Afternoon News Update: Thursday October 9
- The Belvidere School District and Teachers have not reached a deal despite a six hour negotiating session last night. Officials at the Belvidere School District say that just three issues separate both sides from signing the new contract with its teachers union. They include lab class size, case management workload, and salary and benefits. Both sides are confident they can reach a deal and avoid a strike on Tuesday when they meet again.
- The Rockford Chamber of Commerce is hosting a news conference to announce their support of the “Better Schools, Brighter Future" referendum. It's asking voters in Rockford Public School’s District to vote to give authorization to build additional school buildings in the district. They propose that $139 million from the Capital Projects Fund to be allocated for the construction.
- The race for Illinois is tight, but in a new poll voters believe Bruce Rauner is a more trustworthy person. According to the poll Reboot Illinois/We Ask America voters stated they trust Bruce Rauner more than his opponent, Pat Quinn. That's despite a recent negative Quinn ad campaign directed at Rauner.
- The Winnebago County morgue will need a new home. The County learned that is has six weeks to find a place to house the morgue, which is currently in the Rockford Public Safety building. They have no immediate plans for a new location but officials say they are exhausting all possibilities. The public safety building will soon be demolished.
- Governor Pat Quinn and Republican challenger Bruce Rauner are just hours away from their first televised debate. Thursday night's event in Peoria is sponsored by the League of Women Voters and several public television and radio stations.
- Governor Pat Quinn's former chief of staff says the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative provided jobs and opportunities for thousands of people. Jack Lavin is defending the anti-violence program in front of a panel of lawmakers reviewing a critical state audit. Republicans have called the program a "slush fund" designed to boost Quinn ahead of the 2010 election.
- A phone call to police earlier this week warning of parental neglect led to three arrests, with one being the caller. Loves Park Police received a tip that a baby was not being properly cared for. Police determined that baby was ok, but arrested two people inside the home. 21-year old Kara Stickles was arrested for a probation violation, 36-year-old Bethellen Petit was arrested for a failure to appear violation. The person who called in the tip arrived the Loves Park Police station later the night and was arrested for two different warrants.
- The proposed Illiana Expressway has survived its latest challenge. Members of a regional planning agency have defeated a motion to approve a long-term infrastructure plan without the 47-mile highway. Critics say the road linking Interstate 55 south of Chicago with I-65 in Indiana would be a waste of tax money.
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