Postal police proposed
Postal police could soon join mail carriers if U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois has his way.
Durbin, along with Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, are introducing the Postal Reform Act in an effort to protect mail carriers from attacks. Durbin says there has been a 231% increase in assaults against postal workers over the last three years.
Some Chicago neighborhoods reportedly have experienced weeks without delivery due to safety concerns.
Parents accused of using kids to shoplift
A couple is accused of shoplifting nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise with the help of children.
Police said the couple brought three of their children and a fourth minor to Macy’s at Oakbrook Center this week. The children ranged in age from an infant to 13.
The two oldest children allegedly grabbed items and gave them to the couple, who put them in shopping bags from another store. When approached by a loss-prevention officer, the group ran to their vehicle and drove off. They were soon apprehended by Oak Brook police.
Trail projects granted millions
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced more than $3.7 million has been awarded for recreational trail development projects in 19 Illinois communities.
The program provides up to 80% reimbursement to local grant recipients for the cost of trail projects, with local sponsors providing the balance of the funding. Grants may be awarded for land acquisition, trail construction and rehabilitation, and construction of trail-related support facilities such as parking and restrooms.
The Decatur Park District, the city of Carbondale, and the Manhattan Park District were some of the announced trail projects.
