Edgar County Watch Dogs
Recent News About Edgar County Watch Dogs
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Illinois gun ban ruled unconstitutional; state enjoined from enforcing penalties
US District Judge Stephen P. McGlynn has ruled on the Protect Illinois Communities Act, commonly known as the Illinois Assault Weapons Ban and Gun Registration law.
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Tinley Park mayor accuses Senator Hastings of coercion over state property deal
The Village of Tinley Park, Illinois, recently released a video on its official website revealing details about the efforts to purchase a former state mental health center property.
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Mayor faces lawsuit over liquor license denial amid allegations of bias
In Rochester, Illinois, Mayor Joseph Suerdieck and the Village of Rochester are facing a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Henry’s On Main, LLC. The business has accused them of violating civil rights related to free speech, petitioning for redress of grievances, and equal protection.
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Audit reveals spending issues in Poplar Grove
The Village of Poplar Grove, Illinois, has received a preliminary report from a forensic audit examining credit card expenditures between 2019 and 2023. The audit was conducted during the terms of Owen Costanza, who served as village president until 2021, and Don Sattler, who assumed the role after Costanza lost the election.
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Village of Robbins passes unlawful compensation ordinance
The Village of Robbins, Illinois, has enacted a new ordinance regarding the compensation of elected officials that contravenes state law. The ordinance was passed by the Board of Trustees on October 1, 2024.
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Judgment against Paris officers for civil rights violations
The Federal Court for the Central District of Illinois has ruled against Paris Police Officers Matthew McConnell and Kevin Ring, who is retired, for civil rights violations involving Skyler Davis, a disabled man from Paris. This decision comes after five years of legal proceedings. The case stemmed from an incident on August 27, 2019, when the officers pursued then-15-year-old Skyler Davis with their squad cars. McConnell claimed that Davis had violated a city ordinance by riding his bicycle on sidewalks in the business district.
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Investigation into mayoral candidate prompts ethics concerns in Caseyville
Caseyville, Ill. (ECWd) –
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DACC president placed on administrative leave over alleged racist messages
Danville, Ill. (ECWd) – According to reports, Danville Area Community College (“DACC”) President, Dr. Stephen Nacco was placed on administrative leave today following alleged abusive and racial text messages sent by him to the Mayor of Danville, Illinois. The incident occurred after Nacco asked the Mayor to sign a letter of support in bringing “undocumented immigrants” to Danville.
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Thornton Township accused of violating Illinois Bingo License and Tax Act
South Holland, Ill. (ECWd) – Facebook user Joy Schreiber has highlighted that the Illinois Bingo License and Tax Act allows local governments to conduct BINGO games “subject to” a $10 maximum prize value for each game without requiring a license. According to the Act, local governments are not eligible for a bingo license but can organize games within this specified restriction.
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Illinois DNR opens bids for agriculture leases from 2025 to 2029
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has announced it will accept sealed bids this fall for approximately 30 agricultural lease contracts for crop years 2025-2029.
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Former Indianola mayor admits unauthorized equipment rental
During the June 2024 Indianola Village Board meeting, then-Mayor Thomas Gooch admitted he rented a skid steer in the name of the village, purportedly for village use, and that he also used that skid steer at his personal residence for around a half day.
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CEO of Open The Books passes away
Adam Andrzejewski, CEO and founder of "Open The Books," passed away over the weekend.
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Citizen watchdog training seminar scheduled in Peoria
American Watchdogs, Inc. will be conducting a 4-hour citizen watchdog training event in Peoria, Illinois on September 14, 2024. The seminar will take place at the Illinois Central College, Peoria Campus.
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Citizen watchdog training seminar scheduled in Bolingbrook
American Watchdogs, Inc. will conduct a four-hour citizen watchdog training event in Bolingbrook, Illinois, on September 21, 2024. The event will be held at the Veterans Premier Charity Raffle Hall.
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Shelby County faces questions over enforcement of court orders
On May 8, 2024, Judge Miller issued an order requiring a criminal defendant to comply with the Criminal Identification Act by May 10, 2024. Attorney Tom Finks appeared in court on the deadline date and reportedly attempted to have previous orders dismissed, but they remained intact.
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Former Illinois Senator Sam McCann sentenced for fraud and tax evasion
Former Illinois State Senator William Samuel McCann Jr. has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $683,816.61 in restitution for fraudulent use of campaign funds, money laundering, and tax evasion.
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Shelby County faces scrutiny over timekeeping practices amid record discrepancies
In Shelby County, discussions about accurate timekeeping and payroll records continue to stir debate. At a recent Legislative Committee meeting, the Shelby County Health Department Administrator refused to allow the installation of electronic timeclocks. This decision comes despite their use in other county departments, except for the Sheriff's office, which advised full-time employees to stop using them after a forensic audit revealed over $750,000 in errors.
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Shooting incident captured on video leads to charges in Kansas public housing
On June 28, 2024, a shooting incident occurred at the Kansas Public Housing area in Kansas, Illinois. The Edgar County Housing Authority released surveillance footage of the event following a Freedom of Information Act request.
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Shelby County news outlet defends reporting amid accusations of misinformation
Despite claims of misinformation from certain Shelby County residents, a local news organization maintains that its reporting remains accurate and based on information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. A recent Facebook post questioned the accuracy of their report regarding former State’s Attorney Nichole Kronke's use of a county credit card.
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Atlanta City Council addresses allegations and ratifies appointment
Atlanta, Ill. (ECWd) – The Atlanta City Council meeting was live-streamed following reports of a previous session allegedly conducted without a quorum. During that earlier meeting, a council member was appointed to fill a board vacancy, and his appointment was "ratified" in the recent session.