Cullerton: Parts of House gun bill ‘offensive’

     SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois Senate President John Cullerton says a concealed carry bill that would wipe out all local gun ordinances in the state is “offensive.”

      Cullerton’s comments Thursday came after the Illinois House approved such a measure by a vote of 85-30.

      The measure brokered by House Speaker Michael Madigan also would allow qualified gun owners to carry their weapons in public, with some restrictions.

      Cullerton says another problem with Madigan’s bill is that it would allow people to bring guns into some places that serve alcohol.

      Cullerton says his Democratic caucus will meet Monday to decide whether to vote on the House’s bill.

      He says his chamber also is revising a Senate gun bill that would adopt some of the House’s suggested restrictions.

Wisconsin man arrested on drug charges

Cocaine, marijuana and mushrooms are what police say they found on a man from Wisconsin.   State Troopers say they stopped the car Thursday morning on I-80 near Spring Valley for improper lane usage.

After bringing out the police dog, troopers say they found the drugs. Timothy Winsall of Racine was arrested for a minor cannabis charge and was released after posting bond.

Another man from Racine, Jon Legue, was arrested for possession of cannabis, possession of cocaine and possession of psilocybin mushrooms.  He was taken to the Bureau County Jail.

Princeton Hospital Closing Its OB And Child Delivery Units

Everything from Obama Care to not having enough young people around having babies is blamed for a decision by Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton to close its Women’s Healthcare Unit.

CEO Rex Conger says the Women’s Healthcare Unit is no longer able to support itself thanks in part to less state and federal reimbursements and a steady decline of patients of childbearing age.  Hospital officials say baby deliveries at Perry has declined 38 percent in the last decade with less than 100 deliveries the last two years.  Conger says the women’s healthcare department lost 500 thousand dollars last year.

Despite losing its OB, Labor, Delivery and Nursery departments, Conger says Perry Memorial can still deliver a baby in the Emergency Department.

January 1^st is the proposed closing date of Perry Memorial’s Women’s Healthcare Unit.

“Parkfest” Full Of Things To Do In Streator

Streator is proud of its city park and it’ll be on display for the next three days and nights.

Streator’s “Parkfest” kicks off today and runs through Sunday.  In the park starting at 5:30 tonight will be the opening of a carnival, food and vendor booths and then at 7:30 live music by the “Blues Brothers Band”.  On Saturday in the park there will again be the carnival, food, vendors along with live entertainment featuring a magician and pro wrestling.  Parkfest wraps up Sunday with firefighter water fights and a movie in the park at dusk.  The movie is the Disney classic “Lion King”.

For a complete schedule, go to http://www.streatorcalendar.com/

Prices At The Pump For Busy Travel Weekend

Hitting the road for the holiday weekend?  Get ready to dig into that wallet for gas.

According to GasBuddy.com, the cheapest gas in the Illinois Valley is in Streator with stations selling it for $3.62 to $3.69 a gallon.  Most Ottawa stations are selling unleaded for $3.82 a gallon while gas in La Salle and Peru is going for $3.85 to $3.89 a gallon.

You can stay up to date on the latest gas prices by checking out the GasBuddy link on AM 1220 WLPO.com.

Good Jobless Report For The Illinois Valley

April was a good month for area unemployment rates.

Jobless rates went down in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam Counties.  In La Salle County, the April unemployment was 9.7 percent, down from 11.9 percent in March.  Bureau County’s April jobless rate is 8.4 percent, down from 10.3 percent in March.  Putnam County’s unemployment rate went down a full percentage point from 11.9 to 10.9 percent in April.

Only Putnam County has a higher unemployment rate now than they did a year ago.

Construction In Bureau County For Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Memorial Day everyone, IDOT is closing up some construction zones this holiday weekend.

Starting this afternoon, IDOT is suspending non-emergency road work thru Monday evening.  Some projects though just can’t be picked up and delayed including two in Bureau County.

One lane of Interstate 80 both directions between Princeton and Interstate 180 will be closed this holiday weekend for bridge replacement work.  Also in Bureau County, Route 6 is down to one lane over I-180 because of bridge work.