Illinois
Illinois governor calls for resignation of sheriff whose deputy fatally shot Black woman in her home
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker called Wednesday for the resignation of the sheriff whose deputy fatally wounded Sonya Massey in her home last month after the Black woman called 911 for help.
Pritzker, a Democrat, said Republican Jack Campbell should step down because “the sheriff has failed.”
Sean Grayson, 30, faces three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct in the July 6 shooting death of Massey, 36. Campbell, who hired Grayson for the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department in May 2023, reiterated his intent Wednesday to stay in the job.
“He has failed to explain how he ended up hiring this deputy sheriff who has been fired from other departments,” Pritzker said of Campbell at an event in Chicago. “He failed to put forward reforms that clearly need to be made, training and other reforms and still has failed to meet with the Massey family.”
There is no evidence Grayson was fired from any previous job. And Pritzker did not elaborate on what “training and other reforms” Campbell should have implemented since the killing.
Grayson has come under scrutiny because — prior to becoming a law enforcement officer — he was kicked out of the Army a decade ago for the first of two drunken driving arrests within a year. His law enforcement career included six jobs in four years, during which he received some reviews that indicated he needed more training and had one disciplinary problem.
Grayson was fired on July 17 for violating use-of-force standards by shooting Massey rather than taking non-lethal action when he felt threatened by a pan of hot water she was holding, according to authorities.
The sheriff signaled Wednesday that he would stay on the job.
“I was overwhelmingly elected to lead the sheriff’s office through both good times and bad,” Campbell said in a statement. “I am fully prepared to continue leading my office and serving the residents of Sangamon County through this difficult period, ensuring we learn from this tragedy and work toward a better future.”
Pritzker, who with Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton met with Massey’s family two weeks ago, faulted Campbell for not sitting down with family members.
“At a minimum, listen to them, hear them, and then hopefully, take action,” Pritzker said.
Campbell said he has requested meetings with the family four times through family-designated intermediaries, but none has been accepted. He said he would still like to meet.
He also said he is willing to modify hiring practices but because Sangamon County follows statewide standards, necessary changes should be made statewide.
The sheriff’s office “continues to grieve for Sonya Massey and her family,” Campbell said. “While our grief cannot compare to the pain of the family, our office is trying to heal from within — all employees of the sheriff’s office feel betrayed by one of their own.”
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Associated Press writer Sophia Tareen contributed from Chicago.
The Illinois basketball team is in the middle of a huge season for the program, as this squad is poised for great heights.
Despite dropping two out of the last four contests, the Illini find themselves back in the AP Top 25 at No. 24 in the nation. This ranking is impressive considering we are only 8-3 overall. The three losses aren’t bad, and Illinois has also beaten a good Missouri program and ranked Arkansas and Wisconsin squads.
While Brad Underwood is trying to develop talent and lead this team to the promised land, there is clearly a need for continuous program development on and off the court. On Friday night, the Illini “front office” got a little stronger.
According to NBA reporter Jake Fischer, Illinois is hiring Neel Ganta as the new general manager for the program. The Illini managed to snag him away from the Denver Nuggets front office.
Sources: Neel Ganta is departing the Denver Nuggets’ front office to become the new general manager of Illinois men’s basketball. Ganta returns to the Illini program after previously serving as a graduate assistant.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) December 27, 2024
Neel Ganta should have an expansive role as the general manager of the Illinois basketball team
Ganta’s roots are actually with the Illini. He was a basketball analyst for the Illini from May 2019 to August 2020. After that, he moved into a graduate assistant role with the program from August 2020 to August 2021.
After his time with the Orange and Blue, Ganta then took a player development coordinator role with the Grand Rapids Gold, the G-League team of the Denver Nuggets. He then parlayed that position into multiple roles with the Nuggets, which ended with him being a pro scout.
Illinois is now bringing back Ganta, but what does the general manager title do for a college basketball team?
Well, this is the same situation that ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski took with St. Bonaventure just months ago.
In the description of what Wojnarowski does for the Bonnies, it includes name, image, and likeness opportunities. This is huge in the college game today. It also sounds like Wojnarowski is the front face for the program when it comes to collectives.
This is what I imagine Ganta will do for the Orange and Blue. He will be out there wheeling and dealing. Ganta will likely be the one who brings in the money to help pay for the athletes to come to Illinois.
I like this addition to the Illinois basketball program. We needed someone out there bringing in the money so the coaching staff can focus on recruiting and on court issues.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX) – Two men died in a Springfield Township crash Thursday afternoon, according to police.
On Dec 26 at 4:30 p.m., Springfield Police and Fire responded to the 9600 block of Daly Road for an auto crash, police say.
According to police, witnesses at the scene said they saw a head-on collision between a gray Toyota Sienna and a black Mercedes SUV.
Police say when they arrived on scene, the Toyota Sienna was on fire and both drivers had to be pulled from their vehicles.
The driver of the Mercedes SUV was identified as 55-year-old Jim Schneider from Cincinnati, who was pronounced dead at the scene according to a press release.
The driver of the Toyota Sienna was identified as 41-year-old Christopher Larkins from Springfield Township, the release says.
Police say Larkins was transported to UC Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
According to the Springfield Township Traffic Safety Investigators, it is believed that Larkins lost control of his vehicle going around a curve and drove left of center, hitting Schneider’s vehicle head-on.
Neither of the drivers is believed to have worn a seatbelt.
Officials believe speed was a factor and are working with the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office to determine impairment with a toxicology report.
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Illinois
PHOTOS: Illinois woman and cancer survivor celebrates anniversary of completing chemotherapy at Bears game
CHICAGO – An Illinois resident and cancer survivor was recognized as the Chicago Bears’ special guest during the Bear Down Flag Ceremony Thursday night.
Sally Wagner, of Round Lake, was invited by Advocate Health Care and the Bears to help unfurl the flag at Soldier Field during pregame introductions for the Bears vs. Seahawks game.
Wagner’s family joined her on the field before they returned to the stands to watch the game. The event marked the one-year anniversary of Wagner completing chemotherapy treatment.
In the spring of 2023, Wagner sought treatment for painful fibroids and opted for a routine hysterectomy, health officials said.
During the procedure, her gynecologist found suspicious tissue. A biopsy confirmed Wagner had non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Wagner said the diagnosis was a shock to her as she has no family history of the disease.
Besides feeling more fatigued than usual, Wagner said she didn’t experience typical symptoms of lymphoma, like swollen lymph nodes, fever or night sweats.
Her diagnosis required immediate treatment, and Wagner stayed at Advocate Condell for 92 hours of continuous chemotherapy every two weeks for six rounds, with additional rounds later in the year.
“I got really close to the team while I was there. From the very first night of treatment, I felt at ease. Everyone was so positive and kind, and the care was excellent,” said Wagner. “I never looked forward to chemo, but I looked forward to seeing the team who cared for me.”
The doctors and nurses said they admired Wagner’s strength, resilience and sense of humor throughout her chemotherapy treatment.
“I felt blessed to have met Sally and to be her nurse administering chemotherapy during her stay,” said Rodgers, a charge nurse in the Advocate Infusion Center. “Sally handled her diagnosis with such grace; she remained positive and focused on healing. Sally’s fun and upbeat personality won the hearts of everyone on our unit.”
Wagner said she stays connected with her care team, and now that cancer is behind her, she is embracing the present and looking forward to the future.
The Source: This article includes information provided by Adovcate Health Care.
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