GHNS ILLINOIS BUDGET (1/24/08)
GHNS ILLINOIS BUDGET (1/24/08)
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.
Contacts:
- Jean Hodges, 630-348-3350, 630-956-8834, jhodges@gatehousemedia.com
- Michael Toeset, 630-835-8870, 708-785-4355, mtoeset@gatehousemedia.com
--NEWS--
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news
(Please note that this news list is not all-inclusive; other stories will move in Illinois News as well.)
STATE BRIEFS: A collection of briefs from GateHouse newspapers across the state. By 5 p.m. / Illinois and Illinois News
-NOTE: If your paper has a digest item you'd like to share, please email it to Illinois@gatehousemedia.com.
SCHOOL CANCELED: Every one of the buses in Lena were vandalized, so officials were forced to cancel school. Journal-Standard. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news/x254752721
TAX-RETURN HELP: Qualifying families can have their income tax returns filed for free at various locations throughout Illinois, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn says at a news conference. Short. Sexton. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news/x1295943307
WHAT HOUSING CRISIS? National Association of Realtors plans to "feature" Springfield in latest housing report to be released today as an example of things that are still right with home sales. Illinois Association of Realtors, too. Also expected to get 2007 sales figures for the local market today. Why us? Landis, SJR / Illinois and Illinois News
-With lots of breakouts
DIPLOMAS: Legislation has been proposed to award high school diplomas to Vietnam vets who don't have them. (similar law was enacted years ago for vets of ww2 and korea.) Sexton, SJR / Illinois and Illinois News
DREW PETERSON DATING GAME: (this story moved yesterday evening but wasn't on the budget, in case you missed it): Man whose wife is missing and is a suspect in her disappearance cancels dating game stunt after the expected reaction from the public. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news/x1151552147
PARKING PROBLEM: (w/pic) An elderly Pekin woman says the recent parking ban on narrow city streets is preventing her from having any visitors at her house. She says her driveway is too small to hold her car and her son's, which hangs out into the street. Her son, who has medical problems, can't park a block away and walk like the city has suggested. (12-15 inches with pic by 5 p.m.) SAMPIER, PJS / Illinois and Illinois News
CAMPAIGN FINANCE: Federal Election Commission campaign reports due today by midnight. We'll see what our candidates for the 18th District have raised in the past few months. I'm told Morris raised about the same and is just under half million. Either way, combined, they're around $1.5 million for this race so far. Will check donors and expenses as well. (15-18 inches by 10 p.m.) MCDONALD, PJS / Illinois and Illinois News
SCHOCK ON AGRICULTURE: Congressional candidate Aaron Schock announces his initiatives on agriculture issues today, including increasing the ethanol blend from 10 percent to eventually 20 percent to release reliance on foreign oil and drive down gas costs. Also wants Congressional appropriations to fund the recent authorization of river improvement and locks and dams. Illinois Petroleum Institute says the idea isn't feasible because auto makers won't agree and there's not enough ethanol. Also thoughts from other candidates. (15 inches by 5 p.m.) MCDONALD, PJS / Illinois and Illinois News
TAX REBATES: Sen. Koehler and representatives of the state are in town talking about how low-income people can use their tax returns as part of a new program to help buy a home. (15 inches by 5 p.m.) FELDT, PJS / Illinois and Illinois News
LEAD TOYS: (w/pic) Rep. Phil Hare is having a news conference with the United Steelworkers where parents can bring in toys to be screened for lead contamination. They will also hand out kits so parents can screen toys at home. (12 inches) by 7 p.m. ROTHERT, PJS / Illinois and Illinois News
RACHAEL RAY: Rachael's show to feature Rockford-sold candy. Rockford. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news/x1059365691
OLYMPICS: Rockford chamber urged to 'keep Olympic buzz going.' http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news/x1151553031
COYOTES EVERYWHERE: Pet owners beware. If you're leaving any food out for your dog, another four-legged creature may be eating it. For that matter, if you're in the habit of letting your cat out at night, it might not return. Coyotes, sometimes packs of them, are roaming the county and urban areas looking for food. "This coyote problem I think is getting to be serious," said Winnebago County Animal Services Director Gary Longanecker. "There is literally not an area in the city where we have not gotten calls." 7 p.m. RRS / Illinois and Illinois News
FLOOD COVERAGE: Continuing coverage of the Machesney Park flood. Rockford. Updates will be posted in Illinois and Illinois News
SUPER BOWL: Habitat for Humanity volunteer wins group's Super Bowl raffle. Rockford. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news/x1059365544
--OPINIONS--
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions
(if your paper would like to submit an editorial or other opinion piece that would work statewide (or nationwide), please e-mail it to Illinois@gatehousemedia.com)
KEVIN HAAS: Why not just re-elect Ronald Reagan? http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions/x1059365323
BRITT: Toon on Rudy Giuliani in Florida squawking about Sept. 11 and tax cuts. / afternoon / Illinois Opinions and Cartoons
--SPORTS--
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports
MIKE NADEL: These days in Illinois, no sports subject stirs emotions quite like Bruce Weber. Fans either love or hate the Illini coach, and at least one has offered $10,000 to the school if it will buy out the remainder of Weber's contract. / early evening / Mike Nadel and Illinois Sports
ILLINI: No stories today.
--LIFESTYLE--
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois
WHAT'S YOUR SIGN: Rockford weekly snarky horoscopes. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/x1295942589