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(Hillsboro)--A 42 year old Hillsboro man was arrested for the reported possession and production of cannabis. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, James Milanos was taken into custody on Thursday in the two hundred block of Lake Lane in Hillsboro. Reportedly the South Central Illinois Drug Task Force, and Montgomery County Sheriff's Office found cannabis plants and multiple pounds of cannabis located in a hidden room. Officers also seized eleven weapons and three thousand dollars.

Milanos was charged with the production of cannabis and possession of cannabis. His bond has been set at twenty five thousand dollars.

(Springfield)--Communities hoping to be the Futuregen Clean Coal project's carbon dioxide storage site will soon know if there hopes have been met. The Futuregen Alliance announced Friday it will announce selection on Monday. The Alliance is a group of coal companies and other firms working with the US Department of Energy on Futuregen.

Sites in contention are Christian, Douglas, Fayette, and Morgan Counties. The project was announced last year after the Energy Department scrapped plans to build an experimental coal plant in Mattoon. The Energy Department is covering most of the one point two billion dollar project.

(Litchfield)--The Litchfield Chamber of Commerce has announced the businesses and individuals that will be honored at its "Spring Into The Future" awards dinner. The 2010 Business Person Of The Year will be presented to Mike Fleming of Litchfield National Bank. The Chambers "Rising Star Award" will be given to Greg Dunning of Aaron's. Steve Bryant will receive the Chambers "Special Recognition Award;" and Dede Irvin will be presented the Chamber's 2010 "Citizen Of The Year Award".

This years dinner will be held Thursday, March 24th at the Magneson Grand Hotel. For more information you can contact the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce.

(Springfield)--Ameren Illinois is asking for an 111 million dollar rate hike with the Illinois Commerce Commission. The report to increase delivery rates works out to 51 million dollars for natural gas, and 60 million dollars in cost recovery for its electricity delivery service. The plan would work out to an estimated increase of up too three dollars and seventy eight cents per month for electric customers, and up to four dollars and fifty three cents per month for gas customers.

The Commission's review process usually takes up to eleven months to complete, meaning any rate hike will not go into effect until at least 2012.

A Livingston man has been charged in connection with a burglary in the Staunton area last week.

According to the Macoupin County Sheriff's Office, on February 9th, Macoupin County deputies and Staunton police responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a residence in the 3400 block of Bono Road in rural Saunton.

Shortly after arrival a suspect was taken into custody by a Staunton Police officer and after a search of the area, a vehicle was located with a possible second suspect in it. The suspect in the vehicle was taken into temporary custody and after further investigation, the 16 year old male was released.

The other suspect, 18 year old Daniel Gormley was charged in Macoupin County Circuit Court with one count of Residential Burglary and one count of Theft.

Bond was set at $50,000 and as of Monday, Gormley remained in the Macoupin County Jail.