Afternoon News Update: Tuesday September 9
- Community tips have led to the arrests of two alleged Rockford drug dealers. Both 30 year-old Dashon Ward and 27 year-old Bernard Barnes were arrested Monday. Police say they received several calls of gunshots in the area of the 1700 block of 8th Street. Police searched a room inside and confiscated two guns, ammunition, heroin, cannabis, and cash. Both Ward and Barnes are facing drugs and weapons charges.
- Rockford realtors report that houses are at the highest average sales price in three years. The Rockford Area Realtors report 430 homes were sold in August. While that's actually down from last August, the average sale price for those homes is up. The number now sits at about $116 thousand. That’s the highest it’s been since January 2011
- Nine people are under arrest after police execute an operation targeting prostitution in Rockford. The arrests occurred on Sept. 6th in the second Police Protection District. Police arrested seven women and two men.
- Beloit College has made national headlines with several accolades. U.S. News & World Report gave Beloit College an A+ and is ranked 61st among national liberal arts colleges. The school was recognized for having a very good "study abroad" program.
- Wisconsin wildlife officials are reminding hunters that the state's fall turkey season begins Saturday. The Department of Natural Resources says more than 80,000 hunters have applied for a fall permit. Agency biologists say it appears the harsh winter didn't have a widespread impact on the state's overall turkey population.
- A federal jury has ruled that a Lee County sheriff's deputy used excessive force against an Amboy man and has awarded the man $50,000. Deputy Andrew Tarr struck Wilson Burnell with a flashlight during a 2009 struggle. Another deputy used a stun gun on Burnell and was found not liable.
- Prosecutors investigating Governor Scott Walker's recall campaign and more than two dozen conservative groups hope to convince a federal appeals court to overturn a judge's ruling that temporarily blocked the probe. Today's arguments come exactly two months before Walker faces re-election against Democrat Mary Burke. Prosecutors want the appeals court to lift the injunction and dismiss the civil rights lawsuit filed by the Wisconsin Club for Growth.
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