalu, and Spectrum Foods may also be contaminated.  All of the meat is 73/27 lean to fat and had a "best before" date of September 12th.  Customers are encouraged to check their refrigerators and freezers and discard of any unused portions of the meat.

Drug Roundup Done In Jacksonville

(Jacksonville, IL)  --  The Morgan County Fairgrounds is serving as the home for "Operation Crowbar."  It's a plan put together by Jacksonville authorities to get drug dealers off the street.  Authorities say 16 people were arrested and processed on the grounds yesterday.  Jacksonville Police Lieutenant Chris Johnson says the operation is aimed at getting rid of illicit narcotics and drug traffickers who prey on residents to support their drug habit.  About 70 law enforcement agents are assisting in the operation, including officers from the Jacksonville Police Department, the Morgan County Sheriff's Office, and several other law enforcement agencies.

ISU Football Stadium Gets Facelift

(Bloomington, IL)  --  Illinois State University's Hancock Stadium is getting a facelift.  It's home to all of the Redbirds' football games and Athletics Director Gary Friedman says the new amenities will attract more fans.  But that's not all, Friedman says the new stadium could improve the school's football program altogether.  He says the new stadium will lure more recruits to ISU and possibly more outside vendors.  The stadium is expected to be completed by the start of the 2013 season.  The upgrade comes with a 20-million-dollar price tag.

SIUE Chancellor To Retire Next Summer

(Edwardsville, IL)  --  The Southern Illinois University Chancellor in Edwardsville says this is his last year with the school.  Vaughn Vandegrift was appointed to the post in 2004.  He's made it a priority to make the university a major player on a national scale.  During his tenure, the university saw a spike in entry-level ACT scores and has received numerous national rankings.  Vandergrift says he's fortunate to have worked in a profession dedicated to helping people discover their potential but he wants to spend more time with his family.  His last day will be July 1st of next year.