A federal jury has found ex-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich guilty of one count of lying to federal agents. The judge in the trial says he plans to call a mistrial on all remaining counts.
Jurors in the corruption trial against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich reached a verdict on Tuesday, the court's clerk said, two weeks after they began deliberating.
Blagojevich adjusted his tie and held his wife, Patti's hand as he arrived at the courthouse. Stepping off the elevator, he asked spectators to "say a prayer for us." His brother, Robert, arrived a few minutes later, as did U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.
Jurors in the corruption trial against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich reached a verdict on Tuesday, the court's clerk said, two weeks after they began deliberating.
It was not immediately known what the verdict said, and attorneys and defendants were gathering in the courtroom.
Blagojevich adjusted his tie and held his wife, Patti's hand as he arrived at the courthouse. Stepping off the elevator, he asked spectators to "say a prayer for us." His brother, Robert, arrived a few minutes later, as did U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.
Earlier Tuesday, the jurors asked Judge James B. Zagel how they should mark the verdict form if they can't reach a decision on a count. In the first part of the note, they also asked for a copy of the oath they took before deliberating.
Angelina Millikan got quite a wake-up call from Mother Nature Thursday afternoon, when a tree crashed through her apartment at Franklin County Housing on East Webster Street.
"I was in the kitchen talking to a neighbor who had just moved her van from beside the tree," Millikan said. "I went back in (my apartment) and got a glass of tea before I went into the bedroom.
Judge Walden Morris denied a motion Thursday afternoon to reduce bond in the case against Todd Fort, Harrisburg School Board president and a sheriff’s deputy.
Fort’s bond will remain set at $250,000; defense attorney Bryan Drew had suggested $40,000 bond.
Fort, 43, Harrisburg, is charged with four counts of criminal sexual assault and four counts of official misconduct. The charges contend Fort committed four acts of sexual penetration with the girl, who was 17 years old at the time, between May 1 and July 19. The charges further contend Fort was in a position of supervision, authority or trust with the girl. Fort remains held at the Jackson County jail
The inventory sheets from a search warrant conducted on the residence of Chief Deputy Todd Fort have been sealed by the Circuit Court.
Fort, 43, Harrisburg, is charged with four counts of criminal sexual assault and four counts of official misconduct. The charges contend Fort committed four acts of sexual penetration with the victim, who was 17 years old at the time, between May 1 and July 19. The charges further contend Fort was in a position of supervision, authority or trust with the girl. Fort remains held at the Jackson County jail on $250,000 bond.
Saline County Chief Deputy and Harrisburg school board President Todd Fort had his first appearance in court Friday morning on sexual assault and official misconduct charges at the Saline County Detention Center.
A preliminary hearing is set for 1 p.m. Aug. 19 in the case.
Bob and Lucille (Underwood) Kirkpatrick were married July 27, 1950 in Sesser.
The Franklin County Ag in the Classroom has been outside the classroom this summer visiting different groups.
Two people including Randy Reynolds, 54, of Herrin were fatally injured in a fiery crash that occurred at 2:01 p.m. Thursday afternoon near Mile Marker 66 on Interstate 57.
According to Trooper David Sneed, with the Illinois State Police, an SUV, along with two pickup trucks and a flat bed semi hauling truck chassis were stopped in traffic in the northbound lane of the interstate when a fifth tractor-trailer — a dump trailer hauling car batteries — failed to stop, causing the initial crash.
For May 3-7
SESSER — Authorities are searching for two Sesser men wanted as persons of interest in connection with a violent attack that left a woman seriously injured after having her throat slashed.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) visited Franklin County Thursday to check on the progress of improvements being made at Rend Lake.
The lake is currently undergoing a $26 million project funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"I know what Rend Lake has meant and what this project has meant to Southern Illinois," Durbin said.
The Relay For Life of Franklin County Taste of Hope fundraiser will be held Tuesday, April 13, from 5 p.m to close.
Dine at local Franklin County restaurants and 20 percent of the bill will be donated to the Relay For Life of Franklin County.
Court Appointed Special Advocates have been working for almost 11 years to help abused and neglected children.
Between lengthy court cases and sorrow, volunteers are working to get laughs and loot during this year's We Rock for CASA gala.
The event is being held Friday, April 23 in the Benton Civic Center, and CASA of Franklin County director Mariah Hayes said new faces have been added to the lineup.
Kindergarten registration will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in the Zeigler-Royalton gym.
To register, children must be residents of the school district and must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2010.
At the time of year when residents are cleaning out closets, garages and spare rooms, why not donate usable items to benefit children?
Peek-A-Boo's is hosting a huge benefit yard sale, with proceeds going to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Owner Savannah Elliott said the sale is being held Saturday, April 17, at the Scout Cabin located on West Washington Street in Benton.
The National Weather Service tornado watch alert hit the Internet shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Ryan M. Buckingham, Franklin County Emergency Management Agency director, and Allan Ninness, Saline County EMA director, watched the computer monitors closely, relaying information internally in the Franklin County Annex Building office.
As Ninness relayed information, Buckingham logged in to the Nixle Web site to alert residents of the watch that was issued at 1:25 p.m. for Franklin County.
A birthday bash to celebrate three years of rehabilitation wildlife babies might sound strange top some.
For Pam Sundeen, owner and operator of Second Nature Wildlife Rehabilitation, the event means so much more.
Benton Grade School K-4 has released the honor roll for the third quarter.
Certified family nurse practitioner Terri Braddock joined the new clinic located on the third floor of Franklin Hospital on Feb. 1.
Paired with Dr. David Hartman, Braddock said she completed her nurse practitioner schooling in 2000. The new clinic named the Community Care Clinic has seven examination rooms and one procedures room. The medical facility is open seven days a week.
The dark of night and dangerously high winds did not deter those holding a prayer service vigil at the West Frankfort Coal Miners Memorial on East Main Street Tuesday evening.
The essence of the gathering was to remember more than 20 miners lost in the West Virginia mine explosion this week, as well as those area miners in the Centralia, West Frankfort and other area disasters.
