News from the last 30 days
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July 30, 2010
Republican candidate vows to fix state's money issues Says cutting taxes, wasteful spending is key
Belleville News Democrat
The Republican challenger to state Rep. Jay Hoffman outlined his plan for fixing the state's financial issues Thursday during a news conference in Edwardsville. Among candidate Dwight Kay's major points were: * Cut wasteful spending at the line-item level with a statewide audit. * Vote against any tax increase. * Cut business taxes and fees to bring jobs back to Illinois. * Support t... <read more> -
July 30, 2010
Quinn signs nursing home reform
Bloomington Pantagraph
CHICAGO -- Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Thursday that will require Illinois nursing homes to hire more staff and the state to hire dozens of new inspectors as part of a sweeping overhaul aimed at improving patient safety at the state's nearly 800 nursing homes. The law's requirements follow a governor's task force initiated after a series of news reports about assaults, rapes and murder... <read more> -
July 30, 2010
Laura Bush to visit Peoria to help Aaron Schock
Bloomington Pantagraph
SPRINGFIELD -- Two years after then-President George W. Bush traveled to Peoria to help Republican U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock's campaign for Congress, former First Lady Laura Bush plans to do the same. Laura Bush plans to appear at a fundraiser for Schock Sept. 13 in Peoria, said Schock spokesman Steve Shearer. The fundraiser will be a private event with tickets costing $250 and $500. A locat... <read more> -
July 30, 2010
Voting twice for Senate OK in Illinois this year
Bloomington Pantagraph
CHICAGO -- Vote early, vote often. It's an old joke in Illinois politics but state residents will be choosing twice in November to fill President Barack Obama's former Senate seat. Gov. Pat Quinn filed paperwork Thursday calling a special election to fill the seat, all because of a long-running lawsuit that says it should have been done almost two years ago. Lawyers headed back to court to h... <read more> -
July 30, 2010
Governor OKs new laws
Bloomington Pantagraph
SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn has signed a number of new laws into effect. Roadside memorials OK'd Illinois families who lose a loved one because of a fatal car accident will have a new way to memorialize the victim and the location of the crash under a new state law. The memorial marker program would allow families to purchase signs that would be installed by the Illinois Department o... <read more> -
July 30, 2010
Nursing home law becomes fodder in state Senate race
Bloomington Pantagraph
SPRINGFIELD -- A new law designed to improve the care and safety of residents in Illinois nursing homes has become a campaign issue in a closely watched race for state Senate. On Thursday, Democrat Tim Dudley, a Macon County Board member, slammed his Nov. 2 opponent for voting against the proposal. State Sen. Kyle McCarter, R-Lebanon, was among eight GOP lawmakers who voted "no" on Senate... <read more> -
July 30, 2010
Democrats catch break with trial's early end
Bloomington Pantagraph
CHICAGO -- Jurors were out of sight on their first full day deciding the fate of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. But the scene at the federal courthouse could have been far uglier for Democrats if his corruption trial had played out as expected with the party gearing up for tough elections. In the end, there was no sharp-tongued Rahm Emanuel on the stand, squaring off with Blagojevich attorney ... <read more> -
July 30, 2010
Celebrate links to Abe Lincoln through festival
Bloomington Pantagraph
Bloomington-Normal has a right to be proud of its role in the life of Abraham Lincoln. Saturday's festival is a good way to celebrate that connection and a good way for residents to learn more about it. Events connected with the Lincoln's Bloomington Festival will be staged at several locations, including the David Davis Mansion State Historic Site, McLean County Museum of History, Bloomi... <read more> -
July 30, 2010
Judge rejects request from Blagojevich jury Prosecution's closing argument transcript denied
Chicago Sun Times
In his closing argument, defense attorney Sam Adam Jr. urged jurors in Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial to ask themselves a question: "What would Sam say?" Turns out what they really want to know is, "What did the government say?" Early in their second day of deliberations, jurors in the ex-governor's trial sent out a note from the jury room Thursday morning. Their request: a transcr... <read more> -
July 30, 2010
Tardiness for bill signing doesn't look good for gov Media stew as Quinn keeps them waiting
Chicago Sun Times
Seven pens -- seven Governor of the State of Illinois ballpoint pens -- are carefully laid out on a scuffed desk in a conference room on the 15th floor of the Thompson Center. Gov. Quinn is scheduled to have his sole public event of the day -- signing legislation creating an inspector general for the Illinois Tollway Authority. The governor has been staging a flurry of bill signings aroun... <read more>