Report: DCFS Joliet office had contest to close most cases

CHICAGO (AP) — A report says the Joliet office of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services offered $100 gift cards to workers closing the most cases just months before a missing 1-year-old girl’s body was found under a couch in a home.

The Chicago Tribune reported the existence of the contest Saturday, a day after the department released a report reviewing its actions leading up to the death of 1-year-old Semaj Crosby. The toddler was found dead April 26 in a Joliet Township home shortly after DCFS closed an investigation into whether she was being neglected.It’s unclear whether any of the winners of the contest that began in January were involved in DCFS inquiries at Semaj’s home.

DCFS Director George Sheldon says the contest was inappropriate.

BELATED MEDAL

Army veteran receives Bronze Star 64 years after discharge

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago veteran has finally received his Bronze Star Medal 64 years after he was discharged from the Army.

Edward-Elmhurst Health said in a news release 89-year-old Peter Bury of Lisle received the medal Saturday from U.S. Rep. Bill Foster during a ceremony at Edward Hospital in Naperville, where Bury is a patient.

Bronze Stars are awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement or service. The release says Bury was notified he had earned the medal for his service as an artillery forward observer during the Korean War, but never received the medal. Bury was discharged with the rank of lieutenant.

The release says Foster’s staff was successful in getting the medal to present to Bury.

The release says an undisclosed medical condition forced Bury to be hospitalized on Friday.

CHICAGO VIOLENCE-RAIDS

Chicago police arrest 30 to curb holiday weekend violence

(Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://chicago.suntimes.com/)

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago police say they’ve arrested 30 people in a series of raids aimed at curbing shootings during the traditionally violent Memorial Day weekend.

Police Supt. Eddie Johnson told a news conference Saturday the raids would continue over the weekend.

During the Memorial Day weekend last year, six people killed were and another 63 were wounded by gunfire across the city.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports the raids targeted people on the department’s Strategic Subject List, a formula-driven register of people deemed most likely to be involved in gun violence.

The raids conducted primarily on the city’s South and West Sides also resulted in the confiscation of hundreds of pounds of narcotics.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said that narcotics and weapons charges will be filed against all those arrested.

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METRA-KIDS

Kids age 11 and under may ride Metra for free this summer

CHICAGO (AP) — Kids age 11 and under will be allowed to ride for free on suburban Chicago’s commuter rail service this summer.

Metra says up to three children per paying adult may travel for free starting Memorial Day weekend and continuing through Labor Day.

Metra Executive Director Don Orseno says taking the train allows people to “spend more time with your family and less time worrying about traffic and parking.”

Metra also says trains will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule on Monday because of Memorial Day.

SEVERE WEATHER

Severe storms packing hail, strong wind likely in central US

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Severe thunderstorms packing large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes are possible over parts of the central United States during the holiday weekend.

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, says there is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms Saturday over parts of Kansas, northeastern Oklahoma and northern Arkansas. Strong storms are also possible in parts of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. The risk covers an area of more than 87,000 square mile and includes more than 7.6 million people.

Forecasters say widespread, severe wind gusts are forecast from the Ozark region to the lower Ohio Valley Saturday. Very large hail and tornadoes will be possible from the Red River Valley northeastward to the Ozark Plateau as well as the Tennessee Valley, middle Ohio Valley and portions of the Mid-Atlantic.

BELATED BAR MITZVAH

Holocaust survivor, 89, to celebrate bar mitzvah

CHICAGO (AP) — An 89-year-old Jewish Holocaust survivor from Czechoslovakia will finally celebrate his belated bar mitzvah, the Jewish ceremony that marks the transition to manhood.

The Chicago Tribune reports Harold Katz began preparing for the celebration 76 years ago, but it never took place amid the Holocaust.

Katz’s daughter says her father made the announcement of his plans for a belated bar mitzvah at his birthday party last year. His celebration will take place on Memorial Day.

Katz, who now lives in a Chicago retirement home, says he’d like to be remembered from a personal story that his grandchildren would want to tell their children.

During World War II, Katz kept from being apprehended by Nazi soldiers after being separated from his family. Most of his family died after being sent to Auschwitz, where more than a million Jews were killed.

WWII BOMBER PLANE

WWII bomber plane to appear at Scott Air Force Base show

(Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com)

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) — An iconic World War II aircraft is slated to appear at the Scott Air Force Base airshow.

The B-17 Bomber “Sentimental Journey” comes to the event as part of the Flying Legends of Victory Tour on June 10 and June 11. The Belleville News-Democrat reports the tour includes three other restored WWII combat aircraft. It will make stops in 50 cities through October to educate people about the role of aviation in combat.

Visitors can climb aboard the bomber to explore it. The B-17 is one of just 10 in the world that still flies. It was nicknamed the “Flying Fortress” for its ability to suffer extensive damage and still return home. It was used in every theater of the war.

Event details can be found at: http://www.scott.af.mil/airshow2017/ .

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CONVICTED MURDERER-100-YEAR SENTENCE

Convicted murderer appeals 100-year sentence

(Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com)

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) — A man sentenced to 100 years in prison for killing his girlfriend is appealing the sentence.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports former Granite City resident Cory Osborne was found guilty of first-degree murder in March. He was sentenced earlier this month. The 32-year-old’s girlfriend was discovered in her car with a gunshot wound to the head two years ago.

Osborne’s trial revealed he searched online to determine if a .22 caliber shot to the head could kill someone shortly after his girlfriend told him she wanted to break up.

Osborne’s bail was revoked following the guilty verdict. He was taken into custody at the Madison County Jail.

Court records show Osborne alleges the court overly relied on aggravating factors in determining his sentence.

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GRAVE EXCAVATION

Excavation at jail site turns up bones

(Information from: The Quincy Herald-Whig, http://www.whig.com)

QUINCY, Ill. (AP) — Excavation work at the site of a new western Illinois jail has turned up some bones.

The Quincy Herald-Whig reports the grounds of the Adams County Courthouse was the original site of Quincy’s first cemetery. A ground-sounding process using radar to search for an estimated 15 to 20 graves on the property began Monday. The full excavation process could take up to two weeks.

Adams County Coroner Jim Keller says the bones have not yet been identified and few specifics are available.

The excavation is required for historical preservation purposes before any construction work can begin on the new Adams County Jail.

All bones discovered will be sent to Loyola University Chicago for preservation instead of being reburied locally. Then the search for descendants will begin.

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UNION OFFICIAL-FRAUD CHARGES

Union official accused of defrauding Social Security

CHICAGO (AP) — A former union official has been indicted on charges he fraudulently qualified for early retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration.

Federal prosecutors say John A. Matassa Jr. was secretary-treasurer of the Independent Union of Amalgamated Workers Local 711 when he put his wife on the payroll in a do-nothing job in February 2013. At the same time, he lowered his own salary and applied for and obtained early retirement benefits from Social Security’s Old-Age Insurance program. Matassa is also accused of signing his wife’s paychecks from the union and depositing them into the couple’s bank account.

The 65-year-old Matassa of Arlington Heights is scheduled to be arraigned next week on wire fraud, theft of government funds, embezzlement from a labor organization and making false entries in union records charges.

His lawyer refused to comment on the indictment.