Dewitt Daily News News http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news 20 Latest News Articles 2013-05-25T01:26:28Z Changes Coming in Clinton Chamber Office Next Month Some changes are coming at the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce. Executive director Marian Brisard has announced that 2 members of the office staff, Carolyn Sugg and Joey Woolridge, will be leaving in June. Sugg, who first worked for the Chamber in... 2013-05-24T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78866 Clinton Library Readies For Summer Reading Program As school age kids in DeWitt County wind down the school year this week, one local entity is ready to help keep them busy this summer. The Warner Public Library is ready for area students to take part in their annual summer reading club program. Chi... 2013-05-24T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78778 Maroa-Forsyth Schools Elect To Change Grading Scale A local school district has elected to change their grading scale going forward. The Maroa-Forsyth School district discusses the issue of changing their grading scale every couple of years, and they have decided to lower their expectations for what ... 2013-05-24T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78776 Local Legislator Opposes New Sex Ed Mandate Imposed By State If your local school has, in place, a sex education curriculum that you approve of, for your child, it may not necessarily match the new sex-ed standards state government wants to teach, under legislation on its way to the Governor. State Senator Ch... 2013-05-24T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78774 House Guns Bill Would Overrule Local Gun Laws Illinois legislation allowing public possession of concealed guns would wipe out local firearms ordinances. Some opponents following debate Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee are raising objections to a concealed carry measure sponsored b... 2013-05-24T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78773 House Committee Approves Concealed Carry Measure A NEW CONCEALED CARRY PROPOSAL IS MAKING SOME HEADWAY IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE. REPRESENTATIVE BRANDON PHELPS OF HARRISBURG PUT TOGETHER THE BILL THAT HAS NOW PASSED A HOUSE COMMITTEE…AND SAYS IT PRE-EMPTS LOCAL GUN RULES AND SETS UP A STATEWIDE... 2013-05-24T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78772 Governor Quinn Opposes House Compromise Gun Bill Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn opposes the compromise gun-carry legislation that the Illinois House is readying for a floor vote on Friday. Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson says the legislation is "a massive overreach" because it would overturn all existi... 2013-05-24T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78771 University of Illinois Say Chief Illiniwek Part of Past The University of Illinois' Senate Executive Committee has approved a resolution supporting the end of use of Chief Illiniwek. The group approved the nonbinding resolution on Wednesday afternoon. The group includes faculty, students and academic pro... 2013-05-24T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78769 Drivers May Have To Put Cell Phones Away It might soon be against the law to hold a phone and talk while driving. Senator Jason Barickman doesn't like a plan to ban cell phones while driving because he says it's not the only problem. [audio:rddjb22.mp3] [/audio] The bill would require dri... 2013-05-24T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78768 Several Holding Peaceful Sit-In Outside Quinn Office A peaceful sit-in in front of Governor Pat Quinn's capital office has led to two arrests this week. Angie Viands wants to meet with Quinn to share her concerns about fracking, but she was led out in cuffs when she refused to leave the building after ... 2013-05-24T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78765 AG Warns of Charity Scams After Oklahoma Tornado Attorney General Lisa Madigan says people should use caution when donating money to help victims of the Oklahoma tornado. Madigan says scam artists often try to take advantage of people who want to help after a disaster. She's urging the public to d... 2013-05-24T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78762 Illinois Senate Approves Health-Coverage Exchange Plan The Illinois Senate has approved a measure that would create a state-governed "insurance exchange" so individuals and small businesses can shop for health care coverage as required by President Obama's health law. Lawmakers voted Thursday 37-19 to s... 2013-05-24T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78760 Lawmakers Ask Obama To Aid Flood-Impacted Areas The Illinois congressional delegation is asking President Barack Obama to make federal aid available to local governments in 25 counties impacted by floods earlier this month. The delegation sent a letter to Obama Thursday saying that the state has ... 2013-05-24T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78758 Clinton HS BBall Coach, AD Steps Down 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... 2013-05-23T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78626 Red Cross Gives Avenue For Help In Oklahoma Tornado Relief 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... 2013-05-23T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78623 Jurors Get Glimpse Of Beason Survivor's Injuries 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... 2013-05-23T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78622 Prosecution Case May Be Near End In Beason Murder Trial 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... 2013-05-23T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78621 Springfield Man Gets 65-Years In Killing 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... 2013-05-23T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78618 University of Illinois' 117-Year Old Telescope To Get Repairs 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... 2013-05-23T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78616 New Illinois House Guns Bill Excludes Parks, Transit 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... 2013-05-23T05:00:00Z http://www.dewittdailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=22&id=78613