Gene J. Puskar / AP
Auto insurers and carmakers must overcome corporate secrecy concerns and find a way to collaborate on data-sharing to facilitate the shift to higher levels of autonomous driving.
Generally, those experts feel that the existing auto insurance framework will be able to adapt to the deployment of AVs, which will shift the concept of liability from the driver to the vehicle’s manufacturer. But a few things have to happen first. You have a real standoff right now between the manufacturers and the insurers.
One of them is data-sharing.
“It’s really important,” said Karlyn Stanley, lead author of the Rand study. “Because insurers will tell you they need information about what sort of capabilities a vehicle had, especially as we progress with automation, so with any accident they can really determine liability. Who was at fault, or
BIll Brady / Courtesy
The 44th State Senate District will have a new senator by the end of the month, after Bill Brady’s resignation at the end of last year triggered an appointment process involving Republican chairs from the five counties that make up the district.
Illinois law requires vacant seats in the General Assembly be filled within 30 days by a managing committee for the Senate or House district in question. The replacement must come from the same political party as their predecessor.
Matt Dietrich with the Illinois State Board of Elections said there is only one case where appointees have to run in a special election to fill out a term.
Eric Stock / WGLT
Law enforcement officials and prosecutors said they feel blindsided by a massive criminal justice reform bill introduced by the Black Democratic Caucus in the Illinois House, with police saying they are shocked and surprised at the timing and sweeping scope of the measure. After what had happened in Minneapolis, we were certainly very vocal as law enforcement leaders about wanting to look at change and be involved in change, said Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner.
Bleichner said police advocates were not an equal player in developing the package. On Friday, the bill dropped without a lot of previous discussion. McLean County State s Attorney Don Knapp said a lack of debate on legislation is a good way to create unintended consequences.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner said he thinks the governor should allow a limited amount of indoor dining starting now.
Region 2, which includes McLean County, could improve back to Tier 2 mitigations as soon as Friday. But that, on its own, would not allow indoor dining to resume. Under current rules, indoor dining could only resume in a region if its testing positivity rate dips below 6.5% and there s healthy hospital bed and ICU capacity, NPR Illinois reported.
Still, some restaurants are ready to go. Rob Dob s in Bloomington, for example, announced on Facebook it will be reopening dine-in service on Friday.
Emily Bollinger / WGLT
Nursing home operators say once the coronavirus is in a community, it s nearly impossible to keep it out of their facilities.
As the COVID-19 death toll rises at long-term care facilities across McLean County and the country, some observers say many nursing homes aren t equipped to handle an infectious outbreak.
In late December, the Sugar Creek Alzheimer s Special Care Center in Normal was in the throes of a major COVID outbreak.
On Dec. 20, administrator Crystal Biddle sent a letter to all Sugar Creek families, informing them a majority of residents and some staff had tested positive for the coronavirus. The letter outlined the severity of the outbreak, and what staff are doing to care for residents. That includes frequent COVID testing, close monitoring and keeping residents hydrated.