Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Afternoon roundup
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
Afternoon roundup

Friday, Mar 24, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Personal PAC’s latest mailer…


* Trouble at EIU…


* More disturbances at Pontiac’s prison

Two officers at Pontiac Correctional Center were attacked earlier this week, marking the third assault on staff at the facility in just five months.

According to Will Lee, President of AFSCME Local Chapter 494, two inmates jumped on the officers in the law library Wednesday morning. Both officers were taken to the hospital, with one released the same day. The other required additional treatment, and was taken to a different hospital to have more work done. There’s no word on his condition, per privacy reasons.

Both of the inmates are identified. Their names are confidential, pending more information from the Department of Corrections. It’s unknown if they’re facing charges.

The latest in a string of attacks at Pontiac, Lee says not much has changed since their demonstrations last fall calling for additional security measures at the facility. He points to a continued lack of staffing as the primary reasons. For now, the union has monthly meetings with facility management, with union members bringing up consistent issues.

* Pantagraph story about a teacher who quit after parental rage

A Heyworth teacher has resigned following public backlash over a sex education book in her classroom.

The Heyworth school board approved a separation agreement at a special meeting Thursday with eighth grade English teacher Sarah Bonner. The vote came after a closed session and more than an hour of public comment, generally in her favor.

Bonner declined a request for an interview with The Pantagraph following the meeting.

The book in question was Juno Dawson’s “This Book is Gay,” a young adult nonfiction work on sexuality and gender. It was not in the school library but was Bonner’s own book in her classroom, Superintendent Lisa Taylor said.

Parent Jeff Klawitter, who spoke twice, said the issue had nothing to do with Bonner’s teaching style but he believed the book was inappropriate and was brought into the classroom without his or other parents’ knowledge.

* For no reason in particular, here’s the Illinois unemployment rate since 1976

* ICC…

Chicago, IL – The Illinois Commerce Commission released its annual report on accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials (hazmat) on Illinois railroads. Of the 8,549 rail cars inspected in 2022, the ICC found violations in just 1.3 percent of all inspections. When these inspections first started in 1981, violations topped 12 percent.

“The disaster in East Palestine has rightfully turned attention to our nation’s rail safety efforts. Our hazardous materials report is an important resource for understanding the kinds of incidents that occur on Illinois railways and helps the Commission to inform its ongoing safety measures,” said ICC Chairman Carrie Zalewski. “Investigating these incidents when they occur is critical, but the goal of routine inspections is ultimately to minimize and prevent these disasters from occurring in the first place.”

To help prevent hazmat disasters, ICC inspectors conduct frequent field checks to evaluate signals, track structure, operating practices, and hazardous materials transported by rail. In cooperation with Federal Railroad Administration inspectors, ICC inspectors focus on railroad mainline tracks, rail yards, and the industrial facilities of shippers and consignees of hazardous materials. Any violations or defects discovered, regardless of severity must be corrected to prevent serious incidents.

In addition to routine inspections, the ICC’s Hazardous Materials Safety Program includes technical assistance to shippers, consignees, and rail carriers; the inspection and escort of nuclear materials; and education and outreach activities. To keep communities safe in the event of a derailment, ICC works with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to provide technical aid to local emergency responders and investigate the cause of hazmat incidents.

The ICC is required by law to prepare a report on hazmat accidents for the General Assembly including the location, substance involved, amounts involved, and the suspected reason for each accident, as well as the rail line and point of origin of the hazardous material involved in each accident. Three categories of information contained in the report have also been added by the ICC’s Railroad Safety Section to make the report more useful. These include the type of equipment involved, date of incident, and the amount of hazardous material released in the accident. “Amount Released” is distinct from the required “Amount Involved.” “Amount Involved” is simply the quantity of commodity that was being transported; the “Amount Released” into the environment by an accident is far more critical.

To read the report on accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials on railroads in Illinois click here.

* “Entry is free for high school and college kids”…

Looks like grooming /s.

…Adding… I forgot about a pic I had. This press release reminded me…

Last night, Illinois State Representative Jennifer Sanalitro (R-Bloomingdale) celebrated the unanimous passage of her first bill through the House of Representatives. The legislation – HB2094 – aims to protect homeowners from deceptive mortgage marketing practices. The bill cracks down on bad actors who take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners, specifically those who are new to the home buying process and seniors who may be more vulnerable to deceptive marketing tactics.

She was wearing a red jacket loaned to her by former Rep. Randy Ramey. It used to be, freshmen were compelled to wear Ramey’s red jacket during floor debate on their first bills. But like most other freshman hazing rituals, the tradition was (thankfully) abandoned…

That’s just a wee bit big on her.

* Isabel’s roundup…

       

15 Comments
  1. - Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 2:23 pm:

    Can’t imagine why there’s a teacher shortage.

    A teacher is supposed to get parental permission before bringing personal items into class?

    Get over yourself, Goober.


  2. - Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 2:30 pm:

    Um, repeating things over and over again is not a good political strategy. See Mayor Lightfoot.


  3. - Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 2:34 pm:

    ===repeating things over and over again is not a good political strategy===

    It’s actually the opposite of that.


  4. - Demoralized - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 2:42 pm:

    ==but he believed the book was inappropriate==

    “He” believed. And because “he” believed then he thinks he should have the right to make decision for everyone else. This trend that we are seeing where one person or a few people find something objectionable therefore we should jump through hoops to make them happy has got to stop. These book banners have got to be stopped.


  5. - Jocko - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 2:44 pm:

    ==Parent Jeff Klawitter, who spoke twice, said the issue had nothing to do with Bonner’s teaching style but he believed the book was inappropriate==

    How much do you want to bet that Klawitter never read the book?


  6. - Demoralized - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 2:47 pm:

    ==A newly-proposed healthcare ban in Florida could effectively ban gender-affirming care for people of all ages==

    I LOL every time I hear someone say that the Republican party is about freedom from the government. They don’t believe in any such thing.


  7. - Jerry - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 2:56 pm:

    Wow, a teacher who sent an email EVERY week detailing the curriculum and included student insight. Sounds like a good, no great teacher to me.

    I guess the “woke mob” (DeSantos, 2023) got rid of her.


  8. - Rudy’s teeth - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 3:21 pm:

    Parents who are concerned about books and materials should choose home schooling for their children. Then, parents can control the currricula from 8:30 to 3:30 everyday.

    Heaven forbid that the class would take a field trip to the Art Institute. They’d have to drape the statue of Michelango’s David.


  9. - West Side the Best Side - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 3:24 pm:

    Rich - Sure does look like grooming. Free entry for high school and college kids and there’s pints involved? DeVore is right about the part where he’s doing a good job of screwing up their future though.


  10. - Steve - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 3:26 pm:

    -A white co-worker said it was part of a joke having nothing to do with race-

    I just don’t find any of this funny. Don’t people have any common sense in the 21st Century? A state agency should be a professional place not a comedy club.


  11. - Rudy’s teeth - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 3:47 pm:

    Excuse the typo…Michelangelo.


  12. - Uni Labor - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 3:50 pm:

    I think faculty unions at three public universities have filed intent to strike notices in the past 2 days: CSU, EIU & GSU
    All are represented by UPI (IFT)


  13. - Candy Dogood - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 4:02 pm:

    ===marking the third assault on staff at the facility in just five months.===

    How many vacancies/unfilled positions are there at Pontiac or corrections in general?

    Is the Governor’s failure to be able to hire causing staff assaults?


  14. - Proud Papa Bear - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 4:04 pm:

    The indignant dad said: What happens in my household, that’s my son. It’s not the school’s son, it’s not the teacher’s son, and most importantly it’s not the teacher’s union son.

    Yes, Goober, in your home you can ban all you want. And when your adult child won’t speak to you in 10 years because he wasn’t accepted by dad you’ll have only yourself to blame.


  15. - Demoralized - Friday, Mar 24, 23 @ 4:35 pm:

    ==Is the Governor’s failure to be able to hire ==

    I wish hiring were as easy as you apparently think it is. I generally enjoy reading your comments but when it comes to topics such as this you really are way off base.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Madigan trial roundup: Solis faces first day of cross-examination
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller