Afternoon News Update: Wednesday December 10
- Temperatures in the 40s this weekend could add danger to ice fishing activities on Wisconsin waterways. After weeks in seasonal to cold temps, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says the ice will probably look thicker than it is, so officials are warning people to keep their ice fishing shanties on solid ground.
- Governor-elect Bruce Rauner is unhappy with the settlement Governor Pat Quinn has negotiated with the state's lottery vendor. Rauner's spokesman says the terms with Northstar Lottery Group are a "bad deal" that will tie the new governor's hands. Illinois is ending its relationship with Northstar three years into a 10-year contract. Northstar could be reimbursed up to $12.6 million.
- Governor Pat Quinn says he's "heartbroken" about the death of state Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. Her office says Topinka died early today after suffering a stroke. Governor-elect Bruce Rauner remembered Topinka's "magnetic, one-of-a-kind personality." Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White called her a "straight shooter who served Illinois with dignity."
- Gov. Pat Quinn says any discussion over replacing Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka should be postponed as the public mourns her. By state law, Quinn can appoint a successor if a constitutional office like comptroller becomes vacant. But Quinn leaves office next month and there's a question whether he can make a permanent appointment. A spokesman for Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner also says it's too early to talk about succession plans.
- Illinois deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 76,547 deer during the seven-day traditional firearm deer hunting season that closed Sunday. That figure is up compared to 74,318 deer harvested during the entire 2013 firearm season.
- Two Rockford people are in custody for allegedly using heroin to kill a man in 2013. 41 year-old Geoffrey Seymore and 32 year-old Melissa Neal are both charged with drug-induced homicide. The incident took place on Sept. 29, 2013. Police say Seymore and Neal used heroin they obtained heroin, which led Kurt Hudson to overdose.
- Beloit College announced it will hold a remembrance on event Dec. 14th for Luke Somers who was killed by ISIS. Somers who was a Beloit College graduate was killed in the last week by ISIS members. The event will take place at 1pm in Eaton Chapel. The event is open to the public.
- The U.S. House has voted to extend a program that has spent $1.6 billion on efforts to clean up the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has drawn bipartisan support from lawmakers across the eight-state region since President Barack Obama proposed it in 2010. It funds projects that remove polluted sediments, fight invasive species such as zebra and quagga mussels, restore wildlife habitat and prevent runoff that causes harmful algae blooms. The bill now goes to the Senate.
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