Afternoon News Update: Thursday December 4
- Rockford Health System ambassadors are holding a holiday toy drive this year. The goal is to raise $20,000 to purchase toys for children and their siblings in local hospitals. The toys will be distributed year round.
- Illinois lawmakers have ended their fall veto session. The Senate adjourned Thursday but President John Cullerton says there's a chance senators could reconvene before January 13th. The House adjourned Wednesday without taking up a bill to raise the minimum wage. Governor Pat Quinn hasn't decided if he'll call a special session.
- Illinois lawmakers have passed legislation giving the attorney general more power to stop state pension payments to convicted felons.The Senate approved the measure by a 51-0 vote Thursday. The House approved the measure last month.The legislation gives the attorney general the ability to intervene to halt pension payments to anyone convicted of a felony related to their public service.
- A Rockford teen led police in a high speed pursuit while smoking marijuana. Police attempted to pull-over 18-year-old Austin Marley after he ran a red light at the intersection of Forest Hills and Riverside early yesterday morning, but Marley accelerated to near 100 mph. Marley is charged with aggravated fleeing to elude police, driving under the influence of drugs, and speeding among others.
- A convicted Beloit drug dealer has been sentenced to six years in federal prison. 28-year-old William Ellis was arrested in May. He was the passenger in a car that had been pulled over. Ellis was eventually found to be in possession of 30 grams of crack cocaine.
- Rockford Police are searching for a man behind a late night robbery at a fast food restaurant. The robbery happened at the McDonald's in the 4300 block of Harrison Ave. Police say a masked man entered the store, implied he had a gun, and demanded cash. Police describe the suspect only as a white male. No one was hurt.
- Hospital visits will be reduced at several Rockford hospitals due a spike in flu cases. Swedish-American, Rockford Memorial Hospital, and OSF Saint Anthony are not allowing anyone under the age of 18 to visit patients. The ban is in effect until further notice.
- State lawmakers have approved legislation allowing bobcat hunting for the first time in more than 40 years. The Illinois Senate approved the measure by a 30-19 vote. Illinois banned hunting of the nocturnal animal in 1972. Bobcats were on the threatened species list from 1977 to 1999. The hunting and trapping season would occur sometime between Nov. 1 and Feb. 15.
- The Get Covered Illinois campaign is targeting more than 53,000 homes in rural parts of the state. Illinois has started mailing out orange fliers with information on where people can get free help signing up for insurance under the federal health care law. Officials will monitor phone and website traffic from the targeted areas to see if the pilot project works.
- Illinois Governor-elect Bruce Rauner is spending the day in Washington. U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk's office is hosting incoming Republican governor and members of the Illinois congressional delegation for a bipartisan lunch. Kirk's office says the lunch will be the first post-election delegation meeting with Rauner.
- The University of Illinois is setting up a council of fans to provide feedback on the game-day experience as it plans for next football season. The university says it's looking for fan input from a group it will choose. Council members will need to be season-ticket holders in football, volleyball or men's or women's basketball.
- A Stateline hospital is helping make the holidays brighter for foster children. OSF St. Anthony handed over 150 gifts to Foster Care Alliance. The hospital has participated in the "Adopt-an-Angel" program for 22 years now. It provides presents to kids who are in the foster care system.
More From WROK 1440 AM / 96.1 FM
