Illinois quick hits: Campuses step up safety efforts as students return

Girl survives boating accident, two others die

A seven-year-old girl survived a boating accident this week in LaSalle County that killed her grandfather and great-grandfather.

According to a release from Illinois Conservation Police, the child was wearing a life jacket, but the two Indiana men were not. The three were on a fishing trip at the LaSalle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area when their boat capsized.

The men’s bodies were recovered later that night.

Campuses step up safety efforts as students return

Colleges around Illinois are welcoming back their students for the fall semester.

Campus police at the University of Illinois said they are stepping up their safety efforts. The police department is reminding students to make use of the wide variety of other resources the school has to offer, including residence advisors, counselors and medical facilities.

Classes began at Eastern Illinois University and Illinois State University this week as well.

Wildfire smoke returns

There may be an orange tint to sunrises this week in Illinois. Wildfire smoke is back in the atmosphere.

The jet stream is dipping through Illinois, bringing in wildfire smoke from the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Officials said the smoke should not be a breathing concern, but it is going to create atmospheric visual effects.