Still Questions With Drowning In Ottawa

Nearly two months after a man from Ottawa was pulled from the Illinois River, the coroner’s office still has unanswered questions.

A report from the La Salle County Coroner’s Office confirms 36-year old Christopher Strobel drowned.  However they aren’t willing to say if it was accidental so Strobel’s manner of death is undetermined.  The report did say he had a blood alcohol level of twice the legal limit but some of it could be due to being in the river so long.

Investigators still haven’t figured out how or why Strobel ended up in the river.  He was found about a mile downstream of the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge.

Power Back On In Ottawa

There’s never a good time for your power to go out but it especially stinks when it’s this hot.

The outage started around 7:30 last night when a substation malfunctioned on the north side of Ottawa.  At the height of the power outage, over 22 hundred Ameren customers were without power.  Power was back on for everyone by 10 o’clock.

Ameren says some people also lost power for a short time on the south side of Ottawa yesterday but it was planned because of a road project.

High Temperatures Around Triple Digits

How hot did your temperature gauge get up to?

According to the National Weather Service, one person got to 97 degrees in Peru.  The temperature in Pontiac reached 99 while in Morris an observer saw it hit 95.  With the humidity and dew point, it actually felt well over 100 in the listening area.

High temperatures in the 90s are expected to last at least another week.

State regulators suspend Peru doctor’s license

It will be at least one year before a doctor in Peru will be allowed to resume his practice.  The Illinois Department of Professional Regulations has suspended the physician and surgeon license and controlled substance license of Jason Bergandi.  The suspension is indefinite for a minimum of twelve months.

They say Bergandi didn’t comply with terms and conditions of agreement with Department.  Bergandi is an orthopedic surgeon.

Congressman Kinzinger says he’s disappointed by Supreme Court health care ruling

The Supreme Court has settled the legal argument over President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

Republicans from presidential candidate Mitt Romney to lawmakers on Capitol Hill will keep pushing for repeal.

Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger says the question shifts from is the health care plan constitutional to is it feasible.  He says he’s disappointed by the ruling.

He says the health care law ends on November 6, referring to the General Election and a Romney presidential win.

Kinzinger’s district includes La Salle, Bureau and Putnam Counties.  He faces Democrat Wonda Rohl in the November election.

Fire Snarls I-80 Traffic

Eastbound traffic of Interstate 80 near Princeton was backed up for over a half hour this morning because of a fire.

Calls to police started coming in around 8:50 for heaving smoke coming from the southside of the interstate near the Interstate 180 intersection.  It was a grass fire that was brought under control just after 9:30.

Eastbound traffic was being rerouted off 80 into Princeton.

Healthcare Mandate Upheld

WASHINGTON (AP) – The individual mandate survives.

The Supreme Court has upheld the heart of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul — ruling in favor of the requirement that most Americans can be required to have health insurance, or else pay a penalty.  The decision means the historic overhaul will continue to take effect over the next several years, affecting the way countless Americans receive and pay for their personal medical care.

The court’s four liberal justices, Stephen Bryer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, joined conservating leaning John Roberts in the outcome.

Attempted Child Abduction In Streator

Has someone really been trying to kidnap children in Streator or have people grown paranoid?  Police have taken at least three calls about attempted kidnappings in a week’s time.

The most recent report came in late Thursday morning involving a man with a goatee driving a white mini van with possibly Michigan plates.  If you have any information, call the Streator Police Department.

Heat Advisory In Effect

If you had outside plans today, be smart and reschedule them.

A Heat Advisory is in effect for the listening area with high temperatures today expected to top 100 degrees.  When you throw in the humidity, it could feel as warm as 110 in some spots.

The National Weather Service believes many temperature records could be broken.

Places To Get Out Of The Heat

If you need to escape the heat, Illinois Valley Community Hospital is an option.

The hospital in Peru is opening it’s cafeteria as a cooling center for anyone to use.  Officials say the cafeteria becomes a cooling center whenever its 90 degrees or warmer.

Department of Human Services offices in Princeton and Ottawa are also open as cooling centers.