At least 41 probable flu cases in Illinois - Chicago Breaking News

 

The new cases reported Thursday evening by the Illinois Department of Public Health included 16 cases in Chicago, 11 in suburban Cook County, two cases in DuPage County, seven in Kane County, three in Will County and one each in Lake and McHenry Counties.

In addition to Kilmer[Chicago], the schools closed so far include Fox Chase Elementary and Thompson Junior High Schools in Oswego, Bednarcik Junior High in Aurora, Batavia High School and Rotolo Middle School in Batavia, Haines Middle School in St. Charles and Ridge Circle Elementary School in Streamwood. Two Joliet schools, Farragut and Sator Sanchez elementary schools also were being closed, officials there said

At least 41 probable flu cases in Illinois - Chicago Breaking News

US buys more flu medicine, sends doses to Mexico | Reuters

 

April 30 (Reuters) - The United States will spend $251 million to buy 13 million more courses of flu medicine and will send 400,000 doses of treatment to Mexico

US buys more flu medicine, sends doses to Mexico | Reuters

GDP: 4thQtr 2008 and 1st Qtr 2009 both down 6+%

Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- decreased at an annual rate of 6.1 percent in the first quarter of 2009, (that is, from the fourth quarter to the first quarter), according to advance estimates released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter, real GDP decreased 6.3 percent.

The Bureau emphasized that the first-quarter “advance” estimates are based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency (see the box on page 4). The first- quarter “preliminary” estimates, based on more comprehensive data, will be released on May 29, 2009.

The decrease in real GDP in the first quarter primarily reflected negative contributions from exports, private inventory investment, equipment and software, nonresidential structures, and residential fixed investment that were partly offset by a positive contribution from personal consumption expenditures (PCE). Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased.

The slightly smaller decrease in real GDP in the first quarter than in the fourth reflected an upturn in PCE for durable and nondurable goods and a larger decrease in imports that were mostly offset by larger decreases in private inventory investment and in nonresidential structures and a downturn in federal government spending.

Motor vehicle output subtracted 1.36 percentage points from the first-quarter change in real GDP after subtracting 2.01 percentage points from the fourth-quarter change. Final sales of computers added 0.05 percentage point to the first-quarter change in real GDP after subtracting 0.02 percentage point from the fourth-quarter change.

Comprehensive Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts

The price index for gross domestic purchases, which measures prices paid by U.S. residents, decreased 1.0 percent in the first quarter, compared with a decrease of 3.9 percent in the fourth. Excluding food and energy prices, the price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.4 percent in the first quarter, compared with an increase of 1.2 percent in the fourth. The federal pay raise for civilian and military personnel added 0.3 percentage point to the change in the first quarter gross domestic purchases price index.

For more recently released statistics go to:  http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/gdpnewsrelease.htm

EPA seizes Crestwood files -- chicagotribune.com

 

Click here to read the story:  EPA seizes Crestwood files -- chicagotribune.com

Remember: “one job for each five seeking”

And how much must it be in Boone-Winnebago Counties?

Click on the illustration to make it larger.

Where Boone County stands compared to the rest of Illinois.

County Well-Being Index—Source, Heartland Alliance Mid-America Institute on Poverty, 2009

Four key indicators of well-being are assessed in each of Illinois' 102 counties: high school graduation rates, unemployment rates, teen birth rates, and poverty rates. Counties in Illinois are evaluated using a point system, with a higher number of points indicating a worse score. A county receives a point if its rate is worse than the state average and/or if they have worsened since the previous year. For each indicator a total of 2 points is possible, and overall a total of 8 points is possible. Counties that score 4 or 5 points are placed on the Watch List and counties that score 6, 7, or 8 points are placed on the Warning List.

Using this methodology, 70 Illinois counties have been placed on either the Poverty Watch or Poverty Warning lists. 46 counties are the Poverty Watch List, and 24 counties are on the Poverty Warning List.

 

The County Well-Being Index illustrates that poverty and hardship are not limited to one region of the state—counties all across Illinois struggle with poverty-related issues. This year’s Watch and Warning lists must serve as a wake-up call for leaders to begin deliberate efforts to reverse these trends in their communities.

Important Enhancements to the County Well-Being Index

This year's County Well-Being Index has undergone a series of changes designed to make the Index more timely and accurate. Changes include:

• A more accurate teen birth rate calculation: In prior years, teen births have been reported as a percent of all births. Now, teen births are reported as the number of births to women ages 15 to 19 per 1,000 women of that age in the population.
• A more current unemployment rate: In prior years, unemployment rates reflected August of the previous year. Now, December unemployment rates are reported
• A more current poverty rate: The data source for county poverty rates has become more timely, reporting estimates for the same year for which state estimates are available. The County Well-Being Index now uses these most recent poverty rates.

While these enhancements were necessary and important, they do limit the ability to compare county movement between the Watch and Warning Lists from this year's Index to last year's. 

Note: At the time of print, all data used for the County Well-Being Index were the most accurate available.

Northwest Herald | Study finds rise in Ill. poverty

 

Food banks are seeing a big surge in individuals and families requesting assistance, and the Illinois Department of Human Services says the state’s emergency food program has distributed 36 percent more food in the first three quarters of the state’s 2009 fiscal year, which began last July, than it did in the entire previous year.

Northwest Herald | Study finds rise in Ill. poverty

FACTBOX: Details of Chrysler bankruptcy plan | Reuters

Here is the prediction of the exact actions by the New Chrysler.   Dealership rights are not mentioned.

Click on the following:  FACTBOX: Details of Chrysler bankruptcy plan | Reuters

Ex-Cook County worker gets 4 years for stealing $170,000 :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Chicago Crime

 

A former Cook County assessor’s employee was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison for siphoning almost $170,000 from a special county [FOIA] account.

Ex-Cook County worker gets 4 years for stealing $170,000 :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Chicago Crime

30 April 2009 -- From today, WHO will refer to the new influenza virus as influenza A(H1N1).

Influenza A(H1N1) - update 6

30 April 2009 -- The situation continues to evolve rapidly. As of 17:00 GMT, 30 April 2009, 11 countries have officially reported 257 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.

The United States Government has reported 109 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death. Mexico has reported 97 confirmed human cases of infection, including seven deaths.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (19), Germany (3), Israel (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (3), Spain (13), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (8).

Further information on the situation will be available on the WHO website on a regular basis.

WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders. It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities.

There is also no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products. Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.

Daily WHO updates are available at:  http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

 

Some Basics on a Chrysler Bankruptcy - Question - NYTimes.com

If pensions are terminated, employees would still receive about one-third of their benefits through financing from the federal pension agency.

in bankruptcy, supplier contracts can be canceled.

See the details by clicking on the following:  Some Basics on a Chrysler Bankruptcy - Question - NYTimes.com

Administration Aide Suspected of Contracting Swine Flu - washingtonpost.com

 

The suspected individual was part of the President’s advance party to Mexico before the President’s recent visit.  He works for the Secretary of Energy.

Click on the following for the rest of the story:  Administration Aide Suspected of Contracting Swine Flu - washingtonpost.com

UAW to present ratified agreements to Bankruptcy Court

For Release: Thursday, April 30, 2009

UAW to present ratified agreements to Bankruptcy Court

DETROIT - The UAW will join with the U.S. government, Chrysler and Fiat in urging the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to give immediate approval to labor agreements ratified by UAW members, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said today.

President Obama today announced continued government support for Chrysler as it continues its restructuring process.

“UAW Vice President General Holiefield and I spoke with President Obama this morning, and he asked us to let our active and retired members at Chrysler know how much he appreciates the substantial sacrifices they have made to help save this company,” said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. “The president’s goal is clear: to assure the long term future of Chrysler.”

The next step in that process will be the filing of a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.

The first order of business in the bankruptcy proceedings will be to seek court approval of the agreements recently reached between the UAW, the U.S. Treasury, Chrysler and Fiat. Motions seeking that approval will be filed immediately.

“We will urge the court to act swiftly,” said Gettelfinger. The agreements incorporate the modifications to the UAW collective bargaining agreement and retiree health agreement that were ratified by the UAW’s membership in voting that concluded yesterday.

Chrysler, the U.S. Treasury Department and Fiat all remain in full support of these UAW agreements and will join in urging the Bankruptcy Court to give them immediate approval. At the same time, the parties will be urging the Bankruptcy Court to give immediate approval to the terms of the Chrysler/Fiat alliance.

Under the UAW agreements, the pension plan covering UAW-represented employees and retirees will continue in effect without change. The agreements also include the previously announced changes to the retiree medical program, including 55 percent ownership of the restructured company by the retiree benefits trust fund.

“The UAW agreements have been ratified by our membership and approved by the United States Treasury, Chrysler and Fiat,” said Gettelfinger. “We believe it is in the best interests of all concerned for the Bankruptcy Court to give those agreements swift and complete approval. We look forward to presenting those agreements to the court.”

“The UAW membership at Chrysler, both active and retired, has once again demonstrated its strength and steadfastness in the face of great uncertainty,” said UAW Vice President General Holiefield, who directs the union’s Chrysler Department. “While we work to complete the process of court approval, the steps taken today are important milestones in restoring a great American car company to financial health, keeping manufacturing jobs here in the United States, and preserving a secure retirement for tens of thousands of American workers.”

Chrysler bankruptcy might be good for Belvidere plant - - BusinessRockford.com

 

The advantage of a bankruptcy is that it enables the company to continue to operate,” Belvidere Mayor Fred Brereton said. “We should be in a good position in that we are set up to make small cars.”

Growth Dimensions, Boone County’s economic development agency, has been coordinating letters of support from local leaders for Chrysler as it goes through a federally overseen process. Executive Director Mark Williams said the organization will continue to “marshal our resources” to respond as needed.

It could be good news — if Chrysler is able to stabilize rather than schedule workers on a weekly basis — or bad news, if Chrysler has to shut it down for a period, said Janyce Fadden, president of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council. Each Chrysler job affects four other jobs in the region, she said, so the situation leaves a lot of people in unstable situations.

Chrysler bankruptcy might be good for Belvidere plant - - BusinessRockford.com

Chrysler plants to be idle for 30 to 60 days - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

Chrysler LLC announced this afternoon that it is temporarily shutting down most manufacturing options beginning May 4 and will not restart production for 30 to 60 days while it undergoes bankruptcy restructuring.

The Belvidere plant, which employs 2,700, has been in intermittent production since the start of the year

Chrysler plants to be idle for 30 to 60 days - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Poplar Grove water bills rising 9 percent - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

The village has an ordinance that raises the rate 3 percent each year, but the increase doesn’t hit residents’ bills until every third year

Poplar Grove water bills rising 9 percent - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Chrysler Bankruptcy Plan Is Announced - NYTimes.com

Best details I have seen are at NY Times. 

officials envisioned as a swift, “surgical” process, was filed in United States Bankruptcy Court in New York, with the first hearing scheduled for Friday morning.

government would provide debtor-in-possession financing in a range of $3 billion to $3.5 billion, so the company can continue to operate normally.

Click on the following for the rest of the details:  Chrysler Bankruptcy Plan Is Announced - NYTimes.com

Bankruptcy Looks Likely for Chrysler - NYTimes.com

 

an official, who declined to speak for attribution ahead of President Obama’s announcement, made it clear that the administration was frustrated with the holdout creditors.

Click on the following for further details: Bankruptcy Looks Likely for Chrysler - NYTimes.com

Chrysler to File for Bankruptcy - washingtonpost.com

President Obama is scheduled to address the issue at noon today at the White House

Click on the following to read the story:  Chrysler to File for Bankruptcy - washingtonpost.com

Economy Shrinks at Fastest Rate Since 1950s - NYTimes.com

If that pace were to continue, nearly $1 trillion would be wiped out this year from the nation’s economic output of $14.2 trillion last year.

More than five million jobs have disappeared since the recession began in December 2007.

Mr. Volcker said the improvement was sufficient to avoid a second government stimulus on top of the $787 billion in spending and tax breaks enacted in February.

Economy Shrinks at Fastest Rate Since 1950s - NYTimes.com

Is America ready for eco-fashion? | csmonitor.com

Fair-trade clothing is a hit in Europe. But some wonder if American will buy into this trend.

will cash-strapped consumers keep snapping up the company's premium-priced fair-trade apparel?

more than 70 percent of the British populace recognize the fair-trade mark, whereas consumer recognition in the United States is only 28 percent, according to recent surveys.

Read more by clicking on the following:  Is America ready for eco-fashion? | csmonitor.com

Bankruptcy Looks Likely for Chrysler –“It is not over until it’s over.

Last-minute efforts by the Treasury Department to win over recalcitrant Chrysler debtholders failed Wednesday night

Read the rest of the story by clicking on the following:  Bankruptcy Looks Likely for Chrysler - NYTimes.com

Should One Person Hold Two Elected Offices? LWV Presents Findings

This  article from Park Forest, Illinois, can be seen at:  http://www.enewspf.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5082&Itemid=88889791

Written by Gary Kopycinski

Sunday, 16 November 2008 21:33

Attorney Heidi Keenan discusses Illinois Case Law with the League of Women Voters Sunday. (Photo: ENEWSPF)

Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Should a person be permitted to hold two public offices at the same time? The League of Women Voters of the Park Forest Area (LWVPFA) presented their findings of a year-long study of this question to the public Sunday in the Library. The presentation was geared toward members of the LWVPFA to aide their board in forming policy for the organization.

Many members did express their concerns during the meeting.

The study committee was chaired by Barbara Sturges and consisted of School District 227 Board President Tony Brunson, Attorney Heidi Keenan, Meg Maselli and LaVerne Williams.

The scope of the project was to study what public offices can appropriately be held by an individual simultaneously and what public offices, if any, are not appropriate to be held simultaneously, with an emphasis on public offices represented by the taxing bodies shown on a LWVPFA member's real estate tax bill.

The committee looked at a number of specific concerns including what public offices, if any, Illinois law prohibits from being held simultaneously, what public offices are permitted to be held simultaneously, and what public offices the Attorney General and/or Illinois Courts found to be incompatible.

The committee members acknowledged that the subject is complicated and somewhat controversial.

According to the committee's report, opinions of the Attorney General have found the following pairs of public offices to be incompatible:

1. City Council Member and School Board Member
2. City Plan Commissioner and Township Trustee
3. Community College Board Trustee and county Board Member
4. County Board Member and Township Trustee (in countries greater than 100,000)
5. County Board Member and School Board Member
6. County Executive and Township Supervisor
7. Deputy Assessor and Township Supervisor
8. Deputy Supervisor of Assessments and Township Assessor
9. Multi-Township Assessor and Village Trustee
10. County Board Member and Mayor or Village President

City Council Member would be the equivalent of a member of the Village Board in Park Forest.

The report also cited opinion letters by the Attorney General which determined the following pairs do not present potential conflicts in duties and therefore are NOT incompatible:

1. City Library Board Trustee and City Treasurer
2. Community College Board Trustee and General Assembly Member
3. County Board Member and County Board Chairman elected at-large
4. Library Board Trustee and School Board Member
5. State Representative and Township Supervisor

During her presentation to the members, Attorney Heidi Keenan said while someone may win a seat on two conflicting boards, removing them from office can be a problem, "The only legal remedy is an In Quo Warranto suit. Those suits only be brought by the States Attorney General or the attorney of the county."

Keenan did add, however, that being sworn into the second position constitutes a de facto resignation from the first position.

Members agreed in general to the following recommendations for the LWFPFA board to consider, although there was much discussion focusing on specifics:

1. The LWVPFA supports the concept that an individual should not simultaneously hold public offices which have been determined to be incompatible either by a prohibition in written law or under the common law doctrine of incompatibility.
2. If the LWVPFA suspects an incompatibility of public offices as evidenced by an apparent conflict in duties between two offices held by one individual where both offices are in governmental units covered by the same real estate tax bill, the LWVPFA should inquire if the Illinois Attorney General has issued an opinion as to the compatibility of the offices?
3. The LWVPFA should attempt to inform the public when an individual has been sworn into an additional public office while already holding an office in a governmental unity covered by the same real estate tax bill if there is:
   1. A statute prohibiting an individual from holding both public offices
   2. An Attorney General’s opinion that the two public offices are incompatible
   3. A potential conflict of duties between the two public offices
4. Tthe LWVPFA should advise or inform that the original board declare a vacancy when an individual holding public office on that board is sworn in to an additional office in another governmental unit covered by the same real estate tax bill if there is:
   1. A statute prohibiting an individual from holding both public offices
   2. An Attorney General’s opinion that the two public offices are incompatible
   3. A potential conflict of duties between the two public offices
5. The LWVPFA supports the enactment of a law that would prohibit an individual from serving simultaneously on a school board and a municipal board in municipalities with at least 2,500 people
6. The LWVPFA should support the enactment of any other laws that would prohibit an individual from serving simultaneously in two specified public offices if those offices are determined to be incompatible by some authority either now or in the future?

These consensus statements now go the the LWVPFA board for discussion. The board will decide on which items will become policy for the chapter.