Illinois quick hits: Pizza Huts closing; Liquor store employee shot, killed

Pizza Huts closingPizza Hut, with numerous locations in Illinois, may be in financial trouble. A Pizza Hut franchisee just closed 15 locations without warning and more may be on the way.EYM Group owns and operates 144 Pizza Hut locations in Illinois and several other states, but owes millions in franchise fees to Yum Brands. All the Indiana locations were boarded up last week.Liquor store employee shot, killedA liquor store employee was shot and killed after confronting two men who stole a bottle of liquor in Cicero.Police responded to the shooting Tuesday. An investigation revealed two men were stealing a bottle of liquor when the 23-year-old worker confronted them. One of the robbers shot the employee, who died from his injuries.Police were able to identify the vehicle used in the robbery and took two people into custody. ‘Big Boy’ train to pass through RochelleOne of the world’s largest trains will pass through a number of states, including Illinois, this summer and fall, making stops along the way to allow viewers an up-close look at the massive, 1.1-million-pound engine.Union Pacific’s legendary “Big Boy” steam locomotive was delivered to Union Pacific in 1941 and retired just 20 years later after traveling over a million miles. The locomotive will pass through Rochelle on Sunday, Sept. 8.