Illinois Summary - 7/15/11

Blagojevich Back In Court Today

(Chicago, IL)  --  A guilty conviction isn't enough to keep former governor Rod Blagojevich out of court.  He's being summoned back because he's failed to provide the bond information that's kept him out of jail since 2008.  A court document says Blagojevich turned in some but not all of the documents about the properties he owns.  Prosecutors want a judge to make him turn over the rest of the information today.

Worker's Compensation Arbitrator In Hot Watrer

(Springfield, IL)  --  A former worker's compensation arbitrator is in hot water.  Jennifer Teague allegedly spoke with an attorney about speeding up the pace on her own workers comp claim.  In return, she promised to schedule a court hearing for State Trooper Matt Mitchell without informing the media.  Mitchell was convicted of reckless homicide after he killed two teenage sisters while speeding in his police cruiser.  A formal complaint is expected against Teague in the near future.

Illinois Doctor On FBI Most Wanted List

(Springfield, IL)  --  One Illinois doctor has earned a spot on the FBI's Most Wanted List.  Dr. Guatam Gupta is one of two doctors accused of filing more than 24-million dollars in fraudulent claims.  Most of those claims were for patients on Medicaid or Blue Cross Blue Shield.  Gupta hasn't been seen since the charges were filed, and authorities say he may have fled to the Middle East.  Gupta faces 35 years in prison on charges of mail fraud, health care fraud, and conspiracy.

Weekend Gas Prices Rising

(Springfield, IL)  -- Gas is on the rise and experts say drivers should get used to it.  Patrick DeHaan with gasbuddy.com says it's because the price of crude oil has gone up.  He says gas will fluctuate somewhere between three-70 and four-20 for the rest of the summer  --  and that's outside the Chicago area.  Now there are a few ways to pinch a few pennies.  One way is to fill up at least a few blocks away from a major highway.

State Treasurer Vault Tour Main Attraction; Last Day Tomorrow

(Springfield, IL)  --  It's the last for people to take a walk in the state treasurer's vault.  More than 400 people have taken a tour through the vault this week  --  some even discovered they had property there.  After the tour, the group gets takes a picture in front of the vault door and then they can hang out for a bit in the treasurer's executive office.  Tours are available every 30 minutes between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

July Crop Report Out

(Olney, IL)  --  The July Crop Production Report is out from the USDA.  The Illinois wheat yield for 2011 is estimated to average 61 bushels per acre, based on the July 1st surveys.  That's down one bushel per acre from the June forecast.  Total production would be 43-point-nine-million bushels, which is more than two-and-a-half times the 2010 production.  On the national level, the winter wheat production is forecast at one-point-four-nine-billion bushels.  That's up three-percent from the June 1st forecast and up slightly from 2010.  The national yield is forecast at 46-point-two bushels per acre.