Illinois Briefs - 12/2/11

Blagojevich Learns Fate Next Week

(Springfield, IL)  --  Former Governor Rod Blagojevich will learn his fate next week.  A hearing has been set for Tuesday and a judge will announce how much time the former governor should spend behind bars.  Prosecutors want him locked up for 15 to 20 years.  Blagojevich was convicted on 18 counts of corruption, including lying to the feds and trying to sell President Obama's former U.S. Senate seat.

Cellini Day In Court

(Chicago, IL)  --  Attorneys for Springfield political insider Bill Cellini are expected in court today.  They've been called into a private hearing in the judge's chambers to discuss whether a new trial is being granted.  Cellini was convicted on two of four counts of corruption tied to former governor Rod Blagojevich, but his team

wants a new trial.  They say one of the jurors from the first one presented a conflict of interest because she is a convicted felon.

East Saint Louis Mom Not Fit For Trial

(East Saint Louis, IL)  --  An East Saint Louis mom who killed her children is not fit to stand trial.  Yokeia Smith says she heard voices the day she shot two five year old son and four year old daughter.  A psychologist diagnosed her as unfit to face first-degree murder charges right now but says she may ready in about a year.  A St. Clair county judge has accepted the doctor's order.  Smith has been remanded to the care of the state's Department of Human Services.  Another hearing will be held within 30 days.

Quinn To Deliver Holiday Cards to Troops

(Springfield, IL)  --  Governor Quinn is going to hand deliver holiday cards to injured soldiers in Germany.  He asking school children across the state to hand draw the cards.  He says the wounded warriors need to know how much they're appreciated back home in Illinois.   For information on how to participate in the program, check out OperationHomeFront.org.

Grape Tomatoes Recalled

(Springfield, IL)  --  Grape tomatoes in Illinois may be contaminated with salmonella.  Front Row Produce is issuing a recall on ten-ounce pint and ten-pound bulk grape tomatoes supplied by Rio Queen Citrus of Mission, Texas.  New and safe packages of the tomatoes in stores are marked with a green dot on the bottom of the container.  If there's no green dot then customers should not purchase or eat the tomatoes.

Illinois Has Seventh Highest AIDS Count

(Springfield, IL)  --  Illinois has the seventh highest number of AIDS cases in the nation.  More than 38-thousand cases have been reported in the state since the epidemic began 30 years ago.  Half of those diagnosed are African American.  Doctor Kenneth Soyemi with the Illinois Department of Public Health, says there have been tremendous efforts to educate the public on how to stop the transmission of HIV.  He says they have a goal of reaching zero AIDS-related deaths and they'll keep working until they get there.