Illinois Quick Hits: Surveys continue after tornadoes, severe weather

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Survey teams have been assessing storm damage after severe weather impacted parts of Illinois and surrounding states on Wednesday and Thursday.

The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado in central Livingston County.

Teams continued to work in Streator, where a tornado was reported on Thursday, as well as storm-damaged Bartlett and other communities around the state. EF-3 tornado damage was found in the Porter County, Indiana town of Kouts.

The NWS Storm Prediction Center said a damaging wind swath on Wednesday had a track length over 400 miles with the strongest known gust measured over 94 miles per hour.

$24.7 MILLION ANNOUNCED FOR PHARMACY PROGRAM

Illinois taxpayers are providing $24.7 million to fund 434 pharmacies across the state. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association announced funding for the state’s pharmacy support program on Friday.

According to the governor’s office, every eligible pharmacy that applied received the same amount of $56,892.

PRITZKER SIGNS HEMP LEGISLATION

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation that imposes new regulations on hemp products. Senate Bill 3222 immediately bans the sale of intoxicating hemp products to people under the age of 21.

The legislation aligns the state with updated federal definitions of hemp that are set to take effect Nov. 12. It also expands access to medical cannabis.

TEENS CHARGED AFTER CONFRONTATION IN CHICAGO SUBURB

Two suburban teens have been charged with attempted robbery after they were shot while allegedly trying to rob federal agents during an undercover operation in Country Club Hills last Tuesday.

Prosecutors say Amir Fagan, 19, of Harvey and Demond Edwards, 18, of Markham pointed firearms at officers and an informant before they were shot and taken into custody.

Chashonn Toney, 18, of Robbins was charged after allegedly ramming the getaway car into an ATF vehicle.

As part of the investigation, Tevin Curlee, 29, of Country Club Hills, was charged with unlawfully possessing and transferring a machine gun.