Afternoon News Update: April 30

The body of a missing Dixon woman has been pulled from the Rock River. 56-year-old Melva Meridith was reported missing Tuesday evening. A few hours later police received a report of a car in the Rock River between Dixon and Sterling. It was empty, but authorities would later find Meridith’s body near the Rock River Estates boat launch in Lee County. Police are not ruling her death a homicide at this time.
A Freeport toddler is in protective custody after cocaine was found in his nose. Police say the boy’s parents took him to the doctor Monday where they found a substance in the 2-year-old’s nose. It later tested positive as cocaine. The mother has now been arrested on an unrelated charge. The case is still under investigation.
An Illinois man has pled not guilty to two felony charges in the 1997 death of a teenage runaway. 36-year-old James Eaton of Palatine has been accused of murdering 14-year-old Amber Creek also of Palatine. He then allegedly dumped her body in a Wisconsin marsh. Officials say a federal DNA database connected Eaton to the crime in February after investigators recovered DNA from a cigarette he discarded.
A former Illinois state representative has been confined to his home pending a child porn trial. 66-year-old Keith Farnham was also barred from using computers or having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18. A federal judge set those conditions today at an initial hearing in the case. Court documents say Farnham possessed videos depicting child pornography on a computer. The Democrat from Elgin resigned his seat in March.
Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White, is warning that possible budget cuts could shut down the Capital Police Department. He warns one scenario would include a $39 million cut to the office budget, putting some jobs at risk. Lawmakers have until May 31 to pass a budget.
The Illinois House Executive Committee voted again this morning to endorse a $100 million incentive to lure Barack Obama’s presidential library to Illinois. This time, however, all Republican members of the committee voted no. The committee approved the plan two weeks ago, but the panel used a role call from the previous day and recorded a 9-0 vote with only five Democrats and no Republicans present. The GOP objected and officials agreed to conduct a second vote. House Republicans say with Illinois in its current fiscal condition, it can’t afford the $100 million expenditure.

Categories: News