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Around Illinois – June 5

  • Democratic congressional hopeful files petitions
  • Rockford casino not likely to get Quinn’s OK
  • Rockford man gets 37 years for Will County murder
  • Starved Rock hopes for contest windfall
  • Staggered state senate terms assigned

Wanda Rohl files petitions to face Kinzinger this fall

Wanda Rohl, a hospice worker from outside of Ottawa, has filed her candidacy as a Democrat for the 16th Congressional District to face incumbent Adam Kinzinger in the fall general election.

A month ago, the leaders of the county Democratic committees nominated Rohl to run against Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Manteno. She originally was supported at a citizens caucus in DeKalb.

Under state law, political parties may put up candidates with approval of a majority of party chairmen in a district. Monday was the filing deadline for those candidates.

Kinzinger defeated fellow incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Egan, in a landslide. Redistricting put the two men in the position of having to run against each other. Manzullo has held the 16th seat for two decades.

In 2003, Rohl was involved in an ATV accident which left her a paraplegic. She since has earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and is a licensed social worker.

Rohl said she would like to debate Kinzinger.

Quinn is unlikely to sign gambling expansion bill

Governor Pat Quinn says it's unlikely he'll sign a measure that would increase gambling in the state. The package passed last week in the final hours of the legislative session.

It's the second time legislators have approved allowing slot-machines at race-tracks and creating five new casinos, including one in Rockford.

But the previous plan was never sent to Quinn after he threatened to veto it.

The Democratic Governor appears not to have not changed his mind. He says he has ethical concerns with the new version.

"It has a lot of loopholes that are not good for the people when it comes to maintaining integrity and ethics,” the governor said. “I wouldn't hold your breath on getting that bill signed.”

If the governor does veto the plan, legislators could try to muster enough votes to override him.

The measure's sponsor also has offered additional legislation to appease Quinn.

Advocates of gambling expansion say given budget cuts, Illinois shouldn't pass up an opportunity for new revenue.

Rockford man sentence for Bolingbrook murder

A Rockford man who eluded arrest for nearly two days after the 2009 stabbing death of a Bolingbrook woman has been sentenced to 37 years in prison.

Karl O. Tynes, 32, pleaded guilty in Will County Circuit Court to first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm in the death of Ricola Williams, 36.

Tynes was accused of stabbing Williams to death and shooting Keyartred and Donnell Williams in what police characterized at the time as a "family disturbance."

Authorities say at least five children, ranging in age from three years through the late teens, fled the home during the violence took place.

The 32-year-old Tynes reportedly fled to the Rockford area after the murder. He surrendered to authorities in Chicago after a 38-hour manhunt.

Starved Rock State Park seeks $100,000 prize

In the face of limited state funding, Starved Rock State Park near Utica is hoping for a $100,000 windfall through an online contest.

Park officials are urging patrons to participate in the third annual "America's Favorite Park” contest sponsored by Coca-Cola.
The three parks with the most votes will win $100,000, $50,000 or $25,000. A $15,000 grant will be awarded at random to a park that comes in fourth to 25th place by the end of the contest.

The nationwide poll that runs through July 15. Votes can be cast online at livepositively.com/parks.

Term schedule set for area senatorial districts

Thanks to decennial legislative redistricting, the terms of Illinois State Senators are staggered into groups with varying arrangements of one two-year and two four-year stints in office.

Secretary of State Jesse White conducted a drawing which assigns each district’s term arrangements, effective with the results of the Nov. 6 election.

The 34th Senate District, which encompasses most of Winnebago County including all but a small portion of Rockford; and the 25th district, including Yorkville, Elburn and the Geneva-St. Charles area;  will have two four-year terms followed by a two-year term.
The 26th District, from Libertyville west to the Cary area; the 32nd District, covering northern McHenry County including Crystal Lake, Woodstock and Harvard; the 35th District, including Boone County and portions of DeKalb and Winnebago counties; and the 38th District, involving LaSalle-Peru, Ottawa, and Morris, all will start and end the decade with a four-year term and a two-year term in the middle.

The 33rd District, covering Lake in the Hills and Hampshire; the 36th District, stretching from Sterling-Rock Falls west to the Mississippi River where it reaches north to Savanna and southwest to Illinois City; and the 45th District, from the northwest corner southeast into DeKalb County and including Freeport, Dixon, Oregon and Rochelle, both will begin with a two-year term followed by two four-year terms.

A complete listing is available from the State Board of Elections.