(CHAMPAIGN) The Illinois State Police is mourning the loss of a young State Trooper up in Champaign County this past weekend. The State Police reports that at 3:42 this past Friday, 28 year old State Trooper Corey S. Thompsen was on duty, finishing a traffic enforcement detail on a county road, when a pickup truck pulled into the path of the Trooper’s service motorcycle, causing the collision. Despite a witness providing immediate aid at the crash scene until first responders arrived, the nearly five year Trooper passed away within the hour. The truck driver, 32 year old Helen Torres, was not injured and was ticketed for no valid driver’s license and for failure to yield the right of way at a stop intersection. State Trooper Thompsen is survived by his wife, Chelsea, plus his mother, fathers, and brothers.
(SPRINGFIELD) A nationwide ready-to-eat meat and poultry listeria recall impacting grocery stores has now expanded to include food served in schools, including two in upstate Illinois, in Plano and Matteson. The items range from deli sandwiches from Trader Joe’s to deli salads from Walmart, Aldi, and more. The Food Safety and Inspection Service reported the food was shipped to more than 100 schools across 17 different states.
(SPRINGFIELD) Discount furniture retailer Big Lots will close more Illinois stores than initially expected following a bankruptcy protection filing earlier this year. The Ohio-based chain, which sells furniture, home décor, & other items, says high inflation, interest rates, and lower consumer demand on certain products hurt the business. The four sites added to the list were in Champaign, Country Club Hills, Franklin Park and Round Lake Beach.
(SPRINGFIELD) Falling temperatures bring colorful foliage, but unfortunately, cooler weather also drives stink bugs to look for warmer confines. The shield-shaped invasive pests, officially named brown marmorated stink bugs, are native to China and first made their debut in the U.S. in the late 90s. They feed on everything from residential landscaping to agriculture, like soybeans and fruits. The U of I Extension says to use a vacuum to suck up adults and drop them in soapy water, plus caulk cracks and crevices around the house.