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* 2009 Reports on Poverty

The 2009 report on Illinois Poverty released Thursday reveals signs of increasing poverty throughout the state. Poverty worsened in more than half of the state’s 102 counties even before the recession began in December 2007.

The most current poverty data from 2007, therefore, does not capture economic realities, the report’s authors wrote.

As many as 405,000 more Illinoisans are likely to have been pushed into poverty as a result of the recession.

* Quarter-million Chicagoans on brink of poverty: study

* Victims of economy: 250,000 more forced into poverty in Chicago area, report says

* Four area counties among 46 on poverty list

* Survey says CFOs prefer salary freezes over layoffs

* Chrysler UAW workers approve concessions

The union, which represents nearly 2,500 workers at Chrysler’s assembly plant in Belvidere, held informational meetings and voting at the Coronado Performing Arts Center all day Wednesday.

* Struggling Motorola reportedly a contender to make Microsoft’s challenger to iPhone

* Car dealers confident — Don’t expect to be part of GM cuts

* 6 local projects get $25M in stimulus funds

The largest is a $21.1-million endeavor to repair and stabilize the main structure protecting Chicago Harbor. Another $1.6 million will be used to complete a levee on the Des Plaines River, and $1.1 million will go toward increasing dredging capacity in the Calumet Harbor and Calumet River.

* Chicago Defender Returns to South Side

* Closing Howe Center in Tinley Park could mean jobs here

* Wind Power Makes Moves In The Statehouse

School Wind/ Solar Generation Act (SB1570): Creates a School Wind and Solar Generation Revolving Loan Fund to begin awarding loans or grants to public schools and community colleges to study and build wind or solar power projects. The intent is to “directly or indirectly reduce energy or other operating costs,” to free up more money for classrooms.

Enterprise Zone Wind Farms (SB1923): Streamlines permitting and tax exemptions for large-scale wind farms under the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act, while requiring the projects meet the state’s prevailing wage standards.

Green Jobs Training Fund (HB4186): In establishing a Green Jobs Training Fund, the state would agree to set aside up to $500,000 over the next two years to train mostly low-income adults to staff renewable energy projects.

* Cook County assessor worker sentenced for skimming funds

Joyce Pierce, 52, of Chicago pleaded guilty to one count of theft of more than $100,000 before Circuit Judge Clayton Crane. Prosecutors alleged that over a four-year period, Pierce pilfered funds from the office’s Freedom of Information Department to pay for purchases at upscale stores such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Macy’s.

* Feds searching Crestwood village hall in water case

A total of 15 EPA agents, state police investigators and members of the U.S. Coast Guard’s investigative service unit arrived at 9 a.m. and combed village offices for records until sometime about 5 p.m.

Speaking in the vestibule of village hall, EPA Special Agent in Charge Randall Ashe said the agents were searching for “any evidence of crimes that may have occurred.”

Village hall remained open, and village officials and employees reportedly attempted to go about their duties. But the day was anything but normal, as agents came and went continuously.

Mayor Robert Stranczek briefly emerged from his office to say that the village was “fully cooperating” with the EPA. He did not take questions.

* EPA seizes Crestwood files

* EPA Reviewing Information from Crestwood Raid

* Raid on South suburb in tainted water case

* The chemo block, Crestwood, USA

* Sensitive state data released to Web

A memo obtained by The Associated Press to staff members alerts them to possible credit fraud concerns because a spreadsheet with worker names and Social Security numbers was found on the Internet.

It says attorney general’s investigators believe the data, prepared for an outside auditing firm, was released to a so-called peer-to-peer network during a music transfer to an agency laptop.

* Des Plaines Aldermen Need More Time To Review Casino Non-Interference

* Whistleblower files federal lawsuit against Peoria Scool District 150

* Judge clears way for Chicago Heights mayoral vote

* Renner concedes race to incumbent Stockton

* Madison County OKs new payment plan for taxpayers

* Cook County judge wants former police Cmdr. Jon Burge to testify in beating case

* Chicago will have last 24-hour post office in U.S.

* Navy Pier Cinco de Mayo fest canceled over swine flu

* Swine flu: 9 suspected cases in Chicago area

* Swine flu: 3 Chicago-area schools close down over swine flu fears

* School cancels ‘kiss the pig’ contest

* Don’t panic; use sensible measures to fight swine flu

* PJStar: Be serious, but rational, about swine flu concerns

* Probable swine flu hits suburbs; two schools close in Kane County

* Immigration march: Swine flu scare may reduce immigration rally turnout

* Some universities calling off Mexico travel plans

* Swine flu constant worry for hog farmers

* Swine flu in Illinois

Gov. Pat Quinn made a move similar to the federal declaration with a gubernatorial proclamation that allows him to access state resources to address any needs that may arise. U.S. Health and Homeland Security officials released stockpiled medical supplies and anti-viral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, to the states, and the Illinois Department of Public Health expects the state to receive a shipment this week.

posted by Mike Murray
Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 9:46 am

Comments

Yesterday’s photo caption was very timely.

http://www.rrstar.com/news/x126918321/Capron-school-cancels-kiss-the-pig-contest

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 9:58 am
—–
Struggling Motorola reportedly a contender to make Microsoft’s challenger to iPhone
—–

Moto, a company which is so stupid they couldn’t make money off the Razr, is going sell Redmond’s failure of a mobile product. It’s a match made in fail.

You might also note that Motorola is also pushing out not one, but two lackluster looking Android phones.

Palm might outlast Motorola.

Comment by dan l Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 10:22 am
A former manager at the Cook County assessor’s office was sentenced to 4 years in prison for stealing nearly $170,000 from the office to pay for shopping trips and her daughter’s college tuition.

Joyce Pierce, 52, of Chicago pleaded guilty to one count of theft of more than $100,000 before Circuit Judge Clayton Crane. Prosecutors alleged that over a four-year period, Pierce pilfered funds from the office’s Freedom of Information Department to pay for purchases at upscale stores such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Macy’s.

Yikes….4 years for FOI Filly…..Hooli will be a very lonely fella

Comment by 2ConfusedCrew Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 10:24 am
Hey head over to The Dome and watch StateWideTom mislead the SJR edit board on capital and other fronts. He apparently dozin’ when the GA passed the pension reforms a few weeks ago….meanwhile the senate leader is claiming The Speaker doesn’t talk to the Governor.
News flash Madigan is meeting with Quinn as they ramble.
That Dome really fills a need….NOT

Comment by EmptySuitParade Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 10:48 am
OT but relates to a post from yesterday: DPI updated the candidates page. http://www.ildems.com/Candidates.htm

Comment by Zora Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 10:53 am
Didn’t Confused/Empty just break some kind of rule. Oh, that’s right rules don’t apply to those guys.This is what happens when lackeys rule the world.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 10:55 am
What Pension Reforms? I saw a bill fly through that:
1) Gave Blago Jr. control of the pension boards-ReformNOT.
2) Canned the only pension director who ever stood up to Filan-ReformNOT.
3) Used 25 pages to repeat or restate existing statutes or rules-ReformNOT.
4) Created abundant new opportunities for friends of Kwame and Eddie B-ReformNOT.

Any time you people need some bill analysis bcause your superstars are busy writing books or playing footsie with the interns, just call. Happy to help out.

Comment by EmptyHeadParade Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 11:01 am
Bill:

I read the posts in question (Didn’t “Confused/Empty just break some kind of rule”). What are you seeing that I am not?

Comment by Joe in the Know Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 11:45 am
Here the wind–up of the whine out at the SJR

CircularFiringSquad Predict Win

10:25 a.m.: Republican legislative leaders say they have a good shot of winning back the governor’s mansion next year. Sure!

Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno and House Minority Leader Tom Cross ended their meeting with The State Journal Register’s editorial board with talk of the 2010 election.

Because of the stalemate in state government and the recent impeachment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Cross says the GOP has a good chance and winning the gubernatorial race and possibly a U.S. Senate seat.

“I think we’ve got some great opportunities given what has gone on the state this past six years,” said Cross.

Neither he nor Radogno floated their own name as contenders for governor’s office, but Cross says the GOP has a plethora of qualified candidates, such as DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett and state Senator Kirk Dillard among others.

Right…BrickheadJoe goes for the hat trick. Even StateWideTom can’t believe that nonsense….Keep believing that pension honcho stood up to anyone —- except for Cellini when he needed his glass refilled.

Comment by EmptySuitParade Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 12:31 pm
Joe,
You are only supposed to use one nickname per thread no matter how stupid it/they are.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 1:05 pm
Just a thought about the swine flu–maybe it has already been here for while before it was noticed in Mexico. One of my colleagues who is still teaching school said that there was a rash of resperatory flu in the central IL schools after Spring/Easter break. And, not many of these kids went to Mexico or out of the country.

Teachers were told to remind students about washing hands and covering their mouths and noses when they cough or sneeze.

Flu is flu until there is testing to prove what strain of virus is the cause. So, this strain may have already been here for a while. Now that the media is going wacko about the flu news. Seems cable news is all flu all the time.

Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 1:51 pm
Bill, don’t you know we make our own rules upstairs?

Speaking of refills, my boss didn’t buy my dinner tonight so I had to go to McDonald’s instead of eating Italian. Love the free refills.

All he wanted to do all day was poke his apple knife in this little doll that looked like Pat Collins.

Comment by EmptyConfusedByrd Thursday, Apr 30, 09 @ 10:02 pm
CDC haven’t done an update on their list since early am. Must be busy.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 1, 09 @ 1:11 am