Afternoon News Update: May 16
- Carlson Elementary was under a lockdown earlier this afternoon. It has now been lifted. Officials say the lockdown wasn’t caused by anything inside the school and that students and staff remain safe. According to police, a man was walking near the area of Pepper and Alpine, armed with multiple handguns and body armor. However, police were unable to locate the suspect.
- Police are on the lookout for a suspect who robbed a Loves Park credit union. It happened Thursday night at the Rockford Bell Credit Union in the 4,000 block of Perryville. Officials say a suspect entered the building, fired a gunshot and then got away with an undisclosed amount of money. There were no injuries. The gunman is described as a black male, 150 pounds, wearing dark clothing and blue jeans. He was last seen in a red, 4-door Chevy Impala with Nebraska plates.
- A man who was involved in a hit and run crash has entered his plea. 32-year-old Justin Martin pled guilty in court this morning. The incident happened back in October 2013 when he hit and killed 51-year-old Todd Jackson as he was walking across Charles Street. Martin is due back in court for his sentencing on July 18.
- The 67 percent income tax hike could stay permanent after a budget plan was approved by the Illinois House. The House Democrat budget is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2015 and would spend just over $37 billion. The plan highlights a $6.7 billion budget for the state’s schools; it would increase general state aid by $132 million and early childhood education by $25 million. The budget plan relies on Illinois’ temporary tax increase becoming permanent, but lawmakers have not yet approved that.
- An Illinois House committee has approved House Speaker Michael Madigan’s plan to ask voters if the state should raise its minimum wage. The proposal is for a non-binding question in November that would raise the wage from $8.25 to $10.65 per hour. This comes after Illinois Democrats have struggled to find enough votes to increase the current one. The proposal now heads to the full House and Senate.
- With the Route 20 and State Street interchange project set to be in full force Monday, motorists should expect long delays. The ramp will remain open during all stages of construction. However, with the estimated 12,000 vehicles that use the interchange daily, the area is sure to see plenty of congestion. The $5 million project is expected to be completed by the end of summer.
- An Aurora man has been convicted on nine counts of child pornography. A jury convicted 26-year-old Oscar Mendez Wednesday night. He faces up to seven years in prison. Prosecutors say police searched Mendez's home in 2010, seizing a computer from his locked bedroom. A forensic analysis uncovered videos containing pornography involving children under age 13.
- A state office building in Madison has closed after an overnight fire. It generated large amounts of smoke and melted ceiling tiles. Authorities decided to close the building that houses the Department of Workforce Development and the Department of Children and Families this morning. The cause of the fire is under investigation.