Saturday, July 18, 2009

Retail thefts here soar as economy slumps :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Business

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Chicago experienced a 9.6 percent increase in retail thefts in 2008 from 2007, to 11,289 incidents from 10,300, mirroring a national trend of increased shoplifting during a period of tough economic times

The economy didn't create more thieves. It's just that the market is flourishing for deals, including for goods that people in illicit activity sell for far below what a legitimate retailer would charge,"

Click on the following for the rest of the story:  Retail thefts here soar as economy slumps :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Business

Budget deal not clear-cut on social services - Springfield, IL - The State Journal-Register

 

The budget, which Quinn signed Wednesday, promises cuts of 13 percent instead of 50 percent in grants to service providers. But that’s an average — he could end up giving some programs full funding and slashing others more deeply.

Budget deal not clear-cut on social services - Springfield, IL - The State Journal-Register

Lawyers picked for county budget fight :: Beacon News :: Local News

Wow—An elected county official suing the County Board—If Boone County had re-opened its budget do you think this would have happened here? 

Deb Seyller

Aurora-based law firm Mickey, Wilson, Renzi, Weiler & Andersson agreed to represent Circuit Clerk Deborah Seyller, as she considers a lawsuit against the County Board after it cut $248,200 from her budget in May.

Click on the following to read the rest of the story:  Lawyers picked for county budget fight :: Beacon News :: Local News

Ms. Seyller has a news release regarding her legal action.  Click on the PDF image on the Beacon article to read her statement. 

Northwest Herald | Marengo mulls 2nd business incentive

Karsten’s Service Center for expanding its auto shop business in town.

Karsten’s incentive deal included a four-year city sales tax rebate of 10 percent, plus a five-year tiered property tax abatement on net new assessments. If approved, the entertainment center would receive the same types of incentives but for three years each, as determined by program qualifications.

Northwest Herald | Marengo mulls 2nd business incentive

DeKalb County better for Amtrak than Boone County | Daily Chronicle

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Letter to the editor from:  

Bonnie Hanson
Executive Director
Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce

The study found CN route operating cost $100,000 annually less expensive compared to the route through Belvidere

CN Route offers faster service, ridership was 39 percent higher than the Belvidere routing, and the CN route will be much easier to implement since negotiating and managing an operating agreement would be with only one railroad instead of multiple entities.

there has been no regional consensus to change from the most cost effective CN Route. There have been no open meetings or hearings those along the CN Route were made aware of regarding changing from the superior CN route.

Rockford will receive the same or better service from the CN route, and the Belvidere City limits are only about six miles from the Rockford east side station at Alpine planned on the CN routing

 

Read the complete letter by clicking on the following:  DeKalb County better for Amtrak than Boone County | Daily Chronicle

Daily Herald | Social-service groups waiting for details on future cuts

 

Social-service providers say that instead of a 50-percent cut in funding, they're looking at cuts in the 10 percent to 14 percent range.

And 14 percent is still a brutal cut, providers say. Right now, they have no idea what programs will fall victim to Quinn's knife.

Daily Herald | Social-service groups waiting for details on future cuts

Rockton awaits sewer-project guidance - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Chemtool Incorporated Logo

Trustees approved an agreement in February that will have Chemtool Inc. give the village $2 million to invest in the Chemtool Tax Increment Financing district’s infrastructure.The village will guarantee Chemtool Inc. owner James Athans at least half of the money, $1 million, to be returned over an unspecified length of time

So far Chemtool has hired about 30 Rockton area residents, he said.

Click on he following for the rest of the story:  Rockton awaits sewer-project guidance - Rockford, IL – Rocford Register Star

Illinois’s Unemployment Insurance Fund Goes Broke - ProPublica

 seal_il.gifWork for IDES - get instructions, state application forms, and moreThe roughly $34.7 million Illinois has borrowed so far pales in comparison to the unemployment insurance debt of states like neighboring Michigan, which has borrowed $2.2 billion so far.

Click on the following for the rest of the story:  Illinois’s Unemployment Insurance Fund Goes Broke - ProPublica