Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Tri-State area

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. -- The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will hire more veterans under newly signed legislation.

Governor Pat Quinn signed four veterans-related bills Sunday in honor of the Illinois State Fair's Veterans Day.

One law allows DNR to hire more veterans as conservation police by waiving the four-year college requirement.

Another measure doubles the number of days allotted for military service-related hospital visits for some state employees.

The other laws deal with treatment records of veterans in the criminal justice system and an expansion of the number of families eligible for special license plate to honor fallen police and firefighters and veterans.