Morning Shorts: FYI for blog readers
Thursday, Aug 6, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
I will not be able to guest blog today or tomorrow. Sorry, but I don’t have the time.
Instead, I am doing a very large -and in my opinion very thorough- Morning Shorts.
I have separated MS into different posts by sections to allow for easier commenting and discussion of issues.
PLEASE make sure that you watch your comments extra closely today, because I will not be able to monitor them. If you can not, comments will be closed tomorrow.
Enjoy.
P.S. -check out Carol Marin’s story on the NRA’s impact on the CDC. Its in the ‘Other Interesting Stories and Op-Ed’ Section at the bottom. Also, check out the story on Tamns prison in the ‘Crime and Punishment’ section. I would do a post on both, but alas, I have to be at work at 10:30.
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MS: State Governance
Thursday, Aug 6, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
* Home day cares told food funds are on the way
State government’s budget delays have held up food reimbursements to home day care centers across Illinois, even though the kids didn’t stop eating.
With a state budget belatedly in place, finally allowing normal disbursement of U.S. Department of Agriculture funds, day care providers who advanced their own cash to keep the meals and snacks coming should soon be reimbursed.[…]
“It’s hard to keep buying food when we haven’t been reimbursed yet for the month before,” Squires said before getting the news that funding is in the pipeline. “We’re just like families with a lot of extra mouths to feed, and it’s really hard to do.”
* Gov. Pat Quinn set to sign ban on texting while driving
Gov. Pat Quinn on Thursday is scheduled to sign into law a measure barring motorists from sending text messages while driving.
Illinois would join 14 other states and Washington in prohibiting the practice, which safety advocates say is dangerous and leads to crashes. The law would allow police to stop and ticket motorists for sending text messages, downloading ring tones or surfing the Internet on their mobile phones. It would take effect Jan. 1.
* Quinn to sign distracted driving bills today
The governor will sign House Bills 71 and 72 during a ceremony at Northeastern Illinois University, according to a Quinn spokeswoman. Also expected to attend is Secretary of State Jesse White, whose office oversees driver services.[…]
A state legislative task force created after Wilhelm’s death found that one in four accidents nationally occur because of driver inattention. Statistics compiled by the Illinois Department of Transportation show that cell phones were the primary or secondary contributor to 1,001 traffic accidents in 2008 and 1,357 crashes in 2007.[…]
House Bill 71 prohibits reading, writing or sending “an electronic message” while driving. That ban would apply to e-mail, text messages, instant messages and Internet-surfing.[…]
House Bill 72 outlaws the use of cell phones while driving in a school zone or in a highway construction zone. It, too, includes several exceptions, such as using a cell phone in an emergency.
* Free year of college is a pipe dream
Boland, the Democratic head of the House’s Higher Education Committee, is making the rounds of community colleges to gather support and tweak his Challenge Scholarship legislation.
In short, an eighth-grader would have to sign a pledge (along with parent or guardian) that he or she would maintain at least a “C” average throughout high school and not get suspended from school or busted for anything to do with drugs or alcohol or violent behavior.
Those who fulfill the pledge would either get a year’s worth of tuition for a community college or the equivalent value applied to a four-year school of their choosing. […]
Boland’s possible solutions to funding the program are perhaps less reliable than even funding from the state budget. Among the ideas: specialty license plates, an extra $100 court fee and donations from individuals and foundations. But if the court fee idea is such a great idea, shouldn’t it help balance the state budget? Couldn’t it be used to help forestall an income tax increase?
* Denied rapid-gambling thrills, Fairmount Park is fading
But in 2009, casinos have trumped the game. Why wait 19 minutes for a thrill you can get at a casino as often as you can pull a slot machine lever or pick up a fresh hand of cards. Yesterday’s strategy-driven horse players — who wanted to win on skill and not just dumb luck — are today’s strategy-driven poker or blackjack players.[…]
Illinois lawmakers orchestrated a peculiar plan to temporarily rescue Fairmount and its upstate cousins with revenue from a tax on the state’s top grossing casinos. Even if it worked, it amounted to giving the tracks fish instead of fishing equipment.
But it didn’t work. The handout scheme is tied up by a casino industry lawsuit till who knows when. So the foundering Fairmount has decided to end its 2009 live season early, giving back 18 of the 75 authorized racing dates once held so precious.[…]
In its unbridled zeal to cultivate revenue on vices, the Legislature recently expanded wagering and its dubious social consequences to the fertile new ground of bars and restaurants. If those usually non-wagering businesses can have video gambling, why can’t Fairmount be allowed to put in slot machines — something that apparently has saved horse racing in some other states.
* State will pay for Toulon elevator
Out of five bids opened Tuesday afternoon, three came in well below the $200,000 figure the county is slated to receive for the project through the state capital spending bill that was approved last month.
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MS: 2010 Elections
Thursday, Aug 6, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
* Poll: Giannoulias favored to win nomination
The poll, conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, shows Giannoulias winning 45 percent of the primary vote against businessman (and RFK son) Chris Kennedy and Chicago Urban League president Cheryle Jackson. In the three-way race, Kennedy tallies 17 percent of the vote, with Jackson at 13 percent.
In a head-to-head matchup against Jackson, Giannoulias leads by 30 points, 51 to 21 percent.
The poll surveyed 387 likely Illinois Democratic voters between July 28-August 2, and has a five percent margin of error.
The poll reflects the growing belief that Giannoulias will emerge as the Democratic nominee, and face Republican congressman Mark Kirk in the general election for President Obama’s old Senate seat. Kennedy appears to have backed off his plans to pursue the Senate after spending much of the spring ramping up for a primary against Giannoulias.
* Alexi Giannoulias investigated by Fox News (This is a video, and I did not have time to watch it. So if it is a bunch of malarkey, blame Fox not me)
* Climate Vote Causing Heartburn for Kirk in Senate Bid (I suggest you read the whole thing)
The moderate Kirk has long been viewed as the GOP’s best hope of recapturing a Senate seat in the solidly blue state. But in the couple of weeks since announcing his Senate bid, Kirk has been repeatedly hit from the right over support for the climate bill and analysts say it is possible the issue could dog him throughout the campaign.
“Our members are very upset with that vote — we have yet to receive a good answer and in our opinion there is no good answer for that vote,” said Joe Calomino, director of the Illinois branch of Americans for Prosperity, an organization that advocates for fiscally conservative policies. “On a statewide level, that vote is an anti-free market vote.”
The furor over the climate bill started almost immediately after the late June vote, as numerous conservative commentators and bloggers harshly criticized the eight House Republicans who voted in favor of the bill and in the minds of some provided the votes needed for passage (Greenwire, June 30).
Some of that criticism has faded in recent weeks as conservatives have turned their attention to health care and other topics and as the climate debate moved to the Senate. But the issue continues to haunt Kirk, who now has to explain his vote not just to constituents but to conservative voters across the state — including to those in the coal-producing regions of southern Illinois.
* Hynes gets word out on gov run
State Comptroller Dan Hynes will be sending out a letter to supporters today confirming he is running for governor.
A formal announcement of his entry into the Democratic primary will come later this month, but the letter will include petition forms supporters can download and begin circulating today. […]
“We need strong, steady leadership to tackle the serious problems facing Illinois, and I believe we’re not getting that leadership right now,” Hynes told the Sun-Times. “Serious problems need serious leadership. We don’t need somebody who can tell a joke or can work a room. We need someone who can work a budget, and work with the General Assembly.”[…]
“When you get in the arena, you’ve got to make decisions,” Quinn said of Hynes last month. “You can’t stand on the side of the road and not take part in tough battles. You can’t be a no-show. You can’t just show up and say, ‘Hey, I want to be elected to something.’ “
* Bernard Schoenburg: Springfield suffers from gap in understanding
MIKE RENDINA, 29, of Chicago has been named campaign manager for Illinois Comptroller DAN HYNES’ expected run for governor.[…]
Rendina got to know Hynes while managing the campaign of state Rep. SARA FEIGENHOLTZ, D-Chicago, in the special election to replace White House Chief of Staff RAHM EMANUEL. Hynes endorsed Feigenholtz[…]
Rendina also managed the successful re-election campaign in 2008 of U.S. Rep. BILL FOSTER, D-Geneva and has been caucus director for Senate Democrats in the Maryland legislature.
* Murphy’s in, Rosemont bans video gambling
State Sen. Matt Murphy has been quiet lately about his run for governor as compared to his Republican primary competition. But the Palatine Republican says that is no sign he is backing out of the race.
In fact, he told Animal Farm today he is fundraising, has a team of advisors in place and recently meet with members of the Republican Governors Association. In coming weeks he is planning a statewide tour.
Murphy’s right-hand man is Ryan McLaughlin, who ran Peter Roskam’s successful run for Congress against Tammy Duckworth in the DuPage County-centered 6th District.
“It is coming together nicely,” he said. “I feel like I have a great opportunity.”
* DuPage’s Schillerstrom urges towns to pass on video gambling
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom is urging leaders in Illinois cities and counties to reject video gambling machines.[…]
[…] Schillerstrom’s video gambling position is not really that unique among the pool of five GOP gubernatorial candidates, though. The three state senators also in the race oppose use of the machines as does conservative radio commentator and fellow candidate Dan Proft.
* Southland reps weigh Obama’s health plan (Other U.S. Reps. nentioned in story: Bean, Lipinski, Rush and Jackson -see health news section)
On Wednesday, the National Republican Congressional Committee sent an e-mail throughout the 11th Congressional District, urging U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson to “side with Illinois seniors … and oppose a government healthcare takeover … that will destroy Medicare.”
Halvorson, a Democrat, ran for Congress on a health care agenda. She often shared a story on the campaign trail of her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis at age 49. Because her father ran a small business restoring furniture, Halvorson’s parents did not have access to an affordable group medical plan. They were uninsured.[…]
But in the delicate dance of ideology vs. re-election, will Pelosi give Halvorson - a freshman representing a traditionally Republican district - longer leash on Obama’s bill? Will Halvorson take it?
Halvorson spokeswoman Roxane Geraci-Militello said the bill must lower costs for families and reduce the government’s budget deficit.
* Buehrle family enjoys day at mayor’s office
Sneed hears rumbles state Sen. Jimmy DeLeo, who was this/close to embattled former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is planning to pull out of politics.
• • To wit: Sneed is told DeLeo, who has served 24 years in the state Legislature as a top Democrat and gregarious bon vivant — may not run for re-election in the primary next February.
• • The stats: Calls to DeLeo’s office were not returned. Word is he wants to take his life in a new direction.
* Breen announces for 41st
Tuesday evening, Lombard Republican Peter Breen declared his candidacy for State Representative in District 41 to succeed 17-year incumbent Bob Biggins (R-Elmhurst). The event, at Villa Nova Banquets in Villa Park, was attended by over 60 people.
* Rivadeneira Signs Transparency Pledge
ELMHURST, IL – Rafael Rivadeneira, Republican candidate for House District 41, signed the Illinois Policy Institute’s Transparency Pledge to ensure state government is doing everything within its power to provide transparent government following his election to the House. Rafael formally announced his candidacy for the open seat in July.
* Quinn Urged to Veto “Protect Incumbents Act”
“HB 723 would make it nearly impossible for third parties to slate candidates in Illinois,” said Free & Equal Chair Christina Tobin. “The bill would make it so that when no candidate of an established party runs in a primary for a particular office, that party can only fill the vacancy in nomination if the candidate they “slate” collects a large number of signatures.”
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MS: Municipalities; County Governance
Thursday, Aug 6, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
* How suite it is to be Council Finance chief
Not Chicago’s most powerful alderman. Finance Committee Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th) is freshening up his third-floor suite at City Hall.
New carpeting is being installed to eliminate the need to cover holes with duct tape. Walls are being re-painted. A “small number” of chairs and cubicles are being replaced.
Acting General Services Commissioner Mark Maloney offered no cost estimate on the Finance Committee project. […]
No matter what the cost, the touch-up comes at the worst possible time from a public relations standpoint. Most of Chicago’s unionized employees have been forced to take unpaid days off and make other cost-cutting concessions.
* City pledges $25 mil. to help airline relocate to downtown
Mayor Daley is strapped for cash to run city government, but he has a rich money pot to subsidize private development downtown.
His pledge of $25 million in city help for the relocation of United Airlines jobs to Willis Tower shows the power of a relatively new tax-increment financing district. Formally, it’s called the LaSalle Central Redevelopment Project Area, and the last official accounting said it had $26.8 million in free cash. The money cannot be used for City Hall’s regular business.
The city has used furloughs, concessions and layoffs to eliminate a threatened $300 million year-end shortfall, and Daley’s preliminary 2010 budget has a $520 million gap.
* United Airlines Is Expected To Move Downtown
Fioretti says the subsidy is justified because the average United worker will spend thousands of dollars at downtown businesses.
* Will we call it the ‘old United building’ in 10 years?
When United Airlines leaves for downtown Chicago, the company has the potential to leave behind a 60-acre eyesore.
The airline reportedly will announce today that it is moving the 2,800 employees at its operational headquarters in Elk Grove Township to Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower.
Since the campus sits in an unincorporated area, only Cook County officials will patrol the site to make sure it doesn’t fall into disrepair.
* Daley Wants Stimulus Cash for Airports
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is calling on the federal government to dole out stimulus money for airports.[…]
The city had previously hoped to secure stimulus money to help pay for the estimated $15 billion O’Hare expansion.
Instead, it got just $12 million dollars for some runway improvements.
* Aviation chief wants to reduce waste-hauling costs
Air travelers who attempt to bring bottled water and coffee to the gate, only to dump the filled containers at security checkpoints, are costing O’Hare and Midway Airports a ton of money.
Liquid-filled containers are heavy. The more the garbage weighs, the more the city pays to haul it away.
On Wednesday, Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino used a so-called “Airports Going Green” conference to float an idea pioneered in Portland that could reduce waste-hauling costs and improve the environment.
“What Portland was doing was allowing them to dump the water out, take the empty bottle with them through security. They can re-fill it on the other side or dispose of it in a recycling bin. This way, reduce the amount they pay for garbage disposal,” she said.
* Village wanted casino, says no to video poker
I’ll bet there wouldn’t have been many to pick Rosemont, the town that aggressively pursued a riverboat casino license for most of the past decade, only to lose out because of its enduring reputation for mob influence.
But on Wednesday, the Rosemont village board enacted a ban on the electronic gambling devices within its borders, passing up the potential revenue due local governments under the law while citing potential social costs.
“It’s not worth it for a couple, three hundred thousand dollars,” said Rosemont Mayor Bradley Stephens, who succeeded his father, Rosemont founder Donald Stephens, after his death in 2007.
* Murphy’s in, Rosemont bans video gambling
The question is now: If video gambling is no good for Rosemont, who is it good for?
* DuPage’s Schillerstrom urges towns to pass on video gambling
However, he doesn’t believe communities that do pass on the devices should be denied any infrastructure dollars video gambling helps generate.
“I don’t think that’s fair at all,” he said. “The revenue (the state) expects to get from video poker is at best speculative because local governments can opt out, and there is tremendous need for those public works dollars all over the state.”[…]
Schillerstrom currently serves as DuPage County Board chairman and supports county board member Brien Sheahan’s initiative to ban the devices at establishments in unincorporated parts of the county.
* SJ-R: Governments should reject gambling law
Both Peoria and DuPage counties are considering banning it in the unincorporated areas over which they have jurisdiction.
* Chicago’s Olympic Village tab: $1.18 billion
The tab for building an Olympic Village typically is reported to be about $1 billion, but a tally of various associated costs puts the total at $1.18 billion.
* Dublin bookie has Chicago odds-on favorite for bid, but bettors can be wrong. Just ask Paris.
In this year’s sweeps, the Dublin-based agency has Chicago running at 4-6 odds, with Tokyo lagging at 10-3, Rio de Janeiro limping at 7-2 and Madrid gasping at 8-1. British online bookie bet365.com also has Chicago clearly ahead at 4-6, with Rio and Tokyo in a tossup for silver and bronze.
Federal law forbids Americans from sponsoring bets or betting on such games.
* CTA to fire employees caught using cell phones on duty
Drivers and thousands of other CTA employees caught using personal electronic devices on duty will be fired under a new “zero tolerance” policy that reflects a growing national concern over motorists’ cell phone use and texting.
* No texting, no phones for CTA rail workers
Effective immediately, train operators, rail maintenance workers and rail station customer assistants are prohibited from using or possessing cell phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants such as BlackBerry devices, MP3 music players, wireless headsets or any other device, CTA President Richard Rodriguez said.
* Cell Phone Use Could Get CTA Driver Fired
Previously, employees had been allowed up to four safety violations before a dismissal was considered.[…]
Bus drivers are only allowed to use a cell phone in an emergency. Train operators are given CTA radios and cell phones and are prohibited from using any personal device while on duty.
Earlier this week, Federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said all drivers who text behind the wheel should face criminal charges.
* Cook County to ban smoking on all hospital grounds
Cook County government’s medical system will ban smoking entirely at all its hospitals and clinics in November, stubbing out outdoor smoking on its properties, officials said Wednesday.[…]
County Board President Todd Stroger, who announced the new policy in front of Stroger Hospital with system officials, lauded the decision to make the grounds smoke-free.
“I think it’s important as a health institution that we lead by example,” Stroger said. “You can’t promote a healthy lifestyle without having a healthy environment.”
The ban will go into effect along with the American Cancer Society’s annual Great American Smokeout on Nov. 19.
* County hospitals, clinics push smokers farther away
T.Cook County health system chief William Foley said making the county’s three hospitals and 19 other health care facilities entirely smoke-free will send a message to the public that “quality health care in a healthy environment begins when you come to our property.”
* Jeremih did everything right, but he’s wrong rep for CPS
To headline a back-to-school campaign, Chicago Public Schools officials say they opted for a talented, hardworking CPS grad who values education — and just happens to be famous for a salacious breakout single called “Birthday Sex.”
* ‘Birthday Sex’ no incentive for education
* 150 rally against racism; Davlin says noose investigation following protocol
Amid demands for the firing of two employees believed to be responsible for tying and hanging a noose in a workstation at City Water, Light and Power, Mayor Tim Davlin said Wednesday that “everything is going exactly the way it’s supposed to.”[…]
Before the city council meeting, a crowd of about 150 people of all ages and races rallied outside city hall, denouncing racism and making it clear how they felt: A noose isn’t a prank or a joke — it’s a hate crime.
* Bernard Schoenburg: Springfield suffers from gap in understanding
* Oak Forest mayor pitches another law firm
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MS: Ethics and Reform
Thursday, Aug 6, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
* Commission Will Issue U of I Admissions Report
The special commission investigating the admissions process at the University of Illinois is scheduled to issue their report to Governor Pat Quinn, Thursday.[…]
Panel Chair Abner Mikva says members will make a recommendation regarding the Board of Trustees.
MIKVA: All of the trustees ought to submit their resignations to the Governor and the Governor should decide which of any he wants to appoint.
* Quinn promises action ‘quickly’ on U of I board
Gov. Pat Quinn is promising action “very quickly” after he gets the final report from a commission that examined the admissions scandal at the University of Illinois.
* Ex-dean calls herself ‘victim’ of admissions scandal
Heidi Hurd — who testified before the Illinois Admission Review Commission nearly a month ago — sent a 15-page letter late last week in which she describes herself as a “victim” of the school’s clout lists, not a “perpetrator,” and details her efforts to push back against them.
She also supports her earlier assertions that Chancellor Richard Herman and public officials abused their power when they forced her to admit subpar students.
Commissioners will weigh the letter against a voice mail message Hurd left on Herman’s home phone shortly after she testified. University attorneys turned over the message to the commission, officials said.
According to a transcript, Hurd refers to Herman as a “knight in shining armor” and says she remains his “most ardent admirer.”
* Secretary of State official touts reforms
The Illinois secretary of state’s inspector general visited two Metro East drivers facilities on Wednesday and showcased reform efforts to root out corruption.
“We want the public to know that there is zero tolerance for corruption or unethical behavior,” said Jim Burns, the inspector general who formerly served as U.S. attorney for northern Illinois.
The office was beset by corruption allegations in the 1990s. Former Gov. George Ryan was convicted in 2006 of a series of federal charges stemming from his tenure as secretary of state in that era, including racketeering and fraud.
* A Good, Clean Campaign
Although it’s been barely 200 days since the legislature was sworn in, this week marked the start of candidate petition season. When candidates turn in their petitions around Halloween, election authorities will ask them to submit a bunch of other papers as well, including, Statements of Economic Interest, political fundraising disclosures, and the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.
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MS: Crime and Punishment
Thursday, Aug 6, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
* Ex-warden: Ill. supermax `very, very hard time’ (Tamns prison piece: A very long but very good read)
But critics of the prison say Fields is a victim of a deeply flawed policy that punishes mentally ill inmates for behavior they cannot control by placing them in solitary confinement for long periods, in many cases 10 years or more.
Such punishment, some critics say, amounts to torture worse than that experienced by suspected terrorists at the U.S. military prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
After his transfer 11 years ago to Tamms, Fields coped in ways bizarre and self-destructive common to many inmates held in continuous solitary confinement. He sliced his arms and throat with bits of glass, metal and paint chips. A prison doctor who stitched him up once testified he didn’t always inject anesthetic because the skin of many Tamms inmates became numb from massive scarring from repeated self-mutilation.
Fields smeared excrement in his cell so often that maintenance men painted it with an easier to clean coating. He swallowed glass. Prison officials charged him $5.30 for tearing up a state-owned sheet to make a noose to kill himself.
* Buehrle family enjoys day at mayor’s office
Watch for a Cook County grand jury to issue an indictment today against the four Burr Oak Cemetery employees charged with desecrating graves. Are new charges forthcoming?
* Lake County Coroner Richard Keller Under Investigation
The Lake County state’s attorney’s office is investigating a methadone-related death after learning that the county’s coroner, Dr. Richard Keller, prescribed the drug to the victim at a Waukegan clinic, where Keller is medical director.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is participating in the county investigation, which includes a review of whether Keller and clinic staff followed proper procedures in administering methadone, commonly used to treat heroin addiction, DEA Special Agent Will Taylor said.And a state agency has faulted the clinic for not reporting the death, as required.
* Nursing home could face fines for abuse
La Salle County could face federal and state fines of $20,000 or more for code violations at a nursing home where a male patient is accused of molesting 10 women.
* Attorney: Cop is killer, not marijuana dealer
Finnigan, formerly of the police Special Operations Section, shot Eric Kaminski three times in the head on Feb. 4, 2004 after Daniel Nevarez told him Kaminski stole $40,000 of cash and two kilograms of marijuana from his home, Stuart Goldberg claimed during his opening statement’s at Nevarez’s murder trial this afternoon.[…]
Nevarez, 27, had been paying off Finnigan $3,500 a month to keep him from getting arrested, Goldberg said.
And when the money disappeared, Nevarez allegedly told Finnigan he couldn’t pay him. So Finnigan met with Kaminski, 25, in a building Nevarez’s father owns, in the 2200 block of West Coulter, and shot him, Goldberg said.
Finnigan has been charged along with other members of the now-disbanded Special Operations Section of falsely arresting and robbing people. Finnigan is also charged in federal court with plotting to kill a fellow officer, Keith Herrera, whom he believed was cooperating with the corruption investigation.
* Suit claims Glenwood police officer beat man having diabetic attack
Johnson, who suffers from Type 2 diabetes, said his blood sugar was so low he was losing consciousness when he bumped a guard rail with his car while trying to pull over on the road.
The lawsuit claims Glenwood police officer Dan Fisher pulled up behind Johnson’s vehicle, went to the driver’s side window and, believing Johnson was intoxicated, smashed the window with his baton in an attempt to rouse him. The suit said Fisher then pulled him out of his vehicle and choked, punched and kicked Johnson multiple times. […]
An emergency medical services report filed by Bud’s Ambulance termed Johnson as being “difficult to arouse” and “not responding to verbal” commands at the scene. His blood sugar count was recorded as 26 on the report.
Normal blood counts are between 80 and 120, said Maria Natividad, a certified diabetes educator with Ingalls Outpatient Diabetes Center in Tinley Park. “A 26 would be considered a severe hypoglycemic blood sugar count. Their symptoms could mirror someone who is intoxicated or they may just pass out,” she said.
* Second Brown’s Chicken Massacre Trial Set to Open
* One dead, seven wounded in two shootings on Southwest, Far South sides
* 8 stabbed in fight at Cook County Jail
* Grandson charged in murder of 88-year-old
Family members say Sim Williams was a retired construction worker who had six children, 15 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
* Calif. to prosecute Ill. triple murderer
A convicted triple murderer in Illinois was charged Wednesday with the killings of five Southern California women in cases dating back to the mid-1980s.
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MS: Economic News
Thursday, Aug 6, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
* Lawmakers Ask For Patience
(Video)
Today on a visit to an Indiana factory, President Obama said he believes the nation’s economy is on its way to recovery. The latest figures show Illinois’ unemployment rate is following national trends, tipping the scales at 10.3%
.
State Senator Dan Rutherford says during good times and bad, people need to keep lawmakers in the loop.
* New jobless claims drop more than expected
The Labor Department said that initial claims for jobless benefits dropped to a seasonally adjusted 550,000 for the week ending Aug. 1, down from an upwardly revised figure of 588,000 in the previous week.[…]
The tally of people continuing to claim benefits rose, however, by 69,000 to 6.3 million, the department said, after dropping for three straight weeks. The continuing claims data lags initial claims by a week.[…]
When emergency extensions of unemployment are included, the total rolls climbed to a record 9.35 million for the week ending July 18, the most recent data available. Congress has added up to 53 extra weeks of benefits on top of the 26 typically provided by the states.[…]
The recession, which began in December 2007 and is the longest since World War II, has eliminated a net total of 6.5 million jobs. The unemployment rate is expected to rise to 9.6 percent when the July figure is reported Friday. The jobless rate of 9.5 percent in June marked a 26-year high.
* The appraisal game has changed. Here’s what you need to know.
Nowadays, chastened by the cascade of bum loans that came back to haunt them, most lenders are casting a wary eye to just about everything in an appraisal, according to McCarthy and others in the field.[…]
“Lenders are requiring much more market information from the appraisal than I can remember in my 30-year career,” he said.[…]
The new policy agreement, from regulators and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is called the Home Valuation Code of Conduct, and it’s intended to keep appraisers and lenders at arm’s length to ensure unbiased valuations.
But critics complain that one result of the rules is that non-local appraisers — who may be unfamiliar with neighborhood real estate norms — are being called in, and their less-informed opinions are skewing appraisals and causing deals to founder.
* Stimulus check will keep Fermilab open for next 20 years
One of the Kane County’s largest employers will stay innovative and viable thanks to a $60.2 million funding boost from the federal stimulus package.
Fermilab Director Piermaria Oddone publicly thanked Congressman Bill Foster, a former Fermilab employee, for helping secure the money on Wednesday. The cash infusion means job security for the nearly 2,000 employees of the lab and new, short-term, jobs for the local construction industry.
* Welcome home, money
During a press conference at the high-energy particle physics lab on Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Geneva, said Fermilab will see the first $45 million of its federal stimulus money in about two weeks and can be expected to start spending the money shortly thereafter.
“The $45 million will get out in the community in the hands of businesses,” said Foster, who estimated the total federal stimulus money will help create 125 local construction jobs.
The $45 million is just the first payment. The lab is approved for more than $100 million of federal stimulus money.[…]
Of the $100 million, one-fourth is planned for general infrastructure improvements. Oddone said much of that $25 million will stay with local contractors, architects and technicians, such as the ones who install air conditioning systems.
* Illinois to receive $13 million for school routes
Illinois will receive $13.1 million in federal money to encourage children to walk and bike to school.[…]
According to Quinn’s office, there will be 171 projects across the state, including sidewalk repairs, safety training and police and crossing guard equipment. The program is known as Safe Routes to School.
* Woodford gets $302,000 as transportation deal reached
Woodford County got its $302,000 for road work.[…]
The TIP approval also covered other projects that the group previously had feared might not meet time constraints for federal stimulus funding. Primarily, that means Northmoor Road, a joint project between the city of Peoria and Peoria County that accounts for more than $2 million of the $5.4 million in stimulus funding.
* EJ&E foes prep for next battle
One appeal of a controversial railway sale was denied this week, clearing the way for another — this one in federal court.
On Wednesday, the federal Surface Transportation Board rejected an appeal by the Illinois Commerce Commission. The ICC objected to Canadian National Railway Company’s $300 million purchase of the suburban Elgin, Joliet and Eastern rail line, which the STB approved in December.
* Allstate logs Q2 profit despite catastrophe losses
The news sent Allstate’s shares tumbling in aftermarket trading, down 76 cents, or 2.7 percent, to $27.47. The stock closed Wednesday’s regular session at $28.23, down nearly 14 percent for the year.
The Northbrook, Ill., company said it earned $389 million, or 72 cents per share, for the three months ended June 30. That compares with a profit of $25 million, or 5 cents per share, last year. Revenue rose 14.5 percent to $8.49 billion. […]
During the second quarter, Allstate had record catastrophic losses of $818 million, up 17 percent from $698 million in the year ago period, due to a large number of costly windstorms and hailstorms. It was the company’s sixth-consecutive quarter of high catastrophe losses from events other than hurricanes, said Allstate Chairman, President and Chief Executive Tom Wilson in an interview with The Associated Press.
* Hyatt eyes $1.15B IPO
Chicago-based global hotelier Hyatt Hotels Corp. is seeking to raise up to $1.15 billion in an initial public offering, according to a regulatory filing on Wednesday.
The filing did not specify the number of shares to be offered or an expected date for the offering, which is the third largest prospective IPO in the U.S. pipeline.[…]
For the year ended Dec. 31, 2008, Hyatt’s revenues came to $3.8 billion, with net income from Hyatt Hotels reaching $168 million.
But for the six months ended June 30, revenues totaled $1.6 billion, with a net loss of $36 million attributable to Hyatt Hotels Corporation, according to the filing.
* UAL may dodge cash crunch, analyst says
Shares of UAL Corp., parent of United Airlines, shot up more than 18 percent Wednesday as an analyst said the carrier was not facing a near-term cash crisis.
Most airline shares were higher, rising from earlier lows, as oil prices dropped below $71.
* Helping veterans afford college is the least we can do
People who have served three years or more will be eligible for tuition and fees equal to the most expensive public university in their state. They will also get a housing stipend and up to $1,000 a year for books.
The benefits will be prorated for military veterans who have served less than 36 months.
Children will receive the benefit if the person has been killed in the line of duty. Troops who have served six years and sign up for an additional four can pass the college benefit to their children.
* Goodwill launches school clothing drive
PEORIA —Goodwill Industries and Family Circle magazine have launched a national 5 million-pound clothing drive.
Donated items will be sold at the central Illinois agency’s nine stores and nationally at more than 2,300 Goodwill retail stores.
* Back to School: Smart shopping
The average family with students in elementary or high school is expected to spend $549 on school clothing and supplies this year, down 7.7 percent from the $594 spent last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Back-to-school spending across the country is expected to reach $17.42 billion.
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MS: Health News
Thursday, Aug 6, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
* Health-reform plan must include lower-cost drugs
A recent Kaiser report showed that the 10 brand-name drugs most commonly prescribed for Medicare beneficiaries — drugs such as Lipitor, Plavix or Prevacid, which have an average monthly price of $131 — lack generic equivalents.
The soaring cost of prescription drugs is a crisis that has been brewing for years. Americans spent more than $40 billion on prescription drugs in 1990. In 2006, according to federal sources, expenditures rose to more than $217 billion.
A recent AARP Illinois survey showed the harsh impact of prescription drug prices on Illinoisans over 50. Nearly 20 percent had to choose between filling a grocery cart, paying utility bills and filling a prescription, and 63 percent of Illinois AARP members are concerned about being able to afford their medicines.[…]
Americans will pay $2.6 trillion in health expenses in 2009, an average of $8,300 per person. But if no action is taken, health expenses will soar to $13,000 per person by 2017, according to the Congressional Budget Office projections.
* Southland reps weigh Obama’s health plan
U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-1st), of Chicago, whose district includes Midlothian, Crestwood and Oak Forest, introduced and passed an amendment in committee that clears the path for generic prescription drugs to come to market. His amendment eliminates incentives offered to generic drug-makers by their brand-name competitors to delay entry to market.
With that change incorporated, Rush is expected to support the final version of Obama’s bill, as is U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd), of Chicago. Constituents of the 2nd District support Obama’s plan, according to Jackson spokesman Charles Dujon. […]
Halvorson’s suburban counterpart up north, U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean (D-8th) of Barrington said Wednesday she remains unconvinced the bill as written “measurably reduces increasing health care costs for American families, business and our government while protecting quality of care.”
U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-3rd), of Western Springs, said he’ll study the three proposals that emerged from the recently adjourned session. Pelosi hopes to smooth the three versions into one bill by the time the House returns Sept. 4.
* Seniors check out free checkups
METAMORA —Free blood pressure screenings, health care literature and information on volunteer organizations were among the many services for senior citizens Wednesday morning at Snyder Village.
Sponsored by state Rep. Dave Leitch, R-Peoria, and Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria, the senior fair has been held for the past decade and typically draws more than 150 seniors.
* Walgreens, AARP team up for free health screenings
The national tour stops at various locations in the Chicago area through Aug. 17. At each location, a 40-foot-long customized bus will offer health screenings to adults 18 years and older along with free educational information that is geared to increase the chances for early detection of potential health problems.
The screenings take place inside the vehicle and include total cholesterol levels, blood pressure, bone density, glucose levels, waist circumference and body mass index.
* ‘Early gainers’ using Depo more prone to long-term weight gain: study
Women who gain weight rapidly after starting birth control injections appear to be more prone to long-term weight gain, researchers have found.
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MS: Other Interesting Stories and Op-Eds
Thursday, Aug 6, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
***So the CDC keeps track of deaths caused by cows, but not by guns…interesting. Carol Marin may have a point about this being a scandal. Full disclosure: I am a gun enthusiast and gun owner who annually hunts pheasants and my father and brother are both card carrying members of the NRA. So I have no axe to grind here. I just find this an interesting example of how powerful lobbies can be counterproductive on society ***
* Is NRA part of the problem in counting the shootings?(I strongly suggest you read the whole thing)
Kathleen Monahan, the former project director for the Illinois Violent Death Reporting System, puts it this way: “While firearms injuries are one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death for Americans, the CDC was prevented for years from investigating injuries and deaths due to firearms. This was always attributed to the NRA’s power in Congress. This is well known among gun violence prevention researchers.”[…]
The NRA’s fearsome clout goes a long way to explaining why only 17 states are part of the CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System. Begun in 2002, it ran out of funding by the time Illinois applied in 2004. Private money from the Joyce and MacArthur foundations came to Illinois’ rescue as it tried to examine gun violence. Still that money covers only three counties.
“Information is the gun lobby’s enemy,” said Kristen Rand of the Violence Policy Center, based in Washington.
So much so that when it comes to suicides, the CDC does not break out its data with regard to the method used. Hanging? Drug overdose? Or gun?
* Farmers beware: CDC report says cows can be fatal
Farmers beware: A government report says cattle cause 20 deaths a year on average on U.S. farms.Farmers beware: A government report says cattle cause 20 deaths a year on average on U.S. farms.
* Beer wiser: Get schooled in suds
There are 1,545 breweries operating in the United States. Thousands more are scattered worldwide — from traditional beer-drinking countries such as Belgium and Germany to newer craft-brewing hot spots such as Italy and Norway. With many, if not most, of those breweries regularly releasing new offerings, seasonal brews and limited one-offs, there’s a never-ending supply of new beers to learn about and sample.[…]
Well, you don’t have to devote your waking hours tuned in to the buzz on beer-geek Web sites, boning up on the latest bourbon barrel-aged stout or the newest brewery to expand its distribution into Illinois. Rather, let others impart their carefully edited and fine-tuned beer knowledge unto you when you head to one of Chicago’s many so-called beer schools.
Classes range in size from the dozen or so people who typically attend Whole Foods’ monthly class at its West Lakeview location to 70 people at Goose Island’s Beer Academy. And they’re geared toward a general audience — from the novice to the aficionado.
* Fully functioning chapel on wheels hits the road
Now couples can pay $100 to get married in the tiny church at this year’s Illinois State Fair, which runs Aug. 14-23 in Springfield.
* Bemoaning the demise of the Arena Football League
* Rare snake gives birth at Chicago zoo
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IL Dems rally for Obama’s Health Care
Wednesday, Aug 5, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
[posted by Mike Murray]
Yesterday, I had a post on whether it was smart for Rep. Kirk, as a state wide candidate in Democratic IL, to be so critical of President Obama’s health care plan. Kirk may well have made the right move, but I still think that the positive impact he experiences in the primary may not outweigh the potential cost in the general. The voters will decide, but Kirk will continue to see stories, like this one, that tie his likely opponent, treasurer Alexi Giannoulis, to IL’s favorite son President Obama.
Gov. Pat Quinn, Treasurer Alexi Giannoulis, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis and several state lawmakers were among those firing up the Democratic base of organized labor and liberal advocacy groups gathered at Federal Plaza to speak out against an insurance system they argued is broken.
“Let us mark this day as the beginning of our summer offensive to win the battle for quality, affordable health care for each and every American,” said U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an Evanston Democrat who said the fight for reform was “a battle of Biblical dimensions” against powerful insurance companies and the sick people they deny coverage.[…]
North Shore Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, who is running for U.S. Senate, jumped on the issue at a Monday news conference where he accused Democrats of moving too quickly on a health care plan he called partisan and costly. Kirk said he favors an alternative plan that would require insurers to create interstate pools to offer more affordable health coverage.
But I am sure Kirk has his reasons. For one, there appears to be some real hostility toward the Democratic health plan in the all important suburbs of Cook County…
Opponents are making an equally strong effort to defeat one of the most formidable attempts in decades to offer public health care coverage to everyone.
Schakowsky conceded after her speech Tuesday that expansion backers may be losing public support. She sees this monthlong break as a chance to win back independents.
“I am concerned that they’ve spent lots and lots of effort and money to try to fool the people once again,” she said of opponents, including insurance companies. “Let this mark the first day of our summer offensive to win real health-care reform in the fall.”
The pressure is acutely felt in the suburbs, where Democratic lawmakers have been reluctant to embrace the plan and Republicans are aggressively opposing it.
A high risk, high reward mentality I guess.
* Related…
* August Promises Red Hot Health Care Debate
* Obama and allies brace for health care showdown
* Getting health care healthy
* A myth that scares seniors to death
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[posted by Mike Murray]
I’m Running short on time, so I will have to let the quotes and article titles do most of the talking for me. But I’d like to take a moment and thank the Ford for sticking with and investing in the South Side of Chicago through the good times and the bad. They have staked their comeback on the new Taurus and the South Side factory will take the lead in its production. Maybe my next car will be a Taurus…
* Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant starting production on new Taurus, SHO
The 2.7 million-square-foot plant long at 130th Street and Torrence Avenue has been integral to the South Side manufacturing corridor despite its initial geographic isolation from the rest of the city (when Henry Ford opened the plant in 1924, it was surrounded by marshland). It has seen generations of families working to produce some of the most storied vehicles in Ford’s history — from the Model T to the Thunderbird to the Taurus.[…]
Still, the plant has seen lean times. Last November Ford cut shifts from three to one, which resulted in 700 layoffs. The plant currently employs 1,372 workers, which is less than half the number during its heyday in the late 1970s.
“Whatever happens at this plant impacts the larger bistate area,” said Neil Bosanko, executive director of the South Chicago Chamber of Commerce. He pointed to the $88 million Ford invested in an adjacent manufacturing and supplier campus in 2004, which was supposed to boost both housing and the area economy. It didn’t happen quite that way, he said, because many of the workers lived in the suburbs or Indiana.[…]
The company invests in its products and Chicago Assembly, David Schoenecker, secretary and treasurer of United Auto Workers Local 551, said, citing the $400 million in improvements made in 2005. As a plant worker since 1976, he believes the facility has a reputation “for putting out a vehicle that is at times of the highest quality” the company has ever produced.
* Ford hoping to get more mileage out of Taurus
As Ford on Tuesday formally launched the 2010 Taurus, Gov. Pat Quinn pointed out to hundreds of cheering workers at the company’s Southeast Side factory that he too drives a Taurus, albeit a slightly older version. The new sedan just recently began arriving at dealers, and Ford hopes to get a few more miles from a car it once drove to the top of the sales heap.
The arrival comes on the heels of Ford posting its first year-over-year sales increase in July, led largely by improved sales of fuel-efficient cars. Ford and other automakers, including General Motors, have raced to introduce fuel-sipping vehicles and hybrids as high gas prices and the recession have consumers dumping trucks and sport utility vehicles.
“The pendulum has definitely swung back to cars,” Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, told the crowd, which included plant employees and Chicago-area Ford dealers.
The new Taurus “is going to be the flagship of the Ford brand,” he said.
They are not out of the woods yet…
* Ford unveils new Taurus at South Side plant
But analysts warn that Ford will have to resist the temptation to over build and kill the car’s economics. Hill said the old Taurus lost much of its appeal when Ford pushed it into the car rental fleets to absorb the huge volume of cars it was producing.
“They will have to do a much better job of matching customer demand to inventory,” said Hill. “The right strategy is to balance demand with production.”
But at least the federal government is doing what it can…
* Ford Pins Hopes on Sedan Made in Chicago
Fields says he hopes the company can keep up the momentum of the federal government’s so-called “cash for clunkers” program.
That program allows car owners to trade in their old gas-guzzlers in exchange for a government credit toward a new, more fuel-efficient car.
Ford posted its first monthly sales increase in two years Monday - a jump it contributed, in part, to the federal program.
* Clunkers by the numbers
Reid says Senate will OK $2 bil. to keep program going
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[posted by Mike Murray]
As an U of I alumni and current student I want to see positive, well thought out reform as much as anybody. But lets make sure we get it right while minimizing the harm caused to the university. So far this attitude has been lacking.
There have been numerous calls from editorial boards for the complete dismal of the U of I Board of trustees. If there is evidence of unethical or inappropriate behavior I say give them the boot. It seems, in my humble opinion anyway, that such an action would be based upon at least a healthy douse of guilt by association.
* Thankfully, there is an editorial board out there acting as a voice of reason regarding how to deal with the U of I Trustees post ‘clout’ fallout…
Kicking out the entire nine-member board may feel good. It may have symbolic value.
But it could hurt the university.
The university’s trustees oversee a $4.2 billion annual budget, covering 70,000 students and almost 25,000 employees. One trustee has served 10 years on the board, five others have served between six and eight years. Their expertise covers auditing, medicine, athletics, K-12 education, agriculture and law.
Should we really throw that away, denying the university the benefit of their institutional knowledge, contacts and expertise, particularly if they did very little wrong?
The key issue should be whether they did something that merits there dismissal. The impact of losing those individuals should be a secondary concern.
* The SJ-R ran an AP story that avoids the issue of whether the entire board deserves to be fired and instead claims that the removal of the board would not cause ‘turmoil’ at U of I.
While the board oversees the campuses in Champaign-Urbana, Chicago and Springfield, it doesn’t have a major role in their operational nuts and bolts. Trustees vote on measures that university staff members have researched and choose university leaders such as the president and campus chancellors.
“Having nine new trustees at one time would be a disaster for that university that would harm it for a long, long time,” Dorris, a graduate of the university’s law school and a trustee since 2005, said in an interview last week. “For at least six months but probably a year, you would have people that would probably not be able to make sound decisions for that university.”[…]
That’s true to some degree, said Richard Novak, senior vice president of the Center for Public Trusteeship at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges in Washington.
“There’s going to be some lag time until they get up to speed,” Novak said. “Institutional memory’s gonna be lost.”
Um…so, AP, are we playing semantics here or what? Lag time and loss of institutional memory does not equal turmoil? What does?
To be fair, Novak continued…
But if Quinn chooses to sweep most or all of the board away, Novak said he probably won’t have trouble finding qualified people with either higher education experience, public governance experience or both.
He added that Quinn shouldn’t have trouble finding trustees who are likely to do the right thing, given the memory of the current scandal and the scrutiny they would likely face.
As long as Quinn acts quickly -and when has he ever been slow to act on something- he will ‘probably’ be able to find competent people that could ensure the purging of the board only results in ’some lag time’ and ‘loss of institutional memory’ instead of turmoil. So it does not matter if the entire board deserves to be purged or not, because the transition will be smooth sailing. Now I understand! Silly me.
* Related…
* Our Opinion: Sign FOIA bill, governor
* Open up
* Little-Noticed ‘Fair Campaign’ Code Twenty Years Old
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Campaign 2010 Round-Up
Wednesday, Aug 5, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
[posted by Mike Murray]
* State Capitol Q&A: The candidacy process
Political candidates have been preparing for months, but the 2010 election season didn’t officially start until Tuesday, the first day candidates could circulate the nominating petitions they need to file for office.
This week’s State Capitol Q&A takes a closer look at the process and what it means to Illinois voters.
* Pankau launches petition drive for DuPage Co. Board president
tate Senator Carole Pankau began campaigning for DuPage County Board chairman at the Wheaton Metra Station. Pankau, pictured here with an unidentified voter, began soliciting signatures for her nominating petitions from voters boarding trains early Tuesday morning. Fellow State Senator Dan Cronin and several other Repubican DuPage Board members have voiced interest in the chairmanship as well.
* GOP field in 10th growing
Most expect a fierce fight among Democrats with the exodus of U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk in the North suburban 10th District.
The region is tilted Democratic and Kirk, a Highland Park Republican, has had to fight hard to keep the seat. For years district voters haven chosen a Democrat for president. Plus, the national Democrats are expected to make sure they win the seat as they play mostly defense in next year’s mid-term elections.
Now another potential candidate is stepping forward: Renee Thaler, a small business owner in Northfield and Kirk camp insider. Certainly, any Republican to make it through the primary is going to have an uphill battle. To win, they will need serious name recognition and big bucks.
On the Democrat side so far, state Rep. Julie Hamos, an Evanston Democrat and three-peat candidate Dan Seals are among those running. State Sen. Terry Link, a veteran Waukegan Democrat, is also weighing a bid.
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[posted by Mike Murray]
* Yesterday, Comptroller Hynes unloaded full-bore on Governor Quinn’s management of the of the budget…
Quinn announced about $1 billion in budget cuts Friday, including employee layoffs and furloughs and cuts in human service programs. However, Hynes said the long-awaited announcement didn’t clarify the state’s financial situation.
“They were very vague and they seemed to be a regurgitation of cuts previously announced,” Hynes said in an interview. “In terms of providing clarity and consistency to where we stand and what needs to be done, I think he gets pretty low marks. I think the overall theme is chaos reigns, and confusion permeates the Quinn administration.”
Hynes repeated complaints leveled by many lawmakers that Quinn shifted positions on what kinds of cuts were necessary and what cuts could be avoided with a tax. Numbers used to describe the size of the state’s budget shortfall also changed.
“It’s frustratingly confusing, and I’m the comptroller,” Hynes said.
Hynes did not stop there…
Some budget cuts announced by Quinn last week could have been avoided, Hynes added, if the budget axe had fallen first on middle- and upper-level managers and on contracts promoting the Illinois State Lottery and tourism. […]
Hynes said Quinn is cutting front-line workers before weeding out middle- and upper-level managers.
Oof. A brand of harshness that is not surprising considering it’s coming from Quinn’s 2010 primary opponent.
To his credit, however, Hynes did provide some specific points of criticism…
Hynes’ office said 1,600 people on the state payroll who earn $70,000 or more a year were hired while Rod Blagojevich was governor. Hynes described them as “mostly political appointees.”
“There are 1,600 positions that should be scrutinized before we consider cutting employees who take care of our children and protect our communities,” Hynes said, adding that he is not suggesting all of the jobs are unnecessary. […]
“This should have been done months ago,” Hynes said.
Hynes also complained about the state spending $20 million on contracts to promote the Lottery and tourism at the same time Quinn cut $30 million from programs for the developmentally disabled.
* Sen. Brady, also a vying for the IL governor’s mansion, echoed Hynes’ criticisms of Quinn’s handling of the budget, with specific focus on the IDOC…
Brady of Bloomington, questioned the wisdom of the layoffs, which he said could prove to be dangerous and “put the security of our prison system at greater risk.”
In a separate release, Brady noted the department of corrections employee headcount is about 11,000, its lowest level since 1992, despite the fact that the prison inmate population has grown in that same period from 30,400 to 45,500.
Much of the problem, Brady said, is that the department is top heavy with high-paid bureaucrats.
“Rather than laying off critical correction employees, the governor should be reducing high-level staff, eliminating mandatory overtime and spreading the shared sacrifice necessary to balance the budget more equally throughout state government,” he said.
When both Democrats and Republicans vioce the same criticism, it might be a very real problem. That said…
* Sen. Sullivan was dismissive of that line of criticism…
Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, said the issue of Blagojevich appointees still on the payroll was raised during a meeting between Quinn and lawmakers at the Executive Mansion weeks ago.
“The governor agreed to look at those positions,” Sullivan said of the meeting. “I feel pretty confident he is.”
While not a ringing endorsement, Sullivan’s statement certainly pack more of a punch then Quinn’s written response to Hynes’ comments…
“Gov. Quinn has been at the forefront of reshaping Illinois government by cutting costs, making efficiencies, proposing structural changes such as pension reform and recognizing the need for greater revenue,” Reed said in a written statement. “Governor Quinn will continue to battle for our most needy residents while restoring fiscal integrity to the state.”
***Budget Round-Up***
* Tax-free weekend off table in Illinois for now
SPRINGFIELD - Among Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget plans that were put on hold this year was one to grant Illinois residents relief from sales taxes on back-to-school purchases.
* SIUC hopes for change in financial aid
Despite Gov. Pat Quinn’s most recent budget confirming a complete cut in Monetary Assistance Program grants for the spring semester, Southern Illinois University administrators remain hopeful that something will change.
SIU President Glenn Poshard and SIUC Chancellor Samuel Goldman are hopeful the Illinois legislator’s veto session or the new session in January brings better news. […]
Until then, he said he is sitting down with the chancellors from the Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses to look at the university’s budget and decide what can be done. In addition to the MAP grants, SIUC will also lose Walker Scholarships and reimbursement for Illinois Veterans Grants. Despite the lack of reimbursement, Goldman said it will not affect the veterans, only the university.
* Illinois State freezes pay for nonunion employees
NORMAL — Illinois State University is freezing pay rates for nonunion faculty and staff for the fall semester, citing budget woes.[…]
He says the state has cut $10 million for the school’s tuition waiver program for veterans and for the Monetary Award Program that provides financial aid. […]
ISU has nearly 1,900 faculty and staff and more than 20,000 students.
* State cuts hit ISU agriculture, food research program
State money used for agriculture and food research at Illinois State and Southern Illinois universities won’t be available this year because of budget cuts.
About $2.2 million that had been planned for the program was cut off by Gov. Pat Quinn Friday as part of a $1 billion reduction in state government spending.
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Round-Up: Video Poker Debate Goes Local
Wednesday, Aug 5, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
[posted by Mike Murray]
Quinn and the GA support video poker as a funding mechanism for the capital bill, but the debate continues at the local level…
* Peoria County considers ban on video poker
* Luciano: Video gaming ban would be a losing bet
A county ban would affect 53 taverns and businesses in unincorporated areas. Municipalities, including Peoria, would not be affected by a county prohibition. However, those municipalities could enact bans of their own. Gambling opponents are pushing cities and counties statewide to say no to video gaming. […]
But that’s not an issue here. Illinois allows numerous forms of wagering, and video gaming is on the way. The Peoria County Board is not going to stop that.
It’s safe to say that most county and municipal governments will welcome the notion of taking a share of video gaming. Peoria certainly will. So, residents in unincorporated Peoria County would not have to go very far to play a poker machine.
In the end, a county ban would crush pubs in unincorporated areas. Many patrons would go elsewhere for video gaming. That’s hardly a fair playing field.
* Daley Discourages Video Poker Opt Out
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is warning community leaders not to ban video poker machines. State lawmakers approved the gambling machines in bars and restaurants to raise revenue for statewide construction projects. But DuPage County Board Chairman and gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom is urging his county and others to opt out of the gambling plan. Mayor Daley says pulling out of the deal could hamper road and school projects all over the state.
* Legalized video betting could put Springfield VFW out of business
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Round-Up: Newly Signed Legislation
Wednesday, Aug 5, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
[posted by Mike Murray]
Quinn signed a group of bills yesterday…
* Illinois takes step to protect water quality
Legislation that Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law Tuesday asks state environmental officials to find ways to reduce trace elements of painkillers, bug spray, sex hormones and other man-made products that show up in water quality tests.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is required to establish a program giving people places to drop off unused medications, personal-care products, batteries, auto fluid, mercury thermometers and other general household waste rather than pouring it into toilets or down the drain, said sponsoring Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest).
Under the law, spurred by Tribune stories exposing water contaminants, state officials also will be required to prepare information about proper disposal of unused drugs.
* Illinois law now requires minors seeking abortions to inform parents
After more than a decade of legal wrangling, Illinois began on Tuesday requiring minors who seek abortions in the state to first inform their parents of the decision.
* Quinn signs cancer awareness measure
The legislation, named “Brandon’s Law” after a 19-year-old Taylor Ridge resident who died of testicular cancer last year, requires high school health classes to teach students about cancer.
* Victims of crimes by mentally ill get new legal voice
Barbara McNally pushed lawmakers to give victims and their families some say in the process. The law signed Tuesday by Gov. Pat Quinn allows for impact statements at the initial commitment hearings in cases where the defendant was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
* Illinois law bars sex offenders from ice cream trucks
Gov. Pat Quinn signed the new law Tuesday. It also bars offenders from operating emergency vehicles, such as an ambulance.
* County to get new judgeship
McHenry County residents will elect a new circuit judge in November 2010 because of legislation that Gov. Pat Quinn signed last week.
The new law gives the Illinois Supreme Court authority to appoint someone to the new position before the election, but local officials did not know Tuesday whether that would happen. Candidates seeking a party’s nomination for that office in the February primary could start circulating petitions Tuesday.
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Morning Shorts
Wednesday, Aug 5, 2009 - Posted by Mike Murray
FYI- I will be guest blogging again today. I will have some post up very soon, however, a few posts will just be round-ups because I have work at 11:30.
* CPS Keeping Quiet About Investigation
CPS head Ron Huberman won’t say much about the investigation, just that it’s on going.
* CPS president subpoenaed
Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott disclosed Tuesday that he has been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury investigating how students are chosen for admission to some of the city’s most elite public schools.
Scott said he was surprised by the subpoena and flatly denied that he has ever flexed his political muscle — during two stints as board president — to clout any student into a “selective enrollment” school.[…]
Scott said the Board of Education launched its internal investigation of the admissions process before the federal grand jury issued separate subpoenas for school records and Scott’s testimony.
* Jeremih to encourage CPS kids to go back to school via Twitter
Jeremih Felton — the home-grown rapper who struck gold with the racy song, “Birthday Sex”— has agreed to use “Twitter” to encourage his 70,000 followers to get back to Chicago Public Schools on Sept. 8.[…]
He’s the local kid who made good — a Morgan Park High School alum who graduated at 16 and studied engineering at the University of Illinois before transferring to Columbia College to pursue music.
But the raunchy lyrics of “Birthday Sex” also make Jeremih a somewhat controversial choice.[…]
“He had 70 million hits on his MySpace page. For us to be naïve and believe that this is not what our students are listening to would be not living in the world where our students are,” Huberman said.
* One quarter of Chicagoans unwired
One-quarter of Chicagoans are unwired: They don’t use the Internet at all, anywhere, a new study revealed Monday.[…]
African-Americans were 6 percent less likely to use the Internet than whites, while Latinos were 18 percent less likely, after age, income and education were taken into account.
* One-quarter of Chicagoans can’t see this story
In a citywide survey, the study found that only 39 percent of Spanish-speaking Latinos are Internet users. That compares to 79 percent among English-speaking respondents.
* Hospital boosts parking pledge
The planned development approved by the City Council and the Chicago Plan Commission required Northwestern Memorial, which owns the land at 215-233 E. Chestnut, to provide a minimum of 1,100 new parking spaces prior to 2012, when the $1 billion Children’s Memorial Hospital is expected.
Northwestern is exceeding that promise. At last week’s City Council meeting, the hospital filed a zoning application that calls for construction of a 1,300-space parking garage at 440-458 E. Ohio — 200 more spaces than initially promised.
* Proposed heliport amid Streeterville high-rises now up to state
Experts from the Illinois Department of Transportation will pore over stacks of statistics and tales of medical emergencies in trying to decide whether a heliport proposed for the new Lurie Children’s Hospital in Streeterville can be built.
* ‘Silent’ heart attacks heard by new ECG test
* Workers cultivate their future at nonprofit farm
A new Farm and Training Center at the organization’s South Wood Street location opens Wednesday and is intended to be part of what city officials call an “urban agricultural district.” A garden center, bakery and additional farmland may be added to the district in coming years, said Harry Rhodes, Growing Home’s executive director.
* Subdivisions designed for conservation get a boost
Will County, others see developments bloom after rules were changed[…]
A quick look at real estate offerings shows a vacant lot in Canterbury Lakes priced at $129,000, while a nearby single-family home’s asking price is about $800,000.
“People will pay a premium to live next to managed open space,” Lobbes said, adding that a home within 600 feet of open space commands a 19 percent premium — if it’s an aesthetically pleasing natural area.
* Orland Park mayor unveils ‘Smart Living’ project
Orland Park rolled out an initiative Tuesday to make the village a greener community including a program for residents, businesses and housing developments.
* Smart Living comes to Orland Park
By developing an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Municipal Action Plan (ECOMAP), Orland Park will ask ComEd and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to set aside nearly $400,000 ($200,000 from each agency in the first year) to help implement its strategy. It also expects to get $520,000 in federal funds.
* Some towns feeling growing pains
When the Village Board demoted Police Chief Michael Joswick, former Mayor Gordon Mueller — who hired Joswick as a part-time officer 27 years ago — called it “one of the blackest days in Gilberts history.”
For the other side of the story, though, you’d need to talk to the man who cast the tie-breaking vote that resulted in the chief’s removal last week. The village used to be able to juggle the needs of hundreds of residents, but the population jumped almost 500 percent in eight years and that demanded new tactics, Mayor Rick Zirk said. Joswick and Zirk ended up at philosophical odds, both said.
* Belvidere, firefighters come to agreement
* Millions announced in Illinois research funding
* The jobs map
Last week, the City Council did what it does best: pass the buck. An ordinance that would open the way for a Wal-Mart Supercenter on the South Side skipped from the Rules Committee to the Finance Committee, where it is likely to settle in for a long winter’s rest. Finance Committee Chairman Ed Burke (14th) and other council leaders appear to be in no hurry to let the Wal-Mart ordinance escape to a vote on the floor of the council.
Construction of the store would create 200 jobs. The store, once it was running, would provide nearly 500 jobs. […]
Organized labor doesn’t like Wal-Mart because Wal-Mart doesn’t have union jobs. It just has jobs (with an average hourly wage of $12.05 in Chicago). […]
One in 10 Chicagoans is out of work.
* Caterpillar CEO reaffirms outlook, recovery
Caterpillar Inc. said Tuesday its cost cuts and strategic planning had positioned the company for long-term profitability whether the global economy improves or remains mired in recession.
The world’s largest maker of construction and mining equipment affirmed its 2009 forecast and said it expects profit of $8 to $10 per share within five years if the world economy recovers and $2.50 per share annually if the recession continues.
* Owens says Cat will gain strength, market position
* Hewitt rises as company boosts full-year outlook
Human-resource services company Hewitt Associates Inc. posted third-quarter profit that beat market expectations, helped by lower expenses, and raised its full-year earnings outlook by 10 cents, sending its shares up 5 percent in early trading.
* Kraft Foods 2Q profit rises 11 percent
* First American takes $50M TARP infusion
First American, based in Elk Grove Village, is one of the area’s largest banks, with $2.8 billion in assets and 49 branches in the city and suburbs. CEO Thomas Wells says First American saw the capital infusion, completed July 24, as a prudent step to take with uncertainty about the economy still prevalent.
“We could have gone to our shareholders, but that gets to be pretty heavy lifting,” Mr. Wells said Tuesday. “We felt that this was the very conservative way to play the game.”
* United’s on-time rate, traffic levels dip
Also Tuesday, United said its traffic fell 4% in July as a steep uptick in regional traffic partially offset a continued downturn in its core business.
United said paying passengers flew a total of 11.15 billion miles last month, compared with 11.62 billion a year earlier. Excluding a 19.3% gain from regional carriers operated by United, traffic fell 6.5%.
* Can hobbled Huron Consulting survive this scandal?
Late Friday, Huron said it would restate results for the three years ended in 2008 and for the first quarter of 2009, resulting in a halving of its profits, to $63 million from $120 million, for the 39-month period. Revenue projections for 2009 were cut by more than 10%, to a range of $650 million to $680 million from $730 million to $770 million.
* Northern Illinois Food Bank began in 1983 and serves 13 counties
The bank covered only DuPage County at the time but has expanded to 13 counties and distributes more than 2 million pounds of food a month.
* Catholic Charities: ‘If you come in helpless, they will help you’
“If you come in helpless, they’ll help you,” said Waldron, 33, who lost her job as a health club sales manager a year ago. The Waldrons are among the 468 families using the Emergency Assistance Food Pantry Program at Catholic Charities North/Northwest Regional Services in Des Plaines.
The number of families has nearly doubled in the last year, officials said.
* BGA files suit against impostor ‘New BGA’
An independent, non-partisan political watchdog group formed in Chicago in 1923 does not want to be confused with a highly-partisan new group out of Akron, Ohio, also calling itself the Better Government Association.
* Lawsuit claims Natural Hair Growth Institute’s products, therapy didn’t work
* 1 in 10 Illinois drivers have potentially defective license plates
* Handicap parking scofflaws: Anonymous complaints on Illinois Web site brings in 114 complaints
* Brown’s Chicken massacre comes back to haunt Palatine
* Object lessons in elusive justice
* Two beluga whales pregnant at Shedd
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