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* Stroger cuts 20 jobs, including hospital chief; critics want more

* Many states targeting distracted drivers

* Illinois Arts Alliance selects new director

*USAToday: Assimilation key to immigration reform

Illinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich created a task force to come up with the best ways to help immigrants achieve integration. Last month, the task force released its suggestions, including implementing a “We Want to Learn English” campaign, enacting policies that allow skilled workers to transfer their credentials and training from their native countries to meet the state’s professional standards, and supplying low-skilled workers with English and vocational training. It is a model worthy of national adoption.

* Some points on the lottery sale

* Cook Co. suburbs face smoking deadline

* Glencoe and Wilmette move on affordable housing

* Editorial: Stroger packs the payroll

* Transit officials seek $10 billion from state:

Officials have called 2007 the “year of decision” for transportation, predicting that fare increases and service cuts would be imposed if the bus and rail network does not receive new operating and capital improvement revenue. But transportation is vying with education, health care and pension funding as top Springfield concerns.

* Company admits Stroger Hospital fraud

* Coalition promote HB750 as revenue solution for schools and pensions

* Brown blames Daley for CTA problems:

CTA riders are enduring “agonizingly slow” commutes on “overcrowded buses and trains” because Mayor Daley’s handpicked transit team has ignored the basics at the expense of “glamor projects,” mayoral challenger Dorothy Brown said Thursday.

* Legislation aims to relieve backlog of state cleanup payments

* National attorneys sue Illinois police over lineup reform data

* Brady, Republicans pitch state pensions fix

* Former Ryan aide resigns from Commerce Commission

* County takes a shot at 10 cents a bullet tax

* Parole opposed for murder convicts

* Harvey mayor’s status as a cop is a problem

* Friday Beer Blogging

posted by Paul Richardson
Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 7:56 am

Comments

Goodmorning Paul, I caught this little diddy, Carpetbagger endorses Brendan Reilly.

Comment by The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 8:10 am
A little of topic, but…

“But transportation is vying with education, health care and pension funding as top Springfield concerns.”

One of the problems we have in Illinois is that “education” is construed as P-12 education. Higher Education funding has been flat for the last five years. If Illinois wants an educated workforce and wants to attract businesses that want an educated workforce, then higher education, including community college funding, needs to be a priority.

Comment by Fan of the Game Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 8:19 am
“It’s likely Illinois will look for more upfront cash, and therefore it will promise not to make the lottery illegal (or to compensate the buyers if it does so).”

One of the best reasons yet not to sell.

Another one is the need to tighten up, not loosen, its regulation even if it is not sold. A public “blue ribbon” board should be appointed to watch more closely how it’s being run. Remember the OAG report?

Comment by Don't sell the Lottery Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 8:28 am
It’s nice that Glencoe and Wilmette are developing housing for the servants, but how are they doing in the public housing arena.

It’s my understanding that the “leafy lakefront suburbs” have been notoriously slow in developing public housing as required by Illinois law.
Outside of Chicago, the burden of public housing has been borne by western and southern Cook suburbs (like my Oak Park) and a few outlying collar communities. The wealthy Democrat liberals who dominate the decision-making in Wilmette and Glencoe may be all in favor of helping the less fortunate, but they don’t want them living next door or attending their schools. And, in Illinois, they got the clout to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Laying off 20 employees at Provident is a distraction from the real issue which is that Provident is a poorly run hospital which is not needed in the area. The University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics serve the geographic
area where Provident is located and they run a number of clinics on the South Side as well.
Why anyone in their right mind would go to Provident when the U. of C. is available is beyond me. And they take Medicare and Medicaid and provide charity care, although perhaps not as much as an uber-wealthy hospital should. A little pressure from the AG might help there.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 8:33 am
Last summer, I was driving with my son in the car, I was totally DISTRACTED to see a father with his very young son on the back of a motorcycle, speeding down the road, both had no motorcycle helmet on. I almost called DCFS to report possible child abuse - then it dawned on me - no motorcycle helmet law in Illinois.

Comment by Anon. Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 9:08 am
I took the blue line downtown today. The first train that pulled in (after waiting 10 minutes during rush hour) was full — nobody could board. Meanwhile the platform began to fill up with people waiting for the next train. 10 minutes later, anther packed train slowly rolled in. I jammed myself in and endured the slowest, most uncomfortable ride downtown of my life.

Its embarrasing. The trains in NYC, DC, and even the tube in London are examples of well run, efficient modes of public transportation. Its rare that I’m ashamed of Chicago, but public transit is truly going into the crapper. I’m not laying blame here either, but ts time for somebody to step up and fix the problem.

Pathetic.

Comment by Number 8 Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 11:42 am
Oh, by all means, let’s allow skilled workers and professionals to transfer their credentials here. Then, EVERY American can be out of a job! Rather than send our medical & legal support services out of the country, now they can import actual Indian citizens to take our jobs in a more direct manner. Americans, however, will not have the option of attending their dirt-cheap schools schools for the transfer credits, either. So, an American wishing a standard of living similar to that enjoyed by his parents and paying off $100,000 in student loans can now “compete” for the $25,000 “professional” job with the Indian national with no loans to pay off and who previously earned the equivalent of $8,000 per year. Gee, who wins: could it be the Indian national and the greedy corporation? Nah …

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 12:26 pm
No Bollywood today? Bridget must be busy.

Comment by Bill Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 3:09 pm
I agree with Dorothy Brown that CTA services suck. However, just one ride on a bus and then a train is not enough to make judgment on CTA or Mayor Daley.

Try riding it everyday and then make an accessment!

Comment by One_Mcmad Friday, Feb 9, 07 @ 4:17 pm