• Governor Bruce Rauner's administration is making plans in case some state workers' decide to strike. It’s reported some retired workers are being asked if they'd be willing to come back on short-term contracts. Rauner's administration and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 are negotiating a new agreement. An extension on the contract expires Friday.
  • As Illinois legislators head back to Springfield, tomorrow will mark House members’ last chance to stop a pay raise worth more than $1350 before they get paid Friday, July 31.  Gov. Bruce Rauner has been using the pay raise to tweak legislators, especially Madigan. Last week, he said accepting the pay raise without solving the state’s budget issues was ‘unfair to taxpayers and the people they represent.
  • An overnight house party takes a dramatic turn when a shotgun was fired into the crowd, injuring five people.  It happened at 900 Kent Street around 3:30 a.m. Monday. The five victims were treated and released from area hospitals.   No information is currently available about the suspect and an investigation is ongoing
  • Rockford police are still searching for suspects involved in a Friday night shooting between the occupants of two cars.  A 22-year old woman was struck twice and has been hospitalized with serious injuries. Police say a car with three people inside pulled up to a residence in the nine-hundred block of Willard avenue, when a second car also pulled up. The suspected shooter got out of the second vehicle and shot at least 18 times into the first car. ot twice -- and was sent to the hospital with serious injuries. No one else was injured -- and no arrests have been made at this time.
  • A northern Illinois podiatrist has donated dozens and dozens of pairs of shoes to help the victims of an April tornado in the town of Fairdale. The April 9 tornado killed two women and caused $7.9 million in damages to dozens of properties in the unincorporated community of about 150 people. Katherine Bailey has podiatry offices in Oregon and Rochelle. She donated the shoes and insoles, which can cost up to $150 combined. They were distributed last week at the nearby Kirkland Fire Department during a Fairdale community meeting.
  • An Illinois Congressman says more focus needs to be given to mental health now that another shooting has occurred at another movie theater.  Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) says he's been wanting a comprehensive discussion on all aspects of gun ownership every since the Newtown shootings, but believes President Obama didn't go far enough.  "The President came out with a plan that only focused on the firearms part of the equation," says Davis.  "I think it was short-sighted.  Hopefully, we can continue the debate on how we ensure that those who are mentally ill get the treatment they need, rather than they just being pushed out into society."  Davis says gun ownership may not be the only problem.  "We ought to be able to ensure that those who are treated for mental illness...we need to put more of a focus on what it is that treatment means."   Davis says he still supports the Second Amendment, and thinks some areas with the strictest gun laws are also some of the areas with the highest crime rates.
  • The Village of Rockton will hold its second and final public input session Monday night at 6:30 in the village Hall. The community meeting is designed to help update the Village's Comprehensive Plan. It centers around topics like utility service, community events and resident amenities like parks and recreation.  All Rockton residents are encouraged to attend Monday's meeting.
  • Federal regulators are poised to hit Chrysler-Fiat with a record fine of up to $105 million dollars. The penalty is related to mishandling of auto recalls.  The automaker is also expected to appoint an auditor to oversee recalls moving forward. The massive fine is reportedly associated with 23 million recalls involving 11 million vehicles. That includes 1.5 million Jeeps with gas tanks that can leak after severe rear impact.  Chrysler says it sent recall notices to all affected Jeep owners and has repaired about 500-thousand so far.

 

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