The truck driver charged in the crash that killed a DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputy last month is pleading not guilty. Nathan Sweeney entered the not-guilty plea yesterday in court. He faces three counts of aggravated DUI causing death and one count of reckless homicide. Investigators say Sweeney was driving under the influence of drugs on March 28th when he hit Deputy Christina Musil’s squad car from behind.
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Illinois is receiving 156 million dollars from the EPA to support residential solar projects. The program provides funds to local governments and nonprofits across the country to develop long-lasting solar programs that benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities. It has three main goals, including reducing climate and air pollution, uplifting disadvantaged communities, and mobilizing financing to spur additional deployment of low-cost solar energy.
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Interest is growing to purchase Oberweis Dairy after the company filed for bankruptcy. The president of the North Aurora-based company says the owner of Dutch Farms in Pullman has made a bid to buy all operating assets of Oberweis. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Hoffmann Family in Winnetka has also emerged as a suitor.
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A 14-year-old boy wanted for double murder in Dayton, Ohio is in custody after he was arrested in Peoria. The U.S. Marshals Office says officers captured Michael Johnson Jr. yesterday. The teen was wanted by the Dayton Police Department for two counts of Murder in a shooting on March 14th. Johnson is being held in a Peoria County Juvenile Facility awaiting extradition to Ohio for court appearances.
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A former Metro East teacher who went to prison for trying to kill a teenage girl back in 2007 is not free. The Illinois Department of Corrections says Sam Shelton walked out of prison this week after serving 17 years of his 20-year sentence. Shelton admitted to breaking the girl’s neck during an argument in his car and then trying to strangle her. The girl recovered and eventually learned to walk again. Shelton will spend the next three years on parole.