Illinois Senate approves medical marijuana bill

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 1:40pm

The medical marijuana proposal is being sent to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn for approval after being approved by Illinois lawmakers.

According to a spokesperson from the Marijuana Policy Project, the measure was approved Friday, May 17, 2013 by Illinois legislature. The bill will allow Illinois doctors to recommend medicinal marijuana for patients with serious illnesses.

The Senate vote was 35-21. They received the bill after it was passed in the House with a vote of 61-57 back in April.

Deputy director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project, Dan Riffle said this measure will create a tightly controlled system letting people with illnesses gain access to marijuana safely and legally.

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Quad Cities drivers seeing a spike in gas prices

Submitted by WQAD Web Staff

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 10:29am

As Memorial Day approaches, drivers are seeing a spike in gas prices.

Gas prices are rising because two large refineries near Chicago have been shut down for maintenance. It is expected they will be back up and running after Memorial Day, according to a report by the Times-Republican.

According to AAA, Iowa drivers are paying about $3.67 per gallon of regular gas.

The average for Illinois drivers is $3.99 per gallon.

The national average is $3.61.

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First Day of the IAHSAA Track & Field State Meet

Submitted by WQAD Web Staff

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 1:35am

Iowa high schools met at Drake University in Des Moines for day one of the IAHSAA state track meet.

According to IAHSAA’s results website, Pleasant Valley senior, Chloe Miller took third place in the Class 4A discus. Miller threw 41.51-meters.

Freshman, Kelli DeGeorge from Pleasant Valley won the Class 4A high jump clearing 5-feet, 4-inches.

The Class 4A girls’ 4×100-meter relay took second place, about 4-seconds behind the first place team from Waukee.

Quad City area girls took over the Class 4A 400 meter dash. From Davenport North, senior Alisha Jones took first with a time of 55.90 seconds. Sophomore Kaley Ciluffo from Pleasant Valley, senior Mahnee Watts from Bettendorf, and Larkin Chapman from Muscatine took second, third, and fourth respectively.

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Meet the Niabi Zoo binturong

Submitted by WQAD Web Staff

Thursday, May 16th, 2013, 11:04am

Niabi Zoo director Marc Heinzman introduces us to a binturong, commonly called a bear-cat.

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I-80 bridge construction to last through October

Submitted by WQAD Web Staff

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 8:07pm

Construction that began on the I-80 bridge on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 is scheduled to last through mid-October.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, Eagle Painting and Maintenance will be painting and cleaning sections of the structural steel on the bridge.

The outside lane on the bridge heading westbound from Illinois to Iowa will be closed. The contractor is using that lane to access the underside of the bridge. The open westbound lane will be restricted to a width of 12-feet, 6-inches. Wide loads will be detoured to I-280.

Eastbound traffic will not have any lane closures.

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U.S. Cellular and Mediacom service down

Submitted by WQAD Web Staff

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 6:43pm

Updated at 9:47 p.m., Wednesday, May 15- On U.S. Cellular’s Facebook page, customers were saying they were regaining service around 9:30 p.m.

Original story published at 6:43 p.m., Wednesday, May 15- U.S. Cellular and Mediacom customers were reporting their services not working on Wednesday evening.

According to a spokesperson from the U.S. Cellular retail store in Moline, Illinois, a fiber optic cable has been cut, affecting phone service.

Mediacom Cable said customers in Waterloo, Dubuque, and Iowa City, Iowa and Lena, Illinois and surrounding areas may be experiencing trouble with their services. The estimated time of repair is 1 a.m.

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Illinois one-step closer to lowering voting age

Submitted by WQAD Web Staff

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 3:56pm

Voting in Illinois may not only be for people 18-years-old and over anymore.

A proposal to allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections is heading to Governor Pat Quinn for approval. The teen-voters, however, may only cast a vote if they will be 18 in November for the general election, according to a report by the Q.C. Times.

The Senate approved the legislation 43-9. All Democrats in the Senate were in support of the measure.

State Senator Terry Link said he expects the change may increase voter participation.

“In some regions of this state, the primary (election) is the general,” said Senator Dale Righter. “I think that we should keep the playing field level.”

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