Study cites difference in “buckling up”

A state transportation department survey shows nearly 85 percent of back-seat passengers are buckling up as required to do so by a 2012 Illinois law. The survey also found that marked an increase of 7 percentage points in rear-seat passengers buckling up since 2013. But it’s still lower than the 95 percent wearing seat belts in front seats.

State pondering digital licenses

The state of Illinois is exploring whether to implement digital driver’s licenses accessed through a smartphone app.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s office has announced that it’s looking for a company to help determine whether the state should allow the cellphone-based licenses. The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises newspapers reports the app with the license would have the same information as what’s found on a regular plastic driver’s license.

White’s office is seeking bids from companies to figure out the cost and feasibility of a digital driver’s license program. An announcement from White’s office says it’s a “preliminary fact-finding process.”

The announcement by White’s office follows formation of a special committee by Illinois lawmakers earlier this year to look into digital driver’s licenses.

2 hurt in Wisconsin shooting

Police say an officer and another person have been hurt in a shooting at a motorcycle shop in Wisconsin. Saturday morning’s shooting in Neenah prompted an evacuation, but the police chief says authorities believe everyone is accounted for and there is “no threat to the community.” He also says the injured officer is expected to recover. Neenah is 1 hour north of Milwaukee.

Mayor denies cover-up

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is denying there was a cover-up in last year’s shooting of a black teenager 16 times by a white police officer. Emanuel says he strongly rejects the idea that the release of dash-cam video was delayed because of his re-election campaign. He says the city has a longstanding practice of releasing material only after the close of an investigation.

Cedar Point fire contained to basement

A Cedar point mother and son learned Saturday how fast burning rags can bring the fire department. Kevin Gould is the Cedar Point Fire Chief. Gould told “Classic Hits 103-9 WLPO” news that a pile of blankets and rags started burning in the basement at 109 First Street about 10:30am.

Gould said 9 men including Standard Fire Department came to the scene. Smoke filled the house, but there was no physical damage and no injuries. Department personnel left the scene about 1pm.

Farmer named to state committee

   A Bureau County farmer has been named chairman of the State Farm Bureau’s Young Leader Committee. Evan Hultine is a Farm Bureau member from and is joined by 5 other men and women members from across the state. The members were named Saturday at the Illinois Farm Bureau Convention meeting through Tuesday in Chicago.

     The Young Leaders committee is made up of members aged 18 – 35, passionate about farming and compete in several events throughout the year.

Mediator to Meet with Streator Education Association, School Board

The Streator Education Association which represents elementary teachers will sit down and negotiate with the school board again this coming Thursday. Joining the two sides is a state mediator. The last time the sides met about a new contract was November 16^th.

A majority of teachers voted last month to go on strike. Salary and benefits are among the issues that need to be worked out.

The school board cut teachers, programs and closed Oakland Park Elementary School over the past couple of years.

Trident Stop on Interstate 80 Yields Felony Charges

A traffic stop along Interstate 80 outside of Peru meant 2 people from the state of Oregon will be spending a little more time in Bureau County.

Adrian Moll and Katerina Ferraiouli were stopped by the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team yesterday. During the stop agents found cannabis plants and more than two pounds of a substance also containing cannabis.

The two have been charged with Felony possession of cannabis and are being held at the Bureau County Jail.

Chain Crash at Intersection Near Seneca Injures 1

An accident outside of Seneca just south of interstate 80 shows the importance of exercising caution at all intersections .

Ramabhai Patel of Elgin had stopped and begun to proceed through an intersection when her car was allegedly struck by that of Carl Szafranski. Szafranksi’s car then reportedly lost control and hit the vehicle of Morris woman Karli Kroening, who was also stopped at the intersection.

Kroening was then taken to Morris Hospital. Szafranski was cited for disobeying a stop sign.