>>Senate President Jones Retiring After Current Term

(Springfield, IL) -- Democrats in Springfield will have to start next year's term without one of the men they've counted on for more than three decades. Illinois Senate President Emil Jones says he is retiring after his current term ends. Jones has served 35 years in the Illinois General Assembly, starting in the Illinois House in 1972. He was elected to the State Senate in 1983, and was tapped to be Senate president in 2003. He is the first African American man to hold the top spot in the Illinois Senate. Jones says simply in a statement "This has been a great privilege to work on behalf of the people of Illinois for over 35 years." Jones' colleagues say he will be remembered for his strong leadership and his dedication to education.

>>Jones Retirement Sparks Talk Of Big Changes In Springfield

(Springfield, IL) -- After two years of gridlock, lawmakers in Springfield are now talking about big changes and a new Senate President. Emil Jones' retirement has sparked all sorts of questions. Who will be a the new leader, what will happen to a statewide construction plan, and who will Governor Rod Blagojevich turn to? State Senator Mike Jacobs says the Governor may lose the most without Jones in Springfield. He calls it a horrible day for the Governor. State Senator Kimberly Lightford says she expects a power scramble as lawmakers line-up to replace Jones.

>>Lawsuit Filed To Stop I-DOT Jobs Move

(Springfield, IL) -- A judge in Springfield could be the one to decide if 150 state workers will move from the capital city to southern Illinois. Union workers, Springfield city leaders, and local lawmakers filed a lawsuit to block the move Monday. John Paris is one of the workers who could see his job go to Harrisburg Illinois. He says lawmakers tried but couldn't stop the move, so now it's on to court. The suit spells out a list of reasons not to move the I-DOT jobs, including questions about the process and where the building is located. Governor Rod Blagojevich ordered the move earlier this year as a way to jumpstart the economy in southern Illinois. There's no response from the Governor's office about the lawsuit.

>>Four Buffalo Killed After Escaping On To I-55

(Braidwood, IL) -- It wasn't what drivers or the Illinois State Police expected to find on I-55 Monday morning. Four buffalo escaped from a nearby farm and shut down traffic as they romped across the interstate. State Troopers got calls from drivers near Braidwood and Coal City, about an hour south of Chicago, about the buffalo. Troopers then shutdown traffic in both directions. Hours later the owners of the animal shot and killed the four buffalo. No people were hurt, and traffic returned to normal.

>>Springfield Cops: State Fair Ends With Brawl

(Springfield, IL) -- After ten relatively calms days of the Illinois State Fair, police say two groups of teens marred the end of the fair with a brawl. Two people were arrested, but Springfield Police, The Sangamon County Sheriff's office, and the Illinois State Police all were called to break-up large fights just outside of the fairgrounds in Springfield. Police say the groups started fighting outside the fair, then moved to a local gas station, then to a pharmacy parking lot, and finally to a local pizza place. Investigators say no one used any weapons during the melee, and no one was reported seriously injured.

>>State Police Warn Of Labor Day DUI Crackdown

(Springfield, IL) -- The Illinois State Police are warning drivers; they will be looking for drunk drivers from now through the Labor Day weekend. The ISP is once again launching an enhanced patrol, statewide, to keep people from drinking and driving. The "You Drink & Drive. You Lose" campaign is the same as the campaigns launched at the 4th of July, or during the Christmas holidays. State Police Director Larry Trent says "The Labor Day holiday is considered to be the last chapter of the summer season," he wants to make sure it is a safe chapter. Deaths on Illinois roads have dropped every year for the past three years, but Trent says nearly 600 people died in DUI related wrecks last year. In addition to more troopers, Trent says drives can expect roadside safety checks, and concentrated patrols at key spots across the state.