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Last updated 9:48 am CT November 20, 2009.

An Inside Look at Tamms Correctional Facility

11/19/09

ALEXANDER COUNTY-- Tamms houses "the worst of the worst" inmates in Illinois. Some groups claim those prisoners are treated inhumanely, but the state's new corrections chief hopes to change their minds.

News 3's Rachel Gartner was on the media
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Creal Springs Pushes for New School

11/19/09

WILLIAMSON COUNTY- School administrators at Creal Springs are making another public push for a new school.

The current school was built in 1912 and administrators say it has all sorts of problems.

One of the worst that they endure is the absen
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Hospital Report Card Act

11/19/09

WSIL-TV- It's a decision few take lightly, choosing a hospital.

Now Illinoisans can access information about hospital performance online thanks to the Hospital Report Card Act.

Information such as average charges, mortality rates, complications
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Ryan Leads Republicans in New Poll

11/19/09

WSIL-TV-- A new poll shows Jim Ryan continues to lead the Illinois’ Republican race for governor.

The former attorney general says eight years in the executive branch of Illinois government sets him apart in a field of seven candidates.

Ryan h
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H1N1 Related Death

11/19/09

ALEXANDER COUNTY -- A third southern Illinois resident has died from complications related to the H1N1 flu virus.

Southern Seven Health Department reports the person who died was an adult from Alexander County.

A health department spokesperson
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Toys Test Positive for Lead

11/18/09

WASHINGTON (AP)-Federal consumer officials are looking into toy warnings from a California health group just ahead of the
holiday shopping season.

Seven of the 250 children's toys tested by the Center for
Environmental Health contained lea
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"Ten Worst Toys"

11/18/09

WSIL -- A consumer safety group has revealed its list of the "10 Worst Toys of 2009".

The World Against Toys Causing Harm or W.A.T.C.H. Group is responsible for the recall or redesign of hundreds of dangerous toys.

This year, the group's list i
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Royal Falcon Mine Closing

11/18/09

WSIL -- A southern Illinois coal mine is ceasing operations.

Knight Hawk Coal announced Wednesday it is closing its Royal Falcon mine located near the Franklin/Jackson county line.

The company says difficult mining conditions and geological pr
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Dongola Murder Indictments

11/18/09

UNION COUNTY- Two men have been indicted on first degree murder charges in Union County.

Michael Ellis and Tommy Reams are accused in the beating death of Gerald Dziczkowski.

They are also charged with home invasion.

Dziczkowski was found de
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The Safest Cars of 2010

11/18/09

WSIL-TV- The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety released its annual list of the safest new vehicles.

Ford and its Volvo unit received the most awards.

Coming in second were Subaru, Volkswagen and Audi.

In all 19 cars and eight S-U-V's
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Firearm Deer Hunting Season Kicks off

11/18/09

WILLIAMSON COUNTY- Firearm deer season kicks off this weekend.

Officials remind hunters to stay safe.

The number one cause of hunting accidents in Illinois is falling from a tree stand.

Hunters are advised to wear a safety harness and use
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Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Marion Lawmakers

11/18/09

WILLIAMSON COUNTY- Two men claim Marion city leaders violated their First Amendment Rights.

Kevin Clark and Robert "Bo" Emery have filed a federal law suit against Marion's Mayor, City Administrator and City Attorney.

Clark and Emery claim the
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Benton Bank Robbers In Court

11/18/09

FRANKLIN COUNTY- Two men accused of robbing banks across our region were in court Wednesday.

Nicholas Hall and Jonathan Bohn are accused of robbing a bank in Benton back in August.

Shortly afterwards, police say they robbed banks in both Coll
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Union County Sales Tax

11/18/09

UNION COUNTY- Leaders in Union County are asking shoppers for more money.

In February, voters will have the opportunity to support or vote down two sales tax increases. Both of those combined comes to 1.25 percent.

One percent would go to rep
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State Could Seek Death Penalty For Ferris

11/18/09

FRANKLIN COUNTY-- Afton Ferris is just 19 years old, but she learned Wednesday that if convicted, she is eligible for the death penalty. Ferris and 29-year-old Mike Schallert each face two counts of first degree murder for a shooting on October 19th
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Creal Springs Habitat for Humanity House

11/18/09

CREAL SPRINGS--A local woman is realizing the dream of owning her own home.

Habitat for Humanity is building the house in Creal Springs with the help of volunteers and a generous donation from a local business.

Over the course of the next
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New Measure Passed to Improve VA Hospitals

11/18/09

WSIL-TV- The U.S. Senate has passed a measure meant to improve healthcare for veterans in rural areas.

It was written with the Marion VA in mind.

The measure would set aside three million dollars for incentives to attract top doctors and admini
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Stimulus Spending In Fake Districts

11/18/09

CARBONDALE -- IDOT in Carbondale received three quarters of a million dollars in stimulus funding, SIU got close to three million and the 22nd congressional district received nearly $1.9 million. Only problem, there is no 22nd district, it was elimin
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Cheng Tapped for Chancellor Position

11/17/09

CARBONDALE -- Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard has named Rita Cheng as his pick for chancellor of SIU's Carbondale campus.

Poshard made the announcement during a news conference Tuesday morning.

Cheng is provost and vice c
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Raising Awareness About Diabetes

11/17/09

MURPHYSBORO-As waistlines grow, so do the number of people developing diabetes. It's estimated that nearly 24 million Americans have the condition, about six million don't even know it.

Registered and licensed dietitian Gail Peterman talks with f
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New Details in Interstate Accident

11/17/09

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Authorities continue to investigate a deadly crash on Interstate 57.

The accident happened Monday evening near mile marker 69.

Illinois State Police say a pickup truck driven by Richard Logsdon, 37, of Benton was headed north
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Change in Duck Hunting Season

11/17/09

UNION COUNTY -- Duck hunting season is underway in southern Illinois.

Instead of starting on Thanksgiving, this year's season began 12 days earlier and will end 12 days sooner.

That shift is upsetting business owners that cater to duck hunters.
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Is Thomson Safe Enough for Gitmo Detainees?

11/16/09

WSIL-TV— U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, (D)-Illinois, says if suspected terrorists are transferred to Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois, it would be the safest prison in the country. That claim is being met with skepticism.

Durbin a
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Jackson County Hit and Run

11/17/09

JACKSON COUNTY- A Murphysboro woman is accused of driving into a building and several other cars Monday night.

Police say Cristie Pugh first rammed into the side of the Blockbuster video on Walnut Street then drove away.

Officers say she then
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AFSCME Opposes Plan to Sell Thomson Prison

11/16/09

WSIL-TV-- The union that represents most Illinois prison workers is speaking out against a proposal to sell a state correctional center.

Governor Pat Quinn, (D)-Illinois, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, (D)-Illinois, propose using the Thomson Correc
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Man Accused of Anna Church Beatings in Court

11/17/09

UNION COUNTY- A man accused of severely beating two church workers has pleaded not guilty.

Willis Bates was in Union County court Tuesday morning on attempted murder charges.

He's accused of attacking two women inside the First Baptist Church
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Democrats Rally In Marion

11/15/09

MARION-- Emotions were high at the Southern Illinois Women's Democrats meet and greet on Saturday night.
As a slew of democratic candidates made the rounds trying to gain any vote they could, before the primary voting in February.

"No matter what
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Missouri Tuition Freeze

11/17/09

WSIL-TV- Tuition and fees could be frozen at four year colleges and universities in Missouri.

Governor Jay Nixon announced the proposal Tuesday.

Education leaders agreed to keep tuition the same if the governor avoided drastic funding cuts.


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Saluki Way Project Right On Schedule

11/15/09

CARBONDALE-- Bulldozers and cement trucks have been kicking up a lot of dust at the Saluki Way construction site in Carbondale lately, as workers do what they can to stay on schedule with the project.

"In the last two weeks we've been extremely bl
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Experts Discuss Survival For Unemployed

11/16/09

WSIL-TV- Getting a new job can prove a full time job in itself and can be very stressful.

Watch a Live Interview with Man Tra Con Executive Director Kathy Lively. She shares some tips on how to stay sharp.

Live at 5p.m.
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Judge Decides Future for Mother and Son

11/17/09

FRANKLIN COUNTY-- Authorities say Shannon Wilfong abducted her son Ricky Chekevdia nearly two years ago during a custody dispute with the boy's father Mike Chekevdia. Now the mother's future with her son is in the hands of a Franklin County judge.

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Talking Politics: Study Shows Illinois Headed Toward Fiscal Disaster

11/15/09

WSIL TV— A new study by the Pew Center for the States places Illinois on a list of nine states headed for fiscal disaster.

Dr. John Jackson of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University explains what the means for the s
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Durbin Supports Extended Benefits

11/16/09

WSIL-TV- Senator Dick Durbin says he supports extending unemployment benefits until the job market turns around.

The Senator met with displaced workers recently in Mt. Vernon and explained the recent extension of jobless benefits.

Workers in Il
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Fire Hampers Cairo Death Investigation

11/17/09

CAIRO--- Fire damage is making it difficult to investigate a pair of deaths in Alexander County.

Illinois State Police detectives are expected back in Cairo Wednesday morning to follow up on leads collected during autopsies Tuesday afternoon.


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Local SCUBA Divers Find Shipwreck on Land

11/15/09

WSIL-- A recent trip for a group of local SCUBA divers didn't quite go as planned.

They were in Gulf Shores, Alabama just as Hurricane Ida approached and were unable to dive the wreck they intended.

Instead the storm brought the ship wr
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Bodies Discovered During Fire

11/16/09

ALEXANDER COUNTY -- Authorities are investigating the discovery of two bodies found after a house fire in Cairo.

The fire broke out around 11:30 Monday morning in the 600 block of 37th Street.

Illinois State Police and fire officials searched
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Pit Bull Attacks Teen

11/16/09

WILLIAMSON COUNTY-Williamson County animal control is holding a pit bull.

It was surrendered by its owners after an attack.

Authorities say the dog bit a 15 year old girl on her leg Thursday on the east side of Johnston City.

Police say the
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WSIL Blood Drive a Success

11/16/09

WSIL-TV-Hundreds of donors came out this weekend to support the WSIL Blood Drives.

Friday and Saturday Red Cross workers collected 306 units of blood.

That surpassed the goal of 300 units.

Since one pint impacts up to three lives,those donat
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News 3 COVER IT LIVE

2/04/09

WSIL-TV - We're making news interactive with our live blog.

Lets us know If you have reports of breaking news in your community.

Send your comments on stories seen on News-Three.

Begin by clicking on the play button below.

If you have d
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Health Departments Limit Vaccinations To High-Risk Groups

11/16/09

WILLIAMSON COUNTY-- You may notice more people sniffling and sneezing. The flu is spreading and many cases are likely the H1N1 virus. So, local health departments are now offering swine flu vaccines.

But, the vaccinations aren't for everyone. P
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Kentucky Soldier Honored

11/16/09

PERRY COUNTY- A small bridge in eastern Kentucky will be named after a fallen Fort Campbell soldier.

43 year old Sergeant Estell Turner died last year from injuries suffered from a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.

A bridge on Highway 28 in Perry C
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Marion Motel Fire

11/16/09

WILLIAMSON COUNTY- An early morning fire has destroyed part of a Williamson County Motel.

The fire started at the Motel Marion on Main Street.

Crews were called out just after 2 a.m.

Authorities say no one was in the room when the blaze bro
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