State Board Chairman Encourages Reading Challenge

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) — The chairman of the Illinois Board of Education is challenging the East St. Louis community to volunteer for a program designed to improve students’ reading skills.

US Steel to Lay Off Thousands in Illinois

GRANITE CITY, Ill. (AP) — Thousands of southern Illinois steel workers who are expected to lose their jobs soon could benefit from training and counselling to get them back to work.

Suburban Cousins to be Arraigned in Islamic State Case

CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois Army National Guard soldier and his cousin are scheduled for arraignment on charges they plotted terrorist attacks in a conspiracy to provide material support to the Islamic State group.

NTSB Official Says Investigation into Crash will Take Months

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) — A National Transportation Safety Board investigator says a private plane returning from the NCAA basketball tournament that was trying to land at a central Illinois airport turned away from the runway before crashing.