Afternoon News Update: Thursday January 22
- The Loves Park Police Department has arrested a Rockford man who fled from police earlier this week with two small children in his car. 44-year-old Richard Hernandez was pulled over in the 6500 block of N. Alpine Road yesterday. As the officer approached, Hernandez accelerated away. Per department policy, the officer terminated the pursuit. Hernandez has been charged with fleeing to elude police among other charges.
- Governor Bruce Rauner says Illinois state workers are paid too much and their benefits are too generous. He calls a speech he gave Thursday at a University of Chicago business school a preview of policies he will lay out in next month's State of the State address. The governor didn't give any specifics on how he plans to tackle the state's budget woes.
- The Wisconsin state Assembly is acting on making the act of secretly taking a photo of someone's genitals, buttocks or breasts a felony. The Assembly is currently in session voting on a bill that would make what is known as "upskirting" a Class I felony. That is punishable by up to three and a half years in prison.
- The Chicago Tribune reports that an investment adviser has been granted administrative power over much of Governor Bruce Rauner's wealth. Rauner had said he set up "blind trust procedures" to shield himself from conflicts of interest but a spokesman says a blind trust would violate the state ethics law.
- The Discovery Center Museum announced today it experienced a new record for public attendance. The museum welcomed more than 110,000 visitors through its doors in 2014, which was a 4.4 percent increase over last year, and the highest public attendance number it has seen in history.
- Officials say Illinois enrollment under the federal health care law has climbed to nearly 287,000. That includes people who were automatically re-enrolled into their current plan or a plan with similar benefits. The current enrollment period ends February 15th.
- A federal judge has ordered the seizure of about $90,000 in retirement funds owed to former Dixon comptroller Rita Crundwell, who's in prison for embezzling nearly $54 million. The money will be sent to Dixon and put toward the restitution Crundwell has been ordered to make to the city.
- The Ogle County Sheriff's Office has identified the victim in a hit-and-run incident from this morning. 81-year-old Michael Chizzo of Mt Morris was riding his bicycle in the 400 block of West Rt. 64 when he was struck by a semi-tractor trailer. Authorities don’t have anyone in custody. Chizzo is currently in a local hospital listed in serious condition.
- Rockford Police are investigating a shooting on the city's west side. It happened on S. Johnston Ave. around 11 p.m. last night. Officials say the victim was shot inside his parked car in the 1000 block of Johnston Avenue. The suspect took off in a car and the victim walked down the street until he was able to locate help.
- Gateway Park at Alpine Hills held their unofficial opening today for the winter season. The parks actually opened for the season December 20th, but this was a day special guests and neighbors could test out the new snow park with some free tubing. Aside from that, the park also offers snowboarding and skiing opportunities.
- February will be the final month for school groups to visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum free of charge. The Springfield museum began offering free entry to students in January. The last month of free admission coincides with the month of Lincoln's birthday.
- An Illinois state Senate committee has scheduled a public hearing on a school accountability bill that would not impose sanctions on failing public schools. The hearing before the Senate Education Reform Committee is set for Tuesday. The measure also would not assign letter grades to schools or allow for private schools in the voucher program to choose from multiple tests to measure student performance.
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