Pritzker names new IDNR leader
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has appointed Jim Montgomery to serve as the new director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, effective Monday, August 31 and pending Senate approval.
Montgomery previously worked as executive director of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. He was mayor of Taylorville from 1997-2005.
Man charged with murdering Chicago mail carrier
A Chicago man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of U.S. Postal Service carrier Octavia Redmond on July 19, 2024. A joint investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Chicago Police Department led to the arrest of Lyndell Deyoung, 35, last Monday. Separately, in July 2026, a minor pleaded guilty to murder for his role in Redmond’s death.
Nicholas Bucciarelli, inspector in charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, said Deyoung’s arrest is the culmination of cooperation among local and federal law enforcement partners.
“We hope this arrest brings some semblance of peace to the Redmond family following this horrific tragedy,” Bucciarelli said.
Lawrence County meth dealer sentenced
A federal judge has sentenced a Sumner, Illinois, man to 17.5 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine in Lawrence and Richland counties and unlawfully possessing firearms.
David Royse, 47, was also ordered to pay a $500 fine and serve 10 years of supervised release following imprisonment.
Prosecutors said Royse’s sentence would run concurrent with any prison term ordered in his pending state cases in Lawrence and Richland counties.
Four West Nile cases reported in Cook County
Two days after the Illinois Department of Public Health reported the first human case of West Nile virus in the state this year, four cases were reported in suburban Cook County.
The Cook County Department of Public Health said the risk of West Nile infection was high and encouraged residents to take precautions. IDPH reported West Nile involving a Piatt County resident on Wednesday.
Du Quoin State Fair offers racing events
Harness racing is scheduled on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Du Quoin State Fair, starting at 4 p.m. each day.
The ITPA Truck & Tractor Pulls are set for 6 p.m. Monday. The demolition derby is at 6 p.m. Saturday, September 5.
The Mile Track features USAC Silver Crown Series racing at 1 p.m. on Sept. 5 and ARCA Menard Series racing on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m.
The Du Quoin State Fair runs through Labor Day, Sept. 7.
