News from the last 30 days
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September 02, 2010
Fact check: Quinn, Brady on minimum wage
Bloomington Pantagraph
CHICAGO -- The rhetoric in the race for Illinois governor heated up Wednesday when Gov. Pat Quinn accused his Republican rival, state Sen. Bill Brady, of wanting to slash Illinois' minimum wage. But Quinn overstates Brady's past comments, while Brady has created confusion by trying to finesse his views. Here's a look at what the candidates have said and how those statements line up with t... <read more> -
September 02, 2010
DuPage woman has West Nile; risk seen in McLean Co.
Bloomington Pantagraph
SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois health officials say they've confirmed this year's first human case of West Nile virus. A woman in her 50s living in DuPage County got sick with the virus in early August. Health officials are seeing an increase in mosquitoes carrying the virus. They're urging people to protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing insect repellent and avoiding the outdoors bet... <read more> -
September 02, 2010
Fieldcrest board approves tentative budget
Bloomington Pantagraph
WENONA - The Fieldcrest school board approved the tentative budget for the year Monday. Superintendent Joshua Olsen said he estimated conservatively because the funding the district can expect from the state remains unknown. The budget currently is at a deficit of $805,000, but can change further, he said. The final budget will be approved at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27. Union contract The boar... <read more> -
September 02, 2010
George Ryan wants part of conviction tossed
Bloomington Pantagraph
CHICAGO -- Imprisoned former Gov. George Ryan is seeking to have elements of his conviction thrown out based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that sharply curtailed an anti-fraud law employed by prosecutors nationwide to convict politicians and executives. The Republican becomes the latest public figure to challenge convictions based on the disputed provision. He joins former newspaper magnate... <read more> -
September 02, 2010
New plant could mean higher power blls
Bloomington Pantagraph
SPRINGFIELD -- A huge new coal power plant in Taylorville could mean higher power bills for all Illinoisans and construction could take longer than developers expect, state regulators said in a report released Wednesday. The Illinois Commerce Commission raised several questions about the future of the proposed Taylorville Energy Center, a $3.5 billion plant proposed by Nebraska-based develop... <read more> -
September 02, 2010
Brady proposes Illinois tax breaks
Carbondale Southern Illinoisan
CARBONDALE - Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady touted his platform for creating jobs and reducing taxes on Illinois businesses at a Carbondale manufacturing plant Wednesday. Brady, a state senator from Bloomington, said Illinois' loss of jobs is not part of a national trend, as 37 states increased their number of jobs in the past 30 days, while Illinois has lost 20,000. Brady'... <read more> -
September 02, 2010
Quinn says meeting with gangs not 'good strategy'
Chicago Sun Times
Gov. Quinn on Wednesday joined the list of those who don't believe in negotiating -- or even meeting with -- gang leaders. After joining Mayor Daley and Police Supt. Jody Weis at the dedication of a new Southwest Side high school named after Chicago Police officer Eric Solorio, Quinn differed with both men about Weis' Aug. 17 meeting with gang leaders. "I don't think that's a particularly... <read more> -
September 02, 2010
Gov. Quinn's embattled prisons chief resigns Michael Randle had been blamed for early-release program that put violent criminals back on the street
Chicago Sun Times
Add another name to the list of key staffers to Gov. Quinn leaving state government under a cloud, even as the governor looks for ways to prop up his sagging poll numbers. State prisons director Michael Randle, blamed for the botched early release last year of more than 1,700 prison inmates on Quinn's orders, intends to resign his post effective Sept. 17 for an unspecified out-of-state job. ... <read more> -
September 02, 2010
Inspection was no surprise to nursing home State investigating possible tipoff by city official
Chicago Tribune
State authorities are investigating whether a city Department of Family and Support Services official tipped off a Chicago nursing home to a surprise inspection led by the state attorney general's office that was designed to protect vulnerable residents at the facility, the Tribune has learned. When a team of law enforcement officials arrived at the Grasmere Place nursing home in Uptown for ... <read more> -
September 02, 2010
Quinn's embattled prisons chief to leave for new job
Chicago Tribune
The state prisons chief who took the blame for a botched prisoner early release program under Gov. Pat Quinn is resigning as the Democratic governor seeks to stem the political damage from an election-year controversy. Michael Randle is leaving to "pursue a new opportunity," Quinn spokeswoman Ashley Cross confirmed late Wednesday. He will remain on the job until Sept. 17 to help with the tra... <read more>