Former SIUE student fights bid to restore conviction
Attorneys for a former SIU Edwardsville student are asking the Illinois Supreme Court to uphold a lower court's decision to toss out their client's conviction of attempting to make a terroristic threat. The filing on behalf of Olutosin Oduwole comes more than a month after he was ordered freed by a state appellate court.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is appealing the overthrown conviction on behalf of Madison County prosecutors.
Oduwole's attorneys now argue there's no compelling reason for the state's high court to hear the case, and their client's six-year ordeal constitutes an abuse of prosecutorial power and a waste of judicial resources.
Metro-east senator wants Gov. Quinn to appoint a new SIU board
A metro-east state senator says he'll file legislation to have the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees disbanded.
Alton Senator Bill Haine says the governor needs to start over after board member Roger Herrin tried to have himself appointed as chairman.
Yesterday's board meeting in Carbondale ended early when trustee Marquita Wiley of Belleville and SIU-Edwardsville student trustee David Hamilton walked out in protest. The two objected to the election of officers, saying no chair should be chosen until Governor Quinn and the Illinois Senate fill three vacant board seats.
The walkout effectively stopped Herrin's election, because with only five seats currently filled, Wiley and Hamilton's absences meant the board didn't have a quorum.
Madison County seeks appeal after SIUE student threat conviction tossed
Madison County Prosecutor Thomas Gibbons is asking Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to appeal the appellate court's ruling to the state's Supreme Court.
Twenty-seven year old Olutosin Oduwole was released Monday from a prison in Jacksonville. He'd been serving a five year sentence linked to a 2011 conviction of attempting to make a terrorist threat.
Prosecutors say a note found in Oduwole's abandoned car in 2007 threatened a murderous rampage if he wasn't paid $50,000. As an aspiring rapper, Oduwole claimed the writings were just lyrics or other musings.
Maura Possley, a spokeswoman for Madigan, said Gibbons' appellate request was being reviewed.
Rift over SIU board forces canceled meeting
The Thursday morning meeting was canceled for lack of quorum because of the three vacancies and the absence of a fourth trustee.
That came a day after the Illinois Senate overwhelmingly rejected Quinn's appointments of three replacements for three board members whose terms expired last month.
Wednesday's failed ratification vote continues a year-old power struggle at SIU.
The rift dates to early last year when the SIU board refused to give Quinn-appointed Roger Herrin another term as chairman. The board contended he was too involved in day-to-day operations. Those who voted to oust Herrin included the three members Quinn replaced this week.
Latest News
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8

3 Injured After Bridge Collapse in Washington State
Mount Vernon, WA (ABC) - Three people were sent to the hospital after a portion of an Interstate 5 highway bridge in Mount Vernon, Wash., collapsed Thursday, dumping three vehic...

Boy Scouts vote to allow gay boys to join
GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - The Boy Scouts of America's National Council has voted to ease a long-standing ban and allow openly gay boys to be accepted as Scouts. Of the local Scout l...

Illinois to create state-run health care exchange
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Senate has approved a measure that would create a state-governed "insurance exchange" so individuals and small businesses can shop for health ...

IL lawmakers approved ban on using cell phones while dr…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Senate has approved a plan that would ban the use of cell phones while driving. Senators voted 34-20 Thursday, sending the bill to Gov. Pat Q...

Police release photo of gas station robbery suspect
Police are asking for help to find the suspects who robbed a Cahokia gas station overnight. The Midwest Petroleum convenience store was robbed around 2:30 AM. Three suspects smash...
Attorney says pot penalties being misapplied in Columbi…
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - A Columbia lawyer says a local ordinance that treats marijuana possession as a municipal violation isn't being followed by Boone County sheriff's deputies patr...

Police arrest man for shooting into South St. Louis hom…
A suspect is in custody after allegedly shooting into a South St. Louis home. Police were on the scene when they saw the suspect fire several shots into a home near the intersecti...

AP: Man driving van during fatal wreck had suspended li…
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Public records show a New Jersey man behind the wheel of a van that overturned on an Illinois freeway, killing five passengers, had his driving privileges suspende...