Morris Hospital is mailing current and former patients and employees regarding a cybersecurity incident that occurred in early April. The breach may have involved the release of personal information. Following an investigation, Morris Hospital says it was determined data was exported from the hospital’s database to an external cloud platform. The hospital says they have no information that personal information about patients, former patients, as well as current and former employees, has been used inappropriately, Morris Hospital is offering free identity theft resolution services. The hospital is mailing instructions on how to activate the free service. There is also a notice posted on the website morrishospital.org.
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Illinois’ unemployment rate remains steady. The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state’s jobless rate was unchanged at four-percent last month. Non-farm payroll jobs increased by more than 11-thousand in July.
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Illinois Republicans used Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair Thursday to not talk about former GOP President Donald Trump. During a rally, GOP leadership chose to discuss their strategy for winning back the state, including embracing early voting and voting by mail. Illinois Senate Republican leader John Curran said they want to focus on fixing state issues.
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The Department of Justice is reaching a settlement agreement with the Hampton Inn & Suites Peoria at Grand Prairie. The settlement resolves claims the hotel violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The agreement requires the hotel to train its staff and provide equal service to customers with disabilities. An ADA complaint accused the business of canceling a reservation from an individual with a disability because they couldn’t provide a room that wasn’t accessible.
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Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is hosting a live unclaimed property auction Saturday at the Lincoln Stage at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. The auction starts at 11 a.m., and prospective bidders can preview items from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The unclaimed property is divided into 250 lots of both single and multiple items. Items include a 14-karat white gold woman’s double halo-style ring, a $500 bill from 1934, collectible basketball cards featuring seven Hall of Famers, historic political memorabilia, a 1988 American Eagle gold bullion coins proof set, and a set of eight gold coins featuring the likenesses of writers Mark Twain and John Steinbeck, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, musician Louis Armstrong, and actress Helen Hayes.
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The reconstruction and modernization of the Jane Byrne and Weber Road interchanges are receiving high praise. The projects won top honors among Midwest states in America’s Transportation Awards. The revitalization of the aged Byrne turned one of the nation’s slowest, most congested highway freight bottlenecks into a thriving multimodal corridor. The reimagining of the Weber Road interchange on I-55 in Will County improved mobility to accommodate rising traffic volumes, a population influx, and a burgeoning economy.
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A former Illinois Department of Children and Family Services worker and 14 other people are accused of participating in a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than three million dollars in state funds intended for childcare services. A federal indictment claims Shauntele Pridgeon orchestrated the fraud scheme from 2016 to 2022 while serving as a Community Social Service Planner for DCFS in Chicago. Pridgeon directed millions of dollars in state funds to the co-defendants for nonexistent childcare services. The co-defendants then paid bribes and kickbacks to Pridgeon totaling around one-point-six-million dollars.
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At least one person is dead following a shooting in Watseka. Authorities say police were called out yesterday to the four-hundred block of West North Street, where they discovered multiple shooting victims. State police are confirming that one person has died. The suspected shooter is in custody.
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A man is charged with child endangerment after a six-year-old child was shot in the hand in Kewanee. Police say officers responded to a report of a shooting. Officers learned a vehicle left the scene and transported a young victim to the hospital with a gunshot wound to their left hand. The initial investigation indicated the six-year-old was able to access a handgun in their home and fire one round into their left hand. One adult has since been charged.
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Peru Police arrested 61-year-old Lisa Gonzalez of LaSalle at Hyvee in Peru Tuesday afternoon on a charge of criminal trespass to real property.
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Following a disturbance at Plum and Bluff Streets in Peru, 47-year-old Dyan Foley of Peru was charged by Peru Police with driving while license is suspended and improper backing. Foley was released with a notice to appear in court.
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WEATHER:
TODAY – A good deal of sunshine. High 78F. Winds are light and variable.
TONIGHT – Some passing clouds. Low 57F. Winds are light and variable.
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OBITS:
Robert “Bob” Cupples, 85, of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, August 15, at his home. Visitation will be today 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 today, 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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Marie Ellen Atkinson, 92, passed away on Tuesday, August 15, at the LaSalle County Nursing Home, surrounded by her family.
Funeral Services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, August 21, at the Zion Lutheran Church. Entombment will follow at the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa. Visitation will be from noon to 1:50 p.m. on Monday at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home, Ottawa.
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SPORTS:
Local Girls Golf:
Ottawa won in a three-team match.
Ottawa 226
Coals City 278
Pontiac 264
The best score for Ottawa Marlie is 52
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The Shepherd Lady Rams moved to 6-0 on the season after defeating Mendota Holy Cross Co-Op 15-3 on Thursday. In the circle for the Lady Rams was Sophie Taylor throwing four innings, eight strikeouts and only giving up three hits. The Lady Rams bats stayed hot on offense collecting 15 hits! Leading the way for the Rams was Teagan Darif starting the bottom of the 1st off with an inside-the-park homerun. Darif went 3-4 with an RBI. Kennedy Kane going 3-4 with an RBI. Sophie Taylor going 2-2 with three RBIs and a walk and Aaliyah Martin going 2-3 with an RBI. Other Lady Rams that collected a hit each are; Joslyn Rose, Harmony Morgan, Chloe Thrush, Lily Brewer, and Leela Gromm. The Lady Rams will play next on Monday at home vs. Marquette-Wallace at 4:30 PM.
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>>Cubs Host Royals
(Chicago, IL) — The Cubs continue their playoff push with a game against the Kansas City Royals at Wrigley Field this afternoon. The Cubs split a two-game series with the White Sox earlier this week. Chicago is just two games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central race, and the club is in a three-way tie for the final spot in the NL Wild Card race. Jameson Taillon starts for the Cubs today. In other team news, Chicago signed left-handed reliever Richard Bleier to a contract yesterday.
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>>MLB Reduces Tim Anderson Suspension To Five Games
(Chicago, IL) — Major League Baseball has reduced Tim Anderson’s suspension to five games. The league announced the decision on Thursday after the Chicago White Sox shortstop appealed his original six-game suspension. Anderson was involved in a fight with Cleveland Guardians’ third baseman Jose Ramirez on August 5th. Ramirez was suspended for three games but had his suspension reduced to two. Anderson said in a statement that he takes “full responsibility for my emotions getting the better of me.” The White Sox send Michael Kopech to the mound against the Rockies in Colorado tonight.
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>>Bears Visit Colts In Preseason
(Indianapolis, IN) — The Bears try to stay undefeated in preseason when they take on the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium tomorrow. Chicago and Indianapolis practiced against each other in Indiana yesterday and on Wednesday. The Bears beat Tennessee 23-17 in their first preseason contest last week. In other team news, Chicago signed linebacker Davion Taylor and waiver linebacker Buddy Johnson yesterday.
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>>Bulls Release Regular Season Schedule
(Chicago, IL) — The Bulls will open the 2023-24 NBA season at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The NBA unveiled every team’s regular season schedule yesterday. The Bull’s opener against OKC is on October 25th, and they have their first road game three days later against the Detroit Pistons. Chicago will also host the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets on December 12th. The Bulls end the season with a road game against the Knicks on April 14th.
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>>Jonathan Toews Stepping Away From NHL
(Chicago, IL) — A three-time Stanley Cup champion is stepping away from the ice. Former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews [[ TAYVZ ]] said that he’s “not fully retiring” from the NHL, but he plans to take “some time away from the game again this season.” The 35-year-old totaled 15 goals and 31 points in 53 games with Chicago last season. Toews has spent his entire 15-year NHL career with the Blackhawks after being drafted third overall in 2006. He scored 372 goals and recorded 883 points in over 1,000 games played for Chicago.
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>>Fire Host Orlando City
(Chicago, IL) — Chicago Fire FC returns to MLS action with a match against Orlando City at Soldier Field on Sunday. The Fire haven’t had a league match since beating Toronto 1-nil on July 15th. Chicago is in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with eight wins, eight draws, and seven losses for 32 points. In other club news, the Fire named Nikolaos Kostenoglou and Theodoros Antonopoulos as assistant coaches yesterday.
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>>Sky Take On Dream
(College Park, GA) — The Chicago Sky look to snap a three-game losing streak when they visit the Atlanta Dream at The Gateway Center Arena tonight. The Sky are coming off an 83-76 loss to the Mystics on Sunday. Chicago is tied for eighth place in the WNBA at 12-and-18.
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>>BMW Championship Round One Recap
(Olympia Fields, IL) — Rory McIlroy and Brian Harman sit atop the leaderboard after one round in the BMW Championship from Olympia Fields. Both golfers shot a 65 in the opening round and are five-under par. Six players are tied for third at four under including Matt Fitzpatrick, Chris Kirk, and Scottie Scheffler. Cameron Kirk, Corey Conners, and Collin Morikawa are in a three-way tie for ninth place at three-under par. Cam Davis and Cameron Young tee off round two of the tournament Friday morning.