Afternoon News Update: Thursday, August 7
- The average Illinois resident's spending jumped 11 percent between the end of the Great Recession in 2009 and 2012. That's slightly higher than the national average during that period. The figure comes from an annual government report that for the first time reveals consumer spending on a state-by-state basis.
- Two men accused of working with others to move heroin from Chicago to Wisconsin and Michigan has been sentenced in federal court. Brian King of Chicago was sentenced to more than two years in prison and Donald Myers was given a sentence of nearly three years behind bars. The men's plea agreements say they worked with seven others to move heroin supplied by King to Marinette, Wisconsin, and Menominee, Michigan.
- Gay rights advocates are starting a website to build support for same-sex marriage in Wisconsin. The American Civil Liberties Union's Wisconsin chapter along with Fair Wisconsin, a gay rights organization, and Freedom to Marry, a national organization pushing for gay marriage, announced today that they plan to launch an effort dubbed Wisconsin Unites for Marriage. Their plans call for a website with testimonials from gay couples who feel they should be allowed to get married.
- A positive trend is hitting home sales in the Rockford area. According to the Rockford Area Realtors, the average sale price for a home in the area for July was about 112 thousand dollars, and that's the highest it’s been in the past year. It's also up $1,000 compared to a year ago. The Rockford area is also outpacing the nation in home sales.
- Chicago police are trying to determine who broke into Soldier Field and vandalized some executive suites. Authorities say three suites were vandalized between Friday night and Saturday morning. Police say cabinets and glass was broken and the carpeting in one suite was set on fire.
- A hit and run accident overnight in Rockford has left one man battling for his life. It happened near the area of the 3300 block of North Main. A white male was found bleeding in the roadway around 2 am this morning. He was transported to a local hospital with what officials call serious to life-threatening injuries. Police say they do not have a suspect vehicle description at this time.
- Three major retailers will soon call Machesney Park home. Noodles & Co., Kay Jewelers, and Sleepy's are setting up shop near the corner of Rt. 173 and 251. Sleepy's has already opened to the public. Noodles and Co. and Kay are expected to open in the fall. All three stores have a location in Rockford as well.
- An afternoon fire yesterday has damaged a residence on State Street in Rockford. The fire took place in the 2600 block of east State Street; the resident was asleep and woken by the smoke detectors. When fire crews arrived there was smoke coming from the second floor windows. The fire was contained to a second floor bedroom. The cause is under investigation, but it is estimated to be accidental.
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