(The Center Square) – Four people are facing federal charges in connection with a Franklin County mine fire that occurred in August 2021.
An indictment returned on Tuesday accuses Ronald Dale Koontz, 69, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Demitrios George Macropoulos, 38, of Buckeye, Arizona, Randy L. Nowland, 67, of Waltonville, Illinois, and Cory Taylor Humphrey, 37, of Prospect, Kentucky, with keeping miners underground and continuing to mine coal for portions of three shifts while unsuccessfully fighting the blaze at the MC#1 mine.
The four are charged with concealing the fire and interfering with the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration’s investigation.
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES $35 MILLION FOR SITE READINESS
On Thursday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced Regional Site Readiness Program awards totaling $35 million to support site readiness activities at 22 sites across Illinois.
The taxpayer investment is part of the state’s record-high $500 million site readiness initiative in fiscal year 2026, aimed at making more sites across Illinois ready for business.
COOK COUNTY JUDGE EVANS APPOINTED TO IL APPEALS COURT
The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed longtime Cook County Judge Timothy Evans to the First District Appellate Court, effective Aug. 17.
Evans was Cook County’s chief judge from 2001 until September 2025, when he sought his ninth term but was defeated by Charles Beach. Evans has been a circuit court judge since 1992.
The Illinois Supreme Court also announced the appointment of 13 judges to Cook County circuit court. The state’s high court said the appointments were made out of public necessity to ensure an adequate level of judicial staffing.
CHICAGO UNVEILS ‘OTHER WASHINGTONS’ ARTWORK
Chicago officials unveiled public artwork called “Other Washingtons” on Thursday. The installation surrounds the George Washington Monument at 51st and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and consists of nearly 40 flags and banners that recognize notable Black Americans who share the last name Washington.
“Other Washingtons” is a commission of the Chicago Monuments Project, which is supported by $6.8 million in funding from the Mellon Foundation.
30-YEAR MORTGAGE RATES RISE, 15-YEAR RATES FALL
According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the average fixed 30-year mortgage rate increased to 6.69% in the week ending Aug. 6.
The average fixed 15-year mortgage rate ticked down to 6.01%.
