Afternoon News Update: Tuesday January 6
- Several schools across the Stateline have already canceled school tomorrow ahead of the dangerous temperatures and wind chills. Schools that won't be in session so far include, Harvard School District #50, Paw Paw CUSD #271, and St. Joseph's Catholic School, which is also in Harvard. Stay tuned to 1440 WROK for updates.
- A truck driver who died in a car accident on I-90 this morning has been identified. 51-year-old Ronald Johnson of St. Louis died in the accident which happened in the northbound lanes of I-90 about two miles before the West Lane Rd. exit. Investigators are trying to reconstruct the accident and have continued to shut down the far right lane. While it's unclear how the accident happened, the semi-truck ended up in a fence and a sedan went off the road as well. The sedan driver's condition is being evaluated.
- Rockford firefighters battled two fires earlier this morning, as flames from the initial factory blaze set a neighboring building on fire. The first fire took place at the Ashton Tool Plant in the 1900 Block of 11th street. The Sunset Motel next door was then evacuated after the fire spread to that building. 10 people staying there had been evacuated and were treated by the Red Cross.
- Governor Pat Quinn will give what amounts to a farewell today at the City Club of Chicago. Quinn issued a statement ahead of his afternoon speech, saying the Illinois economy has gotten "significantly stronger" and unemployment has dropped since he took office in 2009.
- The state's climatologist says 2014 ranks as the fourth coldest year in recorded Illinois history. The average temperature was right around 50 degrees, about three degrees below average. Illinois' coldest year on record was 1917 with an average temperature of just over 48 degrees.
- A college student, several politicians and an auctioneer are among 13 people who will be interviewed Wednesday for an opening in the Illinois Senate. Democratic leaders in Champaign and Vermilion counties are choosing someone this month to replace state Treasurer-elect Mike Frerichs.
- Republican Scott Walker is set to take the oath of office for his second term as governor of Wisconsin. Walker was inaugurated at a ceremony this morning at the Capitol in Madison. Walker has said the first order of the Legislature will be the passing of a new "school accountability" measure to keep parents updated on their child's academic performance.
- A member of the Rockford Diocese has pled guilty to exposing himself at a gas station. 45-year-old Aaron Brodeski will spend two years under court supervision and has to serve 30 hours of community service as a part of his plea. Brodeski exposed himself to a female clerk at a Rockford Road Ranger back in March. He was a monsignor at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Batavia and was put on leave following his arrest.
- A Roscoe teacher’s union are intending to strike later this week as contract talks have stalled. Kinnikinnick School District has been in negotiations with union leaders since last June. According to the district, primary issues are compensation, retirement and insurance benefits.
- Illinois residents can now formally suggest a new medical condition that could benefit from medical marijuana. The Illinois Department of Public Health is accepting petitions through the end of February. A blank petition is posted on the state's medical cannabis website. The Illinois law lists dozens of conditions and diseases that now can qualify a patient to use medical marijuana with a doctor's permission.
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