SPRINGFIELD - Whether a Southern Illinois tavern should be held responsible for the death of a man who was drinking there is a question that may make it before the Illinois Supreme Court.

BELLEVILLE (AP) - The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed a Republican to succeed the Democrat who gave up his southwestern Illinois judge's seat to enter private law practice.

CARBONDALE - Stephen R. Wigginton is no longer a member of Southern Illinois University's board of trustees because of his appointment as a U.S. attorney, a university official confirmed Thursday.

Lake Egypt Water District has lifted the boil order for Honeysuckle Hills Road.

CHICAGO (AP) - The Illinois Corrections chief who has been blamed for a secret early prison release program is stepping down, a spokeswoman for Gov. Pat Quinn told the Chicago Tribune.

SALEM (AP) - A southern Illinois judge has ordered a life sentence without parole for a man who authorities say rammed an unsuspecting pedestrian with his Jeep before raping her and stabbing her to de

CARTERVILLE - John A. Logan College's student enrollment is down for the first time in several years, officials announced Wednesday.

CARBONDALE - A state-sponsored organization supporting Illinois' volunteer efforts hosted a listening session Wednesday to hear first-hand reports about volunteerism levels in Southern Illinois commun

Labor Day may be a holiday weekend for some people, but law enforcers around the state will be working overtime to ensure the safety of the traveling public.

BENTON - Gaile Dees got to hear her son describe history Wednesday morning.

PINCKNEYVILLE - A Pinckneyville teen accused in the murder of 15-year-old Sidnee Stephens pleaded not guilty to both crimi-nal charges against him Wednesday morning.

Federal authorities have filed a case against longtime Marion attorney and former judge Robert Drew, 68, in connection with smuggling heroin into the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Ind.

MARION - Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady of Bloomington was impressed with the Williamson County Republicans Regional Campaign Headquarters during his visit Wednesday.

Former Arkansas governor and current Fox News personality Mike Huckabee will endorse Bloomington Republican Bill Brady for Illinois governor at a Sept. 14 rally in Marion.

CARBONDALE - Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady touted his platform for creating jobs and reducing taxes on Illinois businesses at a Carbondale manufacturing plant Wednesday.

Todd Fort, former chief deputy in the Saline County Sheriff's Department, now faces a Class X felony charge of aggravated criminal sexual assault.

Carbondale police have obtained an arrest warrant for a suspect in an attempted sexual assault that occurred about 1 a.m. Aug. 25 in the 400 block of South Poplar Street.

No matter how high up in Saluki Stadium a fan's seats are for the first game, they won't be as high as Ryan Geilhausen's.

CARBONDALE - Saluki Row will remain the same, but there will undoubtedly be a different energy before tonight's christening of Saluki Stadium.

CARBONDALE - It took a new face and an unprecedented fundraising campaign in a slumping economy to build Saluki Stadium.

DU QUOIN - When 17th Street Bar & Grill sets up at the Du Quoin State Fair, business can be steady at times. But when the weekend hits, the barbecue flows, said owner and legendary grill maste

POPE COUNTY - Illinois State Police have released the name of the woman who was fatally injured Tuesday morning when the car she was driving left the pavement on Illinois 146 and hit two trees.

SALINE COUNTY - Todd Fort, former chief deputy in the Saline County Sheriff's Department, now faces a Class X felony charge of aggravated criminal sexual assault.

CARTERVILLE - John A. Logan College's student enrollment is down for the first time in several years, officials announced Wednesday.

CHICAGO (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn doesn't back an appeal by ex-Gov. George Ryan of his corruption conviction.