Regional Budget: 11/16/07
GateHouse News Service Regional Budget (11/16/07)
Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at www.gatehousenewsservice.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
News
BODIES FOUND: Cook County, Ill. - Two men were found dead early Thursday morning in a dirt construction site in unincorporated Lemont Township, bound in blankets, plastic and packing tape. LEYDEN/posted/Illinois and GHNS News and Regional News/with photos/video
SCHOOL MONEY: A couple of weeks ago, lawmakers finally sent Gov. Rod Blagojevich the long-awaited budget implementation bill that would raise the so-called "foundation level" for schools. But he has yet to sign it. Will update the status of schools' money. This possibly could turn into a developing story if the governor signs the
measure today. COLINDRES/CAPITOL BUREAU/Illinois
QUINN PHONES: Commemorating America Recycles Day, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn urged Illinoisans to donate their old cell phones to a program that helps victims of domestic violence. HEUPEL/CAPITOL BUREAU/Illinois
STATE BRIEFS - A collection of briefs from GateHouse newspapers across the state. Posted by 6 p.m./Illinois and Illinois News.
LITIGATION UPDATE - The Illinois Press Association in conjunction with two major state papers asks to withdraw the request for a preliminary injunction in the litigation currently pending with the IHSA. TBA/Illinois
ALL KIDS: All Kids, the governor's last health care program, was a mixed sucess. Though it extended insurance to more than 50,000 kids - even undocumented immigrants - who previously lacked it, the state is struggling to implement two health care reforms that supposedly are generating the cost savings necessary to pay for the program. Neither primary care case management, a form of managed care, nor disease management, a system emphasizing preventative care, are fully implemented. As Blago continues pushing the state toward universal health care, we'll look at the successes and failures of All Kids. AARON CHAMBERS/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR/Illinois
BREAKOUTS: Bulleted look at successes/failures of All Kids program; a 'how it works' box on All Kids
PHOTOS: Photos of Rachel Mackey, whose two children belong to All Kids
WITHOUT WATER FOR SIX YEARS: Terence Reneau said he showed the city inspector where their contractor had broken the water pipe leading to his home. The inspector looked over the area and said "I'll get back to you." That was six years ago, in April 2001. And Reneau was still waiting last Monday when he went to the South Beloit City Council to ask them to help pay for the broken pipe that has left him without water since. "Let me get this straight. You haven't had water for six years?" Mayor Randy Kirichkow asked. "That's what I said," Reneau responded. "Wow," the mayor replied. WISER/ROCKFORD/Illinois News
SMOKE FREE. (w/pic) Kelleher's is hosting a smoke-free event to try to encourage its customers to quit before the ban takes effect. Will be interesting to see how the cancer society deals with all these smokers in the bar today. Will staff. (merits; by 5 p.m.) HILYARD/PEORIA/Illinois News
WINTER DRIVING. (w/factbox) State police and IDOT are warning people about the dangers of winter driving. Drivers may be on the roads training, since there were a few plows out today. (8 inches by 7 p.m.) ANSTETT/PEORIA/Illinois News
IDOT PLAN. The Illinois Department of Transportation hosts a public meeting on the long term State Transportation Plan in Bloomington today. The current plan was revised in December 2005. To comply with state law, an updated plan is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 31. Members of the public will have the opportunity to learn about the State Transportation Plan, and ask questions at the meeting. DOUBET/PEORIA/Illinois
BIG FIGHT: In Taylorville over where to build new, expanded LLCC campus. RUSHTON/SPRINGFIELD/Illinois News
POWER PLANT BLAST: Efforting interview with the contractor who was just 15 feet away
when dallman generator blew up. WETTERICH/SPRINGFIELD (on merits) Illinois News
ALLYN FRANK: So-called "dean of Illinois school lawyers" died Sunday at his home in
Deerfield. He was a Springfield native. DETTRO/SPRINGFIELD/Illinois News
BOOMER RETIREES: Groundbreaking for a $34 million Concordia Village expansion are said to be driven by Baby Boomers from Illinois. LANDIS/SPRINGFIELD/Illinois News
Sports
OUTDOORS: Column LAMPE
NADEL: Ron Zook had better enjoy his celebrity status right now. As basketball counterpart Bruce Weber would tell him, Illinois fans tend to have short memories when it comes to a coach's successes. Mike Nadel, Illinois Sports and Big Ten.
BEARS: by REED SCHRECK/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR/Illinois Sports and Bears
--COLUMN: It was brought to Adewale Ogunleye's attention that he already holds a special spot in NFL lore. Of all the undrafted players to play in the league, he has the most career sacks. Posted.
--COMEBACK KIDS: The Bears are losing and it's the fourth quarter. Instinctively, you reach for the remote to change the channel.Not so fast. While that might be an old habit, it's one that needs changing.
Not the channel. These Bears, if they've done one thing they can feel good about, it's coming from behind. Posted.
ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
ALOHA: The first step in an ambitious five-game run to finish November is a game against Hawaii in Honolulu late Friday night. While Illinois won't leave the islands before playing three games in Maui Invitational, the young Illini must first concentrate on Hawaii and adjust to the humid climate. SUPINIE. Champaign. Illinois sports and Big Ten. Moving early evening. With preview capsule.
RAMS NOTEBOOK: St. Louis Rams get their first win of the season at New Orleans with the help of a surprise source. HAL PILGER/SPRINGFIELD/Illinois Sports and Pro Football.
Opinions
A LITTLE TOO FAR: Aaron Schock is a Republican state representative from Peoria as well as a candidate to replace retiring Republican U.S. Congressman Ray LaHood in the 18th District. If you go to his biography page at the General Assembly Web site (www.ilga.gov/house/rep.), the first thing that will strike you is his youthful appearance. It's not an appearance. It's pure unadulterated youth. EDITORIAL/SPRINGFIELD
BRITT: Toon on poor security screening at airports. CHRIS BRITT/SPRINGFIELD/Illinois Opinions.
Coming this weekend
CAPITOL NOTEBOOK: Capitol bureaus put together the week in Springfield in five quick briefs. CAPITOL BUREAUS/SPRINGFIELD
STATEHOUSE INSIDER: Statehouse bureau reporter Doug Finke gives an inside look at capitol action. DOUG FINKE/CAPITOL BUREAU
BOTTLED WATER TAX. CHICAGO - Gulp. The Chicago City Council on Tuesday approved what is believed to be the first-ever special tax on bottled water. Aldermen approved the 5-cent levy on each plastic container, meaning consumers here will have to fork over 30-cents for a six-pack and so on. RAMSEY/CHICAGO BUREAU
FOR SUNDAY PAPERS, MOVING SATURDAY:
TOY SAFETY. CHICAGO -- Toy manufacturers and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin are scheduled Saturday to participate in a roundtable discussion on toy safety, in the wake of a series of safety recalls. RAMSEY/CHICAGO BUREAU
CAPITOL FEATURE: TBA. CHAMBERS/ROCKFORD