One arrest in Macomb High School threat
A Macomb High School student is accused of making a violent threat against the school.
The district said the student was arrested on Thursday and that there is no danger.
District officials said they cannot share more details because of student privacy laws and because the investigation is ongoing.
WIU faculty ratify new contract
Members of the University Professionals of Illinois have voted in favor of their new contract agreement with the administration at Western Illinois University.
98% of those who cast a ballot supported the three-year pact.
The agreement gives around 430 faculty and academic professionals pay raises. But Patrick McGinty, President of the WIU UPI chapter, declined to discuss details until the Board of Trustees approves the contract.
The board could vote on the agreement when it meets on Sept. 27-28.
The union said the agreement also includes measures to help increase student retention. Those include professional mentoring by faculty and creation of a summer bridge program to provide extra assistance for students who need it.
The previous contract expired in June. The two sides reached a tentative agreement on the new contract in July.
Derailment simulation planned in Burlington
Burlington first responders are planning an emergency drill for Saturday, Sept. 16.
Firefighters, police, EMS will and Amtrak officials will be testing procedures for responding to an Amtrak train car derailment with passenger injuries.
The simulation will be on the north end of Broadway Street.
The area will be closed to traffic from around 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and participants will use radio communication as part of the exercise.
Purden pleads not guilty in Bushnell murder case
Both teenagers charged in a shooting death in Bushnell have now pleaded not guilty.
Davin Purden, 18, and Nicholas Lafary, 17, are each charged with first degree murder in the death of Travis Purden, 43, in early June.
Davin Purden was back in court Wednesday, when he entered the plea.
Judge Nigel Graham had several questions for Dr. Joel Eckert about his process and findings. Eckert is a licensed clinical psychologist who evaluated Purden and determined he is fit for trial.
After that, Purden waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and a pre-trial conference was scheduled for mid-December.
Lafary pleaded not guilty earlier and has also waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
His pre-trial conference is scheduled for early next month.
WIU enrollment down this fall
This fall’s overall enrollment at Western Illinois University is 7,073. That’s a drop of 570 from last fall.
In announcing the enrollment figure on Thursday, the administration focused on the quality of incoming students.
The average grade point average of new freshmen is up slightly from last year. In addition, the university added nearly 140 freshmen and transfers into its Honors College.
New student enrollment (first-year students, transfers, and graduate students) for both campuses is 2,145.
Keokuk man arrested for enticing minor
Authorities arrested a Keokuk man for allegedly arranging a meeting with a minor to have sex in a park.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Department said Matthew Wayne Sly, 30, is charged with a felony count of Enticement of a Minor Under 16 for Sexual Purposes.
He is also charged with an aggravated misdemeanor count of Dissemination of Obscene Material to a Minor.
Sly was arrested following an investigation that included the Lee and Des Moines County sheriff’s offices, the Keokuk and Fort Madison police departments, and the Lee County Attorney’s office.
Tri States Public Radio produced these stories. TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.