News from the last 30 days
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September 03, 2010
Want our votes? Give us a few answers ...
Carbondale Southern Illinoisan
Our View: We can't think of a reason to vote for any candidates who won't answer the questionnaire created by the Illinois Coalition for Political Reform, CHANGE Illinois! September is upon us. Next comes October. Then it's Election Day: Nov. 2. So here's a prod to legislative and gubernatorial candidates: Fill out the questionnaire at www.changeil.org and return it by the Sept. 7 deadlin... <read more> -
September 03, 2010
Prison chief is victim of political games
Chicago Sun Times
As of Thursday, we really do have an early release scandal in Illinois' prison system. The scandal is the early departure of state Corrections Director Michael Randle. Randle, a forward-thinking administrator, had good ideas about improving the state's dismal prison system, but became a victim this week of election-year critics who sought to portray him as inept. Gov. Quinn announced T... <read more> -
September 03, 2010
What's Brady's plan? MGT Push was a disaster, but does Bill Brady have a better idea to save Illinois some money?
Chicago Tribune
The fiasco known as MGT Push has finally cost the state's prisons chief his job, and it may yet do the same to Gov. Pat Quinn. It's tough to counter the damning sound bite, delivered by a panel appointed by the governor himself: The misguided early release program put public safety at risk for $3.4 million in savings. But as Department of Corrections chief Michael Randle departs to "pursue a... <read more> -
September 03, 2010
NIU president sets 2020 goals
Daily Herald
Northern Illinois University president John Peters says he will lead a new effort called the Vision 2020 Initiative that he says will guide the DeKalb school. Peters announced the initiative on Thursday during his State of the University Address. The school says the goal is to make NIU a student centered school and establish goals for the coming decade. The university is to create a Vision... <read more> -
September 03, 2010
Critics: Lottery contract cloaked in secrecy
Daily Herald
With less than two weeks before Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn awards a lucrative, first-of-its-kind contract for the private management of the state's $2 billion-a-year lottery, some are criticizing the selection process as too secretive and questioning whether it favors one powerful bidder. Lottery officials have released little information, refusing until this week to name any companies that b... <read more> -
September 03, 2010
Poll: Giannoulias, Kirk are neck and neck
Daily Herald
A new poll shows Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk are running neck and neck in their race for the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama. The Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows Kirk and Giannoulias (jeh-NOO'-lee-ehs) both with the support of 34 percent of the likely voters surveyed. The poll found that 6 percent of likely voters support Green Party candid... <read more> -
September 03, 2010
Taylorville Energy Center plan gets boost from Durbin's support
Decatur Herald Review
TAYLORVILLE - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., emerged from a meeting Thursday to say he thinks the $3.522 billion Taylorville Energy Center will go ahead, despite a report from experts criticizing it as high-cost venture with uncertain benefits. Durbin said Illinois needs the power that will flow from the station using clean-coal technology, and Central Illinois desperately needs the thousand... <read more> -
September 03, 2010
Poll: Giannoulias, Kirk are neck and neck
Peoria Journal Star
CHICAGO -- A new poll shows Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk are running neck and neck in their race for the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama. The Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows Kirk and Giannoulias both with the support of 34 percent of the likely voters surveyed. The poll found that 6 percent of likely voters support Green Party candidate LeAla... <read more> -
September 03, 2010
Durbin: Ill. needs to latch onto coal projects
Peoria Journal Star
TAYLORVILLE -- U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says two power-plant projects that would rely on clean-coal technology are opportunities Illinois can't afford to let get away. Durbin spoke Thursday in Taylorville in central Illinois after meeting with local leaders and officials from the Nebraska power company Tenaska. Tenaska hopes to build one of the projects. The Taylorville Energy Center would u... <read more> -
September 03, 2010
Kirk calls for new controls on federal spending
Peoria Journal Star
SPRINGFIELD -- U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk called for new measures Thursday to limit federal spending, including giving the president the power to veto specific programs. The Illinois Republican also said he would back a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget and a "super-majority" vote before Congress could approve excess spending. The congressman's focus on fiscal disc... <read more>