All posts tagged: Illinois

Who was Sonya Massey? Looking back at her fatal 2024 shooting as suspect Sean Grayson gets 20 years in prison

Who was Sonya Massey? Looking back at her fatal 2024 shooting as suspect Sean Grayson gets 20 years in prison

Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old mother of two, was fatally shot in July 2024 over by a former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy, Sean Grayson, at her own home in Illinois. Grayson, on Thursday, was sentenced to maximum 20 years in prison at a Sangamon County court. Sean Grayson was sentenced to 20 years on Thursday, January 29, for the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey in 2024. (AP) Grayson was originally charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. The jury ultimately convicted him of second-degree murder in October 2025. At the time, it was a lesser sentence that nonetheless carried a prison sentence of up to 20 years. During sentencing, Grayson, a white deputy, said that he “made a lot of mistakes that night.” He apologized to Massey’s family and stated that he wished he could save Massey’s family from the suffering he inflicted and bring her back. He said, “I made terrible decisions that night. I’m sorry.” Read more: Sean Grayson conviction: Why was Sonya Massey shot by Illinois sheriff’s deputy? …

Illinois governor JB Pritzker signs law limiting immigration arrests near courthouses | World News

Illinois governor JB Pritzker signs law limiting immigration arrests near courthouses | World News

Illinois Gov. Pritzker signs bill to further shield illegal immigrants from deportations. (Photo: X/@FoxNews) Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has approved a new state law that restricts when and where immigration agents can make arrests, The New York Times reported. The measure blocks civil immigration enforcement at state courthouses and within 1,000 feet of them, and gives residents more power to sue federal agents if they believe their rights were violated. The law was passed in October as federal authorities carried out a major immigration crackdown in the Chicago area, leading to thousands of arrests and repeated tensions with local communities. However, supporters said the law was needed to protect residents from being detained while going about daily activities. State Representative Lilian Jiménez said, according to The New York Times, that people “should be able to go to court, take their kid to day care and have access to the university they attend without fear.” The law also limits what information hospitals, day care centres and colleges in Illinois can share with immigration authorities. Story continues …

US winter storm warnings: Urgent alerts issued for Alaska, Colorado, Illinois and other states

US winter storm warnings: Urgent alerts issued for Alaska, Colorado, Illinois and other states

Winter storm warnings have been issued for various US states across the West and Northwest. This comes amid upward of 10 inches of snow and winds as high as 65 miles per hour, and also “life-threatening” conditions in certain regions for unprepared individuals. US winter storm warnings: Urgent alerts issued for Alaska, Colorado, Illinois and other states(Pixabay – representational image) The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the urgent alerts on Sunday, December 7, which are active for Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Here’s what we know The office in La Crosse, Wisconsin, reported that snow is expected to sweep from west to east overnight. The heaviest falls are likely across parts of Clayton and Grant Counties. “Road conditions across portions of northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin are slippery and snow covered so be sure to exercise caution if you are driving tonight,” it said. Coming to Iowa, a winter storm warning will be in effect until 3 am CST, 4 am ET, for Floyd, Chickasaw and Fayette Counties. Heavy snowfall and slippery road …

Rivian gets  million from Illinois to build new supplier park

Rivian gets $16 million from Illinois to build new supplier park

Rivian is receiving $16 million in state incentives to help construct a new 1.2 million-square foot supplier park near its EV manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, according to Illinois Governer JB Pritzker and Rivian, who both made official announcements today. As part of the deal, Rivian will invest nearly $120 million towards the project, which is expected to directly create about 100 new jobs. In a press release, Pritzker says Rivian’s investment in the new facility will create “an entire ecosystem” that will help attract global investment and create jobs, as well as “strengthening the EV manufacturing supply chain.” Rivian says the supplier park is already under construction and is scheduled to be completed in 2026. It will feature an underground tunnel that connects it with the main plant so parts can easily be transferred without increasing traffic in the area. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe says the park will be a “key enabler” in the production of its upcoming R2 vehicle. Scaringe today shared an image of the new Maximus drive unit on Instagram that …

Illinois after-school camp crash: What we know about 44-year-old SUV driver Marianne Akers and the victims so far

Illinois after-school camp crash: What we know about 44-year-old SUV driver Marianne Akers and the victims so far

The driver who killed four people and injured many others by crashing into an Illinois after-school camp has been identified by police as 44-year-old Marianne Akers, of Chatham. Akers is accused of crashing an SUV into the side of the YNOT after-school camp building in Chatham, before driving right through it and smashing out the other side, killing three young girls and an 18-year-old woman. Police said Akers is not in custody, and the crash is under investigation. First responders work at the site of an SUV crashing into a building and killing students attending an after-school camp and injuring others in Chatham, Illinois, U.S., April 28, 2025 in this still image obtained from social media video. (Aarika Jo/TMX via REUTERS) Who is Marianne Akers? Not much has been revealed about Akers as of now, but police did say that “this does not appear to be a targeted attack,” according to the New York Post. At the time of the incident, she was the only person in the car but did not sustain any injuries. …

Illinois plane crash: Aircraft carrying 4 goes down in Trilla, Coles County

Illinois plane crash: Aircraft carrying 4 goes down in Trilla, Coles County

Apr 20, 2025 12:26 AM IST A small single-engine plane carrying four people crashed in Trilla, Coles County, Illinois, on Saturday. A small plane carrying four people crashed in Trilla, Coles County, Illinois, on Saturday. The single-engine aircraft went down around 10:15 a.m. on 551-587 County Road 1400 N, Trilla, about three miles south of Mattoon, CBS News reported. A small single-engine plane carrying four people crashed in Trilla, Coles County, Illinois.(Pixabay) News / World News / US News / Illinois plane crash: Aircraft carrying 4 goes down in Trilla, Coles County See Less Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

Survivors of alleged abuse in Illinois youth detention facilities step forward

CHICAGO — Three men who say they were sexually abused as children while incarcerated at Illinois juvenile detention centers came forward Tuesday as part of a lawsuit that chronicles decades of disturbing allegations of systemic child abuse. Survivors of alleged abuse in Illinois youth detention facilities step forward Calvin McDowell, 37, who alleged he was abused by a chaplain at a suburban Chicago youth center as a teenager, said he didn’t want others suffering as he did for decades. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! “Instead of being cared for, I felt more alone than ever,” McDowell said at a Chicago news conference. “I held my secret from the people I loved out of fear and embarrassment. I had nights where I wanted to give up on life.” The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they were sexually assaulted unless they consent to being identified or decide to tell their stories publicly, as McDowell and two other men …

Illinois parole official quits after police say a freed felon attacked a woman and killed her son

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A state parole board member resigned Monday after recommending the release of a man who a day later attacked a pregnant Chicago woman with a knife and fatally stabbed her 11-year-old son while he tried to protect her, according to authorities. HT Image The Illinois Prisoner Review Board’s handling of the case prompted Gov. J.B. Pritzker to order that procedures for dealing with situations involving domestic violence be revamped. Hindustan Times – your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Pritzker announced that LeAnn Miller, 63, of Junction has submitted her resignation. Miller had prepared a report recommending Crosetti Brand’s release from prison. The 37-year-old felon had repeatedly violated orders of protection and threatened Laterria Smith of Chicago, police said. On March 13, investigators said that Brand went to Smith’s apartment armed with a knife and assaulted her. When her son, Jayden Perkins, intervened, Brand stabbed him to death, police said. Smith, 33, remains hospitalized in critical condition but doctors expect her and her unborn child to live. Her 6-year-old son was …

Trump is disqualified from Illinois ballot, judge rules

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. File | Photo Credit: Reuters An Illinois state judge on February 28 barred former U.S. President Donald Trump from appearing on Illinois’ Republican presidential primary ballot because of his role in the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but she delayed her ruling from taking effect in light of an expected appeal by Mr. Trump. Cook County Circuit Judge Tracie Porter sided with Illinois voters who argued that the former president should be disqualified from the State’s March 19 primary ballot and its November 5 general election ballot for violating the anti-insurrection clause of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment. Source link

Who is Akul Dhawan? Indian-American student found dead near Illinois University

The parents of an 18-year-old Indian-American student, who was found dead outside the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) last week, have filed a complaint against the school’s police for negligence. Akul B. Dhawan, found dead outside Illinois University(Akul B Dhawan/LinkedIn) After failing to get in touch with Akul B. Dhawan, an acquaintance reported him missing on Saturday at 1:30 am. Authorities recovered his body on the porch of a building close to the UIUC campus following nine hours of search. Stay tuned for all the latest updates on Ram Mandir! Click here The autopsy’s initial findings indicated that Akul had hypothermia at the time of his death, according to the Champaign County Coroner. The Midwestern city has been experiencing below-freezing weather for the past few weeks. Also Read: Who is Preesha Chakraborty? Meet India-American who is among ‘world’s brightests students’ Preliminary report says ‘no foul play found’ According to the coroner’s office, the preliminary report showed no evidence of significant trauma. “There was no foul play involved and the death is initially believed to be …