Afternoon news update: April 28, 2015

Illinois' U.S. Senators hope the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the remaining bans on same-sex marriage. Arguments were heard today on challenges to same-sex marriage bans in Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, and Ohio. U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), one of the first Republicans in Congress to back same-sex marriage, feels it's time for gay couples to be allowed to wed in all 50 states. "Freedom of association should mean freedom to marry whoever you want," Kirk said. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin hopes the ruling matches the growing support for same-sex marriage across the country. He says some religious opponents are making false claims about the potential impact of this ruling. "This does not require any religious group to perform a same-sex marriage," Durbin said. "A religion still has all of its own rights to follow their own doctrines, but in the United States, civil marriage should include marriage equality." The first part of today's arguments will concern whether the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of equal protection overrides any state's ban of same-sex marriage, including those included in a state's constitution. While Illinois already allows same-sex marriage, the second part of the arguments could affect couples married here and later move to another state. Even if bans in individual states are upheld, the Court will also decide whether those states have to recognize such marriages performed elsewhere. A final ruling will be due in June.
Dogs rescued from a Freeport animal hoarder will be available for adoptions. An effort is underway to reunite the more than 80 dogs with their owners. Tina McKinnon is charged with animal cruelty after investigators found 150 dogs and cats in her rental home last month.
A coalition is launching another effort to put Illinois political re-districting into the hands of an 11-member commission. The group of business, clergy and civic leaders will need to raise more than $3 million and collect about 300,000 signatures to get their idea on the 2016 ballot. A Cook County judge turned aside a similar bid last year.
Two Wisconsin state lawmakers have joined forces to more than double that state’s minimum wage. Rep. Lisa Subeck and Rep. Melissa Sargent will introduce a bill that would increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour from the current $7.25. A Center on Wisconsin Strategy report found that in 2013 the poverty wage was 11.36 per hour. Subeck believes a $15 minimum wage would lift Wisconsin families out of poverty.
58-year old Timothy Ohda of Dixon is under arrest today after reportedly robbing a local Circle K convenience store around one o’clock this morning. Ohda was identified by an employee at the convenience store. Ohda’s vehicle was then identified by a Walmart employee where he went less than ten minutes later. That identification led police to Ohda's location and ultimately to his arrest. He is now being held at the Lee County Jail awaiting bond.
A Rockford Police Officer was attacked by a woman with a butcher knife following a disorderly conduct complaint. 33-year old Tameka Reed is charged with aggravated assault to a police officer. Police went to Reed’s home in the 1400 block of Christina Street on a welfare check. She attacked the officer when they entered her home.

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