Illinois quick hits: State’s seniors among most defrauded; legislator wants to keep park’s name
Deer CWD detected
Chronic wasting disease has been detected in Illinois, expanding the geographic presence of the infection in free-ranging deer populations in the northern part of the state. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced that CWD was detected in Ford County in mid-March from a suspect-deer exhibiting symptoms consistent with infection. First documented in Illinois in 2002 near Roscoe, CWD has been detected in 21 counties across the northern edge and northeastern portions of Illinois, as far south as Kankakee and Livingston counties.
State’s seniors among most defrauded
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released its 2023 Elder Fraud Report, revealing that fraud victims over 60 years old lost more than $3 billion collectively last year. Nearly 6,000 of the over 100,000 complaints lost more than $100,000, and on average, most victims lost about $34,000. Illinois was in the top 5 for biggest losses per state, with elder fraud victims in the state losing nearly $138 million.
Legislator wants to keep park’s name
In light of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ confirmation that the agency may be open to a possible name change of Starved Rock State Park, a lawmaker has filed a resolution in support of keeping the park’s current name. State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, is calling for the preservation of the state park’s historic name. A bill notes the importance that the Starved Rock name has on the local community and acknowledges the concerns of residents and businesses regarding the potential renaming of the state park.
