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Archive of Illinois on Wednesday May 07, 2008
Illinois House approves legislation to arrest parolees charged with domestic battery
A month after a 22-year-old Chicago graduate student was shot to death by a violent ex-boyfriend out on parole for murder, the Illinois House unanimously passed legislation that would tighten the rules to try to prevent similar crimes. Read More
Suburban schools benefit from lawmakers' lapse
Suburban schools will be able to avoid stricter driver education laws because Illinois lawmakers didn't get their work done on time. Read More
Lawmakers brainstorm on construction funds
House Democrats sized up a broad menu of ways to pay for a potential multibillion-dollar statewide construction program Tuesday, coming to no conclusions but considering options that include income tax increases, gambling expansion and leasing the lottery. Read More
Lawmakers to introduce truancy bill
With less than a month before the end of spring session, Rockford?s lawmakers are pushing for changes in state law that Mayor Larry Morrissey says will help the city fight rampant truancy. But to succeed, Morrissey and the delegation must mount a last-minute blitz ? four months after the session started in January Read More
Lawmakers vow to fight for Pontiac prison
Lawmakers vowed Tuesday to fight for the future of the state prison at Pontiac, with some questioning whether its threatened closure was part of political payback by Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration. Read More
Gov. wants to spend $150 million on anti-violence programs
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's $150 million plan to curb youth violence after a rash of Chicago shootings relies on something the Democrat hasn't done before: Getting lawmakers to pass a capital bill so he can pay for his proposal. Read More
Legislative pay raises again debated in Illinois
Illinois House Republicans tried unsuccessfully to kill a proposed hike in state lawmakers' salaries Tuesday, saying it sends the wrong message to voters in the midst of governmental gridlock in Springfield. Read More
IDOT move could cost $1 million
Relocating the Illinois Department of Transportation?s Division of Traffic Safety to southern Illinois could cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars in moving expenses, according to estimates provided to The State Journal-Register on Tuesday. Read More
Deval's donation doesn't check out
Gov. Deval Patrick tells audiences a funny story about donating to Barack Obama as an Illinois state Senate candidate, yet after a media inquiry, he said yesterday he can't find proof of any such contribution. Read More
Worker pleads not guilty in fraud case
The state treasurer?s office employee charged with embezzling $750,000 from state coffers pleaded not guilty to the three federal counts Tuesday. Read More
Bomb squad checks out duffle bag at Capitol
An unattended duffle bag was found Tuesday morning on the Illinois Firefighters Memorial on the Capitol complex, prompting the Secretary of State?s bomb squad to respond. Read More
Silver Alert helps rescue lost seniors
When an elderly person with dementia is lost, seven states can trigger a Silver Alert to let the community know. Proposals in Congress would expand the successful missing persons program to all 50 states. Read More
Bill would tighten state's leash on parolees
The Illinois House voted Tuesday to clamp down on parolees after the fatal shooting last month of a woman in West Town by her ex-boyfriend, a parolee she had a restraining order against. Read More
Lake County chief judge to resign post
Lake County Chief Judge David Hall said Tuesday he will resign from his leadership post in the wake of his arrest on driving under the influence charges. Read More
No trace of Patrick's mid-'90s contribution to Obama
Governor Deval Patrick tells audiences a funny story about donating to Barack Obama as an Illinois state Senate candidate, yet after a media inquiry, he said yesterday that he can't find proof of any such contribution. Read More
Will states fix 2012 primary process?
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Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in. Read More
Parents turn to states for autism help
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs. Read More
Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views. Read More |
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