It happened at Alpine Road and E. State Street around 2 p.m. Parts of the road were still open, but traffic was blocked in two lanes.

One car was left on its side.

The crash blocked those traveling east on State Street and going North on Alpine Road. There was no word on if there were any injuries or what caused the pileup at the time of this writing.

THIS STORY IS DEVELOPING...

It will close the stretch between Mill Road and Armer Drive starting on Monday. There will be two alternative routes.

The first will be Harrison Avenue, Mulford Road and Linden Road, while the second will be Harrison and Mill Road.

The whole project, which will expand the bridge and the portion of I-39 underneath, should be finished by December 1.

Many joined the church for the feast of meatless pasta, since it takes place during lent, omelets, vegetables and Italian pastries.

The tradition came to America through Italian immigrants. The altars would originally be created by families in homes, but it became a community event as people adopted a busier, more modern lifestyle.

Churches now carry on the tradition, placing breads, cakes and cookies in symbolic shapes on the altar, which is then blessed by a priest.

The altar symbolizes the beginning of spring and renewal.

"It's very, very heartwarming, because many of us grew up with this, and you just are so happy that people are still interested to come out," said chairperson Joan Gullow. "We haven't had it for two years because of COVID. We had a carry-out only last year, so it's wonderful to get back to having a full-fledged altar."

Gullow added that she is happy that members of younger generations came out, and that it is important to teach them about this tradition so it does not become a lost event.

Rockton and Roscoe's police and fire departments will take part in a "Battle of the Badges" blood drive, all to benefit the Rock River Valley Blood Center.

The departments invite others in the community to go out and donate blood. Residents can go to the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Station or the Rockton Fire Station from 12-6 p.m. to donate.

The village or city that receives the most donations will get bragging rights, but everyone will help to save lives.

They are once again state champions.

Auburn defeated Barrington 430-390 in the 2A championship match Saturday afternoon in Normal.

The Knights also defeated Dunlap, Illinois Math and Science Academy of Aurora and Hinsdale Central.

Auburn has an impressive streak of finishing in the final four at state for the past 20 years. They came in first in 2008 and 2015.

The Facebook group called "Rockford Made It" partnered with the Midway Village Museum for an event that shares the history of the city's breweries and bottlers.

Artifacts from the collections department at the museum were on display. The purpose of the "Rockford Made It" group is to show people the city's past and to give them a sense of pride.

A group admin said that he wants people to understand that things made in Rockford have changed the world.

"It's kind of rewarding, because you see that people care about the history of our town," said Gary Patton. "And that's kind of our goal, is to create pride in our city and to understand our past better. To know who we were and what a great city we've been."

Patton said that he looks forward to see what Rockford's younger generations create that will make a difference.

According to the Rockford Police Department, officers were called to the area of 11th Street and 6th Avenue around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14th, 2022.

Turner, 20, was found at the scene. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

He had a criminal past and had been listed as a wanted fugitive for Aggravated Domestic Battery in August 2021.

Investigators identified Denham as the suspect and issued a warrant for his arrest.

He was arrested in Lehigh Acres, Florida, on March 16th, 2023.

Denham is currently being held in the Lee County Jail in Fort Myers, Florida, on charges of First Degree Murder, awaiting extradition back to Winnebago County.

In 2019, Whippler was convicted of criminal sexual abuse of a Roscoe victim under the age of 13 and served 180 days in prison — which included 70 days he had already spent behind bars prior to his sentencing.

At the time, Whippler's attorney, Elder Granger II, defended his client, saying, “You have circumstances where someone is low risk, they have no prior record, they’re not likely to (become a repeat offender) in the future. So, then probation is a good sentence.”

However, according to the arrest documents, agents with the Illinois State Police and the Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force raided an apartment, in the 4900 block of Linden Road, around 6:10 a.m. on Thursday morning.

Police said Whippler's cellphone contained multiple images of children under the age of 13 engaged in explicit sexual acts.

In an interview with investigators, Whippler admitted to possessing child pornography in the past but "adamantly denied finding sexual gratification from them," according to the police report.

He was taken into custody and booked into the Winnebago County Jail on two counts of Child Pornography.

Reddick's body was found Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. in his home in Studio City, California. TMZ quotes law enforcement as saying Reddick appeared to have died of natural causes.

Reddick played the manager of The Continental hotel in the "John Wick" series opposite Keanu Reeves.

He had also starred as Baltimore Police officer Cedrick Daniels on HBO's "The Wire."

Reddick had also starred in "Godzilla vs Kong," "Bosch," "Oz," "Lost," the horror movie "The Guest," and Netflix's short-lived "Resident Evil" series.

He will also be seen as the Greek god Zeus in the upcoming Disney+ show "Percy Jackson and the Olympians."

He is survived by his wife Stephanie Reddick and children Yvonne Nicole Reddick and Christopher Reddick.

According to authorities, he stole $5,930 from the Midland States Bank, at 1700 N. Alpine Road, on April 7th 2021, and $4,408 from Midland States Bank, at 600 S. State Street, on May 3rd, 2021.

Evidence used at trial showed that Phillips entered each bank, handed the teller a deposit slip, and then announced a robbery and demanded money. In Belvidere, Phillips threatened the teller, saying “Don’t make me come over the counter,” after the teller did not give him as much money as he demanded.

Phillips’ residence was searched three days after the Rockford robbery and law enforcement found $5,090 hidden in a sock, which were identified as belonging to the bank.

Authorities said Phillips committed the robberies while he was on supervised release from a prior conviction for robbing two Rockford banks in 2017.

He was convicted in a jury trial in November 2022.

"The film and television industry is taking of all across Illinois, it's becoming a world wide industry leader in entertainment," said Jason Beghe, star of of the television series Chicago P.D.

"We are super excited about the expenditure increase it's really going to help grow things in the state even more," said Jerry LaBuy, Academic Chair of Mass Communications at Rock Valley College.

"We've gone from 470 million dollars to almost 700 million dollars of production spend in Illinois year over year and that's huge, that's huge growth," said Peter Hawley the Director of the Illinois Film Office.

One of the biggest reasons for the big strides is the focus on securing the film industry pipeline.

"Film infrastructure in Illinois is sound stages and crew based especially entry level crew base and so when I was hired for the job I started this program about getting entry level crew into the industry," Hawley said.

The Illinois Film Office has teamed with colleges across the state including Rock Valley College which has already opened numerous opportunities.

"This program that the state provides for us through the grant funding allows us to expand upon that. We can train students who maybe can't afford the college credit or they don't have the time in the day to do a full college course load. So they can come once or twice a week and take our film and tv set class and just get some basics about how to run and work on a set," LaBuy said.

Hawley said that Illinois is now in the top ten states in the film industry.

"The Governor and I both want by the end of 20-24 for us to be Illinois to be a billion dollar a year industry in film production," Hawley said.

A bill in the state capitol would remove the exemption of drivers of rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft to be classified as "common carriers". Under a 2014 law, drivers working for companies like Uber and Lyft were exempt from the law.

Companies that provide service with common carriers, such as bus drivers, train conductors, airline pilots and taxi drivers, have "vicarious liability": if a bus rider for an unsafe ride sues the driver, the bus company can also be found liable for employing an unsafe driver under Illinois law.

The bill follows a recent high-profile Illinois court case. In Doe v. Lyft, a woman in Chicago was allegedly sexually assaulted by her Lyft driver. The woman sued the driver, Lyft, and the company used by Lyft for background checks, but Lyft argued since their drivers were defined by Illinois law not to be common carriers, they were not liable for any damages.

An appellate court ruled in favor of Lyft. The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments for Doe v. Lyft in November 2021, but ended up dismissing the case in January 2022.

Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview), the House sponsor of the bill, believes it's necessary to roll back rideshare companies' common carrier exemptions to hold them accountable like most other transportation companies.

"Once that passenger, regardless of how you hail that cab, right, whether you put up your hand, or you tap an app... once you step in that car, that is when a higher duty of care attaches," Gong-Gershowitz said. "Because the duty of care is based on the lack of control that the passenger has for their own safety."

"We oppose this bill," said Lyft and Uber

Lyft officials are strongly opposed to the bill. They argue with the current laws in place, only 0.0002% of their rides have a registered safety incident. Representatives of the company also say the new rule would increase the cost for riders.

"The proposed changes would increase frivolous litigation, even when the state-mandated $1 million liability policy would cover injuries, making a direct suit against a [ride-share company] unnecessary to compensate injured parties, and costly for both parties," Brent Kent, the senior public policy manager for Lyft wrote in a letter to Gong-Gershowitz.

Uber is also against the bill. They argue if the bill becomes law, it may cause them to end services in some parts of the state and impact service for users in the state.

“This proposal would make Illinois the only state that treats rideshare this way, severely impacting drivers' ability to earn money,” the company said in a statement to WCIA.

Bill passes House of Representatives

The bill passed on the House floor Thursday afternoon, mostly along party lines.

Republicans like Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock) believes it's important to distinguish that Lyft just facilitates matching riders with private drivers who work as independent contractors instead of employees of a taxi service.

"What we're looking at here is a distinction between the relationship of the person with the entity that is actually providing the service," Reick said before voting against the bill.

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) said taxis now are rare in her district and have been replaced by Uber and Lyfts. Since they have taken over the responsibility of shuttling people around, she said they should carry the same burden.

"It's a duty to protect passengers with the highest target of care," Williams said. "It's obviously the same thing in a cab as it is in an Uber or Lyft."

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's report said more than half of cannabis sales in counties bordering Wisconsin were made by out-of-state residents.

Wisconsin residents are estimated to have spent $121 million on weed in Illinois in 2022.

Recreational marijuana is not legal in Wisconsin, but it is in each of its surrounding states. In total, thirty-seven U.S. states currently have some form of marijuana legalization.

"It should upset every Wisconsinite that our hard earned tax dollars are going across the border to Illinois. This is revenue that could be going toward Wisconsin’s public schools, transportation infrastructure, and public safety," Senate Minority Leader Melissa Asgard (D-Madison) said in a statement, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Instead, Illinois is reaping the benefits of Republican obstructionism and their prohibitionist stance on marijuana legalization."

Gov. Tony Evers is proposing legalizing marijuana sales, but according to WISN, state Republicans say it won't happen.

"If we're going to do medical marijuana, it has nothing to do with generating taxes for the state and it has nothing to do with creating a new industry," said Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. "We do not need to become like Illinois or Michigan where anywhere you go, there's the stench of marijuana."

Illinois made $462 million in tax revenue from marijuana sales in 2022.

In Rockford, Don Crawford took his family to an annual dinner at Murphy's Pub and Grill, at 510 S Perryville Road, for the fifth year in a row.

"Basically, we're here for an annual event for our family that has been a tradition for probably fifty-some years now, and it started with my grandmother who was 100 percent Irish," he said.

Crawford said the money is well spent.

"I get an opportunity to see some cousins and relatives that I don't really get to see a whole lot through the whole entire year, so this is kinda important," he said.

Cassidy Campbell, who was also dining at Murphy's, said she loves Irish culture, including the decorations, corned beef and cabbage, and the entertainment.

"It's not every day you get to see bag pipes and tap dancers and all the Irish jigs, so I think that's going to be really cool," she said.

Murphy's staff said that even with inflation, the celebration would be worth the investment.

Manager Maja Wares said, "Last year, St. Patrick's Day landed on a Thursday, so knowing it was on a Friday this year, we already got extra prepared and ordered more. On top of that, with the prices of everything going up, we definitely spent more this year, all in good fun."

Crawford said he was just happy to be able to keep the tradition alive.

"This is kind of awesome. It is really great to see this and [see] so many people celebrating the same thing that we are," he said.

According to the National Retail Federation, each person spends between $43 and $84 on St. Patrick's Day.

Wabongo Leadership Council and the VanVleet Family Foundation hosted a press conference on Friday to announce the inititative, at the Guysie Jenkins Resource Center on Clifton Avenue.

The money will go toward Wabongo's annual college tour, which will take students on a tour of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) such as Alabama A&M University, Stillman College, Talladega College, and Tuskegee University.

The goal of the program is to interest students in higher education and provide "cultural and historical enrichment opportunities."

Joshua Patterson, president of the Wabongo Leadership Council, said, "We are very intentional about grouping them into small groups, so that way, when we're on the tour we do large group activities, but we also break them into small groups and that's when they are with their small group coaches that are focused on their career goals."

This will be Wabongo's 6th college tour, which will begin next week.

It will only cost each student $575.

Police said deputies were conducting a welfare check Thursday afternoon at a home on S. Greenview Avenue.

A suspect was found in the back yard of the home; he pointed a BB gun at the deputy and fired.

The deputy was treated at the hospital and later released.

The unidentified suspect is in jail, authorities said.

The Rockford Fire Department responded to the structure fire in the 1500 block around noon and brought the fire under control.

Officials said heavy smoke and fire were found coming from the rear of the building, but all the occupants were able to evacuate safely.

Firefighters did rescue several pets from neighboring units.

"Our units went door to door in the units to make sure everybody was clear and out of it," said District Chief Trent Brass. "And through our process of going through the apartments, we discovered six cats and one snake that were removed from the building and given back to their owners."

Officials said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The building was condemned.

According to the City, "Barrios was a construction union laborer and foreman, as well as a superintendent and estimator for Mohawk Contracting Co. For 16 years, he was an instructor for the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Apprentice and Training Program. Barrios also served on the Winnebago County Board from 2009-2012. In addition, he assisted in organizing last year’s 11th Ward parade and often hosts public meetings in the ward."

“Due to the loss of my good friend Tuffy, I would be honored to serve as his replacement,” Barrios said. “I look forward to serving the citizens of the 11th Ward. I believe the future is in our hands and that all residents must continue to strive for the best.”

“Tuffy was a proud veteran, successful businessman and dedicated community servant. He was also a strong advocate for small businesses and the revitalization of the Broadway business district,” said Mayor Tom McNamara. “Isidro cares deeply about Rockford and I know he will continue to support small businesses and be a voice for 11th Ward residents.”

Barrios' appointment will be considered by the City Council on Monday, March 20th. Alderman will have 30 days to vote.

CarFax released a report after its data scientists crunched the numbers, looking beyond thefts that were reported as part of insurance claims.

The team found that many thefts aren't reported because some car owners either don't have insurance at all, or only have comprehensive coverage, which would cover the damage.

Catalytic converters are devices that are part of a vehicle's exhaust system and remove some pollutants.

They contain precious metals, including platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which are in high demand. A catalytic converter can contain fewer than 6 grams of all three combined.

CarFax said thieves can make between $25 and $300 for a catalytic converter.

The report found that thieves target the Ford F-Series lineup tops the list, followed by the Honda Accord, the Toyota Prius, Honda CR-V, Ford Explorer, Ford Ecoline, Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tacoma, and Chevrolet Cruze.

But, CarFax noted that certain types of cars were targeted more frequently in different geographic regions.

In the Midwest, the most targeted vehicles were: the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, Toyota Prius, Ford Ecoline, Ford Explorer, Buick Encore, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Trax, and Honda Accord.

CarFax also pointed out that these models represent some of the best-selling cars in the U.S.

You can see the full CarFax rankings here.

Cars that have had their catalytic converter removed will have a loud exhaust sound, a darker exhaust, sluggish acceleration, and a check engine light will display.

CarFax also recommended having a muffler shop etch your Vehicle Identification Number on the converter and spray it with highly-visible high heat paint as a deterrent, which can allow law enforcement to track the converter.

According to Janesville Police, a school resource officer was notified of the threat made by a 14-year-old student at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

The police officer and school administration isolated the student and searched the teen's backpack and locker, but found no weapons.

A search warrant was obtained for the student's home, police said, where investigators found four firearms.

Police said a number of witnesses had alerted school administrators that they had heard the student make the threats.

The teen is behind held at the Rock County Youth Services Center, police said.

The investigation is ongoing.

According to police, officers were called to a home in the 1800 block of Green Street around 1:50 a.m., where residents reported a man was trying to break into the residence.

The man and woman residents of the home said the suspect attempted to force the door open, but they were able to block it. The suspect then broke a window and then struck the resident with a piece of lumber, police reported.

The male resident then retrieved a kitchen knife and stabbed the suspect in the neck, authorities said.

The suspect fled the scene and collapsed in the street.

Police officers arrived and began life-saving measures, but the suspect died.

The coroner later identified the suspect at Troyle Aube, 44.

Police did not say whether charges would be filed in the case.

"I think we're seeing a few years in a row now of the stability of that revenue, that we should be talking about whether there are tax cuts that we can implement," Pritzker said Wednesday.

This week, the state received its eighth credit upgrade of the past two years. This time, Moody's credit rating agency bumped Illinois to the stable rating of A3. It's the first time the state has been at that threshold since the budget impasse.

New revenue estimates also show a much larger influx of tax dollars than the Governor initially expected. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability upped their projections by an additional $575 million.

Revenue estimates were already high going into the next fiscal year, and state forecasters are warning of a potential drop off in revenue sources in coming years.

But Pritzker's comments were a shift from previous messaging from budget officials. Permanent tax cuts were viewed as a pipe dream as the state crawled out of the hole dug during the budget impasse.

Pritzker did not say whether the tax cuts would be permanent, or if it would be in the same vein as the temporary tax relief offered during the 2022 election season. He did say it's time for those bipartisan discussions to start.

"I've had conversations across the aisle, Democrats and Republicans about what we should do going forward in budgets, if we see stability in these higher revenues," he said.

According to a press release, the facility "will house over 20 dedicated customer suites with multiformat machines for the assembly and packaging of vials, pre-filled syringes, auto-injectors, and pen-cartridge combinations. This machinery can be used for the glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists (GLP-1) class of drugs prescribed to treat diabetes and obesity, as well as those needed for oncology treatment and autoimmune diseases."

“We see the tremendous impact that we can make with patients with this investment,” said Salim Haffar, CEO of PCI Pharma Services. “The need for injectable drug-delivery device combination product capacity and expertise is critical, and we are responding with a world-class facility to address the future demands of our global clients so they can focus on developing therapies to improve the lives of patients with serious chronic conditions.”

The Rockford facility is expected to create 250 jobs over the next two years. It is expected to be open in summer 2024.

PCI Pharma currently occupies space at 4545 Assembly Drive.

Rockford is the largest of PCI’s 30 locations across the U.S., European, and Asia Pacific regions.

A warrant was issued in December 2019 for Wimbush’s arrest, on two counts Drug-Induced Homicide and two counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

Anderson-Hamilton, Jr, 25, was found dead in the 1400 block of 12th Avenue on May 5th, 2017.

On Wednesday, Wimbush was found not guilty of Drug Induced Homicide, and the other charges were thrown out.

The "Annual Nude Car Show" is set to take place August 12th, 2023 at the Valley View Recreation Club in Cambridge, Wisconsin, about 20 miles east of Madison, at N3080 East Rockdale Road.

The 4-day nude event was advertised on Facebook by The Naturist Society, a Wisconsin organization "that celebrates the nude human form as inherently wholesome and natural."

The Valley View Recreation Club is a "small, rustic nudist club (not clothing-optional)" that offers "17 acres of tree-lined sunning lawns, shady woods, and sun-drenched open areas surrounding our heated pool, volleyball court and clubhouse."

The car show, running from 9 a.m. Thursday, August 10th through 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 13th, will include options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, raffles and 50/50 drawing, karaoke, with car awards, and a Parade of Cars.

Other events this summer at Valley View include Wisconsin's Naked Mile and Body Painting Festival, T&A trivia, women's naked volleyball tournament, co-ed naked volleyball tournament, and more.

The IDPH is using $29.6 million in funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provided by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

The state said it will target school districts that serve lower-income communities, and counties with elevated air pollution counts.

"There is nothing more important to me than keeping Illinoisans safe and healthy—especially when it comes to our youth," said Governor JB Pritzker. "We know that our children need to stay healthy and study in classrooms that are well-ventilated in order to thrive and succeed. Thanks to this $30 million investment, schoolchildren will experience cleaner air—preventing illness and absenteeism, while improving our children's ability to think and learn."

IDPH is launching an enrollment process in coordination with ISBE through which schools can submit orders for portable HEPA air purifiers. The administrators of eligible school districts will be contacted directly with information about how many purifiers that their districts are eligible to receive. The portable air purifiers will be delivered to school districts in the coming months. Schools will generally be eligible for one small air filter unit for each 20 students in a school, with a limited number of larger units for districts with more than 1,000 students.

Approximately 16% of all Illinois residents use food assistance programs like SNAP, the 6th highest in the nation, The Center Square reports.

Last year, the federal government paid $5.6 billion in SNAP benefits to Illinois.

Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Decatur) submitted House Resolution 75 to the House Adoption and Child Welfare Committee on Tuesday.

“We’re losing a lot of foster parents because of the fact that they can’t get SNAP benefits unless they qualify, not counting these children that they take on,” she said.

However, Rep. Steven Reick (R-Woodstock) argued that even millionaires would qualify to receive the benefits, if the federal government agreed to the plan.

“I think that giving it an open-ended qualification or eligibility, regardless of income, I think is a bridge too far,” Reick said. 

Each year, more than 50 homemade rafts float down the heart of Rockford from the Auburn Street bridge to Prairie Street Brewing Company.

The racecourse is 1.65 miles in length and will take place Sunday, August 20, 2023 (rain date is Sunday, August 27) from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

New to this year’s race is the “Release the Quackin’” where participants can launch a rubber duck toward a target in the middle of the Rock River for a chance to win prizes.

The race has helped to raise donations to support local efforts for the Fourth of July celebration, Rockford Ski Broncs, Rock River Trail Initiative and other area non-profits and charities. In the four previous years, the event was widely attended and collectively generated $20,000+ in proceeds to benefit these charities.

Participants can begin registering for the 2023 race on the website at www.rratfr.com. The registration deadline is August 14, 2023. The entry fee for rafts (with hulls or without hulls) is $100 per team (up to 10 crew members).

Race day schedule of events includes:

• 10:00 a.m.: Check-in starts (all categories)
• 12:00 p.m.: Race begins at the Auburn Street bridge
• 12:00 p.m.--3:00 p.m.: Release the Quackin’ on the dock at Prairie Street Brewing Company
• 4:00 p.m.: Awards ceremony at Prairie Street Brewhouse
• 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: After-party at Prairie Street Brewing Company featuring local band Dirty Fishnet Stockings

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the French bulldog surpassed the labrador retriever as the top purebred dog in the United States last year.

It's the first time in thirty years that the loveable lab hasn't been ranked as Number One.

The AKC says nearly one in every seven dogs added to its registry was a French bulldog.

Brandi Munden, of the AKC, said she isn't surprised by the breed's increased popularity, reasoning that dog owners are leaning toward getting smaller, more adaptable dogs that don't require a lot of exercise.

"I think the popularity has surged, to the point where people are paying a lot of attention to it," she said. "The lab is, traditionally — everybody's always going to love the lab, it is what it is — but, when it comes to registrations, the Frenchies really pulled ahead. I mean, it shows that people are finding value in the AKC registry. They're finding value in AKC. People really love the French bulldog."

On Wednesday, they got to see what the 96-year-old theater looked like at a special, free performance of The Peking Acrobats, as part of the theater's "Reach for the Stars" student outreach project.

The Peking Acrobats is a show designed to create the atmosphere of a Chinese Carnival. The show is on its 33rd North American tour.

Over 5,000 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade students will experience the performance during multiple matinee shows.

The students said they thought the fantasy-land atmosphere of the Coronado was better than they had imagined.

Beth Howard, executive director of Friends of the Coronado, said the theater wants all children to experience the cultural arts.

"Not all kids have the advantages, whether logistically, financially, whatever it is, to see cultural arts," she said.

Howard said she hopes Wednesday's experience will enrich their lives so they continue to be lovers of the arts.

"It's about community pride. It's about exposure to the cultural arts. It's about the experience in their education," she said.

The students said they were thrilled with the performance and can't wait to come back.

Tickets for Wednesday night's performance at 6:30 p.m. are free to the public.

According to a news release, the caller identifies himself as Deputy Sam Billings with the Rock County Sheriff's Office Fraud Department and asks the victim to check their accounts to make sure there is no fraudulent activity.

Police said they have also received reports of a caller claiming to be Deputy Hall with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, telling the victim they have failed to appear for jury duty in Columbia County after warrants were issued in Rock County.

Both of the calls are scams, police said Wednesday.

Anyone receiving calls of this nature should report it to the Rock County Communication Center by dialing (608) 757-2244, police said.

Illinois State Troopers were called to a shooting at 87th Street around 5 a.m. on Wednesday that shut traffic until 7:50 a.m. ABC 7 reported that a shooting victim walked into a police station and said they'd been involved in a shooting incident at that location.

On Tuesday, Illinois State Police said that in 2022, road rage was reported in approximately 40% of Chicago area expressway shootings handled by ISP.  This is up from 12% in 2021.  Already in 2023, road rage has been reported in at least nine Chicago area expressway shootings.

ISP released the following advice:

Watch for the following signs of road rage, aggressive driving:

• Following too closely or tailgating
• Improper or erratic lane changing
• Illegally driving on the shoulder of the road (emergency lane), in a ditch/median, or on sidewalk
• Passing where prohibited
• Operating the vehicle in an erratic, reckless, careless, or negligent manner or suddenly changing speeds
• Failure to yield right of way
• Failure to obey traffic laws, signs, and devices
• Failure to yield to emergency personnel and construction zone speed limits
• Failure to signal
• Driving too fast for conditions or in excess of posted speed limit
• Racing
• Making an improper turn

According to a AAA Foundation study, when drivers explained why they became violent, the reasons were often trivial such as the other driver wouldn’t let them pass or they kept tailgating.

The following are tips on how to avoid being the victim of road rage, an aggressive driver:

• If you are in the left lane and someone wants to pass, move to your right and allow them to pass.
• When merging, make sure you have plenty of room and use your turn signal.
• If someone cuts you off, slow down and give them room to merge into your lane.
• If a speeding driver is tailgating you, safely change lanes when able.
• Making gestures might anger the other driver; create distance and avoid confrontation.
• If another driver is acting angry, don’t make eye contact.
• Call the police if you believe a driver is following you or harassing you.

If you are the victim of road rage, call 911 and/or go to the nearest police department to report it. 

The Rockford Historical Society held their annual banquet and presentation at Midway Village Museum Sunday night.

Rockford was chosen by the federal government for an army infantry training camp as the U.S. entered World War I back in 1917. Tens of thousands of recruits trained there.

It had a large economic and social impact on the city, contributing to its growth. Six thousand African American soldiers arrived at Camp Grant, forever changing the demographics of the community.

Camp Grant was on the land where the Chicago Rockford International Airport is now.

One museum director said that this is a story that has not been told in a significant way.

"Camp Grant is really an important story in Rockford's history and it has not been told in an extensive way. That's what we intend to do here at Midway Village," said Patrick O’Keefe, executive director of Midway Village. "That's what our business is, telling the Rockford history to our community members, as well as collecting archives."

The museum is continuing to look for artifacts and stories related to Camp Grant. The exhibit will become part of Midway Village's permanent exhibit space.

It happened in the 600 block of Central Avenue just before 7 p.m. Sunday. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke coming from a bedroom window.

The damage was contained to the bedroom. The fire was controlled quickly.

Crews had a very fast response time since trucks were on the way back from another fire.

The woman was the sole occupant of the house. She was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The fire remains under investigation.

Matt Picarelli, 36, told WPTV that he was surfing at Pepper Park Beach on the state's east coast when he suddenly felt a shark bite down.

As he recalled the frightening moment, Picarelli said the attack happened so quickly that it didn't even feel real. He explained how the shark was next to him before it "took a chomp out of [his] foot" and quickly left.

"Everything happening so quickly, it didn't feel real at all. It felt very surreal," Picarelli told WPTV. Strangers helped Picarelli out of the water and a friend rushed him to an area hospital as he was "bleeding everywhere."

He needed 50 stitches and suffered a broken tendon and chipped bone. Since the attack, Picarelli said that he keeps replaying the bite in his head.

"Every night, I've been having nightmares about it," Picarelli told the outlet. "I'm having sharks, whether I'm in the water or even in a room, coming towards me and biting my leg, biting my arm, biting my side, biting something, and attacking me."

Despite the painful and terrifying experience, Picarelli said he's finding the strength to stay positive because he realizes the situation could've been much worse. He even said that he plans to return to the water eventually. Picarelli plans to let his foot heal for a few weeks before starting physical therapy.

While it isn't clear what kind of shark attacked Picarelli, a massive great white shark recently pinged off the coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. Maple, measuring 11 feet, 7 inches, was last along Florida's east coast in January, according to tracking data.

Florida reported the most shark attacks in the U.S. last year at 16, according to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File.

Sandler, 56, first came to national attention as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live.” After being fired from the cast following a five-year stint, Sandler launched a wildly successful movie career that has spanned more than 30 films, grossing over $3 billion worldwide.

“Adam Sandler has entertained audiences for over three decades with his films, music, and his tenure as a fan favorite cast member on ‘SNL,’” Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter said in a statement when Sandler’s prize was announced in December. “Adam has created characters that have made us laugh, cry, and cry from laughing.”

Sandler's top hits include “Happy Gilmore,” “The Wedding Singer” and “You Don't Mess with the Zohan.” Although primarily known for slapstick comedy and overgrown man-child characters, Sandler has also excelled in multiple dramatic roles such as the films "Punch Drunk Love" and “Uncut Gems.”

Mark Twain recipients are honored with a night of testimonials and video tributes, often featuring previous award winners. Other comedians receiving the lifetime achievement award include Richard Pryor (the inaugural recipient in 1998), Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett and Dave Chapelle. Bill Cosby, the 2009 recipient, had his Mark Twain Prize rescinded in 2019 amid multiple allegations of sexual assault.

The long-running comedy institution "SNL" has provided more than its share of the 24 Mark Twain recipients; Sandler is the seventh cast member to receive the prize, joining Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Will Farrell, Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louise-Dreyfus. Show creator and producer Lorne Michaels won in 2004.

Among those scheduled to honor Sandler on Sunday night, according to the Kennedy Center, are Jennifer Aniston, Judd Apatow, Drew Barrymore, Steve Buscemi, Dana Carvey, Luis Guzmán, Tim Herlihy, Tim Meadows, Idina Menzel, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade and Ben Stiller.

The ceremony will be broadcast nationally on CNN on March 26.

The voluntary recall was issued Friday by Perrigo Company for certain Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powdered Infant Formula produced at a plant in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

In a notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Perrigo said the recall is "out of an abundance of caution due to the potential presence of Cronobacter sakazakii."

Cronobacter sakazakii is the same bacteria that caused several infections among infants last year, leading to an FDA investigation of formula maker Abbott Laboratories. Abbott has denied any direct link to the cases, two of which involved children who died. Abbott issued a voluntary recall and shuttered a plant for months, contributing to a nationwide formula shortage.

Cronobacter sakazakii is a germ found in the natural environment and can live in dry foods like starches, herbal teas, powdered milk and baby formula, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infections are rare, but in infants, they may include sepsis, a dangerous blood infection, or meningitis, swelling around the spinal cord or in the linings surrounding the brain. The bacteria can also cause bowel damage and can spread throughout the body.

According to Perrigo, none of the distributed formulas have tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii, no "adverse events" have been reported, and no other products made by Perrigo or at the Eau Claire facility are affected.

The instant formula was sold at retailers across the U.S. Anyone who purchased the following units after March 5, 2023, should look at the "lot codes" and "use by" dates on the bottom of the package.

If you have any products with matching codes listed above, you should stop using the product and throw it out. Refunds for impacted products can be requested by contacting the Gerber Parent Resource Center on behalf of Perrigo at 1-800-777-7690.

Last month, Reckitt voluntarily recalled two batches of ProSobee infant formula due to possible Cronobacter sakazakii contamination.

Countries quickly signed off on a summary of global warming research compiled since the "2015 Paris Climate Accord," but disagreements over the main text lasted hours.

Emissions targets, financial aid and how to define vulnerable developing countries were all points of debate. The U.S. took issue with the concept of historic responsibility for climate change.

The UN is expected to publish the full report Monday afternoon.

The products are sold under several brand names, including "Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Kirkland Signature and Trader Joe's."

They were sold at Aldi, Costco and Trader Joe's.

The Food and Drug Administration said that five people have become sick with confirmed or probable cases. Two ended up in the hospital.

Gerber announced the recall of some of its "Good Start SoothePro" formula because it may be contaminated with bacteria. The formula was made between January 2-18 and sold at stores across the country.

The company said that no products have shown any signs of bacterial contamination so far, but the products are being recalled out of an abundance of caution.

Mayor Tom McNamara has named his choice. He selected Isidro Barrios as the interim 11th Ward alderman.

Barrios has a background as a construction union laborer and foreman. He also worked as an instructor at the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters.

City council will consider Barrios' appointment at Monday's meeting. Aldermen have 30 days to vote.

Barrios would replace Tuffy Quinonez, who died last month after having a stroke.

He had served on the council since 2017.

The city said in a news release the curfew would be from 11:59 p.m. Sunday until 6 a.m. Monday, with an additional curfew likely to be put in place Thursday through next Monday, March 27. The curfew mainly affects South Beach, the most popular party location for spring breakers.

The release said the two separate shootings Friday night and early Sunday that left two people dead and “excessively large and unruly crowds” led to the decision. The city commission plans a meeting Monday to discuss potential further restrictions next week.

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said in a video message posted Sunday that the crowds and presence of numerous firearms has “created a peril that cannot go unchecked” despite massive police presence and many city-sponsored activities meant to keep people busy.

“We don't ask for spring break in our city. We don't want spring break in our city. It's too rowdy, it's too much disorder and it's too difficult to police,” Gelber said.

The latest shooting happened about 3:30 a.m. Sunday on Ocean Drive in South Beach, according to Miami Beach police. A male was shot and died later at a hospital, and officers chased down a suspect on foot, police said on Twitter. Their identities were not released, nor were any possible charges.

In the Friday night shooting, one male victim was killed and another seriously injured, sending crowds scrambling in fear from restaurants and clubs into the streets as gunshots rang out. Police detained one person at the scene and found four firearms, but no other details have been made available.

Under the curfew, people must leave businesses before midnight, although hotels can operate later only in service to their guests. The city release said restaurants can stay open only for delivery and the curfew won't apply to residents, people going to and from work, emergency services and hotel guests. Some roads will be closed off and arriving hotel guests may have to show proof of their reservations.

Last year, the city imposed a midnight curfew following two shootings, also on Ocean Drive. The year before that, there were about 1,000 arrests and dozens of guns confiscated during a rowdy spring break that led Miami Beach officials to take steps aimed at calming the situation.

Alex Banta, 31, of Quincy, was convicted back in April 2022 for Conspiracy to Deprive Civil Rights, Deprivation of Civil Rights, Obstruction of an Investigation, Falsification of Documents and Misleading Conduct, according to NBC News.

Testimony revealed that Banta, along with co-defendants Willie Hedden and Todd Sheffler, handcuffed 65-year-old Larry Earvin and the Western Illinois Correctional Center and escorted him to the segregation unit vestibule. There are no security cameras in that location.

The guards proceeded to throw him so that his head banged into a wall before kicking, punching and stopping on him. The killing blow came when Banta jumped and landed on Earvin's abdomen with both knees, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Bass.

Earvin suffered 15 broken ribs and abdominal injuries in the May 17, 2018 beating. He later died on June 26.

Banta faces life in prison, but U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough sentenced him to 15 years for the civil rights charges and five years for the other counts, which will run consecutively.

“You were one of the younger officers caught up in the culture at Western of ‘see no evil’ and ‘snitches get stitches,’ which you learned from your superiors, but it in no way excuses your conduct,” Myerscough said. “The governor has replaced the warden and implemented other reforms, so hopefully this culture has changed already.”

Banta said before his sentencing that he regretted his action and the pain that he caused Earvin's family.

“What type of person does it take to assault a 65-year-old man who’s handcuffed behind his back?” remarked Earvin’s brother Willie Earvin Jr., 74, who testified for the prosecution. “I’m a Vietnam veteran and we weren’t allowed to do that to prisoners.”

Banta said that he was instructed from the very begin to look away from indiscretions.

“On my first day, during orientation, Internal Affairs (officers) asked the supervisory staff to leave and then started to tell us, ‘Forget what you learned at the academy. We do things differently here,’” Banta said. “’Things will happen that you might need to ignore. If things happen with an inmate, aim for the body and not the face.’”

Runners laced up their sneakers for the annual "Shamrock Beer Run" on Saturday, and it is safe to say that folks did not let the cold keep them from running for a great cause.

There was over 600 runners, 200 more runners than last year. They were making dreams come true for sick young adults across the country.

"It's just such a treat to see all these people out here supporting these young adults fighting cancer and their families," said Joe Thompson, Nik's Wish recipient and Alabama Angel.

Thompson said that he came all the way from Huntsville, Alabama to help celebrate St. Patrick's Day weekend at the 7th Annual "Shamrock 5K Beer Run." Nik's Wish is for young adults aged 18-24 who are fighting cancer across the nation.

"Making it possible to do what we do, right," Thompson said. "I mean, that's how you make the magic happen."

Thompson was diagnosed with DIPG last year, a form of brain cancer. His wish is to go to the Kentucky Derby in May. He said that he was happy to meet some of the people that made his wish possible.

"Just to have that sense of relief for a moment, to feel like we are getting away from cancer," Thompson said.

Kelli Ritschell Boehle, founder of The Nikolas Ritschell Foundation, said that they have made over 300 precious moments of joy nationwide.

"That is what we want for our cancer patients when we take them on a wish," Boehle said. "We want them to be silly, we want them to be happy, we want them to have a good time. So, you know, what this is fantastic, just what it means to get a Nik's Wish is right here, right now to create some fun memories with people you love."

Runners not only ran for a good cause, but got a medal and a St. Patrick's Day party. There was a silent auction, music, games, 50-foot shillelagh stick and, of course, beer to warm up.

Thompson said he hopes that he can help others get their wish too.

"I think it is really important so we can get the funding we need to grant the wishing, and the wishes, what we do with that, it is able to help these young kids, not only the young adults like me, but the families," he said.

Nik's Wish Foundation is always accepting donations or volunteers.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the incident happened after an anchor mishap involving 38-year-old Velcky Velasquez and 32-year-old Orlando Ortiz, who celebrated their one-year anniversary by renting a boat for the afternoon.

The couple, who were said to be inexperienced with boats and had to take a class beforehand, also brought their friend Jeffrey Marrero and his two children, ages 10 and 8 years old.

"It is a rough day on the water," Judd said. "The wind's blowing about 20 miles an hour. There's a two-foot chop with white caps, and it's a breezy afternoon."

Despite the rough waters, the group decided to anchor in the middle of the lake. According to the sheriff, Velasquez jumped into the water with the anchor, but she didn't have it tied to the boat beforehand.

"She's just very inexperienced, so she thinks you have to get into the water, put the anchor in, and tie it to the boat," Judd said.

It was at this point that the boat began floating away, and Velasquez began to struggle, so Ortiz and Marrero jumped in to help.

However, the sheriff said as the three boaters tried to get back to the boat, they could not catch up to the vessel. While Velasquez was able to stay afloat, her partner and their friend had trouble.

"Miss Velasquez said she [saw] them struggling to stay about the water," Judd said.

Marrero's 10-year-old child managed to call 911, which notified law enforcement of the situation. Judd said the entire incident occurred in front of the children.

"The 10-year-old is, in essence, responsible for us saving the one lady," the sheriff said.

Responding deputies were able to get help from a fisherman at the scene to look for victims, which led to them rescuing Velasquez.

However, the boat, which carried Marrero's two children, ended up in a swampy region of the lake. A deputy was able to get to the children.

According to Judd, the two missing men are believed to have drowned.

The PCSO Marine Unit is getting help from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Seminole County Sheriff's Office in the search for the men's bodies.

Judd said first responders will not end the search until their bodies are found.

"We don't allow anyone's loved one to stay in a lake, and we show up the next morning," he said. "We're there. We're involved. We're searching for these two missing gentlemen as if they were our brothers or our children."

He said the men could be at the bottom of the lake, which is 16-feet deep in some parts, or elsewhere in the water.

"They will eventually float if we are unable to locate them in the meantime," he said.

While the lake is located next to LegoLand, the theme park released a statement saying that the incident did not happen at its attraction:

A boating incident occurred on Lake Eloise yesterday. While the incident did not occur at our attraction and is not connected with us in any way, our staff is providing comfort to the family and the Hotel boardwalk is being utilized as a command center. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. Please contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for any further inquiries.

LegoLand Florida Resort

The sheriff praised the resort for their assistance in the search and recovery operation, despite them not being involved in the incident.

"LegoLand could not have been a better community partner," Judd said.

Firefighters said the man had been trying to unload the safe on March 9 when he fell and got pinned under it. Firefighters estimated the safe weighed 2,000 pounds.

During the rescue, crews used airbags to stabilize the safe and free the man. He was then immediately airlifted to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

"This was an unusual call for service and is one that most would never think about having to overcome," the department said on Facebook. They said the call exemplified the dedication and readiness of the volunteer team.

Firefighters didn't give an update on the man's condition.

Large safes can tip over if they have heavy doors, which when open shift the balance of the weight forward, and cause them to fall.

Rainier Ballistics suggests mounting gun safes to a wall stud or to the floor to prevent them from tipping over.

On average, 62 people are taken to the emergency room due to furniture tip-over incidents, data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, states can choose not to observe daylight saving time - the time between March and November - but can't choose to stay on daylight saving time year-round.

However, many states have enacted legislation that would put them on permanent daylight saving time if Congressional action gives them the opportunity. A new bill introduced by Representative Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) hopes to do just that.

Rogers' bill, introduced earlier this month, would give states the power to stay on daylight saving time year-round.

“Remaining on Daylight Saving time could have tremendous benefits for the economy and people’s health. Furthermore, changing our clocks twice a year is an unnecessary and outdated nuisance," Rogers said in a statement Monday.

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

What states are awaiting Congressional approval?

At least 19 states have already enacted legislation or resolutions to stay on daylight saving time permanently, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

Those states include Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. California voters authorized a change but legislative action has yet to happen.

Legislators in Arkansas and Oklahoma have introduced bills to remain on daylight saving time permanently if Congress allows states to make such a choice. The bill introduced in Arkansas was later withdrawn.

Lawmakers in Nebraska introduced a similar bill but would also need a third neighboring state to pass a law on the matter, according to the Nebraska Examiner. New Mexico lawmakers are considering two pieces of legislation - one to keep the state on standard time, the other to make daylight saving time permanent if all or part of Texas (specifically, El Paso County, Texas) passes a similar law. In Texas, lawmakers are hoping to pass a resolution that would put the choice between permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time up to voters in November.

Virginia’s state Senate failed to pass a bill last month that would’ve moved the state to year-round daylight saving time. The bill’s author, Republican Senator Richard H. Stuart, said his reason for bringing it forward was because he’s “really tired of changing the clocks twice a year.”

Sen. Rubio's bill, which received bipartisan support, was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Representative Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) introduced companion legislation in the House which has also been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Should Rep. Rogers' bill become law, it's unclear how soon states could observe daylight saving time year-round.

Michigan State Police said between 50 and 100 vehicles were involved in the massive crash on I-96, believed to have been caused by whiteout conditions. It happened around 4:40 p.m. near Knox Road in Portland Township, which is about 20 miles outside Lansing.

"It was just chaos everywhere," said Josephine Davidson and Emily Anderson, who both live in Grand Rapids and were involved in the pileup.

Around 5:30 p.m., MSP said all lanes of I-96 in the area were shut down.

It took several hours for crews to clear all the vehicles away from the scene. Eastbound and westbound lanes between Portland Road and South Grange Road did not reopen until 10:45 p.m., according to MDOT.

“I just remember driving down, looking in the rear-view mirror and just seeing a car fly off the side into the ditch,” Anderson said. “It was honestly like you couldn't see anything but cars and just parts of cars flying off either way.”

Anderson was driving Davidson’s car from Grand Rapids to Grand Ledge – a trip that ended up being a nightmare.

“It just kind of hit whiteout, and then all of a sudden you couldn't really see it until you're about less than 100 feet,” Anderson said. “And you start hitting the brakes and you try to downplay it. We just started sliding out of control and then just kind of plowed through the back of a couple of vehicles.”

They both said that many drivers didn’t have their lights on, making it even harder to see in front of them.

“You could see the car in front of you if they had their lights on, but a lot of cars wouldn’t,” Davidson said. “The car in front of us was white, and they didn’t have any lights on. So you could only see them if you’re that close.”

Anderson said she felt “nothing but panic” as she lost control of the vehicle.

“There was nothing you could do to slow down before hitting the cars,” she said.

She was eventually able to get to the side of the road by pulling the vehicle in between two other cars that she hit. Her tire was slashed so she couldn’t go any further.

Even after she brought her vehicle to a stop, she saw chaos all around her as the pileup only got worse.

“I'm looking around, there's cars going off the side,” Davidson said.

They both estimated there were 100 vehicles involved in the pileup.

“We couldn’t see the back of it,” Davidson said. “I think that stretched for at least a mile behind us, and I couldn’t see the front of it.”

MSP reported a few injuries, but no one was seriously hurt.

“I was just hoping we didn't flip, hoping we didn't roll,” Anderson said. “Luckily we didn't.”

As first responders sorted through the wreckage, drivers waited in their vehicles for hours. Like many others, Davidson’s vehicle is totaled.

“The front bumper is kind of dragging on the ground,” Davidson said. “My tires slashed. The passenger door won't open. I think there was a little bit of damage on the other side on the driver's side. The bumper was missing. The headlight's smashed.”

“We thought, ‘Oh, it’s probably just a mile walk, we can make it,’” Davidson said. “But it was so slippery. I almost slipped just walking.”

After Davidson and Anderson waited in their car for two hours, they decided to walk off the interstate to the exit ramp.

Davidson’s mom picked them up near the exit ramp, finally ending a trip they never imagined would go like this.

“I’m hoping that my mom buys us dinner,” Davidson said with a smile.

A warming and family reunification center was set up at a nearby church for anyone involved in the crash. Buses transported people there.

Tow trucks took vehicles off the interstate to a different church in Portland, Michigan. Some were heavily damaged.

Foods we enjoy each day — like fruits and vegetables, nuts, spice, and even chocolate and coffee — wouldn't be possible without pollinators. They also help to support clean water through their work in plant communities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture explains.

Overall, the work of pollinators has a value of $200 billion every year, according to the USDA. That doesn't take into account the invaluable work they do in our backyard gardens.

When you think of pollinators, your mind may instantly go to bees: honey bees, bumblebees, carpenter bee, whatever it may be. But pollinators also include birds, bats, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, and small mammals.

Honey bees aren't necessarily at the top of the pollinator pyramid though.

"Compared to some other native bees, honey bees are less efficient or unable to pollinate some of our food crops," Susan Carpenter, native plant garden curator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, tells Nexstar. Honey bees are, instead, "domestic animals, maintained and cared for by beekeepers" that can be "detrimental to the wide diversity of native bees" around you.

Flowers aren't the be-all, end-all for pollinators either.

As Carpenter explains, there are some pollinators that use only one or a few flowers. Limited blooming time may not overlap with a pollinator's active time, and flowers that "have been bred for features that are pretty or novel" can restrict pollen and nectar availability, making them "not useful to pollinators." Some of the plants sold at your local nursery may not even be native plants, making it even harder — or impossible — for pollinators to do their job.

Unsurprisingly, treating the plants you have with insecticides may make them toxic to pollinators or reduce reproduction, Carpenter notes. You may also want to avoid treating your lawn, if possible, especially if you have some lawn plants to offer.

Many cities have launched "no mow May" initiatives intended to support pollinators. During these months, residents are encouraged to let their lawns grow without facing otherwise in-place city ordinances that may require frequent maintenance.

"No mow May has been a good way to generate conversation about sustainable lawn care and the financial and environmental costs of chemically treated, low diversity lawns," Carpenter says. "If a lawn has no flowering plants or has flowering plants that don’t bloom in May, letting it grow for a month will not add floral resources. Creeping Charlie, dandelions and violets are three lawn plants that bloom early in the season, so pollinators that visit them can benefit."

When it comes to helping pollinators elsewhere around your yard and in your garden, Carpenter recommends native plants. The USDA lists multiple native pollinator plants by region.

That includes species like the Michigan lily for states in the Northeast and northern Midwest, butterfly milkweed for areas around the Great Smoky Mountains, the Texas bluebonnet across southern Plains states, and the Rocky Mountain bee plant throughout most of the West.

"The same gardening practices that support pollinators will support other life and nature as well — songbirds, animals, and beneficial insects are a few examples of groups that benefit from native plant gardening," Carpenter adds.

The deliveries started about two weeks ago, and seem to be focused in the area of Range View Avenue in the Highland Park neighborhood. They've been showing up at all hours.

One man said he received 13 deliveries in one day, none of which he ordered. His neighbors had similar stories.

Caroline Aguirre said she's received items from "low-fat milk, to a Danish, to chicken McNuggets, french fries, an egg croissant.”

The free food was "a nice treat at first," William Neal said, "Then, when it became too much food at once, we'd try to find places to donate it or give it away."

"It was bag after bag after bag, sometimes three at a time, 3 in the morning, 5 in the afternoon," he added.

One neighbor even put a "no deliveries" sign on his front door, but the surprises kept coming, up to 10 bags a day.

The residents said the names on the orders, primarily fast food, did not match anyone who lives there. Some of the neighborhood's residents don't even have Uber Eats accounts.

Neighbors told KTLA that other delivery services, such as DoorDash and Postmates, have been involved as well, though it's been too difficult to contact any customer service representatives to learn more.

San Francisco-based Uber told the Los Angeles Times that the company has launched an investigation into the bizarre, relentless deliveries.