Illinois quick hits: Highland Park shooting suspect rejects plea deal; VW invests in Rivian
Highland Park shooting suspect rejects plea deal
The man accused of killing seven people and injuring dozens more at a 2022 Independence Day parade in Highland Park unexpectedly rejected a deal from prosecutors to plead guilty to murder charges.
Appearing in a Lake County courtroom Wednesday, Robert Crimo III refused to accept the agreement that prosecutors said would result in a life sentence. Crimo’s trial is scheduled for Feb. 25.
Power outages continue for some
Hours after a line of thunderstorms rumbled through Illinois with high winds and heavy rain, thousands of Illinoisans remained without power.
Winds as high as 65 miles per hour were reported Tuesday as the storms moved southeast through the state. The wind gusts blew over trees and powerlines.
Champaign County was particularly hard hit with numerous trees down. A downed power line landed on a roof of an apartment building and caused a fire.
VW invests in Rivian
Volkswagen announced plans to invest up to $5 billion in electric vehicle maker Rivian, beginning with an initial investment of $1 billion. The joint venture aims to create electrical architecture and software technology.
Rivian officials said the capital is expected to carry the company through the production ramp-up of its smaller R2 SUVs at its plant in Normal.
Shares of Rivian soared more than 50% during after hours trading Tuesday. The stock has been under pressure due to the company’s cash burn and significant losses.
