Illinois Summary - 8/15/11

Senior Day At State Fair

(Springfield, IL)  --  It's senior day at the Illinois State Fair.  That means seniors 60 and older get in free and they can take attend free informational seminars throughout the day.  At 9:30 this morning, the State Securities Department will do a presentation on how seniors can protect themselves from fraud and at 3 p.m, there'll be an informational session designed to help seniors understand the ins and outs of Medicare.  Seniors can also get free health screenings all day at the Illinois Building near the Main Gate.  And if you're up for a few laughs, check out the "Not So Newlywed Game" at 1 p.m.

Macomb Teacher Charged With Criminal Sexual Abuse

(Macomb, IL)  --  A Macomb High School boys basketball coach is charged with one count of criminal sexual abuse.  Daniel Watson was taken into custody on Friday on a 100-thousand dollar warrant.  Police aren't providing too many details about the case but we do know Watson has been under investigation since July 20th.  As it stands right now, Watson is still employed with the district.  The school board is expected to discuss the matter at their meeting tonight.  In the meantime, Watson is out on bail.

President Obama Set To Hit Midwest This Week

(Springfield, IL)  --  President Obama's bus tour will bring him through northwestern Illinois this week.  He's holding town hall meetings in Atkinson and Alpha on Wednesday.  The Atkinson meeting will be at Wyffels Hybrids Incorporated and in Alpha, residents can catch him at the Country Corner Farm Market.  It's just two of the stops on President Obama's campaign bus tour through the Midwest.  He'll also make stops in Iowa and Minnesota.

State Representative Ron Stephens Replaced

(Springfield, IL)  --  An O'Fallon attorney is headed to the Illinois statehouse.  Paul Evans will replace former representative Ron Stephens, who retired earlier this month.  Evans was the unanimous choice among local Republican Party leaders who selected him over seven other candidates.  He doesn't have much political experience but he's the vice president of the O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce and he serves on the Metro East Park and Recreation District Board.

College Funding Linked To Student Performance

(Springfield, IL)  --  Illinois colleges and universities are being put to the test.  A new law allows the state to fund higher education institutions based on student performance.  Governor Quinn says the idea is to increase accountability and improve student outcomes.  The new law creates a commission that will develop a performance system that focuses on course completion, maintaining the quality of current degree offerings and rewarding institutions that advance the success of students who are at-risk academically or financially.

Gas Prices Update

(Springfield, IL)  --  Illinois drivers are getting a break at the pump.  The average price for a gallon of gas is three dollars and seventy seven cents, that's down ten cents from last week.  Some analysts expect prices to keep falling, especially after Labor Day weekend when the demand for gas will go down.

Pork Producers Raise Money For Needy

(Springfield, IL)  --  Peace, Love and Pork.  It's a campaign sponsored by the Illinois Pork Producers Association to raise money for food pantries across the state.  Spokesperson Tim Maiers says you swing by their booth at the state fair to support the cause.  They're selling "Peace, Love, and Pork" T-shirts for ten dollars apiece.   Maiers says they've donated more than 200-thousand pounds of pork to eight regional food banks over the past four years.

U of I Gets Cash For Nuclear Research

(Champaign, IL)  --  The University of Illinois is getting more than half a million dollars to find ways to make nuclear power plants safer and more efficient.  It's part of the U.S. Department of Energy's plan to develop cutting-edge nuclear energy technologies that will educate the next generation of leaders in the U.S.  One report indicates the U of I funds will focus on advanced reactor and fuel cycle concepts.  The project is expected to start in the fall.

Central Illinois Man To Serve Full Sentence

(Bloomington, IL)  --  A Central Illinois man will serve his full eight and a half year jail sentence.  Xavier Cordova was convicted for choking his roommate to death at a party in 2009.  He says even though he intentionally put his roommate in a choke hold, he didn't mean to kill him.  Cordova's attorneys have asked a judge to shorten the sentence because Cordova, who's diabetic, isn't receiving proper medical attention.  But a McLean County Judge says he doesn't believe Cordova has accepted responsibility for the incident