Afternoon news update: April 29, 2015

Terence Doddy pleaded guilty in Lee County court this morning to the murder of Tonya Bargman at a rest stop on I-39 last July. At the time, Doddy was on the run, suspected of killing co-worker Todd Hansmeir at a Rockford call center. Doddy has asked to not be present during at his sentencing hearing on June 2nd. He faces up to 60 years in prison. Doddy still faces charges in Winnebago County for the Hansmeir killing.
Former Illinois Governor Dan Walker has died in California. Walker was elected in 1972 on the strength of his personality after walking more than 1,000 miles across the state during his campaign. But he was defeated in a Democratic primary four years later. After returning to private life as a banker, Walker pleaded guilty in a fraud case and went to prison. Dan Walker was 92.
The Rockford School Board Tuesday night approved a more than five million dollar addition to West View Elementary School. The 18,000-square-foot addition will include a new secure entrance, parking lot, classrooms and a new gymnasium; the existing gym will be turned into a cafeteria. All construction will begin in June and is expected to be completed by the start of school in August of 2016.
Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs will be in Rockford Thursday afternoon to discuss the results of a recent audit of the Treasurer's Office. Frerichs will be at the Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 313 North Main Street at 1:30 p.m. He'll be discussing the challenges, successes, and plans to expand education, access and opportunity for Illinois residents.
A mock fatal car crash will be presented to Auburn High School students Thursday afternoon. Students will learn about the need for seat belts, the dangers of distracted driving,and the resources needed to help them in the event of a crash. The program is offered by the Rockford Fire Department, Rockford Schools, Rockford Police, OSF St Anthony Life Flight, and the Winnebago County Coroner's Office.
The first flight of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is scheduled to land in Chicago next week. American Airlines will make the Dallas-to-Chicago flight on May 7th. The plane is made largely from carbon materials to reduce weight and boost fuel economy. Some of the plane's systems were produced by UTC Aerospace Systems in Rockford.

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