BENTON(WQRL/WISH/WMCL) – An elderly woman died after falling into pile of burning leaves in a semi-secluded area of her property in the area of East Taylor and 10th Street in Benton Wednesday afternoon. According to Benton Fire Chief Shane Cockrum, firefighters went to that area just after 4:30 p.m. and learned that a neighbor saw the…
Open Registration Begins for Southern Illinois Made Expo
MARION – Open registration begins today for interested businesses and employers to sign up to become a vendor for the highly-anticipated return of the 2022 Southern Illinois Made Expo. After two years of postponement due to COVID-19, this year’s event is set to take place at the Marion Pavilion on October 15 and 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.…
Mt. Vernon Officials Break Ground for New Police Dept.
MT. VERNON – Mt. Vernon City leaders braved threatening skies Friday morning to turn dirt at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Mt. Vernon Police Department (MVPD). Mayor John Lewis confirmed the project being built by Holland Construction Services will be completed by this time next year. Lewis noted problems the current facility has had with efficiency…
Williamson County Sheriff’s Office to Host Drug Take Back Day in Marion
MARION – The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for Saturday’s DEA Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Williamson County Administrative Building in Marion. The service is free and anonymous. The public can drop off potentially dangerous prescription…
Area Broadband Companies Receiving Funding for Expansion
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Broadband Wednesday announced $47 million in funding for 22 projects in every region of the state through the second round of Connect Illinois, the state’s broadband expansion plan. Round Two funding includes $23 million in Connect Illinois grant awards matched by $24…
New Legislation Establishes New Midwives Licensing Process
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IOCI RADIO) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed into law legislation that will allow midwives to go through a new licensing process to provide care before, during and after the delivery of babies. The governor said he hopes the bill he signed into law last week will prevent pregnancy-related deaths. Under the law,…
Human Trafficking Suit Spreads to Hindu Temples in Five States
A human trafficking suit has spread to Hindu temples in five states. A lawsuit, in which workers accuse a Hindu organization of human trafficking for luring them from India to build a temple in New Jersey for as little as $1.20 a day, has widened to four other states. In an amended lawsuit filed last…
AJR’s OK Orchestra Tour brings Music Back to the Stage
AJR’s latest album, OK Orchestra, was released in March, and now, at the tail end of the summer, the Met brothers are finally able to go back to touring after nearly two years off the stage. I got a chance to go to one of the first live performances of the OK Orchestra Tour in…
Local Fire/EMS Receive Equipment Funds from State Fire Marshal
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) on Thursday announced the recipients of the 2021 Small Equipment Grant Program. A total of $3.3 million was awarded to 149 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state. The OSFM received 448 applications, requesting around $10.5 million in funding for this grant period. Local communities who received…
Murph’s Music Analysis
Stephanie Wooley from S. I. Suzuki Strings stopped by the studio for a visit on Mornings with Murph and got to do a little music analysis! Twitter users are saying the new Neighborhood song “Stargazing” sounds a lot like “Pink Lemonade” from James Bay’s 2018 album. So Murph and Stephanie take a listen to see…