Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Vatican offers 3 reasons it's not liable for abuse | Seattle Times Newspaper

case was filed in 2004 in Kentucky by three men who claim they were abused by priests and claim negligence by the Vatican. Their attorney, William McMurry, is seeking class-action status for the case, saying there are thousands of victims across the country.

"This  case is the only case that has been ever been filed against the Vatican which has as its sole objective to hold the Vatican accountable for all the priest sex abuse ever committed in this country

Plaintiffs in the Kentucky suit argue that U.S. diocesan bishops were employees of the Holy See, and that Rome was therefore responsible for their alleged wrongdoing in failing to report abuse.

They say a 1962 Vatican document mandated that bishops not report sex-abuse cases to police

Click on the following for the details:   Nation & World | Vatican offers 3 reasons it's not liable for abuse | Seattle Times Newspaper

Ill. redistricting group extends petition deadline - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

coalition must collect 288,000 signatures and send them by May 2 to the secretary of state’s office. She said they are working to get 500,000 signatures in case any petitions are challenged but did not have a count yet of how many have been collected.

Ill. redistricting group extends petition deadline - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Journal Article of 3-26-2010 regarding Resignation of Health Department Administrator

Health Department---JournaL 3-26

Chrysler Expects to Break Even in 2010, Marchionne Says - NYTimes.com

image 

automaker had slightly more than $5 billion in cash on hand.

Mr. Marchionne also runs, took management control of the company, which received about $15 billion, in all, from the Bush and Obama administrations.

Chrysler planned to present Fiat with a five-year plan in April that would outline the steps it would take back to sustained growth.

Click on the following for more details:  Chrysler Expects to Break Even in 2010, Marchionne Says - NYTimes.com

WHY Professionalism matters?

A lecture by Lisa Madigan to law students at NIU.  The lecture tape is 40 minutes, the Attorney General’s comments begin at 4:10.  At about 26:30  the FOIA and open meetings act. At 33:30 the DeKalb City alderman appointment case.

Click on the arrow to begin the videotape.

Kane County getting complaints on red light cameras

On Monday, the county board Transportation Committee moved to hold public hearings to gather feedback on the program and recommended to halt new camera installations. However, those cities that already have them likely would keep them for at least as long as their current permit would allow.

Senate Bill 935, which is now in the House, would standardize the yellow light change time, create an allowance for not coming to a complete stop past the line if pedestrians aren't present and make it so that violations were reviewed and approved by police, transportation officials said on Monday.

Click on the following for more details:  Kane getting complaints on red light cameras :: Beacon News :: Local News

Ida Public Library usage at an all time high

Here are the reasons that Rockford’s shortening the hours of its libraries makes no sense. 

image [Ida Library, Belvidere]  last year had a 12 to 15 percent increase in usage over the previous year….current year we are seeing at least another 10 percent increase in traffic

Ida Public Library has not been unaffected by the budget trouble sweeping through Illinois….per capita grants from the State of Illinois are reduced by 16 percent this year, were delivered several months late last year and are expected to be late again this year

Click on the following for more detailsThe Belvidere Daily Republican. - Ida Public Library usage at an all time high

Search for new Boone health official to start Thursday

This is new—someone is encouraging Mr. Hatfield and Ms. Gonzalez to apply for the position and they both are fully qualified.  Why must the Boone County Board pay $600 per month to Mr. Empereur when there are two fully qualified administrators in the department already?

Bill Hatfield, director of environmental health, and Lisa Gonzalez, the Health Department’s director of personal health services, will act as co-public health administrators and oversee the department.

Both Hatfield and Gonzalez have the skill-set and meet the criteria required to assume the role of administrator and are encouraged to apply for the job, Empereur said. The post pays up to $78,000.

Since Empereur’s contract with the county was tied to Crawford and has expired, the board voted to retain him as a consultant. His contract approval must be reviewed by Boone County State’s Attorney Michelle Courier. Empereur is not paid by the Health Department but receives $600 a month from the Illinois Public Health Association for his work, he said.

Click on the following for more details:  Search for new Boone health official to start Thursday - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star