Afternoon News Update: Thursday August 21
- Illinois State Police has identified the three men involved in last night's robbery that turned into a police chase which ended in a two car accident. Ronaldo Fort, DeANgelo Brooks, and Bryant Locke are all charged with armed robbery. The incident occurred at a US Cellular store in Belvedere. The men were chased by police from Belvedere to the Menard’s near the Cherryville Mall, where they crashed into another vehicle. The victim has been identified as Karen Williams, who is in critical condition.
- A Stateline area man has pleaded guilty in connection with a violent home invasion. Cortez Brown entered his plea in court today. Authorities say that his accomplice Cortez brown also has pleaded guilty. They allegedly broke into a Rockton home and stole items of value, struck one of the homeowners with the butt of a gun and shot him in the leg. They also killed both of the families' Bernese Mountain Dogs.
- A Stateline man has received his 6th drunk driving charge. The incident happened around 4:30pm on Wednesday in Janesville. Officials say Randy Bluhm, made a wide turn and nearly struck a curb at the intersection of W. Delevan and S. Washington. After Bluhm stopped, the officer found him with an open can of beer. Bluhm admitted he'd been drinking and smoked marijuana just 20 minutes prior. Bluhm is currently being held in the Rock County Jail.
- Republican Bruce Rauner and other supporters of political term limits have asked the Illinois Supreme Court to quickly decide whether the question can go on November's ballot. The Committee for Legislative Reform and Term Limits filed an emergency petition Thursday morning. Friday is the deadline for election officials to certify the Nov. 4 ballot.
- Records show the Pentagon has given police agencies in Wisconsin more than $28 million in surplus military gear in the past decade including assault rifles, grenade launchers and mine-resistant trucks. Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs records obtained by Gannett Wisconsin Media show more than 67,000 military-grade items were given to 219 police agencies since 2004.
- Two out-of-state companies have agreed to pay $50,000 to consumers and Wisconsin after the state sued them for scamming people out of thousands of dollars and airline tickets. The state Department of Justice announced the settlement yesterday. It had accused Texas-based Green Palm Vacations and Arizona-based Perfekt Marketing of promising people free airline tickets and gift cards that consumers often didn't receive.
- Unemployment numbers dropped in all 12 Illinois metro areas in July, including in the Stateline area for the fourth consecutive month of decreases across the state. Rockford has dropped to 9.4% from 11.6% at this time last year.
More From WROK 1440 AM / 96.1 FM
