AP-IL–Illinois News Digest, IL

CLOSER LOOK-MYSTERY GRANTS

SPRINGFIELD — Even in a tough budget year, Illinois lawmakers can find ways to give special help to a few organizations with the right connections. A close look at the state budget shows a handful of grants that take money away from general services and diverts it to specific groups. Information on how the money will be used is hard to come by, but it’s no secret that the grants were included to help Democrats pass a budget. “We were scrambling to get votes to pass these bills,” says one legislator. By Christopher Wills.

AP Photos ILSP201 and ILSP202

CHICAGO-PRIDE PARADE

CHICAGO — Festive crowds filled city streets and celebrated the annual Chicago Pride Parade on Sunday, an event that comes just weeks after 25 same-sex couples sued for the right to marry in Illinois. Organizers expected up to 1 million attendees and more than 200 floats during the nearly three-hour event.

By Michelle Janaye Nealy.

SCIENCE:

ANIMAL SCIENCE

WASHINGTON — The more we study animals, the less special we seem. The evidence that animals are more intelligent and more social than we thought seems to grow each year, especially when it comes to primates. It’s an increasingly hot scientific field with the number of ape and monkey cognition studies doubling in recent years, often with better technology and neuroscience paving the way to unusual discoveries. One reason scientists are learning more about animal intellect is computers, including touch screens. An animal cognition researcher working with apes at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago agrees. By Science Writer Seth Borenstein.

AP Photos NY431, NY433, NY435, NY437.

Also moving:

— MISSING TORTOISE FOUND, from LOMBARD — A 45-pound tortoise who went missing from the Chicago suburb of Lombard has been located.

— MEDICARE COVERAGE GAP-ILLINOIS, from CHICAGO — Thousands of Illinois residents with high medication costs are seeing some gains from a provision of the Affordable Care Act aimed at shrinking the Medicare drug coverage gap known as the “doughnut hole.”

— GUN TURN-IN, from CHICAGO— More than 5,500 weapons were turned in during Chicago’s annual buy-back event at city churches.

— ILLINOIS CONGRESS-MANZULLO, from CHICAGO— Outgoing Congressman Don Manzullo says he’s moving on after losing a tough primary battle with a fellow Republican incumbent.

— PARK GRANTS, from CHICAGO— Gov. Pat Quinn says $12.3 million in grants have been awarded to Illinois communities to help build and improve parks and open spaces.

— CARPENTERSVILLE-MURDER-SUICIDE, from CARPENTERSVILLE — Carpentersville police say a 39-year-old Lake in the Hills man killed a woman then later fatally shot himself in front of police officers.

— AIRPORT-EMERGENCY EXERCISE, from CHICAGO — Emergency officials responded to an airplane fire at Midway International Airport that injured 160 people — but luckily it was just an emergency drill.

Moved previously and available for use.

ILLINOIS CONGRESS-OPEN SEAT

CHESTER — A panel of 14 Democratic leaders on Saturday interviewed seven candidates who want to be the party’s next nominee in southern Illinois’ 12th Congressional District race. The process was necessary because incumbent Rep. Jerry Costello isn’t seeking re-election and the first nominee, Brad Harriman, dropped out of the race last month for medical reasons. The eventual nominee will face Republican Jason Plummer this fall. Only two people, both Democrats, have represented the 12th District since World War II.

BOOKS-GILLIAN FLYNN

CHICAGO — Chicago novelist Gillian Flynn’s third book, “Gone Girl,” is the perfect beach read — boy meets girl, boy marries girl, girl goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary. The boy is Nick, who grew up in a Mississippi River town in Missouri and became a magazine writer in New York, where he meets the blonde, beautiful and bright Amy. “Gone Girl” entered The New York Times bestseller hardcover fiction list at No. 2 for the week of June 24 and earned a top-10 spot on Amazon’s Top 100 list. By Caryn Rousseau.

AP Photo ILMG101.

SPORTS:

BBO–BREWERS-WHITE SOX

CHICAGO — Jose Quintana starts as the Chicago White Sox wrap up their weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The rookie threw eight scoreless innings in his previous start against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Michael Fiers pitches for the Brewers. 1:10 p.m. CT. AP Photos. Eds: With hometown lead on losing team.

BBN–CUBS-DIAMONDBACKS

PHOENIX — Wade Miley and the surging Arizona Diamondbacks try to finish off a sweep of the struggling Chicago Cubs. Starts 3:10 p.m. CT. By John Marshall. AP Photos. Eds: With hometown lead on losing team.

ILLINOIS SPOTLIGHTS:

SPOTLIGHT-COLLAGE SALVAGED

QUINCY — Jennifer Wiemelt had thought about removing the photo collage from the east stone wall at Sprout’s Inn. Patti Kelly, general manager at Sprout’s for 34 years, had taken photos of many long-time employees, along with historic pictures of the beginning days of the Quincy restaurant, and helped arrange them in a frame that was given to owner Patrick McClean on his birthday in April 2011. McClean died on Jan. 10, and Wiemelt, his daughter, took over the business. “(The collage) was a reminder of my dad, and I liked it and I didn’t like it at the same time,” she said. “There was a lot of emotion in that collage, and after losing my dad, it just made it worse.” She decided to leave it untouched in honor of her father. By David Adam. The Quincy Herald-Whig.

AP Photos ILQHW301

SPOTLIGHT-EDIBLE COOKIE DOUGH

NORMAL — Julia Schmid pours sugar, flour and butter into a 20-quart mixer in a commercial kitchen in Normal. The ingredients are perfect for homemade cookies. But Schmid’s buttery batch isn’t going into the oven. Instead it will be packed into one-pint black and white containers to be eaten raw. The Bloomington woman is one of two creators of an edible cookie dough dessert that launched in Normal’s Fresh Market this spring. The Cookie Dough Cafe is the work of Schmid and sister Joan Pacetti. By Karina Gonzalez. The (Bloomington) Pantagraph.

AP Photos ILBLO301-302