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Weather Alert

Weather Alert

The National Weather Service in Paducah has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
Franklin County in south central Illinois...
Johnson County in southern Illinois...
Pulaski County in southern Illinois...
Williamson County in southern Illinois...

* Until 1230 PM CDT.

* At 817 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 4 and 8 inches of rain
have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Marion, Herrin, West Frankfort, Benton, Carterville, Johnston
City, Christopher, Vienna, Rend Lake Area, Sesser, Zeigler,
Crainville, Cambria, Royalton, Energy, Goreville, Mounds, Hurst,
Valier and West City.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

&&


FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

Weather Alert

.The forecast of up to a foot of rain is on track, with many
locations nearing that total and experiencing widespread flooding.
Additional heavy rain will only exacerbate ongoing flooding and make
it even worse and more widespread.

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues. Additional
heavy rains will only exacerbate ongoing flooding and make it
worse and more widespread...resulting in particularly dangerous
situations.

* WHERE...All of southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, southwest
Indiana, and western Kentucky.

* WHEN...Through Sunday morning.

* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,
creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Low-water
crossings may be flooded. Extensive street flooding and flooding
of creeks and rivers are possible. Area creeks and streams are
running high and could flood with more heavy rain. Be prepared as
rising water levels may cause particularly dangerous situations
where evacuations could become necessary.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- Flash flooding and flooding caused by excessive rainfall is
expected. With the forecast on track and radar estimates and
spotter reports confirming many locations already having
received between 4 and 10 inches, anticipated additional
bouts of heavy rain will put everyone in the half foot to
foot range. A few isolated totals greater than a foot are not
out of the question. These amounts and resultant flooding
creates a particularly dangerous situation.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the latest forecasts and be alert for additional Flash Flood
and Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should
be prepared to take action should flooding develop or worsen.

&&

Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in
Illinois...

Big Muddy River near Plumfield affecting Williamson and Franklin
Counties.

Big Muddy River near Murphysboro affecting Jackson County.

.A couple more rounds of moderate to heavy rain can be expected into
the weekend. The rest of the event rainfall has been incorporated
into the river forecast.  The Big Muddy River has started to rise and
crests are expected over the next week. Now is the time to prepare
for flooding.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive
cars through flooded areas.

Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Additional information is available at www.weather.gov.

&&

...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON UNTIL FURTHER
NOTICE...

* WHAT...Moderate flooding is forecast.

* WHERE...Big Muddy River near Plumfield.

* WHEN...From Saturday afternoon until further notice.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 9:30 PM CDT Friday the stage was 14.9 feet.
- Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage
early tomorrow afternoon and continue rising to a crest of
27.1 feet early Monday afternoon.
- Flood stage is 20.0 feet.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

&&

Gov. Pritzker signs Safe-T Act amendment into law

  • Updated
  • 0
criminal justice, gavel, prison

SPRINGFIELD (WSIL) -- Tuesday, Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 1095, the trailer bill to the Safe-T Act. 

The Safe-T act came under major scrutiny for ending cash bail, among other criminal justice changes. 

The trailer bill aimed to clarify what a prosecutor needs to prove to a judge that a defendant is a danger to others and should be detained. In addition, it allows judges to consider past instances of failing to appear in court when determining pretrial detention and establishes a grant program to help the state's public defenders handle an expected caseload increase.

The 300 page amendment also added more crimes to a list that could disqualify defendants in court from being released while awaiting trial.

The law is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2023, but a a lawsuit challenging the measure’s implementation will now be heard Dec. 20, just 11 days before the new year.

“I’m pleased that the General Assembly has passed clarifications that uphold the principle we fought to protect: to bring an end to a system where wealthy violent offenders can buy their way out of jail, while less fortunate nonviolent offenders wait in jail for trial,”�said Governor JB Pritzker. “Advocates and lawmakers came together and put in hours of work to strengthen and clarify this law, uphold our commitment to equity, and keep people safe.” �

The three major changes in the trailer bill includes:

  1. Implementation Time: To address fears of overwhelming courts and large shifts of prison population, the trailer bill gives courts 90 days after the first of the year to reevaluate everyone who should be jailed and people who should be released pretrial.
  2. Dangerousness Standard Language: Opponents of the Pretrial Fairness Act raised concerns over the standard of pertinent danger when it came to whether someone would be released pretrial. When a case comes to the court, two factors determine the amount of bond set: the chance of a person running away, and if they pose a threat to the community. In the original language of the Pretrial Fairness Act, some believed that the wording would force prosecutors to prove that a person causes a threat to a specific, named person to jail them before their trial. The trailer bill clarifies the language to say 'person/persons/or the community' to widen the scope.
  3. What Crimes Demand Pretrial Jailing: Opponents of the Pretrial Fairness Act had issues with what crimes might not require people to be held in jail before pretrial release with the most commonly used being second-degree murder. Vella says the trailer bill responds to this by adding language which requires a person to be held in jail before their trial if they're charged with a crime that wouldn't allow probation if the person was convicted.

Other coverage of the Safe-T Act: