Afternoon News Update: Monday, March 30

Average retail gas prices locally have risen three cents per gallon over the past week, putting us at about $2.46 per gallon, just a tad over the $2.43 per gallon national average. For a little perspective, prices in Rockford a year ago were $1.19 per gallon higher. The national average has increased by 3 cents over the past month. Diesel consumers have been enjoying declines in 48 out of 50 states in the last week.
Despite signals from Springfield, passenger rail advocates are still trying to maintain the state’s subsidy for Amtrak. The state is paying $42 million this year to support most of the trains from Carbondale, St. Louis and Quincy to Chicago. The governor’s budget proposal cuts that subsidy to $26 million, the amount the state paid two years ago.
Belvidere Schools District 100 is investigating whether any students have been in contact with a Sycamore man charged with 22 counts of sexual abuse in DeKalb County. 36-year old Andrew Arison, of Sycamore, was initially charged in DeKalb County with three counts but another 19 counts have been added. In a statement today from Belvidere schools, the district says it “has and will continue to follow up on all leads associated with Mr. Arison's employment in District #100 and will work with families, local law enforcement, and any other agencies as appropriate.”
A Freeport woman arrested on animal cruelty charges after 150 animals were found inside of her home is asking the court for a psych evaluation. 45-year-old Tina McKinnon was arrested last week after police rescued 84 dogs and found at least 65 other animals dead inside a Stephenson County home she was renting. A judge has not yet ruled on the motion. The case is scheduled to be continued in court on April 2.
The City of Rockford announces that yard waste collection and street sweeping will resume Monday, March 30. Please be advised that yard waste will only be collected when placed in compostable paper bags or in garbage cans clearly marked with a large “X” visible from the street. Street sweeping will begin today on arterial and collector level streets. This phase will take approximately two weeks, weather permitting.
Six tollway oases have been designated Safe Phone Zones by the Illinois Tollway as a way to reduced distracted driving. The effort is encouraging drivers to pull into safe, convenient locations to use their cellphones for calling, texting and accessing mobile apps. Today’s announcement was used as a kickoff to National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. The Belvidere oasis on I-90 and the DeKalb oasis on I-88 are part of the tollway project.
U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-17) says she's decided not to challenge Republican Mark Kirk for his U.S. Senate seat. Bustos had been mulling a run, but said Monday that she won't run now that U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth is in the race for the Democratic nomination. Duckworth announced her candidacy in a largely autobiographical video posted Monday to her campaign website. She is the first major candidate to announce a challenge to Kirk, a first-term Republican. Bustos says she's not formally endorsing anyone yet, but praised Duckworth's record and called her a "strong fighter for working men and women and veterans." Other Democrats who've indicated interest in running in 2016 include U.S. Reps. Bill Foster and Robin Kelly. Republicans mulling a run include former tea party U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh.

Categories: Local News, News