Illinois added 3,800 jobs in January and the unemployment rate fell -0.3 to 9.4 percent, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). This is the fifth consecutive monthly decline and the largest decline since September 1992. The data is seasonally adjusted.
“January adds another month in the long-term trend of putting people back to work,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “Adding private sector jobs in 21 of the past 25 months and recording the largest monthly decrease in the unemployment rate in nearly 20 years is progress that people can see.”
Illinois has added +122,900 private sector jobs since January 2010 when job growth returned to Illinois after 23 consecutive months of declines. Since January 2010, leading growth sectors in Illinois are Professional and Business Services (+66,400); Educational and Health Services (+29,700); Manufacturing (+26,000); and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+17,800). Government has lost the most jobs since January 2010, down -24,700.
Historically, the national unemployment rate is lower than the state rate. Only seven times since January 2000 has the state rate been lower than the nation’s. That period includes times of economic expansion and contraction. In January 2012, the number of unemployed individuals was down for the fifth consecutive month, decreasing -18,100 (-2.8 percent) to 620,300. Total unemployed has declined ‑132,500 (-17.6 percent) since January 2010 when the state unemployment rate peaked at 11.4 percent. The rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or is ineligible, still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
Educational and health services led the January declines with 5,800 job losses, followed by 3,200 in the “Trade, Transportation, & Utilities” segment. Government jobs fell by 1,900. Top gainers last month were professional and business services (7,700), leisure and hospitality (3,600), financial activities (3,500) and manufacturing (2,700).
* In related news, despite passing a major workers’ compensation reform package last year, House Speaker Michael Madigan thinks a more radical approach may be warranted: A possible privatization of the workers’ comp system…
“I was given the number of state workers that had filed workers’ compensation claims and it was an extraordinary number. A very large percentage of the total workforce had filed workers compensation claims,” Madigan said. ”If that is the case then it would be far more efficient to bring in an outside person, and take it out of the hands of the people doing it for the state today.”
Madigan didn’t call his privatization legislation for a vote yesterday, but he and his staff are taking a close look at the idea…
State employees’ claims of on-the-job injuries have grabbed headlines, like Menard prison guards getting millions of dollars for wrist injuries. There’s an ongoing federal probe into that. But Madigan’s staff did a study of its own. They compiled claims filed by state workers in prisons, veterans’ homes, and facilities for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled. Then compared it with the percentage of claims filed by employees of private nursing homes and hospitals.
According to the Speaker’s top legislative aide, the gap between the two was substantial.
“My concern is that there’s just a culture or an environment among some, some state workers, that would encourage work comp claims when they’re really not warranted,” Madigan said.
* And Gov. Pat Quinn crowed about an improved business ranking by the state today via press release…
Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the state of Illinois and Chicago have been named among the top 10 locations for new and expanded corporate facilities. Illinois ranked seventh among states, an improvement over last year’s eighth place ranking, and Chicago second in the metropolitan areas category in the annual analysis by Site Selection magazine, one of the nation’s premier corporate real estate and economic development publications. […]
In 2011, Illinois had 216 corporate facilities locate or expand in the state. Illinois joins Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia on the list of the top ten states with the most locations and expansions. With 167 projects, the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet metro area ranked second on the list of cities in the tier one, top ten metropolitan areas list. Illinois companies that have relocated or seen significant expansions this year include Ford, Motorola Mobility, Continental, FedEx, Chrysler and Mitsubishi, among others.
Site Selection’s Governor’s Cup ranks the 50 states according to their success in attracting capital investment projects that meet one or more of these three criteria: a minimum investment of US$1 million, creation of 50 or more new jobs and new facility construction or floor space of at least 20,000 sq. ft. (1,860 sq. m.). The magazine does not count equipment upgrades or additions nor construction jobs in its final numbers.
Despite the 7th place finish, Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania’s new projects were more than double Illinois’.
* ADDED: Legislation aimed at Cellini management deals
* ADDED: Proposal would get abandoned houses back on market quicker
* Quinn lifts hold on Illinois hospital tax rulings: Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is sticking to his deadline and authorizing the Department of Revenue to resume decisions that could strip some nonprofit hospitals of valuable tax exemptions. At least 17 Illinois hospitals and health systems are awaiting decisions on the tax-exempt status of property.
* Gov. Quinn lifts moratorium on state review of hospital property taxes: Gov. Pat Quinn on Thursday drew a hard line on negotiations with the state’s hospitals over how much free care they must provide to qualify for tax breaks, lifting a moratorium on the Department of Revenue’s review of hospitals seeking charity-care exemptions on their property taxes… “While the department expects to move promptly on pending applications, it will continue to support the governor’s efforts to work with hospitals, patient and community advocates and local governments to find a long-term meaningful solution that meets Illinois’ Constitutional mandate,” the statement said.
* Statement from President Preckwinkle on Governor Quinn’s decision to resume the decision-making process regarding hospitals seeking property tax exemptions based on charity care: “I want to commend the Governor’s decision today. This is an important public health issue that impacts many of our most vulnerable citizens. I look forward to continuing to work on a negotiated bill on Charity Care and hospital tax exemptions with all interested parties.”
* Peotone airport group decides to have some fun, but remains hopeful: On the agenda of the Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission board session: a resolution to name the first passenger terminal after late Northwest suburban Congressman Henry Hyde and the proposed airport’s entrance after Bensenville’s former mayor, the late John Geils, and Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson.
* One of the most active state legislators so far this spring is Rep. Kelly Cassidy, who is involved in a high-dollar Democratic primary race against Paula Basta. Rep. Cassidy has mastered the art of getting publicity for liberal legislation this year, which will definitely help her with her campaign. Her district is quite liberal and staunchly Democratic, so this stuff is red meat for her constituents…
All purchases of firearms ammunition in the state would be subject to a new 2 percent sales tax to help fund trauma centers under a bill (HB 5167) passed by a House committee Wednesday.
A lobbyist for the Illinois State Rifle Association called the measure “an unconstitutional poll tax.”
The bill passed on a party-line vote in a committee dominated by Chicago Democrats.
The new tax would raise an estimated $800,000 to $1.2 million annually, according to sponsor Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, “for the fight against gun violence.” Money would be deposited in a new High Crime Trauma Center Grant Fund.
The Executive Committee approves bills like these just to get them to the floor. But it’s really not important whether this bill passes, it’s important that it gets noticed by the folks back home. Cassidy has also pushed a gay marriage bill this spring and is behind several other high-profile bills like the one we debated yesterday.
I’ve teased Cassidy about her slew of bill sponsorships in person, and she insists that she fully supports the policies. That’s undoubtedly true. She’s not pushing bills she opposes. But she is focusing on some of the highest profile legislation in the House right now, so there’s really no way to deny that this isn’t also political. She’s simply working the tried and true program for anyone in a tough race, and doing it better than many.
Some of Cassidy’s other gun bills are detailed here.
Handguns would have to be registered and a new tax would be imposed on ammunition sales under bills approved Wednesday by the Illinois House Executive Committee.
With Democrats voting “yes” and Republicans “no,” the committee approved House Bill 5831, which requires handgun owners to register their weapons with the state. The bill is an initiative of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanual. […]
Felicia Davis, Emanuel’s first deputy chief of staff, said most guns used in crimes in Chicago come from Illinois, but outside of the city. A handgun registry will help law enforcement trace guns used in those crimes, she said.
“The city of Chicago already has a handgun registry, but with a majority of illegal handguns arriving from elsewhere in the state, Chicago’s gun laws are only as good as those for the rest of the state,” Davis said. “This is not about restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners.” […]
“Criminals don’t care if they register guns,” said Rep. Mike Tyron, R-Crystal Lake.
* Related…
* Gun-rights groups decry proposed surtax on Illinois ammo sales
* Illinois Politicans Debating New Ammo Tax: National Rifle Association lobbyist Todd Vandermyde likened the proposal to a poll tax, and a Republican on the committee, State Rep. Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein), said since you cannot purchase ammunition in Chicago anyway, Cassidy is just trying to tax the suburbs and Downstate to help trauma centers in Chicago. Cassidy denied the centers would necessarily be in Chicago, but Sullivan responded, “That’s the reality of the state of Illinois.”
* The uproar over the legislative scholarship issue has many members on the defensive. And, so, we get proposals like this one…
Children of public university employees would no longer receive breaks on their college tuitions under a bill approved Wednesday by the Illinois House Executive Committee.
Children of university employees get a 50 percent break on their tuition if their parents work seven or more years for a state university, under current law. […]
[Rep. Luis Arroyo, D-Chicago, sponsor of House Bill 5531] said the practice costs the state about $387 million a year. That money could be used to cover other state expenses, he said. […]
“We consider this an earned employee benefit,” said Dave Steelman, representing Western Illinois University. “The program is mainly used by employees who need it the most. More than 60 percent of the waivers are for lower paid civil service and clerical employees.”
Waivers usually are not actually funded. The universities just eat the cost. And while this bill is generally reactive in nature, the point is well-taken that universities are giving out a heckuva lot of these waivers.
* The other day in comments, some predicted that legislators would line up to issue press releases denouncing Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget for funding pay hikes for legislators, statewides and top administration officials. The commenters were right, of course. Here’s just one of them…
With Governor Pat Quinn’s proposed 2012 budget calling for more than $250,000 in pay increases for state leaders, State Representative Kent Gaffney (R-Wauconda) says he is working on legislation to reverse the maneuver.
Word of the pay raises comes on the heels of Quinn announcing deep cuts to state programs, facilities and jobs that total hundreds of millions of dollars.
“I vehemently oppose any proposal that would allow our State Legislature and other constitutional offices to receive a pay increase this year,” said Gaffney. “While we are a long way from May and a final budget, pay raises for lawmakers must be taken off of the table immediately. To address this I am currently drafting legislation to ensure that Quinn’s proposed pay raises will not be implemented.”
Members of the mental health community claim Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed $53 million spending cut will cost the state in the long run, but Quinn and others say the cuts are needed to balance the budget.
Quinn’s cuts targeted services not covered by Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program
for low-income individuals, and are not eligible for state and federal funding matches, said Kelly Kraft, Quinn’s budget spokeswoman.
Community “centers are able to use the remaining funds to maximize their purchase of Medicaid matchable care,” Kraft said.
But state Sen. Mattie Hunter, D-Chicago, said local providers are tapped out.
“It’s devastating,” said Hunter, chairwoman of the state Senate Human Services Committee.
This is gonna be a painful year all around, I’m afraid.
* Lawmakers question Dwight prison closure: “One of the things that (the Quinn administration) has used in the past, and this appears to be another example of this, is to try to leverage support from people who know that Quinn’s fiscal policies are wrecking the state by essentially blackmailing their communities,” he said.
llinois lawmakers would have a big role in labor negotiations with public employee unions if legislation sponsored by state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, becomes law.
Senate Bill 3777 would require legislative approval of any contract or labor agreement reached between the state and a union. If the legislature rejects the agreement, the agency and the union would go back to the negotiating table.
Brady said Illinois has been burned by unilateral negotiations between the governor and labor unions.
“We need to bring transparency in an agreement so the General Assembly knows what it’s being bound to,” Brady said.
The law would sunset after Gov. Pat Quinn’s term ends. House Speaker Michael Madigan has introduced a resolution to cap state employee wage hikes.
* The Question: Do you support the concept of giving the General Assembly veto power over public employee labor contracts? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please. Thanks.
* Our old friend Jak Tichenor traveled to the devastated southern Illinois town of Harrisburg yesterday and left this comment on the blog last night…
Just got back from Harrisburg a few minutes ago. It’s a terrible mess on the city’s south-side. The storm tore a 200-yard path through residential neighborhoods and a strip-shopping center just before 5:00 this morning.
The shopping center was leveled like many of the houses nearby. The sirens sounded but I’m afraid a lot of folks were still caught by surprise in the dark and had no safe place to go. Incredible, heart-breaking scenes of destruction for blocks on end. I’ve seen these things before, but I am stunned by the ferocity of the winds and how utterly complete the destruction is in some places. Some of the houses I saw were just pulverized and their contents were strewn everywhere.
NWS initial estimates say it was an EF-4 with winds of 170-mph. The effort by first-responders from neighboring towns and cities has been terrific. There were dozens of ambulances and emergency vehicles from 30-to-60-miles away. Very heartening to see how people are pitching in everywhere to help their neighbors and friends. Red Cross and other relief agencies are on the scene offering assistance.
Gov. Quinn signed a state disaster declaration in Harrisburg this afternoon and has been in contact with the White House since this morning. We’ll have to wait until a more complete damage assessment is done before we’ll know if there will be a federal disaster declaration.
This was a bad one, folks. Please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers tonight.
* I’ll post some more photos from my brother Devin and some stories from across the country in our special ScribbleLive feed…
Thursday, Mar 1, 2012 - Posted by Advertising Department
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This all comes in addition to the historic work that’s resulting from the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act. In the weeks and months ahead, we will update you on our progress as we continue to strengthen the grid, improve reliability and better communicate with our customers.
The Illinois Human Rights Commission is endorsing legislation that would require a statewide bullying-prevention policy.Commission chairman Martin Castro said Tuesday the panel also voted to join the Prevent School Violence Illinois Commission.
The legislation is sponsored by Chicago Democratic Rep. Kelly Cassidy. It would require school districts to adopt guidelines to prevent bullying and cyberbullying by the start of school this fall.
It would require schools to regularly update the policies and require collection of data on bullying incidents.
* The Question: Were you ever bullied in school? Tell us the story.
* Will newfound money patch the budget hole? Maybe…
Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn suggested Tuesday that better-than-expected sales-tax collections could be used to plug a hole in state school funding this year.
The budget that lawmakers and Quinn approved is about $230 million short for schools, and state education officials said Monday that they would likely not be able to make the final aid payment to school districts during the second half of June. The Illinois State Board of Education warned that a similar payment scheduled for the first half of June also will fall short.
Asked about the situation Tuesday, Quinn said he believed the money could be found within the already strapped budget because sales tax revenues are up. From July through December, Illinois brought in $4.312 billion in sales tax revenue — $239.1 million more than the same period the year before and $139.8 million more than initially projected, according to the Department of Revenue. […]
The governor added that he’d like to look at closing so-called “tax loopholes” to help the state make school aid payments next year, which could be more than $400 million short under a budget plan Quinn proposed last week.
Look, here’s the thing. School funding is remaining level for next fiscal year. But because of increased costs, etc. the per pupil funding level will be less. With the rest of the budget taking big hits and billions of dollars in overdue bills to struggling vendors, does it make sense to spend more money on schools? If you’re pro-school, you’ll say yes. Others might say no. But this does need to be honestly debated.
Also, closing tax loopholes to fund schools? Man, he must want to close a whole lot of loopholes because he used his recent budget address to outline some pretty big plans for that cash, and they didn’t include school funding…
That’s why I have instructed my Revenue Director, Brian Hamer, to meet with legislative leaders of both houses and both parties to identify and close unnecessary loopholes.
Part of the loophole revenue can be used to provide targeted tax relief for hard-working families and businesses across Illinois.
By taking on the loophole lobby, we can find the revenue to permanently abolish the natural gas utility tax. […]
Why not a moratorium on unfair loopholes in the tax code as an important way to pay the bills faster?
Funding for domestic violence shelters in Quinn’s budget would be cut by $2.3 million, from $18.8 million this year to $16.5 million.
Cutting aid to these shelters is like cutting funding to a local fire department, because people never know when they will need their help, said Vicky Smith, executive director for Illinois Commission Against Domestic Violence, a nonprofit that works against the abuse of women and children.
“They are emergency crisis-intervention services and need to be available when people need the assistance,” Smith said. Quinn’s cuts are “not good. This is a very, very high risk population that needs help immediately.”
In Illinois, there are 63 domestic violence shelters, and the proposed funding cut would shrink that number, Smith said.
Quinn’s budget also zeros out funding for youth substance and alcoholism abuse from the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Division of Family and Community budget.
Eliminating the $2.6 million in prevention funding would cut services to more than 34,000 children, but it would be more than just the children affected, said Eric Foster, chief operating officer for the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, a nonprofit lobbying group that represents drug and alcohol abuse centers statewide.
“Substance abuse prevention services affect every single aspect of the state — health care, law enforcement corrections, the courts,” Foster said.
* Related…
* An Alternative Solution To The Illinois Budget Crisis: The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability released a report today touting the benefits of a graduated income tax. This is compared to the status quo where all residents – from Derrick Rose to your neighbor – pay five percent of their yearly income to the state.
* Earlier this week, I told you about how Congressman Adam Kinzinger grossly distorted a newspaper columnist’s words. Well, when called on it, Kinzinger attacked the newspaper columnist. I kid you not…
On Saturday, Chuck Sweeney of the Register Star wrote an article saying Kinzinger had been taking his words out of context and twisting them in his campaign literature to misrepresent the voting record of his challenger, incumbent Don Manzullo. Kinzinger claims Sweeney compared Manzullo to Barney Frank, but Sweeney says his words were taken wildly out of context.
16th Dist. Candidate Rep. Adam Kinzinger said, “Chuck has made it very obvious in all of his columns who he’s supporting in this race. He has an opinion. He has someone he’s backing. That’s not an independent columnist–that’s doing independent reporting for a column. That’s an opinion columnist.”
“All of his columns,” eh? Really? Well, how about this one…
The race for the Republican nomination in the 16th Congressional District came down Monday to a question of age and longevity in office: With 20 years of service, should 67-year-old U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo of Egan be retired by voters to give the new kid on the block a chance?
Dave Winters thinks so. The veteran Republican state representative from Shirland has endorsed Manzullo’s March 20 primary opponent, 33-year-old U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Manteno. Winters is quitting his job after 18 years, and he believes Manzullo should have followed his example. Winters is 58. He wants voters to put Manzullo out to pasture.
The “I’m more conservative than you” campaign between U.S. Reps. Don Manzullo, R-Egan, and Adam Kinzinger, R-Manteno, is boiling on the front burner. Manzullo, first elected in 1992, and freshman Kinzinger are vying for the GOP nomination in the 16th District.
Monday, the Illinois Tea Party endorsed Manzullo: “Don is the true fiscal conservative in this race,” said Barb Offill, president of the Iroquois County Tea Party. “Don is an ethical man and a passionate conservative who always votes in line with his values. His 19 years of experience in (promoting) manufacturing, creating jobs, cutting wasteful spending, and reducing the deficit in Washington is a strength.” […]
I asked Kinzinger spokeswoman Brook Hougesen for comment, and she said: “Congressman Kinzinger is proud of the strong support he’s received districtwide, including his endorsement from Rockford-area state Rep. Dave Winters, R-Shirland, who chose a fresh conservative voice over the status quo. We need a break from the past — no more bailouts, earmarks or Obama spending projects like Congressman Manzullo has supported. The new 16th District needs someone like Congressman Adam Kinzinger who will bring representation to the area and has the energy and drive to advocate for local concerns and needs.”
* Meanwhile, Manzullo whacks Kinzinger in a new TV ad. Rate it…
Believe it or not, the woman who yells: “She voted 88 times with the Republicans and 88 times against President Barack Obama? She’s crazy!!!” is Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-FL).
The full script…
[Jesse] President Obama and I are working together. Fighting for good jobs paying good wages.
[Rep. Waters]
Congressman Jesse Jackson Junior, fights every day for the people of Chicago and the Southland.
[Jesse] I sat in the Speaker’s chair, leading the fight to pass President Obama’s health care law. But I’ve also fought successfullyto hire more than a thousand nurses, and keep our hospitals open.Because we need jobs, and we need health care.
[Rep. Waters]
His opponent, Debbie Halvorson, has a different agenda. Halvorson voted with the Republicans, opposing President Obama and health care for all. And she voted with the Republicans and the NRA against stopping gun violence.
In fact, Halvorson voted with the Republicans and against President Obama 88 times!
[African-American male] How many?
[Rep. Brown]
She voted 88 times with the Republicans and 88 times against President Barack Obama? She’s crazy!
[Jesse] I’m Jesse Jackson, Junior, and I approved this ad.
[African-American male]
88 times against President Obama is 88 times too many.I’m sticking with Jesse!
In Jesse Jackson Jr.’s latest ad, the incumbent accuses his challenger Debbie Halvorson of voting 88 times with the Repubican majority and against the president.
He called that “crazy.”
Halvorson is fighting back saying Jackson Jr. is “lying.”
Jackson arrived at his number of “88 Times” by counting the number of votes on which he and Halvorson differed during Halvorson’s two years in Congress. Of those 133, Halvorson voted against the wishes of Congressional Democratic leaders 88 times.
But Halvorson said voting against House Democratic leaders is not voting against Obama. For instance, on ethics legislation to sanction Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel, Halvorson voted with Republicans for tougher ethics standards. That was not a vote against Obama, she said.
Asked why Jackson’s ad presented that as a vote against Obama, Jackson spokesman Kevin Lampe said, “Democrats have got to stick together in Congress.”
In fact, Jackson voted against Obama twice as often as Halvorson, according to records compiled by Congressional Quarterly magazine.
Jackson voted against the president more than any other Democrat from Illinois except for Downstate Rep. Jerry Costello, who, like Jackson, voted against Obama 21 percent of the time, according to the CQ statistics for 2010.
In a list of the 88 votes supplied by the Jackson campaign, some were not votes against the president but were procedural in nature. Another vote cited by Jackson was a move by DemocraticRep. Dennis Kucinichof Ohio to immediately withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2010, which was not on Obama’s agenda.
But Jackson’s campaign said Halvorson voted against the initial House version of Wall Street reforms and against steering $4 billion in Wall Street rescue money for low-interest loans to the unemployed and for neighborhood stabilization. The transfer of funds had been sought by the Congressional Black Caucus.
“Congresswoman Halvorson wants people to believe she’s a progressive Democrat, but she votes like a conservative Republican,” Jackson said in a statement. “She voted against us, the people of the 2nd District and President Obama, 88 times.”
Instead of lying about her voting record, I gotta wonder why they haven’t really played the gun card yet. Halvorson was a major NRA supporter, and the 2nd is not exactly a big NRA district. It sure beats linking her to “political demonic forces”…
U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. on Monday touted the backing of more than 50 ministers, including one who said “political demonic forces” were driving the agenda of Democratic primary opponent Debbie Halvorson.
The congressman’s campaign aides refused to comment on whether they thought the remarks were appropriate. Halvorson called the comments the result of a “desperate” campaign.
* But I’d be careful about tempting fate, if I was Halvorson…
The president has endorsed Jackson in the race. Still, as Halvorson pointed out, the president himself hasn’t said the words publicly, instead relying on aides to confirm his support for the congressman.
* My photojournalist brother Devin is on his way to Harrisburg as I write this, so we may have more pics soon. But it looks bad…
A hospital administrator in the southern Illinois city of Harrisburg says at least three people were killed in a severe storm that swept through the region.
Harrisburg Medical Center CEO Vince Ashley says the three victims were pronounced dead on arrival at that hospital in Saline County after the storm hit at about 5 a.m. Wednesday.
He couldn’t immediately say how many other victims were being treated at the hospital. He says the hospital itself also sustained some damage in the storm that knocked out the 78-bed site’s heating and cooling system. Ashley says no one at the hospital was injured.
* By the looks of this video from local TV, at least part of Harrisburg appears to have been flattened. Buildings are gone, roads are indiscernible and stuff is just scattered everywhere .
* A friend forwarded some recent photos from Harrisburg…
* This is what’s left of St. Joseph’s Church…
*** UPDATE - 9:26 am *** I just spoke with Rep. Brandon Phelps who was heartbroken to discover minutes ago that the granddaughter of his district office employee was found dead this morning. Phelps is on his way to Harrisburg now and said he’s had reports of people missing and trapped in debris. The SJ-R is reporting that Springfield firefighters are heading south to help.
…Adding… I’m told this is what’s left of the apartment building where that young woman lived. Apparently, several residents were killed or injured…
*** UPDATE 2 - 9:43 am *** The Harrisburg death toll has reportedly risen to 10 [UPDATE: The death toll has been revised downward to 6.] Let’s plug in a new ScribbleLive feed. Blackberry users click here…
* The Senate is in at 11:45 and the House convenes at 12:30.
I’ve been meaning to thank LIS for finally abandoning those ancient Windows Media video streams and switching over to a much more modernized and embeddable streaming system. I’ve been hoping for that for years. Also, lots of Statehouse types are now using iPads and were having trouble with the old video format. This new format is much more iPad friendly. So, thanks, LIS.
Because of this, we’ll have an embeddable live video feed of today’s House Executive Committee. I’ll post it in the ScribbleLive thingamajig. The hearing begins at 11 am. But you can watch Room 114 committees all morning by clicking here. The Senate has yet to set up any of their committee hearing rooms to accommodate live feeds.
* Blackberry users click here, everybody else can just kick back and watch…
