Illinois quick hits: More layoffs announced; suspects sentenced for stealing mail

More layoffs announced

Manufacturers Caterpillar and John Deere are laying off workers.

Moline-based John Deere laid off 170 employees this week, following hundreds more layoffs in the Quad Cities area the past few months. Caterpillar officials confirmed that the company implemented a one-week layoff for employees in East Peoria.

According to Industrial Technology Research, U.S. mining production and metal working machinery is in a recession phase, but industry insiders expect both markets to thrive next year.

Suspects sentenced for stealing mail

Two men have been sentenced to federal prison for using U.S. Postal Service keys to steal parcels from the mail in the Chicago area.

Joseph Solomon and Thaddeus Harper were convicted as part of “Operation Broken Arrow,” a federal investigation into the thefts of mail using stolen arrow keys, which unlock doors and entry systems to nearly every apartment and office building in the Chicago area.

Dog attacks owners

A dog was killed by police after attacking its owners, who suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries in Elgin.

Witnesses said the man and woman were walking their dog, which appeared to get agitated by another dog. Witnesses said the dog got angry at another passing dog before turning on its owners and attacking them. Police said when officers arrived, they tried to pull the dog off the woman but it wouldn't release its grip, so they shot the animal.