Articles by John O'Connor

Car Smashes Through Illinois Building, Killing 4 Young People and Injuring Others

A car smashed through a building Monday afternoon, killing four young people and injuring several others during an after-school program in a small city outside of Springfield, Illinois, police said. Officers responded at about 3:20 p.m. to calls about a …

Deere & Co. Accused of Forcing Farmers to Use Authorized Dealers for Equipment Repair

Deere & Co. unfairly forces farmers to visit authorized dealers to repair their equipment, resulting in higher prices than if they could fix it themselves or get help from independent shops, the Federal Trade Commission claims in a federal lawsuit …

Grubhub to Pay $25M in Deceptive Business Settlement With Illinois AG and FTC

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Grubhub Inc., an online food ordering and delivery platform, will pay $25 million to settle a dispute over alleged deceptive business practices with the Illinois attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission, officials said Tuesday. Attorney …

Teen Concedes Cutting Off Tanker in Crash That Killed 5 in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A federal report on a tanker-truck crash a year ago in central Illinois that spilled a toxic chemical and killed five people includes an interview with a 17-year-old Ohio girl who concedes that the truck was …

5 Died of Exposure to Chemical in Central Illinois Crash, Preliminary Autopsies Find

Five people died from exposure to a chemical that spilled after a semitruck overturned in central Illinois, according to autopsies. Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes said official results from the autopsies won`t be available for several weeks. The victims of …

Investigation Continues Into Deadly Illinois Crash of Truck Crash Carrying Toxic Chemical

Authorities resumed their investigation of a central Illinois truck crash that killed five people, injured five others and prompted an evacuation for hundreds of residents after a toxic chemical leak. The tanker truck, which was carrying caustic anhydrous ammonia, was …

Truck Crash in Illinois Kills Five and Forces an Evacuation

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Five people were killed and five were seriously injured after a truck overturned in central Illinois, causing a toxic substance to leak from its cargo and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of area residents, authorities said …

Illinois to Soon Outlaw Advertising for Firearms Allegedly Marketed to Kids and Militants

PRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois will soon outlaw advertising for firearms that officials determine produces a public safety threat or appeals to children, militants or others who might later use the weapons illegally, as the state continues its quest to …

Springfield, Illinois Residents Go Days Without Power After ‘Widespread, Devastating’ Derecho Winds

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The fierce derecho that tore through Springfield late last week snapped massive utility poles and trees, causing widespread power outages that are expected to leave many homes in the dark for several more days, officials said …

Illinois Governor Signs Law Giving Benefits to Chicago First Responders Disabled by COVID

Gov. J.B. Pritzker this week signed a law providing full disability benefits to Chicago police officers and firefighters struck by COVID-19 before vaccines were available, presiding over an emotional statehouse ceremony which marked the end of a financial struggle for …