Governor Pritzker is blasting the Republican Party. Speaking yesterday during Democrat Day at the Illinois State Fair, the governor said Republicans continuously lie, but the people of Illinois can see right through it. Pritzker added that the GOP claims that it wants to solve real problems, but they spend all their time screaming conspiracy theories. Today is Republican Day at the state fair with a rally and speeches.
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A downstate judge is tossing out several lawsuits challenging Illinois’ assault weapons ban. The suits were filed by former Republican attorney general candidate Thomas DeVore, who argued the law violated the Constitution. Tuesday’s decision out of Effingham County comes after the state’s high court ruled last week that the ban doesn’t violate the state constitution. The law bans the sale of military-style weapons and high-capacity magazines in the state.
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Governor Pritzker is vetoing an omnibus energy bill. The measure makes changes to the Adjustable Block Grant program to make it more available to public schools. Pritzker says he is returning the bill because it would raise costs for ratepayers by giving incumbent utility providers in the MISO region a monopoly over new transmission lines. He added that eliminating competition will cause rates to increase in the region, where there is currently a three-point-six-billion-dollars in planned transmission construction in the Ameren service territory. Without competition, Ameren ratepayers will pay for these transmission projects at a much higher cost, putting corporate profits over consumers.
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State and local health officials are investigating a cluster of three Legionnaires’ disease cases in Findlay, Illinois. All three were reported between July 30th and August 4th. The Illinois Department of Public Health staff are working with Shelby County Health Department officials to determine common exposures between the three cases. Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection that people can get by breathing in small droplets of water containing Legionella bacteria.
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The University of Chicago is agreeing to pay more than 13 million dollars to settle a lawsuit accusing the school of conspiring with other top universities to limit student financial aid. U of C is the first of more than a dozen schools to agree to a settlement. The suit accuses the universities of breaking antitrust laws by illegally considering financial need in admissions while also fixing the price of student aid. The plaintiffs claim that more than 200-thousand students have paid higher tuition since 2004 because of the price fixing.
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Illinois State Police is opening two new ISP Technology Centers in Des Plaines and Lockport. The centers will help solve crimes committed on Chicago areas expressways and in local communities. The centers are designed with state-of-the-art technology and software to process and quickly analyze digital evidence in real-time.
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Streator Police arrested 58-year-old William Behnke of Streator late Wednesday afternoon on a violation of an order of protection charge. He was taken to the LaSalle County Jail.
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Road construction will begin Friday morning on the north side of LaSalle as repaving begins on Chartres Street and Airport Road from Pershing Road to Raccuglia Drive. Local traffic for residents will be allowed.
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WEATHER:
TODAY – Scattered thunderstorms early. Skies will become mostly sunny this afternoon. High 78F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
TONIGHT – Clear skies. Low 52F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
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OBITS:
Jimmie Arthur Watts, 71, of Harding, passed away Saturday, August 12 at his home surrounded by his family. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at the Seals-Campbell Funeral Home in Marseilles. Funeral services at 11 a.m. today at Oakwood Memorial Park
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Robert “Bob” Cupples, 85, of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, August 15, at his home. Visitation will be tomorrow, from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will be held at 1:00 pm at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park.
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Faith McNamara passed away at home on August 10th, after a courageous battle with cancer. All services will be at the Praise Center at the Assembly of God church in Ottawa. Visitation will be tomorrow, from 4-6:30 pm. Funeral Service will be at 11 am this Saturday.
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Ronald “Ron” Hayes, 50, of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, August 15, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa after a courageous battle with cancer A gathering of friends and family will be held on this Saturday, from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home.
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James Ostrem, 84, of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, August 15, at his home. Visitation will be this Sunday, August 20, from 1:00 until 3:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will follow at 3:00 pm. Private family burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.
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SPORTS:
Local Boys Golf:
Mendota 174, Sandwich 184: At Mendota Country Club on Tuesday, the visiting Indians fell despite receiving a 41 from Noah Cambell and a 47 from Chance Lange. Kai Kernn and Dino Barbanente rounded out the team score, both shooting a 48.
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Earlville 175, Indian Creek 178: The Red Raiders won a close one, led by Ryan Browder’s 40, a 41 from Trenton Fruit, and Aaden Browder’s 43. Joseph Jungels added a 51.
Rylee Hill (55) and Mya Ramey (62) also competed for Earlville, which did not have a full girls’ team for the meet.
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Putnam Co. 198, Woodland 199: The Warriors lost by a single stroke despite team-best 46s from Tucker Hill and Kyle Bliss. Sam Schmitz (51) and Dylan Denham (56) closed out the four-man team score.
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Local Girls Golf:
Ottawa won 186 vs Joliet Catholic 228 at Deer Park in Oglesby
Top scorers for Ottawa
Marlie Orlandi 42
Caroline Orlandi 46
Payton Bruck 47
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>>Cubs Split Crosstown Classic With Walk-Off Win
(Chicago, IL) — The Cubs earned a split in the Crosstown Classic following a 4-3, walk-off victory from Wrigley. The Cubbies trailed the White Sox 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning until Christopher Morel blasted a three-run homer to end the game. Drew Smyly earned the win in relief, while Nick Madrigal also went yard. The Cubs improved to 62-and-58 and are second in the NL Central. Gregory Santos got the loss in relief for the Sox after giving up the game-winning home run without recording an out. Gavin Sheets slugged a two-run homer for the White Sox, who fell to 48-and-73. The team is fourth in the AL Central. The Cubs host Kansas City tomorrow, while the White Sox begin a series against the Rockies.
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>>Stroman Has Fractured Rib
(Chicago, IL) — Marcus Stroman’s stay on the injured list has been extended. The Cubs updated Stroman’s status yesterday, saying that he has a cartilage fracture in his right rib cage in addition to the right hip injury that has kept him out of action since August 1st. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told reporters that the team has “no idea” if Stroman will be able to return in 2023. The new injury hampers Chicago’s rotation in the thick of a playoff race. Stroman is 10-and-8 with a 3.85 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 23 starts this season.
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>>Bears Begin Joint Practices With Colts
(Westfield, IN) — The Bears kicked off their cross-over practices with the Indianapolis Colts yesterday. It was the first of two practices that the two teams will have against one another, with day two happening today. Bears star safety Eddie Jackson was injured during yesterday’s session, but defensive coordinator Alan Williams said he was hopeful that Jackson wouldn’t miss much time. The Bears and Colts will go up against one another in Indianapolis on Saturday.