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By Barton Lorimor Email | @bartonlorimor

* More posts to come this afternoon, so make sure you check back.

* Governor’s office responds to budget plea from Williamson County commissioners: The state also cannot reimburse salaries for some county officeholders, including state’s attorneys, public defenders and the supervisor of assessments, spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said. “The state does not have the appropriation authority to distribute local municipalities their shares from video gambling and the motor vehicle fuel tax, as well as reimburse for some county salaries paid for by the state, because Speaker Madigan and the legislators he controls failed to pass a balanced budget,” Kelly said

* Officials report sharp increase in medical marijuana cards for Illinoisans: About 3,500 people have applied for the cards, a 40-percent increase over the number four months ago, according to recently posted numbers by the Illinois Department of Public Health. What’s more, the department has issued 2,800 approval letters, a 75-percent increase over numbers reported as of March. Ten applications have been approved for patients under 18 years of age, according to the department.

* Kraft Heinz to cut 700 jobs in Northfield: “This new structure eliminates duplication to enable faster decision-making, increased accountability and accelerated growth,” Mullen said. He said the savings will free up money to be invested back into the company’s products. Affected employees, who worked in jobs such as sales, marketing and finance, will be given severance benefits of at least six months, Mullen said.

* Property assessments out this week for areas affected by O’Hare jet noise: The good news for Jefferson Township homeowners is that the Cook County assessor’s office will take the unusual step of “revisiting” affected areas in that township next year, after more market data and the results of a comprehensive review of jet noise implications are available, officials said. Normally, reassessments are done every three years.

* Bensenville neighbors on O’Hare runway plans: Maybe time to move

* Stateville inmate diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease: Legionnaires’ is caused by a bacteria commonly found in warm water, like in hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, fountains and large plumbing systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People contract the illness by breathing in a mist or airborne water droplets carrying the bacteria, according to the CDC. It is not spread from person to person. People who come down with the disease can have a cough, shortness of breath, fever, achiness and headaches, according to the CDC.

* IDOC identifies inmate who died at Shawnee Correctional Center; investigation continues

* State appeals court throws out murder conviction in Burge-related case: In an opinion issued just two weeks after holding oral arguments, the three-judge panel concluded that it was “impossible to conceive” how prosecutors would be able to use Shawn Whirl’s confession at a new trial.

* National youth jobs initiative begins rollout in Chicago

* DuPage County Board members honor McBridge’s memory

* Avon Township officially censures Assesor Ditton

* H&R: Moore-Wolfe the correct choice

* County zoning panel gives approval to wind farm

* District 87 unveils tentative budget that’s $1.4 million in the red

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 6:40 am

Comments

“Property assessments out this week for areas affected by O’Hare jet noise: The good news for Jefferson Township homeowners is that the Cook County assessor’s office will take the unusual step of “revisiting” affected areas in that township next year, after more market data and the results of a comprehensive review of jet noise implications are available, officials said. Normally, reassessments are done every three years.”

This is great, I’m hoping this goes through and a precedent is set. That way, I can cash in on all the noise from the expressway that is running next to my house.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 7:55 am
We all need to remember that it is the Governor ’s responsibility to introduce a budget. And, Rainer’s initial plan was way out if balance. Rauner can pretend it isn’t true, but facts are facts.

Comment by Anony Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 8:09 am
From “ck”…

===”… because Speaker Madigan and the legislators he controls failed to pass a balanced budget,” Kelly said===

Hi “ck”-

If you can’t be original as the spokesperson, what is it you do exactly?

Thanks!
ow

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 8:10 am
Lack of a budget “because of Speaker Madigan and the legislators he controls” is not only a lie and offensive and intellectually dishonest…

…it demonstrates that the operation of the governor’s office is wholly political.

Statesmanship has been replaced by hostility toward Illinois citizens.

Comment by Faux Leadership Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 8:50 am
Willy, it does seem to be an easy job doesn’t it. Cut and paste from the previous 168 responses to why the governor can’t drop his poison pills and negotiate a budget.

Maybe a couple folks in the press office could be laid off with the conservation cops since a
n low-paid (Rauner’s favorite thing) intern can be taught to cut and paste these canned responses.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 8:51 am
- Norseman -,

Yeah, just get an auto-reply, cut and paste response creater, something very similar to pre-school children learning to make sentences with a word jumble.

I mean, look at her bio;

Catherine Kelly was most recently a producer at ABC 7 Chicago, where she produced daily newscasts for the number-one station in the nation’s third-largest media market. Cate coordinated morning and afternoon newscasts, vetting stories on the local, state and international level. She also edited video and created graphics to accompany stories, while assisting reporters in the field. Prior to moving to Chicago, she worked in California’s state capital at KCRA-TV, also as a news producer. During her time there, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her work during the 2012 Japanese earthquake and tsunami and its impact on Northern California. She also has experience as a producer, reporter and web editor from the NBC affiliate in Columbia, Mo. Cate graduated from the University of Missouri and earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, with an emphasis in Radio/Television.

“ck” is an Emmy Award nominee, producer of content, actually reported ON government and Mizzou is a top-top journalism school in America… and… from “ck”…

We have gotten towns like Madeupville passing the Rauner Resolutions, actually embarrassing the administration touting these wins, and now hoping we forget about those resolutions… and… “ck” explaining “Speaker Madigan and the legislators he controls… ”

Well, either talent is being wasted, or Rauner is wasting her time, and she doesn’t know it.

At least try, or like you suggest - Norseman -, go to another agency.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 9:08 am
I can guarantee Rauner’s paying better than whatever she was making as a news producer.

Comment by Tournaround Agenda Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 9:37 am
===Kraft Heinz to cut 700 jobs in Northfield===

According to a report in todays Wall Street Journal, the number of workers in Northfield was about 2300 when the merger of Kraft and Heinz was announced in March. After the number is cut by 700 more, as per this announcement, the total job loss will total 1100 in less than one year. With 3G Capital Partners having a major stake in the company combined, I see further layoffs as being highly probable.

Comment by Hit or Miss Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 9:43 am
Wow! Who knew?
CK’s talent is being wasted in the name of politics. I’m sure she was looking for a job with more normal hours when she took her current position.

Comment by Mama Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 9:53 am
- Mama -

With respect,

“Speaker Madigan and the legislators he controls… ”

Wher is the use of talent in that?

Someone makes it up, repeat 600 times, realize that doesn’t help in moving legislative agenda, continue it anyway.

The Press Shop is extremely talented, but how they are going about their business… It’s not assiting in the governing. At all.

It’s repetetive nonsense. At times double-speak leading to the Governor being a victim of the duties and responsiblities of the Office.

So, either talent is being wasted, or they as a group are wasting their time.

They can do better. They have the talent to do so.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 10:01 am
She failed to mention Ruaner had the authority to distribute those funds but vetoed it.

Comment by Liberty Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 11:05 am
But ck likes that talking point. She gave it to Bernie for his column today, too.
http://www.sj-r.com/article/20150812/OPINION/150819810/1999/NEWS?Start=2
And she made it clear that Sen. Manar is controlled by Speaker Madigan.

Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 11:07 am
Liberty, your comment goes to the heart of this adminstration’s intellectual dishonesty. That, and the fact he introduced an unbalanced budget first. No honesty.

Comment by Faux Leadership Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 11:13 am
The Rauner administration has declared war on the truth. The question is, how long can he get away with it?

Comment by Faux Leadership Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 11:16 am
===The Rauner administration has declared war on the truth. The question is, how long can he get away with it?===

They own the Trib Editorial Board and @EditBoardChick, and it appears other papers are willing to carry the absurdity of Rauner’s positions.

The statehouse reporters have been very balanced and thoughtful but when the Editorial Boards and @EditBoardChick-types undermine the good work the statehouse reporters do…

Rauner will be able to drive his own sense of reality for a very long time through those Editorial Boards.

Long, long time.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 11:26 am
“Moore-Wolfe the correct choice”: YUP

Comment by Mattman Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 11:35 am
- Keyrock -,

The biggest disappointment with “ck” is her lack of the Davy and thoughtful remark.

State Senator Manar might feel President Cullerton is his leader. Looking at that SDem Caucus, it’s difficult for me to see Speaker Madigan counting Andy Manar as a … “legislator he controls”.

I’m a lil embarrassed for “ck”. Between those emails touting Rauner Resolutions and the terribly structured hack quotes no matter what is asked of her, if it’s the paycheck and lifestyle driving her choices, her distinguished body of work doesn’t reflect this lazy work-product being delivered by her.

To Bernie’s Column,

Yeah, ok, buyers remorse. Whatever.

I have little or no sympathy for Illinois labor and where they find themselves.

What Durbin needs to be doing is not say, “I hear you”, but “Have your voices heard, Labor. Rauner wants collective bargaining gone, Labor. Buyers remorse won’t stop Rauner, Labor.”

It’s mind-boggling the 40% pull of voters from Union households voting Rauner. It’s complete malpractice by Organized Labor as a voting block, and further, as a political movement.

Until Organized Labor decides, collectively, that any Rauner ally is really a “green” button to vote for the elimination of collective bargaining, and that candidate isn’t worth a vote from a union voter, Rauner will continue to literally mock Organized Labor in Illinois.

The 2016 state legislative races are a referendum on Organized Labor. Thinking anything other than that, Rauner will beat Labor, again, in the voting booth.

Why Organized Labor isn’t standing, collectively, on one issue, collective bargaining, and making it THE rallying cry to be impactful, I don’t know. It’s baffling to me, actually. One issue is very easy to herd cats… for their own existence.

Buyers remorse? Meh. Start getting organized, collectively, and decide who is with you, Labor, and who needs to be defeated.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 11:54 am
Catherine’s quote in the Bernie article (linked by Keyrock): “Governor Rauner was elected because the people of Illinois wanted to change the status quo so that government begins working for them instead of the Statehouse insiders.”

Should read: “Governor Rauner was elected because he paid for the office so that government begins working for the 1%.”

Fixed it for her, because we didn’t just fall off the turnip truck.

Comment by Cheswick Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 12:17 pm
==Governor Rauner was elected because the people of Illinois wanted to change the status quo==

Hear that knock on the copper door? It’s reality. He wants to come in. Are they seriously saying “we won so we should get what we want?” If the voters had sent like minded people to the General Assembly I might go along with that. They didn’t. So I suggest they get back to reality and work within the system they have to instead of always whining about it.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 13, 15 @ 1:52 pm