Northwestern University is reaching an agreement with students and faculty taking part in a Pro-Palestinian protest on the Evanston campus. University officials announced an agreement that allows the demonstration to continue on Deering Meadow through June 1st. It also requires the immediate removal of tents and sound systems and commitment that all protesters will adhere to university policies. The agreement is believed to be the first between a major U.S. university and Pro-Palestinian protesters.
——————————————————-
Pro-Palestinian protesters are now gathered at the University of Chicago. Students set up an encampment yesterday on campus, joining other protests on college campuses across the country. Demonstrators called for the university to divest from Israel and a cease-fire in Gaza. The rally drew hundreds of people.
——————————————————-
Pro-Palestine protests are continuing at the University of Illinois. Classes and activities were still in session as demonstrators gathered yesterday on campus. University officials were set to meet with representatives of the demonstration, but the meeting was canceled when the students refused to remove tents from the quad. Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz also identified the two Champaign men who were arrested on Friday during the initial pro-Palestine encampment. George Vassilatos and Christopher Zelle are both charged with mob action. Neither of the men are students at the university.
——————————————————-
Two state lawmakers are pushing a plan to merge the Chicago area’s three public transit agencies into one. State Senator Ram Villivalam and State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado introduced a measure that would create the Metropolitan Mobility Authority to oversee all public transit operations and replace the Regional Transportation Authority. They believe the legislation would help avoid overlap and competition for money between the RTA, Chicago Transit Authority, Pace, and Metra. The plan would also provide one-point-five-billion-dollars in additional annual funding into the new system.
——————————————————–
A former Fairbury Police officer is going to prison for criminal sexual abuse. Carter Meister was sentenced last week to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. State police say they were notified last October that Meister had been accused of sexual assault. He was a police officer with the Fairbury Police Department at the time. ISP agents gathered evidence and an arrest warrant was issued for Meister.
——————————————————-
18-year-old Brooke Felix has charges of Retail Theft and Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor after her arrest by Ottawa Police Friday in the 1100 block of Chicory Lane.
——————————————————–
Jason P. Hererra of Ottawa has a charge of Domestic Battery from Ottawa Police after an incident Saturday in the 2100 block of Champlain Street.
——————————————————–
25-year-old Eric F. Motozapo of Ottawa has two charges of driving under the influence and a citation for expired registration after a traffic stop by Ottawa Police Saturday in the 1200 block of State Street.
——————————————————–
The LaSalle County Health Department, in partnership with the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois and Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC), is hosting FREE Kidney and Diabetic screenings at IVCC, 815 N. Orlando Smith Street, Oglesby, on Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. These screenings aim to address the significant risk of kidney disease among Americans by providing assessments for blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index (BMI), urinalysis, and blood draws if necessary, with results delivered by healthcare professionals. Participants must be 18 or older, and though fasting is not required, a urine sample is necessary. Pre-registration and questionnaire completion is encouraged. https://mobilescreening.nkfi.org/preregistration.
——————————————————–
LaSalle County Deputies responded to a single-vehicle accident at around 3:50 A.M. near IL RT 170 and N 21st RD (Brookfield TWP) where no injuries were reported. Jeffrey R. Kofoid (28) of Ottawa, IL, was driving south on IL RT 170 when his vehicle veered off the road into the east ditch. While attempting to return to the roadway, the vehicle collided with it. Subsequently, Jeffrey was cited for improper lane usage, leaving the scene of an accident involving vehicle/property damage, failure to report the accident to police authority, and driving too fast for the road conditions.
——————————————————–
At around 8:22 A.M. on April 29, 2024, LaSalle County Deputies initiated a traffic stop at the junction of Washington St. and LaSalle St. (Ottawa TWP), where Clarence Sullivan (70) of Ottawa, IL, received a citation for improper use of an electronic device. In addition, at around 9:42 A.M. on April 29, 2024, LaSalle County Deputies conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of LaSalle St. and Jefferson St. (Ottawa TWP), resulting in Carrie E. Kelley (50) of Columbus, OH being cited for improper use of an electronic device.
——————————————————–
The Illinois Housing Development Authority is awarding more than 123 million dollars in state and federal resources to finance permanent supportive housing throughout the state. Funds will be used for the construction or rehabilitation of 14 developments containing nearly 400 units of affordable housing. This funding represents the largest-ever annual award made by the State to fund housing and services for individuals at risk of homelessness, those living with disabilities, or other vulnerable populations.
——————————————————–
A woman from Illinois has been charged in connection with a deadly crash in Edinburg. The Texas Department of Public Safety says 40-year-old Amanda Marie Bender faces two counts of criminally negligent homicide following the April 23rd crash at the intersection of FM-907 and Texas Road. Investigators say Bender failed to yield the right of way at a stop sign, crashing into a Nissan heading south on FM-907. The crash killed the driver of the Nissan and the passenger in Bender’s vehicle. Bender is being held at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on a two-million-dollar bond.