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4 girls killed in Illinois after-school program crash are identified

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4 girls killed in Illinois after-school program crash are identified


The four girls who were killed Monday in a crash at a school camp program in Illinois have been identified by the county coroner’s office.

Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon released the names of all victims in a press release Tuesday, identifying them as Rylee Britton, 18; Ainsley Johnson, 8; Alma Buhnerkempe, 7; and Kathryn Corley, 7. They were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the coroner’s office.

Alma’s mother, Billie Buhnerkempe, told NBC News that her daughter was a “ray of sunshine wherever she went.”

Alma Buhnerkempe.Courtesy Billie Buhnerkempe

“She was sweet, outgoing, silly and funny,” Buhnerkempe said. “She loved her friends and family fiercely. She loved playing soccer, basketball and doing gymnastics.”

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Alma’s younger brother Will has autism, Buhnerkempe added. Alma “loved and supported him the way only a big sister could,” her mother said.

Ainsley’s father, Todd Johnson, declined to be interviewed but confirmed her death to NBC News on Tuesday. Her nickname, he said, was “Squirt.”

“She was larger than life and will forever leave a void in our broken hearts,” Johnson said.

Ainsley Grace Johnson smiles for a photo
Ainsley Grace Johnson.Courtesy Todd Johnson

Family members for Kathryn and Rylee did not immediately respond to requests for comment from NBC News.

Six others were taken to Hospital Sisters Health System, five of whom were admitted into the children’s hospital. One person was treated and released, the hospital said.

Illinois State Police said that a vehicle drove into the building at YNOT After School Camp around 3:20 p.m. in the town of Chatham on Monday. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

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Authorities identified the driver as 44-year-old Chatham resident Marianne Akers. State police reported that Akers, who is not in custody, was subjected to toxicology tests and the results are pending.

YNOT Outdoors Founder Jamie Loftus described the crash as an “unforetold tragedy” in a statement on Tuesday. Security cameras showed an SUV traveling at a “high rate of speed” through a field toward the building with “no apparent attempt to alter its direction,” according to Loftus.

Loftus urged people to keep the families of the victims in their thoughts and prayers, while also giving them “space and respect”

“I cannot gather the words to express much of anything that will make sense in print,” Loftus said. “However, I do know that our families who suffered loss and injury today, are hurting very, very badly. They are friends and their kids are like our kids.”



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Illinois

Illinois Court of Claims goes digital with e-filing and remote hearings

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Illinois Court of Claims goes digital with e-filing and remote hearings


Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has announced a significant modernization initiative for the Illinois Court of Claims, introducing electronic filing options and remote hearings. This transition replaces the outdated paper-based system, which often delayed case processing and complicated access for claimants. “For too long, the state’s Court of Claims has been forced to rely on outdated, paper-driven processes that made filing a claim slower and more complicated,” Giannoulias said. “By making this a fully digital process, we’re making government more accessible, more transparent and more efficient for the people it serves.”

Starting today, all filings with the Court of Claims will be submitted through a new online e-filing portal. Users can create an account, follow step-by-step instructions, and submit their claims directly through the system. Training videos will be available to assist first-time users. The digital platform allows Illinoisans to manage their claims conveniently, track updates instantly, and receive real-time notifications as their case progresses. It also eliminates the need for mailing multiple paper copies and reduces administrative processing times.

The modernization initiative aligns with broader technology upgrades across the Secretary of State’s office and the Illinois court system. Enabled by HB 1576, sponsored by State Rep. Terra Costa Howard and State Sen. Michael Halpin, the measure authorizes remote hearings and allows the public to file claims, submit evidence, and pay fees online. The Illinois Court of Claims serves as the venue for individuals seeking financial compensation from the state in cases involving state responsibility, including injuries, property damage, and wrongful imprisonment. Improving access and efficiency is crucial for Illinoisans navigating these complex circumstances. Claimants with questions can contact the Court of Claims Clerk’s Office at ClerkofCoC@ilsos.gov or (217) 782-7101.



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‘Home Alone’ house being restored to mirror iconic Christmas movie

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‘Home Alone’ house being restored to mirror iconic Christmas movie


ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team

Sunday, December 14, 2025 6:16PM

'Home Alone' house being restored to mirror Christmas movie

WINNETKA, Ill. (WLS) — “Home Alone” is one of the most popular Christmas movies of all time.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The holiday classic debuted 35 years ago. Now, the iconic house featured in the film is in the spotlight, again.

It underwent an interior renovation and was sold earlier this year.

Now, ABC7 learned that it will be transformed back to the way it looked in 1990, when film audiences got to peek inside it for the first time.

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John Abendshien is the former owner of the Winnetka house. He has fond memories of the days spent filming the movie.

READ MORE | Original owner of ‘Home Alone’ house writes memoir about iconic movie

Abendshien said he and his family stayed and watched while the movie was being shot.

He has written a memoir called “Home but Alone No More.”

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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Person of interest in deadly Cicero, Illinois stabbing apprehended after long pursuit

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Person of interest in deadly Cicero, Illinois stabbing apprehended after long pursuit



A suspect in a deadly stabbing was apprehended early Sunday morning following a pursuit from Cicero that ended up on Chicago’s Far South Side.

Around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Cicero police were called after Ubano Diaz, 73, was tsabbed in the 3200 block of South 54th Court in the west Chicago suburb. Diaz was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died, Cicero police said.

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Police immediately identified a person of interest, who was found driving out of the town. They launched a pursuit as the suspect headed northeast on the Stevenson Expressway.

At 1:21 a.m. Sunday, Illinois State Police were called in to assist Cicero police with the pursuit as the suspect cruised up the Stevenson Expressway at California Avenue.

The pursuit kept going along the Stevenson and Dan Ryan expressways before finally ending at 119th Street and Vincennes Avenue west of I-57 in Chicago’s Morgan Park neighborhood.

The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody at that point, Cicero and Illinois State Police said.

There were no crashes or injuries during the pursuit.

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Police believe the stabbing was an isolated incident, and there was no threat to the public.

State police did not specify the route of the pursuit.



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