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Posted by Barton Lorimor (@bartonlorimor)

* Here is what is in the news on this Tax Day…

* Suit filed in wake of concealed carry permit rejection: “The training class was worthless because it did not qualify consumers for the concealed-carry permit,” the lawsuit alleges. “(Ambrose) wasted a significant amount of time taking the worthless class, and had his application for a concealed-carry permit rejected.” … Illinois State Police officials said earlier this month that the agency had denied concealed carry licenses to 327 applicants who received inadequate training from an instructor in Bolingbrook.

* FBI director in Chicago: ‘Painfully aware’ of city’s gun violence: “There is not an easy answer on violent crime, especially gang-related crime that is so embedded in the culture,” he said. “Chicago has a larger and more ingrained and sophisticated street gang structure than many American cities…You can’t arrest your way to a healthy neighborhood.”

* Illinois House orders new audit of anti-violence spending under Quinn: The House resolution pushed by state Rep. David Reis, R-Willow Hill, directs Auditor General William Holland to study that spending. Further, Reis’ resolution asks Holland to audit state funds disbursed by the Criminal Justice Information Authority to a social-service provider that helped implement the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, the Chicago Area Project.

* Daley nephew released from McHenry County jail

* In Illinois, a Challenge Recruiting Rural Students for State’s Flagship University: While the size of the freshman class at the Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has decreased slightly, from about 8,200 in 2004 to about 7,200 in 2013, the number of students who matriculate from rural counties has sharply declined. In 2003, there were 1,017 freshmen from rural counties who enrolled, compared to only 600 rural students in the freshmen class during the 2013-14 school year.

* Illinois Debates Continuing Free ACT Test: State board officials estimate it will cost $14 million for all high school juniors to take the ACT test next year, which they want to keep even though it is scheduled to be phased out with the implementation of other exams … By keeping the ACT and adding new exams at the elementary and high school levels, the cost of state testing would total $54 million next year, double this year’s $27 million.

* I-Team: Watchdog group questions one gas company: The CUB e-letter warns residents “don’t be fooled” by the pitches and promises of Nicor Advanced Energy.

* Quinn Touts Help for First Time Home Buyers

* Cross, Frerichs Treasurer Contest Cues Up Fierce Clash

* Lt. Gov. Simon, husband report $208,000 in Illinois income

* IDOT Increases Safety Precautions for Highway Workers

* Prospect Hts. names new city administrator

* [Quincy] department heads attempt to justify budgets to aldermen

* District 150 OKs 200 pink-slips, Peoria Police costing district unbudgeted $180,000

* Pekin City Council approves $12 garbage fee

* Massac County Picks Banterra Bank as Temporary Courtroom

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 15, 14 @ 7:40 am

Comments

The state of IL requires a ridiculous 16 hours of training (other states typically require 4 hours, or none at all)…and now they’re rejecting applications because of inadequate training…after someone took a 16 hour course? Ridiculous.

Comment by Frustrated Voter Tuesday, Apr 15, 14 @ 8:11 am
@ Frustrated Voter: they’re rejecting applications because that particular course did not comply with the training requirements.

Comment by Joan P. Tuesday, Apr 15, 14 @ 9:11 am
@Frustrated Voter: just to be clear, are you advocating for no training requirement?

Clearly this guy got ripped off. But that’s not the state’s fault. Many more are getting trained and receiving their cc’s.

Comment by Walker Tuesday, Apr 15, 14 @ 10:05 am
There are wealthy students for whom the ACT is something they already take even though they apply to east coast schools that prefer the SAT then there are the vast majority of students who take it and apply to schools in the midwest. There are only a few thousand in the former category so I would keep it.

Comment by shore Tuesday, Apr 15, 14 @ 2:33 pm
I think the training the received was likely very adequate, and no need for them to repeat any training. Punish the instructor, not the participants in his classes.

Comment by Frustrated Voter Tuesday, Apr 15, 14 @ 3:48 pm
==I think the training the received was likely very adequate==

Obviously it wasn’t or the class would have been approved. The class didn’t meet the hours requirements. It does create a burden on the participants and I hope their lawsuit is successful, but it doesn’t give them a free pass to bypass the requirements of the law.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 15, 14 @ 4:22 pm