Round-Up: State Governance
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
[posted by Mike Murray]
* Gov. Quinn uses personal cell phone for work
Gov. Pat Quinn uses his own BlackBerry for government business, saying it saves taxpayers the cost of providing an official cell phone. The practice also allows the governor to avoid public records laws.
By using his own phone, Quinn can make official calls and conduct business by e-mail without having to disclose any of his activities under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Democratic governor won’t voluntarily release phone records for his private BlackBerry.
* Quinn: No free fair passes for legislators
There are no free rides for state lawmakers looking to get into this year’s Illinois State Fair, Gov. Pat Quinn says.
Quinn’s administration confirmed that lawmakers and their staffs will not get free entrance passes for the fair, which starts up Friday.
In an interview with The State Journal-Register Monday afternoon, Quinn said that fits with state government facing tight financial and budget times.
“They just have to understand that everybody’s part of the shared sacrifice,” Quinn said. “I think everybody is in and nobody’s left out.”
* State’s constitutional officers curb spending
Secretary of State Jesse White, Comptroller Dan Hynes, Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias are all taking steps to rein in spending in their offices.[…]
White has the second largest office in the state and will be coping with a budget just slightly less than it was in the 2009 fiscal year, said spokesman Dave Druker.[…]
Madigan’s office gets its revenue both from general state taxes and from money generated from legal action undertaken by the attorney general, including environmental cases, whistleblower lawsuits and consumer fraud actions. Spillane said the office will be more dependent than ever on money from those sources. She said Madigan promised Quinn that the office would rely as little as possible on general state taxes, which will enable that money to be used on other government spending.[…]
Compared to July 1, 2008, the attorney general’s office has 28 fewer attorneys and 20 fewer support staff, Spillane said.
* More state employees required to take unpaid days off
An undisclosed number of workers in the state comptroller’s office are being forced to take five days of unpaid leave as part of the latest budget-cutting move in state government.
On Friday, Comptroller Dan Hynes became the latest statewide officer to impose furlough days on employees he controls.
The move, affecting workers with higher pay in his office, is part of an overall $2.8 million belt-tightening effort under way in Hynes’ office. A similar plan was put in place during the last fiscal year.
Hynes’ move comes as Gov. Pat Quinn is attempting to move forward on his own furlough plan, which could affect thousands more workers in agencies he controls. Other statewide officers are mulling their options.
* State to continue paying for burials of poor
Despite threats to the contrary, the state will continue paying for the burials of Illinois’ poorest people.
In the past month, there was concern among county coroners that the state would eliminate $12 million or so used for burying people whose families can’t otherwise afford it.
It would have been just one of many budget cuts considered as top officials work through Illinois’ money troubles.
* Stimulus cash is raining little joy on Illinois schools
About $2 billion in federal stimulus money will boost Illinois state education spending to record levels this school year.
The state Board of Education expects to get nearly $10.7 billion in state and federal money, $400 million more than last year.
But unlike in Missouri, where stimulus cash will swell spending by more than 10 percent, the bump in Illinois is just 4 percent of the state education budget.[…]
A 7 percent dip in state revenue, coupled with old debt, has forced Illinois to cut deeply. While stimulus money is filling some of those holes, in general, schools are getting fewer state dollars to use as they wish — and more federal funds that must be used for specific purposes.
* Lawmakers urge tax cap extension
Chicago politicians and grass-roots community groups led a call for extension of the 7 percent Expanded Homeowner Exemption Monday.
“This is not a North Side issue,” said state Rep. John Fritchey, a Chicago Democrat. “It is an issue that encompasses the area.”
First proposed six years ago by County Assessor James Houlihan, passed the following year and extended in 2007, the EHE - or “the 7 percent cap bill,” as Fritchey called it - sets a limit of 7 percent on increases in the assessed value of homeowners’ property from year to year in Cook County. Yet, the extension called for it to be phased out by setting diminishing maximum savings each year. It was to expire entirely in Chicago next year and is being phased out across the county, with the Northern suburbs the year after that and Western and Southern suburbs the year after that. Fritchey warned that puts local citizens at risk for massive property tax hikes, even as home values decline in a down economy.
“We’ve seen record foreclosures in every community,” said state Rep. Kevin Joyce, a Southwest suburban Democrat from Worth.
* Lawmakers’ plan: Add jobs, save money
A bipartisan effort from two Southern Illinois lawmakers will be launched today in an attempt to save the jobs of hundreds of state prison guards.
State Reps. Brandon Phelps, D-Harris-burg, and Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, are scheduled to speak at a 10 a.m. news conference at Vienna Correctional Center in Johnson County, detailing how the state could avoid layoffs, hire more employees and save money in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Gov. Pat Quinn has called for $1 billion in cuts to IDOC for the 2010 fiscal year, a move that will cause more than 400 employees to lose their jobs by Sept. 30 and could result in as many as 1,000 layoffs within the budget cycle.
Losing additional jobs at Illinois’ already understaffed prisons will only cost the state more money it can’t pay, Bost said, noting last week’s auditor general report, which revealed IDOC paid nearly $50 million in overtime for prison guards in 2008.
* Gov. Pat Quinn signs environmental legislation
Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Monday that he said will benefit the environment.
Quinn signed one bill that prohibits health care institutions from flushing medicines that haven’t been used into public wastewater systems. Any violators would be fined.
Another bill tracks how much water is used by high-capacity wells throughout Illinois and requires anyone who wants to develop a well to notify the local Soil and Water Conservation District.
* Press release: Gov signs many bills [well over 20 pieces of legislation listed in this article]
* HB 7 in Detail: Ballot Questions
HB 7, the campaign finance measure, has garnered a lot of media attention, none of it positive. (see, for instance, today’s editorial in the Daily Herald). The bill was sent to Gov. Quinn on June 30, and he has until later this month to decide whether to sign it, veto it, recommend changes with an amendatory veto, or allow it to become law without his signature.
Our [ICPR] opposition to HB 7 is well known. Yes, we object to the provisions that would allow for astronomically high contributions. Where federal law allows contributions of $2,400 for people and $5,000 from political committees each election, HB 7 allows contributions of up to $10,000 from people and $90,000 from committees each calendar year. But that is far from the only flawed section of the bill. Over the next few days, we intend to outline our concerns with the non-limit parts of the bill. Some of these reflect ambiguous drafting. Some reflect intentional changes to the statute that will have adverse consequences. In the next few days, we’ll focus on different parts of HB 7, other than the astronomical dollar amounts, in order to explain our concerns.
Start with how HB 7 treats ballot questions. HB 7 defines “single candidate committee” (on page 39 of the bill) as:
* Veto weak campaign finance bill
* Voters must make redistricting a priority
* Traffic to be changed around Illinois State Fair
The Illinois Department of Transportation says traffic around the fairgrounds in Springfield will run in a counterclockwise one-way pattern. That means there will be several closures
The changes start Thursday morning.
The fair starts Friday in Springfield and runs until Aug. 23. The diverted traffic pattern will end the following day.
* Ban on texting while driving a partial solution
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[posted by Mike Murray]
*** UPDATEx1 ***
This is not a huge issue, but you would think Kirk would learn his lesson…
Is GOP Rep. Mark Kirk’s Twitter feed an extension of his U.S. Senate campaign? It sure seems like it. The account wallpaper prominently features his Kirk For Senate logo. The link on the right side of the screen sends readers to his campaign website. And most importantly, many of the tweets are campaign-related, such as this one from earlier today urging followers to “circulate petitions” for his candidacy.
So when he sends out a tweet while touring a Veterans Affairs hospital, as he did this morning, is he violating the law that prohibits candidates from campaigning on federal property?
The answer is far from clear. Nonetheless, this marks the second time Kirk’s tweets have entered questionable legal territory.
Just stop with the Twitter, already. After Rich busted him, Kirk said he would be more careful….
In late July, Capitol Fax noticed him posting messages to his Twitter account — including details of his location — while on active duty with the Naval Reserves. After several national outlets picked up the story, Kirk told reporters he would be more careful with his tweets:
“It’s something that I will not do again,” Kirk said while pooh-poohing the severity of the offenses at the end of a downtown Chicago news conference on his proposal for health-care reform on Monday. “I understand the sensitivities. So my days on that, when I’m on active duty, are over.”
But alas, Kirk did it again. I mean really, how many votes can you win with 140 characters anyway? And there can’t be a huge pool of undecided voters following Mark Kirk’s Twitter page. Nothing against Kirk, but it’s only Twitter. No way it’s worth the headache when the story starts to circulate in the media…
***END OF UPDATEx1 ***
*** UPDATEx2 ***
* Alexi Giannoulias to get Illinois SEIU endorsement
State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, I’ve learned, is picking up an early endorsement for his 2010 Democratic Senate bid from the Illinois State Council, Service Employees International Union. The Illinois SEIU is one of the most politically powerful unions in the state of Illinois.[…]
1.”You can’t overstate the value of an SEIU endorsement, particularly this early.
They combine a unique mixture of progressive values, significant resources, and an expertise in the mechanics of winning elections,” Eric Adelstein, Giannoulias Media Consultant told me.
2. Cheryle Jackson, the Chicago Urban League Chief will have to deal with Giannoulias pressing unions for early backing just as she is getting her footing in the contest. Giannoulias will use these endorsements to argue that he is the most viable contender.
3. Chris Kennedy–the door is closing for him to jump in the senate or gubernatorial race.
So I missed this story this morning, my bad. But as noted, it was crazy night/morning for me.
***END OF UPDATEx2***
* National GOP targeting suburban Democrats
In fact, hopes are now so high at the national level, Republicans are even looking to find a serious contender against U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, a Barrington Democrat who appeared to solidify her standing in the Northwest suburban 8th District years ago. […]
One seat is open, in the North suburban 10th District, with U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk making a bid for Senate. While the Democratic field in the primary is already packed, the Republican field has yet to form with state Rep. Beth Coulson of Glenview mentioned as a potential contender.[…]
The GOP is clearly hopeful it can beat back at least some of the Democratic majority in the House during the upcoming midterm election. To do that, however, Republicans need to hold their ground in suburban districts across the nation and then retake seats lost in the last few elections to more moderate Democrats.
In Illinois, that means fighting back a second challenge from Scott Harper against U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert of Hinsdale while making a play for the open Kirk seat and taking on freshman Bill Foster of Batavia in the 14th District and perhaps even Bean of Barrington.
* GOP shying from contests with White and Madigan
* Hynes taps Elk Grove native to run campaign
Elk Grove Village native Michael Rendina, who ran the successful campaign of Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster in the far west suburban 14th District, has been hired to run the campaign of governor hopeful Dan Hynes, Illinois’ three-term comptroller from Chicago. Hynes is challenging incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn, also a Chicago Democrat, for the state’s top post in the Feb. 2 primary.
* Blago looking for reality show
State Sen. Kirk Dillard is so intent on becoming the state’s next governor, he attended the annual Republican Governors Association meeting in Idaho over the weekend.
* Unions out early for Alexi
Many are still waiting to see if Merchandise Mart boss Chris Kennedy will enter the Senate race or if Chicago Urban League CEO Cherlye Jackson will make her bid official. But apparently several key unions are not.
Locals of UNITE-HERE, UFCW, UA and the Illinois Pipe Trades hoped on the bandwagon of Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias today. The release is below.
* Brackets filling up for Illinois Democratic primary [On U.S. Senate Race]
A Democratic primary race for state treasurer firmed up Monday while a potentially bigger Feb. 2 contest began to take shape with word that Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson — a former aide to indicted ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich — plans to seek the U.S. Senate nomination.[…]
Jackson’s candidacy would mark the entry of an African-American into the Democratic race for a seat with a history of black officeholders, including President Barack Obama, Carol Moseley Braun and its current occupant, Blagojevich-appointee U.S. Sen. Roland Burris.
While Jackson could benefit from her ties to national Democratic activists, she will face questions about her association with the disgraced Blagojevich, Illinois’ first Democratic governor in a quarter century. Blagojevich was thrown out of office in January following his arrest a month earlier on federal corruption charges that included allegations he tried to sell the Senate seat Obama vacated for the presidency.
Jackson joined the Blagojevich administration in 2003 as communications director and chief press secretary, eventually becoming deputy chief of staff for communications. She left to become head of the Urban League in August 2006, prior to Blagojevich’s re-election. Throughout her tenure with Blagojevich, amid myriad investigations into pay-to-play politics, she defended the governor as someone who “played by the rules.”
* Top Blagojevich aide to run for US Senate
A political rookie who was a top aide to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Monday that she intends to run for the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama.
-Oof. That is not the most flattering way to describe Jackson’s candidacy.
* Cheryle Jackson jumps in Senate race
Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson announced Monday she will run for U.S. Senate in the Democratic primary election against state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.
Jackson made her announcement in an e-mail, saying she would hold a formal ceremony next month. […]
Giannoulias looked on Monday at the Hotel Allegro as his chief of staff, Robin Kelly, formally kicked off her campaign to succeed Giannoulias as state treasurer.
Also Monday, Cook County Board of Review President Joseph Berrios declared his candidacy to succeed County Assessor Jim Houlihan.
* Brackets filling up for Illinois Democratic primary [On Treasurer’s Race]
The day began with Robin Kelly, a former state lawmaker from Matteson and chief of staff to first-term Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, launching her Democratic bid for treasurer. She faces a primary contest with a Democratic newcomer, health-industry private-equity manager Kip Kirkpatrick, who formally announced his candidacy Sunday.
“I’m not the wealthy candidate in this race,” Kelly said with Giannoulias attending her formal announcement at a downtown Chicago hotel. “But I assure you I will be the people’s candidate and that’s how it should be.”
Kirkpatrick, who attended Northwestern University on a basketball scholarship and later co-founded Water Street Healthcare Partners, announced his candidacy through an Internet video. He reported raising more than $500,000 in June for the contest.
“I’ve become frustrated watching professional politicians mismanage our government and waste people’s money,” Kirkpatrick told supporters on the video. “It’s time to get off the bench, get in the game and try to help Illinois the best way I know how.”
* Berrios runs for Cook County assessor
Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Joseph Berrios announced Monday he’ll be a candidate to succeed James Houlihan as county assessor.
He promised to serve taxpayers and push in the General Assembly for a new 7 percent-a-year cap on property tax assessment increases.
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Round-Up: Municipal and County Governance
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
[posted by Mike Murray]
* DuPage County Board may outlaw video gambling
Gamblers could have 35 fewer options if the DuPage County Board votes today to prohibit video gambling.
Just weeks after proposing a ban on gambling machines at nearly three dozen eligible bars, restaurants, golf courses and social clubs in unincorporated parts of the county, the board is planning to make its opposition official.
* Will County wants to ban video gambling
In a news release, Will County Board chairman Jim Moustis said he wants to ban video gambling in unincorporated areas of the county. Towns in Will County would continue to determine if the state law will take effect within their jurisdictions.
“I am opposed to video poker and believe it has no business in our communities,” said Moustis (R-Frankfort). “The board needs to begin discussions this month and make a decision, sooner rather than later. This type of gambling is a losing bet for our residents and their families.”
The county board has set a meeting for Thursday to begin deliberations on the subject.
* Oak Lawn rejects union concessions
Concession packages, including furloughs and raise deferments, recently were offered up by leaders of Oak Lawn’s fire union and Operating Engineers Local 150 only to be rejected by the village.
Oak Lawn’s three other employee unions say they aren’t negotiating at all.
Local 150 represents more than 100 public works and clerical positions. The fire union represents nearly 90 village firefighters.
Together, those union jobs account for 28 of the village’s planned layoffs, scheduled to take place Aug. 31.
* USOC Hall of Fame in Chicago
The final fundraiser for Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics will be a big one with top athletes inducted into a hall of fame.
The U.S Olympic Committee is holding its hall of fame induction at Chicago’s McCormick Place on Wednesday.
Inductees include the 1992 men’s Olympic basketball “dream team” that include Chicago’s Michael Jordan, track star Michael Johnson and skiing champ Picabo Street.
The ceremony doubles as a fundraiser for the local Olympic organizing committee, which will find out soon if Chicago gets to host the Olympic games.
* Chicago Public Schools Move to Year-Round Calendar
* Lack of Air Conditioning Doesn’t Stop Schools From Switching to Year-Round Schedule
It’s back to school today for 90,000 Chicago Public Schools students who are moving to a year-round schedule. Many of those students are in buildings without air conditioning.
Libby School on the South Side is 108 years old and has only fans in classrooms. Principal Kurt Jones says the school decided to go year-round despite a lack of air conditioning.
* Getting data 1st step to making path safer
* Recorder’s office launches new Web site
The Sangamon County recorder’s office has launched a new, expanded Web site that includes links to frequently asked questions, programs and forms.
* LED pilot project could expand in River Forest
As River Forest works to find a use for its tax increment financing money before the fund expires later this year, it appears that at least one public works initiative is likely to win approval. A project studying the effectiveness of energy-efficient light-emitting diodes in outdoor streetlights has won support from the village board, though it hasn’t yet been put to a vote. The pilot project, which encompasses just one streetlight near the corner of Central and Lathrop Avenues, could be expanded later this year.
* The cost of history
Woman sues Edgewater preservationists for blocking sale: ‘They were trying to ruin me’
* Ice cream shop gets licked
This is a tale of frozen custard and the City of Chicago Municipal Code 10-28-805.
- I did not find much news worthy about this article. Isn’t his how local government is designed to work. Sounds like a text book case of compromise, but instead of reading it again to make sure I would see if anyone disagrees with me?
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Round-Up: Crime and Punishment
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
[posted by Mike Murray]
* Blagojevich top aide’s plea postponed again
Alonzo Monk is Blagojevich’s former chief of staff, and Monk had been scheduled to change his not guilty plea to guilty on Tuesday.
But on Monday the hearing was postponed until Aug. 27.
Monk is charged with one count of wire fraud for scheming to pressure a racetrack executive for a $100,000 campaign contribution in exchange for the prompt signing by Blagojevich of legislation.
When and if the hearing is held, any written plea agreement between Monk and federal prosecutors could shed important new light on the case.
* `Ho hum’ for Blago really ought to be an `Oh, my!’
In the eight months since Blagojevich was arrested in his home, nearly every escalation of this story into spectacle and absurdity has felt incremental. Just another cartwheel. Just another stunt. Just another deranged, self-righteous declaration. To the point that many of us fail to appreciate, day in and day out, how scalding to the sensibilities this tale really is.
And yes, before we go any further, I know that the slowly boiled frog image is based on a myth. Actual frogs will jump out of water that becomes uncomfortably hot. But we froggos seldom jump out of the moment to take in — to savor, to appreciate, to blink in amazement at — the extraordinary nature of this narrative and its main character.
Most people facing serious charges that could result in prison time go deep into hiding after issuing the obligatory and carefully crafted proclamation of innocence. No further comments. No statements. And certainly no singing.
Can you imagine if former Gov. George Ryan had made a surprise appearance before his federal corruption trial to perform in the style of his favorite crooner? TV and radio would have interrupted regular programming. The Tribune would have put out an extra edition.
* Gov. Rod’s change of heart
One well-known example involves the Better Government Association’s two-year battle to get copies of the subpoenas that federal investigators served on the Blagojevich administration for government records.
The BGA wanted to see what the feds were looking into, and the governor fought hard to stop that information from being released. Blagojevich stonewalled as his court losses mounted, and the documents were not released until late last year — a few weeks after he was arrested. As you might imagine, the documents were a bit less relevant by then.
Nor was this type of stonewalling uncommon in the Blagojevich administration.
Now, though, our governor is a champion of Freedom of Information. It’s refreshing to see such a change of heart.
* Blago looking for reality show
Tipsville: Sneed is told embattled former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is hoping to land on a reality show.
• • Translation: “He’s not divorced, and he’s not looking for a date, but he is looking for work . . . and if you look at it seriously, these reality shows are all about landing jobs,” said a Blago source.
• • $$$$$: Word is Blago’s agent, Glenn Selig, has been pitching his client to appear in media outlets nationwide. “No one has said ‘yes’ . . . but no one has said ‘no,’ ” said the source. “It’s a 50/50 deal so far.”
* Blago looking for reality show
Blago spent nearly a week in California cutting tape for the audio version of his upcoming book The Governor.
• • His publisher, Michael Viner, just died. Last March, Viner, who agreed to publish Blago’s book, told Sneed that he hoped the book “becomes a classroom text and was basically about not being treated fairly rather than being a book about his guilt or innocence. It’s much more a rainbow story than a black-and-white story. He [Blago] understands that part of his downfall was caused by him — but it does not justify the treatment he received.”
• • Blago’s surprise “Elvis” appearance singing “Treat Me Nice” at a company party in Streeterville Friday night was a “last-minute deal,” said Gretchen Praeger, managing director at Optimus, which hosted the party.
• • Blagojevich personally picked the Elvis song and was accompanied by a long-tressed Fabio look-a-like, who happens to be an old Blago pal and fund-raiser attendee. Blago arrived at the party in a black stretch limo.
* He just won’t go away
* Chicago bulding inspector accused of taking bribes
Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman says a city building inspector has been arrested on federal charges for allegedly accepting a $1,000 cash bribe from a cooperating contractor to approve an inspection at a residential construction site.
Hoffman says a criminal complaint unsealed Monday accuses Jose Hernandez of soliciting cash bribes totaling tens of thousands of dollars from contractors, developers and homeowners since at least 2005.
The case is part of an ongoing federal corruption investigation, code-named Operation Crooked Code, which has so far resulted in charges against two dozen defendants, including 12 city inspectors.
* Drew Peterson’s attorneys launch attack on hearsay law
Drew Peterson’s attorneys filed a motion today challenging the constitutionality of a new state law some call “Drew’s law” that allows judges to consider hearsay evidence under certain conditions.[…]
“The new hearsay law … would allow gossip, innuendo, rumor and back fence scandal to come into court and masquerade as evidence,” the motion further states. The motion is posted on the Web site of Peterson’s attorneys.
But a spokesman for the state’s attorney’s office said the law was specifically drafted to meet constitutional muster, and added that similar laws have been enacted in more than a dozen states.
* Prospective Brown’s Chicken jurors questioned extensively
But during the interviews, the bulk of the questions centered on their willingness or reluctance to impose the death penalty. Five were dismissed after they said they were opposed to capital punishment and would not consider imposing it. Two others were dismissed after saying they already believed that Degorski was guilty of the murders and would impose the death penalty. “An eye for an eye,” one man said.[…]
But the next juror in line was questioned for nearly 40 minutes. When he returned, the other man started laughing. “You were in there a long time,” he said. “They must have really liked you.”
He was right — the man was one of only three out of 21 prospective jurors still in the running after the first day of questioning. The other two are the college student and a Paris-born stay-at-home dad. All three said that should Degorski be convicted, they would consider imposing the death penalty if they felt it was the appropriate sentence.
* State’s attorney charges Cahnman
The 55-year-old faces one count of solicitation of a sexual act, which is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail or a fine of as much as $2,000. He was arrested about 2 a.m. Sunday at Bar Oasis, 411 E. Washington St.
* Why crime on the North Side gets more pub
The sad truth is that every violent crime cannot be treated as news in a city with so much of it. From time to time, one news organization or another will make an effort to take note of every killing, but they always give up for any number of reasons, not the least of which is the sense that nobody is paying attention.
And it’s also true that using one common definition of news — man bites dog — a spate of muggings on the North Side may be more unusual — and therefore more newsworthy — than a spate of killings on the South Side.
But there’s still something about it that doesn’t feel right.
* 86-year-old shoplifter: ‘She’s an actress’
2-day sentence: Some skeptical of wheelchair, judge doubts she has hearing problem
-Let’s just put her in a home and be done with it. JK…?
* Women says Krazy Glue on penis was over cheating (Video)
Therese Ziemann told NBC’s “Today” show on Tuesday that she and the other three women accused of holding the man against his will in a Green Bay, Wis., hotel room did not collaborate, and that there was no ringleader among them.
Prosecutors say the women, including the man’s wife and another girlfriend, lured the man to the motel on July 30 to punish him for cheating.
-LOL. I won’t really touch this one, but it’s a long video and all I’ll say is that that women is lying big time.
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Round-Up: Economic News
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
[posted by Mike Murray]
* New regional administrator for SBA overseeing Illinois, other Midwest states
The U.S. Small Business Administration has appointed Marianne O’Brien Markowitz as the regional administrator to oversee programs and services in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The Region V office, headquartered in Chicago, oversees the SBA district offices in Chicago and Springfield.; Indianapolis, Ind..; Cleveland, Columbus and a satellite office in Cincinnati, Ohio.; Detroit, Mich.; Madison and Milwaukee, Wisc.; and Minneapolis, Minn.
* Chicago gets new area code: 872
Chicago will get a new area code, 872, on Nov. 7.
The area code is required because the 773 area code has exhausted the numbers available to it, the Illinois Commerce Commission announced Monday.[…]
No one in the 312 and 773 area codes will have to change phone numbers, the ICC said. The new area code will be issued on new accounts only.
* Rep. Rush tries to save post offices
Rep. Bobby Rush of Chicago is spreading the word that some post offices in his district might be in danger of closing.
In a news release, Rush said that at least four post offices are being reviewed for possible closure as part of a major reorganization. He says they should voice concerns they have at their local post offices.
The U.S. Postal Service has seen a big drop in the amount of mail being sent and is projecting a $7.1 billion loss for fiscal year 2009. As a result, postal officials have sent a list of nearly 700 facilities for possible closure or consolidation to the Postal Regulatory Commission.
* Illinois AG Settles With Construction Firms Over Worker Classifications
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has reached an agreement to settle claims against five Chicago-area construction firms that were falsely classifying their employees as independent contractors, rather than fully employed laborers.
The settlement agreement requires the businesses to end the practice, which traditionally has been a way for companies to skirt Illinois labor laws. The practice greatly harms the misclassified workers by limiting their legal protections, including access to workers’ compensation, unemployment assistance and fair wages.
The settlement follows claims investigated by Attorney General Madigan and the resulting lawsuit alleging the five small construction companies were in the practice of misclassifying dozens of their workers as independent contractors when they were actually employees of the companies. Under Illinois law, workers must be treated as employees unless they meet specific criteria permitting them to be classified as independent contractors.
The defendants are:
* Hot weather helping crops, report shows
After a late start resulting from a cool, wet spring, both the corn and soybean crops have begun to catch up to last year and the five-year average, said a report released today through the Illinois field office in Springfield.
The report found 92 percent of the state’s corn crop has reached the silked stage compared to 96 percent at this point in 2008 and a five-year average of 99 percent. The soybean survey found 81 percent of the crop is in the blooming stage compared to 83 percent in 2008 and a five-year average of 94 percent.
As for the condition of the crops, 90 percent of the corn crop and 92 percent of the soybean crop were rated fair to excellent.
* Rural energy grants go to farmers, food processors
Some farmers and food processors in Illinois are receiving federal grants and loans to install renewable energy systems and make improvements in energy efficiency.
The grants announced Monday come from the Rural Energy for America Program. That program was established in the 2008 Farm Bill and is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that 365 recipients nationwide have been selected to receive more than $15 million in loans and grants.
Watershed Foods, which employs about 30 people in the central Illinois community of Gridley, is a grant-winner. Company president Jeremy Zobrist says the $189,000 grant will help update Watershed Foods’ free-drying process to make it more energy efficient.
* Suburban Bypass Project Gets More Funding
$60 million from Illinois’ capital plan will go toward building a bypass meant to clear up congestion near Midway Airport.
With new money from the state the Central Avenue Bypass project has now been allocated $170 million. That money will go toward pre-construction work like design and engineering analysis.
U.S. Congressman Daniel Lipinski says that phase is expected to take about two years. But he says more federal and state dollars will be needed for construction to begin.
* Durbin Says Super-High-Speed Rail is Too Expensive
Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says bringing super-high-speed rail to the Midwest is unrealistic for the time being.
Illinois is competing for $8 billion in stimulus money to help build a network of 110-mph trains.
But some advocates say the state should invest in trains that go twice as fast.
Durbin says that would require a “massive investment.”
* SEC investigating Huron Consulting
Huron Consulting Group Inc., whose shares plunged in the wake of an accounting scandal, said the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating it for acquisition-related payments, and it will delay filing its latest quarterly report.
Earlier this month, the consulting firm’s entire top management quit as it said it would restate more than three years of results, slashing its profits by almost half because it misreported costs related to acquisitions.
Huron’s board audit committee discovered that shareholders of four businesses that Huron acquired between 2005 and 2007 redistributed portions of their acquisition-related payments among themselves and to certain Huron employees.
The company continues to evaluate the impact of the restatements, it said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday.
* Southwest boosts bid for Frontier Airlines
Southwest Airlines, the biggest player at Midway Airport, bid $170 million for Frontier Airlines on Monday, setting the stage for an auction to determine who will take the Denver-based carrier out of bankruptcy protection.
Southwest’s bid is well above a previous bid of $108.8 million by regional airline operator Republic Airways Holdings Inc. Assuming Republic stays in the fight, an auction will be held to determine a winner.
Southwest said the auction will begin on Thursday.
Frontier accounts for about 1% of flights at Midway, the city’s Dept. of Aviation said last month.
* CWLP hikes Chatham’s water rate 17%
Chatham’s new rate is $2.577 per 100 cubic feet of water or $3.44 per 1,000 gallons. The village previously paid $2.20 per 100 cubic feet of water or $2.94 per 1,000 gallons.
* At retreats, jobless heal wounded spirits
“The economic situation is really forcing people to look at life through a different lens,” said Sister Mary Ruth Broz, program coordinator and spiritual director for the Portiuncula Center for Prayer retreat in southwest suburban Frankfort. “And many are finding that perhaps there’s a gift in all of this. And that gift is reawakening to the virtue of living simply.”
-Living simply is not my cup O’ tea, but whatever floats your boat.
* Hot dog boat captain sets sail with relish
Jim Napolitano, skipper of a boat that plies the Chain O’ Lakes serving frozen treats and hot dogs, recalled a typical eager customer.[…]
Napolitano’s “Crazy Cajun” is decked out like a Louisiana-style steamboat and has been a floating snack shop on the lake system for the last three seasons. […]
He also has an idea that might help him recoup some of his lost summer revenue. He is trying to get approval for a movie “boat-in.”
Napolitano would erect a big screen on metal poles driven into the sand near the Algonquin dam and offer the movies free while he sells refreshments.
- Best idea ever: bring fast food to the water. Now I can watch a movie and eat hot dogs and ice cream with as little effort as possible and all while I am boating. Great example why I love America, and why I can’t live simply. LOL
2 Comments
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Round-Up: Public Health
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
[posted by Mike Murray]
* Joliet-area chemical release is investigated by federal inspectors
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board has dispatched a four-member team to investigate why a toxic chemical was released from an oil refinery last week near Joliet.
Two employees — one of them in critical condition — were taken to a local hospital in Thursday’s incident. Their conditions Monday were not available.
A propane leak resulted in the hydrogen fluoride release at the ExxonMobil plant in Channahon, according to a safety board news release. The unit’s water deluge system, which is designed to contain airborne hydrogen fluoride, was activated and the alkylation unit was shut down.
Will County Emergency Management Agency Director Harold Damron said there was no cause for alarm outside the building, “based on everything we know.”
* Illegal immigrants face life-and-death decisions without health insurance
Under current federal laws, illegal immigrants are entitled to receive only emergency health care, though Illinois and some other states offer assistance to cover uninsured children. In Cook County, some immigrants might access a “limit of liability” program providing temporary financial aid to low-income uninsured patients.
Some undocumented patients have resorted to using stolen Social Security numbers bought on the black market to qualify for health programs — a form of medical identity theft increasingly on hospital radars.[…]
Hospitals nationwide have grappled with how to deal with indigent patients without legal status. In Chicago and elsewhere, some private facilities have arranged to have undocumented patients flown back to their own country, a practice that resulted in a landmark lawsuit in Florida last year on behalf of a Guatemalan man who suffered severe brain injuries from a car crash.
Last month, a Florida jury found that the hospital was within its rights to have Luis Alberto Jimenez repatriated.
* Fear failure, not health care reform [Jessie Jackson Op-ED]
* ‘What’s in this for me?’
1 Comment
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