A coalition of the state’s major public employee and teacher unions filed a lawsuit in Springfield today alleging Illinois’ new pension law is unconstitutional and amounts to “theft.”
Here’s the link to the story in the Chicago Tribune.
Armed robbery, home invasion on Rend Lake College Campus being investigated
January 23, 2014 By Leave a Comment
INA — The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an armed robbery, home invasion and unlawful restraint that took place at the Rend Lake College Place Apartments Saturday night. The apartment complex houses athletes and is located on the south side of the RLC Campus in Ina.
The sheriff’s office was notified about the incident at 8:06 p.m. on January 18 by RLC security.
According to the police report, three individuals, armed with long guns and hand guns, entered one of the apartments and held four residents of the apartments at gunpoint. The perpetrators told the victims they were looking for two individuals who reside at the apartments. The two individuals being sought were not at the apartments, authorities said.
After holding the four athletes hostage for more than an hour, the three intruders took cash and other items from the victims apartment. They then fled in what is believed to be a silver four-door Oldsmobile Alero. There were no injuries.
All the victims are RLC athletes. The sheriff’s department is asking for assistance from the public in identifying the perpetrators. Anyone with information is asked to call 618-438-4850 or the Tip Line at 618-439-9561.
The investigation is continuing.
Stan Musial Bridge to open in February
January 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment
ST. LOUIS (AP) – The Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge is scheduled to open early next month.
The new bridge will carry Interstate 70 over the Mississippi River. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the four-lane, cable-stayed bridge and associated highway projects are being funded with a combination of Missouri, Illinois and federal money.
The Missouri Department of Transportation says the bridge will be open from noon to 4 p.m. on Feb. 8 to walkers, runners and bicyclists who want a close-up view of the bridge. Festivities include a ribbon-cutting and a 3 p.m. parade.
Department spokesman Andrew Gates says the agency is preparing for as many as 20,000 people to attend the events.
Gates says the bridge is expected to open to traffic Feb. 9.
Budget, election to drive Illinois lawmakers’ agenda
January 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment
By KERRY LESTER The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD — Compared with last year’s session, when Illinois lawmakers tackled major issues ranging from pensions to gay marriage to concealed carry, the legislative work that begins later this month likely will be less ambitious but more politically driven because of looming elections.
Tax questions are expected to dominate the agenda, including what to do about the pending expiration of the temporary income tax, corporate tax incentives, Chicago pension reform and the possibility of a capital construction bill that could boost Gov. Pat Quinn’s re-election bid.
“It’s going to be popular-vote issues,” House Republican Leader Jim Durkin said. “The financial issues of the state are finally taking root.”
Control of the governor’s mansion is on the line in the upcoming election, as well as the Democrats’ veto-proof margins in the House and Senate. Republicans are aiming to convince voters that they would be better stewards of public funds if put in charge.
Democrats, in turn, will portray the GOP as
hurting the most vulnerable Illinoisans with
aggressive cuts.
Lawmakers return to Springfield on Jan. 28, one day ahead of Quinn’s State of the State speech. Among the things they’re expected to discuss immediately is what to do about the scheduled rollback of the state’s temporary income tax increase from 5 percent to 3.75 percent next January — halfway through the upcoming fiscal year.
In a report released earlier this month, Quinn’s office of management and budget outlined a three-year projection showing the state’s deficit would grow to $1.9 billion in 2015 and $4.1 billion in 2016 if the increase sunsets as scheduled. The state’s backlog of bills would also grow, from an expected $5.6 billion at the end of this fiscal year in July to $16.2 billion in 2017.
Quinn’s February budget address will serve as the opening salvo of negotiations with lawmakers as he announces his spending priorities for the year.
The Chicago Democrat has not yet said whether he wants to extend the tax increase. Three of the four GOP candidates — Winnteka businessman Bruce Rauner, state Sen. Bill Brady and State Sen. Kirk Dillard — want the hike to lapse. The other, state treasurer Dan Rutherford, has said he could be open to negotiations.
The issue will be vital to the GOP’s voting base in the 2014 general election. Democratic lawmakers are seeking to keep it in place by spelling out doomsday scenarios of draconian cuts to schools and social services should there be a rollback.
Either way, legislative appropriators find themselves in a pickle, as they’ll spend months budgeting before getting any certainty on revenue projections, forcing them to plan for a worst-case scenario.
“I don’t think we should be appropriating money that I’m not sure we’re going to have,” said state Sen. Julie Morrison, a Deerfield Democrat.
Besides debating the temporary income tax extension, lawmakers also are expected to look into the idea of a graduated income tax. Democratic state Sen. Don Harmon has proposed an amendment to the state constitution that would set different income tax rates depending on individuals’ incomes — essentially making the wealthy pay more.
Some conservatives have resisted that proposal. The advocacy group Americans for Prosperity is running video spots against Democratic lawmakers in moderate, suburban districts who are seen as vulnerable in their re-election bids. Among the targets is Rep. Marty Moylan of Des Plaines, who says he hasn’t yet made up his mind on the issue.
“We have to get more information,” he said. “I’m getting criticized from both sides for not taking a stance.”
Corporate tax incentives also are expected to come up during the session, as members of both parties figure to talk on the campaign trail about keeping businesses in Illinois.
Lawmakers adjourned for the year in December without granting tax breaks to several large companies that requested them, including Archer Daniels Midland, Univar and Office Max.
Democratic Rep. Jack Franks of Marengo is pushing for the state’s main economic development tool, the EDGE program, to be revamped, citing a culture of “insider deals” that’s blunting the state’s economic recovery. Supporters of the breaks argue they are important for keeping and attracting more jobs.
After having dealt with the state’s own pension problems last spring, Democrats intend to take up the pension crises affecting Chicago and other Illinois cities.
Democratic Senate President John Cullerton, who has said Chicago’s pension problem is even worse than the state’s, wants to take up the issue as soon as lawmakers return. Spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said Cullerton was “keeping his schedule open” to meet with other legislative leaders this week to discuss a plan. A vote could be especially difficult for Chicago Democrats who rely on support from the Chicago Teachers’ Union.
Although most of the lawmakers won’t face a major challenge until the November general election, the Republican battle for governor figures to be hotly contested leading up to the March 18 primary — halfway through the legislative session.
Durkin said among the bills on the table is one to fund a capital construction program, which could help Quinn portray himself as a job creator.
The last construction spending plan was approved by Quinn in 2009 — a $31 billion infusion creating thousands of jobs and helping rebuild the state’s crumbling infrastructure. It was paid for through higher taxes and a vast expansion of legalized gambling.
Republicans up and down the ticket also will aim to show solidarity in opposing and supporting specific policy, Durkin said.
“We’re going to be partners with Senate Republicans and gubernatorial candidates,” he said. “We want to be on the same page with the same message.”
Local artists invited to SIH program
January 16, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Work sought for Cancer Center
(CARBONDALE, IL) – Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) is issuing a call for artists in an effort to adorn the walls and interiors of the new cancer center with local art and mixed media.
SIH is extending an invitation to an “Inspiring Hope Through Art” event, which will provide artists’ some insight into the type of artwork being sought for the center.
SIH System Director of Cancer Care Services Jennifer Badiu said the organization recognizes the importance of art in the healing process.
“Art has been proven to provide positive distraction, and is said to aid in reducing stress and bringing hope and comfort through positive imagery,” said Badiu.
Artists are invited to meet on January 28 at the SIH System Office at University Mall in Carbondale from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM. The hour-long program will take artisans on a virtual tour of the center. They will learn how their artistry can blend with the SIH vision and learn more about this unique opportunity to have their work commissioned for the center.
“We want to incorporate artwork that has relevance to the southern Illinois region and local community,” said Badiu. “Our goal is to provide a relaxing and positive experience for our patients and their families while they are receiving cancer care.”
A mixture of mediums and styles will be incorporated, while keeping with the architectural style of the new SIH Cancer Center now under construction in Carterville.
For more information, please call 618-457-5200, extension 67129.
Cook County leading concealed carry applications
January 16, 2014 By Leave a Comment
SPRINGFIELD — Almost one in four of the roughly 23,000 Illinois residents who have applied for concealed carry permits live in Cook County, but new figures from the state police show most of the relative interest comes from rural areas of the state when factoring in population.
Data released this week show the highly populated county that’s home to Chicago leads the rankings with more than 5,300 applications filed between Jan. 5 and Jan. 13.
Suburban Chicago’s densely populated Will and DuPage counties followed in second and third with 1,759 and 1,589 applications respectively.
But on a per-capita basis, rural counties have the highest proportion of applicants compared to urban and suburban communities.
When comparing application numbers to a county’s population, Cumberland County in east-central Illinois ranks first, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Fifty-six people there have applied for the permits. Cumberland has about 11,000 residents. In White County in southern Illinois, there have been 70 applications so far. The county has about 15,000 residents. And in Wabash County in southeastern Illinois, there were 52 applications. The county has about 12,000 residents.
On a per-capita basis, Cook County ranks last among Illinois’ 102 counties, the newspaper reported.
State Rep. Brandon Phelps, a Harrisburg Democrat, was the lead architect of the measure that led Illinois to become the last state in the country to allow residents to carry concealed weapons. He tells the Sun-Times he already has applied for a permit and hopes to carry a .45-calibur handgun. He said he’s not surprised by the interest in rural areas relative to populated regions of the state.
“I think there’s lot of people downstate that are really pro-Second Amendment,” he said. “They’ve been waiting a long time to exercise their constitutional right.”
No permits have been issued yet because law enforcement officials are still reviewing the applications.
People who apply for the permits have to undergo 16 hours of classes taught by a licensed instructor.
“The legislation has given us a maze to go through, but these people are doing everything to be law-abiding citizens,” Ed Bryant, a pastor and concealed carry instructor in Lombard told The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald.
People who are 21 or older, have a valid Firearm Owners Identification Card, complete a 16-hour training course and pass a background check can obtain a concealed carry permit for a fee. The five-year permits cost $150 for residents and $300 for nonresidents.
The law bans carrying concealed firearms in places such as schools, child-care facilities, courthouses, public transportation, college and professional sports stadiums and in establishments where alcohol sales make up more than 50 percent of a business’s receipts.
Illinois lawmakers have projected that there would be 350,000 to 400,000 applications for concealed carry permits in the first year of the law.
Applications can be submitted online.
(This is an AP story that appeared in the Southern Illinoisan.)
Illinois municipalities counting deep freeze cost
January 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment
BY JASON KEYSER, The Associated Press
It’s not a financial calamity, but on Wednesday local authorities were already counting the costs — expecting to have to pinch from other areas of their budgets and put off projects ranging from new road work to the purchase of shiny new manhole covers. Businesses that had to close lost revenue and homeowners had to shell out money for higher heating costs, burst water pipes and other cold weather damage.
On the plus side, the past couple of mild winters offered Illinois a break. And some businesses actually thrived because people who were stranded close to home by the cold and snow shopped local.
But the arctic blast did grind some commerce to a halt. That was evident by the 18-wheelers stranded by snowdrifts on interstates in central Illinois on Monday and Tuesday.
And ice in the Peoria area drastically slowed shipping on the Illinois River, a key artery for moving corn and soybeans, farm supplies like fertilizer and other non-agricultural products, said Michael Toohey, president of the Waterways Council, a trade group made up of shipping firms, agricultural groups and others.
“We think this is short lived and navigation will resume, but we do have a real sensitivity to any navigational disruption this time of year,” he said.
If they lasted, some of the delays could be critical on a waterway used to ship things like plane deicing products to Chicago’s airports, Toohey said.
In a rural patch of north-central Illinois, the tiny city of Mendota was one of many communities feeling the strain on its local budget.
It already burned through its entire 600-ton state allotment of ice-melting salt three weeks ago and had to order another 200 tons on the open market at about four times the cost, or about $240 a ton. The extreme cold has blown open roughly 40 water mains in recent weeks.
“Costs like that, it’s really hard to ever put a figure on it because there’s just so much of it,” Mayor David Boelk said of the exploding water mains. One big one the other day could cost more than $25,000, he estimated.
That will eat up a big chunk of the water department’s $80,000 repair budget.
Boelk said city officials would find ways to amend the budget. He said it was frustrating, though, to see money going into things as unglamorous as road salt.
“I’d much rather spend that on a fixed asset so to speak than a puff of snow that’s going to melt away,” he said.
Around Illinois, the long-term financial effects probably won’t amount to much, University of Illinois economist Fred Giertz said. A blizzard just doesn’t do enough damage or last long enough to dent the economy, he said.
A major flood along the Mississippi River in 1993 was very disruptive, he said.
“It was like a really big deal, but after it was over no one could find almost any (major) impacts on the economy,” said Giertz, who works at the university’s Institute for Government and Public Affairs.
People may not eat out much during the storm, but they will likely head out as soon as they can and indulge, he said. And if someone skips car shopping this week, they’ll probably be shopping again when the weather is a little nicer.
“Certainly the last two or three days you’d expect a lot of things to have been down,” he said, “(but) it kind of goes away.”
In the northern Illinois industrial hub of Rochelle, some businesses had trouble keeping machinery functioning, and fuel gelled up on truck drivers not using winter fuel blends, said chamber of commerce director Peggy Friday. But she did not hear of any plant shutdowns.
Big companies with a presence in Rochelle include Sara Lee Corp. and Del Monte Corp., and Union Pacific Railroad has a large intermodal facility there.
(This story appeared in the Southern Illinoisan)
Authorities continue to investigate West Frankfort bank robbery
January 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment
West Frankfort police are continuing to investigate a Wednesday afternoon armed robbery at Banterra Bank, in West Frankfort.
Employees said that a medium-built, white male entered the bank shortly before 4 p.m. and talked to a teller about opening an account. As she was explaining the details the man interrupted her and demanded money, threatening to detonate a devise and blow up the bank.
West Frankfort Police Chief Shawn Talluto said that the robber implied that he had a weapon. The man, who was wearing a sock hat, dark glasses and a black jacket, white turtleneck and blue jeans, was estimated to be 6-feet tall and in his 30s or 40s. He exited the building through the north exit and fled on foot with an undetermined amount of money.
Anyone with information about the robbery should contact West Frankfort police at 937-3502
Region goes into ‘shut-down’ because of snow, frigid temps
January 6, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Here’s a link to the list or area closures caused by the weather compiled by WSIL.
Woman’s body found in Christopher Reservoir
January 6, 2014 By Leave a Comment
FRANKLIN CO. — The body of a 35-year-old Christopher woman was recovered Sunday morning from the New Christopher Reservoir near Mulkeytown, Coroner Marty Leffler said in a news release.
Here’s a link to the story in the Southern Illinoisan.
