Illinois Summary - 10/07/11

Testimony Starts In Cellini Trail

(Chicago, IL)  --  Three people took the stand to testify against power broker and former Rod Blagojevich fundraiser Bill Cellini yesterday.  The former head of the Illinois Teachers' Retirement System Keith Bozarth was first on the stand.   Prosecutors say Cellini asked Bozarth to hold back TRS funds from a Hollywood producer's investment firm unless he contributed more than a million dollars to the Blagojevich campaign.  Cellini's defense team denies that claim.  They say their client had no ties to Blagojevich and no money ever exchanged hands.  They say Cellini is trapped in the middle of Blagojevich's corrupt schemes but his hands are clean.  The trial will resume at 9 a.m Tuesday.

Catholic Diocese Of Peoria Withdraws From Court Battle

(Peoria, IL)  --  Officials with the Catholic Diocese of Peoria say state laws are becoming more and more at odds with the church's teachings, so they're pulling out of an ongoing court battle over state contracts.  The battle started after the state accused Catholic Charities of discriminating against same sex

couples by refusing to issue them with foster care and adoption licenses.  The Catholics say they haven't discriminated against anyone but they do have a right to protect their beliefs.  The Peoria diocese is transferring its clients to the Center for Youth and Family Solutions.

Quinn Garners Support For Rate Hike Bill

(Decatur, IL)  --  Governor Quinn wants lawmakers to uphold his veto of the Smart Grid bill, which would allow Ameren and ComEd to raise electric rates on customers.  He made several stops across the state yesterday in an effort to rally support.   Officials with the utility companies say they need the extra money to modernize their equipment.  Quinn says the measure would practically eliminate oversight of the electric companies.  Lawmakers are expected to tackle the issue again during veto session in a few weeks.

Simon Finishes Statewide College Tour

(Springfield, IL)  --  Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon's College Tour is complete.  Simon visited all 48 junior colleges in a state in order to see what types of educational practices are working and what isn't.  The plan is to make Illinois a more "educated" state by ensuring that 60-percent of the state's residents have college degrees or certificates by 2025.  Now that the tour is complete, Simon will focus on finding ways to reduce the amount of time it takes to earn a degree, decreasing student debt, and how to make the transition from high school to community college and from community college to public universities can be improved.  She says she'll have legislative recommendations prepared for the governor and the general assembly this winter.

Steeleville Plant Explosion

(Steeleville, IL)  --  Two people are recovering after an explosion at the Gilster-Mary Lee pasta plant in Steeleville yesterday.  The two workers suffered burn injuries and were air-lifted to Saint John's Hospital in Saint. Louis.  A spokesperson for the company says the employees were doing maintenance work on equipment when the explosion occurred.

State Representative Says Free Trade Agreements Could Boost Local Economy

(Springfield, IL)  --  Harrisburg Representative Brandon Phelps says a free trade deal with Columbia, Panama, and Korea will boost business for Illinois farmers and add revenue to the state's bottom line.  His comments come after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the proposals through a committee, which is the first step in making the agreements a reality.  The agreements are aimed at lowering tariffs on U.S. farm produce exports.  The USDA projects an additional two-and-a-half-billion dollars in agriculture exports and the creation of 20-thousand jobs nationwide if Congress approves the agreements.

Illinois Fugitive Suffers Serious Injury While Trying To Escape

(Rock Island, IL)  --  An Illinois fugitive suffered serious injuries while trying to escape from authorities in Omaha, Nebraska.  Mario Welch allegedly used a bed sheet to climb out of a third-floor apartment window when he noticed police moving in on him.  He broke both of his ankles, fractured his leg, and broke his back in the escape but still managed to evade police.  Welch made it to a nearby highway where he climbed into the trunk of a friend's car but was later captured.  He underwent surgery in an Omaha hospital.   He is wanted for a home robbery in Rock Island County.

Weather Helping Farmers As They Round Out Harvest

(Mount Vernon, IL)  --  The warm October weather is just what farmers need as they're rounding out harvesting on corn and soybean fields.  Farmers in Southern Illinois say despite poor weather conditions during the spring and summer, corn crops have turned out pretty good.  They say they should still turn a profit even though corn prices are lower than they were last year.