Families Begin Moving Into Champaign’s New Bristol Development
CHAMPAIGN – Champaign city officials say the first families began moving into the new Bristol Development over the weekend. The 90-units making up Phase One of the development were built on the site of the old Bristol Place neighborhood at Bradley Avenue and Market Street on the city’s north side. The last residents were moved out of Bristol Place more than two years ago, after the city and the Housing Authority of Champaign County decided the area was too blighted to save without a total rebuild. The new Bristol Development is a project of the city of Champaign, Housing Authority of Champaign County and the project developer, AHDVS, LLC. –— Jim Meadows, Illinois Newsroom
Man Found Guilty Of Murder In Woman’s 2009 Stabbing
URBANA — Jurors on Friday found an Illinois man guilty of murdering a 22-year-old woman, more than a decade after she was stabbed to death in her home. Michael Henslick, now 31, was 21 at the time of Holly Cassano’s murder in a mobile home park in Mahomet in November 2009, The (Champaign) News-Gazette reported. Police have previously said Henslick’s arrest was made possible by techniques used by Parabon NanoLabs. The Virginia company often works on cold cases with law enforcement, comparing DNA evidence to information in public databases used by people seeking more information about their ancestry. – Associated Press
Parents Allege Daughter, 6, Was Sexually Assaulted At Recess
EDWARDSVILLE — The parents of a 6-year-old southern Illinois girl are suing local school officials, alleging that their daughter was sexually assaulted by another kindergartner during recess. The lawsuit names the Edwardsville School District 7 as the defendant and accuses the school district of being negligent in its supervision of students during recess. The Glen Carbon girl’s parents contend that she told them in February 2019 that a male student in her kindergarten class had forcibly kissed her and touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions during recess. Their suit seeks $50,000, legal costs and other damages as determined by the court. – Associated Press
New Sculpture Honoring Lincoln Planned At Springfield Museum
SPRINGFIELD — A new sculpture honoring the 16th U.S. president is coming to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. Museum officials announced plans last week for the “Beacon of Endurance” piece, which will stand more than 24 feet tall. Renderings show an obelisk, with a base inscribed with quotes from Lincoln and a stainless-steel upper portion engraved with words describing Lincoln. Members of an advisory panel will weigh in on which words to include, and the museum also plans to take ideas from the public through social media. – Associated Press
Trucks Haul Massive Beams For Rebuild Of Mile Long Bridge
CHICAGO — Trucks hauling massive concrete beams destined for the Mile Long Bridge along the Tri-State Tollway are getting police escorts from a Wisconsin factory to a tollway plaza in Chicago’s southwest suburbs. The Chicago Tribune reports the beams will be used in the $4 billion rebuilding and re-widening of Interstate 294 near O’Hare International Airport. A chief engineering officer for the Tollway says concrete beams require less maintenance than steel ones and are more cost-efficient. Officials say the project can be done without raising tolls and is expected to be completed in 2026. – Associated Press
Officials Hope To Name New SIU Carbondale Leader By April
CARBONDALE – Officials hope to name a new chancellor to lead the Southern Illinois University Carbondale by spring. Phil Gilbert is the chair of the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees. Gilbert said at a meeting this week that a 23-member advisory committee has chosen semifinalists. Those candidates will be interviewed then narrowed to a list of finalists, who will be invited to visit campus in late March or early April. Board members hope to hire the new chancellor when they meet in April, The Southern Illinoisan reported. The board’s selection will replace Interim Chancellor John Dunn. Dunn has led the campus since December 2018 when then-Chancellor Carlo Montemagno died. – Associated Press