Top News Stories for Wednesday, December 31, 2008 >
BURRIS PICKED FOR U-S Senate seat…. Juveniles questioned about Manteno man’s murder….. Monticello, In victim identified….. Plenty of Prep B-Ball holiday results…..
A sunny, cold Wednesday, high near 25 with wind chill values at 1. Northwest winds at 20-25 mph. Clear tonight, low near 17. High of 39 on New Year’s Day.
–Watseka vs St. Anne in title game at Kankakee Holiday Tourney–
* Illinois’ embattled Governor says he hopes the scandal surrounding him doesn’t “taint” his new pick for the U.S. Senate. Three weeks after the FBI arrested Governor Rod Blagojevich on charges he tried to sell Illinois’ open slot in the U.S. Senate, the Governor has tapped Roland Burris to fill that same seat. Blagojevich says Burris has “unquestioned” integrity and is a “senior statesman” in Illinois.
* The top Republican in the Illinois General Assembly says he thought Roland Burris appointment as the state’s new U.S. Senator was a joke. But GOP Leader Tom Cross also says he’s stopped being surprised by Governor Rod Blagojevich erratic behavior. Cross says he has nothing against the former Illinois Attorney General, but thinks Burris’ nomination is a mistake. Illinois Republicans say they wanted a special election to take the power over Barack Obama’s old seat out of the Governor’s hands. Republican State Representative Dan Brady who sits on the Governor’s impeachment panel says the GOP told voters the Governor couldn’t be trusted. Both he and Cross says the Governor is likely only speeding-up his impeachment by flexing his power. But they won’t say if state lawmakers can or should move to strip Blagojevich of his other powers as Governor. They are also mum on the possibility of a court battle if Burris intends to keep his job as U.S. Senator. Illinois’ Democratic Secretary of State Jesse Whote says he won’t certify any appointment from Blagojevich. But Cross says there is a Constitutional possibility of a fight.
* Two juveniles remain in custody in connection with the murder of 23-year-old Ryan Graefnitz as Kankakee police continue the search for witnesses. Kankakee Police Chief Mike Kinkade said police have questioned several people about the Saturday morning shooting, but no one else is in custody, and charges have yet to be filed.
Graefnitz was found shot in the parking lot of an apartment building on the 500 block of South Chicago Avenue Saturday. Family members of the former Manteno High School basketball star said he had struggled with substance abuse and had made recent progress in counseling. The 14 and 16 year old boys who were apprehended late Monday are still considered “persons of interest” in the case.
* Law enforcement officials confirmed the identity Tuesday of a White County, IN woman found murdered in her home Monday after what authorities suspect was a home invasion. “Family have identified the victim as Judith A. Claypool, age 67,” Mike Ott, White County coroner, said Tuesday after an autopsy was performed in Indianapolis. The cause of death as well as other details were not released. Ott said he and other investigators planned to meet this afternoon to discuss the case. Claypool was found dead in her home at 2352 N. Sullivan Court, which is on the east side of Lake Shafer about a mile and a half north of Monticello. Robert Guy, White County prosecutor, said Monday that the death occurred as a result of a suspected “home invasion,” or burglary.
“Your Illiana News Source” — 94.1 FM, WGFA
