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Last updated 11:43 am CT September 02, 2010.

Williamson County Continues Recycling Program

9/01/10

WILLIAMSON COUNTY--Williamson County is making big changes to its recycling program. Starting the middle of this month, the big, green trailers will travel across the county, picking up recyclables from schools, organizations and businesses. The bins
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Brady Touts Tax Cuts, Incentives

9/01/10

CARBONDALE -- Candidate for governor Bill Brady tours a Carbondale factory and touts his plan to create jobs in Illinois.

Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, is touring the state this week to talk about his economic plans. He says tax cuts will lure
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Three Years And Still No Major Surgeries

9/01/10

MARION -- Wednesday marks three years since major sugeries were suspended from the Marion VA. That's after a spike in deaths. In the time minor surgeries have been performed, but for the last three years there's one thing we've heard over and over fr
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Fresh Fruits and Veggies at School

9/01/10

The Illinois State Board of Education announced that 188 schools in Illinois will participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) during the 2010-11 school year.

The 188 schools participating in the federally-funded FFVP will share eq
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Pinckneyville Teen Accused of Murder Pleads Not Guilty

9/01/10

PINCKNEYVILLE-- 18-year-old Carl Dane entered not guilty pleas in Perry County court Wednesday morning.

Dane along with 17-year-old James Glazier and 15-year-old Robbie Mueller face first-degree murder charges.
They're accused of shooting and
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Families, Volunteers Benefit From Food Giveaway

8/31/10

MARION -- Hundreds of local families will not go hungry after a massive food giveaway Tuesday. They lined up in Marion as a semi full of food was distributed.

Cases of baby food and boxes packed with honey and other key ingredients are quickly lo
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GOP Newcomers Hope to Topple Incumbent Dems

8/31/10

DU QUOIN-- With the state of Illinois in a fiscal mess, and a former Democratic governor recently convicted of a felony, analysts say November's election is the Republicans' to lose.

If the GOP does win races at the bottom of the ticket, it will b
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New Flood Maps Released For Local Residents

8/31/10

HARRISBURG-- For many, maps are a way to find out where you're going, but some newly released flood plain maps of Saline, Gallatin, and Hardin Counties show people how close they are to a potential disaster.

During an open house on Tuesday, reside
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Local Attorney Faces Drug Charges

8/31/10

MARION -- A long-time attorney needs representation himself. Robert Drew is accused of smuggling drugs into a federal prison.

Robert Drew is now in custody at an Indiana jail. Drew, 68, of Marion, is charged with possession of a controlled subst
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Used Car Prices Soar

8/31/10

MARION-- If you're in the market for a used car you may have some sticker shock. A recent study shows prices have soared in the past year.

The higher prices you'll see at used car lots are all about supply and demand.

With the slowing econom
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Political Opponents Agree On Fair Funding

8/30/10

DU QUOIN -- A state senator and his opponent find something to agree on: the Du Quoin State Fair should not be on the budget chopping block.

"Is there any state park--anything that the state owns--that really, truly makes money," Sen. David Luecht
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Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite

8/30/10

WSIL -- Once thought to be eradicated, bedbugs are back with a vengeance. The pests are proving to be big business for local exterminators.

While bedbugs haven't been found to carry disease, just the thought of them crawling in your bed is eno
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New IL Law Requires All Rape Kits To Be Analyzed

8/30/10

JACKSON COUNTY-- Sometimes the only evidence in a sexual assault case is DNA collected in what's called a rape kit. But some rape kits are stored away and never make it to the crime lab for analysis. After September 1st, they all will; it's now the
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Peabody Energy Fined for Safety Issues

8/30/10

ST. LOUIS (AP) - An administrative law judge says Peabody Energy
Corp. must pay nearly $174,000 of $230,000 in proposed fines tied
to safety issues of a southern Illinois mine.

Calling the penalties for one of the world's biggest coal prod
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Families Find Ways To Keep Fair Affordable

8/29/10

DU QUOIN -- There is plenty of food, fun and family festivities at the 88th Annual Du Quoin State Fair. The fair wrapped up its opening weekend Sunday night with large crowds and plenty of chances for families to have a fun and affordable time.

Se
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Local Man Honored As Veteran Of The Month

8/29/10

DU QUOIN -- Sunday was Veterans Day at the Du Quoin State Fair. A chance to honor all those who have served. The Portrait of a Soldier memorial was on hand, it features hand drawn pictures of every soldier who has died while serving in Iraq and Afgha
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Governor Has Good News For Rural Hospitals

8/28/10

BENTON-- When Franklin Hospital administrator Hervey Davis first arrived at at the facility eight years ago, things weren't looking very good.

"When I came here, the hospital was scheduled to close five weeks after I got here," said Davis.

Alth
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Major Traffic Delays in Benton

8/27/10

UPDATE:
Benton Police say the train that was blocking traffic was moving again by 8:00 this evening

Previous Story:
Benton police say a Union Pacific train has stalled in Benton. Only three traffic crossings are open at this time.

Two
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Asian Carp Invade Local Waterways

8/27/10

HARDIN COUNTY--Asian Carp are invading waterways in Illinois, threatening a multi-billion dollar fishing industry.

The species was introduced into the States thirty years ago to help eliminate algae growth from fisheries. Now they're over populat
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Update: Ferris Change of Venue on Hold

8/27/10

FRANKLIN COUNTY-- Attorneys in a Franklin County capital punishment case are seeking a change of venue, but the judge is delaying his decision on that request.

Defense attorneys for Afton Ferris are seeking the change. Ferris and co-defendant Mic
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Topinka, Rutherford Plan To Merge Financial Offices

8/23/10

WSIL-TV-- Two candidates for statewide office have proposed a plan that could leave one of them without a job.

It wouldn't go into effect until 2014, but Judy Baar Topinka and Dan Rutherford say it's the best move for Illinois now.

The two
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Breakfast May Soon Get Harder to Swallow

8/27/10

CARBONDALE -- The price of bacon and eggs has soared. While stores and restaurants are tying to avoid a dramatic increase, it seems it's only a matter of time before it gets even harder to bring home the bacon.

Mary Lou's Restaurant in Carbonda
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Trial Date Set For BB Bandits

8/23/10

MARION -- Two people accused of shooting out dozens of car windows in Marion will face a jury soon.

Sharon Towns, 48, and Austin Baker, 19, both of Marion, will go before a jury September 7, 2010.

Both Towns and Baker, as well as a juvenile, ar
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Unsung Hero: Coaching with Inspiration

8/26/10

DESOTO -- He's been confined to a wheelchair for more than a decade, still a DeSoto man knows no bounds. Joe Mendoza and his wife Judy stay busy supporting the community and the school... teaching 5th through 8th graders the game of softball.

"Wh
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Unsung Hero: Marion Medical Mission

8/27/10

MARION -- On the other side of the world, millions of people are dying due to a lack of safe drinking water. Tom Logan of Marion began making trips to Africa at age 18. The initial plan was to go with friends.

"Ended up, I was the only one that w
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Arrests Made In Drive-By Shooting

8/23/10

MARION -- A Marion man has been charged for another shooting early Sunday morning.

Christopher Gibbs, 20, of Marion, and a juvenile female are charged with Attempted Murder Monday afternoon.

Investigators say they fired on a Dodge Magnum with t
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Living with White-Tailed Deer

8/25/10

WSIL-TV - Ever wonder what to do if you come across an injured or orphaned deer?

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has launched a
website with the answer to that and other questions involving
white-tailed deer.

The website
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Marion Turns to Rend Lake for Water

8/27/10

MARION-- After years of planning and construction, Marion has a new water source.

The city is now using Rend Lake water from the Conservancy District.

It's a move city leaders believe will be better for everyone.
They're also hoping it wil
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Lawmaker Looks Into Changing Animal Laws

8/23/10

BUSH -- A state lawmaker is looking at ways to prevent dog attacks, like the one that severely injured a Williamson County boy earlier this month.

Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, says he is reviewing current state laws in Illinois. He is considering
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Faculty Question JALC Board Hire

8/25/10

CARTERVILLE -- Faculty at John A. Logan College say the Board of Trustees is playing favorites by hiring insiders. The uproar comes after Bill Kilquist was hired to run campus security at Logan.

"He should not have been a board member when he app
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No New Blago Trial Until 2011

8/26/10

WSIL-TV--- The judge in the federal corruption case against Rod Blagojevich says it will be next year before another trial begins.

Prosecutors could choose to re-try the former Illinois governor on up to 23 federal corruption charges.

It’s
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Plans To Build Mosques Create Nationwide Controversy

8/25/10

CARBONDALE -- Debate has raged for weeks about plans to build a Muslim community center and mosque near ground zero in New York City. But similar plans have created controversy here locally. Plans to build a mosque in western Kentucky were blocked We
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Hundreds Attend Job Search Party

8/26/10

MARION -- Cliff Dillard of Marion needs a job. The former coal miner says the job search has been dismal. He hoped to be able to make a good impression with the dozens of employers at the WSIL Job Search Party Thursday night at Black Diamond Harley D
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Labor Unions Looking For New Members

8/24/10

HERRIN -- Dozens of businesses across southern Illinois are looking for new employees. The healthcare and labor industries are especially in need.

Labor unions are searching for workers to help with the many construction jobs going on in the regi
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Update: Research Starts in School Consolidation

8/24/10

FRANKLIN COUNTY-- The group considering merging Christopher and Zeigler-Royalton school districts met for the first time Tuesday night. Their job, to research the pros and cons of consolidation.

The two high schools are a little more than 5 miles
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Franklin County Rounds Up Drug Suspects

8/25/10

FRANKLIN COUNTY-- Law enforcement from across Franklin County joined forces with Illinois State Police and the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force Wednesday for an early morning drug sweep.

Police served more than 10 drug-related warrants in an eff
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EPA Considering Coal Ash Regulation

8/26/10

WILLIAMSON COUNTY -- Environmentalists turn up the heat on local power plants. They claim those plants are contaminating drinking water.

The groups want federal standards for the way power plants hold and dispose of coal ash. That waste product
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Deli Meat Recall

8/24/10

RECALL- Zemco Industries, a Buffalo, N.Y., establishment, has recalled approximately 380,000 pounds of deli meat products because of a possible listeria contamination.

These products were distributed to delicatessens, including Walmart Stores acro
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Fort Retires, Resigns From Positions

8/24/10

HARRISBURG -- The sheriff's deputy accused of having sex with a 17-year-old steps away from his two prominent positions in the community.

"He has chosen to retire, so he can focus all of his energies toward proving his innocence," Bryan Drew, Todd
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Law Enforcement Destroy Pot

8/25/10

SALINE COUNTY--This is the time of year when people are trying to harvest illegal marijuana crops. But, not if officers get to the plants first.

Wednesday, Sheriff Keith Brown and his team removed hundreds of plants from a half acre plot in rural
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Leaders In Carmi Disable Stoplights

8/26/10

WHITE COUNTY-- Driving through Carmi on Main Street has been a little quicker lately, after city leaders temporarily disabled two stop lights. And although it may sound dangerous, Mayor David Port says it's gone very well.

"It's been totally saf
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News 3 COVER IT LIVE

2/04/09

WSIL-TV - We're making news interactive with our live blog.

Lets us know If you have reports of breaking news in your community.

Send your comments on stories seen on News-Three.

Begin by clicking on the play button below.

If you have d
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Dismal National Home Numbers; Local Market Not As Bad

8/24/10

WSIL-TV--- National home sales fell more than 27 percent from June to July, according to the National Association of Realtors.

State and local sales echoed the 15-year low.

According to the Illinois Association of Realtors statewide total hom
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Pinckneyville Teens in Court for Murder

8/24/10

PINCKNEYVILLE-- Two of the Pinckneyville teens charged in the death of Sidnee Stephens head to court.

15-year-old Robbie Mueller and 17-year-old James Glazier are both being tried as adults, facing first degree murder charges.

The teens are
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Saluki Way Enters Next Phase

8/24/10

CARBONDALE-- There's a lot of hype surrounding the new Saluki football stadium, and the renovation of the SIU Arena. But Southern Illinois University president Glenn Poshard says those upgrades to campus are just the beginning.

"We're in the mid
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Uninsured Can Apply For Federal Healthcare

8/25/10

Illinois residents who've been uninsured for at least six months can apply Friday for a new federally funded health insurance program.

Gov. Pat Quinn announced details of the program in Chicago Thursday.

It will provide coverage unt
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Indoor Pot Operation Busted

8/26/10

CARBONDALE-A Carbondale man is in jail on drug charges after a big pot bust Thursday morning. Members of the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group raided the home on Glopen Road around 6:30 a.m.

Inside, officers found more than 140 marijuana plan
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