Illegal immigrants can drive in Illinois

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign a bill Sunday that will issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.
 
     It would make Illinois the fourth and most populous state to give illegal immigrants permission to drive.
 
     Backers of the proposal tout it as a public-safety measure and say that facial recognition technology is reliable enough to prevent fraud. But opponents point to hundreds of fraudulent cases in New Mexico, Washington and Utah, which give illegal immigrants permission to drive.
 
     Illinois will not require applicants to be fingerprinted, for fear that would discourage immigrants from applying.
 
     Illegal immigrants will be able to obtain a three-year temporary driver’s license after they receive training and are tested. They must also purchase insurance.

cold plunge

Several hundred people in Chicago have taken a leap into an icy Lake Michigan.  It might have been 20 degrees outside, but the annual Polar Bear Plunge was for a good cause.  A Chicago radio station reports  the money raised will go to help the family of a sick child and a marathon runner who was struck by a car.   The event was put on Saturday at Oak Street Beach by the Lakeview Polar Bear Club.   Organizer Stacy Monahan calls it charity that “hits a little bit closer to home,” noting that the money raised helps local people.  But some were just out to have a little fun. One man said he and his friends all had American flag speedos – reason enough for them to take the plunge.

arrest in Mendota burglary

A residential burglary in Mendota Friday and police make at least one arrest the next day. 18-year old Travis Broderick of Amboy, under questioning by Mendota police Saturday, admitted stealing jewelry and electronic equipment the previous day from a home in the 900 block of Fourth Avenue. Mendota Sgt. Greg Kellen, says the loot, when fully recovered, would be over one thousand dollars. Broderick is being held on 50-thousand dollars bond in the LaSalle County jail. Kellen told AM 1220 WLPO news, Broderick, at the time of this burglary was out on bond from Lee County residential burglary earlier this month. Additional arrests are possible in this burglary.

more $$ for mental health

As lawmakers debate ways to prevent another mass shooting, Illinois mental health advocates say more attention – and money – must be directed to a system they describe as overwhelmed. Between 2009 and 2012, Illinois slashed funding for community mental health programs by more than 30 percent. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, that’s more than all but three other states.

gas bill getting larger?

Residential customers of Ameren Illinois could see an increase of several dollars per month on their gas bills. The company filed a request Friday for a $50 million rate increase to help recover the costs of delivering natural gas as well as replacing pipes and modernizing equipment. The utility delivers gas to 813,000 customers in central and southern Illinois.

hiding in the basement

A case of hide and seek and the police won. About 11:20pm Saturday, LaSalle police entered Storage’s Bar and Grill. They found two girls and a guy – all underage – hiding in the basement. 28-year old Ryan Storage was charged with allowing minors to loiter. 19-year old Kiara Jones and 20-year old Kenzie Mogged were charged with loitering and consumption of alcohol. They received notices to appear. 20-year old Zakary Bertolino posted sixty dollars bond on a charge of loitering and was released. All three were from Peru.

freezing rain advisory

A freezing rain advisory is in effect until 6pm.   Freezing rain is possible until about 3pm when the air temperature should be warm enough to change it to rain.  Freezing rain may allow ice to accumulate making walking and driving surfaces very slick.  Precipitation had started around 11am.