Afternoon News Update: Tuesday February 10
- A jury has taken less than two hours to convict a Freeport teen of first degree murder in the shooting death of another man two years ago. The jury convicted 18-year-old Traveontaye Berry of killing Cary Green Junior, who suffered four gunshot wounds to the chest, with one of them going through his heart in October of 2014. Police arrested Berry as he was running from the area. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2; Berry faces 45 years to life in prison.
- The number of measles cases in Illinois has jumped to ten. Health officials in Chicago have confirmed that two more infants from a suburban Chicago day care have measles. 9 of the 10 cases are associated with a KinderCare Learning Center in Palatine. All the cases are among unvaccinated infants and adults.
- Several recent parolees celebrate their path into a new life. Geo Reentry Services held a graduation ceremony at Restoration Café today for 8 parolees who recently completed the program. The program allows them a chance to turn their life around, and find a new lease on life following their prison term. Organizers say celebrating this helps to keep them on the right track.
- Indiana has suspended work on its portion of the Illiana Expressway. That's after Governor Bruce Rauner ordered a halt to major highway planning last month because of the Illinois budget crisis. The 47-mile long road would connect Interstates 55 and 65.
- The FBI has approved the use of its records for Illinois medical marijuana background checks. The Associated Press reported last week that Governor Bruce Rauner awarded marijuana business licenses before out-of-state criminal background checks could be done.
- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is scheduled to have a private meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron. Downing Street confirmed the meeting would take place on Tuesday. Walker is leading a coalition of Wisconsin government and business officials on a trade mission that runs until Friday.
- The Wisconsin Department of Justice is opposing civil rights advocates' claims for $1.2 million in attorney fees they say they accumulated fighting the state's gay marriage ban. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit in 2014 challenging the ban on behalf of eight gay couples. U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb invalidated the ban in June. The 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld her ruling in September.
- Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner says he's confident state schools and other critical programs can be fully funded despite the state's budget crisis. In a speech today he said that he hopes to get approval from lawmakers to move money from nonessential government services to essential ones to help fund shortfalls for daycare programs and the prison system. Rauner said he doesn’t want to raise taxes to fill budget gaps.
- More than a dozen Winnebago Sheriff’s deputies were recognized yesterday for administering a new life-saving drug to heroin overdose victims. The Narcan medication has been recently used and officials with the department call the program a game changer. 18 deputies who used the drug were able to save over 22 lives.
- Demolition work has begun at the Rockford Public School Administration building. The building in the 200 block of South Madison has been used by the district for over 50 years. The entire process will take at least four weeks and will pave the way for a new indoor sports complex. Officials call the new development an exciting attraction for the Downtown Rockford area.
- Public-sector unions vow to challenge Governor Bruce Rauner's order ending a requirement that state workers pay dues even if they don't join a union. They have their lawyers reviewing yesterday’s order, calling it the beginning of a push by the governor to strip state workers of their rights. Rauner insists he doesn't want to make Illinois a right-to-work state.
- University of Illinois faculty leaders have approved a plan for a new medical school at the Urbana-Champaign campus. The proposal for a small, engineering-centered medical school still needs the approval of faculty across all three university campuses and a recommendation from President Robert Easter.
- Secretary of State Jesse White has awarded $15.2 million in grants to public libraries across Illinois. White says the funding is part of the Illinois Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grants. The grants are going to libraries that serve 12 million patrons to help ensure they have access to materials, equipment, technology and other resources.
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