Bradford Stabbing Plea; New Illinois COVID Restrictions; Judge Candidate

Nov. 17, 2020 4:55p; updated at 5:45p with new Illinois restrictions; Updated 11-18 to add 3rd candidate in judicial race

From WGTD News:

Illinois Gov. Pritzker announced new, statewide COVID restrictions Tuesday. Casinos, museums and theaters were ordered closed as of Friday. Indoor service at bars and restaurants is not permitted. Both must end outdoor service by 11 p.m. Retail stores must lower their capacity to 25% from the current 50%. Grocery stores will be excluded. 

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The Kenosha man who as a 15-year-old stabbed a classmate to death at Bradford High School has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge. Timothy Carson originally had been charged with second-degree intentional homicide.  In court Tuesday, the charge was knocked down to 2nd degree reckless homicide, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of 25 years, 35 years less than the original charge. Carson claimed self-defense. The victim--Dezjon Taylor--had punched Carson in the face. Sentencing was scheduled for January.

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A horse race has developed for the Kenosha Court judgeship that's being given up by the retiring Mary Wagner. Announcing her candidacy is Kenosha Family Court Commissioner Elizabeth Pfeuffer, who grew up in Kenosha and has been in her current role for the past four years. Already in the ring is Kenosha County Deputy District Attorney Angelina Gabriele and Kenosha attorney Angela Cunningham. The election is next spring. 

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Over 200 educators have signed a grievance against the Kenosha Unified School District over the way in which the district has responded to COVID-19. The grievance follows the release of a list of over 300 alleged violations of district policy and other complaints. KUSD gives students and parents the choice of either remote learning or virtual instruction. On any given day, hundreds of students and staff are in quarantine after having either contracted the virus or having been exposed. The school board--at its regular meeting Tuesday night--is expected to discuss the situation. 

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The number of confirmed COVID cases in Racine County Tuesday ballooned by 430. Some of the cases more than likely emanate from the state prison in Sturtevant, which recorded 250 new cases on Monday, according to the state Department of Corrections. Statewide, deaths from the coronavirus hit a new daily high Tuesday with 92 people having passed. 

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