Afternoon news update: June 3, 2015

Preparations are starting in an $825,000 restoration project to repair the more than century-old Black Hawk statue overlooking the Rock River near Oregon. A crew has been testing various repair mixtures to fill cracks in the 50-foot tall statue which remains surrounded in mesh and scaffolding that protected it over the winter. Designed in 1910, Black Hawk was dedicated as a tribute to Native Americans the following year. It was named in April to the state's list of Most Endangered Historic Places.
There’s both good and bad news in the price of gas. It’s jumped over the last month in Illinois, but it’s not where it was this time last year. The price of gas has jumped 30 cents over the last month in Illinois. It's 2.94, up from 2.64 a month ago, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. AAA spokesman Beth Mosher says there are two reasons: "Gas prices typically climb this time of year. We're seeing steeper increases in the Illinois and greater Midwest area because we're experiencing some refinery issues. These are unplanned issues that they're having and they've lessened production to fix the issues that they're having," she said. Those refineries are the Citgo refinery in Lemont and the Exxon-Mobil facility in Joliet. The problems have not been resolved as yet. While the price of gas is up, it's still short of where it was last year at this time, by 97 cents. It was $3.91 in early June 2014.
The Illinois State Police, District 16, will be conducting alcohol countermeasure enforcement patrols in Winnebago County this weekend. These patrols will allow the ISP to target an area with saturation patrols focusing on impaired driving.
Blosom, the world's tallest cow, has died on her farm near Orangeville, in Stephenson County. Her owner, Pat Hanson, says her 6-foot-4 Holstein, called Blosom, died May 26. The 13-year-old Holstein was put down after two veterinarians said they couldn't save her after suffering an irrepairable leg injury. Hanson says Blosom was buried in her favorite pasture, with her head facing east toward the farm. The 2,000-pound cow will appear in the 2016 edition of the Guinness World Records book as the World's Tallest Cow.
A 28-year old Marengo man is in trouble in Loves Park. Kyle Quarrie crashed his van Tuesday night into a traffic signal, street light and large tree. Witnesses say he then ran away. The crash occurred at Riverside and Heart Boulevard. Quarrie was found and arrested at Forest Hills and River Lane. He is charged various traffic offenses and driving while under the influence of drugs. He was also jailed under an outstanding warrant from McHenry County.
Rockford Police are searching for two men after they forced their way into a home on South Independence Avenue Tuesday. The duo was armed and threatened the 66-year old occupant, but he wasn’t injured. The men took some of the man’s valuables and cash before leaving.
There is more fallout from the Dennis Hastert indictment. Beside taking the former House Speaker’s name from various business and college programs, organizers of a popular wrestling club tournament are taking the Hastert name off that, too. The tournament is in Yorkville, where he taught and coached before getting into politics.
Democrat House Speaker Michael Madigan says the Illinois House will consider changes to the state's workers' compensation insurance system when it reconvenes Thursday, changes that are part of the governor’s top priorities. Rauner wants less costly workers' compensation insurance; Madigan has said Rauner's proposals would hurt working people.
Members of the LGBT community say "conversion therapy" - which purports to turn the subjects into heterosexuals - doesn't really exist, and attempts at it are quackery. Illinois is close to banning such therapy for minors. "He (the therapist) suggested that because I had been bullied previously, I now coveted the attention of my male peers through sexual means," said Curtis Galloway of Benton. He says he came out to his parents at 16 and went to the therapist to try to sort out his feelings. Linda Jernigan of Chicago says, "There are people like me who do not want to embrace their same-sex attractions, and we have an obligation to that community, too, to allow them access to licensed professional therapy." Opposing lawmakers said this kind of treatment should remain a choice for those who want it. Supporters say it will remain a choice for those over 18, but minors should be protected from it because it is harmful. HB 217 passed the House, 68-43, and the Senate, 34-19-1, and awaits the governor's action.

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