Afternoon News Update: July 23
- A northwest side Rockford business has been robbed. It happened Tuesday at the Tobacco Outlet at the 3200 block of N. Main Street. Police say the suspect approached the clerk and pointed a gun at him. The suspect escaped and headed north on Main Street. Police describe the suspect as a black male in his 30s, about 5'2" with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt and shorts with a Chicago Bulls baseball cap.
- The downtown Rockford YMCA is taking the high-tech workout experience to a new level. The facility upgrading it's cardio center with nearly $400,000 in upgrades, including new spin bikes, rowers and incline trainers. The new machines are state-of-the-art, all with touch screen technology.
- A World War II veteran in the Rockford area wants to make sure a Memorial Day tradition doesn't end after he dies. Eighty-seven year-old retired florist Lee Hartsfield raises $3,000 each year to pay for American flags placed on veterans' graves. He's now trying to raise $25,000 to keep the program going for the next few years. He has an anonymous donor willing to match that amount.
- A state lawmaker says Illinois should recognize concealed-carry permits from other states the way states like Wisconsin and Michigan recognize the Illinois permits. Representative Brandon Phelps of Harrisburg says the Illinois law is too complicated for gun owners from out of state
- Chicago plans to install eight new airport noise monitors in neighborhoods near O'Hare International Airport. Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the plans Tuesday. Emanuel says the additional monitors will help gauge the impact of changes in flight patterns at the airport.
- Small town police departments in the Dekalb region, are expressing concern over possible increases in the fees they pay for dispatch services from DeKalb County. Many municipalities rely on the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department for the service. Exceptions are the cities of Sycamore and Genoa. That led those two cities to feel they were paying more than their fair share.
- Illinois doctors, nursing homes, hospitals and hospice organizations are ramping up for their role as gatekeepers in the state's new medical marijuana program. Doctors are gauging whether marijuana's benefits outweigh its potential for abuse. Nursing homes are deciding whether residents will be able to keep it in their rooms. Hospice organizations are searching for guidance on marijuana for dying patients.
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