7am News, Sports and Obits

Latest WGIL news
Click to play or
Right click and "Save Target As" to download
Click for Galesburg, Illinois Forecast
Home - Cancellations - Community Events - Contact Us - Mornings - News - Obituaries - Pictures - Programs - Special Events Audio - Sports - Weather
Death Penalty Protests at Illinois Capitol
Dozens of people gathered at the state Capitol Thursday to protest the state's death penalty. Former Gov. George Ryan placed a moratorium on the punishment in early 2000.

Andrew Kokoraleis was executed in March 1999, which is the last time anyone was put to death in Illinois. Kokoraleis's spiritual advisor, Bishop Demetrios Kantzavelos, says it was a punishment Kokoraleis didn’t deserve because there was no evidence suggesting he committed the crime he was accused of, except for what he called a "coerced confession."

State Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) wants the death penalty abolished because he says there's no proof it deters crime. That's why he agreed to co-sponsor legislation that would completely abolish the death penalty. Illinois is one of several states that has pending legislation to get rid of such punishment. House Bill 262 passed through a House committee last week and now awaits debate on the floor.

(Illinois Radio Network)
03 12 09 by Newsroom
News management powered by Xpression News

Click here for the WGIL News Archive

Click here for national news

The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.