Good morning. Here's a look at how AP's general news coverage is shaping up in Illinois at 8:30 a.m. Questions about coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to the AP-Chicago bureau at 312-781-0500 or chifax@ap.org. Caryn Rousseau is on the desk, followed by Herbert McCann. AP-Illinois News Editor Hugh Dellios can be reached at 312-920-3624 or hdellios@ap.org.
A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories and digests will keep you up to date. All times are Central.
Some TV and radio stations will receive shorter APNewsNow versions of the stories below, along with all updates.
UPCOMING TODAY:
ILLINOIS BUDGET
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield on Wednesday as they continue to try to break a budget impasse with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. The Illinois House plans hearings on budget-related issues while the Senate convenes to consider a temporary one-month state budget for essential services that Rauner opposes. By John O'Connor and Sophia Tareen. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Developing from legislative action scheduled to start at 10 a.m.
ILLINOIS FLOODING
WATSEKA, Ill. — Watseka has issued a local disaster emergency and daily curfews until next week because floodwaters from the Iroquois River and Sugar Creek are converging on the eastern Illinois city. About 50 people have evacuated and are at a Red Cross shelter. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos pursuing.
ELECTRONICS RECYCLING-ILLINOIS
JOLIET, Ill. — Illinois' electronics recycling efforts will change after Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation addressing shortfalls in the program. The governor's office says the previous law put too much burden on local governments and the new legislation will provide time to develop new regulations. UPCOMING: 250 words.
ONLINE SAFE ZONES
BOSTON — Michele Velleman needed to sell a Zumba dance fitness kit, a cellphone and a table through Facebook. So she found buyers on Facebook and made the trades at — where else? — the police station. "Online safe zones" like the one Velleman uses are popping up at police stations nationwide as authorities try to clamp down on crime associated with online trade between strangers. By Denise Lavoie. SENT: 710 words, photos. Editors please note southern Illinois interest.
AROUND THE STATE:
EXCHANGE-HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR
FREEPORT, Ill. — The last time Alexandra Goode saw her father was a day he had taken her to school. The year was 1941 and her family was living in Yugoslavia. That day, the German army invaded her town, bombed it and took over her school. Her home was destroyed, her twin brother and the governess killed. Her father and older brother would be conscripted into Tito's Communist Resistance Army and eventually killed. By Jane Lethlean. The (Freeport) Journal-Standard. SENT: 830 words, photos.
IN BRIEF:
— OIL SPILL: The cleanup continues in southwestern Illinois after a weekend oil spill dumped more than 4,000 gallons of crude into a creek.
— SUPREME COURT-RAUNER CHARACTERIZATION: Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke says it's "regrettable" has Gov. Bruce Rauner characterized the high court as untrustworthy and part of a "corrupt system."
— BLAGOJEVICH PROSECUTOR: A federal prosecutor who played a central role in former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's trial and who is on the team prosecuting Dennis Hastert is leaving to become an Illinois judge.
— PROSTITUTION-PREGNANT WIFE-KILLING: An appeals court has overturned a murder conviction for an Illinois man accused of placing an ad for sex with his pregnant wife and then shooting her customer.
— SANDBURG STATUE-GALESBURG: A fountain in Galesburg is being removed to make room for a statue of poet Carl Sandburg in his hometown.
— GRAIN BIN ACCIDENT-MEMORIAL: A memorial is planned later this month to mark the fifth anniversary of a northwestern Illinois grain bin accident that left two people dead in 2010.
— AQUATIC STUDIES-ILLINOIS-SPRINGFIELD: A group of Japanese high school students has come to the heart of the United States to learn about water.
SPORTS:
BBA--WHITE SOX-LOOKAHEAD
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox rolled into the All-Star break playing their best ball of the season, finally performing like the team they thought they were, after a miserable start. Maybe the worst is behind them. Or maybe this is just a brief reprieve. For all the talk about firing the manager and shaking up the roster, the White Sox can at least breathe a little easier during this break whether they have time to jump into the playoff race or not. By Andrew Seligman. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos.
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If you have stories of regional or statewide interest, please email them to chifax@ap.org. If you have photos of regional or statewide interest, please send them to the AP state photo center in New York, 888-273-6867. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.
MARKETPLACE: Calling your attention to the Marketplace in AP Exchange, where you can find member-contributed content from Illinois and other states. The Marketplace is accessible on the left navigational pane of the AP Exchange home page, near the bottom. For both national and state, you can click "All" or search for content by topics such as education, politics and business.