Source Click on the title to read the article at its original source.
30&31 July
WeekEnd		 The delay this weekend has been caused by a severe thunderstorm that crossed the UP (with 60mph straight line wind speeds).  It knocked out my WiFi in Hurley.  I'm trying to patch together an update.  It should be back to normal tomorrow. - Bob
none This Week in West Chicago
01  7pm» City Council Meeting
02  6pm» National Night Out
       7pm» District 94 School Board
04  7pm» City Infrastructure Com
       7pm» District 33 School Board
05  Wildcat Boosters Golf Scramble
none Suburban fleets switching to new fuel: Compressed natural gas
nonenone"CNG costs between $1.40 and $2.50 per gasoline gallon equivalent, depending on who owns the fueling station and whether taxes apply.  CNG also releases between 15 and 30 percent less greenhouse gas emissions, according to an Argonne National Laboratory emissions study."
Toll hikes won’t let DuPage off hook for O’Hare bypass
nonenone"Still, Morris said the current proposal would have DuPage pay “less than 3 percent” of the project’s total cost while getting all the benefits. In addition to reducing traffic on local roads, the project creates as many as 65,000 permanent jobs by 2040, officials say.  “The reality is that we need to have everybody invest in this program,” Morris said. “We need people to step up to the plate.”"
none ComEd defends reliability following outages
"Hit with complaints and bad publicity following record-breaking power outages this month, ComEd officials maintained today that the utility’s performance is strong and reliable.  As nearly 870,000 Chicagoans sweated through several days without power thanks to rolling blackouts that came after stormy weather conditions, the utility sought to repair customers’ confidence."
none 215 Ill. schools join fresh produce program
none"State officials say 215 Illinois schools will share $4.7 million from the federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program this school year.  The program gives students in the participating public and private schools access to fresh produce throughout the school day.  Schools can make the extra fruits and veggies available all day, except during breakfast and lunch."
Illinois lawmakers split on debt ceiling vote
none"Another Illinoisan did: Republican Rep. Randy Hultgren of Winfield, who like Walsh is a freshman who won office with tea party support. He was expected to vote no on the Boehner bill before it was revised. On Friday, Hultgren said he'd spoken several times Thursday with top GOP House officials but nothing had won him over... Hultgren said he's not buying the idea that the Senate would never pass a balanced budget amendment."
[See also GOP's Hultgren expected to vote 'Yes' on Republican budget bill. - Bob]
Quinn to sign Illinois Dream Act for scholarship money
none"Called the Illinois Dream Act, the measure creates a panel to raise private money for college scholarships. Supporters say this will help illegal immigrants who graduate from Illinois high schools go on to college because they may otherwise not be able to afford it.  Students must have at least one immigrant parent and must have attended school in Illinois for at least three years to qualify for scholarship money."
none Quinn vetoes COGFA health contract bill
none"Senate Bill 178 was passed last spring after the state opted not to renew health insurance contracts with longtime providers Health Alliance and Humana, forcing more than 100,000 employees and their dependents to select a new health insurance provider.  In his veto statement, Quinn said that if the bill became law, “competitive bidding for health care in Illinois would cease...”"
none ‘Time for Working Class to Have A Voice’ in Budget Debate
none"Fed up with inaction and partisan-political game playing in Washington, Kentuckians gathered in Louisville to call upon Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell to stop the partisan politics and pass a budget that works for all working families, not just millionaire CEOs. They called out their senator for putting the 2012 elections ahead of the needs of his own constituents who would be impacted by deep cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security."
none Planned Parenthood firebombed, right wing silent - Salon
none"Someone firebombed a Planned Parenthood clinic in McKinney, Texas, late Tuesday night... Planned Parenthood, in case you haven't been paying attention, has been the focus of a flood of political attacks -- both rhetorical and legislative -- since approximately the minute the Republicans who were elected in 2010 took office across the nation."
none Reid Agrees To Major Debt Limit Deal -- Here's What He's Signed Off On
none"If the committee fails to reach $1.2 trillion, it will trigger an automatic across the board spending cut, half from domestic spending, half from defense spending, of $1.5 trillion. The domestic cuts come from Medicare providers, but Medicaid and Social Security would be exempted... However, the White House assures them that if the committee fails to produce "tax reform" he will veto any attempt to extend the Bush tax cuts, which expire at the end of next year."
Tiny Tea Party Rally vs. Large Progressive Rally: Which Gets More Beltway Ink? - the Nation
"Yesterday, an American Dream Movement rally demanding a debt deal that “protects seniors and makes corporations and the rich pay [their] fair share” drew a significantly larger crowd than a Tea Party rally a day earlier that essentially demanded the opposite. Both were held on Capitol Hill, both focused on the same ginned-up debt ceiling “crisis,” but you’d be hard-pressed to find the Beltway media noting the difference in crowd size—or even reporting on the progressive rally at all."
29 July
Friday		  
none Quinn signs bill to let semis drive 65 mph
none"One of the new measures will let trucks travel 65 mph like other vehicles on four-lane highways outside the Chicago metropolitan area starting Jan. 1. Trucks inside the Chicagoland area — in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry and Will counties — will continue to drive 55 mph."
Fermilab employees take buyouts; layoffs possible
none"Within the next two weeks, the laboratory will decide on layoffs and submit a proposal to the Department of Energy, he said. Fermilab Research Alliance runs the laboratory for the DOE.  Of the 44 accepted, four or five are discovery scientists, Chrisman said. The rest are engineering, technical and administrative support workers. All but one are retirement-eligibile, he said."
none DuPage Boomers blossoms as new initiative for West Chicago Park District
none"DuPage Boomers kicks off the fall season with Geocaching, on Saturday, Aug. 27, from, 9-10:30 a.m. at Lincoln Marsh Natural Area, entrance located on the corner of Harrison and Pierce Avenues, Wheaton, Ill. Using GPS units, participants will locate hidden treasures. The fee is $17 for residents; $24 for nonresidents."
West Chicago Park District seeks volunteers for Day of Service
"Families, friends, and youth and community groups are invited to join the West Chicago Park District on Saturday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to noon at Easton Park, 840 E. Washington St., West Chicago for a Day of Service."
Chicago
News Coop		 The Illinois GOP’s Favorite Physicist
"Fortner’s colleagues have consulted him more than usual this year. He is a numbers junkie trained in analyzing reams of scientific data. That expertise lends itself to redistricting, the 10-year process of changing the boundaries of legislative districts. Realigning districts requires careful study of U.S. Census data, demographics and voter registration rolls."
none Seniors tell Hultgren: Leave Medicare, Social Security alone
none"Representatives of the American Association of Retired Persons delivered letters signed by 3,850 district residents to Hultgren’s Geneva office, directing the congressman to oppose any action that would reduce Social Security and Medicare benefits."
none DuPage FPD public auction Saturday
none"More than 300 items are headed for the auction block at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s annual public sale of police-confiscated, found and surplus items.  The auction will be Saturday at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve, 881 W. St. Charles Road in Lombard.  Among the many items are cars, tractors, golf carts and utility vehicles. Maintenance equipment in the sale includes mowers, string trimmers, chain saws, blowers and hand tools."
none Quinn won't say if he supports major toll increase
none"The tollway agency is pitching a $12 billion, 15-year capital plan that would see the region’s first new tollway since the opening of the Veterans Memorial Tollway, a new interchange in the south suburbs and the reconstruction of the 50-year-old Jane Addams tollway to Rockford.  The toll would increase 35 cents for I-Pass users at a typical mainline toll plaza, with cash-paying passenger vehicles continuing to pay double the I-Pass rate. Many toll plazas charge 40 cents for I-Pass users."
none Tolls may rise 35 cents to fund I-90 rebuild
none"Most tolls would rise to 75 cents for I-PASS users to pay for $12 billion in tollway upgrades, including an Interstate 90 rebuild between Rockford and the River Road Toll Plaza near O’Hare International Airport.  The capital plan, which would fund at least six other projects, is headed for public hearings after the tollway board passed a resolution supporting the plan Thursday."
none State tax take improves, but U.S. default, spending pressures loom
"Spurred by last winter’s income tax increase and an improving state economy, Illinois tax revenues for the last fiscal year increased nearly $3.4 billion over the previous year.  However, Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka warned in a report from her office that Illinois still hasn’t fully regained its fiscal footing and that state lawmakers will have to continue to restrain spending."
none And the Worst Boss in the Country Is… - AFL-CIO
none"“No Chairs for You!” by DownloadMe, was a standout in the eyes of the Working America staff, and took the Staff Pick Grand Prize.  "The second month we doubled sales to $150K, but “it wasn’t enough”…so to “teach us a lesson” our boss took away all of our chairs…FOREVER!!!""
none Faith Leaders Arrested in US Capitol During Protest - The Note - ABC
none"Led by former Rep. Bob Edgar, D-Penn, and current president of Common Cause, the faith leaders kneeled on the floor of the Capitol Rotunda while praying and singing gospel hymns.   Capitol Police evacuated tourists and press from the rotunda before arresting the protestors.  Police handcuffed the protestors with plastic ties and escorted them out of the rotunda."
none Fundamentalism Kills - TruthOut
"Our religious and secular fundamentalists all peddle the same racist filth and intolerance that infected Breivik.  This filth has poisoned and degraded our civil discourse. The looming economic and environmental collapse will provide sparks and tinder to transform this coarse language of fundamentalist hatred into, I fear, the murderous rampages experienced by Norway. I worry more about the Anders Breiviks than the Mohammed Attas."
27 July
Wednesday		  
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Around and About in West Chicago - 27 July 2011

  • 2011 Emerald Ash Borer Insecticidal Treatment Program
  • “Willy Wonka.”
  • Dupage Band at the DuPage County Fair
  • 22nd West Chicago Night Out Against Crime
  • Fourth Annual Secret Garden at the Kruse House Museum
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Events in DuPage Forest Preserves: Aug. 8 – 14
National Night Out
"From 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on August 2, 2011, residents all throughout West Chicago, as well as across the nation, are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and join neighbors and police at Reed-Keppler Park..."
none Ex-school administrators get big pension boosts
"The list of the 100 highest-paid retirees, with annual pensions ranging between $414,471 for a former University of Illinois-Chicago professor of medicine and $195,000 for two other former UIC staffers, accounts for $22.7 million in pension payouts a year.  Two-thirds of those on the top 100 list are retirees from state universities... Although none of the 29 Teachers’ Retirement System pensioners on the UTA’s top 100 list were classroom teachers when they retired, teacher union officials criticized the list, saying it only serves to confuse taxpayers and pit private-sector employees against public-sector workers."
DuPage board rejects 50-foot-dome for mosque near Lombard
"“The legal standard is that they have to show that there is legal hardship requiring the variance,” Redick said. “There was no evidence of hardship. The information was not there to grant it.”  Daniel said he would discuss a possible appeal of the decision with the group."
Liberals, tea partyers in suburbs protest debt ceiling moves
nonenone"Meanwhile, at the Geneva office of 14th District Congressman Randy Hultgren, a similar scene played itself out as about 50 people picketed, expressing worries that Hultgren's stance on raising the federal debt ceiling would hurt Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries."
none City of West Chicago Dealing with Emerald Ash Borer
nonenone"... an Ash tree inventory, which identified approximately 1,992 parkway Ash trees, was completed on all City properties and rights-of-way last November. The inventory uncovered several other infested areas. An action plan was created to minimize environmental and financial impact of this threat to West Chicago’s urban forest. The plan included not only removing the worst infected trees, but also treating those larger, mature trees that could still be saved."
none Protesters urge Hultgren toward federal debt-ceiling compromise
none"As with any protest, there were a few chants and signs (among the highlights: “Real jobs, not fake assumptions” and “Do your jobs. Compromise!”). There was even a counter protester. But the only significant heat was from the hot weather. Tuesday’s protest had a low-key feel."
none Anti-gambling group urges Quinn to veto casino expansion
none"At the very least, loopholes should be closed to make the true amounts spent by the gambling lobby in Illinois apparent, Browning said. "The debate going forward cannot be full, cannot be fair, cannot be open until the state's laws are strengthened to shine a much, much brighter light on the industry," he said.  Legislators told the Tribune there is no connection between the amount of money they have received from casinos and their votes on the gambling issue."
Quinn signed state budget to avoid deeper cuts by Republicans
nonenone"“There are members of the General Assembly on the other side… (who) would have had severe and radical cuts to education, and to human services and healthcare and public safety. And I did not want that crowd to have an opportunity to enact that kind of budget that would have been hurtful to our state.”"
none Bill would allow 'cottage foods' at farmers' markets
none"Senate Bill 840 would allow people without commercial kitchens to prepare food and sell it at farmers’ markets. Today, all such vendors have to have food-service permits. The bill would largely exempt those making and selling “cottage foods” from regulation by state and local health departments when selling at such markets."
Suburban Life Publications Fieros fight for — and find — some respect
none"Indian Uprising 21st Annual All Pontiac Weekend Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 6 and 7, at DuPage Expo Center, St. Charles. Visit www.cruisintigersgto.com. On Aug. 7, NIFE members will meet at a Steak & Shake in West Chicago and cruise to the show. For info, visit www.fierofocus.com."
On Location Vacations Wednesday, July 27: Filming Locations in NYC, LA, & more including ...
"UPDATE: A few people have been scoping out the area around the Airport and haven’t seen anything yet, but there are sign posted on Pearl Road in West Chicago (a short road just off of Roosevelt Road) saying that a 2 block portion of the street will be closed on July 27, 28, August 1, August 2, August 12, and August 13 from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. — though it’s not confirmed it’s for filming."
none Quinn wants unions back at table on McCormick Place changes - Chicago Breaking News
none"Gov. Pat Quinn today tried to pressure McCormick Place union leaders back to the negotiating table to consider work-rule changes, saying he'll call lawmakers back to Springfield in September to act if an agreement can't be reached.  The changes, put in place by the legislature last year and later tossed out by a federal court, allowed exhibitors to cut costs by doing more of their own work. Lawmakers want to see those changes stay in effect, Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont said after a strategy session on the issue Tuesday."
none Leading pastor in China’s underground Protestant church sentenced to 2 years in labor camp - Assoc Press
"An underground Protestant leader has been sentenced to two years in a labor camp as China cracks down on unapproved churches that are getting bolder in confronting government religious policy, a U.S.-based monitoring group said Tuesday.  The expansion and growing influence of unofficial churches has unsettled China’s rulers, always suspicious of any independent social group that could challenge Communist authority."
25 July
Monday		  
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Park District seeks volunteers for Day of Service
none"Families, friends, and youth and community groups are invited to join the West Chicago Park District on Saturday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to noon at Easton Park, 840 E. Washington St., West Chicago for a Day of Service. This annual event is sponsored by the Chicago Wilderness Corporate Council with a total of 15 participating sites located in Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties."

Friends of West Chicago Parks Foundation seeks local hero nominations
"To nominate a local Hometown Hero, download an application form from the Park District’s website at http://we-goparks.org/parks-foundation.asp. Nomination forms must be completed by Friday, August 19 and submitted to:"
National Night Out
none]"Neighborhoods throughout West Chicago are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 for the National Night Out (NNO) crime and drug prevention event."
none Vintage bomber draws crowds to DuPage Airport
none"Manufactured in the early 1940s, the Superfortress was the first warplane to be fully pressurized and equipped with computerized remote-controlled gun sights.  While boasting a 114-foot wing span and a 20,000-pound bombing capacity, the steel giant also is celebrated for its high-altitude and long-range bombing capabilities."
none State cuts essay exam to save cash, leaving students with headaches
none"School administrators think that means students with their eyes set on some of the state’s best schools will likely have to take the entire ACT, plus the 30-minute essay section, a second time for about $50.  “If they wanted to get the writing component, we think it would have to be done in a separate administration,” said Erika Schlichter, director of educational services for grades 6-12 grades in the Kaneland School District. “But we’ve gotten no specific communications from the state on specific logistics.”"
none Bluster on education bill causes stir at Statehouse
"Jonah Edelman, CEO of Stand for Children, quickly apologized and retracted his remarks, which were delivered at a the Aspen Institute’s Festival of Ideas in Colorado and were acidly directed at the state’s teachers’ unions. Lawmakers denounced him, calling his remarks an inaccurate and incomplete description of the events surrounding Senate Bill 7."
none Workers' comp committee to start by nominating arbitrators
"The reform bill requires that new arbitrators be appointed, although those serving as arbitrators when the reform bill passed can reapply for the jobs.  That didn't stop five arbitrators from filing a federal lawsuit against the state, charging that they were unfairly fired.  The five said they did nothing wrong, but that they probably be replaced because of the reform law.  They also said Quinn damaged their reputations by saying that replacing arbitrators was a needed workers' compensation reform."
New Philadelphia candidate to become national park
"Free Frank, born a slave in 1777 in South Carolina, left Kentucky for Illinois in 1830 as a free man with many of his family, according to “New Philadelphia: A Pioneer Town...” (www.newphiladelphiail.net). The New Philadelphia he founded was a racially integrated community. However the town was bypassed by the railroad in 1869, and as townspeople left, its legal status was dissolved in the 1880s.  The town site is now an open field where in recent years an archaeological field school has been conducted."
none Republican FAA Shutdown Costs 4,000 Jobs, Threatens 90,000 - AFL-CIO
none"FAA funding expired after midnight Friday because Republicans blocked temporary funding in an effort to overturn a new rule making union elections among rail and airline workers more democratic... The union election rule in question, adopted last year by the National Mediation Board (NMB), says air and rail union elections should be decided by a majority of votes cast. Previously, each worker who did not cast a vote in an air or rail  representation election was automatically counted as a “No” vote. If the old rule were applied to Congress, not a single sitting member would have been elected."
none Understanding 'Christian fundamentalist' label for Norway terror suspect - CNN
"From what the 1,500-page manifesto says, Breivik appears to have been motivated more by an extreme loathing of European multiculturalism that has accompanied rapid immigration from the developing world, and of the European Union's growing powers, than by Christianity.  "My impression is that Christianity is used more as a vehicle to unjustly assign some religious moral weight," to his political views, said Anders Romarheim, a fellow at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies. "It is a signifier of Western culture and values, which is what they pretend to defend.""
Killings in Norway Spotlight Anti-Muslim Thought in U.S. - NY Times
"Marc Sageman, a former C.I.A. officer and a consultant on terrorism, said it would be unfair to attribute Mr. Breivik’s violence to the writers who helped shape his world view. But at the same time, he said the counterjihad writers do argue that the fundamentalist Salafi branch of Islam “is the infrastructure from which Al Qaeda emerged. Well, they and their writings are the infrastructure from which Breivik emerged.”"
none A Debt To Ourselves:Who Really Owns It? - TPM
"We signed up for a VISA card from the Bank of China, and we maxed it out, so we are told. But that is totally incorrect.  Well, it's 92% incorrect.  That's because the debt to ourselves, over $9.747 trillion, is eight times the amount we owe China. The Chinese actually own about 8% of American debt, compared to the nearly 68% of the debt held domestically."
Corporate Tax Holiday in Debt Ceiling Deal: Where's the Uproar? - Rolling Stone
none"Here’s how it works: the tax laws say that companies can avoid paying taxes as long as they keep their profits overseas. Whenever that money comes back to the U.S., the companies have to pay taxes on it.  Think of it as a gigantic global IRA. Companies that put their profits in the offshore IRA can leave them there indefinitely with no tax consequence. Then, when they cash out, they pay the tax."
23&24 July
WeekEnd		  
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Next Week in West Chicago
none Cantigny playing host to vintage baseball
none"Die-hard baseball lovers won’t find themselves struggling to understand the vintage regulations. The Civil War-era variation acts as a “prelude to modern baseball rules” with a few notable exceptions.  “There’s no gloves,” Buhlig said. “Everything’s barehanded, which is probably the most surprising thing people respond to.”  The DuPage County Plowboys, Somonauk Blue Stockings and Oregon Ganymedes will participate in an old-school showdown Sunday during the afternoon of seven-inning games."
none Dispute between COD, Glen Ellyn may soon end
none"But with a restraining order requested by the village to prevent occupancy in new and renovated buildings merely continued Thursday — but not vacated — the issue is not quite dead. Associate Judge Terence Sheen of the Illinois 18th Judicial Circuit continued the restraining order until Aug. 1 and directed both parties to refrain from any further media comment."
none Quinn pardons 50 for past crimes
none"Acting Friday on cases filed between 2003 and 2009, Quinn is whittling down a mountain of clemency petitions that he inherited from ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Blagojevich, who took office in 2003, let the backlog of requests grow to more than 2,500.  Overall, Quinn has acted  on 1,356 clemency petitions since taking office and denied 839 requests, including 111 on Friday, his office said."
Pay raises for state workers still on hold
"An arbitrator's ruling that Gov. Pat Quinn must dole out pay raises to 30,000 state workers was put on hold Friday.  Cook County Circuit Court Judge Richard J. Billik Jr. ruled the state does not have to begin shelling out the $75 million in wage increases because he wants to hear arguments on whether the arbitrator's decision should be upheld or thrown out altogether."
none State law raises funds for nuclear safety program
none"Quinn says the money will allow IEMA to fill 12 positions, including nuclear safety scientists, health physicists and computer experts.  The legislation also includes a one-time fee of $3.6 million to be paid over three years for computer upgrades to the state's remote monitoring system."
Illinois gets $146 million for military construction
nonenone"U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says the projects were included in President Barack Obama's 2012 budget.  The money has been slated to fund a $10 million training and support facility for the Army National Guard in Normal and changes to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Army Reserve Center in the south suburban Homewood."
none Bluster on education bill causes stir at Statehouse
none"“I’m not sure how it’s going to affect their own agenda,” he said. “I do think, as to lawmakers, he was very clearly in that video spouting an anti-union message on a number of issues. And I would think that lawmakers would be careful about accepting support from them in the future because I don’t think they would want to be aligned with that anti-union message.”"
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WHAT'S NEW   Robert L Park   Friday, 22 July 11

  • NEWS OF THE WORLD: THE MOST POWERFUL MAN ON EARTH.
  •  CONTRACEPTION: INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE CALLS FOR FREE COVERAGE.
  • PRESIDENT OBAMA: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND TOWNHALL MEETING. 
  • EVOLUTION: TEXAS SCHOOL BOARD BACKS EVOLUTION 8-0.
none Daily Kos Launches New Labor Blog - AFL-CIO
"This past week, along with following several of the story lines we focused on, Daily Kos Labor reported on an anti-union construction industry group’s phony claims on the cost of using union labor; the Park Hyatt in Chicago turning its outdoor heat lamps on a picket line when the temperature was in the high 90s; and Michelle Rhee’s high praise of the Tennessee legislature’s attack on teachers’ unions."
none Opinion: Do Christian politicians help Christians? - Washington Post
none"The track record is spotty. George W. Bush, who claimed in a 1999 Republican primary debate that Jesus was his favorite political philosopher, promised $8 billion to churches and other religious groups... But of the promised $8 billion, only about $500 million was delivered. The rest was lost to the Bush tax cuts."
Oslo Suspect Wrote of Fear of Islam and Plan for War - NY Times
"The police identified him as a right-wing fundamentalist Christian, while acquaintances described him as a gun-loving Norwegian obsessed with what he saw as the threats of multiculturalism and Muslim immigration. "
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Republicans, Zealots and Our Security - NY Times
none"In other words, Republican zeal to lower debts could result in increased interest expenses and higher debts. Their mania to save taxpayers could cost taxpayers. That suggests not governance so much as fanaticism.  More broadly, a default would leave America a global laughingstock... If there is awe for our military prowess and delight in our movies and music, there is scorn for our political/economic management."
22 July
Friday		  
none North, northwesst suburbs spared heat-related deaths
"In DuPage County, the numbers are less severe. At Central DuPage Hospital, just five people came in with heat-related illnesses Thursday, fewer than the hospital expected, said spokeswoman Amy Jo Steinbruecker."
Last flying superfortress lands at DuPage Airport Community Days
nonenone"Flights are tentatively scheduled for 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. both days. For those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, the B-29 bomber will be open for guided tours throughout the weekend.  Normoyle said organizers "try to keep it interesting" for the weekend-long event. This year visitors also will be able to explore the museum's static aircraft displays, vintage military vehicles and a P-51 Mustang "Gunfighter.""
Glen Ellyn and COD trying to solve building dispute
none"On Wednesday, the college met a village-imposed deadline to submit 16 interim certificates of compliance from college architects and engineers. Village officials sought such written certifications to verify the buildings were done to code, in the absence of village-led building inspections."
none West Chicago school leaders rely on notable quotes from Mae West and others for encouragement
none"A line from West, a flirtatious and curvaceous actress and entertainer from a showbiz era long ago, was read as the “encouraging word quotation” at the District 94 board meeting."
[Should have used her "When I'm good I'm very good, but when I'm bad I'm better." - Bob]
Artists Share Inspiration for West Chicago's 2011 Banner Art Display
none 2 Asian carp DNA hits near Lake Michigan
none"Two more water samples from near Lake Michigan have been found to contain genetic material from invasive Asian carp.  Federal officials tell The Associated Press the samples were taken from Chicago's Lake Calumet, where the Army Corps of Engineers reported seven other positive DNA hits earlier this week."
New Illinois law makes 'bath salts' drug illegal
"Quinn's signature makes Illinois the 11th state to ban the drug methylenedioxypyrovalerone, or MDPV, which has been sold legally over the counter at tobacco shops and convenience stores. Packaged as bath salts and labeled "not for human consumption," MDPV gives users a hallucinogenic high similar to methamphetamine or ecstasy."
Illinois lacks money to help the poor keep cool
none"Ameren doesn't turn off power when temperatures are in the mid 90s or above, or when heat advisories are in effect, as they are now for much of the state, he said. But if your power was turned off two weeks ago, the utility isn't going to turn it back on because of excessive heat.  "No, we're not going to reconnect," he said."
[Keep in mind this is NOT just air conditioning... fans are electric also. - Bob]
none Chinese educators get schooled on American education
"“Chinese education has its weaknesses and strengths,” said Liu Pengzhi, principal at the High School Affiliated to Renmin University in China. “We are very amazed at the fruitful accomplishments achieved by and the creative minds of many people in the U.S.”  The Chinese educators will visit several of the top schools across America over the next month, and will take back with them a bevy of new ideas and teaching styles."
none EPA: Illinois gets $5M in grants for cleaner water
none"Several Illinois communities will get nearly $5 million in grants to reduce the amount of pollution running into the state's waterways.  They're called Green Infrastructure Grants and entities apply in one of three categories — combined sewer overflow, storm retention and infiltration, and small projects."
none New light bulb standards switch on debate
none"The Federal Trade Commission is requiring a new product label for light bulbs that should help consumers choose the type and size of bulb they need, said Molly Hall, executive director of the Springfield-based Energy Education Council/Safe Electricity.  “It will show lumens, the color temperature, the wattage and the energy used over the course of the bulb’s life,” she said. “They’re shifting people away from using watts as a measure of brightness.”"
none Republican Attack on Workers’ Rights Puts Aviation Safety at Risk - AFL-CIO
none"Republicans are holding a temporary funding bill hostage because they want to overturn a new rule adopted last year by the National Mediation Board (NMB) that says air and rail elections should be decided by a majority of votes cast. Previously under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which covers rail and airline workers, each worker who did not cast a vote in a representation election was automatically counted as a “No” vote."
none Texas Education Board voting on new science materials, fight over teaching evolution fizzles - Washington Post
none"This week’s meeting had been expected to re-ignite the fiery debate over evolution that put the board in the national spotlight two years ago.  One conservative group had put a call out to pack Thursday’s public hearing with witnesses urging the board to adopt materials that question evolution. But they were outnumbered by witnesses supporting evolution."
none Limbaugh: The Killer 116° Heat Index Is ‘Manufactured By The Government’ - Think Progress
none"“We have this every year,” Rush claimed, after arguing that former vice president Al Gore could cancel the heat wave by scheduling a “global warming conference.”"
[And temperatures would be significantly reduced if Rushbo would just be quiet. - Bob]
20 July
Wednesday		 Will the FEC dismissal of Hultgren's campaign finance violation make the Herald, unlike the votes by Senator Kirk, Rep Roskam and Rep Hultgren to "end Social Security as we know it"? - Bob
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Around and About in West Chicago - 20 July 2011

  • Christmas in July at Turtle Splash Water Park
  • Community Theatre Production presents “Willy Wonka.”
  • Summer Reading Program Carnival Extravaganza
  • West Chicago Parks Foundation Hometown Hero Award
  • Cooling Centers in West Chicago
none DuPage County Republican Central Committee
"At last evening's DuPage County Republican Central Committee meeting, Randy Ramey was unanimously elected by his fellow Central Committee members to lead the DuPage Republican Party. Upon being elected Chairman Ramey expressed that he is , “grateful for the support of my colleagues and I look forward to working together to build an even stronger DuPage County Republican Party.""
none AUDITION CALL FOR THE GALLERY THEATER!
none"Calling all actors! The Gallery Theater is offering you an opportunity to put together the scene you always wanted to perform."
Updated Information on Relief Efforts for West Chicago Fire Victims
none"West Chicago police have released additional information on efforts to assist victims of the Aspen Ridge Apartment Complex fire that took place on July 11, 2011, and which impacted 23 apartments and displaced 23 families."
none Ramey takes helm of DuPage GOP
none"Cronin's decision wasn't a total surprise, yet the timing was, Ramey said Tuesday morning.  "Cronin had mentioned a few months ago that he wasn't going to run again," he said. "And so people already knew for a long time. I had started calling around and talking to people, letting them know I was interested in the (position).""
Judge: 'Disastrous' to close DuPage youth home
none""The alternatives of closing it down and shipping the kids to other counties, I think, are disastrous for the kids and, ultimately, for the county," said Austin, who handles juvenile cases... Supporters of the outsourcing idea say DuPage's youth home has been underused in recent years."
none Medal of Honor recipients to visit Naperville, Glen Ellyn, West Chicago
none"Five recipients will also be at the DuPage Airport in West Chicago.  They are part of a group of 33 recipients visiting the Chicago area this weekend to promote a character development program offered by the Medal of Honor Foundation... For more information on events at the DuPage Airport, visit www.commemorativeairforce.org under events."
none Cronin steps down as DuPage GOP chairman
none"The organization’s executive committee Monday night named state Rep. Randy Ramey Jr. (R-West Chicago) to serve the nine months that remain in Cronin’s term... Ramey plans to build on the party’s current unity, already looking ahead to the rallies and events planned between now and the spring primaries. He expects to put his hat in the ring for an elected term next April."
none Feds say no to Quinn on tightening Medicaid proof
none"Illinois wanted more proof of residency than the current requirement that calls for little more than writing down an address, officials said. The new Illinois law also asked for a month’s worth of pay stubs instead of just one paycheck to show income eligibility. That requirement, officials said, was aimed at lessening the chance that a person could become eligible simply by using a particularly small paycheck to make his overall income look smaller than it is."
Union wins round over Quinn in battle over raises
none"The state’s largest employee union won the first round in its battle with Gov. Pat Quinn over his decision to block pay raises for 30,000 workers after an arbitrator ruled today that the administration is violating its contract by not doling out the increases.  Workers were scheduled to get a 2 percent pay bump on July 1, but Quinn refused to pay the raises for workers in 14 agencies. The governor said lawmakers did not set aside enough money to cover the $75 million cost and keep government running for a full year."
Illinois gives nearly $270 million in preschool grants
none"The education board says reviewers who selected the programs took into account their performance on previous grants and student demographics.  Priority was given to sites that serve a largely low-income student body and those that have a high percentage of African-American and Hispanic children."
ComicBookMovie.com SUPERMAN SCOOP: Filming Near Aurora, IL in Late July
"... the new Superman movie is scheduled to begin filming in the small town of West Chicago, IL on July 26 and 27. This is not the west side of Chicago, but rather a small town near Aurora, IL."
Sacramento Bee Larry Boward Joins State Bank of Illinois as Community President-West Chicago
"Larry A. Boward, 56, has joined State Bank of Illinois as Community President–West Chicago.  Since 2008, he had been First Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager, Business Banking at Citizens Financial Bank, responsible for Cook, DuPage and Will counties."
none Record 60-pound Asian carp caught in Illinois event
none"A bowfishing event has scored a record, nearly 60-pound Asian carp on the Illinois River near Starved Rock State Park... The event aims to promote bowfishing and remove invasive Asian carp from Illinois waters.  Some 48,000 pounds of invasive fish were caught in this year's event."
none Lawmakers hear business tax complaints
"“We have not taken a comprehensive look at the overall structure as a whole ... so that we can stop piecemealing things,” she [Democratic Sen. Toi Hutchinson] said after the hearing. “So I’m not necessarily ready to say that this is what’s going to happen as a result of this. My goal is clarity, my goal is predictability and my goal is stability — three things that Illinois sorely needs.”"
none NLRB Rule Changes Will Help Economy, Promote Democracy - AFL-CIO
"When workers do choose to form a union, it makes the workplace safer and more productive. At a time when many everyday American are struggling to get by, any measure that gives workers a real chance to protect their safety and economic interests and have a voice on how best to perform their jobs can’t come soon enough."
none Lutheran denomination clarifies view after Bachmann departure - Journal Sentinel
"The anti-Christ doctrine dates to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century when Martin Luther and others attempted to reform the Catholic Church, whose hierarchy they viewed as corrupt.  The WELS statement said the papacy fulfills the Biblical definition of anti-Christ as one who is "in place of" Christ, by asserting an authority to speak for God on Earth - at times infallibly - and holding that there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church."
none 130 Republicans Who Are In Congress Today Voted To Hike The Debt Ceiling Under Bush Without Hostage Threats - Think Progress
"A ThinkProgress review of the votes in both the House and Senate finds that a whopping 130 congressional Republicans voted to hike the debt ceiling that November that remain in the U.S. Congress today (either in their same seats or by coming to the Senate). These members of Congress did not demand draconian cuts in public investment that would’ve driven up unemployment and threatened the economy in return."
18 July
Monday		  
none
  • Car Wash Fundraiser - West Chicago Community H.S. Lacrosse Club - FB, Susan Dieterle Stibal
    "$5 gets you a sparkling clean car after the Lacrosse Club is done!  Help us reduce fees for this up and coming sport at the high school and avoid the lines that day - buy your tickets in advance from any Lacrosse Player/Family!"
  • WeGo Community Theater - Fundraiser at Applebee's! - FB, Maureen Navadomskis
    "Applebees will donate 15% of all proceeds to West Chicago Park District, in support of WeGo Community Theater's production of Willy Wonka, when presented with fundraiser flyer. Dine-out fundraiser is on Tues July 19, 2011 from 11am til Midnight."
  • 5th Annual Cornhole/Bags Classic - FB, Jenny Saylor
    "Check in & Practice 10:00-11:00 AM ... First Bags Tossed: 11:00 AM ... Format: A two and out tournament ... Entry Fee: $20.00 per team ... Benefits of $10.00 will go to the prize pool and $10.00 will be distributed amongst the local charities the Winfield Lions support."
  • Smokin Gunz Live!! - FB, Jenny Saylor
    "Time - Friday, September 9 · 8:00pm - 11:00pm
    Location - Winfield Lions Club Beer Tent & Entertainment Stage
                       Corner of Beecher & Church Street
none

How your lawmakers voted
noneHultgren Votes:

  • YES for $3 Billion more debt for NFIP
  • Against energy efficient light bulbs
  • YES for rolling back Clean Water Act
  • Against restoring funding for Fermi Lab
none Rock'in For The Troops
none"Wheaton, IL Rock\'in for the Troops show @ Cantigny Park. Thousands filled the lawn in front of the stage for the music. Rocke Lynne performs on stage. Cantigny, Operation Support our Troops-Illinois, Inc. (OSOTIL) and NAVISTAR sponsored the concert."
none Michigan issues advisory for Lake Michigan trout
none"Michigan's Department of Community Health recommends people avoid eating trout that are 20 inches or longer, according to The Detroit News. Last year, trout 22 inches or longer were considered potentially hazardous.  Contaminants such as PCBs, dioxins and Chlordane, a chemical compound in banned pesticides, are of concern, though officials said the advisory issued by the state does not mean the problem is getting worse."
none Giant Slide at Illinois State Fairgrounds sold
"Springfield resident Dennis Herrington has owned the slide since 1995 and put it up for sale last month. He says five bids were submitted for the 130-foot-long slide, which has operated at the State Fair since 1968."
none State approval rule could hamstring online college classes
none"The U.S. Department of Education in October enacted a rule requiring post-secondary institutions to get approval from any state in which they operate, including any state in which an online student enrolls. Failure to do so could result in the loss of financial aid... The ensuing paperwork itself would be cumbersome and time-consuming, plus some states have used the rule as an opportunity to seek regulatory fees from colleges that want to enroll those states’ residents as online students."
Cuts in meals for seniors could force more into nursing homes
"The loss of a home-delivered meal can be the tipping point that forces an elderly person into a nursing home, said David Vinkler of AARP Illinois. Most nursing home care in the United States is paid for by Medicaid, the federal and state program.   “It really makes no sense for the state to go that direction,” Vinkler said. “People want to live in their homes and it’s costing the state less when they do.”"
none New Rules Would Bring Union Elections into 21st century
"The proposed new rules would help eliminate delaying tactics workers face after they have filed a petition to vote on whether to form a union. The new rules set time limits on election procedures and outline they type of information employers must provide and make other changes. Management attorney’s claimed that the somehow those changes stifle employers’ right of free speech and are unfair burdens on companies"
none Illinois must refer foster kids to Catholic agency - Chicago Breaking News
none"A Sangamon County judge made the  temporary ruling today when the state gave in and agreed with Catholic Charities to let the social services group take in new cases---at least for a few weeks.  Catholic Charities won't place children with gay or unmarried couples."
none States save by moving vets from Medicaid's rolls to VA's - PEW
none"Arizona, California and Texas are among the states that are working to replicate a program first launched in Washington State. That program, begun in 2003, has moved some 9,500 veterans from the state’s Medicaid rolls to the VA’s. Washington State has avoided paying $27 million in health care bills this way — enough to make a small dent in a strained state budget. And veterans generally find that the benefits offered through the VA are more generous that what they were getting through the state."
16&17 July
WeekEnd		  
none

Next Week in West Chicago
none Going inside ComEd’s nerve center during this week’s emergency
"Based on information from a weather service, additional ComEd employees were called to the operations control center about three hours before the storm started causing damage across many suburbs."
[Do you remember when more maintenance was done because ComEd had excess capactity for emergencies, so they didn't have to wait days for crews from other states to arrive.  Have reduced crews kept your prices down... or just provided additional profits? - Bob]
none Driver's ed may be pricier
nonenone"Districts will have to hold public hearings before the fees can be increased. They’re also required to skip the fee for students who can’t afford it.  Many schools have already been charging higher fees, thanks to state waivers letting them ignore the $50 limit. Supporters say the higher limit will eliminate the time and red tape involved in getting those waivers." 
Scammers could be 'cleaning up' on seniors in the wake of storm
none"“People are being lured out of their homes or garages by individuals, usually males, who are offering to help clean up damage from the recent storm,” said Cherie Aschenbrenner, the Elgin Police Department’s crime prevention specialist and elderly service officer. “One of the individuals distracts the homeowner while a second person enters the home to steal personal property.”"
none Illinois a key battleground for congressional Dems
none"Israel says three of the five winnable districts for Democrats are in Chicago's suburbs, another is in central Illinois and a fifth is in western Illinois.  He says Democrats will continue to drive home the message that Republicans should be held accountable for voting to cut Medicare."
none National Rifle Association sues Illinois for concealed carry ban
Dang Wabbit"This isn’t the first time Second Amendment supporters have pushed to have the ban lifted, but previous attempts to convince the state legislature have been futile. However, Concealed Carry advocates have reason to hope the lawsuit will succeed."
none Local hospitals innovate to deal with drug shortages
none"Factors contributing to the shortages include the fact that pharmaceutical manufacturers are discontinuing older drugs in favor of newer, more profitable ones. Quality problems also have resulted in recalls of some drugs... He said buyers and pharmacy directors at the 13 hospitals that HSHS sponsors in Illinois and Wisconsin have a network-sharing procedure."

Farmland prices jump by up to 18 percent

  • none"Expectations of rising farm income and commodity prices;
  • Higher returns compared with alternative investments;
  • Farmers holding on to the land they have;
  • And, in some areas, the demand from wind-farm expansion."
none

WHAT'S NEW   Robert L Park   Friday, 15 July 1911

  • DAWN: NASA PROBE ORBITS MASSIVE VESTA ASTEROID.
  • xkcd: IS THIS THE END OF THE GREAT CELL-PHONE SCARE?
  • BLINDED: EARTH HAS ITS EYES PLUCKED OUT.
  • HACKERS: CLIMATEGATE REVISITED.
none Atheist Wins Right to Wear "Religious Pasta Strainer" in ID Photo - Good
"In 2008, to make a point about his faith's sanctity compared to others, Alm asked to wear a pasta strainer on his head for his driver's license photo. Austrian citizens are only allowed to wear headgear in state IDs for religious purposes, so Alm, a Spaghetti Monster "pastafarian," argued that a colander is his "religious headgear.""
Illinois religious groups ask court for foster care clarification - Chicago Breaking News
none"Catholic Charities units across Illinois are asking a Springfield judge to clarify whether the state can stop referring new foster care cases to them.  Dioceses in Springfield, Peoria and Joliet filed an emergency motion Friday seeking clarification of an order issued Tuesday."
none What happens if the debt ceiling bomb explodes? - Salon
"Slower economic growth means less tax revenue, which would force even more budget cuts. Laying off hundreds of thousands of federal employees would further boost the unemployment rate. And if the U.S. government ever did end up authorized to borrow money again, the yield it would likely have to offer to attract buyers for its damaged goods would undoubtedly skyrocket -- putting further pressure on government finances."
15 July
Friday		  
none

Events in DuPage Forest Preserves: July 25 – 31
none West Chicago Responds to Victims of Fire
none"If anyone is interested in donating clothing or household items, they can be dropped off at St. Vincent DePaul located at 213 Main Street. Victims of the fire will receive vouchers that can be redeemed at the thrift store. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at St. Mary's Food Pantry located on Garden Street behind the church. Additionally the social service unit is working with local banks to set up a victim relief fund."
Wanted: Six Brilliant Businesses
"It's time to stand up and cheer for your favorite West Chicago business. The City of West Chicago is accepting nominations for its annual Brilliance in Business Awards."
none West Chicago dad gets 45 years for infant’s murder
"Creswell described the April 27, 2009, beating that left 3-month-old Gustavo Jr. with seven broken ribs, extensive bruises, and bleeding on the brain as a “vicious, very personal attack.”  “The child was savagely beaten at the hands of his own father,” she said, adding that photos of the infant’s injuries were “shocking.”"
DuPage judge lifts judgment against porn star
"Mobility Works, a national company that sells vehicles at its Villa Park dealership for people who use wheelchairs, will display its new wheelchair motorcycle on Saturday and Sunday at the Odeum, 1033 N. Villa Ave... “It's been waiting to be born for years on a (mass) production scale, and not just one at a time,” company spokesman Michael Ryan said. “We want people with disabilities to know there is a product out there for them that will give them their freedom if they like to feel the wind in their hair as they ride on the open road.”"
none

Father gets 45 years in infant son's death
"Trial testimony indicated that after the child refused to drink from a bottle and continued to cry, the defendant "focused on the head and face of the child," causing the fatal injuries, Mockaitis said."
none Website will begin charging for some content
none"Visitors to any of the mysuburbanlife.com community websites will get unlimited access to their town’s homepage as well as the breaking news, obituary, weather, multimedia, photo and calendar sections... After reading 20 premium articles, users will be asked to pay a monthly subscription to gain unlimited access for the site."
[Given my complete disgust with how little of the old West Chiago Press still exists, I will not be using this news source in the future. - Bob]
none Some seniors to lose Illinois prescription drug help Sept. 1
"About 43,000 low-income seniors and people with disabilities will lose help paying for prescription medication starting Sept. 1 after state lawmakers cut funding for a drug-assistance program in half.  That number represents roughly 20 percent of the 211,000 people currently enrolled in the Illinois Cares Rx program. Those that still qualify will see their co-payments for medication increase."
Report: Elgin-O'Hare bypass should be built as toll road
none"A newly completed report by an advisory council appointed last year by Quinn concludes that building the Elgin-O’Hare West Bypass would create more than 78,000 short- and long-term jobs, maximize the potential for an expanded O’Hare, and bolster the region’s economy.  But without any new federal or state money to build the $3.6 billion project, the funding would have to come primarily from tolls, the council concluded."
State will hold off cutting foster care to 2 religious agencies
"Last week, DCFS told four Catholic Charities agencies, including Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois in Belleville, which was not part of the suit, that new contracts to provide foster care would not be accepted. The department was still determining whether the Evangelical Child and Family Agency in Wheaton would abide by the state law when the judge issued the injunction.  On Wednesday, the department said it would not deny funding to any of the agencies until the case is resolved in court. The next court date is Aug. 15."
none Illinois Cares Rx participants being notified of cutbacks
none"The state is notifying all 211,000 participants in the Illinois Cares Rx program that they either will be paying more for their drugs beginning Sept. 1 or are being terminated from the program.  However, about 5,700 recipients have mistakenly been sent letters telling them they no longer qualify for the drug assistance program because they no longer meet income eligibility limits."
Study: Racial differences seen in Illinois traffic stops
none"Black and Latino drivers pulled over in Illinois traffic stops last year were more likely to end up with a ticket and have their vehicle searched than their white counterparts, according to a new Transportation Department study.  Minority drivers also were involved in traffic stops at a higher rate than their share of the state population would suggest, even though illegal contraband was more likely to be found in vehicles being driven by whites."
none Union thugs found not guilty of assault on Tea Party hero - Salon
"Now, two years later, there is closure: The two SEIU thugs who viciously beat Gladney went on trial (for misdemeanor assault) on Monday. The trial wrapped up on Tuesday. The jury deliberated for 40 minutes and then found both of the accused not guilty. (CASEY ANTHONY ALL OVER AGAIN!) Gladney's own ridiculous testimony basically exposed how much of an overblown farce this entire incident was from the beginning."
none Anti-abortion group rallies in Lake Zurich - Chicago Breaking News
none"The demonstration was part of the group's "Face the Truth" campaign around Chicago and its suburbs.  “It definitely bothers me," Decker said. "The pictures are real graphic. To me, it could cause an accident. It affects everybody. Whatever their point is, take it up with politicians. Don’t take it up with everyday people trying to make a living,” Decker said."
none Medicare Shortfall Over Next 75 Years Is Only One-Fourth Cost Of Wars In Afghanistan And Iraq - Think Progress
"Policy Research co-director Dean Baker added some perspective to the debates over Medicare costs today. Writing on his Beat The Press blog, he noted that the projected shortfall for the Medicare program “over the program’s 75-year planning horizon is less than 0.4 percent of GDP. This is less than one quarter of the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”"
13 July
Wednesday		  
none Around and About in West Chicago - 06 July 2011
  • A. Eugene Rennels Bridge
  • Faith Community School of the Arts Music Summer Camp
  • New Heir Bluegrass Band
  • Trinity Lutheran Church Vacation Bible School
  • Park District Community Theatre Production - “Willy Wonka.”
none West Chicago Fire Update - FB, Mike Kwasman (Mayor)
none"The West Chicago Police Department has received numerous phone calls from members of the community offering donations. If anyone is interested in donating clothing or household items, they can be dropped off at St. Vincent DePaul located at 213 Main Street. Victims of the fire will receive vouchers that can be redeemed at the thrift store. Non perishable food items can be dropped off at St. Mary’s Food Pantry located on Garden Street behind the church. Additionally we are working with local banks to set up a victim relief fund."
none West Chicago fire was electrical
none"The fire started in the walls of a first-floor bathroom, behind either an outlet or the bathroom fan, said West Chicago Deputy Fire Chief Bob Hodge. Officials with the DuPage County's fire investigations team said they saw charring in both areas, he added.  Once the fire was sparked, Hodge said, it spread quickly.  "Everything occurred behind the walls," he said. "It then went the way fires go, up and out.""
none 100 displaced after West Chicago apartment fire
none"At least five people had to be rescued from second- and third-floor balconies. No residents were reported injured, but one firefighter was treated and released from a local hospital after spraining his back, officials said."
none Report says climate change harming Great Lakes parks
"Winter ice cover on the Great Lakes declined 15 percent from the 1970s through 2009, and the reduction in the center of the lakes has been twice as dramatic, it says. Less ice means more evaporation, steeper drop-offs in water levels and bigger waves that cause shoreline erosion.  The report said other problems at the parks linked to climate change include population declines for the famed moose and wolves of Isle Royale, botulism outbreaks that have killed thousands of shorebirds at Sleeping Bear; and the first known appearance at Isle Royale of the tick that causes Lyme disease, which previously had not spread that far north because of cool temperatures."
none Study: Racial differences in Illinois traffic stops
none"Minority drivers are more likely to get tickets after being pulled over than white drivers are. They're also more likely to have their vehicles searched, although police more often find illegal material in cars driven by white people.  The findings are from a review of virtually all Illinois traffic stops in 2010. The study was conducted for the state Transportation Department."
none Two more state government unions sue over canceled raises
"The unions are alleging that Quinn and the Department of Central Management Services violated the U.S. Constitution's equal protection clause and the state's Public Labor Relations Act.  “The suit is about much more than workers not receiving pay raises, this is about upholding a collective bargaining agreement," said Tom Kosnowski, president of IFPE 4408."
none New Contract Ends N.Y. BlueCross BlueShield Lockout
"The new contact, reached Friday, includes wage increases over its three-year life and a lump sum payment. It also maintains job security protection provisions the company had originally sought to eliminate. Local union officials said it also retains the employees’ current benefits package and working conditions."
none Judge stops state from dropping Catholic Charities from foster care - Chicago Breaking News
none"In letters sent last week to Catholic Charities in the dioceses of Peoria, Joliet and Springfield and Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services said the state could not accept their signed contracts for the 2012 fiscal year. Each letter said funding was declined because "your agency has made it clear that it does not intend to comply with the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act," which the state says requires prospective parents in civil unions to be treated the same as married couples."
none Mitch McConnell: We Must Rewrite The Constitution Because ‘Elections’ Haven’t ‘Worked’ - Think Progress
none"It makes it functionally impossible to raise taxes by imposing a two-thirds supermajority requirement — a provision closely modeled after the California anti-tax amendment that blew up that state’s finances. It would also require spending cuts so steep that it would have made Ronald Reagan’s fiscal policy unconstitutional."
Inside the October Surprise Cover-up - Consortium News
none"The documents show that GOP anger boiled over in 1991 when the long-running Iran-Contra scandal opened another front with allegations that secret Republican contacts with Iran extended back to 1980 when Ronald Reagan was seeking to unseat Democratic President Jimmy Carter – and Bush was Reagan’s vice presidential running mate.  Republicans were alarmed that Bush might be implicated in a secret – arguably treasonous – deal with Iran, struck behind President Carter’s back when Carter’s own reelection in 1980 hinged on whether he could gain freedom for 52 American hostages being held by Iranian radicals."
11 July
Monday		  
none Wildcat Boosters Golf Scramble
noneFriday, August 5th ... 3pm Shotgun Start (Registration begins at 2:30) ... Pheasant RunResort ... $100/golfer ... 18 Holes, Cart, HalfwayHouse Hotdog and DinnerBuffet ... Proceeds benefit: Wildcat Boosters&CHS AthleticDepartment
Click Here for more information
none Rakow Arts: Works from the Family Room
none"Gallery 200 member artists Mandy and Christine Rakow, along with family members John and Jim, present “Rakow Arts: Works from the Family Room,” a diverse, mixed-media exhibit on display throughout the month of July at Gallery 200, 200 Main Street, West Chicago."
Construction Challenges Prompt Creative Business Solutions
"Orange cones, construction barricades and detour signs seem like part of the landscape this summer in communities across the state."
2011 Preservation Awards
none"West Chicago's diverse housing stock is just one of the community's many distinctions, and recently four of its historic homes were celebrated for the restoration and preservation work made by their owners."
none

Fire At Aspen Ridge Apartmentss
none No one injured in overnight five-alarm, West Chicago fire.
none"Officials said a grill that was left burning on a third-floor balcony may have sparked the blaze, but added an investigation is continuing.  At least 35 emergency vehicles were called to the scene, including 15 ambulances, officials said. Firefighters from Aurora, North Aurora, Batavia, Elburn, Glen Ellyn and Streamwood as well as West Chicago were on the scene."
Illinois Supreme Court upholds video gaming
none"The court’s decision also means that huge road construction projects throughout the suburbs won’t be halted.  The gambling machines, as well as increases to license plate fees, liquor taxes, and the sales tax on candy and soda are paying for those projects and will remain in place."
none Four years after leaving office, former Speaker Hastert still heavily involved
none"While he has endorsed few candidates and he’s stayed out of local politics, Hastert remains a significant background figure in Washington, D.C. The 69-year-old Fox Valley native is a lobbyist for the energy industry, but he’s also sounding board for legislative strategy."
none 6-alarm fire displaces dozens in West Chicago
none"Dozens of residents of a West Chicago apartment complex were displaced by an early morning six-alarm blaze that took 150 firefighters about three hours to bring under control."
Historic DuPage County Forest Preserve District buildings in danger of being razed
none"A 1930s-era limestone home that once belonged to DuPage County’s first forest preserve superintendent and an adjacent building that housed the forest preserve district’s first offices are once again in jeopardy of being razed due to financial concerns."
none Topinka unveils 'Comptroller's Critters' website
nonenone"Topinka, the state’s chief fiscal officer, has teamed up with animal rescue groups. According to her office, 50 shelters from around the state have signed up to participate. So far, 17 have started posting animals ready for adoption on Comptroller’s Critters at www.illinoiscomptroller.com."
Quinn says he is following law by blocking raises
none""I had to do what the law requires, the law says subject to appropriation these raises would be given, but the General Assembly did not appropriate the money, the millions of dollars to pay the raises," Quinn said today. "Now I had a choice, and if it was up to the union they would just want me to pay the raises and somehow get the money later on, there's no guarantee of that.""
[See also Union sues governor to get pay raises . - Bob]
none Agencies cited for poor grant monitoring
"Two state agencies that provided grants to two Chicago women accused of stealing $500,000 in state funds were recently criticized in state audits for lax monitoring of their grants.  Both the Department of Public Health and the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs were the target of audits conducted by Auditor General William Holland.  Among other things, Public Health was cited for conducting very few visits to sites where grants are awarded to ensure the money is being spent properly."
none SoCal Union Members Show Solidarity with Grocery Workers - AFL-CIO
none"In Southern California, 63,000 Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 770 members are fighting for a fair contract that doesn’t force the workers to pay as much as 50 percent of their take home pay for health care coverage.  But they are not fighting the battle alone against the mega-grocery chains Albertsons, Ralph’s and Vons.Dozens of unions in the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor have “adopted” stores to take the workers’ message to shoppers and store managers."
none State severs foster-care ties with Catholic Charities - Chicago Breaking News
none"In a letter sent last week to Catholic Charities in the dioceses of Peoria, Joliet, Springfield and Belleville, the Department of Children and Family Services told all four agencies that the state could not accept its signed contracts for the 2012 fiscal year because “your agency has made it clear that it does not intend to comply with the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act.”"
none No, We Can’t? Or Won’t? - Krugman, New York Times
"So let’s summarize: The economy isn’t fixing itself. Nor are there real obstacles to government action: both the bond vigilantes and structural unemployment exist only in the imaginations of pundits. And if stimulus seems to have failed, it’s because it was never actually tried."
09&10 July
WeekEnd		  
none

Next Week in West Chicago
none West Chicago businesses banding to survive construction
none"The city is helping businesses by posting the information and a downloadable coupon on its website, westchicago.org, under “business.” Coupons also are available at city hall.  Businesses are offering discounts, introductory specials and other deals."
West Nile virus found in DuPage
none"The first mosquitoes of the season to test positive for the West Nile virus in DuPage County were collected this week in a trap in Lemont, health department officials said Friday.  Officials said the mosquitoes were collected Wednesday and tested Thursday."
none Union sues governor to get pay raises
none"The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees argues Quinn is violating the terms of the union’s contract with the state, as well as state and federal equal protection laws.  The lawsuit filed late Friday in a Springfield federal court asks to restore the pay increases for workers in 14 different agencies."
Quinn signs education bills
none"Students in kindergarten through third grade now will study how to resolve conflicts without violence during a unit that spans at least three weeks every year. The new law extends to the youngest students the lessons that now began in fourth grade and continue through senior year."
Director of state's college tuition program ousted
none"One day after Gov. Pat Quinn appointed five new members, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission placed Andrew Davis on paid leave. Davis, who has run the agency since 2007 and is paid $198,000 a year, said he is negotiating with commissioners on the terms of his departure."
none AFSCME sues to enforce state employee raises
""AFSCME members do the real work of state government, such as caring for the disabled, preventing child abuse, guarding state prisons and much more," AFSCME Council 31 executive director Henry Bayer said. "These hard-working men and women deserve to know that their employer, the governor, will keep his word and honor his commitments under the law.""
none

WHATS NEW   Robert L Park   Friday, 8 Jul 11

  • FINAL VOYAGE: IT'S TIME TO RE-EXAMINE SPACE PRIORITIES.
  • CELL PHONES: EVIDENCE "INCREASINGLY AGAINST" CANCER RISK.
  •  THE FINAL SEWER: WHERE DOES IT GO WHEN YOU FLUSH? 
none Lawsuits Aim to Stop Anti-Worker Laws - AFL-CIO
"In New Jersey, Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1033 filed a lawsuit this week over the failure by Gov. Chris Christie to make payments to the state’s pension funds. The suit claims that the failure by Christie and his predecessors to make payments to the funds violated a constitutional prohibition against the “impairment of contracts” a lawyer for the union said."
none Prosecutors seeking death penalty against NC man charged with 2 deaths in religious sect case - The Republic
"Prosecutors want the death penalty for a Durham polygamist group member accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and a child.  District Attorney Tracey Cline said Friday 27-year-old Peter Lucas Moses shot 5-year-old Jadon Higganbothan because he thought the boy was gay."
Church members open homes to children in need - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
"Under the bill, parents would be allowed to transfer most of their parental rights to a non-relative for up to a year without going before a judge. (Judicial review would be required for placement of Native American children under an amendment sought by tribal authorities.)  Critics had raised concerns about the potential for abuse and the encroachment on judicial authority. But a number of amendments - requiring background checks, barring caregivers with abuse histories, and clarifying when courts and other agencies may intervene - appear to have resolved the bulk of those."
none The Economist: America's profiteering class is "playing a cynical political game with hugely high economic stakes" - Economist
none"The sticking-point is not on the spending side. It is because the vast majority of Republicans, driven on by the wilder-eyed members of their party and the cacophony of conservative media, are clinging to the position that not a single cent of deficit reduction must come from a higher tax take. This is economically illiterate and disgracefully cynical... And the closer you look, the more unprincipled the Republicans look. Earlier this year House Republicans produced a report noting that an 85%-15% split between spending cuts and tax rises was the average for successful fiscal consolidations, according to historical evidence. The White House is offering an 83%-17% split (hardly a huge distance) and a promise that none of the revenue increase will come from higher marginal rates, only from eliminating loopholes. If the Republicans were real tax reformers, they would seize this offer."
08 July
Friday		  
none July E-Newsletter
  • Capital Projects Fully Funded
  • Six Bills Sent to the Governor 
  • Upcoming Events
  •    Senior Health Fair – September
  •    USO Drive – Late October-early November
  •    Coat Drive- December
The Seventh Annual Family Golf Outing at Coyote Crossing Miniature Golff - FB, Randy Ramey
  • Saturday, August 13, 2011 from 11:00 to 2:00
  • Route 64 and St. Charles Rd., West Chicago 
  •   $25 per Family (up to 6 people)
  • Includes food by Scooby‘s Hot Dogs,
  • drinks, dessert and Cody Coyote!
none 5 years for St. Charles health club car thefts
none"Kellogg was arrested in April 2010 after authorities found a credit card reader, credit card receipts and a stolen South Barrington police badge during a search of his apartment on the 500 block of Carriage Drive in West Chicago, police said."
none Sheriff draws criticism for tapping employees for campaign donations
none"Their calls are among broader criticism of fellow Republican John Zaruba’s campaign practices detailed by a Tribune investigation. Local leaders and advocates are also suggesting possible changes to county policy and state law to ban sheriffs from asking deputies to contribute to campaigns."
none Prairie Parkway still POSSIBLE - but project is a long way off
none"“The tollway weighed the costs and benefits of the Prairie Parkway and found that the costs far outweighed the limited benefits,” said Jan Strasma, chairman of Citizens Against the Sprawlway, in a release. “Of the projects studied as possible tollway expansion and upgrades, only the Prairie Parkway was dropped from consideration.” Tollway officials said Wednesday, however, that the Prairie Parkway was not mentioned in the latest round of forums because it is not imminent in the next 10 years, and currently, the Illinois Department of Transportation still is the lead agency on the project."
none Illinois cuts writing from standardized exam
none"The state now will assess only reading and arithmetic. High school juniors no longer will be tested on their writing skills during standardized exams every spring, saving the state about $2.4 million, according to a published report.  Writing tests for elementary and middle school students already were dropped last year."
Quinn inks measure beefing up county control over boards and commissions
none"A key provision in the new legislation — part of an amendment filed by state Rep. Michael Connelly (R-Lisle) — gives county government legal authority to inquire into the operations of the local entities. The boards in Will, Kane, Lake and other counties with at least 300,000 but fewer than two million residents also can secure detailed information about finances and other details of the appointed bodies’ dealings. They have lacked that power until now."
none More than 1,600 couples apply for civil unions in Illinois
none"In the first month Illinois allowed civil unions, more than 1,600 licenses were issued across the state, according to data from Equality Illinois, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group.  The group's study found that one or more licenses were issued in 83 of the state's 102 counties in June. Also, any couples who had previously entered into a marriage, civil union or domestic partnership in another state automatically had their relationships recognized as civil unions in Illinois when the law went into effect June 1."
Quinn: Lawmakers should reconsider cutting state writing test
none"“I thnoneink the General Assembly should re-think their position, they made this decision,” Quinn said at an unrelated appearance Thursday morning. “My brother, who’s a high school teacher for 31 years, can tell you that writing is very, very important if you’re going to succeed in life.”  The governor said legislators should take up the issue when the return to Springfield in the fall, saying that the budget is an evolving document that should be examined on a day-by-day basis."
Suburban counties given control of independent commissions
none""The overall goal is to provide more transparency and create more safeguards that will prevent the mistakes of the past," Cronin said before watching Quinn sign the legislation in the DuPage County Board Room in Wheaton.  "It would be less than full disclosure if I didn't say that our experiences with the water commission and the housing authority didn't motivate much of the actions" that led to the bill."
none I-90 rebuild might be on fast track
none"By moving the reconstruction project from 2017 to 2012, the tollway can save $400 million by eliminating planned repaving projects on I-90 between Rockford and O’Hare International Airport and instead replacing pavement that is nearing the end of its useful life."
none AFSCME asks arbitrator to decide canceled raises
"“By refusing to pay state employees in accordance with the contract, Governor Quinn has violated an agreement that was fairly bargained and legally binding,” AFSCME Executive Director Henry Bayer said in a statement. “What is the value of the governor’s word if he can break it? What is the value of a contract if it can be ignored?”"
none June Job Growth Appalling: 18,000 - AfL-CIO
"Employment was essentially flat in construction and manufacturing, while health care employment continued to grow (+14,000) as did employment in leisure and hospitality (+34,000).  Some 39,000 jobs were lost in the public sector, and Economic Policy Institute (EPI) economist Josh Bivens points out that the loss of public-sector jobs is a huge obstacle to growth. Nearly all of the 430,000 jobs that have been lost in the public sector during the current recovery have been lost at the local level."
none Turkey's 'First Christian' - Assyrian International News Agency
"Mr. Dora's election to the Turkish Meclis is a true breath of fresh air. Not counting a handful of Christians who were allocated legislative seats in the twentieth century due to legal quotas, Mr. Dora is the first Christian deputy elected to sit in the Ankara legislature.  This is big news. Christians represent just 1/1000 of the country's population. In a symbolic move, Muslim Turks have chosen to elect a Christian Turk to represent them."
none Newsflash: Senate Republicans Block Benefits to Homeless Women Veterans - MS Blog
none"So as hundreds of thousands of veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan, the Department of Veterans Affairs struggles to accommodate their most basic needs. And as the number of women serving in combat continues to grow, so will the need for specialized assistance for women veterans. Passage of the Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Act would have been a start."
06 July
Wednesday		 Will the FEC dismissal of Hultgren's campaign finance violation make the Herald, unlike the votes by Senator Kirk, Rep Roskam and Rep Hultgren to "end Social Security as we know it"? - Bob
none

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS 7-6-11

  • LOVEbug3 Contest
  • La Michoacana Ice Cream
  • Hawthorne¹s Backyard Bar & Grill
  • Cantigny Park Activities
none Around and About in West Chicago - 06 July 2011
  • 38th annual Railroad Days
  • Grand Marshall Chuck Scheckel
  • West Chicago Sister Cities Needs Host Families
  • Farmers Airship
none Quinn to visit DuPage Wednesday
none"The plan Quinn is signing in Wheaton comes after Cronin appealed to state lawmakers after a series of federal audits showed the DuPage Housing Authority misspent or failed to account for more than $10 million. And the DuPage Water Commission accidentally spent $69 million in reserves because of poor accounting."
$338,139-a-year state ethics board levied $28,350 in fines
none"“We do have the ability to mete out fines, but the more important aspect of it is that the punishment becomes public the way it should be,” said Jim Brennan, a commissioner from Wheaton appointed by the governor. “The transparency is the real linchpin of success. The public can see that somebody did something wrong, it was reported and objectively looked into.”"
none Dispute threatens openings of College of DuPage buildings
none"The college has targeted August as the month when it hopes to open its new Culinary and Hospitality Center, new Homeland Security Center, a renovation of the Berg Instructional Center/Student Resource Center and the addition to its Student Services Center. However, village and college officials remain at odds over inspections of the projects, and the dispute is threatening to delay the occupancy of the projects in time for the school’s fall term."
Suburban Life Publications 18 holes of dream golf
none"A large pond to the right of the fairway makes a good tee shot necessary on Hole 18 on Course #1 at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club on Tuesday, July 5. "
REjournals.com HSA represents Midwest Warehouse in two leases totaling over 578000 SF
"In a separate transaction, Borkowski represented Best Warehousing & Transportation Center Inc., in a 56,051-square-foot lease at 1801 Hawthorne Lane in West Chicago, Ill. The west suburban location is the logistics company’s first in Illinois."
Chicago News Cooperative GOP, Latinos Strange Bedfellows in Remap Fight
none"“Do we have a partisan interest? Sure. Absolutely. It would be disingenuous to say otherwise,” said state Rep. Mike Fortner (R-West Chicago), a redistricting expert in his party. “But one can form alliances on different issues.”"
[For those with subscriptions to the Wall Street Journal, there is also an article at Latinos Join the Electoral Land Grab . - Bob]
none Kirk: Talk of 'mini deal' on debt ceiling, deficit reduction
none"With the Aug. 2 debt deadline nearing, Kirk said he still prefers a more comprehensive “big deal” that would include a balanced budget amendment to the federal Constitution, as well as $4 trillion in cuts in exchange for a $2 trillion increase in the nation’s debt ceiling."
Quinn signs election law changes on July 4
none"Among the changes Quinn highlighted is a provision that will allow local school boards to put advisory referendums on the ballot, giving parents the power to vote on matters that directly impact their children. Advisory referendums are non-binding, however."
none Illinois drops writing from standardized exam
none"Illinois had already dropped writing assessments for elementary and middle school students last year.  State Schools Superintendent Christopher Koch says writing is one of the most expensive things to assess. And Koch says the state is trying to minimize the damage done by budget cuts."
Illinois tells out-of-state merchants to begin collecting 'Amazon tax'
none"The agency has a list of the top 100 online companies and is comparing it to a list of companies that have registered to collect the tax on behalf of Illinois consumers, Hofer said. It intends to send out notices to those who have to collect the tax and haven't yet registered. The department believes 68 percent of those online companies already collect Illinois' use tax because they have presences here."
none Quinn: Ready for court battle over canceled raises
none"“It’s very clear that the money wasn’t available for the raises and therefore there’s really nothing I could do to clear it up,” Quinn said after a Chicago news conference where he touted a $10 million program to give teens and young people internships and jobs in state parks, park districts and nature centers.   Quinn made the surprise announcement Friday that workers wouldn’t be getting the 2 percent increase they were expecting that day. The state’s largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said it had no idea Quinn was considering such action."
none First, Michigan Guts Democracy. Now Aims for Workers’ Paychecks - AFL-CIO
"A new study by University of Michigan research scientist Roland Zullo illustrates how such a law would be bad economics for working families. Despite supporters’ claims, “right to work” (RTW) is a misnomer—”it has nothing to do with the right of a person to seek and accept gainful employment,” writes Zullo. Further, the law would not fix Michigan’s economic woes."
none Opinion: Is Religion a Greater Political Barrier Than Race? - Huffington Post
"I am in no way suggesting that President Obama's race does not matter nor am I saying that it did not cost him any votes and has not inspired some of the vitriol directed at him. I am saying, however, that it may not matter as much as the fact that his middle name is Hussein and his father is from Kenya and in the minds of nearly a quarter of the population that means President Obama must be a Muslim, and in their eyes unfit for the presidency."
none Operating Instructions - Slate
none"The same is true for the court's remarkable 5-4 holding in AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion. In that decision, the court read a federal statute to mean that consumers may not participate in class action suits if their contract—in this case, with a cell phone company—contains an arbitration agreement (by which, I promise you, you are currently bound). In AT&T, a class of California plaintiffs tried to bundle together their claims alleging that AT&T had engaged in false advertising and fraud by charging sales tax on phones it had promoted as free."
FRACKING FLUIDS POISON A NATIONAL FOREST - Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
none"A new study has found that wastewater from natural gas hydrofracturing in a West Virginia national forest quickly wiped out all ground plants, killed more than half of the trees and caused radical changes in soil chemistry.  These results argue for much tighter control over disposal of these “fracking fluids,” contends Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)."
04 July
*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆ ★ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆
╔╗╔╦══╦═╦═╦╗╔╗ ★ ★ ★
║╚╝║══║═║═║╚╝║ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆
║╔╗║╔╗║╔╣╔╩╗╔╝ ★ 4th of July ☆
╚╝╚╩╝╚╩╝╚╝═╚╝ ♥￥☆★☆★☆￥♥ ★☆
none DuPage paying the bill for high number of retirements
none"What no one anticipated is that the number of county employees choosing to retire would far exceed last year’s total of 25. So far, 92 county workers have either retired or announced they are leaving — a number that could rise.  As a result, DuPage currently estimates it could pay up to $4.5 million to departing workers. That total includes cash payouts for unused sick and vacation days and so-called retention bonuses for longtime employees."
West Chicago business provides skill training and consulting
"During these difficult economic times companies find they are facing many challenges and the need to invest in training their employees to stay competitive can be overwhelming. Often training needs are set aside, putting a negative impact on production. We take on that challenge and do our best to it build company’s workforce skills by providing them with expert skills training at cost they can afford."
none Gov. Quinn’s budget hits Medicaid, school transportation funding
none"Hospitals that serve the poor would get hit under Quinn’s proposed changes by seeing state Medicaid reimbursements cut by $276 million, though his administration emphasized inner-city “safety-net” medical centers aren’t affected by the move.  The governor failed to persuade lawmakers to cut Medicaid reimbursements rates during the spring, so his cut in Medicaid spending could have the effect of simply pushing those health-care bills off to the 2012-2013 budget year, meaning hospitals would have to wait to be paid even longer."
How your lawmakers voted
nonenone"In the week of July 4, the House will resume work on the fiscal 2012 defense budget, while the Senate may debate U.S. involvement in the air war over Libya. The Senate canceled its Independence Day recess in deference to ongoing White House-GOP talks on raising the national-debt ceiling."
none City of West Chicago to Host Heartland Blood Centers' Blood Drive
"The City of West Chicago will once again be hosting a summer blood drive for Heartland Blood Center. This year, the drive will be held in a fully equipped and air conditioned mobile unit which will be parked in the City Hall parking lot on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, from 3:30 – 7:30 p.m."
none Quinn signs law to prevent release of gun owner names
Dang Wabbit"Proponents argued the bill was needed to stop the release of information that criminals could use to find gun owners and steal their weapons. They argued those who didn’t own guns might also be put in the way of harm because bad guys might target homes where they know people aren’t armed."
none New life in prison to be grim for Blagojevich
none"“If he thinks he’ll come in and get special treatment, he’s in for a rude surprise,” said Phil Turner, a former federal prosecutor in Chicago. “If you come in with that attitude, prison guards and other inmates will go out of their way to break you.”  “I still see him going around acting jovial, shaking hands,” Turner said. “I bet he knows everybody’s name in a month.”"
none

WHAT’S NEW   Robert L. Park   Friday, 1 Jul 2011

  •  RITUAL SLAUGHTER: DUTCH BAN OUTRAGES JEWS AND MUSLIMS.
  •  SHUTTLE: A FINAL LOOK AT THE US SPACE SHUTTLE.
  •  HOMESTAKE, SOUTH DAKOTA: A MINE IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE.  WN hasn't mentioned Homestake in 8 years
  • THE FINAL SEWER: WE’LL TRY TO DO THE OCEAN NEXT WEEK.  
none Republicans Boycott Trade Hearing Over Inclusion of Help for Workersss - AFL-CIO
"Senate Republicans who nearly worship at the feet of free trade agreements—to heck with their devastating impact on U.S. workers—boycotted an opportunity to move the most recent free trade holy trinity of South Korea, Colombia and Panama deals closer to a vote.  The reason?  President Obama wants to include in the South Korea free trade agreement some—let’s stress some—help for workers through Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) to aid workers who have lost their jobs because of outsourcing, offshoring and unfair trade deals."
none Robert H. Schuller ousted from Crystal Cathedral board - Orange County Register
"The church's financial travails, including a significant drop in donations and dwindling membership, culminated in its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The church still owes about $7.5 million to unsecured creditors, many of whom are vendors for the cathedral's "Glory of Christmas" pageant. According to a reorganization plan filed by church last month, they have an offer from Irvine developer, Greenlaw Partners LLC, to buy the core buildings for $46 million.
none Corporate Cash Con - NY Times
none"In fact, that idle cash has become a major conservative talking point, with right-wingers claiming that businesses are failing to invest because of political uncertainty. That’s almost surely false: the evidence strongly says that the real reason businesses are sitting on cash is lack of consumer demand. In any case, if corporations already have plenty of cash they’re not using, why would giving them a tax break that adds to this pile of cash do anything to accelerate recovery? "
Six Months, Seven Fails: The Opening Round Of Campaign 2012 (VIDEO) - TPM
"Running for president is hard. Candidates have to be focused, dedicated and possess an almost unfathomable amount of vanity. It also takes a healthy appetite for shoe leather -- you're gonna put your foot directly in your mouth, usually on national television, more than few times before all is said and done."
02&03 July
Weekend		  
none Next Week in West Chicago
04  7pm» City Council Meeting
05  7pm» District 94 School Board
07  1:30pm» Children’s Farm Chores
        7pm» City Infrastructure Com
        7pm» District 33 School Board
09  9am» Library LEGO Show
        1:30pm» Blacksmithing Demonstrations
07-10 RailRoad Days
Events in DuPage Forest Preserves: July 11 – 17
11  10am» Children’s Story Hour
        1:30pm» Children’s Farm Chores
14  1:30pm» Children’s Farm Chores
16  8am» Volunteer Restoration Workday
       1:30pm» Blacksmithing Demonstrations
none Farmers Airship arrives in DuPage
none"Farmers Flight Operations Specialist David Finney also touted the unique stability of the airship that is based on a rigid inner structure made of aluminum and carbon fiber. All the main components such as the cabin, engines and empennage are mounted directly to this framework."
Kline Creek offers historic holiday celebration
none"From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Junonely 2 and 3, at the Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road in West Chicago, area families are invited to celebrate the Fourth of July the way Americans would have more than a century ago."
none Quinn: No raises for 30,000 state workers
none"“If the state paid these increases, the impacted agencies would not be able to make payroll for the entire fiscal year, preventing them from continuing operations and providing core services to the people of Illinois,” the governor’s office said in a statement.  “Today’s action marks the first of many steps required to manage” the new budget, the governor’s office said."
FEC dismisses complaint against suburban congressman
nonenone"The Federal Elections Commission today said it has dismissed a fundraising complaint against U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren after the freshman congressman's campaign returned an improper $2,000 donation."
none Indicator's rise makes return to recession seem doubtful
none"The June reading was the highest reading since December 2008. The index is now approaching 100, which is the traditional dividing line between growth and decline, Giertz said.  The increase in the flash index coincided with a surprisingly large increase in the Midwest Purchasing Managers Index, Giertz noted in a release from the institute."
none State treasurer suspends employee over college savings deal
"Employees in the treasurer’s office were not eligible to participate in the match. However, several employees forwarded the e-mail to friends and family, some of whom might have taken advantage of it.  The program was limited to 2,500 slots, which were filled before many people even learned of the offer."
none Overworked America: 12 Charts that Will Make Your Blood Boil - Mother Jones
"In the past 20 years, the US economy has grown nearly 60 percent. This huge increase in productivity is partly due to automation, the internet, and other improvements in efficiency. But it's also the result of Americans working harder—often without a big boost to their bottom lines.
none In Saturday's paper: Backers of abortion rights return to clinic - Rockford Register Star
none"The sidewalk outside the Northern Illinois Women’s Center long has been where you could find members of the Rockford Pro-Life Initiative on Friday mornings.  That’s changed in recent weeks as members of the newly regrouped Northern Illinois Coalition for Reproductive Choice have joined them."
01 July  
none City of West Chicago to Host Heartland Blood Centers' Blood Drive
"The City of West Chicago will once again be hosting a summer blood drive for Heartland Blood Center. This year, the drive will be held in a fully equipped and air conditioned mobile unit which will be parked in the City Hall parking lot on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, from 3:30 - 7:30 p.m."
Train Safety Awareness Week in West Chicago July 4- 10, 2011
"Train Safety Awareness Week in West Chicago is July 4 - 10, 2011. Police officers will be conducting enforcement at railroad grade crossings and distributing Operation Lifesaver literature to help educate motorists and pedestrians about railroad safety."
none
none West Chicago man charged with abusing girl, 13
"On Sunday, Therieau said, the victim’s mother was “alarmed” when the girl returned home showing signs of sexual abuse. She said Perez later confessed in a police interview.  “The defendant admitted he knew her age” Therieau said in court. “He admitted having sex with her and that his hormones got the best of him.”"
COD: Glen Ellyn’s actions ‘incomprehensible’’
none"A day after Glen Ellyn village attorneys filed a motion seeking “injunctive relief” to prohibit the College of DuPage from opening four new buildings without occupancy permits, school officials called the move “incomprehensible.”"
none Report: Illinois inmates wear dirty, old underwear
none"Association found during a recent visit to the Taylorville Correctional Center that inmates wore dirty and badly worn clothes that were washed twice a week, The Bloomington Pantagraph newspaper reported for a story published Wednesday. The prison in central Illinois issues each inmate only two pairs of underwear, which means they must be worn multiple days without washing."
none Ex-Quinn official fined $1,000 for political emails
none"But the chairman of the House State Government Administration Committee was troubled by the time lag between Hodge's departure a year before the November 2010 general election and the resolution of the case this month. Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said he would send a letter asking Executive Inspector General Ricardo Meza to explain the timing and hold a full hearing if the answer is unsatisfactory."
Quinn signs state budget hours before deadline
none"The idea is to take part of those savings and any increase in revenue from a hoped-for economic recovery to provide more money for education and jump-start a stalled borrowing plan that would whittle down the state’s multi-billion dollar backlog of overdue bills, administration officials said."
none Check Out Video Highlights S.B. 5 Repeal Parade
none"Some “people thought after the bill was passed, the fight was over,” said Melissa Fazekas of  We Are Ohio, the coalition of community, labor and faith groups that set the repeal drive in motion. But she added: "The people standing around me today are proof that while our campaign may be outspent, we will never be outworked, or out volunteered or out supported.""
Rejected union seeks new Target vote - Crain's
none"In a petition filed with the National Labor Relations Board in Brooklyn Friday evening, the union alleges that Target sought to curry favor with workers by renovating the employee kitchen, providing free coffee, donuts and pizza and granting large raises to staff who provided information about the union and promotions to those who did not support the organizing drive. "
none Southern Baptist leader declares support for DREAM Act - Assoc Press
none"Land wrote that his commission could support the DREAM Act, with conditions. One condition would be making sure the bill does not allow young adults who gain legal status to help their relatives gain legal status or enter the country. He called such a measure "back-door amnesty.""
Gallup: Religion and Politics Linked for Whites, not Blacks - National Journal
"Asians, Hispanics, and blacks, regardless of religion, were more likely to identify as Democrats than Republicans. However, the percentage point difference between political leanings among "very religious" Asian Americans was only 14 points – with 48 percent identifying as Democrats and 34 percent identifying as Republican. Very religious Hispanic Americans are more likely to identify themselves as Democrats by 20 percentage points. Nonreligious Hispanics are more likely to identify themselves as Democrats by a 36-point margin.  Among blacks, however, only 9 to 10 percent identified as Republican -- regardless of religious beliefs."
none 19 Different Polls Show That Americans Support Tax Increases To Cut Deficit - Politicus USA
none"Despite what the GOP keeps telling us, Bruce Bartlett has compiled a list of 19 different polls taken since January that demonstrate that Americans support increasing taxes in order to reduce the deficit and inequality. Americans may not love tax increases, but they understand their necessity for deficit reduction."
During Bush Presidency, Current GOP Leaders Voted 19 Times To Increase Debt Limit By $4 Trillion - Think Progress
none"But while the four Republicans in Congressional leadership positions are attempting to hold the increase hostage now, they combined to vote for a debt limit increase 19 times during the presidency of George W. Bush. In doing so, they increased the debt limit by nearly $4 trillion."

 

none All rights reserved by: WegoNews, Inc., Robert Lemonn
527 Claremont, West Chicago, IL 60185-2107 , ph 630-231-3152
Unless specifically attributed to WegoNews, ALL items here express the opinions of their authors.  I disclaim any responsibility for opinions expressed by others. 		none
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