Susan Smith-Harmon
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Two guards and a chaplain have been released from a hospital after being hurt in an Illinois prison attack that union officials say involved up to 15 inmates.
Tuesday's assaults were the latest in a series of violent incidents over the last month at Menard Correctional Center and other Illinois state prisons. Last Thursday, a Menard inmate died in what one official called suspicious circumstances.
Union officials say the violence is a result of Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn's decision to close several prisons around the state to save money.
Tuesday's assaults happened as about 200 union members marched outside the prison in the southern Illinois town of Chester. They were protesting over what they say are growing threats to their safety.
Corrections officials say the attack led to a lockdown.
Tuesday's assaults were the latest in a series of violent incidents over the last month at Menard Correctional Center and other Illinois state prisons. Last Thursday, a Menard inmate died in what one official called suspicious circumstances.
Union officials say the violence is a result of Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn's decision to close several prisons around the state to save money.
Tuesday's assaults happened as about 200 union members marched outside the prison in the southern Illinois town of Chester. They were protesting over what they say are growing threats to their safety.
Corrections officials say the attack led to a lockdown.
MO Senate backs quick takeover of failed schools
Wednesday, 06 February 2013 01:13 Published in Local News
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Senate has endorsed a measure that could speed up state intervention in failing school districts.
The bill given initial approval Tuesday night is aimed mainly at the Kansas City School District, which lost its accreditation in January 2012.
Under current law, Missouri officials must wait until at least June 30, 2014, before intervening in the Kansas City district.
The Senate legislation would let the state intervene immediately after a district loses its accreditation. The state Board of Education could prescribe conditions under which the existing local school board could continue to oversee the school, or it could set up an alternative governing structure.
Those alternatives could include creating a special administrative board, merging the district with neighboring ones or splitting the district into several new ones.
The bill given initial approval Tuesday night is aimed mainly at the Kansas City School District, which lost its accreditation in January 2012.
Under current law, Missouri officials must wait until at least June 30, 2014, before intervening in the Kansas City district.
The Senate legislation would let the state intervene immediately after a district loses its accreditation. The state Board of Education could prescribe conditions under which the existing local school board could continue to oversee the school, or it could set up an alternative governing structure.
Those alternatives could include creating a special administrative board, merging the district with neighboring ones or splitting the district into several new ones.
UPDATE: EB I-64 reopens after tanker truck spill near Centralia, IL
Wednesday, 06 February 2013 00:44 Published in Local News
Good news for drivers in Washington County, Illinois. Eastbound I-64 has reopened after being closed for several hours due to a toxic spill near Centralia.
Fire crews had evacuated residents near the interstate Tuesday evening after a tanker truck hauling toxic material began leaking. Authorities say the evacuations were just precautionary.
Eastbound I-64 was closed for several hours between mile markers 61 and 69 while the material was offloaded to another truck and the road was washed down. The interstate reopened a little before 3:00 a.m.
Fire crews had evacuated residents near the interstate Tuesday evening after a tanker truck hauling toxic material began leaking. Authorities say the evacuations were just precautionary.
Eastbound I-64 was closed for several hours between mile markers 61 and 69 while the material was offloaded to another truck and the road was washed down. The interstate reopened a little before 3:00 a.m.
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