Accident with injuries nets arrest of Evansville man

On September 22, 2025, at 5 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a three-vehicle accident with injuries on US 41 near County Road 650 South.  Upon arrival emergency service personnel began to assess patients and detected the odor of Marijuana coming from inside a Black 2000 Ford F250 that was involved in the accident.  Deputy Shawn Holmes began a roadside OWI accident investigation.  At the conclusion of the investigation, he placed the driver of the F250 26-year-old Timothy Land of Evansville into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Detention Center. 

This was a three vehicle accident where the F250 rearended the vehicle in front of them and pushed that vehicle into another vehicle.  
 
Deputy U.B. Smith assisted Deputy Holmes in his investigation. 
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Mayor Joe Judge Elected to the IML Board of Directors

CHICAGO — The Illinois Municipal League (IML) elected officers and members to its Board of Directors at its Annual Business Meeting, held September 20, as a part of the 112th IML Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

IML membership unanimously elected Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currin, Village of Matteson, to serve a one-year term as President. Also elected were Mayor John C. Lewis, City of Mount Vernon, as First Vice President, and Mayor Rita Ali, City of Peoria, as Second Vice President.

In addition to the officers, 34 Vice Presidents were elected to serve a one-year term, and seven IML Past Presidents continue to serve on the statewide association’s Board of Directors. Mayor Joe Judge, City of Mt.Carmel was elected to serve as a Vice President.

Judge’s election marks a pivotal moment for municipal advocacy in Illinois. Representing the interests of 1,294 municipalities, Judge emphasized the importance of unity and shared purpose among local governments. “It is a privilege to be elected to assist in advocating for the benefit of all 1,294 Illinois municipalities,” Judge said. “By working together, we can champion the needs of local government to bring about a brighter future for all communities and residents throughout Illinois.”

This vision includes strengthening infrastructure, promoting economic development, and ensuring that every municipality—regardless of size—has a voice in shaping statewide policy. Judge’s leadership is expected to foster greater collaboration between city officials, state agencies, and community stakeholders.

Mayor Joe Judge’s Bio:

Elected as Commissioner in 2011, overseeing Streets, Cemetery, and Parks.

Re-elected in 2015, shifting focus to Finance and Senior Citizens.

Elected Mayor of Mount Carmel in April 2019, April 2023.

Became Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission in 2015.

Appointed to the Illinois Municipal League (IML) Board of Directors in Fall 2019, later elected as a Vice President in 2020.

Leadership Vision

Mayor Judge is committed to:

Promoting a progressive, transparent local government.

Enhancing the quality of life for all citizens.

Encouraging economic growth through strategic planning.

Advocating for fiscal responsibility and long-term city goals.

Regional & Statewide Influence

Serves on the IML Legislative Committee, advocating for municipal interests across Illinois.

Vice President of the Southern Illinois Mayors Association.

Illinois Department of Transportation Blue Ribbon Committee Board Member

Represents Mount Carmel on intergovernmental boards, chairs city council meetings, and serves as Liquor Commissioner.

Petersburg man arrested for False Informing

On September 21, 2025, at 12:44 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of a man wearing a mask lying in the roadway of State Road 64 near State Road 65 west of Princeton.  Upon arriving in the area Deputy Bryan Small located the male and attempted to conduct a welfare check of the individual.  During the roadside encounter 33-year-old Ethan Adams of Petersburg gave Deputy Small a false name to conceal his identity due to him having an active warrant.  After a brief investigation Mr. Adams was positively identified and taken into custody.  Upon being transported to the Gibson County Detention Center he was booked in on an active Felony Warrant and a new False Informing Charge.   
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Disturbance leads to arrest of two

On September 19, 2025, at 6:27 p.m. Gibson County Deputies were eating dinner at an establishment near the intersection of South Main Street and Ohio Street in Princeton when they observed a disturbance happening in the 100 block of Makemson Avenue.  Deputies approached the disturbance that was occurring in and around a Red 1994 Ford Ranger and began an investigation into the incident.  During the investigation it was discovered that 46-year-old Tonya Bedson of Princeton had thrown a fountain drink at 43-year-old Tiffany Martin also of Princeton.  During the investigation Deputy Eric Powell observed clues that Ms. Martin may be under the influence of an unknown intoxicant.  At that point he began a roadside DUI investigation.  At the conclusion of the investigations both females were taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center.  Upon arriving at the Detention Center Ms. Bedson was charged with Battery by Bodily Waste.  Ms. Martin was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. 
 
Deputies Eric Powell, Wes Baumgart, and Shawn Holmes investigated this incident. 
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Nighttime lane closures planned for State Road 441/Willow Street in Knox County


KNOX COUNTY Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces nighttime lane closures for State Road 441/Willow Street in Knox County.

Beginning on or around Monday, September 29, crews will begin nighttime lane closures on State Road 441/Willow Street in Vincennes. These lane closures will occur between East Niblack Road and Ramsey Road.

Nighttime lane closures will allow for concrete patching work to be completed. Lane closures will occur between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Concrete patching work is expected to take two weeks to complete, depending on the weather.

Concrete patching is part of a larger project to pave State Road 441/Willow Street in Vincennes. This project is expected to last through the end of October, depending on the weather. INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, use extra caution, and avoid distractions when traveling in and near work zones.

IECC Board Summary

The Board of Trustees of the Illinois Eastern Community College District No. 529 met

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at Frontier Community College, Fairfield, Illinois.

The Board approved the minutes of the Board of Trustees special meetings held on August 4, 2025 and September 3, 2025 as well as the regular meeting held on August 19, 2025. The 2025 Annual Security Report, 2025 Emergency Response Plans, and 2025 Violence Prevention Plan were accepted by the Board.

The Board waived a second reading and approved revisions to the following policies:

• Salary Basis Policy 400.22 to use more general language, including the removal

of the minimum weekly pay and clarification of how the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) applies to IECC’s exempt employees.

• Wages Policy 400.13 to now include wages for full-time non-faculty employees

with the addition to formalize existing practices and establish clear guidelines through the corresponding administrative procedure.

The Board approved the first reading of Board of Trustees and Foundations Collaboration Policy 100.41 to include clear guidelines and assigned responsibilities and the deletion of Relationship with College Foundations Policy 600.1.

Authorization by the Board was given to Chancellor Gower to move forward with listing the property adjacent to Olney Central College’s soccer fields for public sale with a deed restriction requiring that it be developed exclusively for student housing serving IECC students.

The IECC Athletics Report for AY26 was presented and accepted by the Board of Trustees. The report provided an overview of student athlete enrollment, distribution by campus, scholarship awards given, and financial balances of each sport across the District.

The Board approved naming recognitions at two campuses in honor of generous donor support. Marathon Petroleum Corporation contributed toward the new Technology Center at Lincoln Trail College. In recognition, the Process Technology Skills Lab will be named for Marathon Petroleum. Longtime FCC supporter Jerry Cox made a gift to support the construction of the new athletic facility at Frontier Community College. The Board approved naming the basketball court in his honor.

The Board approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Illinois Capital

Development Board to purchase furniture and equipment for the nearly completed Allied Health

addition at Olney Central College.

Approval of employment was given for Jaeda Thomason as TRIO SSS Academic

Advisor, FCC effective September 22, 2025.

The annual bonus for Mining and Industrial Technology Instructors was approved.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at

6:15 p.m. at Lincoln Trail College, Robinson, IL. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new

Technology Center on that campus will be held at 4:30 p.m. that same day.

Lawsuit leads to release of federal funding for EV chargers in Illinois

Attorney general sued for release of grant funding allocated by Biden-era law 

By BEN SZALINSKI
Capitol News Illinois
bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com

Article Summary

  • Illinois successfully sued the Trump administration for the release of federal grant funding for electric vehicle charging stations.

  • Trump sought to block the funding that was approved by Congress in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Joe Biden to expand the country’s network of EV charging stations.

  • Illinois was among 17 jurisdictions to successfully sue to receive the funding earlier this year. 

  • The state announced the release of more than $18 million on Wednesday. 

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story. 

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois will release a new round of federal funding to build electric vehicle charging stations after the Trump administration initially sought to withhold it. 

The state on Wednesday announced plans to release $18 million it received after successfully suing the Trump administration for withholding the funds that Congress had already allocated. 

The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by former President Joe Biden contained $148 million for Illinois to build more EV charging stations. The state received $25.3 million to build charging stations at 37 locations in 2024 as part of the first round of grant funding.

But the Federal Highway Administration withheld the second round earlier this year after President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to pause funding for clean energy projects appropriated in the Biden-era law. 

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and 16 other attorneys general sued the Trump administration in May seeking the release of the funds. The lawsuit argued it is illegal for the president to withhold funding that has already been approved by Congress. A judge ruled in June that the federal government must release the funds to Illinois and other states that joined the lawsuit.

“Illinois has been at the forefront of building a clean energy economy that creates jobs and helps lower costs for consumers, and building electric vehicle chargers across the states has been core to that mission,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement. “I’m thankful for the quick action of our Attorney General in the fight to restore these funds that President Trump was unlawfully withholding.”

Pritzker’s office announced on Wednesday that Illinois will receive $18.4 million this year as part of the second round of grant funding for EV chargers. The money will fund 167 charging stations at 25 locations. With the release and allocation of the federal funding, Illinois will have received $43.8 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build 349 charging ports in 62 locations.

1 million electric vehicles

State officials said expanding charging locations will help the state achieve its goal of having one million electric vehicles registered in Illinois by 2030. 

Locations along interstates throughout Illinois have been selected for the second round of grant funding, including at Wally’s gas station in Pontiac along Interstate 55 and at a Target in Gurnee off Interstate 94. 

One of the largest disbursements will be a $910,287 grant for chargers at Eric’s Too Family Restaurant and Lounge near the interchange of Interstate 55 and Interstate 74 in Bloomington.

“This type of charging infrastructure will not only increase the number of charging stations, but it will enhance our energy sources for the Bloomington community as well,” Bloomington Mayor Dan Brady, a Republican, said in a statement. 

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

Photo: An electric vehicle charging station pictured in Chicago. (Capitol News Illinois file photo)