Dewitt Daily News News

Clinton HS BBall Coach, AD Steps Down

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

Clinton High School is now in a searching mode for a new Athletic Director and a boys high school basketball coach. Last month Chris Gibson, the high schools named Athletic Director for next year, resigned to return to a school district closer to hi...

Red Cross Gives Avenue For Help In Oklahoma Tornado Relief

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

In the wake of the Oklahoma tornado, many central Illinoisans may be wanting to help in some way, but are unsure of how to. The American Red Cross is one organization that is always prepared for these situations and has several ways for people to pr...

Jurors Get Glimpse Of Beason Survivor's Injuries

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

Jurors are getting a glimpse of the injuries suffered by the only survivor of the Beason murders. Tabitha Gee was just three years old when her family was killed in a brutal attack back in September 2009. Prosecutors say she suffered seve...

Prosecution Case May Be Near End In Beason Murder Trial

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

Prosecutors appear to be nearing the end of their case in the trial of a man charged with beating five members of a central Illinois family to death in 2009. Prosecutors had just a handful of possible witnesses left in Christopher Harris' trial as t...

Springfield Man Gets 65-Years In Killing

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

A central Illinois judge has sentenced a Springfield man to 65 years in prison for armed robbery and murder. Reports indicate 23-year-old Antonio Phillips received the sentence. He was convicted in March of shooting 24-year-old William "Wes" Suggs i...

University of Illinois' 117-Year Old Telescope To Get Repairs

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

Like anything that's 117 years old, the telescope in the University of Illinois' observatory could use a little work. This summer, it will get it. A crew dismantled the telescope this week and is sending it to a business in Pennsylvania that will wo...

New Illinois House Guns Bill Excludes Parks, Transit

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

Compromise Illinois House legislation to regulate the carrying of concealed weapons would ban guns in parks and on public transportation. Rep. Brandon Phelps filed the legislation Wednesday. An analysis of the bill by The Associated Press shows it w...

Speaker Says House Guns Vote Will Be Friday

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan says legislation allowing the carrying of concealed guns will get a vote Friday. The Chicago Democrat emerged from a private meeting of his caucus late Wednesday afternoon saying he believes there are sufficien...

Fracking Debate Heats Up

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

Emotions are running high as the fracking debate continues in Illinois. Opponents argue fracking will contaminate drinking water but State Rep John Bradley says he'd never support anything that would harm his own family. [audio:rddBradFrack1.mp3] [/...

Comptroller Prefers Senate Version Of Pension Reform

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

One state official says she knows which pension plan is the best for the state. Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka calls Senate President John Cullerton's bill more sensible. [audio:rddjbt1.mp3] [/audio] Topinka thinks Speaker Michael Madigan's pension ...

Bill Raises Highway Speed Limit To 70 MPH Headed To Governor

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS ARE SENDING THE GOVERNOR A BILL RAISING THE INTERSTATE SPEED LIMIT. THE MEASURE BOOSTS THE HIGHWAY SPEED LIMIT FROM 65 MILES PER HOUR…TO 70. IT SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE JERRY COSTELLO OF RED BUD. [audio:seventy1.mp3] [/...

Western Illinois Drug Court Supervisor Facing Drug Charge

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

Federal prosecutors have charged the supervisor of a western Illinois drug-court program with allowing his home to be used to make methamphetamine and to grow marijuana. The U.S. Attorney's Office in central Illinois announced Wednesday that 59-year...

State Has Paid Down Unpaid Bills By Four Billion Dollars

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

The state has brought in enough extra cash to pay off about four billion dollars worth of unpaid bills. The backlog now sits at just under six billion bucks but Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka says it may not be that low for long. [audio:rddJBTBills1....

Black Lawmakers Blamed For School Closings

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

Black lawmakers are being blamed for Chicago school closures. Akilah Davis reports. [audio:rddclosingswrap.mp3] [/audio]

Changes May Be Coming To Sex Ed Classes Across Illinois

2013-05-23T05:00:00Z

School districts could soon teach both abstinence and sex education to its students. Senator Heather Steans [[ Stayns ]] says it gives kids a choice of having safe sex or abstaining. [audio:rddhs.mp3] [/audio] Sen. Steans says teens are the leading...

DeWitt County Sheriff's Office Responds To Naked Man Lying In DeWitt County Field

2013-05-22T05:00:00Z

Around 10:30 AM Monday morning, the DeWitt County Sheriff's Office responded to a disturbance call about five miles south of Clinton on US Highway 51 of a naked man lying in a field. Sheriff's deputies arrived on the scene to find a man rolling in t...

Jury Set To Begin Third Week of Beason Trial

2013-05-22T05:00:00Z

Jurors will begin hearing their third week of testimony in the trial of a man charged with beating five members of a central Illinois family to death. Prosecutors started presenting their case against Christopher Harris on May 8 and are expected to ...

Clinton Track Teams Wrap Up Successful 2013 Campaigns

2013-05-22T05:00:00Z

The Clinton School district's track teams experienced a tremendous amount of success this season. The Clinton High School girls track team set 14 new records this season. Assistant Coach Rachel Lyons says while track is a team sport with a large e...

Clinton Chamber Calls May Days Success

2013-05-22T05:00:00Z

This past weekend was one of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce's largest fundraising events, May Days. Organizers are calling the event a success once again, and Executive Director of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Marian Brisard spoke before the Cl...

Congressman Davis Working For Transportation Bill That Improvements Movement On Illinois Waterways

2013-05-22T05:00:00Z

Congressman Rodney Davis has been an instrumental piece in the US House of Representatives Ag Committee approving a Farm Bill, but the first-year Congressman has his hands in another piece of legislation he is optimistic can receive significant movem...