"Associate Justice Antonin Scalia said that the government’s
installation of a GPS device, and its use to monitor the vehicle’s movements,
constitutes a search, meaning that a warrant is required. “By attaching
the device to the Jeep” that Jones was using, “officers encroached on a
protected area,” Scalia wrote."WeekEnd
|
395 Yeah ... 28 Nay Settled in 1997 |
Job Growth -
Debt Policies - Super Pacs |
- 06
10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours
7pm» City Council Meeting - 07 7pm» District 94 School Board
- 09
10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours
7pm» Knit Night - 10 10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours
- 11
10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours
1:20pm» Blacksmithing Demonstrations - 12
10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours
1:30pm» Meet the Beekeepers
Hultgren Endorses - FB,
Gary Saake
"Congressman Randy Hultgren endorses Senator Chris Lauzen for Kane County Board
Chairman. — at Aurora Christian Schools."
"Murphy,
who owns a hardware store, takes a stronger stance on pensions, saying his goal
in his first year in office woul
d be to eliminate the benefit. He also wants to eliminate
health insurance benefits for commissioners and reduce their salaries by 20
percent. “If you were putting in full-time hours then, sure, you deserve
(benefits),” said Murphy. “But out in the real world, most employers don’t do
that.”""Of note is the amount of out-of-state money flowing to all the candidates in the race. Counting each individual contribution, including contributions from PACs based out of state, both Foster and Thomas tallied more than 50 percent of their donations from outside the state in the most recent filing period. Biggert had about 37 percent of her individual contributions come from outside of Illinois."
[How does this article get past the editor with different measures of out of state contributions being used for the candidates? - Bob]
"We should begin in some
obvious places: Closing Futenma and re-evaluating the entire Marine presence on
Okinawa; scaling back the multibillion-dollar base buildup on Guam; returning
another Army brigade from Europe and closing additional Cold War-era facilities
in Western Europe; halting the construction of permanent and “enduring”
infrastructure projects in Afghanistan given the planned 2014 withdrawal; and
rethinking the scope and size of bases in Honduras and elsewhere in Latin
America.""This is the same man who in November claimed that federal employees are making “a lot more money than we are.” What?! We? What we? Please direct me to the federal employees with the $20 million paychecks. In fact, The Washington Post pointed out in November that federal employees on average “are underpaid by 26.3 percent when compared with similar nonfederal jobs, a ‘pay gap’ that increased by about 2 percentage points over the last year while federal salary rates were frozen.”"
Thursday
Around and About in West Chicago - 02 Feb 2012
- Scripps Spelling Bee
- West Chicago Park District Fitness Center - Ladies Spa Night
- Wayne/Winfield Township GOP Candidates Night
- District 33 Foundation for Educational Excellence hosts its second annual Valentine Bowl and Charity Auction
- Blooming Fest
Hank Maher
"It is with great
sadness for me to announce that Mr. Hank Maher, science teacher at Community
High School District 94, passed away suddenly in his sleep this morning
(February 1, 2012). Mr. Maher taught in the Math/Science Division for the
past 3 ½ years at CHS and contributed significantly to the students and staff in
that time. We know that this comes as a shock to many and that the
grieving process will take time. Please know that we are here for your
students. If at any time during the school day your son/daughter would
like to talk to a counselor, he/she is more than welcome to do so. Our
Crisis Team will be in place to respond to the needs of students and staff as we
process through this difficult situation. If you have any further
questions regarding this, please feel free to call me at 630.876.6300."
Moses Cheng, Principal
"
"I say to the park district: Use
the budget you currently have, to maintain the facilities you already own, and
leave us alone. And to the residents of West Chicago: When the bond measure
comes up for a vote on the March 2012 ballot, vote it down. Ask yourselves how
much of $19 million you would prefer to keep for yourselves. If anyone needs to
lose weight, it’s the government."
"Also, more than 11
percent of DuPage County adults were without health care coverage in 2010,
compared to 7.3 percent in 2005, while 17 percent lack a primary care doctor.
Cost was reported to be a barrier to receiving health care for nearly 10 percent
of DuPage County adults in 2010, a similar figure to findings in the 2005
survey, according to the health department report."
"Pankau, of Itasca, voted for the most
recent effort last year to create five new casinos in Illinois and allow for
slot machines at Arlington Park and other tracks. She said she particularly
wants slot machines at the tracks... Ramey, of Carol Stream, also opposes slots
at the track, arguing that while the machines might raise money, they take the
focus away from the sport of horse racing and turn the facility into a casino."
"Nearly six years
have gone by and almost $17 million has been spent,
but 65 DuPage County public
safety agencies are still waiting for a radio system that will allow them to
communicate with one another during emergencies. The project to enable
near seamless communication among the county's emergency workers was heralded as
a must in post-9/11 America, but it has been plagued by leadership turnover,
political strife, controversial bidding practices and indecision almost since
its inception."
"The earthquake occurred at 9:54 p.m. about 3.2 miles underground near the town of McHenry, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center. The seismic event measured just 2.4 on the Richter scale, which qualifies it only as a minor earthquake, said Shengzao Chen, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colo."
"Quinn used the address to focus primarily on
job creation and ways to help businesses and families struggling to get by as
the national economy continues to falter, saying economic growth is key to the
state clawing its way out of the red. One job creation idea Quinn put forth was
employing workers to rehab aging water mains, sewers and treatment plants.
"Cuts alone will not get us to a better budget," Quinn said."
"Agency spokeswoman Viktoria Mitlyng says preliminary
calculations indicate that the radiation dose from Monday's release at the Byron
Generating Station was less than 0.001 (one one-thousandth) percent of the NRC's
annual limit. That amount is thought to be safe to workers and the public."
"In response to questions by New York and
Illinois, the Justice Department said selling lottery tickets would not be a
violation of the Wire Act of 1961, which was aimed at stopping betting on sports
with bookies over telephone lines crossing state or national borders. States
across the country have been looking at online sale of lottery tickets or
gambling as a potential new revenue source to bolster their budgets."
"Are the poor a “problem”? Are they “potential” converts or church members? Are they a good “project” for the church? Or are they ‘people’? God-created, God-loved, died-for people. Even if some people are in bad financial straights through their own devices, is that reason to refuse them help?"
"The Chester Upland School District in Delaware County, Pennsylvania suffered a serious setback when Gov. Tom Corbett (R) slashed $900 million in education funds from the state budget. The cuts landed hardest on poorer districts, and Chester Upland, which predominantly serves African-American children and relies on state aid for nearly 70 percent of its funding, expects to fall short this school year by $19 million."
"When President Obama criticized Citizens United two years ago in his State of the Union address, at least three justices came back at him with pitchforks and shovels. In the end, most court watchers scored it a draw. But when a comedian with a huge national platform started ridiculing the court last summer, the stakes changed completely. This is no pointy-headed deconstruction unspooling on the legal blogs. Colbert has spent the past few months making every part of Justice Anthony Kennedy’s majority opinion in Citizen United look utterly ridiculous. And the court, which has no access to cameras (by its own choosing), no press arm, and no discernible comedic powers, has had to stand by and take it on the chin."
Tuesday
- Platinum Dance Academy
- Number of A-1, A-3 and E-1 liquor Licenses
- Sponsors of the Dist 33 Spelling Bee Competition
- UPCOMING EVENTS
Elementary District 33 "News Bites"
-
Excellent Results in Math Competition - Annual Valentine Bowl and Charity Auction
- Calendar for 2012/2013 School Year
- Middle School Expansion Project Update
"This
presentation is specifically for sophomore parents (students are welcome, too!),
but other parents can attend if interested. Beginning at 7 p.m. CareerVision, a
local agency that specializes in career exploration, will present “Backward
Planning - How to Choose a Motivating College Major"
Dist 94 Finance
Committee Meeting Agenda - Thursday February 2, 2012 – 7:00 p.m.
-
FY12 Budget Update
- FY13 Preliminary Budget
-
- Other
"The district first held Summit 303 meetings
about five years ago. Input from the community then led to the creation of a
paid, all-day kindergarten; foreign language programs at the elementary level;
and more gifted programs at the middle schools, Schlomann said. A few years ago,
there were more Summit meetings, but they focused solely on suicide prevention."
"On Wednesday, Metra riders will see their ticket prices
skyrocket as much as 35 percent. And because of the cost of gasoline and parking
in downtown Chicago, Shepherd and other commuters say they have little choice
but to dig deeper into their wallets and pay up. “They (at Metra) have you
captured,” said Kathy Gibbons, 47, who commutes every day from La Grange.
“Driving is much more expensive, even with the increase. So I will still take
the train,” she said."-
Colleague: Kirk 'irritated' in hospital, which means he's getting 'better'
"Kirk has survived what was probably the roughest
week of his life -- having an eight-inch-by-four-inch section of his skull
removed last Sunday after a stroke. His doctors at Northwestern Memorial
Hospital give him a good chance at recovery, though he may have limited use of
his left limbs and some facial paralysis." -
Sen. Mark Kirk upgraded to fair condition
"Sen. Mark Kirk has been upgraded to “fair” condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital a week after undergoing surgery for a stroke. “Senator Kirk’s recovery is continuing,” his neurosurgeon, Richard Fessler, said in a written statement. “He is alert, talking and responding well to questions.”"
"Officials from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency
were at the plant Tuesday collecting water and vegetation to confirm that steam
released during the event posed no hazards to people. The release of steam
relieved pressure within the reactor. IEMA wants to ensure that
radioactive tritium that was in steam released after the reactor shutdown is at
safe levels."
WHAT’S NEW Robert L. Park Tuesday, 31 Jan 2012
- SUCCESSFUL: AS DEFINED IN THE NEW REPUBLICAN
- DICTIONARY.LUNACY: BACK TO THE APOLLO MOON RACE?
- COLLEGE: THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO CUT TUITION COSTS.
"Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), who
is accused of owing $117,000 in child support to his ex-wife, which he did not
report on his financial disclosure forms and, if true, would violate House
rules."[Thank goodness that this Bozo chose not to run against Hultgren, who is not a member of the Tea Party Caucus. - Bob]
"Workers at the Regency Ceramics
factory in India raided the home of their boss, and beat him senseless with lead
pipes after a wage dispute turned ugly. The workers were enraged enough to
kill Regency’s president K. C. Chandrashekhar after their union leader, M.
Murali Mohan, was killed by baton-wielding riot police on Thursday."""Instead, she said, newly organizational rules against grants to groups under governmental investigation came into play when U.S. Representative Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) launched an inquiry... Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards said the organization is "alarmed and saddened that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation appears to have succumbed to political pressure.""
"The benefits of his plan would be heavily
skewed toward the wealthy. Millionaires would see an average tax cut of
$146,000. Meanwhile, because Mr. Romney would let some lower-income Obama tax
breaks lapse, taxes could actually increase on a significant share (between 16
and 20 percent) of taxpayers earning less than $50,000. The Gingrich plan
is even more reckless."
"We asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Food and Nutrition service for month-by-month figures going back to January
2001. And they show that under President George W. Bush the number of recipients
rose by nearly 14.7 million. Nothing before comes close to that. And under
Obama, the increase so far has been 14.2 million. To be exact, the program has
so far grown by 444,574 fewer recipients during Obama's time in office than
during Bush's."WeekEnd
- 02
10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours
7pm» City Infrastructure Com
7pm» District 33 School Board
7pm» Knit Night - 03
10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours
1:20pm» Blacksmithing Demonstrations - 04
9am» Volunteer Restoration Workday
10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours
9:30pm» Taffy-Pulling Party - 05
12am» Taffy-Pulling Party
10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours
1:30pm» Meet the Beekeepers
"Here are some Winter Activities you can do at the DuPage Forest Preserve"
"Now the authority is seeking permission from the Federal
Aviation Administration to sell about 533 acres at the business park. The
proposal calls for another 72 acres, including the business park's internal
roadway network, to be turned over to West Chicago, the county and the Illinois
Department of Transportation."
"Advocates for railroad safety say there are three ways
to prevent needless deaths along train tracks: education, engineering and
enforcement. Police can help with two of them and there are indications
officers’ efforts, including posting suicide prevention hotline notices on signs
near the tracks, are having a positive impact in several DuPage County
communities... Pew and Graf said Elmhurst and West Chicago also are area leaders
in promoting railroad safety."
"“The one thing we know we’re missing is the
capacity to house students here,” Breuder said. “More people would come to us
and be educated here if there was a residential experience.” State law
prohibits community colleges from owning or operating dorms.""“He is alert, responding more rapidly to
questions and the swelling in his brain has stabilized,” said Dr. Richard
Fessler of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “While
he remains in serious but stable condition, we are pleased with his continued
progress.” On Thursday, doctorsremoved two small pieces of tissue
previously destroyed and rendered non-functional by the stroke in response to
continued brain swelling at the time.""As Quinn prepares for his State of the State
address this week, he faces twin challenges. He must come up with ideas to ease
some of the country's worst financial problems and a strategy to enact them at a
time when the budget crisis demands extraordinary action before the problems
grow too big to solve.""Quinn has repeatedly telegraphed his
intention to push for pension changes. He wants to shift the financial burden of
paying for university and downstate teachers pensions to universities and local
school districts. His argument is that teachers and university employees are not
state employees, so it shouldn’t be solely the state’s responsibility to finance
their pensions."
""American Airlines is telling
their workers and retirees not to worry, but they should," agency spokesman J.
Jioni Palmer said. "American said nothing's been decided yet but didn't even
bother to pretend that it was trying to preserve its employees' pensions." ...
Executives have indicated that they want to use bankruptcy to trim labor costs
to better compete with other airlines that have shed costs in court.""While tithing among Mormons is high, it is at an all-time low – less than 3 percent – among many faith groups, according to an October report by Empty Tomb, a Christian research organization. The theology behind tithing is also being questioned, with many saying the mandate to contribute 10 percent is not biblical. Tithing has its roots in the Old Testament – "Bring all the tithes to the storehouse," from the book of Malachi – and means one-tenth of income."
"Research by the
Center for Responsive Politics indicates the Obama campaign accepted a total
of $2,250 from five federally registered lobbyists between April and September.
The campaign collected an additional $4,500 from three individuals who
registered as federal lobbyists shortly after making contributions. Obama
campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt told OpenSecrets Blog that refunds would be issued
to all individuals who were registered lobbyists."
"Big banks have long
been among the top givers to political campaigns. Part of what's behind this
year's spending is the debate over regulating the financial sector, which is
driving money to Republican candidates for president and Congress."
Thursday
Around and About in West Chicago - 26 Jan 2012
- Courting in the 1890s house tours
- “Route 66 on a Single Tank of Gas”
- “A Collaboration of Newer Works”
- Valentine Bowl and Charity Auction
- "Managing Anger Productively"
06
10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours09 10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours
10 10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours
11 10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours
1:20pm» Blacksmithing Demonstrations
12 10am» Courting in the 1890s House Tours
1:30pm» Meet the Beekeepers
"The first lamb of the season
has arrived at Kline Creek Farm! One of the Farm’s purebred Southdowns ewes gave
birth to a single ram lamb this morning. The lamb was up dried off and nursing
this morning when the farmers arrived at the sheep barn for morning chores. That
is way it is supposed to supposed to work: a strong healthy lamb and really good
mother and the rest takes care of itself. The Farm is expecting about a dozen
more ewes to deliver between now and the end of Feb."
Agenda
January 30, 201 - 2
- Global Learning and Multi-Cultural Instruction
- Overview of Collaborative Activities
- Joint Boards of Education Task Force Report
- Initiatives for strengthening learning and challenges that impact today’s educational environment
"“I have always believed that we (the Senate)
keep adding or creating new committees so that the majority (leaders) can give
out salary increases to every member by making them a ‘chairman’ of a
committee,” Duffy said in an email. “We do not need all these committees. By
eliminating the bonus in pay, we will save much-needed revenue. And I guarantee,
a lot of these committees will disappear.”""Judge Terence Sheen said mediation with fellow
Judge Hollis Webster would be the best course of action for taxpayers of both
governmental units, which have each spent thousands of dollars in legal fees on
the case since June 2010. He ordered each party to have a representative at the
mediation table — perhaps the college and village presidents — and to negotiate
in good faith.""Making a rare public speaking appearance
Tuesday at Elmhurst College, Madigan said the main problem
is the state has yet to launch video gambling at bars, restaurants and truck
stops... "We did a capital bill two or three or four years ago and the (revenue)
estimates that we used in that bill are not coming true," Madigan said. "Bottom
line, we won't have enough money to do everything that we said we would do in
the bill."
"The measure, aimed at making it easier for parents to
evaluate schools, requires elementary, middle and high schools across the state
to publish revamped "report cards" that include everything from student
demographic information to graduation rates. Parents also will be able to
read about the curriculum offered, test scores and teacher training and
retention. Much of this information is already public, but a new format will
make it easier to find information and compare schools side-by-side."
"The Illinois Supreme
Court will announce Tuesday a policy allowing cameras and audio recording
devices in trial courts on a "limited, experimental" basis, according to court
spokesman Joseph Tybor. The policy has been unanimously approved by the
court's seven justices. Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride has long favored the
policy. In order to allow cameras in the state's circuit courts, the chief
judge of a circuit will have to apply to the Supreme Court for permission. There
are 23 circuits in Illinois.""The Washington State Labor Council, the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, the Association of General Contractors are sponsoring the Infrastructure Jobs Bond legislation and have released lists identifying which capital construction work around the state could be funded through the legislation."
"Planned Parenthood of Illinois President
Carole Brite says she's pleased by the decrease but it's hard to say what caused
it. She says increased information about and funding for contraception might be
one reason. Bill Beckman of the Illinois Right to Life Committee says more
people are participating in anti-abortion rallies and the drop in abortions might
reflect a shift in how the public views abortion."
"Asked this week by
WPIX reporter Mario Diaz what he would do for the Latino community, East Haven,
Connecticut Mayor Joseph Maturo said he “might have tacos when I go home.”
Four officers in the town were charged by the Justice Department this week with
conspiring to violate and violating the civil rights of Latino residents of the
city. One officer allegedly said he “likes” harassing people who “have drifted
into this county on rafts made of chicken wings.”"
Reagan’s Hand in
Guatemala’s Genocide - Consortiumnews
"According to a CIA source, “the
social population appeared to fully support the guerrillas” and “the soldiers
were forced to fire at anything that moved.” The CIA cable added that “the
Guatemalan authorities admitted that ‘many civilians’ were killed in Cocob, many
of whom undoubtedly were non-combatants.”Despite the CIA account and other
similar reports, Reagan permitted Guatemala’s army to buy $3.2 million in
military trucks and jeeps in June 1981. To permit the sale, Reagan removed the
vehicles from a list of military equipment that was covered by the human rights
embargo."
"According to a CIA source, “the
social population appeared to fully support the guerrillas” and “the soldiers
were forced to fire at anything that moved.” The CIA cable added that “the
Guatemalan authorities admitted that ‘many civilians’ were killed in Cocob, many
of whom undoubtedly were non-combatants.”Despite the CIA account and other
similar reports, Reagan permitted Guatemala’s army to buy $3.2 million in
military trucks and jeeps in June 1981. To permit the sale, Reagan removed the
vehicles from a list of military equipment that was covered by the human rights
embargo."Tuesday
"The tentative
agreement will now go to the members of the West Chicago High School Teachers’
Association and the Board of Education for ratification. Both feel strongly
that despite the long and challenging process, the process itself worked, and
they are proud of both negotiating teams for their commitment and efforts."School District 33 "News Bites" Jan 16 through Jan 20
-
Spelling Bee Competition Begins!
- Annual Valentine Bowl and Charity Auction
- Emergency Closing Information
"Gary Elementary School in West Chicago Elementary School District 33 has been invited to present at the Fifth Annual DuPage Leadership for Excellence & Equity for All 2012 Conference on Friday, January 20, 201"
Sen. Mark Kirk Suffers Stroke - FB
-
Randy Ramey
"U.S. Senator Mark Kirk underwent surgery for a stroke this morning. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers, and pray for his speedy recovery." -
Bob Peickert
"We all wish Senator Mark Kirk a complete and speedy recovery from a stroke he suffered earlier today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in the Kirk family."
"The program is called
S.P.A.R.R., the acronym for Sheriff's Program for At-Risk Residents, and is
administered through Sheriff John E. Zaruba's office. It provides the Sheriff's
Office with the at-risk resident's relevant information prior to an emergency.""Tony Molinaro,
who is one of three West Chicago High School District 94 board members serving
on the district’s negotiating team, said the two sides reached consensus on “all
open items” of the contract during a five-hour bargaining session that ended
Sunday night... Union officials could not immediately be reached for comment,
but both sides are expected to release a statement later today.""For years, Metra bragged that its trains ran on schedule 95 percent of the time or better. But in 2011, that number slipped to 93.6 percent after the commuter rail agency revamped the way it calculates on-time performance, officials said Friday."
"Dr. Richard Fessler said Kirk was doing
“quite well” after the surgery. A four-inch-by-eight-inch portion of his skull
was removed to relieve pressure from swelling and he was under sedation as doctors managed
the brain trauma, Fessler said, adding he was pleased with
Kirk’s response to the surgery.""He is asking questions, is alert — and
even asked for his Blackberry at one point. “The fact that he is doing all
of those things this quickly ... is a very good sign,” said Dr. Richard Fessler,
the neurosurgeon who performed the surgery to reduce brain-swelling on the
52-year-old senator.""The proposed facility in Crete is among several U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have chosen nationwide. In Illinois, ICE currently rents space from county jails to house immigrants facing deportation."
"Sen. Mark Kirk has undergone surgery to
relieve swelling from a stroke that affected his left arm and leg and face, but
surgeons said today he appears to recognize those around him and is responding
to commands. The Illinois Republican is in intensive care at Northwestern
Regional Medical Center, and it's unclear how long his recovery could take or
whether his full movement would be restored, doctors said.""“The protections against debtors’ prison have a loophole,” Adams said. “That loophole is you can be sued on a debt, even if you have no conceivable way of paying it back, and if you fail to comply with each and every court order in conjunction with that case, you run the risk of being arrested and thrown into jail.”"
"The federal data show that total compensation — salary, benefits, sick days, vacation days and retirement — of private workers at firms with more than 500 employees (a number of employees comparable to those employed by most state and local governments) averaged $40.75 an hour, nearly the same as average total compensation for state and government workers, which was $40.76. But the numbers change drastically if the average compensation for all private workers, regardless of the size of the employer, is compared with those of state and local government employees. Average total compensation for all private workers is $28.24 per hour."
"Section 315 of the FCC Telecommunications Act says
stations must air ads for candidates for federal office and are prohibited from
altering the content. That means they can't refuse to run political ads even if
the ads contain material the stations would ordinarily reject. Terry said
Friday he had already purchased air time in 13 markets with upcoming primaries:
eight during pregame and five that will air in Ada, Oklahoma; Grand Junction,
Colorado; Paducah, Kentucky; and Joplin and Springfield, Missouri, during the
big game."
Supreme Court says search warrants needed when police use GPS devices to track
suspects - Washington Post
"Associate Justice Antonin Scalia said that the government’s
installation of a GPS device, and its use to monitor the vehicle’s movements,
constitutes a search, meaning that a warrant is required. “By attaching
the device to the Jeep” that Jones was using, “officers encroached on a
protected area,” Scalia wrote."
"Associate Justice Antonin Scalia said that the government’s
installation of a GPS device, and its use to monitor the vehicle’s movements,
constitutes a search, meaning that a warrant is required. “By attaching
the device to the Jeep” that Jones was using, “officers encroached on a
protected area,” Scalia wrote."
"But Gingrich goes too far to say
Obama has put more on the rolls than other presidents. We asked the
U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Food and Nutrition service for month-by-month figures going back to January
2001. And they show that under
President George W.
Bush the number of recipients rose by nearly 14.7 million. Nothing before
comes close to that. And under Obama, the increase so far has been 14.2
million. To be exact, the program has so far grown by 444,574 fewer recipients
during Obama's time in office than during Bush's."WeekEnd
Series 7000 – Instruction
Award HVAC Bid - $396,000
Adult Education Hourly Rate Increase
"Well, we were hoping not to have to do this, but due to
the weather and the fact that the City of West Chicago decided to shut down at
3:00 today, we have decided to cancel Local Music Night tonight. We hope to be
able to schedule these performers again at a future date because of this missed
opportunity. We will be sending more information about our February event soon,
so we hope to see you there. For those who are out on the road tonight, please
be safe! We look forward to seeing you again in the future!""Tony Molinaro, one of three
board members on the district’s negotiating team, said the two sides “are
getting closer” to an agreement after nearly 11 months of talks. Teachers union
President Kristina Mallon agreed. “I think we’re very close,” she said
Friday morning. “It’s just a matter of talking through the final issues.”""Authorities still have not
determined what caused Quinones' death. There were no signs of foul play, police
said, but preliminary autopsy results were inconclusive. Police said it
will take about six weeks before they receive the results of toxicology tests.""West Chicago voters will decide
whether the park district will be allowed to design and build five outdoor
athletic fields and a new indoor recreation center at the corner of Washington
and Fremont streets.""Plans are to close by the end of March, Saunders said. Despite an effort over the past two years to reduce operating costs, an increase in demand for services and a drop in donations led to the financial trouble, he said. Hull House is working on shifting the services offered by its more than 50 programs to agencies including the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Chicago Housing Authority, Saunders said."
"Gov. Pat Quinn announced plans today to close the
state-operated mental health center in Tinley Park and a home for
the developmentally disabled in downstate Jacksonville. The move is part
of the administration’s long-term goal of moving residents out of state
institutions into community-care based settings, which advocates argue is less
expensive and provides a better quality of life.""The notorious impact the radiation from the factory had
on the area eventually led to lengthy cleanups that have cost hundreds of
millions of dollars. The final phases of efforts to remediate the waste
from Rare Earths are in sight, but officials say funding sources they have
relied on in the past have dried up or are becoming increasingly uncertain due
to changing priorities and congressional squabbling.""A Quinn spokeswoman says the Thursday
meeting with Clinton is to discuss ways of opening up foreign markets to more
Illinois businesses. The Democrat also accepted an award Thursday from
Americans for the Arts at a U.S. Conference of Mayors breakfast."-
Poe: Illinois State Police targeted for budget cuts
"Rep. Raymond Poe, R-Springfield, said
members of the House Republican staff have told him the governor’s budget office
is eyeing a $25 million cut in the agency’s budget for fiscal 2013, which starts
July 1. The Illinois State Police budget this year is $398.7 million, $271.6
million coming from the state’s general fund." -
JDC tops list in facility closure study, Quinn aide says
"The administration also plans to close the Tinley Park Mental
Health Center next year, for a savings of $8.1 million. The two closures
represent the first phase of the administration’s plan to move 600 residents out
of state facilities over the next 2 ½ years and close four developmental and
mental health centers."
"Progressive Baptist Church began as a prayer group in 1963 and spent four decades on North Lincoln Avenue before opening the doors to a new home in 2008, according to its website. It signed off on a three-year lease for the Lincoln Avenue location in May 2009, with A Place of Change agreeing to pay $4,200 a month for three months and $5,000 a month from that point on. The lawsuit does not specify when payments were not being made, but A Place of Change was served notice in August that eviction was possible, court documents show."
"Meanwhile, the political arm of House Republicans, the National Republican Campaign Committee, is promising its biggest donors in 2012—those interest groups that give the legal maximum of $15,000 this year—tickets to two “chiefs of staff receptions.” In addition, those top contributors will also be invited to quarterly luncheons that feature “Republican Party leaders and key staff.”"
[The article cites both parties as up to this crap. - Bob]
"NCTV (Channel 17) TV Coverage of the Occupy Naperville / DuPage Coffeehouse Move to Amend Funeral for the Death of OUR Democracy on the 2 year anniversary of the Citizens United decision."
Thurs
Around and About in West Chicago - 19 Jan 2012
- Local Music Night at Gallery 200/STUDIO
- Gallery Theater Auditions - “A Not So Ordinary Woman”
- Scripps Spelling Bee Semi-finals
- “The Universe in Images”
- We Grow Dreams GreenhouseSeventh Annual Bowl-A-Thon
"Helen P. Moore of West Chicago Helen P. Moore, 96, passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 13, 2012. She was born on April 20, 1915, in Argo, Ill., to Gregory and Fedosia Jemsek. Being a member of the Jemsek family, Helen lived and worked for many years at St. Andrews Country Club."
"Gallery Theater has gathered a
group of musical friends to present a warm, informal evening of entertainment.
Advance reservations are suggested to be assured a seat. Performances will
begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 10, 2012 and Saturday, February 11, 2012.
A 3:00 p.m. show is scheduled for Sunday, February 12, 2012."- Police Investigation Continues
"The West Chicago Police Department
has released a follow-up statement regarding the ongoing investigation in the
death of a male individual which occurred on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 in the
area of Lester and Bishop.
-
Illinois' Yellow Dot Program
"Those wishing to participate simply fill out a medical card that asks for basic information, a photo, medical conditions, allergies, current medications, etc. This completed card is then stored in the vehicle's glove box, and a yellow dot sticker is placed on the back window to alert the first responder to look for the medical card."
"As a student at West Chicago
Community High School, Miguel Quinones was honored by teachers and classmates
for bringing his peers together and fostering a sense of community...
Preliminary autopsy results were inconclusive on the 22-year-old West Chicago
man, pending toxicology results. There were no immediate signs of foul play,
police said.""West Chicago and Winfield Police recently enjoyed a
friendly competition at a fundraiser for the Special Olympics Club. Visit
www.westchicago.org
on the Mayor's page to views more pictures of the fun!"
"Four years in the making, the inaugural
Railway Classic — a six-team gathering from 3-7 p.m. pitting Willowbrook against
Fenton, West Chicago against Glenbard South, and Larkin against undefeated
Plainfield East — will be a fundraiser for Coaches vs. Cancer. This offshoot of
the American Cancer Society has been adopted by the Illinois Basketball Coaches
Association.""Now the authority is seeking permission fro
m the Federal Aviation Administration to sell about 533
acres at the business park. The proposal calls for another 72 acres, including
the business park's internal roadway network, to be turned over to West Chicago,
the county and the Illinois Department of Transportation. If the request
is approved, the authority would be able to pursue potential users who would
rather own — not lease — their parcels."
"Here's how it shakes
out from the Daily Herald's point of view: We do an immense amount of work to
get advertisers and customers to provide us income that enables us to hire
employees who do an immense amount of work to get information and ideas that you
will find authoritative, entertaining and vital to your everyday life. Not only
do we resent it when other companies or websites who didn't have those initial
investment costs pick up our work and our employees' work and pass it off as
their own, essentially fencing it at Midnight Auto Supply prices, but it cuts
into our ability to keep producing the work we produce."[See also Suburban bloggers watch, worry about piracy legislation . - Bob]
"Committee member
and veterans advocate Dirk Enger wanted assurance that efforts are made to have
some of the money help former military members, whose unemployment numbers are
more than three times those of the general population. “I don’t think that
the veteran population knows that (benefit) is out there,” Enger said.
"The cost for a double-occupancy
room in Lincoln Residence Hall with a full meal plan at UIS will rise 2.1
percent, or $200, to $9,870 per year beginning with the 2012 school year.
The tuition increase amounts to $14 per credit hour for incoming
Illinois-resident."
"Faced with low salaries and
inadequate protections on the job, Cablevision installers in Brooklyn decided to
join together to seek changes at work. The cable installers, who complete eight
installations per day, carrying heavy ladders and climbing poles, earn a third
less than their unionized counterparts."
"More than 2,000 Presbyterians from 500
churches witnessed the launch of the new group, which was formed in reaction to
a decision in July by the 2.3 million member Presbyterian Church (USA) to permit
gay clergy, said John Crosby, president of the order.""In a way, the numbers make sense. Fox enjoys
huge ratings, and when choosing one network out of a handful, a viewer is
basically saying I watch this network more than the others. Fox News’
out-in-the-open partisanship explains its “least trusted” nod, as well. But,
it’s popular. PBS scored highest on the individual questions. Fifty-two
percent of respondents said they trust the public broadcaster. Dull? Perhaps,
but definitely trustworthy."
"Megaupload founder
Kim Dotcom and three other employees were arrested by authorities in New Zealand
on Thursday while three others remain at large. A federal judge in Virginia
ordered the seizure of 18 domain names affiliated with what the feds called the
“Mega conspiracy,” knocking the website offline. About $50 million in assets
were seized and 20 search warrants were executed by law enforcement officials in
the U.S. and eight other countries."Tuesday
Police incident has occurred along Bishop Street
"A Police incident has occurred along Bishop
Street at the east edge of West Chicago Middle School. An adult male was
found lying at the east edge of West Chicago Middle School property midmorning
today, January 17. Police were notified by passersby. The area is
currently cordoned off for police investigation. To the best of our
knowledge, no students were witness to the scene. Details will be provided
by the West Chicago Police department and not through District 33. School
personnel will ensure students are protected and kept clear of the area being
investigated. All traffic should avoid Bishop Street. Please note that
afterschool band and orchestra will be cancelled for today."
"At approximately 11:27 a.m.
on Tuesday, January 17, 2012, the West Chicago Police Department responded to
the area of Lester and Bishop for the report of a man down. Upon arrival,
Officers discovered an unresponsive Hispanic male. The individual was later
pronounced dead. An ongoing investigation is being conducted by the West Chicago
Police Department, which asks anyone who may have any information in regards to
this incident to please call the Department at (630) 293-2222.""We begin our spring session on January 31st and will continue on through the end of May. If you have any thoughts on the legislation being introduced please feel free to send me a note or call my office. I had many e-mails on various issues last year and will continue to inform you all on what is happening in Springfield. If you have ideas on legislation now is the time to get it to me."
"It is hard to believe that the possibility of snow still exists, but it does. This means there is still a possibility of severe weather and school closings. "
- Board of Education Emergency Meeting Cancellation
"The Board of Education Emergency MeetingScheduled for Tuesday, January 17, 2012At 5:30 p.m.Has Been CancelledA public meeting is not being held. No action will be taken. A negotiations meeting is being held purely for information to be discussed by both parties." -
2012-13
School Year - Proposed New Textbooks
"Proposed new textbooks for the 2012-13 school year are available for inspection until February 14th during regular business hours at the Community High School District 94 Office." - AGENDA - FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING - JAN 18, 2012
7:30AM - ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE ROOM
- Financials
- FY12
- FY 13 and projections
- Audit Report Follow-up
- Student Fees
- Status of Ongoing Projects
- Aquatics HVAC bidding
- Energy Conservation
- Other
- Facility Usage
- Insurance Plan Implementation
- Capital Science needs
- CY 2012 Finance Committee Goals
- Other
- Financials
"The body of an adult man was found Tuesday
morning along Bishop Street on the eastern edge of the West Chicago Middle
School property, authorities said. Police were notified by a passer-by and
the area has been cordoned off.West Chicago Elementary District 33 officials
said they do not believe any students saw the body.""These details
come at a time when things are at their most volatile, but when teachers are
posting notices of an impasse, the next step can be an intent to strike, and we
all know the next step after that. It seems a darned good time for the public to
have the details needed to form an informed opinion on the matter... According
to Stand for Children, the lobbying group that pushed for its passage, the
posting of the final offers “lets the public understand what the
unresolved issues are and the positions taken by each side. This transparency
should help encourage good-faith discussions and let the public’s views play a
role in dispute resolution.”""Changes
will include the addition of employee salary lists, a list of the district’s
contract lobbyists, and the posting of all Freedom of Information requests.
The plan also calls for forming a new transparency committee featuring one
commissioner, one employee and one member of the public appointed by the forest
preserve president.""Pankau said she’d back a proposal to have
working teachers and state employees either pay more for their current pension
plans, enter a less lucrative plan, or take on a 401k-style retirement system.
Ramey doesn’t back that proposal. He says he thinks the pension systems need to
be changed, but that teachers in particular should be part of the negotiating
process on any pension reform."
"In this era of the
spontaneous protest, more people like Johnson are taking a personal stand
against what they consider an exorbitant increase in tolls — 87.5 percent — by
the Illinois Tollway. From
Zion to Joliet, from Aurora to Chicago, many drivers say they are seeking
alternatives to toll roads whenever they can.""Here's a closer
look at these highways and their usefulness as tollway alternatives, based on
recent test trips by the Tribune. Two of the trips, on Higgins and Skokie
Highway, were taken during rush hours, but travel times are likely to depend on
time of day and local conditions."
"More than 27,000
individuals were hired with assistance from the tax credit, according to a
release from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Tax incentives
range from $2,400 in one year to $9,600 over two years, depending on the new
hire. The $67 million in savings comes from hiring activity in 2011 that will be
entered on federal tax returns this year.""If any subgroup in a school doesn’t meet expectations,
then the entire school fails to meet AYP. That happened at Rochester
Intermediate School in 2009 and 2010, Bertrand said. “They earned an award
of excellence one year for over 90 percent of the students meeting and exceeding
on all state tests,” he said. “The next year, they failed to meet state
standards because of the performance of their (special education) population.”
“The school still met 90 percent, but they were deemed to be a failing school by
the standard.”""“The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children,” said Marshall, a Republican. “In the Old Testament, the first born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord. There’s a special punishment Christians would suggest.”"
"Romney’s shift to the right from his years as a pro-choice, health care-reforming Republican governor of Massachusetts have been well documented. But it’s interesting to note that even with a relatively truncated primary process — remember that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton went on for months before Obama took home the win — Romney’s still moved as far away from where he used to be as he has."
"On policy: ending the US torture regime; prevention of a second Great Depression; enacting universal healthcare; taking the first serious steps toward reining in healthcare costs; two new female Supreme Court Justices; ending the gay ban in the military; ending the Iraq war; justifying his Afghan Surge by killing bin Laden and now disentangling with face saved; firming up alliances with India, Indonesia and Japan as counter-weights to China; bailing out the banks and auto companies without massive losses (and surging GM profits); advancing (slowly) balanced debt reduction without drastic cuts during the recession; and financial re-regulation."
WeekEnd
"Adeszko said he discovered the animal less
than 100 yards from a bait pile used by the DuPage Forest Preserve District’s
management program to control the deer population. He said he’s worried the
hunters used to cull the herd were negligent and left the animal in the open for
the public to see... But forest preserve officials said they reviewed the last
three weeks of operations at Timber Ridge and all shots fired as part of the
deer management program resulted in recovered animals.""In a phone interview Thursday night, Ramey
said Pankau's campaign told him that if he chose to bow out of the race, the
police tape would not be circulated, a threat he said he disregarded... “This
wouldn't even be out there if they didn't (submit a Freedom of Information Act
Request for) the video and release it after first threatening me,” Ramey said."
"Illinois' eavesdropping law is one of the
strictest in the country and makes it illegal to audio-record police without
their consent, even when they're working in public. The state is one of a
handful in which it is illegal to record audio of public conversations without
the permission of everyone involved. The law — a felony punishable by up
to 15 years in prison — has come under increasing scrutiny in the last few years
in courts throughout the state."
"The GOP leaders called on lawmakers to repeal the
increase which raised the personal income tax rate to 5 percent from 3 percent.
The Quinn administration dismissed rolling back the tax hike this year, saying
it is unrealistic unless Republicans also want to “repeal reality.”"[Every time I subtract 5-3 = to find the increase, I get 2%. - Bob]
"Bald eagles have been spotted in the past
week making their yearly visit to the Fox River between Aurora and Montgomery...
In counts in Illinois last year, 100 nesting pairs of bald eagles were spotted
across the state, and as many as 1,000 bald eagles have been counted along the
Mississippi River near Alton during the winter.""Methane levels continue to remain stable in the Batavia area south of the Settler’s Hill landfill, which was producing elevated levels of the gas at the beginning of December, according to landfill spokesman Bill Plunkett. Waste Management is working to remove the excess methane, a byproduct of decomposing garbage, in the Raddant Road and Orion Street areas of Batavia just south of the landfill."
"Named were: Sens. Michael Noland, D-Elgin, and Bill Brady,
R-Bloomington, and Reps. Elaine Nekritz, D-Des Plaines, and Darlene Senger,
R-Naperville. The panel will be led by Jerry Stermer, one of Quinn’s top aides.
Noland said pension reform needs a fresh set of eyes. “What I mostly
bring to the table is a sense of fairness coupled with a sense of urgency, an
awareness that we have run out of places to run to,” he said.""The council pushed for the bed tax, arguing that it
would help nursing homes pay for higher nurse staffing levels required under the
reform law. The legislation was approved by wide margins in the Illinois House
and Senate in May 2010. The tax “grew out of a collective concern for the
quality of care that we are able to provide for our low-income residents,” Steve
Wannemacher, chief executive of Heritage Enterprises..."
""As a player,
though, I never understood why God would care who won a game between my team and
another. It seemed like there were many far more important things going on in
the world. There were religious guys on both teams. If God gets credit for the
win, does he also take blame for defeat?""On Jan 24th, Congress will vote to pass internet censorship in the Senate, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed. We need to kill the bill - PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House - to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity. We need internet companies to follow Reddit's lead and stand up for the web, as we internet users are doing every day."
"Are taxes too high? Or are they
too low? Do high tax rates on "rich people" create a lazy population in
which no one has an incentive to work hard? And what about the Republican
mantra that cutting taxes is always good for the economy, while raising taxes is
always bad?""Benjamin Franklin was more direct. In 1787,
a Mrs. Powel confronted Franklin after the signing of the Constitution and
asked, “Well, Doctor, what have we got — a republic or a monarchy?” His response
was a bit chilling: “A republic, Madam, if you can keep it.” Since 9/11,
we have created the very government the framers feared: a government with
sweeping and largely unchecked powers resting on the hope that they will be used
wisely."Thursday
Around and About in West Chicago - 12 Jan 2011
- Coffee with the Commissioners
- Fifth Annual Community Banner Project Competition
- Free Baseball and Softball Clinics for Youth
- Scripps Spelling Bee
"“We are experiencing a drastic change in what
had been a collaborative relationship,” according to Teachers’ Association lead
negotiator Amy Gibson. “In the past, both sides came to the table believing we
could reach an agreement benefiting everyone, and we were always able to work
through our disagreements. The Board of Education’s aggressive approach to the
current negotiations has made this process drag on for months longer than it
should have.”""The Library and Commons will be open Tuesday
night, January 17th from 6:00 to 8:30 PM. Teachers from all departments will be
available to help students with their studies and last minute questions.
Refreshments will be available.HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!"
-
"Welcome to my world!
While I'm unable to provide additional comments at this time, I feel it's important for the D94 community to be aware of this situation." - Sandra Cox Woodward
"Thanks, I didn't know either, but I's heard they didn't have a contract a few months ago - "And so it begins..."
"If no agreement is reached, the those offers will be posted on the labor board’s website at www2.illinois.gov/elrb by Jan. 25. The filing could be the first step toward a possible strike, but it does not prevent the two sides from continuing to negotiate. The union’s four-year contract expired Aug. 22, and teachers have been working since that time under provisions of the earlier agreement."
"That is certainly true. A reform law took
effect a year ago that raised the retirement age for new employees and put a
ceiling on their total pensions. But much more needs to be done. Even with
that reform, the state’s contributions to its five retirement plans is consuming
a progressively larger and larger portion of the state budget. The
problems, as we see it, have been twofold: 1) A system that has been generous
beyond the resources of the state to maintain; and 2) A lack of fiscal
discipline by the legislature to stay on top of the payments the system was
due.""West Chicago Elementary School District 33 has been awarded the Abriendo Puertas grant. Abriendo Puertas is a parent education program for Hispanic parents of students attending our Early Learning Center."
"On Saturday, Feb. 11 from 9-11
a.m. preschoolers will have a ton of fun learning the alphabet during “Chicka
Chicka Boom Boom.” Alphabet crafts and snacks along with games and fun. The fee
is $12 for residents; $14 for nonresidents. ""The West Chicago Park
District's Board of Commissioners will hold Coffee with the Commissioners on
Saturday mornings in the month of January. Locations and times will vary.
Commissioners will be on hand to answer resident questions on the future of the
Park District. Coffee and donuts will be provided.""Some 50 people were indicted as part of the ring that trafficked Social Security numbers, birth certificates and other identification documents to undocumented U.S. residents, officials said... A federal indictment, filed in Puerto Rico and unsealed Wednesday, alleges that participants in Puerto Rico supplied identifying information to brokers in the U.S. who sold the information around the country for $700 to $2,500."
"Even with the lowest bond rating in the nation, the state of Illinois sold $525 million in tax-exempt capital construction bonds at the lowest interest rate it has received in more than three decades, according to Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget office. The state’s director of capital markets, John Sinsheimer, acknowledged that interest rates overall are low, but he also cited a stabilizing budget situation."
"Today in Lawrence, Mass., union
members and their allies will gather at a historic mill building for a
re-enactment of the historic Bread and Roses strike that moved the
conscience of the nation, bringing national attention to the plight of the
families, including young children, who toiled in the dirty and dangerous
factories of Lawrence and throughout the country.""Liberty Counsel chairman Mat Staver
summed up the group’s position thusly on a recent radio broadcast for Truth
in Action Ministries: “I think that there is a clash that’s coming and it is
very significant, and it is the clash between religious freedom and the
homosexual rights agenda. There will be a winner and there will be a loser. And
it’s not necessarily because of those who advocate religious freedom, it’s
because of those who advocate the homosexual rights agenda. It’s no longer about
tolerance and it never has been about tolerance, it’s never been about
coexisting and so forth, it has always been about dominance.”""An analysis by Public Campaign reveals that
between 2008 and 2010, 30 of America’s most profitable companies, including
Verizon, Wells Fargo, FedEx, GE and Mattel, spent more money buying influence in
Washington than they did paying taxes."[I am hard pressed to decide whether I should hate these companies for buying congress critters or invest in them expecting that their crony capitalist friends in the government will make them fabulously profitable. - Bob]
"So Buffett has pledged to
match 1 for 1 all such voluntary contributions made by Republican members of
Congress. "And I'll even go 3 for 1 for McConnell," he says. That could be quite
a bill if McConnell takes the challenge; after all, the Senator is worth at
least $10 million. As Buffett put it to me, "I'm not worried.""Tuesday
"Bees will be held at: Turner School, 750
Ingalton Ave., West Chicago (probably in the gym... at 6:30pm on the following
dates-" "The Illinois Department of
Transportation recently introduced a new program, the Yellow Dot Program, that
may benefit those involved in a traffic accident. The program helps to provide
first responders on an accident scene with important information about the
vehicle’s driver and passengers.""As part of the property tax deferral program, the state
covers the debt with a 6 percent interest rate until the property taxes are
repaid. The average amount deferred last year for DuPage seniors in the program
was $4,067 per parcel, according to Henry. There is no limit on the number
of deferrals seniors can receive. Participants must reapply every year to show
they still qualify."
"The free text messaging program
asks customers to text the word “out” to 26633 to report an outage. ComEd will
text back in a series of canned messages to let you know it’s aware of the
outage, when the power might be restored, when a crew is enroute to fix it, when
a crew is on site and when the power has been restored."
"The military helicopters circling
around DuPage Airport in recent days are likely support for President Obama’s
visit to Chicago on Wednesday. But don’t expect to see the president step
off Air Force One onto the tarmac of DuPage Airport... “Air Force One is too
big” for the DuPage Airport runways, said Mark Doles, DuPage Airport director of
operations and planning."
"The new regulation also
prohibits motor carriers from requiring their drivers to use a hand-held device
while driving on a highway, even while the vehicle is stationary. Motor
carriers and operators who violate the restriction can face a civil penalty of
up to $2,750 imposed on drivers and up to $11,000 for their employers.""The law phases in a 5 percent increase in
the tax credit over two years. According to the Quinn administration, a single
mother with one child earning $12,800 a year will save $154 on her taxes. A
married couple with three children earning $30,000 a year will save $199 on
their taxes this year, the administration said. The new law also hikes the
standard personal exemption for all individual taxpayers by $50, to $2,050, for
2012. The value of the exemption will be indexed to the cost-of-living
adjustment in each subsequent tax year."WHAT’S NEW Robert L. Park Saturday, 7 Jan 2012
- ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE: IT’S PROPORTIONAL TO HUMAN POPULATION.
- FERTILITY RATE: IT’S PROPORTIONAL TO HUMAN IGNORANCE.
- REPUBLICAN FERTILITY: IS IT PROPORTIONAL TO POLITICAL SUCCESS?
"With a nod to “The Twilight Zone’s” Rod
Serling, National Nurses United (NNU) unveiled a new and frightening—if you’re a banker
or Wall Street fat cat—video to push for a
financial transaction or Robin Hood tax on Wall Street speculation.""Loss of the state contracts will have
“significant financial impact,” Roach said, so the agency will scale back some
services. “However, the objective is to restore all programs to their
current capacity by increasing community support in the future,” he said in the
statement. In addition to adoption and foster care, Catholic Charities
offers such services as counseling, eldercare, food pantries, medical services
and other programs, according to
its website.""Nearly half of UI recipients
without a high school diploma or GED are over age 45, and 35 percent are age 50
or over, the CBPP said, citing Census data. In 2010, half a million workers age
50 or over who received unemployment insurance lacked a high school diploma."WeekEnd
This Week in West Chicago
Dist 94 Board of Ed Meeting -Agenda January 10, 2012
-
Audit Report
- Textbook Display for the 2012-2013 School Year
- Proposed 2012-2013 School Calendar
- Rising Star Restructuring Plan
"This year’s summit focuses on
small-scale renewable energy systems such as solar, small wind and geothermal —
and specifically how to go green without going broke up front... “A lot of
governmental agencies, schools, city halls, public works departments, park
district offices, they can get anywhere from 50 percent to 75 percent taken care
of through rebates and tax credits.”""Hoicka replaces
John Day, who was forced to resign last year after the U.S. Inspector General’s
office released two audits critical of the agency. A third audit charged the
agency improperly spent more than $5.8 million in federal money and failed to
adequately document another $4.7 million. That report also called for the
agency to repay nearly $5.1 million to the federal government.""It would cost $3.7 billion over four years to merge
all of Illinois’ high school-only and elementary-only school districts,
according to an
Illinois State Board of Education analysis. The whopping cost to a
state government already plagued by financial problems means forced
consolidation is unlikely, said Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, who heads the
Classrooms First Commission, which is studying the issue.""Both Moody’s and S&P said
they are troubled by Illinois’ failure to balance its budget and strengthen
government pension systems, although a tax increase and other measures have
helped. Moody’s cited “weak management practices” and a recent legislative
session that “took no steps to implement lasting solutions.”"[Like the S&P downgrade of the US government, this seems based on legislative inablility to compromise. - Bob]
"At a union meeting at Chester High School on Tuesday
night, the employees passed a resolution saying they would stay on “as long as
we are individually able.” Columbus Elementary School math and literacy
teacher Sara Ferguson, who has taught in Chester Upland for 21 years, said after
the meeting, “It’s alarming. It’s disturbing. But we are adults; we will make a
way. The students don’t have any contingency plan. They need to be educated, so
we intend to be on the job.”""An official of The Civil Rights Agenda,
which called for George's resignation because of his remarks, said Friday that
he is pleased by the cardinal's apology. Anthony Martinez, executive director
for the gay rights group, said George has set a good example of leadership by
admitting he was wrong.""What’s more, a federal government insurance
agency had to pony up $44 million to bail out the company’s underfunded pension
plan. Nevertheless, Bain profited on the deal, receiving $12 million on its $8
million initial investment and at least $4.5 million in consulting fees."Thursday
Around and About in West Chicago - 05 Jan 2011
- WeGo Wildcats Special Olympics Club at Community High School Fundraiser
- “Off the Golden Map”
- “Warm Up with a Good Book”
- 40th anniversary of West Chicago Park District’s Monthly Senior Citizens Social Gathering
-
Student Earns Perfect Score in WordMaster Challenge
"Competing in the very difficult Gold Division of the Challenge, eighth grader Cristal Quinones earned a perfect score in the year’s first meet held in December. In the entire country only 62 eighth graders achieved at this level." -
District 33 Awarded the Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors Grant
"District 33 has been awarded the Abriendo Puertas grant. Abriendo Puertas is a parent education program for Hispanic parents of students attending our Early Learning Center."
"Welcome back from our holiday break!!! Please
help support our student organizations by placing orders with Market Day.
January’s Market Day profits will benefit Skills USA. The next Market Day
pick up will be Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 5:00 pm. You must place your order
by: Monday, January 9th at 11:00pm CST. Pick up time is 5:00-5:45 pm in Commons."Hoicka has held
leadership roles in housing agencies in El Paso, New Orleans and Hawaii.
His appointment in DuPage will mark another major step in the county’s efforts
to overhaul the organization that once mismanaged more than $10 million."-
Housing Authority announces new director
"In a press release,
Housing Authority officials call the hiring of David Hoicka a cap on the
“year-long reform effort” at the agency, where last year an audit revealed the
misuse of nearly $11 million in public housing funds, causing county officials
to remove its director and board members.
The DHA is also currently under federal investigation for its handling of a
Section 8 apartment project in Darien." -
DuPage County Housing Authority under federal investigation
"Investigators with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General are examining the housing authority’s development of Myers Commons, a 91-unit senior housing project in Darien, the sources said."
"The competition kicks off on
Saturday, Jan. 14 from 1-3 p.m. at the Fitness Station, 103 W. Washington St. in
West Chicago. A personal trainer, nutritionist, and Fitness Station staff will
be available at the open house to answer all your fitness and training
questions. The grand prize will be awarded to the individual who loses the
largest percentage of pounds at the end of 10 weeks.""The six-part tutor training session runs
February 7, 14, 16, 21 23, and March 8, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at West Chicago
Middle School, 238 E. Hazel St., West Chicago. To become a tutor, or for
more information, call Literacy DuPage at (630) 416-6699 or visit
www.literacydupage.org ""LaHood says the Department of Transportation has
invested more than $1 billion to create high-speed rail service in the Great
Lakes-Midwest region. He says the project will ultimately reduce travel times
and congestion while creating jobs and increasing business opportunities.""With the illness making a forceful comeback locally this winter, public health officials very much want people to begin thinking about whooping cough. The Illinois Department of Public Health has counted 1,331 reports of pertussis since the beginning of 2011, nearly half of them originating in DuPage, Kane, Kendall, McHenry and Will counties."
"The new regulation also
prohibits motor carriers from requiring their drivers to use a hand-held device
while driving on a highway, even while the vehicle is stationary. Motor
carriers and operators who violate the restriction can face a civil penalty of
up to $2,750 imposed on drivers and up to $11,000 for their employers."""The pension abuses unearthed were flagrant.
They needed to be stopped immediately and prevented from ever happening in the
future," Quinn said in a statement Wednesday. "I'm pleased that the Legislature
voted overwhelmingly to address this issue. We look forward to working together
in 2012 to tackle the remaining pension challenges that face Illinois."""The federal government announced Wednesday that Illinois
will receive $186 million to extend its high-speed rail project to Joliet, about
40 miles southwest of Chicago. hat'll allow for 110-mph service along
nearly 70 percent of the route from Chicago to St. Louis. Work on the extension
to Joliet will begin this spring."Reporter
"More recently he had moved to California and worked on albums by Blink 182, Guns 'N Roses and Tom DeLonge's Angels and Airwaves project of which Newell was described as the band's fifth member... He formerly lived in West Chicago, IL and for the last 15 years in Los Angeles."
"Yesterday, more than 7,000 working people traveled to Indianapolis and rallied outside and then jammed the statehouse after the Gov. Mitch Daniels’ (R) administration rescinded its order restricting citizens’ access to the proceedings. While Republican state house and senate leaders are trying to quick-march the RTW bill through the legislature, Democrats are calling for a series of statewide hearings where citizens’ voices can be heard."
"The state health
department issued an emergency license suspension in September, saying doctors
didn't have surgery privileges at an Illinois licensed hospital and the center
lacked an experienced operating room nurse. Attorneys told a judge at a
hearing in Chicago on Wednesday that they'd reached a settlement."
"“Clearly, the Keystone XL
pipeline is in the national interest. A determination to decide anything less
than that I believe will have huge political consequences.” Gerard’s
comments Wednesday marked the latest attempt by proponents of the pipeline to
pressure Obama to approve the project."[So now big oil feels powerful enough to threaten the Camander in Chief... where will they want us to invade next? - Bob]
"The decline of the middle class
is not something that has happened all of a sudden. Rather, there has been a
relentless grinding down of the middle class over the last several decades.
Millions of our jobs have been shipped overseas, the rate of inflation has far
outpaced the rate that our wages have grown, and overwhelming debt has choked
the
financial life out of millions of American families."Tuesday
"I have not been to Changarro Restaurant, 1400 S. Neltnor Blvd., but persons who have are giving it rave reviews. It is an a la carte menu and prices are reasonable. All say service is great."
-
Volunteers
plant native seeds at West Chicago Prairie
"What that means
for most of us is that the prairie on Industrial Drive about a half-mile south
of Hawthorne Lane is a little hard to find, features a relatively small parking
lot and offers narrow footpaths rather than the wide trails that mark many of
the district’s best-known preserves. It’s not the kind of place where
you’re going to hold your company picnic, but it is the kind of place where you
can get a real feel for the prairies that once blanketed much of the region." -
DuPage
forest district seeks volunteers for prairie cleanup
"Oh, sure, you could do some extra Pilates, but why not mosey out Saturday morning to Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville and help the ecosystem, and your heart rate, by removing some nonnative plants to make room for the good stuff."
"Shrinking local
government, partnering with municipalities on police patrols and finding another
use for the county fairgrounds are some of the issues county board Chairman Dan
Cronin hopes to tackle during his second year in office. Meanwhile, he said, the
decision to close the youth home and transfer detainees to Kane County was a
defining moment.""There were no reports of DuPage
County Sheriff John Zaruba mailing tickets for his most recent campaign event to
employees, a change from previous years when tickets were sent to their homes, a
police union official said. Many sheriff’s department employees had felt
obligated to contribute, especially because tickets were numbered, said Deputy
Paul Ledogar, president of Chapter 126 of the Metropolitan Alliance of Police.""“A critical part of the
remapping process is altering the districts of incumbent Republicans to complicate their paths back to
Washington,” said the May 24 memo from the committee. An earlier email from the
organization spoke of working to “advance our goal — more Democratic pickups.”"
"When Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
announced in September that no more federal dollars would be coming to keep the
Tevatron up and running, physicists announced they had one more trick up their
lab coat sleeves — they would confirm either the existence or non-existence of
the Higgs boson, the theoretical subatomic particle that public imagination has
dubbed the “God particle.”""Experts on business, education
and human services see a long “to do” list for Illinois in 2012. They want more
progress on balancing the budget, payment of billions of dollars in overdue
bills, better teaching methods and a solution to the growing cost of government
pensions. Most of all, they want a clear, long-term plan for bringing
stability to a state that often seems to lurch from crisis to crisis.""“The flu season runs through April, so a flu shot is
strongly recommended for people ages 50 years and older, who are considered to
be at risk for influenza. And there are some practical tips for older adults,
their families and caregivers who care for them to help prepare in anticipation
of the cold weather ahead.”"
"The Huntley resident got the
idea while on vacation in Florida five years ago. He said the small community he
visited had a television studio, a radio station and its own newspaper. He came
home ready to make radio service available in Huntley.""Including debt service on the bonds sold to
fund pensions in 2003, 2010 and 2011, this year's pension spending will be $5.74
billion, according to the projections. In just three years, that total will top
$7.4 billion. Interest and principal repayment from the bond sales accounts for
between $1.5 billion and $1.6 billion a year, meaning the largest part of the
increase comes from allegedly required payments to the pension plans for the
state employees, state university employees and public school teachers.""The good news for Illinois in 2012 is that
the state budget is in better shape than it was a year ago. The bad news is,
well, pretty much everything else. Pension costs are still climbing
dramatically. Unemployment remains stubbornly high. Schools and universities are
struggling to make do with less state money. And the Capitol remains a place
where conflict outweighs cooperation, something that’s not likely to change in
an election year.""Orr said Caterpillar's offer -- which includes a more
than 50 percent cut in wages and health-care and an elimination of pension
benefits -- is not acceptable to the CAW. Orr said the CAW plans to return to
the bargaining table, but he lacks confidence in the ability of the two sides to
make substantive progress... Orr said Caterpillar's offer -- which includes a
more than 50 percent cut in wages and health-care and an elimination of pension
benefits -- is not acceptable to the CAW. Orr said the CAW plans to return to
the bargaining table, but he lacks confidence in the ability of the two sides to
make substantive progress."
"Stefan Johann Stefansson at the
central bank confirmed that agents were in the building conducting searches; and
it has also been confirmed that searches are underway at MP Bank and ALMC
(formerly Straumur)."
