Illinois at 1 p.m.
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TOP STORY:
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR-UNIONS
CHICAGO — The biggest attacks against Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner could come not from his three opponents in the GOP primary, but from the state’s well-funded and politically powerful labor unions. Both public and private unions are gearing up to launch television ads and other efforts blasting Rauner, who has made targeting union “bosses” a centerpiece of his campaign. Political analysts say the attacks could backfire against the unions, providing Rauner with a “badge of honor” in the GOP primary. But the unions hint that their attacks will focus not necessarily on Rauner’s anti-union stance, but on issues “that will resonate with primary voters.” By Sara Burnett. UPCOMING: 800 words by 4 p.m., photos.
With:
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR-DEBATE
PEORIA, Ill. — All four Illinois GOP gubernatorial candidates face off Thursday evening at a forum in Peoria. State Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard, state Treasurer Dan Rutherford and Winnetka businessman Bruce Rauner are expected to address a number of issues of interest to downstate voters. The evening forum is sponsored by several public radio and television stations. By Kerry Lester. UPCOMING: 500 words by 9:30 p.m., photos. Developing from 7 p.m. forum.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS:
U OF ILLINOIS-TUITION
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — University of Illinois trustees have raised tuition by 1.7 percent. The increase means that four years of college on the flagship campus for many will top $100,000. Trustees voted Thursday to raise tuition, fees and housing costs. Vice President for Academic Affairs Christophe Pierre said the increases stick to a university plan to keep increases in line with inflation. The annual cost of tuition for in-state students will be $12,036 in Urbana-Champaign, $10,584 in Chicago and $9,405 in Springfield. By David Mercer. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: 350 words.
With:
— U OF ILLINOIS-ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. SENT: 130 words.
— U OF ILLINOIS-KENNEDY. SENT: 130 words.
PETCOKE REGULATIONS
CHICAGO — An Illinois pollution panel is set to decide whether emergency regulations to control piles of petroleum coke can take effect. The Pollution Control Board will meet Thursday to consider statewide regulations proposed by Gov. Pat Quinn. Quinn says he’ responding to complaints from Chicago residents that petroleum coke piling up on the city’s southeast side is a health and environmental threat. By Tammy Webber. SENT: 130 words, photo. UPCOMING: 550 words, photo. Developing from 11 a.m. hearing.
AROUND THE STATE:
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — A southwestern Illinois man is ordered to spend 10 years in federal prison for his role in a drug-trafficking ring prosecutors say also involved a judge who later resigned after being accused of heroin possession. Sean McGilvery pleaded guilty in October to felony heroin conspiracy and possession charges in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis, where he was sentenced Thursday. Federal prosecutors say former St. Clair County judge Michael Cook was one of McGilvery’s regular customers while he was on the bench. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: 350 words, photo.
CHURCH ABUSE-LAWSUIT
CHICAGO — A new lawsuit alleging sexual abuse of children in the 1960s and ’70s focuses on a now-defrocked priest referred to in documents released this week by the Archdiocese of Chicago. The lawsuit filed Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of three plaintiffs accuses the former priest, Norbert J. Maday, and another man of molesting children together — sometimes in motel swimming pools. The 65-page suit claims the Archdiocese of Chicago either knew or should have known the kids were at risk. By Michael Tarm. UPCOMING: 300 words, by 3 p.m.
AFGHANISTAN ATTACK-CHICAGO VICTIM
WILMETTE, Ill. — Hundreds of people attended a memorial service for a suburban Chicago woman who was killed during a Taliban attack at a popular restaurant in Afghanistan. The Chicago Sun-Times reports mourners gathered at Weinstein Funeral Home in Wilmette Wednesday to remember 27-year-old Lexie Kamerman. She was one of 21 people who were killed last week during a suicide bombing and gun attack at a Kabul restaurant popular with foreigners. SENT: 250 words, photos pursuing.
SCI–EARTHQUAKES-NEW MADRID, HFR
LOS ANGELES — The New Madrid fault zone in the nation’s midsection is active and could spawn future large earthquakes, scientists reported Thursday. It’s “not dead yet,” said U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Susan Hough, who was part of the study published online by the journal Science. Researchers have long debated just how much of a hazard New Madrid (MAD’-rihd) poses. The zone stretches 150 miles, crossing parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. SENT: 420 words, photo. HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL 1:00 P.M. CST.
GREAT LAKES-ASIAN CARP
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Federal officials are continuing a series of public meetings to discuss options for keeping invasive species such as Asian carp from moving between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the White House Council on Environmental Quality will host the latest session Thursday in Traverse City. It’s among nine that are scheduled in the Great Lakes region, as well as St. Louis and New Orleans.
EXCHANGE-MOBILE ZOO
DECATUR, Ill. — These days, it’s hard to miss the Scovill Zoo Mobile Zoo van. The zoo began using a 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan emblazoned with its logo and signature animals after a donation last year in memory of Neil Baird, a Millikin University professor and volunteer. When the colorful vehicle parks in front of a school or other event, any number of animals could be inside. The Mobile Zoo is part of Scovill’s efforts toward educational outreach, a quality that is required for accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It started in 1985 and continues to expand, said volunteer coordinator Misty Tompkins. By Allison Petty. (Decatur) Herald and Review. SENT: 510 words, photos.
IN BRIEF:
— CHRISTOPHER KILLING-CHARGES: Two men are accused of involuntary manslaughter in last weekend’s beating death of a man in the southern Illinois town of Christopher. SENT: 130 words.
— WINTER WEATHER-HYPOTHERMIA DEATH: Western Illinois authorities say a missing Rock Island man likely died from cold exposure. SENT: 130 words.
— PONTIAC OFFICER KILLED-LEGISLATION: Illinois lawmakers will consider renaming a stretch of Interstate 55 after a Pontiac police officer who was killed during a crash. SENT: 130 words.
— SMOKING BAN-CARS: An Illinois lawmaker has introduced legislation that’d make it illegal to smoke in a car while a child is present.
— PASSENGER RAIL: Transportation authorities say work on a passenger rail line connecting Moline with Chicago could begin this summer. SENT: 130 words.
— CHEMICAL SPILL-RIVERS: A water pollution control agency for the Ohio River says it will be difficult to tell if or when the chemical spill that contaminated West Virginians’ water reaches the Mississippi River. SENT: 130 words.
— HPV VACCINE-ILLINOIS: Chicago health officials are launching an initiative to encourage adolescents to get recommended shots for a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer. SENT: 130 words.
— ILLINOIS-HELP WANTED: The Illinois Department of Employment Security says online advertising for jobs in Illinois was up almost 10 percent in December from a year earlier. SENT: 130 words.
— MOUNT VERNON-TEEN SHOT: A man already doing a 20-year sentence in an Illinois prison for drug trafficking is now accused in the 2010 shooting death of a teenager in Mount Vernon. SENT: 130 words.
— STATE OF THE UNION-KIRK: U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk says his guest for next week’s State of the Union will be the mayor of the tornado-damaged city of Washington in central Illinois. SENT: 130 words, photo.
— BOY DROWNS-SERVICES: Services will be this weekend for a 12-year-old boy who fell through ice and drowned in a southern Illinois pond. SENT: 130 words.
— MERCER COUNTY-DONATION: Donations from two late western Illinois women will be used to create a foundation aimed at economic development in Mercer County. SENT: 130 words.
— CHICAGO-CHINESE NEW YEAR: Chicago is launching a citywide celebration of the Chinese New Year, complete with light displays and a fireworks show at Navy Pier. SENT: 130 words.
— BELLEVILLE-BIG BRAT: In a region already sporting what’s billed as the “World’s Largest Ketchup Bottle,” Belleville hopes to set a Guinness world record for the longest grilled bratwurst. SENT: 130 words.
BUSINESS:
EARNS-MCDONALD’S
NEW YORK — McDonald’s reported disappointing sales for its fourth quarter Thursday, as the world’s largest hamburger chain saw fewer customers visit its restaurants. The Oak Brook, Ill.-based company says global sales slipped 0.1 percent at established locations. In the U.S., where it recently revamped its Dollar Menu to include items that cost a little more, the figure fell 1.4 percent. By Candice Choi. SENT: 350 words, photo. UPCOMING: 500 words, photo.
EARNS-UNITED CONTINENTAL
The parent of United Airlines said Thursday that it earned $140 million in the fourth quarter, as more passengers flew and paid more for their tickets. The airline’s fuel bill also shrank. Net income at United Continental Holdings Inc. was $140 million, or 37 cents per share. A year earlier it lost $620 million, or $1.87 per share. By Joshua Freed. SENT: 250 words, photo. UPCOMING: 600 words, photo.
WINTER WEATHER-FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS
NEW YORK — It’s been a rough start of the year for fliers. A series of winter storms have led airlines to cancel more than 33,000 flights during the first three weeks of this year. That’s more cancellations than in January 2013 and January 2012 combined, according to masFlight, a data and software company specializing in airline operations. The hardest hit cities so far this winter: New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia. There are roughly 30,000 daily flights in the United States. On a typical day with no weather disruptions about 200 of those flights are canceled, mostly for mechanical reasons. By Scott Mayerowitz. SENT: 350 words.
SPORTS:
HKN-BLACKHAWKS-WILD
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild try to bounce back from a brutal 4-0 loss at Dallas. The bad news is they have to host division-leading and defending champion Chicago. The good news is the Blackhawks will be playing the second night of back-to-back road games after visiting Detroit the day before. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts at 7 p.m. CST.
With:
— HKN–WILD-PARISE. SENT: 130 words.
BKC–T25-ILLINOIS-OHIO ST
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State Buckeyes, ranked No. 3 before losing four consecutive games including Monday night’s defeat at Nebraska, attempts to turn things around when they host Illinois. By Rusty Miller. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts at 7 p.m.
FBN–BEARS-PASQUALONI
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears hired former Syracuse and Connecticut coach Paul Pasqualoni as their defensive line coach and Reggie Herring as linebackers coach on Thursday. Pasqualoni was in his third season at UConn last fall when he got fired after a 0-4 start. He was 10-18 overall with the Huskies, a disappointing stretch considering he took over the program at its height. UConn had appeared in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl, losing 48-20 to Oklahoma, but finished just 5-7 in consecutive years. SENT: 180 words. photos
MMA–UFC CHICAGO
CHICAGO — Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson looks to work his way back toward the title after losing it in his previous bout. His path is not an easy one. He meets Josh Thomson, who will be in line for a title shot if he wins their fight on Saturday. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.
Also Moving:
— BKW-T25–Purdue-Northwestern. UPCOMING: 130 words. Game begins at 6 p.m. CT.
— BKC–SOUTH DAKOTA-W. ILLINOIS. UPCOMING: 130 words. Game begins at 7 p.m. CT.
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MARKETPLACE: Calling your attention to the Marketplace in AP Exchange, where you can find member-contributed content from Illinois and other states. The Marketplace is accessible on the left navigational pane of the AP Exchange home page, near the bottom. For both national and state, you can click “All” or search for content by topics such as education, politics and business.
