Afternoon news update: June 8, 2015

Rockford police are searching for the remaining members of a group of teenagers believed to be behind a series of carjackings this morning. Police have captured one. They consider the remainder armed and dangerous. The area of Springfield and Cunningham was searched early this morning, but found none of the suspects. Police believe this group to be part of a larger group of juveniles and young adults which has been committing crimes in the city for several days.
The Winnebago County Coroner's Office says a body discovered in the Rock River on Saturday is now being investigated by Belvidere Police. An autopsy was completed today, but the identity has not been released. Police believe the body may be Michael Spraggins, the man accused of killing his girlfriend in Belvidere this past January before allegedly jumping into the Rock River.
The identity of a Beloit shooting victim has been released. He is Demonte Green of Beloit. Police say his condition has significantly improved and he is expected to be released from the hospital soon. Beloit Police are still searching for his believed assailants - 20-year-old Ricardo Holloway and 31-year-old Morean Williams are both wanted on Attempted Murder charges.
Community leaders, Rockford school administrators and other community advocates are hosting a public forum Tuesday night on the campus of Rock Valley College. The purpose of the forum is to empower the community to advocate Springfield for a responsible state budget. Non partisan budget experts will present the latest information on the state budget and provide possible solutions. The forum begins at 6-30 at the Woodward Technology Center.
While the focus has been on the flooding in Texas and Oklahoma lately, the state’s climatologist reminds floods have proven deadly in Illinois as well. Illinois has suffered 28 flood-related deaths over the last 19 years, which is a little under the number of people that have been killed in tornadoes during that same period. State climatologist Jim Angel says one of the main causes of flooding deaths is people driving their car through flooded roadways. Just 12 inches of water can carry away a small car, and two feet of water can sweep away most vehicles.

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