Illinois Briefs - 12/24/12

Religious Leaders Support Gay Marriage

(Chicago, IL)  --  A group of religious leaders say gay marriage is a matter of justice and equality.  About 260 religious leaders in Illinois say it's unjust to deny gay couples the right to marry.  They've penned letters to lawmakers urging them to support the Religious Freedom and Marriage Act.  The proposal is expected to come up for a vote next month.  Most of the religious leaders are from the Chicago area.

New Law Goes After Delinquent Parents

(Springfield, IL)  --  More than 150 new laws go into effect come January 1st.  One new law makes it easier for state officials to go after a self-employed parent who's behind on paying child support.  The delinquent parent may have to provide the courts with monthly financial statements from their business.  If the parent is unemployed, he or she will have to make consistent reports about their job search.  Or they'll have to report to the Department of Employment Security to look for work so they can pay child support.

Frequent Flier Miles Help Wounded Vets

(Chicago, IL)  --  Governor Quinn is urging people to donate their frequent flier miles to veterans.  Operation Hero Miles provides free round-trip airline tickets to military families flying overseas to visit a servicemember receiving medical treatment.  The program also enables wounded or sick servicemembers to fly home at no cost.  To date, Operation Hero Miles

has issued more than 34-thousand donated tickets, saving veterans and their families nearly 54 million dollars.  To donate your airline miles, visit www.FisherHouse.org.

Bolingbrook Worker Accused Of Stealing From Company

(Bolingbrook, IL)  --  A Bolingbrook woman is accused of stealing more than 100-thousand dollars worth of electronic equipment.  Mary Samy allegedly took cell phones and Samsung tablets from the U.S. Cellular distribution center where she works.  Police say she had the items sent to vacant homes in Wisconsin.  She allegedly had plans to sell the items.  Samy's charged with theft and is being held in the Will County Jail.

Legos Among Most Popular Requests For Santa

(Springfield, IL)   --  Legos are among the hottest toys of the season.  Santa says most of the kids who've visited him at the White Oaks Mall in Springfield this year have requested the new themed building blocks.  He says kids can do all kinds of creative things with the toys.  Santa says he won't be delivering many coals tomorrow because kids big and small have been more good than bad this year.  You can track Santa's whereabouts by checking out NORADsanta.org.