Afternoon News Update: Thursday December 11th
- The back of a Rockford school bus burst into flames this afternoon on Kishwaukee Street near the Morgan Street Bridge.The incident happened at around 2:45pm, when fire broke out in the engine bay. Details are immediately available, but our partners at Eyewitness news say there were no children on the bus when the fire broke out.The bus, however, did sustain significant fire damage to the rear area.
- Seven Rockford men have been arrested in a city-wide prostitution sting. The detail took place on Wednesday night by the 2nd District of the Rockford Police Department. Seven people ranging from age 23 to 48 were taken into custody and seven vehicles were impounded.
- A month after a shed fire killed two and badly burned a third man, the Winnebago County Coroner has been unable to locate next-of-kin for one of those killed. 52-year-old Javier Garduno, a hispanic male, was killed by the blaze. Anyone with information is urged to call authorities.
- An audit shows the Rockford School District's $8.8 million deficit was the result of an accounting change and higher-than-anticipated salaries. The Rockford School Board has voted to approve a financial audit of the fiscal year that ended June 30th. District chief financial officer Cedric Lewis says the deficit represents 2 percent of the district's $412 million annual operating budget.
- The University of Illinois Springfield plans to offer a free online class examining the issues surrounding wrongful convictions. The university says online registration is underway for the six-week course. Scores of inmates in Illinois and elsewhere have been freed from prison after serving years for crimes they did not commit.
- Boone County authorities say a drug raid has led to one arrest and the confiscation of more than $100,000 worth of marijuana. Federal, state and county authorities say they raided a Poplar Grove residence Tuesday and discovered an indoor cannabis-growing operation in the basement. Authorities arrested 35-year-old Shane Amans.
- Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker says he will be offering some "bold" proposals to consolidate departments in state government and eliminate positions. Walker made the comments yesterday when speaking to reporters.
- A Rockford man has become rich overnight after winning in the Lucky Day Lotto. Robert Staten received his ceremonial check today for over $450,000, which he bought at the Kishwaukee Citgo in the 2200 block of Kishwaukee Street. Staten doesn't have any plans yet on how to spend the money.
- A Stateline teen has pled not guilty in connection with a hit and run accident in October. 17-year-old Carly Vollmer was driving on Halloween when she hit three 14 year olds in the 14,000 block of White School road in Roscoe. She will appear in court again on January 15th and if convicted could spend up to 21 years behind bars. None of the 14 year olds were seriously injured.
- A Rockford man has received the minimum sentence for sexually abusing a child. 71-year-old Richard McClung was sentenced today to three years in prison from an incident that took place in 2011. McClung was convicted of sexually abusing an eight year old victim. He could have spent up to seven years behind bars.
- A Belvidere auto parts plant has been cited by OSHA from exposing employees to dangerous machines after a 21-year-old worker was fatally crushed. Officials say the worker at the Ventra Belvidere facility was fatally crushed while reaching into a machine to align parts made for Chrysler vehicles in June. An investigation found that the sensing device on the machine was improperly set. The company is facing penalties of over $93,000.
More From WROK 1440 AM / 96.1 FM
