Crash at Route 251 and Shooting Park Road takes out traffic signal pole

A pole for a traffic light needs to be replaced after a Christmas Eve crash in Peru.  Police say Cynthia Raccuglia of Peru was turning south from Shooting Park Road to Route 251 when she hit Maria Fuentes of La Salle.  Police say Fuentes’ car then hit the pole.

Raccuglia, a circuit judge in La Salle County, was ticketed for failure to yield turning left.  Fuentes was ticketed for not having a valid driver’s license.   No one was hurt.

Gov. Quinn welcomes health insurance ‘co-op’

CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is welcoming the news that a nonprofit organization plans to offer health insurance in the state starting in 2014.

The new nonprofit – called Land of Lincoln Health – announced last week it is applying for a state license and has received a $160 million federal loan to begin operations.

In a statement Monday, Quinn called the announcement “another positive step to provide the people of Illinois more choices” in health care.

President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul law created a category of insurance carriers called Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans, or “co-ops.”

Land of Lincoln Health was incorporated by the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council. It’s the first co-op in Illinois to receive approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 

Garbage routes affected by Christmas

While offices and services are closed for Christmas, most places will be open Wednesday, including your city and county offices.  Wednesday is the last day to file petitions for the April 2013 election.

And if you normally have your garbage picked up on Tuesdays, it will be picked up Wednesday instead.  Most garbage routes will be running one-day later than normal this week.