Illinois News Digest

Here's a look at how AP's general news coverage is shaping up today in Illinois. Questions about coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to the AP-Chicago bureau at 312-781-0500 or [email protected]. A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories and digests will keep you up to date. All times are Central.

Some TV and radio stations will receive broadcast versions of the stories below, along with all updates.

TOP STORY:

BLACK HAWK STATUTE

OREGON, Ill. — The Illinois landmark known as the Eternal Indian statue is finally complete after years of planning and fundraising. The scaffolding surrounding the sculpture, also known as Black Hawk, is being removed and should be completely taken down within two weeks, the Rockford Register Star reported. The city of Oregon is ready to celebrate the 109-year-old statue’s makeover, Mayor Ken Williams said. SENT: 350 words.

AROUND THE STATE:

JUDGE REMOVED-MURDER INVESTIGATION

CHICAGO — The Illinois Courts Commission has removed a St. Clair County judge after concluding he lied to police during a 2016 murder investigation. The commission's Friday decision to remove Ronald Duebbert from office took effect immediately, according to The (Belleville) News-Democrat. SENT: 215 words.

BEACHES CLOSED-SPILL

PORTAGE, Ind. — An Indiana steelmaker has denied allegations of manipulating results from toxic readings required after a chemical spill killed more than 3,000 fish last year. State regulators said that ArcelorMittal's steel plant in Burns Harbor is redoing daily ammonia and cyanide tests and sending the lower score to regulators, according to the Post-Tribune. SENT: 240 words.

EXCHANGE--GHOST HUNTERS

PEORIA, Ill. — Central Illinois Ghost Hunters (CIGH) owner Shane Cleer has been involved in paranormal investigation for nearly a decade and a half. After managing his own small budget team, an opportunity to take over CIGH, an established brand in the area, presented itself. In that time he has managed to grow the team of paranormal investigators, and also achieve a long term goal in creating a show out of the work. Now, CIGH and Peoria production company Candlelight Digital have reached an agreement with Amazon Prime to stream an episode a week through January of the show, ‘When Darkness Calls’. By Montana Samuels. Pekin Daily Times. SENT: 1,600 words, photos.

EXCHANGE-DEFYING ODDS

GALVA, Ill. — Pink-ribboned wooden stakes that outline where a performance stage is to be constructed might make Wiley Park look like a field of dreams. But the proposed 900-square-foot concrete pad in the Galva public park is expected to become a reality this year. Ideally, it’ll be completed in time for the third annual edition of the Levitt AMP Galva Music Series. The grant-funded series of 10 free weekly concerts in each of the past two years has attracted thousands to this city of about 2,500 located equidistant from Peoria and Moline. Last summer, spurred in part by the success of the concert series, the Galva City Council approved contributing $25,000 toward permanent-stage construction. Fundraising is underway to finance a roof, which is expected to cost another $50,000. By Nick Vlahos. (Peoria) Journal Star. SENT: 1,250 words.

IN BRIEF:

—TOWNSHIP OFFICIAL-UNPAID FINES: An elected official in East St. Louis owes more than $175,000 in accrued fines to the Illinois State Board of Elections if he wants to appear on the March primary ballot.

—ILLINOIS HOUSE-GONZALEZ: Democratic leaders have selected a 23-year-old community activist who works for U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy'' Garcia to fill a vacant Illinois House seat.

—VOTER CARDS-TAZEWELL COUNTY: County officials in central Illinois said a computer glitch was to blame after some residents received up to eight voter registration cards recently.

—FATAL CRASH-CONVICTION: A suburban Chicago man who police said was driving at 107 mph (172 kilometers per mile) when he struck another car, killing a 16-year-old girl, has been convicted of reckless homicide.

SPORTS:

BKC--WRIGHT STATE-ILLINOIS CHICAGO:

CHICAGO —Wright State plays Illinois-Chicago at Credit Union 1 Arena.

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