WLIP Voice of Lake County 6/3/19

Zion Stabbing Death

Vander Tuuk 6-3-19

(Zion, IL) A Waukegan man is dead after being stabbed in Zion. Police say they were called on Friday to a fight in the 41-hundred block of Barberry Lane. When they arrived, they found a 42-year-old man with a stab wound. He was able to speak to police before being transported to Vista East Hospital, where he died. Officials say they have questioned a person of interest in the case, but have released no further information. The victim will be identified after an autopsy, which is scheduled for later today.

Lawsuit Filed in Factory Explosion

Vander Tuuk 6-3-19

(Waukegan, IL) A lawsuit has been filed in connection with last month’s explosion at a Waukegan factory. Illinois State’s Attorney Kwame Raoul and Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim announced the suit on Friday. The complaint claims that the explosion at AB Specialty Silicones caused air pollution and the possible contamination of storm sewers, a wetland and a nearby lake. The pair said the lawsuit came as a referral from the Illinois EPA. The filing looks to clear all chemicals remaining at the explosion site, as well as making the company responsible for any contaminate cleanup at affected sites…as well as civil penalties.

The Latest: Senate concludes budget, construction, tax plans

Associated Press 6-3-19

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Illinois lawmakers have wrapped up their spring session after a whirlwind week that produced a budget, a state construction plan and billions of dollars in tax increases to fund it, more gambling, legalized marijuana use and protections for abortion. The Senate took final action Sunday on a $39.9 billion budget and a $45 billion outline for rebuilding roads, schools and other public works. It doubled the state’s gasoline tax to 38 cents per gallon. Future increases would be tied to inflation but legislation ensures that the road fund where it’s deposited can’t be used for other purposes. The Senate also approved a last-minute but gigantic expansion of casino gambling in the state, which includes a Waukegan casino, and legalized betting on sports events for the first time.

Lawmaker pay raise included in budget

Associated Press 6-3-19

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Illinois lawmakers are in line for a pay raise after a paperwork mix-up that went uncorrected. The House adjourned its spring session Saturday without taking action on a measure that would have frozen base legislative salaries at $67,836. That means that lawmakers would receive an estimated $1,600 annual pay increase if Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs the budget. It would be the first pay raise for legislators since 2008. But Senate Democrats conceded during debate on the budget Friday night that an agreed-to freeze on a cost-of-living increase was not in legislation authorizing the spending plan. So they amended another bill to prohibit the COLA and sent it to the House, who took no action.