Afternoon News Update: Wednesday February 11
- A Rockford woman who has been charged with supporting terrorism has been arrested in Germany. 42-year-old Jasminka Ramic of Rockford was arrested yesterday and is facing federal charges of funneling money and military supplies to extremist groups in Iraq and Syria. She doesn't have any lawyer at this time according to court records. Our partners at Eyewitness News have learned Ramic is awaiting is awaiting extradition to the U.S.
- Authorities in Cherry Valley have pulled the back half of a silver vehicle out of the Kishwaukee River this morning. Officials say the portion pulled from the middle of the river was completely stripped and did not have any seats in it. Firefighters entered the river in dry suits to attach equipment to the car so it could be pulled to land. It was recovered near the bridge at Mulford and Blackhawk roads in the southeast portion of Winnebago County.
- A heroin raid in Beloit has landed a man and woman behind bars facing drug charges. The raid took place this morning in the 1700 block of Spruce Street and police say it was the result of an investigation into heroin sales in the city. Both 22-year-old Andy David and 29-year-old Carie Olsen were taken into custody and are facing charges of maintaining a drug house among others. Authorities also say they found a vehicle with several bullet holes in it which they believe was involved in a recent shooting.
- The superintendent for the Belvidere School District has been named a finalist for the same position at a school district just east of Des Moines.
Dr. Michael Houselog, a native of Dubuque, is one of three finalists for the position with the Southeast Polk Community School District. He has said in the past he would only leave Belvidere to be closer to family. - Governor Bruce Rauner is creating a commission to study the Illinois criminal justice system. He says state prisons are overcrowded and too many offenders end up back behind bars after they are released. Democrats in the Legislature also say reforms are needed.
- A student at Elgin Community College has been diagnosed with measles. The student already has been counted among the 10 confirmed cases in Illinois. A notice on the college website says the student attended classes Feb. 3 and 5 and visited the library Feb. 3. Health officials are recommending anyone exposed and not vaccinated should stay out of school for 21 days and contact a doctor.
- The Rockford School Board has approved construction bid recommendations for several major renovation projects across the district. Work to be done includes boiler replacements at Auburn and Guilford High Schools for around $3.5 million, paving improvements at East High School for roughly $608,000, and finally asbestos abatement and new window prep at West Middle School for around $252,000.
- llinois officials are planning late-night enrollment events leading up to an important deadline under President Barack Obama's health care law. The final day for signing up for private health insurance coverage this year is Sunday. The Get Covered Illinois campaign is offering in-person assistance at health centers, hospitals and at least one public library.
- Goodwill is opening up more ways for Stateline residents to donate their used clothing. The organization held a ribbon cutting for its new express donation center on Perryville Road this week. The center says donations are tax deductible and will be much easier with the express location with a new drive-up window. The profit Goodwill makes from these donations will be given to organizations in Rockford, Machesney Park, and Loves Park.
- A late night bargaining session in Roscoe between the union representing teachers in the Kinnikinnick School District and Administration officials ended without an agreement, but for now, teachers will remain on the job. Both sides met last night with a federal mediator, where school officials reviewed the latest proposal from teachers. A tentative new meeting date has been set for Feb. 16th to continue negotiations." Teachers have been working without a contract since August.
- Little League International has stripped Chicago's Jackie Robinson West of its national title after finding the team falsified its boundary map. The league made the announcement Wednesday morning. League officials say the Chicago team violated regulations by placing players on the team who didn't qualify because they lived outside the team's boundaries.
- Illinois residents might not be able to use their driver's licenses at airports starting in 2016. The Daily Herald reports the licenses don't meet requirements set by a 2005 federal law on IDs that was meant to increase security. Illinois doesn't require a birth certificate to get a driver's license, which an Illinois Secretary of State spokesman says is one of the law's mandates.
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