Another Murder Trial In La Salle County

Know anyone who has jury duty next week in La Salle County?  A murder trial is on the court schedule.

James Alvarado had a final pre-trial hearing yesterday and everything is a go for a Monday morning start.  The appellate court in Ottawa gave Alvarado a second trial after taking issue with the prosecution’s closing statement and some of the testimony.

It only took a jury in the first trial about a half hour to convict Alvarado of first-degree murder.  He’s accused of shooting his wife after questioning her about an affair in 2006.

Alvarado was originally given 45 years in prison.

Area Unemployment Scene Worsens

The latest jobless figures in the listening area aren’t good.

Unemployment rates for La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties all went up. La Salle County’s January jobless rate is 13.2 percent, up from 11.5 in December. In Bureau County, the January unemployment rate went up from 10.1 to 12 percent. In Putnam County, the jobless rate is 13.2 percent, up from 10.6 percent.

Illinois’ January unemployment rate is 9.3 percent, down from 9.4 percent the month before.

Aurora man accused of selling drugs at downtown Ottawa bar

A bar in Ottawa has apparently earned a reputation with drug investigators.  Another person has been accused of selling cocaine at the Right Downtown Sports Bar in Ottawa.

Police with TRIDENT arrested Steve Suarez of Aurora Tuesday on three counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.  Police say that Suarez had sold cocaine while at the tavern.

He was being held in the La Salle County Jail.

Another man that police said was a bartender at the tavern was arrested on similar charges earlier this year.

Manzullo receives endorsement from Brady

One of the men trying to win the 16^th Congressional District Republican primary has received an endorsement from a prominent Illinois Republican.

State Senator Bill Brady says he supports Congressman Don Manzullo over Congressman Adam Kinzinger.  Brady ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2010.

The 16^th District includes Bureau, LaSalle, and Putnam Counties.

Unseasonably Warm Temperatures Roll On

If you like this type of weather, get used to it because it’s not going away for awhile.

High temperatures in the Illinois valley are expected to stay around the 80 degree mark into next week.  Record high temperatures were set all across northern Illinois yesterday.

There are several chances of thunderstorms in the next few days but no sever weather is expected.

Ex-Ill. Gov. Blagojevich enters at Colo. prison

LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) – Impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has entered a Colorado prison to begin a 14-year sentence for his multiple corruption convictions.

The 55-year-old Democrat arrived today at the Federal Correctional Institution Englewood in suburban Denver.

Blagojevich was convicted on charges that included trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat. He was sentenced in December but given three months to say goodbye to his wife and two school-age daughters before reporting to prison.

 

Early Voting Ends Today

If for whatever reason you’ll be gone Tuesday for the election, there are still ways for your vote to be counted.

Early voting and absentee voting in person are still available thru 4:30 today at the La Salle County Governmental complex in Ottawa.  Absentee voting in person is also available tomorrow, Saturday and Monday.  Absentee voting by mail ends after today.

If you haven’t registered to vote, that chance has come and gone.