GHNS Illinois Budget (3/20/08)
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.
National Sunshine Week stories: www.gatehousenewsservice.com/news/special_reports/x1092586089
Illinois Sunshine Week stories links package:
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x39090536
TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT:
Two killed in Southern Illinois flooding
WALTONVILLE - Two people were killed Wednesday after they were caught in heavy flooding in Southern Illinois, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department said. Other areas in Southern Illinois were hit hard by heavy rainfall that closed businesses and forced evacuations.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1681293849
ILLINOIS NEWS
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news
STATE BRIEFS: News from around the state. Will be posted this evening.
FIGHTER WING LAWSUIT: The 7th Circuit Appellate court has kept Gov. Rod Blagojevich's lawsuit over the 183rd Fighter Wing being moved out of Springfield alive for a second time. By Meagan Sexton of the State Capitol bureau.
$4 diesel putting squeeze on truckers, consumers
SPRINGFIELD - Over-the-road truckers are now paying nearly $4 per gallon or more in central Illinois for diesel fuel, and that translates to more per gallon of milk, per bottle of beer and per stick of lumber for consumers. By Chris Dettro of the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x325163848
Mausoleum bankruptcy puts internments on hold
PEORIA - Connie Brun received a phone call Tuesday night that shocked, upset and worried her. A scant week before the Glasford woman's family was coming to Peoria to entomb the ashes of her late aunt and uncle, she received a call from American Mausoleum informing her the facility had filed for bankruptcy, and therefore, the internment ceremony could not proceed. By Andy Kravetz of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x79611025
Legislation would label homes used as meth labs
PEKIN - Home buyers beware. That dream house may have been a methamphetamine lab. But state Rep. Mike Smith, D-Canton, wants to take the guesswork out of knowing whether the toxic chemicals used to make meth were ever present in homes that are for sale. By Kevin Sampier of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1092589031
Life-saving transplant is tale of an 'honorable heart'
ROCKFORD -- In his death, Marine Ricky Martinez managed one final, selfless act: He donated his heart to a man he had never met. By Elizabeth Davies of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1681294158
Former priest committed to sex-offender treatment
WHEATON -- A DuPage County jury ruled Wednesday that a former Hinsdale priest is a "sexually violent person" and should be committed to a state mental-health treatment facility. By Dan Petrella of Suburban Life Publications.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1681294025
School district considering community service requirement for students
PEORIA - As much as a set number of hours of math and English are mandatory to graduate from high school, School District 150 Board member Jim Stowell believes community service hours should be required. By Dave Haney of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1564563877
ILLINOIS OPINIONS
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions
BRITT: Toon on Hillary's document dump. Will be posted this afternoon.
Bernard Schoenburg: Callahan says she's not a professional politician
SPRINGFIELD -- COLLEEN CALLAHAN, the Democrat appointed by party officials to take on state Rep. AARON SCHOCK, R-Peoria, for the U.S. House seat from the 18th Congressional District, didn't duck when asked to compare herself to Schock at a Statehouse appearance this week.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions/x1670183012
Editorial: Obama opens race discussion; next step is ours
Sen. Barack Obama's speech on race Tuesday has the potential to be a liberating moment for the campaign, for black and white Americans alike and for the nation. An editorial from the Rockford Register Star. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions/x1565502853
Editorial: Get screened for colon cancer
When former "Today" host Katie Couric had an on-air colonoscopy in March 2000, colon cancer screening rates jumped nationwide by 20 percent. Doctors even dubbed it the "Couric effect." But while the newswoman certainly helped demystify the procedure, she alone couldn't convince everyone to see the doctor. An editorial from the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1059915324
ILLINOIS SPORTS
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports
Jane Miller: Easter break: Just one race in one week
As hot as Kyle Busch has been this season, it's no wonder he doesn't want to take a weekend off.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x325163192
Former football star gets 10-year term for attacking woman
BOLINGBROOK - Former Bolingbrook High School football star Kyle Williams, who briefly played college football at Purdue, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday morning in DuPage County for his attack on a woman in Lisle in February 2006. By Don Grigas of Suburban Life Publications.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x79611002
Kirk Wessler: A flower in Weed Eater Bowl of college hoops
PEORIA - When David Collins pulled his 7-foot frame off the Bradley bench Wednesday night and ambled onto the Carver Arena basketball court barely seven minutes into the game, suspicions were confirmed. The College Basketball Invitational is the Weed Eater Bowl of college hoop.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x125175918