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I really miss Paul. Running late, again, so talk amongst yourselves.

* Report: Illinois’ grad goals aren’t high enough

* Peoria GOP politician will run for LaHood seat - Former councilman first to declare 2008 candidacy

* Nearly 10 Percent Of Illinois Bridges Have Structural Issues

* Transportation official: Don’t fret about general bridge safety

* Some fear even sound spans

* Burke revs up city boycott of BP - Targets oil giant, banks, McDonald’s over Ind. pollution plan… More here

* Education leaders will be grand marshals for State Fair parade

* Gamblers line up, ante up for new Casino Queen

* Random Drug Testing on Harness Races

* SIU speaks out on student loan probe

* Daley starts over in hunt for top cop - Stuns police by asking board for nationwide search, apparently passing over all three finalists

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 8:43 am

Comments

Is the Governor going to blow the electricity rate deal ? Does a decision need to happen today to lock in the lower rates or was it planned to happen this way all along?

Comment by North of I-80 Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 8:47 am
All I know is, if it was planned to happen this way it wasn’t planned by the people who actually were IN the damn negotiating room.

What a horrible blow. I’m sure there will be more on this blog later today.

Comment by So Ill Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 8:50 am
By the way, note that it’s “Ameren” customers…not Com-Ed customers…who will get hammered by this. At least, in every story I’ve read.

Comment by So Ill Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 8:51 am
How many bloggers are coming to the YearlyKoz convention this weekend? Or music lovers going to Lollapalooza?

Comment by The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 8:53 am
Could it be the “goofy” PeterPressRelease who envisioned all this in January had his contacts in the wrong eyes?
Take your time Rich.
Readers should check out the SJ-R poll question concerning the fair.
QOTD should involved Black’s low class effort to use a moment of silence for MN bridge victims as the launching pad for a rant about the need for pork projects.
Have a great morning

Comment by Mr. W.T. Rush Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 8:56 am
When I saw Paul at the going away party, I told him this would happen. Once you get a good intern, it’s very hard to go back to living without one.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:02 am
if the gov kills the rate deal, it will be the first smart thing he’s done in a long time.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:04 am
Rich, did you become so “pampered” when Paul was around that you find yourself considering a permanent replacement? LOL

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:07 am
On Chicago 9 news last night they had an bridge safety engineer on. He stated this Governor has diverted all the funds intended for bridge safety inspections and repairs to his pet projects. Of course the governors people deny any such thing. Who would you believe ?

Comment by Lula May Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:11 am
“Don’t do business with BP Amoco until they pledge they are not gonna pollute Lake Michigan.”

Well Mr. Burke - not only has Amoco already pledged that they are not going to pollute Lake Michigan, they have proof that they will not. What you are unhappy about is an increase in the discharge from the Whiting Indiana plant, which you associate with an increase in pollution.

All of your concerns have already been addressed by state and federal government staffers who know a whole lot more about these issues than you do. Every permit passed by the state of Indiana and the US government required stacks and stacks of legal documents, scientific studies, environmental impact statements and hours upon hours of discussions. Dozens of people, including public officials, scientists, environmentalists, and even lawyers have ensured that each step taken by Amoco was complete and legal by all current laws.

Your concern over Lake Michigan is admirable. Amoco shares those concerns, as do everyone else involved in this situation. No one wants to destroy Lake Michigan after generations of laws and years of hard work cleaning it up. The water today is far cleaner than it has been in probably a century. No one wants to reverse this.

So get off your holy horse of self righteousness environmental purity demands. Lake Michigan is a living thing capable of handling far worst than being put into it. Do you really believe that taking water from Lake Michigan for your toilets doesn’t impact the lake? Do you really want to prove to us that having millions of people living on it’s shores, taking and dumping it’s water isn’t more damaging that anything the Whiting plant has been permitted to do? Even if everyone in Chicagoland, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids and Green Bay became Amish, there would still be environmental impact on Lake Michigan.

Stop the hysterics! You are no enviro-virgin, sir.

If Mayor Richard J. Daley was alive, he’d slap you silly. He would remind you that while the Lake is a precious asset, demanding that NOTHING be put into it that could be called pollution is a ridiculous position to put society into. We fart - sorry sir, but fortunately Mother Nature can take care of herself better than you obviously believe she can.

While you are standing behind your enviro-pulpit, bellowing about how we sin against nature, ask yourself why you seem willing to throw civilization away, and what you actually believe can take it’s place. You want to see an enviro-sinner? Look into your own mirror, above that sink which takes water from your precious Lake and then washes it away. You want to save something? Start with yourself!

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:22 am
whew, go Vanilla Man! Burke’s recent request
for more water playgrounds across the city
(in response to the accident with a child
who opened a fire hydrant) shows he is
willing to waste water. and, since there are
spray pools and big pools all over the city,
we can assume, once again, that Burke is just
trying to hop on whenever he can to sit waiting
as the white alternative in case Daley steps aside. hey, Ald. Burke, how many water playgrounds are in NYC, your default for all
the new policy things you try to bring to Chicago?
why don’t you spend your time trying not
to be ethically challenged instead of showboating.

Comment by amy Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:58 am
Northwestern University’s Dave Schulz, director of the university’s Infrastructure Institute.
Schulz also criticized Blagojevich for consistently pulling money from the motor fuel tax to plug holes in the state’s general budget.

“You can’t have your cake and eat it too. If you’re going to steal money from the road fund and use it in the general fund, one of the things you’re going to do is drive up the backlog of roads and bridges that need repairs.”

Comment by Lula May Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:15 am
“Nearly 10 percent of Illinois bridges have structural problems, records show, and Gov. Rod Blagojevich has ordered a review of the most sensitive ones to ensure the Minnesota bridge disaster isn’t repeated here.”

As far as I am concerned, they ALL have structural problems because they’re not designed to withstand earthquakes; and we know that we’re due for another major earthquake in Illinois (In fact, the New Madrid Fault area in Southern Illinois experiences more earthquakes than anywhere else East of the Rocky Mountains.
)

Comment by Squideshi Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:22 am
How is it Iowa can have a goal of 95% of their students graduating from high school–the minimum credential needed for a middle class lifestyle, and IL has a goal of 72%–which thank goodness as a whole, the state exceeds (88% statewide), though many individual schools don’t make even that grade.

Comment by cermak_rd Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:42 am
Is anyone listening NOW to Tom Cross’ call for Infrastructure Funds. As expected the guv has raided the bridge inspection fund. Isn’t it nice to see such a capable governor - that’s Minnesota’s guv - representing the people. Now just imagine how the Illinois guv would represent us if one of our bridges collapsed. He’s spin it to push for his healthcare program. Hey guv, we all think healthcare is important…..but how do you pay for it or any of your other pet projects? Let’s get our roads and bridges in shape and educate all those kids (legal ones at least).

Comment by Indpendent One Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:50 am
Van Man,

Neither you or BP seem to get it. We don’t want any additional pollutants being dumped into Lake Michigan - none, nada, zilch.

Maybe you have not read the Tribune and Sun-Times editorials opposing BP plans. The Tribune is a pro-business newspaper. It’s a shame to see someone so blinded by ideology that they can’t see even a shred of the truth.

The Cheney-Bush adminstration can be characterized as a radical anti-environmental regime. They appoint polluters to be in chargee of the EPA (lobbyists who actively advocate against any and all environmental regulations). Furthermore, in case you haven’t noticed, the Cheney-Bush adminstration are completely in the pockets of the oil industry.

So its not the least bit surprising that the “‘expert ideologues” in charge at the EPA have no reservations about BP’s pollution plans. Ther have been innumerable reports from many different parties (e.g., the Republican surgeon General and many others) who have publicly stated that ideology triumphs over sound science on every policy issue that requires a governmental decision.

All I can suggest Van Man is that you wake up and taste the water. Fresh, clean, unpolluted water will be worth more than a barrel of oil some day. Wars have been fought and will be fought in the future over access to water. Water is a vital economic resource to be cherished and protected.

BP is welcome to expand its refnery. All we expect is they invest in the technology and facilites that do not increase the discharges of pollutants into Lake Michigan.

I think a boycott is a good idea. Given BP’s intransigent commitment to poluting the lake, one can only hope that the project can be stalled legally unitl a new Democratic national administration takes over.

Comment by Captain America Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 11:56 am
Rich,

It would seem to be that there would be an ample supply of intern recriuts available at UIC Springfield. I think they even have a public affairs journalism program. Experience working for you seems like it would be tremendous asset on any resume,particularly since it’s so difficult/competitive to get started on a career in journalism.

Comment by Captain America Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:02 pm
Squid,

Your total ignorance on bridge design in IL is showing. There are 3 seismic zones in IL, and all newer bridges have been appropriately designed for the applicable earthquake standards - including southern IL, where Zone C seismic standards relating to the New Madrid fault zone are enforced. In addition, many older bridges have been retrofitted with seismic countermeasures in Zone C. Do you feel better driving on I-57 now?

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 2:11 pm
Dear Captain,
I’ll let your conspiracy ramblings speak for themselves. Those who believe in superstitions and conspiracies about things like you post are believing in things they don’t understand.

Sorry that reality tips the apple cart in your mind. Your belief that water is more valuable than oil is somehow missed by the GLOBAL MARKET, but you probably also believe that the global market is controlled by other evil white men, right?

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 2:49 pm
“There are 3 seismic zones in IL, and all newer bridges have been appropriately designed for the applicable earthquake standards - including southern IL, where Zone C seismic standards relating to the New Madrid fault zone are enforced.”

What exactly do you mean by “the applicable earthquake standards?” Who’s standards? Now is your chance to educate me on this issue.

What about buildings? As far as I am aware, buildings in Illinois are not required to adhere to any “earthquake standards.” Why not?

Comment by Squideshi Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 3:08 pm
VM, water may not be more valuable than oil in the global market today, but material I’ve read indicates that’s likely to change in the future for various reasons that include climatic changes (e.g. increasingly arid areas). Future wars may be fought over fresh water resources just like we do today over oil reserves. By 2025 at least 3.5 billion–about half the world’s population–will live in areas without enough water (let alone fresh water) for agriculture, industry, and human needs, according to a report released 21 October 2000 by the World Resources Institute (WRI). It’s certainly something to think about…

Comment by Just Wonderin' Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 3:16 pm
VM…apparently you think because you can turn your faucet on and see water, you think it isn’t valuable. And apparently you’ve never been in a part of this world where water is valuable. I lived in Africa for nearly two years and half that time the only water we had was trucked in from miles away so we could have it on for 30 minutes a day. Water was more valuable than any oil to these people. It was and remains to this day an extremely valuable resource.

Have you noticed the problems in our own southwest concerning water? Have you see the pictures of Lake Mead? Have you read about the water restrictions going on all over our country?

CA is right. The world can survive without oil. It cannot survive without water.

Comment by Fed Up State Employee Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 4:11 pm
Squid:

http://www.dot.il.gov/bridges/brmanuals.html

Download the manual, search on the word “seismic” and see how many hits you get. All the references to the seismic standards are in there.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 5:35 pm
Squid-

As far as seismic codes for buildings in So IL, the state really doesn’t have an overall regulation, although MO does. Local and county building codes can be strenthened to provide for earthquake protection, but So IL has been known for its reluctant adoption of building codes, zoning, etc. that are taken for granted in other areas of the state.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 6:41 pm
“Download the manual, search on the word ’seismic’ and see how many hits you get. All the references to the seismic standards are in there.”

Interesting. Thank you Six. I will read this.

“Local and county building codes can be strenthened to provide for earthquake protection, but So IL has been known for its reluctant adoption of building codes, zoning, etc. that are taken for granted in other areas of the state.”

Well, all I can say is that we KNOW we’re headed for a major disaster. Aren’t we due for another earthquake like the one that made the Mississippi River flow backwards, destroyed buildings in Chicago, and rang church bells in Washington, DC?

Comment by Squideshi Monday, Aug 6, 07 @ 10:04 am