Afternoon news update: July 13, 2015

The local area was pounded early this morning with high winds and hail in places. There were reports of downed trees and even some spotty power outages. Storms grounded flights and stopped some commuter trains in the Chicago area this morning. It may look nice now, but expect a big change later this afternoon. Northern Illinois has already had a rainy morning and more is in store for the rest of the state later in the day says Patti Thompson with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. Thompson says some of the best warning systems you can use include weather radios tuned to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and apps on your phone that push out weather alerts. In addition to the storm threat, temperatures are soaring as well. Thompson advises those working outside to take frequent water breaks and not overexerting yourself too much.
Health officials say a dead bird found in Ogle County has tested positive for West Nile virus. Mosquitoes become infected with West Nile when they feed on an infected bird. Some people with the virus may become ill in as little as 3 days. Symptoms include encephalitis or meningitis and can be fatal in the most extreme cases.
Members of the public will have a chance to testify on Governor Bruce Rauner's push to close the Illinois State Museum. Rauner says the closure will save the state about $4.8 million at a time when Illinois is struggling. The museum draws roughly 200,000 visitors each year and employs almost 70 people.
Governor Bruce Rauner says he has a new plan to address Illinois' underfunded pension systems, but it’s already getting negative reviews from Democrats and union leadership. Rauner claims it would save billions of dollars annually and be "fair and reasonable" to workers and taxpayers. But labor unions and their supporters say it's another attempt by the Republican to attach union-busting measures to broader policy initiatives.
Average retail gas prices in Rockford have fallen about five cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.73 per gallon. That's three cents per gallon below the national average, according to GasBuddy.com. Prices are more than 77 cents per gallon lower than the same time a year ago, and almost seven and a half cents lower per gallon than this time last month.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has released a campaign video just ahead of his official announcement about his presidential run. Walker talks about "fresh leadership" and promotes himself as a "reformer, fighter and winner." The Republican governor is the 15^th to join the race for the White House. He plans to make a formal announcement later Monday in Waukesha.
Nearly 7,000 Illinois state employees will get paid this week. Comptroller Leslie Munger says her office has processed the paychecks due Wednesday because of a court ruling that workers should be paid even though the governor and lawmakers haven't agreed on a state budget. Munger will tour the Barbara Olson Center of Hope in Rockford tomorrow and discuss the impacts of the continuing state budget impasse on nonprofits.

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