Afternoon news update: May 27, 2015

A man is killed on the city's northwest side after being struck by a car that left the scene. A 31-year-old man was walking in the area of 3800 Elmwood Road shortly after midnight when he was hit. The victim suffered life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The Rockford Police Department is investigating the crash. The man’s identity is not being released right now.
Republican State Representative Joe Sosnowski of Belvidere is sponsoring legislation in the Illinois House which will allow a mayor in a town or village of less than 10,000 residents to also serve as his or her town or village’s budget officer. The legislation which was approved in the Cities and Villages Committee Wednesday morning, is an initiative of the Village of Cherry Valley.
Budget bills are moving out of the Illinois House and are being prepared for floor action in the Senate. This would be the $36.3 billion spending plan which House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) said Monday would be about $3 billion out of balance. State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) referred to a budget that would have lawmakers say, "You know what? We're going to come back around and ask the Bruce Rauner class in our state to pay their fair share and fund it." Gov. Rauner is a multimillionaire. The budget's a fake, and "it's not going to restore the faith and confidence of the people of the state of Illinois," countered State Rep. Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove), "because they know that this budget spends $4 billion more in money the state doesn't have." House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) recalled the quote about the definition of insanity being repeating the same behavior and expecting different results: "This is insanity. You're insane, and history will look upon you unkindly." The General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn Sunday. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
A Belvidere man is sentenced for his sexual assault conviction in February of young children. 50-year old Frank Martin will serve 36 years in prison. Martin committed the assaults between 2000 through 2002. The assaults were discovered during the investigation of more recent complaints of sexual abuse of other children.
A new poll issued by the Illinois Public Health Institute shows that 65 percent of Illinois voters support a proposal to raise $300 million for Medicaid and $300 million for community health programs that prevent heart disease, diabetes and obesity through a penny per ounce tax on sugary drinks.
People who leave their pets outside in very hot or cold weather could face up to a year in jail under a bill Illinois lawmakers have sent to Governor Bruce Rauner. The crime would be a misdemeanor and offenders could also be fined up to $2,500.

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