A weekly roundup of news from around the region.
Burlington settles wrongful death lawsuit
The city agreed to pay $5 million to settle the suit, which was brought by the mother of a man who was shot to death by police five years ago.
Officer Chris Chiprez fatally shot Marquis Jones, 27, after police stopped Jones for allegedly playing music too loudly.
Police said Jones ran away with a gun in his hand, and Chiprez said in reports that he thought Jones was armed when he shot him.
But lawyers for Jones' mother said evidence showed Jones had dropped the gun yards away and was nearly prone on the ground when he was shot.
Significant federal funding for veterans home in Quincy
Illinois will receive more than $194 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for modernizing the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy.
The money will help pay for replacing the current veterans’ home with a 210-bed skilled care facility. In addition, 80 independent living domiciliary rooms will be created.
The state will cover the rest of the estimated cost of nearly $300 million.
The project is already underway. Target completion dates:
- The Domiciliary -- June 2023
- The Long-Term Care Building – March 2024
- The Nielson renovation, site work, and final punch list items – the end of 2024
The Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy dates back to 1886 and is the oldest veterans’ home in the state.
Macomb wrapping up downtown project
Macomb said its downtown revitalization project is coming to an end.
The city said weather permitting, all sidewalk and street work for the project will be completed by the end of Saturday, July 2.
Contractors will be cleaning up and taking care of other finishing touches beginning Tuesday.
The project was supposed to be completed last fall.
Fire heavily damages home in Keokuk
No injuries are reported from a fire at 1306 Oak St. in Keokuk.
The city’s fire department said they were called to the home on Sunday morning. They brought the fire under control in about 15 minutes, but the house sustained major smoke, water, and fire damage.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Route 67 repair project in Warren County
Repair work began Tuesday, June 28 on Route 67 about six miles south of Monmouth.
The Illinois Department of Transportation said the work will require lane closures in both directions and will occur both day and night.
The repairs are being done on the bridges over Cedar Creek.
IDOT expects to complete the project in mid-August.
WIU parts ways with baseball coach
Western Illinois University head baseball coach Andy Pascoe is out of a job.
The university’s athletics department said it is not renewing his contract.
The Leathernecks won just 8 games last season while losing 44. Pascoe’s three-year record at Western was 19-86.
Pitching coach and recruiting coordinator Tayler Sheriff has been appointed interim head coach.
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