Sunday, January 31, 2010

Who is doing this?

 

First there were these signs:

  003

Then there was this sign:

Hursh Picutes

Belvidere, Genoa to face off again for Amtrak route

Belvidere route is back in play. Quinn and Secretary of Transportation Gary Hannig said they’ll leave it to local leaders to achieve consensus on the best route to Rockford out of Chicago.

Click on the following for more details:  Belvidere, Genoa to face off again for Amtrak route - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Quinn announces $45M for passenger rail for Quad Cities

Projected to launch in early 2012,…Under the planned service, two daily trips will bring passengers to and from Chicago in three hours and 20 minutes….one leg of a planned passenger train service that would connect to Iowa City and west on to Omaha, Neb.

Click on the following for more detailsQuinn announces $45M for passenger rail - Quad Cities Online

Passenger Rail Headed to Rockford

Quinn says, "this will be a trip that you can go from Rockford to Chicago in about two hours and 15 minutes."

route will run from Chicago to Dubuque, with a stop in Rockford and possibly Belvidere.

Click on the following:  Passenger Rail Headed to Rockford

Metra fares going up starting Monday

 

one-way ticket from the Elgin to Chicago will increase to $6 from the present $5.65.

weekend fares to Chicago will increase to $7

No fare increases will apply to the 10-ride or monthly pass tickets.

 

Click on the following for more details:  Metra fares going up starting Monday :: The Courier News :: Local News

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Recent Mailing regarding Judge Race

I like you just received this mailing and wanted to know more. Hursh vote no 2

The following is the Rockford Register Star’s coverage of this case.  Click on the following:  Janesville man convicted in Boone murder trial - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

hursh vote no 3

I was unable to locate the August 18, 2008 Rockford Register Star.  The Boone County Journal for -08-29-08 also has the story.   However a complete  copy of either paper is not available on line.

It appears that charges against Mr. Mackovich may have been lowered to manslaughter and that Mr. Mackovich is now on parole.  See Google Search below:

 
GOOGLE SEARCH:  http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=steven+mackovich+%2B+jim+hursh&start=10&sa=N
The Boone County

the conviction of Steven Mackovich from first-degree murder to voluntary manslaughter in the ... Boone County State's Attorney James Hursh, Boone County ...
boonecountyjournal.com/news/2008/Boone-County-News-08-29-08.pdf

UPDATE   UPDATE   UPDATE

I have been unable to obtain the Register Star ‘s story of which the anti-Hursh post card spoke however this length story by the Boone County Journal of August 29, 2008 was obtained.  Perhaps this can provide some clarification regarding this complicated case.

Click on the photocopies to enlarge:

Machovich 1 & 3

Machovich 2

Machovich 1 & 3

Machovich 4 & 6

Machovich 4 & 6

DeKalb Mayor refuses to release names of all ten applicants for the vacant alderman seat

Northern Star filed a Freedom of Information request for the names of the 10 applicants, and, in a letter addressed to the Northern Star, DeKalb City Clerk Steve Kapitan said “City Attorney Norma Guess asserts that this request [for the 10 names] be denied because it constitutes a clear unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”

NorthernStar Newspaper | Article

Harper professor recounts meeting Salinger

In 1978 Herriges and his girlfriend, both Chicago Public School English teachers, took a road trip specifically to meet Salinger, whom Herriges credits with changing him from a rebellious teen to an avid reader and aspiring author

J.D. Salinger

A lot of people have taught J.D. Salinger's books, and almost everyone with a high school education has read "Catcher in the Rye."

Click on the following for the complete story:  Daily Herald | Harper professor recounts meeting Salinger

What's in a cigarette? FDA to study ingredients

In June, tobacco companies must tell the FDA their formulas for the first time, just as drugmakers have for decades. Manufacturers also will have to turn over any studies they've done on the effects of the ingredients.

Click on the following for more details:  Business & Technology | What's in a cigarette? FDA to study ingredients | Seattle Times Newspaper

Washington Legislature votes ban on BPA in kids' containers

Washington will become the third state to ban bisphenol A, known as BPA, in some products. Connecticut and Minnesota have outlawed some BPA products, and several other states are expected to debate similar measures soon.

[includes] ban on the chemical bisphenol A in baby bottles, sippy cups and other food containers if they are to be used by children 3 or younger.

The Food and Drug Administration earlier this month for the first time said it was expressing "some concern" about BPA's effects and would spend $30 million doing more research.

Click on the following for more details:  Local News | Senate votes ban on BPA in kids' containers | Seattle Times Newspaper

Friday, January 29, 2010

New study of Illinois Finances

State of Illinois Enacted FY2010 Budget:
A Review of the Operating and Capital Budgets Enacted for
the Current Fiscal Year
January 22, 2010

image

The Civic Federation
would like to express its gratitude
to the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation,
whose generous grant to fund
the Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability at the Civic Federation
made the research and writing of this report possible.

Click on the following to read this 33 page study of Illinois finances:  http://civicfed.org/sites/default/files/FY2010%20State%20of%20Illinois%20Enacted%20Budget.pdf

DeKalb County homeless count conducted Thursday

Law enforcement and social service agencies throughout DeKalb County came together Thursday to get an idea of how many area residents are homeless.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development mandates that a point-in-time count of the homeless be done every two years for agencies to be eligible for federal funding for programs that address homelessness.

Click on the following for more details:  DeKalb County homeless count conducted Thursday | Daily Chronicle

Pantries struggle as donations slow in the new year

Boone County Food Pantry has been beset by the harsh reality of a new year. Monetary donations are down 80 percent. On the horizon is more demand for food, clothing and household goods as unemployment benefits run out in a region hit hard by joblessness. 162 new people came through the pantry’s doors in December when, overall, more than 1,700 received food that is distributed each Tuesday of the month. And the demand is continuing to show an increase so far in January.

Boone County has about 51,182 residents with 6,051 of them living in poverty.

pantry is located on Fifth Avenue, one block south of Route 173, in Capron….Food is distributed 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays. Qualified families are allowed to come once a month and leave with three boxes of food. Each must sign in and provide proof that he or she continues to live in Boone County.

No one has to show proof of income. But the penalties for taking food without being qualified are severe: a fine of up to $25,000 and/or five years in prison.

Click on the following for more details:  The Belvidere Daily Republican. - Pantries struggle as donations slow in the new year

Kane County Judge candidate admits license suspension

In the 1991 case, Morelli represented a drug dealer and the man's ex-wife and had a then-undisclosed sexual relationship with the woman, the complaint stated.

In an interview, Morelli admitted to the accusations involving the public defender but said, "I still don't think I had a conflict of interest" in the other matter.

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Judge candidate admits license suspension

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Oregon vote could impact Illinois tax wars, guv election

The Oregon measure — taxes will go up 2% for individuals earning more than $125,000 a year or couples above $250,000 — bears a distinct similarity to a proposal here by Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Dan Hynes.

,Mr. Hynes wants to implement a graduated income tax, one that he says would raise billions of dollars a year solely by zapping the top 3% of the population: households with annual incomes of $200K on up.
The measure needs to be approved by a 60% vote of the General Assembly and then in a statewide referendum.

 Should Mr. Hynes win the Democratic primary next Tuesday, expect to hear a lot, lot, lot more about Oregon and why Illinois ought to follow suit.

Click on the following for the rest of the story: Oregon vote could impact Illinois tax wars, guv election | Greg Hinz | Crain's Chicago Business

Chicago jobless rate climbs to 10.6%

metropolitan Chicago edged higher in December to 10.6%, remaining close to a 26-year high.

local rate peaked at 11.3% in June 2009, the highest jobless rate since July 1983

Rockford continues to have the highest jobless rate among Illinois metro areas, at 16%. Kankakee-Bradley followed with a 14.3%.

Click on the following for more details:  Chicago jobless rate climbs to 10.6% | Crain's Chicago Business

Illinois Loses Track of Hundreds of Sex Offenders

 

700 sex offenders in the city of Chicago aren't compliant with laws requiring them to register with the state. And officials don't know the whereabouts of more than 200 of those offenders.

Click on the following for more details:  City Room™ - Metro - Illinois Loses Track of Hundreds of Sex Offenders

Quinn defends taking $24k interest payments from Senate campaign fund

Gov. Pat Quinn said today he would soon close a campaign account from his losing 1996 U.S. Senate race that has paid him $24,000 in interest. 

fund alive by pumping in a series of personal loans and then soliciting political donations so he can pay himself back, at interest rates approaching 10 percent

Dan Hynes, Quinn's Democratic challenger for governor, called the Quinn Senate fund "very peculiar."  "I really can't understand why it happened, how it happened and what the explanation is,"

Click on the following for more details:  Clout St: Quinn defends taking interest payments from Senate campaign fund

Regional plan stresses water conservation

The plan stresses conservation and resource management; looks ahead to 2050; and includes the counties of Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.

improve how water demand is managed, by emphasizing conservation, pricing and the reuse of "graywater" -- which is the residue of household activities such as dish washing, laundry and bathing -- and wastewater.

continued rapid population growth and economic activity will put a strain on the region's current supply, …Significant shortages could result without coordinated action to implement this new water plan.

Click on the following for more details:  Regional plan stresses water conservation :: Beacon News :: Local News

Feds make suburban gang sweep in Elgin

part of a nationwide operation in 83 cities focusing on gangs with ties to international drug trafficking organizations.  …. Arrests were made in Algonquin, Carpentersville, Elgin, Hanover Park, Palatine, Schaumburg, Streamwood, Vernon Hills, and Waukegan

Of the 12 arrested, eight are in the United States illegally and the other four are permanent residents whose convictions would render them eligible for deportation,

Click on the following for more details:  Feds make suburban gang sweep :: The Courier News :: Local News

DeKalb County unemployment rate returns to double-digits

DeKalb County unemployment reached 10.5 percent in December, according to preliminary numbers released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

That's up from 9.7 percent in November

Click on the following for more details:  County unemployment rate returns to double-digits | Daily Chronicle

Who did this?

003

I saw this in a cornfield near me.

Wisconsin to get $822 million for rail

 

$810 million would be used to upgrade and refurbish train stations and install safety equipment on the Madison-to-Milwaukee leg of a line that stretches from Minneapolis to Chicago.
Another $12 million will be used to make improvements in the Milwaukee-Chicago corridor to reduce travel times and improve on-time performance.

Wisconsin to get $822 million for rail - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Area unemployment hits 16% In Rockford; 19.8% in Belvidere

Belvidere’s rate shot up 2.5 percentage points, to 19.8 percent, in December

Click on the following for more details:  Area unemployment hits 16% - - BusinessRockford.com

Belvidere City Council approves next steps in riverfront redevelopment plan

[the project area] owned by the city, total just over 7.1 acres within the Kishwaukee River Redevelopment area. The summit, sponsored by the National Brownfields Association, is set for March 24 in Atlanta.

The event is by invitation, and Brereton said he hopes the Belvidere site is picked to be showcased in the event, where the selected properties will be featured and reviewed by developers and investors.

Click on the following to read the rest of the storyThe Belvidere Daily Republican. - Council approves next steps in riverfront redevelopment plan

Senate Votes to Raise Debt Ceiling -

 

The U.S. Senate Thursday voted narrowly to increase the government's borrowing authority to $14.3 trillion, which would allow the Treasury Department to continue servicing the country's spiraling national debt through most of 2010.

The 60 to 40 vote, along party lines

Senate Votes to Raise Debt Ceiling - NYTimes.com

Filling Freeport’s pricey new airport hangar

Freeport airport Approximately $400,000 of the project has been paid for, and Freeport officials are expecting the Federal Aviation Administration to pay the remaining $450,000. Future payments from the FAA, however, are not guaranteed.….has enough space to house three corporate jets.

Currently the space is not rented

Click on the following for more details:  Filling Freeport’s pricey new airport hangar - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Illinois enters a state of insolvency

Crain has given Illinois taxpayers a fearful look forward. 

[Illinois] meet classic definitions of insolvency: Its liabilities far exceed its assets, and it's not generating enough cash to pay its bills. Private companies in similar circumstances often shut down or file for bankruptcy protection.

Legal experts say the protections of the federal bankruptcy code are available to cities and counties but not states.

At some point, unpaid vendors will stop bidding on state contracts, investors will refuse to buy Illinois bonds and state employees will get paid in scrip, as California did last year.

"The crisis will come when you see state institutions shutting down because they can't pay their employees,"

State tax receipts from July through December last year were running more than $1 billion behind 2008,

But California was forced to seek a federal guarantee for its borrowing last year when credit dried up. It didn't get the guarantee, and state officials are now seeking a $6.9-billion federal bailout.

Click on the following for m ore details:  Illinois enters a state of insolvency | Crain's Chicago Business

Candlewick Lake subdivision explores incorporation

In order to become a municipality, the village needs a public road, so incorporation cannot take place with the gates in place, which keep the roads private.

approximate $500,000 from the State of Illinois that could have gone to Candlewick if it were a municipality, but which went instead to Boone County

could incorporate, they may be able to purchase the water/sewer system though eminent domain and begin to lower the amounts the residents pay for these services.

Click on the following for more details:  The Belvidere Daily Republican. - Candlewick Lake subdivision explores incorporation

UPDATE on Campaign funding for judge

Three old names on the political front are running in the Republican primary for Judge of  the new 17th Circuit Court:  David A. Englund, James P. Hursh and Ron Wait.  Mr. Wait has just notified Illinois Board of Election that he has loaned his campaign another $25,000.  See the Schedule A-1 below.

As mandated by law the three candidates have submitted required schedules of contributions and expenditures for the last six months to the State Board of Election.  Their respective filings are available at: http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-01-22T21%3A13%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=7

As a convenience the following is an updated summary of their filings.

David A.Englund:  Mr. Englund has expended $19,074 on the campaign as of 12-31-2009.   In addition there are in-kind contributions (internet ads) of approximated $2500 given by Berman Stephen of Hanover, MD and approximately $6220 of in-kind contributions paid by the candidate. Thus far the campaign is  financed almost completely by a $50,000 loan from Mr. Englund’s personal funds. There was $31,100 of remaining funds as of 12-31-2009.

Mr. Englund ran successfully for re-election to the 16th district in 1994, a total of $15,000 was expended based upon filings available at the Board of Elections.

James P. Hursh: Mr. Hursh has expended $15,856 on the campaign as of 12-31-2009. In kind contribution of $270. Total receipts consists of $18,351 in individual contributions and a $5,000 loan from Ralph and Beverly Hursh.  $10,000 of the contributions was from the candidate himself.  Other major contributors include: R Robert Funderburg ($1,000), Retired Judge Angus More of Rockford($1,000), Jody and Kathy Goad,($300),  Kent Kniep ($250), Dave and Amy Gallano ($210), Gerald and Carol Rowe ($160).  Jack Wolf Chrysler made an in-kind contribution of $250.  There was $7,495 of remaining funds as of 12-31-2009.

Ron Wait:  Mr. Wait has expended $22,230 on the campaign as of 12-31-2009.  The entire campaign has been financed by a $80,000 and now an additional $25,000 loan from the candidate.

During the period 7-1 to 12-31-2009, Mr. Wait was also actively soliciting funds under the CITIZENS FOR RON WAIT, a political committee which existed since 1982.  That committee has the stated purpose to elect Ron Wait to 68th Representative District in the General Assembly.  The required disclosure items for that committee are also shown below.  There is a sizeable list of large contributors.   This listing is available by clicking on the smaller photocopies.  Also see the $4,000 transfer in’s from corporate sponsors also on small photocopy.  It is difficult to determine what affect this committee has had on the campaign for judge.  Expenditures exceeded revenue and only $2,054 cash is now available.  During the period the committee owed a loan of $51,000 from the candidate which is unchanged from the previous period.   

Wait Campaign 9

Click on above photocopy to enlarge.

FOIA Law Attacked

School Superintendents’ evaluation exempt from FOIA.  And the public was given little opportunity to weigh in.

January 11 an amendment to SB 315 suddenly surfaced in the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.  That amendment was designed to net Illinois more than $500 million in federal funding through the new "Race to the Top" program for the state's neediest schools -  but it also exempted teacher and principal performance evaluations from public disclosure

The legislation was then moved to the House floor, but not before superintendent performance evaluations could be exempted from disclosure as well.  They got there own special amendment, which never even saw committee, that was simply approved by a non-recorded voice vote on the House floor.

Governor Quinn signed the bill the same day he received it - January, 15.

Click on the following for more detailsFOIA Law Attacked

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Late campaign cash floods Illinois election races

 

  State Sen. Kirk Dillard got $250,000 from the Illinois Education Assn. — an unusually large donation from a labor union to a Republican candidate

Click on the following for more details:  Late campaign cash floods Illinois election races | Greg Hinz | Crain's Chicago Business

Massive check scam nets 33 arrests in four counties

in bogus payroll checks and money orders being cashed at businesses, in many cases local Walmarts, authorities said today

Rockford residents Mentha B. Garrett, Angelica Flores-Cortes, Irma M. Martinez, Adriana Trejo, Darrell J. Cooper, Christopher D. Jensen, and Lenetra R. Williams; along with Beatrice M. Amaya of Loves Park and Wayne L. Felske Jr. of Cary.

Boone County is withholding names of six people until charged are filed.

police departments from Belvidere, East Dundee, Elgin, Rockford, the Illinois State Police/Illinois Gaming Board and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Massive check scam nets 33 arrests in four counties

Employment rate for Illinois teens plunges

 

among 16- to 19-year olds, 48 percent were employed statewide in 2000. That fell to 37 percent in 2007 and 28 percent from January to November of last year.

Click on the following for more details:  Employment rate for Illinois teens plunges :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Business

Unemployment Rate in Illinois Rises

The unemployment rate in Illinois has jumped to 11.1 percent, making it tougher for people to find work and stay hopeful.

hundreds of people pouring into the Illinois offices of Employment Security daily are experiencing. No work, no money and the fear of how to get by.

Unemployment Rate in Illinois Rises - Chicago Breaking News

Monday, January 25, 2010

Chemtool begins moving in

Boxes are coming in and out of the former Woodward Governor building on the corner of Illinois Highway 2 and Rockton Road.
Chemtool is moving in while Woodward Governor is moving out of the 105,000-square-foot facility.

Athans said Chemtool has moved in a few offices that are filled with workers from the Crystal Lake, Ill. facility and new hires from the Stateline Area

Click on the following for more details:   Beloit Daily News - your source for news, entertainment, sports, opinion, events, community, shopping and more > Archives > News > Local News > Chemtool begins moving in

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Wal-Mart Stores cuts about 11,200 Sam's Club jobs nationwide as it outsources product sampling

 Sam's Club

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will cut about 11,200 jobs at Sam's Club warehouses as it turns over the task of in-store product demonstrations to an outside marketing company.

"Sam's has been the relative laggard, and it has lagged relative to its direct competitors, Costco and the smaller BJ's (Wholesale Club),

marks Wal-Mart Stores' largest job cut, they expect many employees to be picked up by Shopper Events, so the net effect on the economy probably won't be that bad.

Wal-Mart Stores cuts about 11,200 Sam's Club jobs nationwide as it outsources product sampling - chicagotribune.com

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Feds file antitrust suit against Dean Foods

Dean's Dean Foods Co. purchased a smaller dairy company [Foremost] in Wisconsin to quash competition and drive up milk prices.

"purpose of the department's lawsuit is to restore competition so that schools, grocery stores and other retailers in Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, will pay lower prices for their milk."

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Feds file antitrust suit against Dean Foods

Northwest Herald changes archive policy

Northwest Herald - Local news and video for McHenry County, Illinois

The NW Herald is trying to raise more money from it archives.  Links to NW Herald stories older than seven days will no longer be available without a fee.  Because of this,  links to this source will be minimized. Older posting with the NW Herald will not be available without your payment of a fee.

Here’s the new policy:

The most recent 7 days of articles are available for free. For articles older than 7 days there is a small fee for retrieval from our archive.This archive has a variety of pricing options for purchasing articles.

To allow for flexibility, we offer a day pass and a week pass along with single article purchasing. You will be asked for your credit card information as part of the set up process.

When you are ready to purchase, you can choose from the following options.

Single article purchase = $2.95
You can choose to purchase one article at a time for $2.95 per article.
Each purchase is reflected as a single purchase on your credit card.
There are also a variety of other options for purchasing articles:

  • 3 Pack: $6.95, one week duration
  • 10 Pack: $21.95, one month duration
  • 25 Pack: $49.95, one month duration
  • 40 Pack: $79.95, one month duration
  • 500 Pack: $995, one year duration
  • 1,000 Pack: $1,995, one year duration

Words can come back to haunt GOP

.

Businessman, Jack Roeser of  http://www.championnews.net, famous for publishing teachers/administrators salaries of schools across the state has been caught making some outlandish remarks.

you insist upon employing outrage, innuendo, screaming and fear as your primary political tools, at some point, it will come around to bite you in the butt. And some Republicans, like Carpentersville businessman Jack Roeser, are looking to repair their pants, because that bite just came in the form of some "interesting" local radio commercials produced by Illinois GOP U.S. Senate candidate Andy Martin.

Click on the following to read the entire article:  Words can come back to haunt GOP :: The Courier News :: Town Talk

Five states where GOP might pull another Brown

Arkansas.Nevada.Pennsylvania.Colorado.Delaware.

Bonus Extra. Unlike the five states listed above, North Dakota has a seat in play this fall that is almost certain to switch sides

Click on the following for more details:  Five states where GOP might pull another Brown / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com

Illinois jobless rate back over 11 percent

Illinois hasn't seen unemployment this high since 1983.

Illinois' jobless rate rebounded past 11 percent in December, rising 0.2 percent to 11.1 percent

Click on the following for more details:  Northwest Herald | State jobless rate back over 11 percent

Most Union Members Now Work for Government

first time in American history, a majority of union members are government workers rather than private-sector employees, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Friday.

in 2009 that the 7.9 million unionized public-sector workers easily outnumbered those in the private sector, where labor’s ranks shrank to 7.4 million, from 8.2 million in 2008.

7.2 percent of private-sector workers were union members last year, down from 7.6 percent the previous year. That, labor historians said, was the lowest percentage of private-sector workers in unions since 1900.  ….Among government workers, union membership grew to 37.4 percent last year, from 36.8 percent in 2008.

Most Union Members Now Work for Government - NYTimes.com

Friday, January 22, 2010

Wolf Chevrolet among dealerships fighting to retain franchise

 Other reports suggested that all of the Cadillac franchises in Boone, Ogle and Winnebago counties could be eliminated, but officials from those dealerships could not be reached for comment

Click on the following for more details:  Wolf Chevrolet among dealerships fighting to retain franchise - - BusinessRockford.com

Truckers threaten to go on strike, shut airports

Hare International Airport ...snow removal and garbage pick-up would grind to a halt, and O'Hare and Midway could be "shut down" because only Federal Aviation Administration-approved drivers with certified background checks can drive on the tarmac and clear snow and ice from runways.

Two thousand Chicago truck drivers are expected to vote next week to authorize a strike that could cripple such vital city services as snow removal, garbage collection and airport operations to protest Mayor Daley's decision to reduce their hours and "ignore" their contract.

Click on the following for more detailsTruckers threaten to go on strike, shut airports :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: City Hall

Trailing candidates show financial strength in Illinois governor's race

The following connections to State Board of Election filings is taken from Chicago Current website.  Click on the candidates name to see the candidate’s disclosure form.  Click on the bottom link to read  Adrian G. Uribarri’s analysis of these finances.

To access a candidate's full semiannual report, just click on his name:

  • Quinn: $3.15 million in receipts, $2.36 million in expenditures and $1.5 million in available funds at the close of the period
  • Hynes: $2.32 million, $2.75 million, $3.1 million
  • McKenna: $2.23 million, $2.17 million, $63,500
  • Dillard: $1.4 million, $1 million, $369,000
  • Adam Andrzejewski, Republican: $752,000, $775,00, $334,000
  • Bob Schillerstrom, Republican: $661,000, $674,000, $120,000
  • Bill Brady, Republican: $443,000, $662,000, $192,000
  • Ryan: $313,000, $123,000, $190,000
  • Proft: $169,000, $135,000, $51,300
  • Rich Whitney, Green: $6,120, $6,260, $2,570

Click on the following for the rest of the story:  Trailing candidates show financial strength in Illinois governor's race | < Chicago News, Politics and Public Affairs | Chicago Current|

Fraud charges filed: Long-time Stephenson County Board member faces perjury trial

defendant filed two pages (of his election petition) with forged signatures,” Zalar [of ILSAAP]  said. “He swore before a notary public that they were genuine…Vogt [States Attorney] referred the matter to an independent state agency, ILSAAP, to avoid any appearance of bias or impropriety, he said. ILSAAP is a state-funded agency that handles appeals, assessment objections, collective bargaining and other matters….

charges allege that Kuhlmeier falsely asserted that about 14 of the signatures on his primary election petitions were signed in his presence and were genuine, Zalar said.

The false assertions rise to the level of perjury because Kuhlmeier signed his petitions in front of an election official, serving as a notary public, meaning he was technically “under oath” at the time,

Click on the following for more details:  Fraud charges filed: Long-time County Board member faces perjury trial - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

Thursday, January 21, 2010

NDK must disclose possible pollutants within 10 days

NDK NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO.,LTD.

NDK Crystal must disclose within 10 days to the Illinois attorney general’s office and the Boone County state’s attorney’s office what harmful chemicals may have polluted the water, soil and air after a Dec. 7 explosion at its Belvidere plant.

company also has 60 days to provide a corrective action plan, hazard and operability study and supply a “root cause analysis” of what caused the disaster.

Click on the following for more details:  NDK must disclose possible pollutants within 10 days - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Below are photocopies of the court complaint against NDK.  The two count indictment claimed “Substantial Endangerment to the Environment”(page1)  and “Air Pollution”(page 5).   Quartz particles and caustic soda are named in the complaint.  Page 4 describes the injunction which was sought.

Click on the photocopies to enlarge:

NDK Case 1 ndk case 2

ndk 3 ndk case 4

ndk case 5 ndk page 6

ndk case 7 ndk page 8

ndk case 9

Supreme Court rolls back campaign spending limits

 Front of Supreme Court Building

corporations may spend as freely as they like to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress, easing decades-old limits on business efforts to influence federal campaigns

justices also struck down part of the landmark McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill that barred union- and corporate-paid issue ads in the closing days of election campaigns.

justices, with only Thomas in dissent, did uphold McCain-Feingold requirements that anyone spending money on political ads must disclose the names of contributors.

Click on the following for more details:  Supreme Court rolls back campaign spending limits - washingtonpost.com

Campaign Financing for the New Boone County Judgeship

Three old names on the political front are running in the Republican primary for Judge of  the new 17th Circuit Court:  David A. Englund, James P. Hursh and Ron Wait. 

As mandated by law the three candidates have submitted required schedules of contributions and expenditures for the last six months to the State Board of Election.  Their respective filings are listed below. 

As a convenience the following is a summary of their filings.

David A.Englund:  Mr. Englund has expended $19,074 on the campaign as of 12-31-2009.   In addition there are in-kind contributions (internet ads) of approximated $2500 given by Berman Stephen of Hanover, MD and approximately $6220 of in-kind contributions paid by the candidate. Thus far the campaign is  financed almost completely by a $50,000 loan from Mr. Englund’s personal funds. There was $31,100 of remaining funds as of 12-31-2009.

Mr. Englund ran successfully for re-election to the 16th district in 1994, a total of $15,000 was expended based upon filings available at the Board of Elections.

James P. Hursh: Mr. Hursh has expended $15,856 on the campaign as of 12-31-2009. In kind contribution of $270. Total receipts consists of $18,351 in individual contributions and a $5,000 loan from Ralph and Beverly Hursh.  $10,000 of the contributions was from the candidate himself.  Other major contributors include: R Robert Funderburg ($1,000), Retired Judge Angus More of Rockford($1,000), Jody and Kathy Goad,($300),  Kent Kniep ($250), Dave and Amy Gallano ($210), Gerald and Carol Rowe ($160).  Jack Wolf Chrysler made an in-kind contribution of $250.  There was $7,495 of remaining funds as of 12-31-2009.

Ron Wait:  Mr. Wait has expended $22,230 on the campaign as of 12-31-2009.  The entire campaign has been financed by a $80,000 loan from the candidate.

During the period 7-1 to 12-31-2009, Mr. Wait was also actively soliciting funds under the CITIZENS FOR RON WAIT, a political committee which existed since 1982.  That committee has the stated purpose to elect Ron Wait to 68th Representative District in the General Assembly.  The required disclosure items for that committee are also shown below.  There is a sizeable list of large contributors.   This listing is available by clicking on the smaller photocopies.  Also see the $4,000 transfer in’s from corporate sponsors also on small photocopy.  It is difficult to determine what affect this committee has had on the campaign for judge.  Expenditures exceeded revenue and only $2,054 cash is now available.  During the period the committee owed a loan of $51,000 from the candidate which is unchanged from the previous period.   

It is anticipated that there will be no additional disclosures until after the February 2, 2010 Primary.

ELECT ENGLUND JUDGE                Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

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HURSH FOR JUDGE        Click photocopy to enlarge.

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RON WAIT FOR JUDGE       Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

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CITIZENS FOR RONALD A. WAIT

Purpose:   Elect Ron Wait to 68th Representative District in the General Assembly.

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