News from June 2022
Your breakfast costs 45 percent more than it did two years ago: Who's to blame for such sky-high inflation?
The federal government has failed spectacularly to manage the risk of inflation. For many, that’s no surprise given the unprecedented government-enforced lockdowns, the trillions of dollars spent on bailouts and a haphazard implementation of the green energy agenda.
Elik calls for hearings after half of COVID-19 unemployment benefits paid to fraudsters
Illinois State Rep. Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg) and others are calling for immediate hearings after an audit revealed that the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) paid nearly $2 billion in fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment claims, which is more than half of the pandemic-related payouts.
St. Clair County real estate Feb. 28-Mar. 4
An O'Fallon retail property sold for $3,963,000 as part of the St. Clair County real estate transactions Feb. 28- Mar. 4
Madison County real estate May 9-13
An Edwardsville storage facility sold for $5,500,000 as part of the Madison County real estate transactions May 9-13.
Madison County civil docket Jun. 27-Jul. 1
Madison County judges Ruth, Smith, and Threlkeld have law cases scheduled on the civil docket Jun. 27-Jul. 1.
Davis Legislation Honoring Spc Jeremy Ridlen Signed Into Law
Davis Legislation Honoring Spc Jeremy Ridlen Signed Into Law.
Endorsements for Jeff Connor for Madison County Sheriff
Jeff and his family are lifelong residents of Madison County, and he knows firsthand the concerns of his many neighbors and friends. If selected by the voters, Jeff will no doubt continue to serve with the highest honor, integrity, and compassion, following in the highest traditions of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
Katz selected as treasurer of Illinois Judges Association
St. Clair County Associate Judge Julie Katz was selected to serve as treasurer of the Illinois Judges Association.
Edwardsville cyclist alleges defective Schwinn bicycle from Target caused serious head injuries
EDWARDSVILLE – An Edwardsville man is suing Target stores and the manufacturers of Schwinn bicycles, alleging a defective bike caused him to fall and suffer a skull fracture and brain hemorrhage.
Taxpayer pension costs exceeded Illinois projections by $13.7 billion since 2013
Unrealistic assumptions and missed investment returns have meant Illinois taxpayers paid $13.7 billion more for public pensions than state leaders projected five years earlier. Unless the estimates improve, taxpayers will pay an extra $21.3 billion during the next decade.
Gov. Pritzker Announces Eleven Appointments to Boards and Commissions
Gov. Pritzker Announces Eleven Appointments to Boards and Commissions.
IL Supreme Court again passes on whether FOID Act is constitutional, drawing sharp rebuke in dissent
Majority opinion holds White County judge was wrong to reconsider an order it directed in 2020. Dissent says the court is trying to avoid ruling on whether Illinois' firearms owner registration program is unconstitutional
Hackler says he's always opposed mask and vaccine mandates; Korte says as a mom she fought Pritzker lockdowns, mandates
Republican Joe Hackler of Granite City responded to a news article critical of his public statements about vaccines, masks and church attendance during peaks of Covid spread, saying he has "always strongly opposed vaccine and mask mandates but have encouraged vaccination."
Rosenstengel denies remand to St. Clair County in baby formula suit
EAST ST. LOUIS – Chief U.S. Judge Nancy Rosenstengel rejected St. Clair County jurisdiction in a double death suit against Mead Johnson Nutrition on June 15.
GM sued after mother, children found unresponsive in car from carbon monoxide poisoning
A lawsuit against General Motors and King Auto Sales alleges a mother and her three children were found unresponsive in a 2003 Saturn Ion after carbon monoxide was able to leak into the vehicle through the exhaust system.
Passenger sues Bi-State bus company, claiming one of its drivers caused her to fall
BELLEVILLE – A Bi-State bus passenger is suing the company after one of its employees allegedly caused the bus to lurch forward while she was getting off the bus, knocking her to the floor and injuring her.
CSX wants insurer reprimanded in battle over who pays for Hurricane Florence-destroyed cars
EAST ST. LOUIS – CSX Transportation moved to reprimand Lloyd’s of London on June 16, for alleging that the railroad intimidated a witness.
U.S. Attorney removes wrongful death lawsuit against Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation to federal court
EAST ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Court of Illinois has removed a wrongful death complaint arguing that since two of the defendants are federal employees, the case should be removed to federal court.
Audit reveals Illinois lost nearly $2 billion to Covid-19 unemployment fraud
A state audit found the Illinois Department of Employment Security lost to fraud more than half of the $3.6 billion in federal COVID-19 dollars earmarked for out-of-work Illinoisans. The full scope of the unemployment fraud remains unknown.
Seventh Circuit upholds judgment for J&J in pelvic mesh case over contradictions in doc’s deposition, affidavits
CHICAGO – U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle properly struck an affidavit of Effingham urologist Pernankel Nayak and granted judgment to Johnson & Johnson in a pelvic mesh suit, Seventh Circuit appellate judges ruled on June 15.