Afternoon news update: May 4, 2015

A Beloit man is under arrest for stabbing an acquaintance and leaving the victim fighting for his life. 58-year old Olton Dumas is being held at the Rock County Jail, facing charges of Attempted First Degree Homicide, Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Beloit police say Dumas stabbed Shawndell Summerville at house on Wisconsin Avenue. Summerville is being treated at a local hospital with life threatening injuries. Dumas was located and arrested a short time later.
36-year old Terrance Doddy has pled guilty to the murder of Todd Hansmeir in Winnebago County Court. Hansmeir’s burned body was found in Doddy’s office at a Rockford call center in July of 2014. Last week Doddy also pled guilty to the strangulation death of Tonya Bargman at an interstate rest stop in Lee County. Doddy was running from police following Hansmeir’s killing when he encountered Bargman, killed her and stole her car.
Young girls affected by a deadly northern Illinois tornado have gotten a taste of the princess life. The Sycamore shop called Me Unique hosted a princess party Sunday for Fairdale girls whose families lost their homes in the April 9th twister. The girls got to wear sparkling gowns, try out hairstyles and eat cake. Shop owner Lisa Wakefield says she wanted to do something unique to help people affected by the tornado.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today filed five lawsuits against companies targeting people struggling to repay their student loan debt. The Attorney General alleged that the scam operators charge borrowers hundreds to thousands of dollars in upfront fees with the false promise that they can relieve borrowers’ debt loads or have them forgiven entirely under programs endorsed by President Obama’s administration. Student loan debt levels have grown to historic proportions, now affecting nearly 40 million Americans with $1.2 trillion in outstanding debt.
A state lawmaker panel is hearing testimony from gambling experts from around the country as proposals to add casinos and slot machines in Illinois are pending. The plans before legislators in the final weeks of the spring session include one adding a casino in Chicago while another plan expands it to five casinos, including in Chicago. Gov. Bruce Rauner says despite the possible negative aspects of gambling, he's open to the expansion because of the expected addition of jobs.
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s department is teaming with a national pharmacy chain to provide a drug disposal service. Sheriff Gary Caruana, Winnebago County Board member Gary Jury, and representatives from CVS Pharmacy will hold a news conference later this week to layout the details of the plan to provide prescription and over the counter drug disposal services at the Justice Center.
An advisory board voted Monday to recommend adding 11 health conditions to the Illinois medical marijuana program. The board rejected three others because of a lack of scientific evidence or, in the case of diabetes, because of concern that marijuana would stimulate appetite in patients who need to watch their diets. Under the Illinois medical marijuana law, the recommendations next need approval by Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirav Shah, an appointee of Gov. Bruce Rauner. Then, regulations would be written that would go through a legislative rules process. It likely will take months before the new conditions become part of the program. Patients must get a signed certification from a doctor as part of the application process to use medical marijuana in Illinois.

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