24-YEAR OLD DUSTIN LEWIS OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS WILL FACE ARSON…AND POSSIBLY OTHER…CHARGES AFTER A MONDAY MORNING HOUSE-FIRE ON THE WARREN/KNOX COUNTY LINE.

(AP)  A MINIMUM-SECURITY PRISON IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS HAS LONG BEEN DERIDED BY A WATCHDOG GROUP AS ONE THE STATE’S MOST CROWDED LOCKUPS, AND NOW REPORTERS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IT FOR THEMSELVES.

(AP)  A NEW REPORT SHOWS THAT THE NATION’S WORST DROUGHT IN DECADES HAS WORSENED FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK, AFTER CONDITIONS HAD IMPROVED FOR MORE THAN A MONTH.

(AP)  THE UTILITY THAT SUPPLIES DRINKING WATER TO MORE THAN 250,000 RESIDENTS IN SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS IS TAKING EMERGENCY MEASURES DUE TO THE LOW LEVEL OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

(AP)  GOVERNOR TERRY BRANSTAD HAS ORDERED FLAGS UNDER STATE CONTROL TO BE LOWERED IN HONOR OF AN IOWA NATIVE WHO WAS KILLED ON PATROL IN AFGHANISTAN.

(AP)  A HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH HAS RESIGNED, CHARGED WITH SEXUAL EXPLOITATION BY A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE.

THURSDAY NIGHT’S N-F-L MATCHUP FEATURES THE ATLANTA FALCONS HOSTING THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS…

IN REGIONAL N-B-A ACTION WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THE CHICAGO BULLS WON WHILE THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES LOST…