Afternoon news update: April 27, 2015

A group of suburban Chicago leaders says Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposed reduction to local governments' share of income tax revenues could equal public safety cuts. More than a dozen mayors, presidents and administrators on Monday protested the 50 percent reduction to money that cities receive through the Local Government Distributive Fund. That's how income tax revenues are distributed. Their efforts include a website and follow pleas from southern Illinois mayors. Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner says the cuts represent nearly $10 million for Illinois' second largest city. He says municipalities are still reeling from recession reductions and being asked to shoulder Illinois' fiscal problems. Rauner says Illinois spends beyond its means. His office says reductions to municipalities would put Illinois in line with surrounding states.
Rockford police are looking for the gunmen involved in two recent shootings. 19-year old Dezarae Sewell has died after being shot in the head ten days ago. She was shot in the head April 16th on Oakley Avenue. Police are still searching for a suspect. Her boyfriend told the media that night that he was the intended target, since he's a "Vice Lord" gang member. Police say they found a 19-year-old woman, with a gunshot wound in the head, around 8pm on April 16th. Neighbors say they heard at least 4 gunshots. One neighbor saw the victim unconscious in his driveway and attempted to give aid. And Sunday night a man was shot and injured in the area of North Highland and Crosby. The 20-year old victim wasn’t seriously injured. No arrests have been made. Police ask anyone with information to call them or Crimestoppers.
A company in northern Illinois wants to prepare schools in case there's an active gunman on campus. Doug Frenk of Harvard says he wants to provide schools with the gear they will need to defend themselves during the time it takes for first responders to arrive. Frenk says he and a business partner have started the company Intruder Defense Services. The goal is to train and equip school staff with nonlethal means.

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