Afternoon News Update: Wednesday March 11
- You may want to start getting used to orange as Rockford will soon be undergoing some major road projects. The city will be spending $35 million this upcoming year, which is almost three times the average of past years. Some of the major road projects in Rockford include a $28 million project on North Main Street between the roundabouts and Riverside among others.
- One man is dead and another seriously injured after a one vehicle crash last night in Janesville. The fatal accident occurred as the man was driving southbound on Interstate 39. Authorities say the man lost control of his vehicle, which rolled into a ditch and struck two trees, after the driver in front of him braked. First responders found the man unresponsive and the passenger, a 27-year-old Illinois man, in critical condition.
- Two teenagers have died after a two-vehicle crash in Rochelle last night. According to Police, the two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Route 38 and Dement road during heavy fog conditions. An SUV was transporting six juveniles from Aurora. A semi-truck driver was driven by 56-year-old Alksander Smlcic was not injured.
- Byron Nuclear Plant is back to full power after repairs were completed on a main power transformer. The unit automatically shut down last week after an ice intrusion interrupted power on one side of the unit’s transformers. Unit 2 of the plant continued to operate during the shutdown. Byron’s Nuclear Plant produces enough power to power electricity for 2.3 million homes.
- A State Wrestling tournament might cause parking problems in downtown Rockford this weekend. The 13th annual Illinois Kids State Wrestling Tournament will be taking place at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Hundreds of visitors are expect to travel downtown.
- Dozens of protesters have been escorted from the Illinois House gallery during protests over proposed state budget cuts to social service programs. No arrests have been reported. Protesters flooded the Illinois Capitol to express their concerns about Governor Bruce Rauner's (ROW'-nur) proposed reductions to various state programs and services.
- State records show at least five Illinois prisons don't appear to have enough money to pay workers through the end of the fiscal year on June 30th. Prisons that may run short of cash include facilities in Jacksonville, Mount Sterling, Sumner, Taylorville and Vandalia. Nearly 5,000 prison workers could be affected.
- A measure that would require restaurants to clean play equipment at least once a day is under consideration in the Illinois House. The legislation advanced to the full House yesterday after a 9-7 vote in the Consumer Protection Committee. Democratic state Representative Michelle Mussman says the law is necessary to protect children and parents from sicknesses.
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