Another stupid Illinois tax
2009-12-13 18:52:00 In an effort to mine every source of revenue, the desperate and financially collapsing state of is comes up with some real doozies. This one, to take effect on Jan. 1, imposes a big jump in the fee imposed on non-profit organizations for registering with the state. For the American Civil Liberties Union, the cost jumps to $3,000 from $1,050. As a result, the ACLU is suing the state in federal court for its "unlawful tax on free speech." The ACLU, in its press release, points out:The increase also places Illinois far out of line with the fee charged by other states to regulate lobbyists and non-profit organizations. Every other state in the union charges less than $365 for non-profit organizations...
Most Illinois voters oppose Gitmo transfers to Thomson.
2009-12-12 21:01:00 Fifty-one percent of Illinois voters oppose relocating some suspected terrorists from the Guantanamo prison camp in Cuba to a prison in their state. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 39% of voters in the state favor housing the prisoners at the Thomson Correctional Center, a near-empty maximum security facility 150 miles west of Chicago. Ten percent (10%) are not sure. The full story is here....
Illinois Carbon Emissions in Global Perspective
2009-12-12 18:52:00 Did you know? The carbon emissions of Illinois and Indiana combined are equal to the total emissions of Italy!
12,000 Illinois students skip mandatory test
2009-11-23 18:18:00 "It certainly sounds suspicious." -- understatement of the yearThe Sun-Times reports that loads of high school juniors are skipping tests they must take before graduating....
Gameday from Champaign: The Battle for Illinois is Sloppy to Start
2009-11-14 18:04:00 CHAMPAIGN, Il--On a bright, sunshine filled day in Champaign, the annual battle for bragging rights in the state of Illinois is underway.Both the Illini and Northwestern are riding high. The Wildcats are coming off an upset victory over Iowa and the streaking Illini have seemingly turned their season around after a horrendous start.For Illinois, the game is critical to the uphill battle they face in becoming bowl eligible. A loss would mean the Illini are home for the holidys for the second consecutive year.Northwestern is already bowl eligible, but are fighting for position in a league where every team in still in contention for the postseason.Yet, at the outset of a game with such importance both teams have sputtered to...
Illinois: hitting up the poor for their bottom dollar
2009-11-06 15:59:00 Image from Magical ScreencapsIf you've ever seen Disney's Robin Hood, you might remember a scene where the rotund sheriff of Nottingham steals the birthday present of a 7 year-old rabbit, a gold coin his poor rabbit family scrimped and saved to give him. The state of Illinois is getting in on that action. A report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows 16 states that gouge even the poorest of the poor on their income taxes. The report measured the threshold at which states stop taxing - how low you can go until you don't owe. Illinois? We can go pretty low. Continue Reading......
Illinois Parental Notice Law Again Endangered
2009-11-04 02:23:00 No sooner does the 1995 Illinois law requiring parental notification look like it is finally going into effect than an obscure state panel of bureaucrats and ideologues makes a last ditch attempt to further delay the law's implementation.The state Medical Disciplinary Board has decided it needs another 90 days to review the law's provisions relating to medical discipline before the law takes effect, which was supposed to be today. As if 24 years wasn't long enough for the bright lights on the board to figure out what part they had to play in this law.This obviously is another stalling tactic in the left's three-decades-long effort to kill a law that is supported by 80 percent of Illinois residents. Whether the...
How clean is the water in Illinois?
2009-10-22 23:04:00 Improving water quality is a crucial--yet often overlooked--part of controlling pollution in America. Environment Illinois released an extensive report Wednesday revealing the high amounts of industrial pollution present in Illinois water....
Illinois Rain Garden & Schoolyard Habitat Grant
2009-10-16 07:51:00 Two grant programs available to Illinois residents that have deadlines of November 30, 2009.The first is the Rain Garden Initiative. If you're a teacher or youth group leader who wants to engage kids by teaching them about wildlife habitat, see the Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant Program.hat tip: @CookCountExt...
Illinois 4th graders - Dumb and Dumber
2009-10-14 23:18:00 Did you see the nation's report card? For Illinois 4th graders, only 39% are proficient in math. Sad. But it gets sadder with low-income and African American students. Only 18% of low income students met or exceeded standards, while only 11% of African Americans met or exceeded the standards. This is terrible and I am ashamed of Black people right now. Ashamed! Because millions of dollars are being spent and only 11 out of 100 Black 4th graders can meet the math standards? Appauling! Call me tonight on Garrard McClendon Live. I have a bone to pick with teachers, parents, and school systems. You should all be embarrassed. 877-358-CLTV....
Illinois parental notification law for teen abortions challenged
2009-10-14 00:49:00 A Granite City, Illinois medical clinic and physician want the parental notification law for teen abortions declared unconstitutional. According to the complaint filed today by The Hope Clinic For Women and Dr. Allison Cowett, the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995 will now be enforced beginning November 3, 2009. Although the Act was enacted in 1995, it was never enforced for procedural reasons until now, the complaint states. The Act prohibits an abortion on a minor until at least 48 hours after notice has been provided to an "adult family member," described as a parent, grandparent, step-parent living in the household or legal guardian. No notice is required if it is a medical emergency or the minor declares in writing that...
Michigan State Spoiling Illinois Homecoming So Far
2009-10-10 18:42:00 The visiting Michigan State Spartans are out to a quick 14-0 lead after fifteen minutes of play in Champaign. With starter Kirk Cousins still battling an ankle injury, Keith Nichol has led MSU on back-to-back scoring drives to quiet the Homecoming crowd at Memorial Stadium.As the first quarter ended, Illinois had finally mounted a solid drive, and Ron Zook's crew faces an important third-down play to start the second quarter. Can Eddie McGee make something positive happen for the Illini?...
Kickoff Only Minutes Away In Illinois
2009-10-10 17:47:00 The marching band is performing their pregame show, the stands are filling with orange-clad Illini fans, the F-16s have performed their flyover, and kickoff of the Michigan State/Illinois game is only a few minutes away here in Champaign.After all the talk about nasty weather in Big Ten country, it's an incredibly beautiful day at Memorial Stadium. The sun is shining brightly, and neither team will have any weather issues to complain about other than, perhaps, "I lost the ball in the sun!"Obvious storylines here: Eddie McGee is making his first start for the home team, while Michigan State is trying to build on the momentum of last week's overtime win against the Wolverines.Stay tuned to FirstandBigTen.com for the latest updates...
Illinois cancels one million tax dollar grant to Pilgrim Baptist Church
2009-10-09 00:45:00 The State of Illinois has cancelled the Grant Agreement to donate 1,000,000 tax dollars to Pilgrim Baptist Church. The decision was in response to a lawsuit filed by Illinois' leading atheist, Rob Sherman.
University of Illinois President B. Joseph White in August. (Abel Uribe / T
2009-09-23 18:18:00 Gov. Pat Quinn says he expects University of Illinois President B. Joseph White to submit his resignation to trustees today.
By: Get rich
University of Illinois Vet School Comes to Chicago
2009-09-19 17:18:00 It's called Furnetic, the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine new Chicago practice....The good news is that for the expertise of the vet school, you no longer need to drive the 2-hours plus. Aside from specialists from the teaching hospital visiting, this is a real, working practice, 2242 W. Harrison Street (just West of Damen Ave.)....
Materials for My 9/24/09 University of Illinois Alumni Association Seminar
2009-09-17 22:18:00 Except for my PowerPoint, all documents are PDF formatted My Power Point (20 slides) My seminar handout (13 pages) American Red Cross Reference & Background Check Disclosure Form Kier Property Management Housing Background Check Forms Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta Background Investigation Consent Form Northrop Grumman Disclosure Form Background Release Form Kreuzberger AssociatesARC RBC Konop v Hawaiian Airlines Inc, 302 F3d 868, 9th ...
Landmarks Illinois 2.0
2009-09-17 00:30:00 Ferris Bueller is back in the news. Yes, this one too! Apparently no one wants to pony up the cash to Save Cameron's movie crib, putting the Rose House in Highland Park on the watch list of Landmarks Illinois, a non-profit that hopes to bring attention to it so someone will save the house. Ferrari not included.Mike Doyle, custodian of Chicagosphere, recently offered some free advice to non-profits who wade into the choppy waters of social media without lifejackets. Landmarks is thinking out of the box with a meticulously produced almost 4-minute video they just posted on their Vimeo channel."Ferris Bueller's Day Off" featured house threatened by demolition from Landmarks Illinois on Vimeo.And they went one better, also posting the...
New Chuck Krugel Law Seminar 9/24/09 @ the University of Illinois Alumni Ca
2009-09-11 20:11:00 On September 24, 2009, from 6pm-7:30pm, I’ll be presenting at the University of Illinois’ “Finding Talent” program for employers & recruiters. It’s at the U of I’s Alumni Career Center, 200 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, in the Orange and Blue room. My presentation concerns legal issues surrounding background checking, electronic communication & social networking in recruiting & selection. ...
The Boy Illinois drops two new tracks off upcoming project
2009-09-09 22:57:00 The Boy Illinois "My College Chick"Producer: Hero George - FULL, CDQ, Track off upcoming project, Inhale Pt. 2: Loyalty Before The Love *Tibs Fav.™The Boy Illinois "A Lil' Bit Off"Producer: The Baron Boys - FULL, CDQ, Track off upcoming project, Inhale Pt. 2: Loyalty Before The LoveHere goes The Boy Illinois with a couple new joints, the first being "My College Chick" a hip hop jam with some R&B vibe on the production. Our college-aged visitors will especially appreciate this one as the title is definitely indicative as to what this one's about. But I'm sure no matter what else I say, the cover speaks louder. :D "A Lil' Bit Off" is a solid jam from The Boy Illinois as...
Illinois Embarrassed: No Fight in Illini's 37-9 Disaster
2009-09-07 02:28:00 Ron Zook and the Illini have fooled us for the last time.Last season, coming off a road win against No. 1 Ohio State and a trip to the Rose Bowl, the Illini were expected to take the next step and contend for the Big Ten title. Illinois was 5-7.This season, again with Big Ten title aspirations, the Illini took the field at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis as favorites against bitter rival Missouri. Unfortunately, for Illnois' fans, that was the only thing the Illini did right....
?Worth Remembering: The Poetry of Our Heritage,? edited by Erwin A. Thompso
2009-09-01 22:51:00 Our latest book “Worth Remembering: The Poetry of Our Heritage,” edited by my father Erwin A. Thompson is now available on-line.
Legislative crime spree devastates Illinois public schools
2009-08-31 00:33:00 Many people have asked me, "So, what's the big deal, if the General Assembly gives millions of dollars to parochial schools, even if the State Constitution does prohibit such a thing?" The big deal is that the State Legislature is cutting a huge amount of money from essential public school programs, such as textbooks, to pay for it. I've told you, in previous blog posts, about how the Springfield Capital Bill is donating millions of your tax dollars to parochial schools, in clear violation of Article X, Section 3, of the Illinois Constitution. Now comes word, in this article from Friday's (August 28, 2009) Chicago Tribune, that the Legislature is eliminating a state fund to buy textbooks for public schools. Last year, according to...
Illinois drivers got $144 mil for clunkers
2009-08-27 00:30:00 The much-debated cash-for-clunkers program generated plenty of action in Illinois. Trade-in action amounted to $143.6 million in federal rebates, or $11.13 per capita -- fourth highest in the country. In the most popular trade, Illinoisans dumped a Ford Explorer and drove away in a Toyota Corolla. More fun details in our story. ...
Want to hear what I think about the Miss Illinois USA system?
2009-08-26 05:46:00 Since I am part of the same system that Jen was involved in, I felt compelled to share my experience about the Miss Illinois USA pageant system. To begin, I have not been doing pageants my entire life. Some girls have, but I am not one of them. I competed in only three pageants, the Miss Illinois USA pageant for two years and then Miss USA. My first year I placed in the top 16 and the second year I won.The year I placed in top 16 my fellow Luvabull, Shanon Lersch, won. I told her after she won that I was going to win next year because I wanted to receive the title from her. That year I did...
Almost all HIV/AIDS funding restored for Illinois
2009-08-10 20:40:00 HIV/AIDS funding in Illinois will remain nearly fully funded thanks to Governor Pat Quinn, unlike California Governor Schwarzenegger who eliminated $85 Million in HIV/AIDS funding.The State Budget this year was a tough one as it wasn't passed until almost 2 weeks into the new fiscal year.  Originally the budget was only funding HIV/AIDS agencies, and other social services, at 50% of the prior levels, causing panic in the community on trying to figure out where the rest of many organizations budgets would come from. Quinn who is utilizing $3.4B that is in an "unallocated discretionary fund," will be assigning about $40 million to the IL Dept of Public Health.  Of that, $17 million is earmarked for HIV/AIDS programming.  With what...
Sneak attack: Illinois income tax on some professionals raised 50 percent
2009-08-06 20:51:00 I know that we're not supposed to care about lawyers and other rich professionals, but it should be noted that the Illinois income tax has been stealthly raised to 4.5 percent from 3 percent.Here are the details, thanks to the Midwest law firm Dykema:A stealth amendment to the Illinois Income Tax Act that was buried in the recently enacted Illinois Emergency Budget Implementation Act of Fiscal Year 2010 will have the effect of raising the state income tax rate on the income on many accountants, lawyers, doctors, consultants and certain other individuals providing services from 3% to 4.5%.Be sure to follow the link to the full report to get more details. (Although I am occasionally a consultant, apparently the tax...
Chairman of University of Illinois trustees board resigns
2009-08-03 19:09:00 Moments ago, it was announced that Niranjan Shah, chairman of the U. of I. trustees board, resigned today, as fallout from the university admissions scandal continues....
Illinois: The Big Ten's Darkhorse for 2009
2009-08-02 06:57:00 Prognosticators across the country are all taking a similar stance in this year's Big Ten race, with Ohio State or Penn State hoisting up another championship banner and a BCS bowl berth. Don't get me wrong, the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions both are loaded with talent, but if I may borrow a Lee Corso gem for a moment... "Not so fast, my friends." Slowly step away from the Buckeye kool-aid... hands off the Nittany Lion nectar. Rummage through the Big Ten fridge... Sunny D, purple stuff... nothing beats a nice big glass of "Juice"....
Pay Illinois legislators in downgraded state bonds
2009-08-01 16:58:00 Now here's a great idea from Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft. Noting that Illinois bonds have been downgraded thanks to irresponsible and incompetent state legislators, he suggests that instead of getting paid in dollars, they should be forced to take their salary in state bonds. As good as the idea is, however, I don't think it goes far enough. They should be paid in worthless confederate dollars. Like that currency, Illinois legislators, who are leading the state into bankruptcy, are totally worthless....
Illinois AG: Wells Fargo discriminated against black and Latino borrowers
2009-08-01 02:38:00 Check out the lawsuit by the Illinois Attorney General against Wells Fargo Bank. Madigan is accusing the mortgage lender of having "illegally discriminated against African American and Latino homeowners by selling them high-cost subprime mortgage loans while white borrowers with similar incomes received lower cost loans."...
Another Illinois cemetery sued over double-sold grave sites
2009-07-21 03:54:00 Just as the Burr Oak scandal takes a break from the city's top headlines, another Illinois cemetery finds itself facing legal action over allegations of disinterred bodies and double-sold grave sites. In a lawsuit filed today in Cook County, Mount Glenwood Memory Gardens South, a cemetery in Glenwood, Ill., is accused of fraud and "unauthorized tampering with grave sites." According to a former gravedigger cited in the complaint, it was common practice at the cemetery to bury multiple bodies in a single burial vault....
Illinois Green Party holds 2009 Summer Convention
2009-07-19 00:40:00 The Illinois Green Party held its 2009 Summer Convention in Champaign, today (Saturday, July 18th). The meeting was held in the conference center of the Champaign Amtrak terminal. Green Party candidate for Governor Richard Whitney The big star was Richard Whitney of Carbondale. Rich is a candidate for Governor. Rich said that the Green Party is going to run the people's campaign that stands up for social justice. Rich also spoke emphatically in support of the need to move America to both wind energy and solar energy.for non-transportation electricity needs....
Illinois Bone and Joint Institute is hiring
2009-07-15 23:25:00 Who's Hiring? The Illinois Bone and Joint Institute is hiring a front office assistant for their Morton Grove office. Click Institute for application....
Illinois' first openly gay state senator?
2009-07-09 00:16:00 Jim Madigan has left his post as interim executive director of Equality Illinois to campaign for a state senate seat. If elected, Madigan, a Democrat, would be the first openly gay state senator in Illinois. The Windy City Times broke the story June 24, but Madigan has yet to formally launch his campaign for the 7th District seat, which includes parts of Uptown, Edgewater, Lincoln Square and Rogers Park. He'll be challenging incumbent Heather Steans, also a Democrat, in the 2010 election. When I reached him by phone Wednesday afternoon, Madigan said he was standing in the empty space that will become his campaign headquarters, at 4802 N. Broadway, Suite 205 (it's above the Green Mill and Crew Bar...
Illinois Auditor General releases report on Pilgrim Baptist grant scam
2009-07-08 22:15:00 The Illinois Auditor General today released a report on the scam by ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Capital Development Board to donate one million of your tax dollars to Pilgrim Baptist Church to help them rebuild from a fire in 2006. The scathing report refers, repeatedly, to government officials at those agencies deliberately circumventing internal controls in order to improperly process an unconstitutional grant.&nb-sp; The report also recognizes that it was my lawsuit against the ex-Governor and his agencies that single-handedly stopped the million dollars from being given to Pilgrim Baptist....
The Illinois "Santa Claus and Scrooge" budget
2009-07-07 23:32:00 The General Assembly wants to play Santa, and have Pat Quinn play Scrooge. Governor Quinn refuses to play along, so the budget is at a stalemate. Will the Santa Clauses simply over-ride Pat's veto, next week? It's just more Government by Scam. Our legislators want to play Santa Claus through the grant system. They want to grant...
Illinois Budget Back on Table
2009-06-30 23:11:00 By Molly Horan While the Illinois budget is bleeding in the red, Governor Quinn is prepared to push "reset" on the budget stopwatch before tonight's midnight deadline to settle on something, Chicago Breaking News reports. Among the clots hoped to happen today on the deepening budget cuts, funds for human service agencies at risk of losing financial support. This is a flawed strategy to some, as Quinn's proposed income tax increase is an alienating fix to others. Ranging between Quinn's $9.2 billion figure and the legislators' $7 billion, the talk of big money is taking to the twittersphere this afternoon. Chicagoans making their own statements before the rare 3:30 p.m. session of the Joint Assembly today in Springfield are feeling...
Illinois' Abbott Laboratories sued for gender discrimination
2009-06-19 05:54:00 A longtime employee of a pharmaceutical company based out of north surburban Chicago is suing her company of 27 years, claiming she suffered gender discrimination and retaliation after she reported the discrimination. Olga Jasinsky alleges that her employer Abbott Laboratories did not promote her for 11 years, and that she "received significantly less pay than her similarly situated male colleagues."...
Chanel Inc. sues Illinois resident over trademark infrigement
2009-06-19 03:37:00 Alright fashionistas out there. Time for a pop quiz. Which of the following is the REAL, federally registered trademark for Chanel, Inc.? ...
Illinois State Senate Passes Resolution Opposing Afghanistan War
2009-06-18 15:15:00 [From Media Mouse] The Illinois State Senate passed a resolution last week calling for an end to the United States’ war in Afghanistan. It calls on the government–including former Illinois State Senate member Barack Obama–to remove troops from the country on an “appropriately expedited timeline” and to engage nations in the Middle East to develop a ...
By: News for Greens
Ex-Governor of Illinois Accuses Democrats of Ties to The Chicago Outfit
2009-06-15 22:06:00 The adjourned session of the General Assembly failed abysmally to come to grips with Illinois’ pervasive state of corruption. Leading the failure were two Chicagoans — Mike Madigan, speaker of the...
Illinois man awarded Medal of Honor dies at 89
(AP)
2009-04-09 23:52:00 AP - Russell Dunham, an Illinois man who was awarded the Medal of Honor after killing nine German soldiers and taking two others captive while wounded during World War II, has died. He was 89.
FORMER ILLINOIS GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH, HIS BROTHER, TWO FORMER TOP AIDES
2009-04-04 15:27:00 Since 2002, even before he was first elected governor that November, and continuing until he was arrested on Dec. 9, 2008, former Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and a circle of his closest aides...
Rod ?Blago? Blagojevich, Cronies And Family Member Indicted On Nineteen Fel
2009-04-03 05:27:00 Blago: “I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name. …” Well, the former governor of Illinois, a.k.a., ’round these parts, “The Cabbage Patch Kid“, has a lot of new material to discuss on his talk radio fill-in gig on Chicago’s WLS-AM 890... This is only a comment summary. Visit http://guntotingliberal.com to view the lastest content complete with some of the most outrageous original photoshops in the political blogosphere!
Voters Have to Be Active to End Corruption and Clout in Illinois
2009-03-27 04:16:00 Illinois is the punch line of lots of jokes. What's the difference between a prostitute and an Illinois governor? A prostitute has a 10 percent chance of being indicted, 40 percent less than the...
Illinois: State Trying To Ban Prayer At Christian Schools During Events
2009-03-07 16:07:00 From World Net Daily:The Illinois High School Association is being challenged on a policy that bans Christian schools from offering a prayer or any religious message over their public address systems when they host association events on their own property."It is blatantly unconstitutional for public school officials to come into private schools and enforce a policy prohibiting them from expressing what's central to their religious beliefs," said David Cortman, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, or ADF.The ADF wrote this week to association chief Marty Hickman after several private schools complained about the new restrictions. WND left a message with Hickman seeking comment, but the call was not returned today.(Story continues below) "In enacting the policy, the IHSA was purportedly concerned that allowing private host schools to conduct customary pre-game prayers violated the First Amendment's Establishment Clause," the letter said.But the ADF reassured the a...
Illinois? special Green primary, taking place today, gets some coverage
2009-03-03 22:48:00 Image by minvervah via Flickr [From Independent Political Report] Today is the day for the Green Party in Chicago - the special primary taking place to fill the fifth district congressional seat vacated by current White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel includes four Green candidates. Turnout is expected to be very low, probably not topping ...
Attempted Murderer, Alleged Purjurer, Blago?s Illinois Appointee For Presid
2009-02-18 03:23:00 Mr. Burris Goes To Washington — Because He At Least TRIED To Raise Money For Disgraced Former Governor Rod Blagojevich (Source: Chicago Tribune) Why would anybody be surprised an attempted murderer on the loose would be involved in a Chicago political scheme headed up by Blago The Cabbage... This is only a comment summary. Visit http://guntotingliberal.com to view the lastest content complete with some of the most outrageous original photoshops in the political blogosphere! |
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