Illinois quick hits: Man convicted of murder for shooting police officer; Illinois State University plans for 2% cuts

Man convicted of murder for shooting police officer

A man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the 2021 fatal shooting of a police officer and the wounding of another as the two investigated a complaint over barking dogs at an Illinois hotel. Bradley Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and her partner were responding to dogs barking in an unattended vehicle in a hotel parking lot. They were shot after locating the room where the vehicle’s possible owner was staying. Darius Sullivan, who was arrested in Indiana two days following the shooting, will be sentenced at a later date.

Illinois State University plans for 2% cuts

Administrators at Illinois State University are ordering all divisions at the school to immediately cut spending by 2% to avoid a deficit in the general fund by the end of this fiscal year. According to an email sent by the Vice President of Academic Affairs, each division, including the President’s Office and Athletics, must cut 2% of the money that comes from general funds, while Auxiliary Facilities Services faces an unspecified lump sum reduction.

Hurricane Helene remnants will affect Illinois

The remnants of Hurricane Helene will affect much of Illinois for the next few days. Heavy rain is falling in southern Illinois after the system was downgraded to a tropical storm. Central Illinois is expected to receive precipitation from Helene as well, and parts of northeast Illinois may also see pop-up thunderstorms this weekend. Helene came ashore in Florida as a category 4 hurricane.