Afternoon News Update: Monday, February 16
- A spokesman for Illinois's child-welfare agency says Governor Bruce Rauner is already making changes so wards of the state get better treatment. Rauner is under new pressure from the ACLU, which is asking a federal court to take quick action to address what it calls "dangerously inadequate" care and services at DCFS. Rauner named a new director last week
- Governor Bruce Rauner and his wife spent part of President's Day talking about the civil rights movement with some Springfield students. They stopped at a theater where the kids were seeing the move "Selma," a historical drama based on the voting rights marches.
- Rockford Junior Ice Hog's Staff held a half day hockey training camp for students on this President's Day. School was out and many headed to the Riverview Ice House for a session focused on shooting, passing and skating.
- The organization Hope Over Addiction is holding the first of its two training sessions tonight on administering the overdose antidote known as Narcan. It's the chemical recently used by police to help heroin overdose victims survive. Tonight's session begins at 6 p.m. at the Old Stone Church in Rockton, 101 East Union St. It's open to the public.
- Uber is now available in Rockford. Uber allows private, freelance drivers to use their own cars to give rides to users of the company's cell phone app. Uber sent out a notification to all current users saying drivers are now available in the area. Uber is reassuring Stateliners who are skeptical of the ride share program, saying that all Uber drivers go through a three step background check to ensure safety, plus the company insures all their drivers. The ride-booking company is also expanding service to Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, and Aurora. Two-hundred drivers are signed up to give rides to people who use Uber's smartphone app. Uber already operates in Chicago and Springfield.
- Two neighborhoods in Rockford have made the “Top 25 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in America” list. According to the website Neighborhoodscount.com, the neighborhood at the intersection of 7th and E. Jefferson Street and the intersection of Rockton Ave and West State Street made the list. The website uses FBI data from all 17,000 local law enforcement agencies in America and lists the specific neighborhoods in America that have the highest predicted rates of violent crime per 1,000 neighborhood residents.
- A fire at a four-family apartment building in Rockford has left a family displaced. According to the American Red Cross, the blaze took place around 8pm last night in the 42000 block of Middlebury Ave. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke come from one apartment, spreading into the attack. Twenty-four fire officials were called to the scene. The damage is estimated at $100,000 and has displaced 7 adults and five children.
- Gas prices in Rockford have risen and could continue to rise. Gas Buddy is reporting prices have risen 7.5 cents per gallon in the past week, topping out at $2.32 per gallon. Prices could jump further because of a rebound in crude oil prices.
- A Rockford man is behind bars after police say he attempted to rob a motel and a restaurant within 15 minutes and a few blocks of each other. 38-year-old Donavan Ingram allegedly attempted to rob a motel in the 3800 block of 11th St. at around 9:30pm last night, but was unsuccessful. He then moved down the street, where police say he robbed a restaurant in the 4300 block of 11t St. at around 9:45pm. Police were able to locate him a short time later and took him into custody. Ingram faces charges of attempted aggravated robbery among other charges.
- As Wisconsin schools prepare to give new standardized tests this spring, teachers and administrators say the time, effort and money they're putting into the exams may be pointless. That's because Governor Scott Walker has called for scrapping the new tests next year before school officials can analyze the results. News-Herald Media reports that Walker's intention to abandon the new tests has been met with confusion and dismay by school officials who have spent the past couple years getting prepared for the switch.
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