Afternoon News Update Tuesday February 3rd
- The City of Beloit has declared a snow emergency effective at 11 p.m. tonight that will last until 11 a.m. tomorrow morning.During the snow emergency declaration, the parking or standing of any vehicle on a city street is prohibited. The city asks that you park vehicles in a driveway or in an approved off-street parking lot.
- Two downtown Rockford hotels were given the go last night. Alderman decided that two hotels are better than one and a 62 unit apartment building. The City Council agreed by a 9-2 vote to let the Joseph James partners to present a development agreement within 50 days. They plan to open a 76-room boutique hotel in the 100 block of main street. In the Spring of 2017, a 150-room hotel and conference center is slated to open in the former Amerock building.
- The Cook County Medical Examiner's office is report that 10 people have died as a result shoveling snow during and after the recent blizzard that hit the Chicago area.The medical examiner's office announced that deaths occurred between 6 p.m. on January 31 and 11:59 p.m. on February 2 — the approximate time of the blizzard that buried northeastern Illinois in more than 19 inches of snow. Nine men and one woman died as a result of shoveling the heavy, wet snow, often referred to as heart attack snow.
- Illinois climate experts say the state had a slightly cooler and drier January this year. But Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel says this January's 25.4-degree average temperature wasn't nearly as cold as last January's 19.3-degree average. This January ranked the 53rd coldest on record. January 2014 was the 16th coldest on record.Statewide average precipitation last month was 1.53 inches, about a half-inch below average.
- Trash pickup in the City of Cherry Valley has been delayed. Advanced Disposal has announced that due to the storm, that pick-up will take place tomorrow, instead of today.
- Gov. Bruce Rauner will be in Rockford this Saturday, just a few days after delivering his first State of the State address. Rauner will be here from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Rockford's airport. He will address the General Assembly tomorrow in his "State of the State" Address and is expected to push for lowering the cost of worker compensation and unemployment insurance.
- The city of DeKalb has reached a settlement with the Justice Department over online job applications.The department announced that DeKalb has agreed to ensure that its hiring policies and procedures don't discriminate against any applicant on the basis of disability. Officials say an investigation found DeKalb's online employment application asked questions about disabilities in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It also found DeKalb's online job opportunity website wasn't fully accessible to people with disabilities.
- Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner says Illinois must curb government-union powers and reduce spending on state workers' salaries and benefits. Rauner sent legislators documents to review in advance of his State of the State speech, which takes place tomorrow. One document outlines rules governing federal employees. They state that federal workers may collectively bargain over hours and assignments, but not over wages, benefits and pensions.
- Three Beloit Police officers were involved in a car accident on Monday morning. Emergency officials responded to the two-car crash just after 8 a.m. on W. South 11th Avenue in Rock Township. Investigators learned the officers vehicle was rear-ended by 41-year-old Dominick Sireci of Janesville. Sireci and the three officers received injuries from the accident, but are listed in stable condition.
- Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner commemorated the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 13th Amendment today.. The 13 Amendment abolished slavery in America. Rauner spoke at the Senate's commemoration ceremony in Springfield.
- The underfunded pension system in Illinois is getting a $53 million windfall. The money comes from a national settlement with Standard & Poor's over allegations that it pumped up ratings for risky investments to boost its profits.
- Governor Scott Walker is set to release his two-year state budget. Walker is scheduled to deliver his budget to the Republican-controlled Legislature in a prime-time speech this afternoon.
- Some Illinois lawmakers say they will push to cap severance payouts at the state's community colleges and make it easier for the public to review such agreements. The issue is front and center after trustees at the College of DuPage in the Chicago suburbs approved a $762,000 buyout package for the school's president. That's more than three times his base salary.
- Wisconsin's new treasurer has gotten rid of his staff and says he'll donate part of his salary as state Republicans continue to try to eliminate the office. Treasurer Matt Adamczyk, a Republican, eliminated his three-member staff, amounting to a savings of about $168,000. He also says he will give 25 percent of his nearly $69,000 salary to the treasury.
- Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has awarded licenses to medical marijuana businesses after a review found flaws in the license award process under former Governor Pat Quinn. Letters to 18 winning cultivation centers and 52 retail shops went out yesterday. Rauner's office says the administration apologizes to patients for the additional delay.
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