Afternoon news: April 2, 2015

UPDATE:28-year old Kristopher Rogers, the resident of the Loves Park home that contained explosives, guns, ammo and marijuana plants is in police custody. He was arrested around 10:45 this morning.
Information about a massive police investigation is being released today. According to the Stateline Area Narcotics Team, cannabis, weapons, explosives and more than 107,000 rounds of ammunition were recovered from a home in the 800 block of Anna Avenue on Monday. Some of the weapons involved were assault and sniper rifles and shotguns. The investigation came after police were dispatched in reference to a possible residential burglary. Police are still looking for four others believed to be involved.
Rockford police are looking for the two men who shot a man on Kilburn Avenue early this morning. Police say the 19-year-old victim was shot after he ran his car into a pole after being distracted by a car following him. The victim says the two men in the car stopped and checked on him and then opened fire. One of the attackers is described as having tattoos on his face and the other had braided hair. No arrests have been made.
Some Rockford fast-food workers who are part of the growing Fight for $15 movement are angry that McDonald’s is increasing pay slightly for only a fraction of its workforce. The workers criticize the idea as a publicity stunt and demand it raise wages to $15 an hour for all workers and respect their right to form a union without retaliation. McDonald’s is raising wages for workers at its company-owned U.S. restaurants, which represent only about 10 percent of more than 14,300 locations. It also said it would offer paid time off for some workers.
An armed robbery suspect is one the run today, but another is jailed following a car accident and fire on Wednesday. The investigation into an armed robbery on Wednesday began the turn of events. The two men in a stolen van crashed into a car near Oakley and School Street, injuring one woman, and then smashing into a nearby house. The driver of the car was treated for her injuries at a Rockford hospital. The house was destroyed. No one was home at the time.
Voter turnout is expected to be low for next week’s elections, according to Winnebago County Clerk Margie Mullins. She says local areas with contested races and referenda on the ballot may see a little higher turnout. One group would be hoping for more. The Rockford Chapter of the “Represent Us” put an advisory question on the ballot concerning political campaign corruption. The group wants to stop politicians from taking campaign money from the special interests they regulate, increase transparency for campaign funding, and stop lobbying from representatives for five years after they leave office.

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