Afternoon News Update: March 12

Plows are clearing away the remains of a late winter storm that dumped several inches of snow on parts of Illinois. About 60,000 customers are without power in the central and northern part of the state. The storm also forced the cancellation of about 350 flights at Chicago’s major airports.
A Rockford bank robber is heading behind bars for a long time. Officials say 55-year-old Tony Walker has been sentenced to 80 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He also must pay restitution to the bank. The incident happened last summer when Walker robbed the Associated Bank in downtown Rockford.
A man has been arrested on Rockford’s west side after a drug raid. Police say 23-year-old Jeffrey Whitaker has been charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church. Officials raided his home Tuesday in the 700 block of King Street, where he was obtained. Whitaker was already on probation from a prior drug arrest. His court appearance is schedule for today.
A man accused of shooting six people last weekend at a Chicago party won’t be leaving jail anytime soon. Patrick Calhoun has been charged with aggravated battery and has a bond of $2 million. One of those wounded was Tyquone Greer, a star basketball player from Orr Academy.
American Airlines is under fire for a phony office in Sycamore. The company now faces a lawsuit for allegedly avoiding paying taxes. The complaint from the RTA says the office is being used to buy jet fuel, when in reality an office in Chicago buys it. American has saved millions of dollars every year on sales tax as a result. The authority says the state has lost out on $23 million in 2013 alone.
State Senator Kirk Dillard is visiting Rockford today in his attempt to shrink Bruce Rauner’s big lead in the race for the Republican nomination for Governor. The ‘Chicago Tribune’ just released a poll which shows Rauner with a double-digit lead. Voters head to the polls on Tuesday to choose their candidate.
Unplayed tapes of FBI wiretaps from Rod Blagojevich's corruption trials will remain sealed for now. That's the ruling from an appellate court in Chicago that is still considering the former Illinois governor's 100-page appeal, which was filed last July. The transcripts of the tapes, however, have been made part of the official appellate record.
Election judges in Chicago will have electronic poll directories for next week's election instead of the usual 600-page-long books. The Chicago Sun-Times reports it will make looking up voter names much faster during next Tuesday’s primary election. It will also help with finding voter polling stations along with judges being able to instantly look up voters electronically.
A fire alarm was pulled at Jefferson High School today. The alarm was false, but the school was evacuated earlier this afternoon as a result. There was no danger to staff or students. Police are investigating the incident.

Categories: News