Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Help reduce EAB spread by using firewood From local sources

A new law, effective in January 2009, requires firewood dealers to be registered with the Illinois Department of Agriculture

"One of the things that individuals can do to help reduce the spread of the pest is to use local firewood," says John Church, University of Illinois Extension Educator

The Belvidere Daily Republican. - Help reduce EAB spread by using firewood From local sources

Counterfeit currency surfacing in Collar counties

A rash of counterfeit money has hit the area in recent weeks, with police departments in Elgin, Algonquin, West Dundee and Lake in the Hills have all handling reports of the bogus bills.

All four area departments say they recovered the funny money -- including $5 and $100 bills -- during the month of September.

About $20,000 in counterfeit currency is passed in the Chicago metropolitan area each month, Schmidt said.

"This year, there doesn't appear to be a significant (overall) increase or decrease," she said.

For further details click on the following:  Counterfeit currency surfacing in area :: The Courier News :: Local News

Cook County bans video poker in unincorporated areas

the ban affects only 53 places with liquor licenses in unincorporated Cook. Yet it adds political momentum to the public outcry against expanding video gambling.

The Cook County Board stood up to 11th-hour lobbying by the video-gambling industry today and passed a ban on video poker in unincorporated areas.

In some ways, it was a redundant act, in that the county already bans video gambling, but the new ordinance, sponsored by Democratic Chicago Commissioner Bridget Gainer, specifically addressed language and machines cited in the new $31 billion state public-works bill passed earlier

Click on the following for more of the story:  Daily Herald | Cook County bans video poker in unincorporated areas

Limbaugh, Blues owner interested in buying Rams

Rush Limbaugh a real bottom ...

Limbaugh also declined to discuss other partners that might be involved in the bid, but said he and Checketts would operate the team.

"Dave Checketts and I have made a bid to buy the Rams and we are continuing the process," Limbaugh said.

Forbes magazine has estimated the Rams franchise has a value of $929 million.

Daily Herald | Reports: Limbaugh, Blues owner interested in buying Rams

5 men killed in shooting in Mexico border bar

The victims ranged in age from 25 to 30 in the attack at Gabino's, located on a main boulevard of the city across from El Paso, Texas

Drug-related violence has turned Ciudad Juarez into Mexico's deadliest city, with more than 1,700 killings so far this year.

Click on the following for the rest of the details:  5 men killed in shooting in Mexico border bar - SignOnSanDiego.com

FTC to bloggers: Disclose the source of that cash

Just for the record I receive no endorsement money. Nor do I receive advertizing income from this blog.

“… bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service.”

Click on the following for more details:  FTC to bloggers: Disclose the source of that cash | csmonitor.com

Officials deny UK media report on move from dollar - Yahoo! Finance

If true, this is really an indication that recovery is going to become difficult as the cost of US Treasury borrowing increases. 

The selling was stoked by an article in Britain's "Independent" newspaper that said secret meetings were taking place between Arab states, China, Russia, Japan and France, to end dollar dealings for oil and moving instead to a basket of currencies, including the euro, the yen and the Chinese yuan.

Read more of the story by clicking on the followingOfficials deny UK media report on move from dollar - Yahoo! Finance

DeKalb Daily Chronicle’s View: Taxing soda more about boosting money than health

real concern here isn't health – it's money. Legislators see that we like to eat and drink unhealthy things, so they see an opportunity to charge us for those habits. The hope isn't really that we'll break our habit, but that we'll stick with it while doling out a few more dollars for it.

Our View: Taxing soda more about boosting money than health | Daily Chronicle

The Daily News of Coconut Grove, Florida: Unions and pensions killing the city

The fire and police unions and pensions are bankrupting the city and layoffs are suggested for many city workers not part of unions

Proposed budget of $511.4 million, a decrease of $13.7 million, or 2.7%, from the FY 2009 adopted budget

Decrease of 572, or 16%, in total number of approved full time positions (including 177 police officers), for a savings of close to $40 million.

Across the board reductions of close to 16% in all of the departments, including the complete elimination of several departments

Tiered salary reductions across all departments ranging from 6% to 15%,

Click on the following for more of the story:  Beacon News :: ::

St. Charles works out wage freeze to balance budget

The non-union employees had their freezes put into place May 1, the first day of the current fiscal year. Over the next several months, the unions came to terms one by one.

“Unfortunately, it took us longer with some groups than others," City Administrator Brian Townsend said.

While the firefighters, electricians and Teamsters traded their raises for promises there would be no layoffs, the city's two police unions -- the police officers union and the police sergeants union -- were given no such promises. The last two holdouts, the officers union came to terms with the city in August and the sergeants union went into arbitration with the city on the matter that same month

arbitrator ruled in the city's favor regarding the wage freeze proposal

St. Charles works out wage freeze to balance budget :: Beacon News :: Local News

Motion for Belvidere sewer project fails

Monday, the only number that mattered to most of the City Council members was a projected year-end deficit of $1.2 million, a figure the mayor said could double in 2010.
After much debate, a motion to pass the sewer improvement project, which includes installing larger pipes, failed 7-3

Last week, Maggie Carlson, manager of OSF Lifeline Ambulance, told aldermen that Lifeline is running $500,000 in the red by operating two ambulances out of Belvidere: “The revenue coming in is less than our expenses going out.”

Motion for Belvidere sewer project fails - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

IDOT Chicago-Dubuque Intercity Train

Public Meeting Notices

Public meetings are scheduled for:  Chicago-Dubuque Intercity Passenger Rail Corridor: October 6, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at NIU Outreach Center, 8500 East State Street, Rockford, IL

The public meetings will be an open house format, so you may visit the event at any time. There will be a continuous PowerPoint presentation and exhibits that provides an overview of the Environmental Assessment, purpose and need, summary of improvements and constraints, and next steps. Representatives from IDOT will be available to discuss the study and answer your questions.

Check out further details at:  IDOT High Speed Rail