UNDERWOOD Falkirk Mine worker Daniel Saxberg was eating lunch with his kids at Space Aliens in Bismarck when a co-worker texted him the news that Coal Creek Station will soon have a new owner.
âI literally almost cried and hugged my waitress at the same time,â he said. âItâs been an emotional year to say the least.â
He recalled the scene at the restaurant from his home in Underwood the next day.
Saxberg smiled Thursday as he spoke about how he wonât be out of his job working in mine reclamation next year after all, given that the power plant is to stay open. Falkirk supplies coal to Coal Creek via enormous trucks that haul loads of lignite several miles from the mine near Underwood to the power plant south of town.
Mark Lennihan / AP
The deception may start with a phone call and an offer to invest funds that sounds too good to be true, or a seemingly believable plea for money to rescue a grandchild from serious trouble.
For millions of elderly people who answer those calls, the consequences can be devastating. Fraud accounts for $3 billion in losses and affects one in 10 seniors, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Financial exploitation of seniors comes in myriad forms, including telemarketing scams and theft of funds by a caregiver or family member. Investment scams, solicitations for romantic partners and contractors who take seniors’ money and run are also on the radar of law enforcement agencies.
Eric Stock / WGLT
McLean County prosecutors call it an unprecedented time in their office.
They have tried 10 murder defendants in less than two years. The last nine defendants were convicted. McLean County State s Attorney Don Knapp said he hopes the convictions have a chilling effect on crime in Bloomington-Normal.
“If people haven’t figured out what happens to folks that want to use violence and usually illegal guns to settle disputes, I don’t know how much plainer we can make it,” Knapp said.
Knapp called a news conference Tuesday and assembled his prosecutors who tried those cases and local police who investigated the cases to detail how they have managed the multitude of high-profile murders.
Eric Stock / WGLT
Law enforcement officials and prosecutors said they feel blindsided by a massive criminal justice reform bill introduced by the Black Democratic Caucus in the Illinois House, with police saying they are shocked and surprised at the timing and sweeping scope of the measure. After what had happened in Minneapolis, we were certainly very vocal as law enforcement leaders about wanting to look at change and be involved in change, said Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner.
Bleichner said police advocates were not an equal player in developing the package. On Friday, the bill dropped without a lot of previous discussion. McLean County State s Attorney Don Knapp said a lack of debate on legislation is a good way to create unintended consequences.
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We recognize and applaud the sponsor and all the legislators who have endeavored to tackle these very difficult issues. Democracy is not static – it is a vibrant process, and their efforts are an important part of all our efforts to have a more perfect union. We respect the efforts of the legislation and while we have concerns with aspects of the proposal, we do not take issue with the well–meant intentions of the effort.
Notwithstanding your efforts, the Illinois State‘s Attorney‘s Association wishes to voice our opposition to House Bill 163 and its many provisions that will profoundly undermine public safety and overturn long–standing common sense policies and practices in the criminal justice system.