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* Sneed tidbit: GOP news…

Hmmm. Sneed hears rumbles state Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), who is ramrodding John McCain’s presidential bid in Illinois, is being encouraged to run for Cook County state’s attorney … as well as former Assistant State’s Attorney Ed Barron, who is preparing to circulate nominating petitions.

* Ethanol fueled boom losing steam

* DOC says fewer inmates returning to prison, cites programs

The rate of former prison inmates returning to prisons in Illinois is declining, thanks in part to an array of education and drug treatment programs in the institutions, Illinois Department of Corrections officials said Thursday.

Their comments came a day after a forum in Bloomington at which activists said the state is failing in its responsibility of offering enough help to keep inmates from returning to prison.

Prison system spokeswoman Januari Smith said the recidivism rate among Illinois’ prison population, which now stands at about 45,200 people, is starting to decline.

* House overturns gov’s objections to rail authority

* Chicago Public Radio: IL Democrats argue over ’silent reflection’

* Editorial: Silence law unnecessary

FIVE YEARS AGO, a bill amended the state’s Silent Reflection Act, changing it to the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act and guaranteeing students the right to observe voluntary, nondisruptive prayer whenever they chose to during the school day. The bill also allows for a moment of silence to begin the day if a teacher and his or her class choose to.

So, Illinois children can already reflect and pray in school any time they want. And a classroom can choose to observe a silent moment any day it wants…

MAYBE ONCE this vital piece of legislation is finally secured, the General Assembly can move on to pass the technical bill needed to allow school districts to collect the $400-per-pupil increase they were promised in the state budget. We’re pretty sure they could use the money a lot more than another vapid, state mandate.

* Editorial: Pick up the pace for building bypass

The Illinois Department of Transportation is now talking in terms of three years (2007 to 2010) to chart a transportation system, including such features as bike paths and commuter rail lines, for the vicinity. They are counting on three additional years (2010-2013) to do preliminary engineering and environmental studies for each project.

The earliest conceivable groundbreaking date to extend the expressway? 2016.

That’s simply too long to wait to get started on transportation improvements that have been needed for so long.

* Ameren starts power cut offs in IL

* Women’s cancer screening program expanding

* CPR: The “Chicago Reader” has a new look

* Friday Beer Blogging: Beer Holster edition

posted by Paul Richardson
Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:49 am

Comments

Durkin should set his eyes on the Attorney General’s race, where he has a clear shot of winning. While Tony Peraica has not chance of winning the State’s Attorney’s race, he will certainly pull anyone and everyone into the gutter who would dare oppose him and Durkin is better than that!

Comment by Joe in the Know Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:59 am
After reading the story above on breast cancer screenings, and the story in today’s southern, I think Governor Blagojevich should be applauded for his move to make these screenings available to all women. Its pretty clear that if this cancer goes undetected, women will die. However, making screenings available will save lives. Its really that simple. He gets a lot of criticism for his means, but its hard to argue with the ends.

Good work, Rod! Keep it up.

Comment by Anon Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:02 am
What? Nothing about the north side losers?

My prediction of Arizona in 3 is looking good.

Ahh, 100 years of Cub ineptitude is in sight…

Comment by jerry 101 Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:18 am
Jerry, scroll down further. It’s there.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:18 am
I’m pretty excited to hear that other Republicans, including Jim Durkin, are considering running against Tony Peraica for the GOP nomination.

Someone with the sterling reputation of Jim Durkin would not only give the GOP a chance, but not make it a laughing stock, due to the inept, circus-train of a campaign that Peraica is running.

The GOP needs more good people like Jim Durkin to run for higher office.

Comment by Super Mega Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:21 am
45,000 prisoners, mostly African American, is still way too many.

The state is doing nearly enough to keep them out of jail in the first place. That’s where the money savings are.

This is the 21st century. Jail should be for real criminals, not nonviolent drug offenders and petty
thieves. But….fewer inmates means fewer state jobs for the politically connected especially Downstate, where most of the prisons are. Whole towns live off the misery. They won’t give it up easily.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:35 am
Do not mortgage your house on anything Sneed has to say. Durkin will not run. His West Suburban rep seat is safe for the time being.

It is only when he got drawn out in ‘00 the Senate race began, AFTER he decided he did not want to run against the Speaker’s daughter, who made him a committee chair while he was in he minority.

Think like a politician and you will be able to cut through Sneedlings, etc.

But they love to hve their names “bandied about.”

Don’t they.

Comment by Durkin' Donuts Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:36 am
Super Mega: I agree, and, if I lived in Cook County, I would vote for him. But he will not do it.

Why get into the sticky wicket of Cook County Racial Politics?

Milan is being favored by many of the ASAs right now. And 19th Ward people.

If it was that easy, Bob Fioretti would have run years ago.

Comment by Scheduler Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:41 am
Ethanol: in 20 years, maybe 10, we will be amused at what all the fuss was about. Plug-in hybrids will be available in 2010 or so, and will get 100 mpg for the average trip of 40 miles or less. All-electric cars are just on the horizon, and brilliant minds are now working on solutions to create cost effective batteries and/or super-capacitors that can fast-charge in 5 minutes, with a range of 300 miles or so. This will change the game completely, and the gas stations of yore will turn into “zap” stations; of course, you can trickle-charge your own car off the AC in your house overnight, or off a solar panel at your workplace’s parking lot.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:55 am
The Elgin - OHare study could be completed in maybe 4 years if there was enough political muscle behind it. But no sooner - the federal environmental process is a mandated process that can not be short-cutted without a lawsuit that could set it back another 4 years or longer - look at what happened with the I-355 extension in Will County, which is only now being built after a successful environmental legal challenge delayed it for years. With a Clinton, or even an Obama in the White House, and a Daley in the mayor’s seat, the muscle will be there.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:02 am
Rich - yeah, i noticed after the fact.

my bad. I’ll take my ribbing there.

Comment by jerry 101 Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:03 am
“Good work, Rod! Keep it up.”

Anon (nee Rebecca):

Kool-aid much?

Comment by NimROD Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:24 pm
DD Fews touts the benefits of programs in corrections, but has to admit that to few staff hamper the effectiveness. The programs at Sheridan and Southwestern CC are typical of the Blagojevich administration, all PR. There are over 40,000 inmates in DOC in more than 30 adult prisons and they talk about the great things they are doing at 2 sites. Very poor management!!!

Comment by southern illinoisan Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 3:42 pm
Angie Leventis wrote, “Epstein said refund credits would, in some cases, pre-empt disconnection, though he would not disclose how many customers were taken off the disconnection list due to rebates.”

Gee. I wonder why he wouldn’t disclose this. Time for the state to take over the local energy grid.

Six Degrees of Separation wrote, “Plug-in hybrids will be available in 2010 or so, and will get 100 mpg for the average trip of 40 miles or less. All-electric cars are just on the horizon, and brilliant minds are now working on solutions to create cost effective batteries and/or super-capacitors that can fast-charge in 5 minutes, with a range of 300 miles or so.”

Say hello to Aptera.

Comment by Squideshi Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 4:23 pm
Anyone who thinks highly of Durkin obviously does not know him very well. He is tied in with the Stephens crew from Rosemont. The Illinois Republican party needs LESS people like Durkin, not more. Ever talked to Durkin one-on-one? He is a meathead, and is one of the least productive members of the Illinois General Assembly. He would have no chance to be elected State’s Attorney of Crook County or Illinois Attorney General.

Comment by Carolyn Tuesday, Oct 9, 07 @ 9:47 pm
In fact, I find it sad that my Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman is trying to recruit candidates to run against Tony Peraica instead of finding candidates to run for any of the vacant slots on the ballot. Does this mean that she beleives that beating Peraica is a bigger priority than beating Dan Lipinski or Eugene Moore? Liz Gorman is not a Republican. She proved that to me when she voted for Todd Stroger’s budget last February. I hate to admit that I supported Liz Gorman in the primary in 2002 and in both general elections since. I will not be making the same mistake in the future. I refuse to vote for a Republican who has more in common with Todd Stroger and Bill Beavers than members of the Republican Party.

Comment by Carolyn Tuesday, Oct 9, 07 @ 9:54 pm