Afternoon News Update: New Years Eve, Wednesday December 31

*The Springfield Fire Department is preparing to roll out life-support units that will be able to administer drugs to victims of traffic accidents or medical emergencies. Fire Chief Ken Fustin says the three units will be stationed throughout the city. They will drive vehicles smaller than fire trucks and will not transport patients.

*A 22-year-old man accused in the shooting deaths of four Rockford people earlier this month is due in a Winnebago County court. Calvin Carter has been charged with murder in the December 20th killings of Martia Flint, her boyfriend Demontae Rhodes and her two sons, 6-year-old Tyrone Smith III and 4-year-old Tobias Smith. Authorities from Rockford departed Tuesday to retrieve Carter from southern Illinois.

*An Illinois man fleeing authorities died after running in front of a tractor trailer in southwest Florida. Authorities say 35-year-old Octavio Lopez of DeKalb, Illinois, was carrying a knife and running from Sheriff's deputies on yesterday afternoon when he ran in front of the truck. Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene.

*As the extreme cold has arrived in the Stateline and warming centers are now available in Winnebago and Boone counties for the winter season. These centers provide safe and warm locations during extreme cold for those without housing as well as for those who might not have the resources to heat their homes adequately. For more information and a full list, please continue to refer to our website.

*The Rock County Coroner has ruled a Janesville woman’s death as a homicide. Officials say 75-year-old Mary Coulthard was found in the Rock River in May and died due to multiple injuries to her head.

*The City of Rockford formed an agreement with Rockford Mass Transit District in an effort to move forward with it's multimodal train station. The city now has access to federal funds. Many questions remain including overfunding. City and state leaders are concerned where that money will come from because of the state's multi-million dollar budget deficit.