Afternoon News Update: February 25

The Stateline area is getting set for another round of bitterly cold temperatures. Officials have issued a wind chill advisory that remains in effect from midnight tonight until noon Wednesday. Dangerous wind chills could make it feel like it’s 30 degrees below zero.
A Belvidere man has been accused of sexually assaulting two children. Police say 26-year-old Nolberto Hernandez’s victims were under the age of 13 and the attacks happened within the last month. If convicted, Hernandez could spend more than 40 years in prison. He’s currently in custody at the Boone County Jail.
Auburn High School officials are expecting tickets to sell out for Friday night’s championship basketball game against Boylan. Tickets are currently being sold at the school from 9am until 5:30pm. Only 1,300 tickets will be sold and doors will close once the gym is at capacity. Game time is set for 7pm, but you are recommended to get there for the start of the sophomore game, which starts at 5:30pm.
Stillman Valley is the latest community dealing with frozen water pipes. Village leaders are recommending residents to constantly run a stream of water to help prevent freezing. Residents who have no water services are urged to call the Public Works Department.
Authorities say the city of Rockford has become less violent. Better police tactics including “Hot Spot Policing”, are being credited for the decrease in violent crimes. The formation of a Violent Crime Task Force is what led to “Hot Spot Policing” or focusing resources on problem spots or individuals.
President Barack Obama is set to announce a new manufacturing hub in Chicago. The two Pentagon-led institutes will bring together companies, federal agencies and universities to work on technologies that can boost manufacturing. Companies like Caterpillar and Deere & Company are already part of the Chicago lab.
The Cook County clerk says so far his office has issued 80 marriage licenses to same-sex couples. A federal judge ruled last Friday that same-sex couples could immediately begin marrying in Cook County. According to officials, 44 male couples and 36 female couples were issued licenses, ranging in age from 18 to 80.
Federal hearings are set to resume with Northwestern University football players trying to form the nation’s first college athlete’s union. Today’s hearing restarted in a Chicago federal court after a three-day break. Officials must rule in the coming weeks on whether the football players qualify as employees under U.S. law.

Categories: News