Illinois Policy recently released a new study detailing how pension costs are negatively impacting budgets throughout the state’s school districts.

Chris Grissom doesn’t mince words about where he stands on the growing trend of parents in Illinois giving up custody of their children in order to get need-based college financial aid for them.

A number of news reports emerged on July 27 detailing a possible extended abuse of the state and federal student financial aid systems. State Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) released a statement on her website expressing her dissatisfaction with these reports.

A new Office of the Executive Inspector General (OEIG) report finds that former Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIUC) President Dr. Randy Dunn “improperly negotiated” several hires during his tenure as well as violated certain established hiring procedures.

There were 125 offenders released on parole during 2018 that live in Williamson County, according to Illinois Department of Corrections data obtained by Carbondale Reporter.

There were 63 offenders released on parole during 2018 that live in Jackson County, according to Illinois Department of Corrections data obtained by Carbondale Reporter.

Former state university employee Everett Porter, who retired in April 2019, saved $101,752 toward a pension over 11 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.

Former state university employee Elizabeth Clover, who retired in April 2019, saved $43,545 toward a pension over 20 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.

Former state university employee Karen Rowland, who retired in April 2019, saved $52,639 toward a pension over 23 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.

Former state university employee Benjamin Neff, who retired in April 2019, saved $55,807 toward a pension over 31 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.

Former state university employee Michelle Suarez, who retired in April 2019, saved $177,189 toward a pension over 33 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.

Former state university employee Tina Carpenter, who retired in April 2019, saved $12,727 toward a pension over 9 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.

Former state university employee John Mutchek, who retired in April 2019, saved $25,535 toward a pension over 6 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.

Former state university employee Ronald Krausz, who retired in April 2019, saved $151,728 toward a pension over 35 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.

More than 130 Illinois public school administrators who signed witness slips in opposition to a bipartisan bill that aims to consolidate Illinois school districts make six-figure salaries, according to an analysis compiled this week.

Carbondale Community High School District 165, Giant City Community Consolidated School District 130 and Carbondale Elementary School District 95 received the best financial ratings by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for their 2018 finances.

Carbondale Community High School District 165 was among the 695 Illinois school districts that achieved "financial recognition" by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for its 2018 finances.

Unity Point School District 140, Elverado Community Unit School District 196 and Herrin Community Unit School District 4 are area districts listed among those that received the lowest financial ratings in Illinois by the Illinois StateBoard of Education (

Former state university employee Toni Atnip, who retired in March 2019, saved $33,911 toward a pension over 13 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.

Former state university employee Susan Moberly, who retired in March 2019, saved $60,993 toward a pension over 23 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.