The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced the first Illinois human West Nile virus-related death in 2023. Testing by the CDC confirmed the case was West Nile virus-related. The individual, who was in their 90s and lived in suburban Cook County, had an onset of symptoms in early August and died soon after. IDPH is also reporting 11 non-fatal cases of West Nile virus confirmed to date this year. Of the 12 total cases in Illinois, seven are in Cook County, one in Kane County, and the other four are in Central and Southern Illinois.
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The Illinois Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers that they may be able to claim school expenses for K-12 students on their 2023 state individual income tax returns. The Illinois Education Expense Credit allows parents or legal guardians of a full-time K-12 student to take a 25-percent tax credit on qualified education expenses over 250 dollars this year. The K-12 Instructional Materials and Supplies Tax Credit allows eligible teachers of full-time K-12 students to receive a tax break for qualified expenses on classroom materials paid for during the taxable year.
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Illinois is supporting tradeswomen in the state. Governor Pritzker announced a one-point-three-five-million-dollar federal grant to the Illinois Department of Labor. This funding will go towards efforts to train and support the entry of more women into infrastructure and construction careers.
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Jury deliberations are underway in the perjury trial of the longtime Chief of Staff of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Timothy Mapes is charged with lying to a grand jury in the federal probe that led to Madigan’s indictment last year in a racketeering case. Closing arguments took place yesterday before jurors began to deliberate. Mapes served as Madigan’s chief of staff from 1991 until June 2018 before being ousted following allegations of harassment.
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One of two Chicago-area Republicans named in the Georgia indictment accusing former President Donald Trump and others of illegally attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election is expected to surrender to authorities tomorrow. Southwest suburban church pastor Reverend Stephen Lee has reached a bond agreement with Fulton County authorities. Lee and Chicago publicist Trevian Kutti are charged with racketeering, influencing witnesses, and conspiring to commit false statements. Both are accused of taking part in a scheme to pressure an election worker in Fulton County, Georgia, to falsely admit to committing election fraud in 2020.
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Another Chicago area man is accused of taking part in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol in 2021. Robin Lee Reierson of Schiller Park is charged with assaulting a federal officer and entering the Capitol Building. Prosecutors released photos they claim show Reierson pushing officers and attempting to grab one of their batons. He is a worker at the Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont.
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A nurses’ strike enters a third day at Ascension Saint Joseph — Joliet Hospital. Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy released a statement this week saying the number of nurses leaving the medical facility without being replaced is not acceptable and puts lives at risk. The next contract talks between Ascension and the St. Joseph’s Nurses Association are set for September 8th. Nurses are without an agreement at this time because the deal expired more than a month ago.
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USDA Secretary Vilsack is issuing more disaster declarations for the drought that took place during the 2023 Illinois growing season. The counties added to the list include Henry, Knox, and Rock Island. A Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the USDA Farm Service Agency to provide emergency loans to producers recovering from natural disasters.
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The Illinois Valley Community College choir invites singers from the community to join its group on Monday evenings. Choir Director Jenilyn Roether says anyone 16 years of age and older may join. Rehearsals begin August 28th, but new members will be accepted through September 11th. The singing group meets on Monday evenings from 6:00 until 8:00 in Room D223 on the Oglesby campus.
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22-year-old Milen Reyes-Vasquez of Peru was stopped by Peru Police Tuesday night at Fourth and West Streets and charged with suspended registration, no insurance, and no valid driver’s license. She was released with a notice to appear in court.
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A Peru man faces charges of criminal damage to property and assault following a reported fight at 1906 13th Street in Peru. 33-year-old Jeremy V. Washburn was arrested Wednesday night and released with a notice to appear in court.
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24-year-old Austin M. Stalter of Morris was stopped by Ottawa Police Tuesday in the 200 block of West Main Street and charged with driving while license suspended and speeding. He posted bond and was released with a notice to appear in court.
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An Ottawa man was arrested Tuesday by Ottawa Police on a failure to appear to warrant out of Kendall County as well as a DeKalb County warrant for failure to appear in court on charges of domestic battery and burglary. 36-year-old Nicholas S. Young posted bond and was released.
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WEATHER:
Today – Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 113. Breezy, with a southwest wind of 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph
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Tonight – Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
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*Excessive Heat Warning, Dangerous hot and humid conditions with afternoon heat index values of 110 to 115 expected, with locally higher values possible. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
Children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
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OBITS:
Joyce Annette Riskedal, age 54, of Leland passed away on August 18th. A funeral service is to take place at 9:00 a.m. today at Bethany Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Little Indian Creek Cemetery in Leland.
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Dennis P. Pellegrine, 72 of Streator passed away Saturday evening August 12, at Arcadia Care, in Streator. Following cremation, a visitation will be held This Sunday from 1 – 2 PM at the Winterrowd Funeral Home. Services will follow at 2 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery at a later date with military honors conducted by members of the Streator American Legion and VFW.
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SPORTS:
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Newark def. Marquette 25-8, 25-19: At Bader Gym on Wednesday, the Newark Norsemen handled the host Crusaders in straight sets to improve to 2-0 on the season and send Marquette to 0-2.
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Seneca def. Peotone 25-14, 30-28: At Peotone, the visiting Fighting Irish defeated their former conference foe in straight sets.
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Amboy def. Serena 15-25, 28-26, 25-16: At Amboy, the visiting Huskers appeared to be in control but lost the road match in three sets.
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SOPHOMORE GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Marquette def. Newark 25-23, 25-19: At Bader Gym.
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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
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>>White Sox Walk-Off Mariners
(Chicago, IL) — Tim Anderson’s speed helped lift the White Sox to a 5-4, ten-inning win over the Seattle Mariners at Guaranteed Rate Field. Anderson stole third base in the bottom of the tenth, and the throw to third glanced off his helmet and into foul territory, allowing him to score the game-winning run. Trayce Thompson added a home run in the victory, and Sammy Peralta earned his second win. The Southsiders avoided being swept with the victory, but they remain fourth in the AL Central at 50-and-77. Jesse Scholtens starts for the Sox against Oakland tonight. In other team news, Chicago hired former manager Tony La Russa to be a consultant in the club’s front office.
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>>Cubs Rally Past Tigers Late
(Detroit, MI) — The Cubs scored a go-ahead run in the eighth inning during a 6-4 win over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Cubs took an early 4-0 lead before Kerry Carpenter’s grand slam tied the game in the sixth. However, Yan Gomes had an RBI single in the eighth to put Chicago up for good, and Nico Hoerner added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth. Julian Merryweather earned his fifth win in relief, and Adbert Alzolay picked up his 19th save. The Cubs are still three-and-a-half games behind Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central at 66-and-60. Justin Steele starts for Chicago against the Pirates tonight.
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>>Sky Host Aces
(Chicago, IL) — The Chicago Sky will try to get a winning streak going when they host the Las Vegas Aces at Wintrust Arena tonight. On Tuesday, the Sky snapped a five-game losing streak by beating Seattle 102-79. Chicago is in ninth place in the WNBA with a 13-and-20 record. Tonight’s contest gets underway at 7:00 p.m.