Regional budget for 10.4.07
GateHouse News Service Regional Budget (10/4/07)
Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at http://ghns.ghnewsroom.com
*Please check this Web site in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.
Contacts:
Regional Editor Jonie Larson, (217) 816-3343, jlarson@gatehousemedia.com
National Editor Jean Hodges, (630) 348-3350, jhodges@gatehousemedia.com
Follow the Cubs with columnist Mike Nadel.
News
Capitol Coverage
LEGISLATURE: Story still developing; may focus on comments from senators about what should happen with the budget vetoes that the House overrode yesterday. FINKE/CAPITOL BUREAU/Illinois and Illinois News
RESIST MORE GAMBLING: A group of gambling opponents called Wednesday on lawmakers and Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resist the temptation to expand gaming in Illinois to pay for new state programs. Their objections come in the wake of Senate passage of legislation to allow a land-based casino in Chicago, two new riverboats elsewhere in Illinois, more gaming positions at existing casinos and Internet wagering on horse races to fund a $13 billion construction program. HEUPEL/CAPITOL BUREAU/Illinois and Illinois News
-- BETTER WAY THAN MORE GAMBLING: Tazewell County State's Attorney Stewart Umholtz has sent a letter
to House GOP Leader Tom Cross and Speaker Michael Madigan, saying that state government needs to find a better way than gambling to generate revenues. He refers to prosecuting various gambling-related crimes since the arrival of the Par-A-Dice in his county. Seeking response from Par-A-Dice. COLINDRES/CAPITOL BUREAU/Illinois and Illinois News
IMPACT ON STATE SCHOOLS: Schools stand to lose state money over the next year - some $617 million, according to the State Board of Education - if lawmakers don't approve a measure hiking the state's foundation level. The measure to raise the foundation level is stalled amid political acrimony at the Capitol and it's not clear when it might move. AARON CHAMBERS/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
BREAKOUTS: Highlights of impact on schools around Illinois. Separately, a short history of the foundation level. CHAMBERS/CAPITOL BUREAU/Illinois and Illinois News
Other News:
FREDDIE JONES: (Use a breakout to show where your local old-timers rank in world's oldest) Great niece of Freddie Sterling turns 107 Saturday. Her picture will be featured on the Today Show segment with Willard Scott Thursday morning where octogenarian birthdays are often announced. She lives at Riverbluff. Working on story to talk about her life, tips she has for others, what does she attribute her longevity to ... LGC assigned. ROB BAXTER/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR.
PHOTO: yes
BREAKOUTS: Where does 107 rank in terms of today's oldtimers?
AMEREN SHUT OFFS: (w/factbox) Ameren Illinois utilities will start disconnecting delinquent electric customers beginning Thursday, as the moratorium on shut offs has ended. They are encouraging delinquent customers to seek help and arrange payment plans. SZOKE/PEORIA/Illinois
BEER GARDENS/SMOKING BAN: With Jan. 1 looming, City Hall braces for a possible influx of tavern owners seeking special-use permits to operate beer gardens. SHARP/PEORIA/Illinois News
RIVER CONFERENCE: Experts will talk about the federal/state plans for the river and the money allotted to these projects. BIBO/PEORIA/Illinois News
BREESE: Rebecca Breese, who was sentenced recently to 18 years in prison for her role in her 4-year-old daughter's beating death, wants Judge Paul Mangier to consider reducing her sentence. Her attorney argues she is mentally retarded and did not play an active role in the beating since she was only present in the room. She's in court today. ROTHERT/PEORIA/Illinois
ETHANOL PLANT STALLED? Been several months since we heard much about the Waverly plant. Project faced a lawsuit, but also lots of coverage of late, including in the Wall Street Journal, on projects that have been postponed because of ethanol glut and shakeout in the industry. LANDIS/SPRINGFIELD/Illinois News
ARRESTED FOR MEMORIAL: AngelaKeslinke-1003-Share: 20-year-old Lombard woman was arrested for writing a memorial to a friend killed by a train on a railroad gate at Ardmore Avenue in Villa Park. She will appear in court. Date set today for a bench trial in December. LIBERTY SUBURBAN/Illinois News
Sports
BEARS: Feature from practice/new conference. REED SCHRECK/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR/Illinois Sports and Bears
PHOTOS: File game art vs. Lions
WHEELSTAND: Byron Dragway hosts its annual World Power Wheelstanding Championship on Sunday. Last year's champ Steve Blue is studying last year video and hopes to be even better this time. DOUG GOODMAN/ ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR/Illinois Sports
LENGTH: 15 inches
ART: File photo
BREAKOUT: Info box.
MOTORSPORT COL: MILLER/PEORIA/Illnois Sports
NADEL: Cubs at Diamondbacks, NLDS Game 1. COLUMN/Illinois Sports and Mike Nadel
ILLINOIS FOOTBALL: Wisconsin can't afford to lose sophomore running back P.J. Hill, since backup Lance Smith is serving a suspension and can't make road trips. Knocked out of last year's game against the Illini, Hill changed his style to avoid contact rather than hunt it. Illinois hosts Wisconsin Saturday. SUPINIE/Champaign/Illinois Sports and Big Ten
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Opinions
BRITT: Cartoon showing Uncle Sam buying a drink for a gun-toting employee of the Blackwater security firm. CHRIS BRITT/SPRINGFIELD/Illinois Opinion
DON'T SHORTCHANGE SCHIP: There's nothing compassionate about the conservatism that would deny children health care, and there's nothing smart about the conservatism that doesn't recognize the long-term savings of preventive medicine. That said, President Bush has a point when he says the State Children's Health Insurance Program has strayed beyond its intent. EDITORIAL/PEORIA/Illinois Opinion