Afternoon News Update: April 8

Wednesday marks an important day for Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey. He will deliver his ninth State of the City address at 6pm at the Coronado Theatre. His speech entitled “A Better Rockford Today” will focus on the positive direction the city has been moving in over the past year despite challenges. The event is free to attend. If you are unable to make it downtown our news partner, Eyewitness News will air the speech in its entirety on Rockford My Network Television beginning at 6pm.
A Milwaukee developer has been given the approval by the Rockford City Council to renovate a vacant building in downtown. Gorman and Company will transform the Amerock Building into a 150 room hotel and conference center for a cost of $52 million. The agreement passed overwhelmingly on Monday, 13-1. The hotel complex is expected to create 250 construction jobs, plus hundreds of full and part time positions once it opens. The plan is to have the project completed by the end of 2016.
Wisconsin authorities are giving more details about the arrest of a suspect in the death of a suburban Chicago teenager 17 years ago. Authorities in Racine County have arrested a 36-year-old Illinois man in the 1997 killing of runaway Amber Creek. She was from Palatine.
Two World War I artillery were found in luggage at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport Monday night. Federal officials say they were inert and didn’t pose any danger to anyone. Baggage screeners discovered the shells in the checked luggage of two teenagers flying though O’Hare on their way to Seattle after a school field trip in Europe. The teens were not charged.
Following a harsh winter, the state of Illinois is giving local governments $100 million to help repair roads and address other transportation needs. Governor Pat Quinn announced the funding during a news conference Monday in Chicago. The funding includes $16.7 million for Cook County with $12.6 million of that going to the city of Chicago.
The Illinois House has given approval for school boards to cut costs by increasing the minimum distance of free transportation provided to students. The legislation is sponsored by State Representative Joe Sosnowski. Current law provides that a school board shall provide free transportation for students that live more than 1 ½ miles from school. The bill now heads to the Senate for their consideration.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is warning residents about hackers gaining unauthorized access to bank accounts and illegally withdrawing money from ATMs. She says the warning follows a report by federal banking regulators that there has been an increase in the number of illegal withdrawals from banks. Madigan's office says residents should monitor bank and credit card accounts daily.
If you have sights on attending Summerfest 2014 you may want to follow through. Usher will close this year’s event on July 6^th at the Marcus Amphitheater in Milwaukee. Organizers say he doesn’t plan to play anywhere else in the U.S. this summer. Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and Brad Paisley will also perform at this year’s festival.

Categories: News