A series of festivals, parades, and other events will mark the 200th anniversary of Illinois adopting its state constitution.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
Law allows firearm permit grace period during renewal
August 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed a law that allows Firearm Owners Identification cards to stay active even if Illinois State Police renewal isn’t completed by their expiration date.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
Gov. Rauner signs bipartisan legislation to protect against misuse of grant funds
August 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner signed today bipartisan legislation to protect taxpayers against inappropriate use of funds earmarked for nonprofit organization grants — as well as from attempts to use the grant process for political advantage in the run-up to an election.
“These are good-government, common-sense measures that protect taxpayers against the misuse of funds,” Rauner said. “I commend the Legislative Audit Commission for its work. This should go a long way toward restoring taxpayers’ faith in the grant process.
“Numerous nonprofits in Illinois are doing excellent, important work to improve our environment or improve people’s lives,” he continued. “This will help ensure that our limited grant resources are put to the best use.”
The legislation came as a result of the uncovered misuse of grant funds in the Pat Quinn Administration’s Neighborhood Recovery Initiative.
Approved unanimously by the Illinois House and Senate in the spring, Senate Bill 2540 makes several changes to the state grant process. Significantly, it places greater restrictions on fund transfers, and prohibits transferring grant funds from appropriated to non-appropriated funds. It also requires a black-out period extending from Sept. 1 of general election years through the election, barring members of the General Assembly or state constitutional officers from announcing grants within that time frame — preventing them from creating grant programs solely or primarily to boost exposure.
The bill also permits the state comptroller to stop payment on grants when serious concerns arise about a program or recipient.
“State grants help fund non-profit organizations and others that undertake important work in communities around our state,” said Sen. Barickman (R-Bloomington) who was chief sponsor of the legislation and co-chairs the Legislative Audit Commission. “The controversial NRI program diminished the credibility of those good programs by misusing millions in taxpayers’ dollars and diverting the funds to questionable activities. The Legislative Audit Commission worked together with Governor Rauner’s Office of Management and Budget and the Comptroller’s office to prevent this misuse from happening again in the future.”
SB 2540 is effective immediately.
Texting while driving could lead to license suspension under new Illinois law
August 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment
A new law in Illinois enhances the punishment for texting behind the wheel.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
10 teams that will impact Cards’ postseason push
August 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment
The buzz is back.
The Cardinals’ surge under interim manager Mike Shildt has made the postseason a real possibility.
Here’s a link to the story at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
‘It felt like an eternity’ for the Cardinals, but 9th-inning homers make it worth the wait
August 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment
LOS ANGELES — By the time the longest slog of the season had finally finished with them, the Cardinals had held a lead, nursed a lead, lost a lead, and reclaimed a lead, all while their body clocks, set to the tick-tock of the Midwest, told them they were nearing 2 a.m. St. Louis time
Here’s a link to the story at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Illinois State Fair vendors see drop in attendance, sales
August 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment
SPRINGFIELD — Attendance and sales at the Illinois State Fair declined from last year, vendors said.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
SIU head coach Nick Hill’s weekly press conference
August 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Football 08/20/2018 | 4:07:00 By Tom Weber, SIUSalukis.com
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CARBONDALE, Ill. — Here are excerpts from Saluki football head coach Nick Hill‘s weekly press conference. Southern Illinois opens its regular season at Murray State in 10 days.
On injured players CB Jeremy Chinn and WR Darrell James.
“I think both are probable to play. I think Jeremy looks really good. I think they’re being cautious with Jeremy. We don’t want to get him out there too early, it’s a long season, and we have good depth. Jeremy is chomping at the bit and pain-free in all the things that he’s done. With Darrell, it was a legitimate injury to his ankle. He’s pushed it some as far as trying to get back out there and is just not quite ready to go yet, but we still have 10 days before we have to go out there and play. Darrell will fight to get back and we’ll see how he is game-week.
On how he plans to use the four-game redshirt rule.
Somebody who thinks they’re redshirting right now will get out there and play in one or two or three games this year. Probably a lot of it will be with depth on special teams. At the end of the season or Week 7 or 8, you try to get a lot of your starters off of (special teams). A lot of our starters are on special teams, but if he’s banged up, that might be a time for a freshman to get in there and run down on kickoff or be on kick return. We have a good idea going into the first few weeks how we’re going to play some of the freshmen and some other guys have to keep coming.
On Zeyveon Furcron’s transition from defensive tackle to offensive guard.
Going into training, you just weren’t sure how quickly he would pick it up. Right now he’s running with the ones. He’s brought a physicality to the offense, he’s brought a demeanor to the offensive line that’s important. It mean’s a lot to Z and he’s a great football player.
On James Ceasar’s transition from safety to cornerback.
Ceasar’s had an outstanding camp. He’s really put himself in position to be the starter at corner.
On the place-kicking position.
I don’t know if we’re ready to say which one will be the guy. All three had a good day (at the last scrimmage). I’d like to see somebody step up and be consistent and put four or five good days together. That’s what all three haven’t done yet. We have a pretty good idea, but we want to see them go out there and keep performing and keep putting the pressure on them.
On how his comfort level with the kicking game affects play calling.
It matters once you get into that range where you don’t feel comfortable, what you’re doing play-call wise. Whether you get into four-down mode, where third downs become really second downs, and you can run it again and try to get into fourth-and-manageable, or you’re going to throw it a couple times on third and fourth. All that kind of stuff changes your thought process. That’s my job as a head coach.
On backup quarterbacks Matt DeSomer and Stone Labanowitz.
(Matt) legitimately is a play away. He saw that last year. He’s played in a lot of football games. The game won’t be too big for him. If he gets called on in the first quarter at Murray State, he’s not going to be wide-eyed, worried or nervous. He’s ready to play, he wants to play. Stone has done a good job putting himself in position. He’s come a long way. He’s become really efficient. He knows where to go with the ball, he gets the ball out, he doesn’t take sacks, he’s athletic enough to make plays.
On how he will utilize a deep wide receiver corps.
Those guys all know their roles, they’re unselfish. They all want to play and make plays. I think the guys up at the top of that group have stood out. There’s good depth in that room, but the guys at the top have to get in a rhythm and play. Everybody at some point will get out there, we spread the ball a lot.
On how the pass rush helps the secondary.
Your D-line is your best secondary. I don’t care who you are, you look at the NFL and some of the best cover guys, if you don’t have guys who can get after the passer, you’re going to give up passing yards. That is the toughest job in football, period, at any level, is to go guard someone one-on-one. With a quarterback who has all kinds of time, it’s nearly impossible, especially with the rules today where you can’t put your hands on them. Rules are set up for offenses to be successful down the field. Whenever you’re a quarterback and you don’t have time, or you start looking at the rush, or you’re feeling the heat, it definitely helps us.
On the offensive tackles’ ability to protect the passer.
They’re all coming along. I think it’s a collective thing — Ben Bailey, Wags (Bryce Wagner) and Ernest (Dye Jr.) have all played. Lucas Davis has a bright future here and all four of them have to be ready to go. We have to do different things. You’re not going to be able to man-pass pro the entire game with guys just teeing off and knowing that you’re passing. That’s our job as coaches to help our guys. You can’t do the same pass pro every single time. We have to do a good job helping, chipping guys, sliding the line, moving the quarterback out of the pocket.
The games Illinois insiders play to keep you, the voter, outside
August 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment
If you care about democracy, don’t forget how it “works” closest to home. In Illinois, those in power use and abuse the electoral process to cling to that power.
Here’s a link to the editorial at the Chicago Sun-Times.
Commentary: Summertime and the media are embarrassing — from hating America to loving Antifa
August 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment
August is a time when Washington shuts down for summer recess. The left and the media should have taken the hint. Instead, they stayed and made fools of themselves.
Here’s a link to the editorial at FOX News.
