Illinois quick hits: Mine manager pleads guilty; Johnson issues food executive order

Illinois quick hits: Mine manager pleads guilty; Johnson issues food executive order

August 29, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Mine manager pleads guilty

A former Franklin County mine manager has pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration in relation to an underground fire in August 2021.

Prosecutors say Timothy Brandon Parsons, 38, of Louisa, Kentucky, and co-conspirators agreed not to evacuate miners over the course of three shifts or notify MSHA, even though gas detectors alarmed for the presence of more than 10 parts per million of carbon monoxide. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 18.

Johnson issues food executive order

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order establishing nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold or served on city-owned property.

The order aims to ensure that low fat, low sugar, culturally-appropriate food options are available in city facilities.

Johnson said all city agencies will be subject to mandatory purchasing guidelines for any food sold or served on city property.

Bluegrass music at Lincoln’s New Salem

The Traditional Music Festival and Bluegrass Concerts are coming to Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site in Menard County.

The annual event takes place Sept. 5 through Sept. 7.

Performers from all over the Midwest play music with instruments like mountain and hammer dulcimers, autoharps, fiddles, banjos and more.

More Stories
Beecher Weather Full forecast →
Today Jul 20
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny
85° 61°

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny

💨 10 to 15 mph 💧 34%
Data: National Weather Service • Updated Jul 21, 12:24 PM Full Forecast →
Site Sections

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Supreme Court justices defend $225 million budget request

Supreme Court justices defend $225 million budget request

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square U.S. Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett made a rare appearance before lawmakers on Tuesday to defend the high court’s $225.1 million...
Election 2026: Cooper steps away from responsibility of historic prison release

Election 2026: Cooper steps away from responsibility of historic prison release

By Alan WootenThe Center Square U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper, whose name was on a lawsuit against the NAACP that ended in 2021, on Monday took a clear step away...
Illinois congressman pushes to repeal federal tax cuts

Illinois congressman pushes to repeal federal tax cuts

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Democrat Illinois congressman sparked pushback after urging fellow Democrats to repeal all aspects of President Donald...
Illinois state diversity leader resigns amid criticism

Illinois state diversity leader resigns amid criticism

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The head of the embattled Illinois diversity commission has moved to a different state job after a...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago committee approves infrastructure funding around soccer stadium

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago committee approves infrastructure funding around soccer stadium

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council’s finance committee has approved $424.9 million for public access, road improvements, a river...
Retired judge urges federal court to reject key talc researcher's testing

Retired judge urges federal court to reject key talc researcher’s testing

By Daniel Fisher | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A special master hearing evidence behind tens of thousands of lawsuits over Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder has urged the court to...
U.S. inflation cools to 3.5% in better than expected June report

U.S. inflation cools to 3.5% in better than expected June report

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square U.S. inflation decreased by 0.4% in June, for a seasonally adjusted total of 3.5% over the year, driven by rapidly falling energy costs, according to...
Court: Parents can’t sue teachers unions over illegal strikes

Court: Parents can’t sue teachers unions over illegal strikes

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square (Legal Newsline) - Parents do not have legal rights to sue teachers unions for calling illegal strikes, which allegedly lead to learning...
Extreme heat, wildfires sweep the Southwest

Extreme heat, wildfires sweep the Southwest

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Extreme heat and wildfires have defined this summer in the Southwest. Meteorologists are warning residents to be aware of air quality alerts and high temperatures....
U.S. House to vote on bill making daylight savings time permanent

U.S. House to vote on bill making daylight savings time permanent

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House will vote this week on a bill making daylight savings time permanent, despite warnings from medical, education and safety organizations. The Sunshine...
Trump: Iran to be 'hit hard' as blockade back on

Trump: Iran to be ‘hit hard’ as blockade back on

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Another round of strikes is hitting Iran, with President Donald Trump indicating the Islamic Republic will be “hit hard.” The president announced Monday that the...
U.S. House passes election campaign financing bill

U.S. House passes election campaign financing bill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House passed a bill Monday that would restrict funding of state and local political races and ballot proposals to American citizens only. The...
Will Graham, McConnell absences affect confirmation hearings this week?

Will Graham, McConnell absences affect confirmation hearings this week?

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The death of longtime South Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and the ongoing illness and recovery of Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell may affect...
Senate panel sits on AI jobs-data bill 8 months on

Senate panel sits on AI jobs-data bill 8 months on

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A bipartisan U.S. Senate push to make the federal government track AI's effect on jobs has gone unanswered for four months, and the bill meant...
Nordone will fulfill remainder of brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate term

Nordone will fulfill remainder of brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate term

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Darline Graham Nordone, sister of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, has been chosen to fulfill the remainder of his term this calendar year by South Carolina...