Saudis Try to Head Off Swine Flu Fears Before Hajj - NYTimes.com

 

The Saudi authorities, fearing that the hajj [pilgrimage to Mecca] could turn their holy city into a petri dish for viral mutations and a hub for spreading a new pandemic wave around the world, are working hard to head that off. They have asked some worshipers, including pregnant women and the elderly, not to make the trip, which is scheduled for the last week of November

pilgrims are advised to wash their hands frequently and bring their own surgical masks and hand sanitizers

Click on the following for more of the details:  Saudis Try to Head Off Swine Flu Fears Before Hajj - NYTimes.com

C.H. Tung - In China, there's a lot to celebrate -

The writer, a former chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is chairman of the China-U.S. Exchange Foundation, a nongovernmental organization dedicated to fostering dialogue and openness.

1949--The average life expectancy was 35 years. Infant mortality reached a high of 20 percent. The overall illiteracy rate was 80 percent. There was little organized education, no health care and no means of social security. The national treasury was empty, the economy bankrupt. There was no industry to speak of and little basic infrastructure.

2009-China's economy has become the world's third-largest. Life expectancy has reached 73 years; infant mortality is down to 1.5 percent. The illiteracy rate has fallen to 5 percent. A nine-year education has become available to all children. Health care and social security are improving. Modern industries are being developed. Roads, railways, airports and ports blanket the country. In the areas of democracy, the rule of law and human rights -- including the rights of 55 minorities -- China has made enormous progress. At no other point in history has so much improvement been made for so many people in such a short period.

Click on the following to read the rest of the story:  C.H. Tung - In China, there's a lot to celebrate - washingtonpost.com

White House releases six-month log of visitors

THEY INCLUDED:

labor leaders, senators, lobbyists, business executives and liberal activists as he sought to revive the faltering economy, plan health-care reform, confirm a Supreme Court nominee and pass a huge stimulus package.

White House releases six-month log of visitors - washingtonpost.com

5,100 crosses at Mexico border mark migrant deaths

 

Rights activists in the northern Mexican border city of Tijuana have hung 5,100 small white crosses on the fence straddling the U.S. frontier to commemorate migrants who have died trying to cross.

The protest coincides with preparations for Mexico's Nov. 1 Day of the Dead holiday. The crosses represent the number of migrants estimated to have died in the 15 years since the United States toughened border security.

Click on the following for more details:  5,100 crosses at Mexico border mark migrant deaths - SignOnSanDiego.com

Cholesterol drugs may improve flu survival

 

cholesterol-lowering statin drugs like Lipitor and Zocor.

people who were taking these drugs when they caught seasonal flu and had to be hospitalized were twice as likely to survive than those who were not on such medicines.

There might be justification for trying these drugs now in certain patients not doing well on any other treatment, said Dr. Ronald Turner of the University of Virginia, a prominent virologist who had no role in the new study.

Daily Herald | Study: Cholesterol drugs may improve flu survival

Kane Co. takes step toward video gaming

 

subcommittee recommend to the County Board that bars and other liquor establishments in unincorporated parts of the county be allowed to install video gambling machines.

Click on the following for more details:  Kane Co. takes step toward video gaming :: Beacon News :: Local News

McHenry County Voters may have say in video gambling

This was just reported by Cal Skinner in Crystal Lake. 

the question of whether an advisory referendum will be put on the February 2nd primary election ballot will be voted upon November 3rd.

Click on the following for more details:  McHenry County Blog |

Management Letter to Boone County Officials brings many questions

The two page letter intended for the information and use of management was obtained under the Freedom Of Information Act after county officials had made oral reference to the document.  The letter does not affect the CPA report dated July 14, 2009 which is available at the county’s website:  http://www.boonecountyil.org/ 

Click on the right hand tab, “Annual Audits”, then click under Audits “Fiscal Year 2008”.

In the management letter the auditor is seeking to “strengthening internal controls and operating efficiency”  through five request or suggestions.     Please read them for yourself. 

Item #5 is quite unbelievable—the Treasurer’s tax Collector account has over $1,000,000  which the Collector should determine “who this money belongs to, whether it is the County, other taxing bodies, or the state as unclaimed property.”

Click on the photocopy to enlarge: 

Lawmakers wrap up, go home until January

 

approved a campaign finance reform bill backed by Democrats

lawmakers blocked approval of ending free transit rides for seniors, strengthening regulations of cemeteries and expanding options for video poker machine operators.

Lawmakers wrap up, go home until January - Springfield, IL - The State Journal-Register

Lake County H1N1 sites out of vaccine again

Mundelein, Gurnee Round Lake Beach, Waukegan and North Chicago - were capped by 11:15 a.m. today.

That means the 4,143 vaccine doses that had been expected to last through Sunday already have been allocated. Clinic hours scheduled for Saturday and Sunday have been canceled.

Click on the following:  Daily Herald | Lake County H1N1 sites out of vaccine again

Daley: Casino in Chicago should be government-owned

 

land-based casino could be a partial solution to Chicago’s financial crisis, but only if it’s government-owned because City Hall has to “deal with all the repercussions of gambling,” Mayor Daley said.

Click on the following for the full story:  Daley: Casino in Chicago should be government-owned :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: City Hall

Effort stalls to end seniors' free rides

 

But lawmakers said today it would be wrong to take away a benefit from the elderly. They also said the CTA can't be trusted to provide honest figures about its budget problems.

A spokeswoman says Senate president John Cullerton has concluded he lacks the votes to cut back the free rides

Click on the following:  Effort stalls to end seniors' free rides :: The SouthtownStar :: News

Dozens in Congress under ethics inquiry

AN ACCIDENTAL DISCLOSURE
Document was found on file-sharing network

The 22-page "Committee on Standards Weekly Summary Report" gives brief summaries of ethics panel investigations of the conduct of 19 lawmakers and a few staff members. It also outlines the work of the new Office of Congressional Ethics, a quasi-independent body that initiates investigations and provides recommendations to the ethics committee. The document indicated that the office was reviewing the activities of 14 other lawmakers. ….

The investigations by two separate ethics offices include an examination of the chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on defense, John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), as well as others who helped steer federal funds to clients of the PMA Group. The lawmakers received campaign contributions from the firm and its clients. A document obtained by The Washington Post shows that the subcommittee members under scrutiny also include Peter J. Visclosky (D-Ind.), James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.), Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) , C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.) and Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.).

The document also indicates that the House ethics committee's staff recently interviewed the staff of Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) about his allegation that a PMA lobbyist threatened him in 2007 when he resisted steering federal funds to a PMA client. The lobbyist told a Nunes staffer that if the lawmaker didn't help, the defense contractor would move out of Nunes's district and take dozens of jobs with him.

Together, … seven legislators have personally steered more than $200 million in earmarks to clients of the PMA Group in the past two years, and received more than $6.2 million in campaign contributions from PMA and its clients in the past decade, according to an analysis by Congressional Quarterly and Taxpayers for Common Sense.

Click on the following for more details: Dozens in Congress under ethics inquiry - washingtonpost.com

Manzullo Secures Another $280,000 to Help McHenry County Preserve Abundant Drinking Water Supplies

 

Washington, Oct 29 -

The U.S. House today approved another $280,000 in federal funds to help McHenry County officials ensure abundant and safe drinking water for residents for generations to come.

The funding, secured by Congressman Don Manzullo, is included in the FY 2010 Interior-Environment conference report, which the House passed today. The bill also includes a Continuing Resolution to keep the federal government operating through Dec. 18. As a result, the bill must be passed by the Senate and signed into law by midnight Saturday when the prior continuing resolution expires.

Manzullo previously secured $295,000 in federal funds for the McHenry County Groundwater Protection program two years ago. That funding helped pay for the installation of observation wells and equipment to monitor groundwater supplies and quality throughout the county. The new funds will be used to develop a 3-D hydro-geologic modeling project and a groundwater flow modeling project to provide a much more exact measurement of the county’s groundwater resources.

“The preservation of abundant, safe groundwater supplies is especially vital for McHenry County because – unlike the other collar counties of Chicago -- it does not have access to Lake Michigan water and relies solely on aquifers for drinking water,” Manzullo said. “I congratulate county and community leaders for coming together three years ago and creating the McHenry County Groundwater Protection Task Force, and recognizing groundwater preservation is key to McHenry County’s superior quality of life. That’s why I requested and secured these funds that are vital to McHenry County’s future.”

Representative Don Manzullo

Neighbors upset over golf carts in Spring Township

River Reach subdivision over whether golf carts, which have become a common mode of transportation, should be legalized.

residents driving the carts outside of a golf course setting are breaking Illinois Vehicle Code on roads that weren’t built or set up with speed limits catered toward carts.

Neighbors upset over golf carts - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

BLOG Count for Boone County Watchdog: 654visitors since 9-28-2009; 278 unique visitors

**********************************************************