Illinois Briefs - 12/26/11

Busy Day For Retailers Ahead

(Springfield, IL)  --  Today is one of the busiest days of the year for retailers.  But instead of people rushing to catch last minute deals they?ll come out in huge numbers to return unwanted Christmas gifts.  Retailers are fighting back though.  Many stores have dropped prices to entice customers to spend the money they get back on returned gifts.  Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, Kohl?s, Macy?s and JC Penney?s are among the stores with early-morning door buster sales.

State Senator Looks To Memorialize Sisters

(Alton, IL)  --  Alton State Senator Bill Haine wants to dedicate a stretch of Interstate 64 in memory of Jessica and Kelli Uhl.  The two Collinsville sisters were killed Thanksgiving weekend in 2007 by former Illinois State Trooper Matt Mitchell.  The trooper has since been convicted of reckless homicide for his

involvement in the accident.  Haine filed a resolution last week.  It seeks to rename the section of Interstate 64 between exits 19A and 23 as the Jessica and Kelli Uhl Memorial Highway.  A temporary memorial has already been placed on Highway 158, but the marker is not visible from Interstate 64.

Airport Priest Faces Sex Abuse Charges

(Chicago, IL)  --  A priest at Midway Airport is facing sexual abuse charges.  Authorities say Father Bede Jagoe allegedly tried to grab and kiss a man who made a stop at the chapel before his flight on December 11th.  The incident allegedly happened in an airport elevator.  Officials say a video camera caught the priest moving in on the man.  Jagoe was taken into custody on Saturday.  Bail was set at 10-thousand dollars.

Power Plant Starts Shut Down Process

(Meredosia, IL)  --  A power-plant in Meredosia is being shut down.  Officials with Ameren Energy Resources say the coal and oil fired plant will start burning off remaining fuel this week as the shut down process begins.  They say it could take about three months before the plant is completely closed.  That leaves more than 50 people in transition.  Some have decided to retire while others have accepted other jobs within the company.  Tighter clean air guidelines implemented by the federal government contributed to the company?s decision to close the plant.  The FutureGen Alliance is looking to buy one of the Meredosia units for carbon-storage.