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Illinois cracking down on unemployment fraud
2012-05-14 16:17:00 One thing I’ve learned in my years in practice is that if people can convince themselves that something isn’t really a big deal, they will gladly do it even if they know it’s wrong. The big stand out in this department as of late is people who are back to work, but still collecting unemployment... Read more »
Dear Illinois teachers unions: You can't HANDLE the truth
2012-05-09 23:28:00 -By Warner Todd Huston The teachers unions in Illinois are mad. They are unhappy that their scheme of having their personal, employee contributions to their own pensions paid by the taxpayer has been exposed. Echoing the Tom Cruise flick A Few Good Men, these teachers can’t handle the truth. The Illinois Policy Institute issued a... Read more »
Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois releases powerful video of stroke recovery
2012-05-08 23:22:00 Mark Kirk, the Republican senator from Illinois, made his first public appearance Tuesday since suffering a stroke in January by releasing a YouTube video filled with powerful scenes from his intensive rehabilitation program as a way to update viewers on his recovery. "I suffered a stroke on the 21st of January, and thanks to the ...
Illinois Ponzi scheme fugitives caught in Arizona
2012-05-07 12:26:00 Acting on a tip, U.S. marshals in Arizona put an end to an Illinois couple's life on the lam, a dozen years after they fled punishment for running a Ponzi scheme that targeted friends, the elderly, and even family members, authorities said.
Couple in Illinois Ponzi scheme caught in Arizona
2012-05-07 07:25:00 An Illinois couple who spent a dozen years on the run after fleeing a conviction for running a Ponzi scheme has been captured in a small community west of Phoenix, the U.S. Marshals Service said Sunday.
2 men dead in small plane crash in Illinois
2012-05-04 05:12:00 Police in the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake say two men have died in a small plane crash.
Small Illinois town?s comptroller accused of stealing millions
2012-04-18 22:08:00 The chief financial officer of Dixon, Ill., has been put on unpaid leave after she was arrested by FBI agents and charged with defrauding the city of $3.2 million and misappropriating another $30 million in city funds.
Retired Illinois couple claims share of $656 Mega Millions jackpot
2012-04-18 17:46:00 A retired couple from southern Illinois has claimed the third and final ticket from last month's $656 million Mega Millions jackpot. Merle and Patricia Butler appeared at a ceremony Wednesday morning in their hometown of Red Bud with Illinois Lottery officials. It was announced that the Butler's chose to take a lump sum payment of ...
$10 in Free E85 fuel in Illinois
2012-04-12 16:19:00 http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M-MXHGYV -locator
By: Free Stuff Times
Reports: Good Summer Fishing in Southern Illinois Lakes
2012-03-27 19:33:00 Surveys of a number of southern Illinois lakes promise a summer of excellent fishing in the area. The surveys conducted regularly by the assigned District Fisheries Managers assigned to the area deliver an insight into the health of the fish populations. Three of the larger bodies of water are in Williamson County are in the...
Illinois to be first state to sell lottery tickets online
2012-03-23 13:07:00 Coming this Sunday the Illinois Lottery will become the first state in the whole United States that will now be selling their lottery tickets online. The Justice Department gave the go ahead to the state of Illinois to go ahead and sell their lottery tickets online. Last year the department stated that the Wire Act... Read more »
Shaka Smart does Illinois a favor, says no
2012-03-21 20:28:00 Reports are indicating that Shaka Smart has turned down the head coaching job at the University of Illinois. The Chicago Sun-Times was the first media outlet to report the story. Smart, 34, reported turned down big money from the Illini to stay at VCU. VCU, of course, is doing something right now that no college... Read more »
Fueled by the ideal of freedom, Romney romps in Illinois
2012-03-21 08:57:00 On Monday, on Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball, Rhodes Cook found it noteworthy to point out . . .that Romney?s share of the vote has steadily declined as the primaries have unfolded. He drew 41% in the six primaries held before Super Tuesday (March 6), 38% in the seven primaries that took place on Super Tuesday, ...
By: GayPatriot
The Illinois primary: A CYR guide
2012-03-20 19:49:00 Republican voters across the state of Illinois are heading to the polls today to cast their ballots in the Illinois Primary. It is the first time in a long time that the Illinois Presidential Primary matters. Mitt Romney is the odds on favorite to win tonight, both in delegates and in the popular vote. Illinois... Read more »
Aging budgets in Illinois: Receiving services in Illinois will be tougher
2012-03-18 14:18:00 I’ve worked in the Illinois elder care industry for over 20 years and I can state without equivocation that the Illinois budget process has never been particularly pretty. Like sausage making, one tries to concentrate on the end result rather than on what it takes to get there. For 20 years, there were insufficient appropriations... Read more »
Goodbye, Blagojevich: Another former Illinois governor heads to prison
2012-03-15 21:54:00 As convicted former Governor Rod Blagojevich was boarding his flight this morning to report at the Denver prison, I felt a moment of sorrow. This is not because of my empathy toward him being away from his wife Patti and his two daughters, though I did feel sorry for his children, but rather a gut-wrenching... Read more »
The dumbest law In Illinois
2012-03-12 21:01:00 I’m no fan of “father’s rights” attorneys. I think that they are just marketers who prey on the fears of Dads (or in some case Moms) who are worried about losing their kids or not seeing them as much as they want. Despite me cringing when I... Read more »
Concealed carry: Perhaps it isn't such a bad idea for Illinois
2012-03-12 20:41:00 It pains me to agree with the NRA but I’ve got to support the passage of concealed carry in the state of Illinois. According to Chicago Tribune reporter Peter Nickeas‘ Twitter feed, the first ten days of March brought 51 people shot city wide with 9 of those shootings being fatal. It doesn’t take a... Read more »
Why Shaka Smart would be a great fit at Illinois
2012-02-24 20:08:00 With the Bruce Weber termination in Champaign all but official, it’s time for Illini fans to start looking at who his successor will be. And there’s a lot of factors pointing in the direction of VCU leader Shaka Smart. He’s currently making $1.2 million per year now at Virginia Commonwealth on an eight year deal... Read more »
Feb. 22, 1918: A Really Big Kid From Alton, Illinois
2012-02-22 15:32:00 From Wired Top Stories: Robert Pershing Wadlow is born and will soon astound the world as the tallest man who ever lived. Read the whole article
What would make you leave Illinois?
2012-01-17 16:25:00 The Illinois Policy Institute recently released a study showing a steady pattern of out-migration from Illinois to surrounding states as well as to the American south. The report sited several sources including Internal Revenue Service data and information from moving companies and shippers to demonstrate the movement of citizens away from Illinois. This does not... Read more »
Join Sally Edwards at Women?s Health Summit in Illinois
2012-01-11 01:53:00 Join Sally Edwards for the inaugural Women’s Health Summit in historic Galena, Illinois. Midwest Medical Center is hosting the Women?s Health Summit, an event for mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, and fitness professionals. The event is being held atChestnut Mountain Resort and features two key speakers: best selling author and triathlon legend Sally Edwards and world ...
By: Blog with Sally
Another win for Illinois: Now worst debtor state
2012-01-10 07:06:00 -By Warner Todd Huston On the same day that it was reported that the checks sent to Illinois lottery winners had bounced, another more serious announcement was made. Moody’s investment service had cut the state’s credit rating from A1 to A2 making the Land of Lincoln the worst state in the union… again. Now Illinois... Read more »
With heating assistance cuts, 150,000 more Illinois families out in the col
2012-01-04 14:57:00 This week’s cold snap has reminded us all of what winter can feel like in Chicago, and it’s not pleasant. That biting wind and creeping frost is enough to keep most people inside this time of year. But what if inside isn’t much better? A lot of Illinois families may be in that situation due... Read more »
Illinois govbernment's broken culture
2011-12-20 23:36:00 The core problem facing Illinois state government is the corrosive public service culture in Springfield. Elected officials are a big part of the problem but at least we put a few of them in prison from time to time. The worst culprits are the appointed leaders of various departments in the vast and overwhelming state government... Read more »
Illinois couples taking advantage of civil unions
2011-12-13 06:57:00 According to a release from Equality Illinois, almost 4000 couples have taken advantage of the new Civil Union law that went into effect in Illinois on June 1st. I know that I was one of those couples when I married, er I mean Civil Unionized, with my partner this summer. Equality Illinois went to every... Read more »
Wordless Wednesday - Illinois prairie in December
2011-12-07 14:40:00 www.shawnacoronado.com... Read more »
5 biggest reasons Illinois should terminate Ron Zook at season's end
2011-11-20 17:08:00 The main story surrounding the Illinois Fighting Illini losing 28-17 to the Wisconsin Badgers today is the fact that Illini Head Coach Ron Zook is a “dead man walking.” New Illinois Athletic Director Mike Thomas said he won’t make a decision until after the season is over, so I wouldn’t expect to hear anything concrete... Read more »
How baby-making fun will save America (and maybe Illinois)
2011-11-08 19:11:00 Nobody can be predict the future, but, boy, is it fun to try. Sometimes it’s easy, such as “Herman Cain will not be the next president of the United States.” Sometimes it’s hard, such as “The Chicago Cubs will win the World Series at least once in the next century.” But what about the future... Read more »
Ron Paul Wins 2012 Illinois Republican Pre-Presidential Straw Poll
2011-11-06 22:57:00 Ron Paul Wins 2012 Illinois Republican Pre-Presidential Straw Poll. Handily defeats GOP competitors Cain, Romney and Gingrich in online and in-person contest limited to Illinois residentsWe've got 3,000 people at our rally in Minnesota! What a great crowd!LAKE JACKSON, Texas ? 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul earned another straw poll victory tonight, this time winning 52 percent of 3,649 votes cast in an Illinois statewide Republican contest held online and in-person.Dr. Paul handily beat Herman Cain, Mitt Romney, and Newt Gingrich, who garnered 18, 14, and 9 percent of the votes, respectively. Rick Perry earned a mere 2.5 percent of the vote, John Huntsman 1.5 percent, Rick Santorum 1.2 percent, followed by Michele Bachmann with just 1.1 percent.?This straw poll victory demonstrates the groundswell of support for Ron Paul and his winning message, as well as the organizational muscle presidential candidates require,? said Scott Davis, Illinois State Chair for the R...
Legislation update: Tell your reps to say NO to Illinois Sex Ed bill
2011-11-03 19:51:00 -By Warner Todd Huston This week our elected state officials in Springfield may be voting on a comprehensive sex education bill (HB 3027 Amendments 1 and 2) that critics are saying is wholly unnecessary. It is unnecessary, they say, because there is no urgent need for the law. All school districts are already allowed to... Read more »
Illinois government's war against religious child services continues
2011-10-31 22:35:00 -By Warner Todd Huston Earlier this year the State of Illinois moved to force religious-based children’s services to break their religious principles and give children in their charge to homosexual couples. Organizations such as Catholic Charities have been told by the state that they either break their religious principles or face being shut down by... Read more »
Illinois big businesses get a tax break – what about us?
2011-10-25 16:33:00 Senate President John Cullerton introduced legislation that would cut the state income tax paid by Chicago financial exchanges. The legislation will cut taxes paid by the exchanges by tens of millions of dollars. As you recall, the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Options Exchange have all threatened to move... Read more »
Bad news for Illinois teachers: Illinois is broke and you might not get you
2011-10-12 22:37:00 The unions and the Democrats are lying to you, teachers. In Illinois we have a $140 billion retirement pension deficit for teachers, folks. Don’t let the unions lie to you all the way until you decide to retire only to find out you lost everything. And you police, firemen, and other state employees… don’t think... Read more »
Are union entitlements bankrupting Illinois?
2011-10-11 18:41:00 The City of Chicago and the State of Illinois are having a difficult time paying their bills to vendors. Both governments are struggling to stay afloat as the deficits rise every year. It doesn’t seem to matter if we have Blago in office or Governor Quinn. The State of Illinois will be running a $8.3... Read more »
Owner of Illini message board lashes out at Illinois Nation on Twitter
2011-10-10 20:58:00 Currently, the Illinois Fighting Illini football team is ranked #15 in the country. Yes, the 6-0 Illini are the 15th best team in college football according to the coaches’ poll. Still, they’re not selling out their home, Memorial Stadium. And some Saturdays, they fall well short of packing the place. In women’s volleyball is currently... Read more »
Four reasons to leave Illinois
2011-10-05 14:20:00 This is really not a new insight but an article in this week’s Crain’s about Illinois’ estate tax really got me to thinking about some of the reason’s to move out of Illinois and there are 4 of them that immediately come to mind: taxes, taxes, taxes, and taxes. Illinois politicians love taxes. Hence the... Read more »
AMERICAN "JUGGALO"
2011-09-30 07:26:00 American Juggalo is quite possibly one of the most insanely candid (albeit beautifully shot) documentaries we've come across in a very long time. Filmmaker, Sean Dunne, and his crew take us into the unseen and often-misunderstood world of Juggalo culture via a series of interviews at a four-day festival in Illinois. The results are both astonishing and enlightening, as we pretty much guarantee that you've never seen the culture captured this raw. Disable your not-suitable-for-work filter and let this one rip...
Foreclosed Illinois properties offer incentives
2011-07-11 00:52:00 As the summer heats up, so too does competition for homes. Multiple offers on a property — a rarity in recent years — is more frequent today as the spring wave of home buyers starts to join up with the swarms of buyers getting antsy (Chicago Public School families, for example, looking to land a...
Beep.... Illinois minimum wage flatlines
2011-06-30 17:07:00 For the first time in five years, the state minimum wage won’t go up today. From 2006 until 2009, the lowest wage that employers can pay their employees went from $6.50 to $8.25. And low-wage workers won’t see their paychecks increase unless the Senate moves on a bill, SB 1565, that’s currently stalled in committee....
Blago jurors show Illinois voters how it should be done
2011-06-28 03:35:00 If Chicago and Illinois voters were as thoughtful, thorough and responsible as the jurors that convicted Rod Blagojevich of corruption then we wouldn't have to be constantly putting our governors, aldermen and other public officials on trial. If you saw the extraordinary post-trial interview with the jury, you can only respect them for the attitude with which they approached their difficult job. As I've said, I don't second-guess juries, but the Blagojevich jurors' reasoned responses to reporters' questions revealed something that gives me hope: There is in Illinois a citizenry that understands the difference between politics and criminal behavior. Corruption, they said (reflecting U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's own observations about the Blago trial) is not/cannot be politics as...
Half of Illinois Governors have gone to jail since the 1970's
2011-06-27 21:36:00 In light of the recent jury verdict on the Blago trial, I got to thinking about the corrupt politicians. Since the 1970's, Illinois has had 8 governors. Four of these governors have gone to prison on charges related to corruption. 1. Otto KernerTerm: 1961-1968; followed by a term as a Judge on the US Court of Appeals-7th Circuit, nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson.Party: DemocratThe crime: Taking bribes from the manager, Marge Lindheimer Everett of Arlington Race Track. Arlington wanted two expressway exits. Kerner received stock in exchange for the exits. How did Kerner get caught? Everett deducted the bribe on his tax returns thinking that bribes were part and parsal of doing business in Illinois. The conviction: Bribery, tax evasion, conspiracy, perjury,...
$100,000 Illinois Sportsman's Raffle
2011-06-22 22:16:00 Tickets are now available for the 2011 Illinois Conservation Foundation Sportsman's Raffle with a $100,000 first-place prize.
Illinois So Broke They Want to Sell Ads on License Plates
2011-06-17 16:00:00 -By Warner Todd Huston You know things are bad when governments start selling things they "own." The latest is the state of Illinois so over spent and in a budgetary hole that authorities are floating the idea of selling advertising space on its auto license plates. The Democrat led general assembly has given the Secretary of State's office a directive to begin researching the pros and cons of "corporate plates," or sponsors for license plates (SB1360). The hope is that more money will be brought into the treasury and, perhaps, the state won't have to raise taxes... as much....
Citibank Illinois Strengthens Capacity of NonProfit Groups To Promote Home
2011-06-16 21:55:00 CITIBANK, ILLINOIS, STRENGTHENS CAPACITY OF NONPROFIT GROUPS &-nbsp; &n-bsp; &nb-sp; &nbs-p; -; - &-nbsp; &n-bsp; &nb-sp; &nbs-p; TO PROMOTE &-nbsp; HOME-OWNERSHIP- IN LOW-MODERATE INCOME (LMI) COMMUNITIES Citibank, Illinois, Helen Hammond Redding, senior vice president and state director of community relations, recently provided community housing partners of the Monroe Foundation's STABLE Project, a consortium of HUD approved housing counseling agencies, underwriting support to participate in NeighborWorks America's week-long Home-ownership Certification Training, held last week in Chicago. The STABLE Project, a community housing and neighborhood stabilization program launched by the ...
Illinois Basketball Holding Alumni Game Again on August 6th
2011-06-14 21:17:00 Many of the best Illinois college basketball players from the past two decades will play on the Assembly Hall floor again for the 2011 Fighting Illini Alumni Basketball Game, Saturday, Aug. 6. All former members of the Fighting Illini basketball program have been invited back to campus for the reunion weekend. A lot of Illini have already committed to play and the list will continue growing between now and 8-6-11. By Paul M. Banks...
Attention Better Government Watchdogs! Illinois Governor Quinn May Sign New
2011-06-11 19:55:00 From Mark S. Allen, Chairman and Lead Organizer, Illinois Voter Restoration Project www.bldi.webs.com 773-392--0165 Dear BGA Watchdogs,The Illinois General Assembly recently passed HB1716, a new law that undercuts the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). By passing HB1716, state lawmakers want to provide government entities the legal ability to ignore or delay FOIA responses from selected community members. The bill is now before Governor Quinn, who must decide to veto the measure or sign it into law.The BGA is considering holding a watchdog training session to explain how these proposed changes may impact your ability to keep an eye on government. Would you attend an evening training session on the new FOIA law? Please e-mail your response to bmacholz@bettergov.org Thank...
Same-Sex Couples First Illinois Civil Unions
2011-06-02 22:30:00 It was a historic day for same-sex couples in Illinois. 33 couples exchanged vows today in Millennium Park, sanctioned by Circuit Court judges and a minister. It would be the first civil unions acknowledged by the State of Illinois since the passing of the Civil Union Bill signed by Governor Quinn. The couples, both men and women, were surrounded by family and friends to witness this long waited event. They were asked to wear violet or purple to the ceremony as a sign of unity. Both Governor Quinn and Mayor Emanuel spoke at the event, with Emanuel praising Quinn for passing the Bill. The Chicago Gay Men's chorus preformed to a packed crowd. Openly gay State Representatives Deborah Mell, Kelly...
Illinois GOP Betray Own Platform
2011-06-01 14:00:00 -By Warner Todd Huston With the latest three votes, the Illinois GOP has shown itself to be little else but Democrat lite and has shown that even planks in its own platform are meaningless when it comes to voting time. The last Illinois Republican Party platform was produced and approved in 2008 (See .pdf here) and there hasn't been another one since. Lets start our scolding with the recent vote to wildly expand gambling in Illinois, a bill that 21 Republicans voted for, shall we?...
Get your Civil Union License in Illinois TOMORROW
2011-05-31 21:54:00 June 1, 2011 marks a new dawn in Illinois when the first Civil Union licenses will become available.From the Cook County Blog - here's everything that you need to know to get ready for tomorrow:WHAT: Illinois will begin offering Civil Union licenses at county clerk offices on Wednesday, June 1. The Cook County Clerk's office will open its downtown office early to mark the momentous occasion. "I'm thrilled this day has finally come," Clerk David Orr said. "This will be a joyous day for all couples - gay and straight - who want to make history as part of the inaugural group of civil unions." CLICK THROUGH FOR MORE DETAILS - INCLUDING PRIZES... |
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