Home invading elf discovered

HERSCHER, Ill. (AP) - The home-invading Christmas elf has been identified, and it turns out to be a teen-age prankster.

New Nov 20, 2009 | 3:15 pm | Loading…

Scientists map the genetic makeup of corn

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Scientists have unraveled the DNA of humans and other creatures. Now, a team led by the Genome Center at Washington University in St. Louis has decoded the genetic makeup of a stalk of corn.

Nov 20, 2009 | 12:00 pm | Loading…

Burris admonished by Senate ethics committee

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate ethics committee today admonished Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., for making "inconsistent, misleading or incomplete" statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the seat once held by Barack Obama. The committee didn't recommend any punishment.

Nov 20, 2009 | 11:00 am | Loading…

Illinois motorists told to prepare for winter

SPRINGFIELD (AP) - Illinois motorists have been urged to start getting ready for winter driving.

Nov 20, 2009 | 10:00 am | Loading…

Illinois launches online hospital report card

SPRINGFIELD (AP) - Illinois has launched an online tool consumers can use to find an unprecedented amount of information on hospitals and surgical centers.

Nov 20, 2009 | 9:15 am | Loading…

Fans excited to hear about Oprah's future

CHICAGO (AP) - Fans who'll be in the audience at "The Oprah Winfrey Show" say they're excited to be on hand to hear the media mogul talk about what she plans for the future.

Nov 20, 2009 | 8:40 am | Loading…

Democrat Halvorson among skeptics of plan to sell Thomson prison to feds

By KURT ERICKSON - H&R Springfield Bureau Chief

SPRINGFIELD - Count Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson among skeptics of a plan to sell the state's unused prison in Thomson to the federal government.

Nov 20, 2009 | 4:00 am | Loading…

Report states obesity rates will grow

CHICAGO (AP) - A new obesity report has some sobering estimates for Illinois and the rest of the nation.

Nov 19, 2009 | 10:00 am | Loading…

Task force on nursing home safety meets today

CHICAGO (AP) - A task force examining the safety of Illinois nursing homes is ready to discuss concrete changes.

Nov 19, 2009 | 9:15 am | Loading…

Deer hunters urged to be cautious

SPRINGFIELD (AP) - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is urging hunters to make safety their first priority as the state's deer season begins this week.

Nov 19, 2009 | 8:55 am | Loading…

Bill Brady sees Jim Ryan as 'only competition' in GOP race for governor

By KENNETH LOWE - H&R Staff Writer

DECATUR - State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, spoke with the Herald & Review editorial board Wednesday about how he's campaigning against six other Republicans for the chance to run for governor in 2010.

Nov 19, 2009 | 4:00 am | Loading…

Attorney says former governor doing as good as can be expected in prison

By MIKE RIOPELL - H&R Springfield Bureau Writer

SPRINGFIELD - Former Gov. George Ryan continues to get by in federal prison, awaiting a release that would come when he's about 80 years old, his attorney and fellow former Gov. Jim Thompson said Wednesday.

Nov 19, 2009 | 4:00 am | Loading…

Iowa lawmaker plans to file bill opposing Guantanamo detainees at Thomson prison

By ED TIBBETTS - Lee News Service Writer

DAVENPORT, Iowa - An Iowa congressman said Wednesday that he would introduce legislation to bar the Obama administration from moving detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Thomson Correctional Center in Northwestern Illinois.

Nov 19, 2009 | 4:00 am | Loading…

George Ryan pension case goes before state Supreme Court

By MIKE RIOPELL - H&R Springfield Bureau Writer

SPRINGFIELD - The state Wednesday told the Illinois Supreme Court that imprisoned former Republican Gov. George Ryan shouldn't be allowed to collect any of his state pension after being convicted of corruption.

Nov 19, 2009 | 4:00 am | Loading…

State tries to block George Ryan's pension before Supreme Court

By MIKE RIOPELL - H&R Springfield Bureau Writer

SPRINGFIELD - The state Wednesday told the Illinois Supreme Court that imprisoned former Gov. George Ryan shouldn't be allowed to collect any of his state pension after being convicted of corruption.

Nov 18, 2009 | 4:00 pm | Loading…

Holder "disturbed" by contacts between suspect and imam

WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorney General Eric Holder says he was disturbed to learn of contacts between Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Hasan and a radical imam overseas.

Nov 18, 2009 | 11:30 am | Loading…

Quinn, Hynes debate twice today

CHICAGO (AP) - The last time Gov. Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes debated, the two Democratic candidates for governor were on the attack and gave their Republican rivals plenty of material.

Nov 18, 2009 | 10:00 am | Loading…

Illinois launches online diabetes survey

SPRINGFIELD (AP) - Illinois has launched an online survey to gather information about diabetes.

Nov 18, 2009 | 9:15 am | Loading…

New bus safety law takes effect

CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois has a new law that officials say will improve the safety of students riding on school buses.

Nov 18, 2009 | 8:40 am | Loading…