Jun 5, 2008 | Bureau County Republican
'Jeff's Law' designed for protection of construction zone workers
Drivers who fail to slow down in highway construction zones now have yet another reason to step on the brakes.
Illinois legislators defeated a motion last week that would have called for a debate on a plan to temporarily lift the state sales tax on gasoline.
SPRINGFIELD: House rejects recommended pay raises
Posted on 05/07 at 01:44 PM A vote of yes was a vote against the pay raises. Here's how Peoria-area legislators voted: YES: Rep. via Journal Star
Maybe Madigan can meet next week
“What you have to spew and spread is extremely dangerous”
Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the four legislative leaders got together Thursday for the first time in weeks. via Journal Star
How about a spot of positivity for a change? State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, announced this week that he has donated all of the overtime pay he received for the special sessions called by Gov. via The Capitol Fax Blog
Farm subsidies: welfare for the wealthy?
“This data clearly exposes the hypocrisy of our commodity programs, showing how large amounts of taxpayer dollars are given out to a few, while others - here and abroad - are struggling”
You have probably seen that commercial with the manic, weirdly dressed guy Matthew Lesko promising that if you order his book he will show you how to cash-in collecting Ofree moneyO from the federal government. via The Zephyr Online
Bill would boost pensions for older retired firefighters
“It's never too late to right an injustice.”
Seeking to fix what he calls "an injustice," state Rep. Donald Moffitt is pushing legislation that would boost pension benefits for retired Illinois firefighters ages 81 and older. via State Journal-Register
[IL] Trooper Butler arrested for harassment
State trooper accused of making harassing calls JOURNAL STAR Saturday, February 23, An Illinois State Police trooper has been accused of making harassing telephone calls to his fiancee. via Behind The Blue WAll
Bloomington among many cities struggling with pension systems
“We do not levy a property tax at all for general government, we operate from general revenues, primarily our sales tax which is 7.75 percent”
Communities are indebted to their police and fire personnel for serving as local heroes, but the cost of that debt appears to be burning a hole in the pockets of local governments. via The Pantagraph
Chatham grows into a Starbucks
“Having a Starbucks is huge. In the morning, I don't have time (before work) to go into Springfield”
Chatham has been growing by leaps and bounds for 40 years. But only on Friday did the village get what has become the Official Seal of Successful Suburbia: its first Starbucks. via State Journal-Register
East Peoria: State department suspends administrator's license
The woman who directed a troubled East Peoria nursing home is serving a minimum one-year suspension of her administrator's license, while the home continues challenging the state's severe penalties against it. via Journal Star
Pet adoptions are rescues, not purchases
“I think most of the time, if you talk to someone, you get a feel”
Tonia Morris knew where to go after her devastated daughter lost her cat. While the cat didn't turn up at the Prairieland Animal Welfare Center, there were plenty of wonderful cats there in need of a good home. via Register-Mail
Memorial honors both living and dead veterans
“He spent a year at Walter Reed (Hospital) and was discharged in poor health.”
There is a story for every brick honoring a veteran at the Galesburg Community Veterans Memorial. via Register-Mail
Power outage forces schools to close
“We don't know of a tree limb fell on a line or if it was (caused by) an animal. We will continue to investigate, but at this time, we think it was a tree limb falling on a line.”
A power outage left about 5,700 AmerenIP and CIPS customers south of Galesburg without power for a few hours this morning and caused school to be canceled in Abingdon and Avon. via The Register-Mail
Veterans Day program Saturday in Lincoln Park
A program in honor of Veterans Day will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Galesburg Community Veterans Memorial in Lincoln Park. via The Register-Mail
“My grandfather came and put him in the kennel during the fire. He was safe there.”
Keegan Batson's tears weren't caused by Tuesday's cold wind or the pungent smoke it carried into his eyes. via Register-Mail
Illinois school funding due for crucial vote
“Let's get it done. Let's take care of the kids. Let's not have them being held hostage. Let's do the right thing on making sure the schools get the money.”
Illinois lawmakers will feel the heat when they go back into session on Thursday in Springfield. via WQAD-TV Moline
“That makes these soldiers one in 1,000”
Area soldiers were given a new home Saturday morning. The doors of the Galesburg Readiness Center, 362 N. Linwood Road, were opened to the public for the first time. via The Register-Mail
School Funding Issues Could Hit The Classroom
“Money always has an impact on things. What we're looking at here, like many schools around the state are doing, what they can do within the building, within their own curriculum, within their own department, how to improve things.”
Millions of dollars in state funding is at stake for Illinois schools. State Representative Don Moffitt held a press conference in Galesburg today to talk with local school administrators about the potential ... via WEEK-TV
Bill could provide funds for depot
“Before he makes a decision, I think he should ride the train through the heartland”
Legislation approved Tuesday by the U.S. Senate to reauthorize Amtrak funding for six years contains a provision that could benefit Galesburg passenger rail service. via The Register-Mail