Illinois quick hits: Assassination hearing underway; power outages in Springfield
Assassination hearing underway
Members of Congress, including Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, are working to get answers to what happened before, during and after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13. A joint hearing is underway unpacking the failures of the Secret Service that day in Butler, Pennsylvania. Durbin wants to know what changes are being made leading up to the Democratic National Convention next month in Chicago.
Power outages in Springfield
More than 3,000 people in Springfield lost power Tuesday morning as severe storms moved through the area. The line of storms then impacted the Effingham areas. Much of Illinois could see thunderstorms for the next several days. Extreme temperatures are also expected this week with heat index numbers exceeding 100 degrees.
Gold Coast crash and grab
Little information is available about a smash-and-grab crime in Chicago’s Gold Coast early Tuesday morning. WGN reports a red Jeep SUV with an unknown number of people crashed into the Balenciaga store on Oak Street at 5:30 a.m. The amount stolen has yet to be determined. Not other details were immediately available.
U of I dorms fill up
After large numbers of students opted to live in dorms and university housing this year, Illinois universities say they’ve been forced to make changes with less than one month before classes begin. The University of Illinois has offered students $2,000 and 100 free meals to leave the dorms. University leaders have cited multiple reasons for the influx of people seeking student housing, but school officials said the main reason could be an expensive rental market.
Bears’ stadium plans fading
The Chicago Bears’ hopes for a new stadium with the help of public funding appear to be fading. Speaking at an unrelated event in Chicago on Monday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said it’s highly unlikely any deal between lawmakers and the Bears on a taxpayer-funded stadium could be reached this year. In April, the team revealed their plans for a domed stadium that would be built near Lake Michigan just south of Soldier Field.
