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GHNS Illinois Budget (3/19/08)

Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at www.gatehousenewsservice.com. Please check www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.

If your paper has a story, digest item, opinion piece or standalone photo to share, please e-mail it to Illinois@gatehousemedia.com.

Contacts:

- Casey Laughman: 217-816-3343, claughman@gatehousemedia.com

- Jean Hodges: 630-348-3350, 630-956-8834, jhodges@gatehousemedia.com

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FAMILY TAB: The first issue of Family, a 24-page tab from GateHouse Media is available for download as a Quark, InDesign or PDF file. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/homepage/x1775728987

SUNSHINE WEEK: A number of stories for Sunshine Week have been posted to GateHouse News Service. If you have stories planned that would be of interest in Illinois, please contact Illinois Regional Editor Casey Laughman at claughman@gatehousemedia.com. An updated Sunshine Week digest for Illinois will be e-mailed each afternoon.

National Sunshine Week stories: http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/news/special_reports/x1092586089

Illinois Sunshine Week stories links package:

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x39090536

Added today:

Sunshine Week Illinois: Massive FOIA request from Blagojevich volunteer raised eyebrows, but was met

SPRINGFIELD -- Attorney General Lisa Madigan doesn't always miss deadlines in responding to public-records requests. Take the case of Jacob W. Butcher, a University of Illinois student who filed a Freedom of Information Act request on Jan. 8, 2007. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1993303059

TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT:

FIVE YEARS IN IRAQ: Wednesday is the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invading Iraq. Around the state, people marked the anniversary with vigils and protests. Information compiled from GateHouse newspapers around the state. Will be posted this evening.

With: Two Illinois Democrats, one already in Congress and the other hoping to get there, delivered a similar message on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War: U.S. troops need to come home. By Adriana Colindres and Meagan Sexton of the State Capitol bureau.

-- Breakout of Illinois servicemen and women killed and how many have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

-- Photo coverage of vigils

ILLINOIS NEWS

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news

STATE BRIEFS: News from around the state. Will be posted this evening.

Store manager accidentally shoots self in leg

GALESUBRG - An assistant manager at a Galesburg grocery store accidentally shot himself in the leg Tuesday night in the office of the store. Christopher Bailey was taken to OSF St. Mary Medical Center for treatment of a broken femur. By Susan Kaufman of the Galesburg Register-Mail.

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1379339806

Commitment hearing under way for former priest

WHEATON - During his 30-year career as a Roman Catholic priest, Fred Lenczycki allegedly sexually abused more than two dozen boys at churches and religious schools in three states. By Dan Petrella of Suburban Life Publications.

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x513691859

Erin Brockovich: 'I am not Julia Roberts'

ROCKFORD - Erin Brockovich and the Hollywood movie about her go hand in hand, but she's a real person with real advice, some of which she shared with local residents Tuesday night at the Coronado Performing Arts Center. By Melissa Westphal of the Rockford Register Star. With video of Brockovich's speech.

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x39093298

Goodbye, Good Friday? Holy day 'dramatically' losing prominence as times change

Time was many towns would practically shut down from noon to 3 p.m. Good Friday afternoon, the time it's believed Jesus hung on the cross before dying. Businesses would close and people would crowd churches. No more. By Michael Miller of the Peoria Journal Star.

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1126221389

Extinguished Flame: Central Illinois' gay issues newspaper shuts down

The Flame is out. After 11 1/2 years of publication, Prairie Flame, central Illinois' only newspaper that concentrated solely on gay issues and events, has called it a day. By Dave Bakke of the State Journal-Register.

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x2015306324

Charges dismissed against bartender in smoking case

A Spring Valley bartender had been accused of letting a patron smoke illegally in the tavern, but Bureau County State's Attorney Patrick Herrmann said Tuesday he found no authority in the Smoke-Free Illinois Act to file a formal charge against her. By Matt Buedel of the Peoria Journal Star.

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x688589627

ILLINOIS OPINIONS

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions

BRITT: War is romantic, according to Bush. Will be posted this afternoon.

Editorial: One bear of a bailout

Bear Stearns bailout: Perhaps this move was necessary, as the Federal Reserve says, to avert an even bigger disaster. But it also should trouble Americans. The Fed has essentially shifted the risk from J.P. Morgan's shoulders onto the government's. An editorial from the Peoria Journal Star.

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1126221172

Michelle Teheux: How not to pick a college

My 15-year-old son has begun receiving piles of literature from various colleges and universities. Until now, college has not exactly been on his radar except as a place his older sister will go this fall, thus allowing him a good shot at moving to a larger bedroom.

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x2015306611

ILLINOIS SPORTS

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports

Owner: Blues will buy Rivermen, keep team in town

PEORIA - The Peoria Rivermen ownership tandem of Bruce Saurs and Anne Griffith has entered its end game. It's going to result in one last save by Saurs for professional hockey in Peoria. By Dave Eminian of the Peoria Journal Star.

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x1379339708

Hip check, please: Sodrznik becoming known for physical play

SPRINGFIELD - The signature defensive move of Nashville Predators standout Dan Hamhuis is the hip check, which he uses to flatten opponents who try to gain control of the puck and advance it. But Hamhuis doesn't have much on Springfield Junior Blues defenseman Klemen Sodrznik when it comes to sending players flying to the ice. By Don Trello of the State Journal-Register.

http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x1993303081