• No arrests have been made after a high speed police chase took place last night from Boone county to Winnebago county. Officials say it began as a traffic stop after an Illinois State Police trooper observed  a Chevy Cavalier with no license plate driving recklessly and erratically. Belvidere police became involved in the pursuit once the chase moved into city limits, and Boone County joined the pursuit. They then pursued the car into Winnebago County, where units from several regional police agencies took part in searching for the vehicle, but the driver was able to escape.  He is described as a white man in his early 20's with blonder shoulder length hair driving that mid-to-late 90's Chevy Cavalier with no license plate.
  • Democrats in the Illinois Legislature are proposing a set of police reform bills. They create standards for the use of police body cameras and chokeholds as well as cultural sensitivity training. Members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus are sponsoring almost all of them.
  • Illinois made about $165 million last year from video gambling, compared to $75 million in 2013. The Illinois Gaming Board says casino revenue fell by nearly $87 million during the same time period. Illinois now has more than 19,000 video gambling
  • Members of the Kishwaukee College faculty union have voted to ratify a tentative agreement with the college. Bargaining teams from both sides agreed to this contract. Negotiations lasted over a 24-hour election that concluded at 3:30 p.m. today. The next step will be a ratification vote by the College Board of Trustee, which is set to meet at 5 p.m.
  • Our Partners at Eyewitness News have confirmed that the Rock River Academy is  being forced to close the facility after DCFS stopped sending patients there. The move has come after accusations of patient abuse, drug use, and even prostitution took place at the facility. Additionally, last year a 19-year-old housed at the facility escaped four times. Rock River Academy officials have denied all claims.
  • Three men have been arrested after allegedly robbing a man at gunpoint early this morning and leading police on a high speed chase. It happened just before 1am near a home in the 500 block of S. Jackson Street. The victim told dispatch that he followed the men after being robbed in the Lustig Park area. Following a high speed chase, the suspects eventually crashed in the 2000 block of East Delavan Drive. 29-year-old Milon Stewart, 33-year-old Robert Russell, and 27-year-old Darrell Smith have all been taken into custody.
  • Chicago Rockford International Airport released its annual traffic statistics for 2014. There were 210,016 passengers in 2014 compared to 217,850 in 2013.A majority of the decease in passenger traffic followed the discontinuation of service to Denver in 2013, according to a news release.
  • An Illinois lawmaker has introduced legislation that would cut the pay of elected officeholders by 10 percent.  Barrington Hills Republican David McSweeney says lawmakers need to "lead by example" The legislation would cut the salaries of the General Assembly's 177 members and statewide constitutional officers after the next elections.  Lawmakers' base salary is roughly $67,000. The salaries for the state's constitutional officers range between $135,000 and $175,000.
  • The Center for Public Integrity says Bruce Rauner was among the country's top political donors during the 2014 campaign. Other Illinois contributors also made the top 50 list, including Rauner supporter Ken Griffin and the Illinois Education Association, which spent millions backing Pat Quinn in the governor's race.
  • Northwestern University in Evanston has received the largest single donation its history. The sister of billionaire investor Warren Buffett is giving the school $100 million for its fundraising campaign. Roberta Buffett Elliott is a 1954 Northwestern graduate.
  • A statue of Ernie Banks is now on display in downtown Chicago following the death of the Cubs legend. The Chicago Cubs and Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently announced the bronze statue will stand in Daley Plaza from Wednesday to Saturday. Banks died of a heart attack last Friday at the age of 83.

 

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