Blagojevich declares state of emergency following NIU shootings

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Rod Blagojevich has declared a state of emergency in the aftermath of Thursday’s shootings at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb The declaration will open the governor’s disaster relief fund for local units of government to reimburse them for their extraordinary expenses related to the response in NIU, according to a news release from his office, and will facilitate the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in providing assistance to local units of government in responding to and recovering from this event. “The State of Illinois will provide whatever assistance and support is necessary to university staff and students, and to local officials,” Blagojevich said in the statement. “The Illinois Emergency Management Agen