News Around Illinois – January 13, 2020

2 Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan From Illinois, Virginia

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Pentagon says the two soldiers killed Saturday in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb were from Illinois and Virginia. On Sunday, military officials identified the casualties as 21-year-old Pfc. Miguel A. Villalon of Joliet, Illinois; and 29-year-old Staff Sgt. Ian P. McLaughlin of Newport News, Virginia. Both soldiers were assigned to 307th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The Pentagon says their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province. Two other soldiers were injured. – Associated Press

East St. Louis Official Faces $175K In Fines To State Board

EAST ST. LOUIS — An East St. Louis elected official owes more than $175,000 in accrued fines to the Illinois State Board of Elections if he wants to appear on the March primary ballot. The (Belleville) News-Democrat reports it’s the highest amount a candidate has accrued with the board. East St. Louis Township Supervisor and former mayor Alvin Parks has until Tuesday. He hasn’t said if he’ll be able to pay. He recently attempted to settle the outstanding amount by offering about 50 percent of what he owes. Board members rejected it, saying Parks disregarded campaign finance laws. – Associated Press

Sanders, Delaney, and Walsh Stop In Quad Cities

Two Democrats and one Republican turned out for a political forum in Davenport, Iowa on Sunday. Sponsored by a social justice organization, Gamaliel of Illinois and Iowa, Bernie Sanders, John Delaney, and Joe Walsh were given time to make brief statements. But most of their time was spent answering questions. And their answers were very similar – to protect the environment, restore rights to former prisoners, and how to handle immigration. Walsh also won applause from the audience for his answers, very similar to those from Sanders and Delaney. – Herb Trix, WVIK

County’s Printing Glitch Led To Duplicate Voter Cards

PEKIN — Officials in central Illinois say a printing glitch is responsible for some residents receiving up to eight voter registration cards recently. Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman tells The (Peoria) Journal Star that a printer froze and got multiple orders to reprint. That led to duplicate cards printed, some of which were mailed. Ackerman apologizes for the inconvenience and “waste of resources.” A new printing process was expected to save around $6,000 this year, however after the glitch the savings was around $4,800.  – Associated Press

Illinois’ Black Hawk Statue Is Finally Finished

OREGON — An Illinois landmark known as the Eternal Indian statue is finally complete after years of planning and fundraising. The Rockford Register Star reports the scaffolding surrounding the sculpture, also known as Black Hawk, is being removed and should be taken down within weeks. Restoration efforts paused in 2016 after the conservator and project engineer disagreed over how much of the statue’s exterior concrete skin should be removed. The statue sat under a black tarp for about two years. Workers began erecting the scaffolding in September after repair work was to begin in 2018. An unveiling ceremony is planned for spring. – Associated Press

Illinois Updating Birth Certificates For Transgender Dads