And Over in the Senate, An Impeachment Trial for a Judge - NYTimes.com

 

Senate Tuesday began pondering the fate of federal judge G. Thomas Porteous Jr. of Louisiana, who was impeached by the House of Representatives in March on four articles of “high crimes and misdemeanors” stemming from charges that he received cash and favors from those with business in his court. This is only the 12th impeachment trial of a judge in Senate history.

Two lawyers who once worked with the judge said in pre-trial hearings that they gave him thousands of dollars in cash before he decided a civil case in favor of their client. He is also accused of accepting free meals, trips and other goodies in exchange for judicial favors.

Mark Kirk, a new Republican Senator from Illinois, recused himself from the proceedings because he was a member of the House of when the body impeached the judge.

 

Click on the following for more details:  And Over in the Senate, An Impeachment Trial for a Judge - NYTimes.com

Boone County Board Posts its Minutes

Based upon the county posting its minutes on its website the Attorney General’s Office closes its inquiry.   Click on the photocopy to enlarge.

Thanks everyone.  A special thank you to  Matthew Rogina at the Attorney General’s Office and  Betsy Lopez Fritscher of the Rockford Register Star.

New light shed on Pagano’s financial situation

 

Metra's longtime chief Phil Pagano was supporting two other households in addition to his own, which may shed light on the financial scandal he was involved with before he took his own life, according to a newspaper report.

Click on the following for more details:  Northwest Herald | New light shed on Pagano’s financial situation

Here are some other postings regarding the financial scandal and suicide: 

http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2010/04/metra-probes-puts-head-phil-pagano-on.html

http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2010/05/metra-ceo-phil-pagano-commits-suicide.html

http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2010/06/metra-watchdog-33-allegations-are-being.html

Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all called up reservist employees for up to two years.

Here is something everyone should know when they do their Christmas shopping.   The policy applies only to full time Sears employees and I have been unable to verify if it applies to K-Mart and the other Sears Holdings companies.I am just passing on this email I received today. Merry Christmas. Bill P

Snopes confirms this: http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/sears.asp

According to Truth or Fiction this is absolutely TRUE.  We all need to support American businesses that support Americans!

Sears - Christmas shopping this year. 
I know I needed this reminder, since Sears isn't always my first choice. It's amazing when you think of how long the war has lasted and Sears hasn't withdrawn from their commitment. Could we each buy at least one thing at Sears this year?
How does Sears treat its employees who are called up for military duty? By law, they are required to hold their jobs open and available, but nothing more. Usually, people take a big pay cut and lose benefits as a result of being called up for active duty.
Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all called up reservist employees for up to two years.
I submit that Sears is an exemplary corporate citizen and should be recognized for its contribution. I suggest we all shop at Sears at least once, and be sure to find a manager to tell them why we are there so the company gets the positive reinforcement & feedback it well deserves.
Pass it on.
I decided to check this before I sent it forward. So I sent the following e-mail to the Sears Customer Service Department:
I received this e-mail and I would like to know if it is true. If it is, the Internet may have just become one very good source of advertisement for your company. I know I would go out of my way to buy products from Sears instead of another store for a like item, even if it's cheaper at that store.
This is their answer to my e-mail:
Dear Customer:
Thank you for contacting Sears.The information is factual. We appreciate your positive feedback.
Sears regards service to our country as one of greatest sacrifices our young men and women can make. We are happy to do our part to lessen the burden they bear at this time.
Bill Thorn
Sears Customer Care
webcenter@sears.com
1-800-349-4358
Please pass this on to all your friends. Sears needs to be recognized for this outstanding contribution and we need to show them as Americans, we do appreciate what they are doing for our military!!!
It's verified ! By Snopes.com at:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/sears.asp

snopes.com: Sears Military Pay

One Year Since NDK Explosion in Belvidere - MyStateLine.com

 

Belvidere-One year ago today, there was a deadly explosion at the NDK plant in Belvidere.
Officials believe one of the pressurized vessels, used to make quartz crystals, blew up.
Debris from the blast hit and killed a truck driver at the near-by I90 oasis.
OSHA sited the company with a dozen workplace and safety violations, but NDK is appealing the fines.
A final report and cause of the explosion could be finished later this month.

One Year Since NDK Explosion in Belvidere - MyStateLine.com

Lawsuit against NDK due in court year after deadly explosion - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

 

OSHA has already handed out citations, but NDK's lawyer says the company is challenging those.

Meanwhile, a lawsuit filed by the Environmental Protection Agency is scheduled to come up in court this Friday.

Click on the following for more details: Lawsuit against NDK due in court year after deadly explosion - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

NDK still not fully operational year after explosion

 

…. Since that time [March 2010], while NDK Crystal remains closed, NDK America, which employs about 21 people, has been operating. They are able to get the quartz that was previously made at the plant from another supplier in Japan.

The cause of the blast is still unknown,

an official report is expected sometime this spring or summer.

Until that time, the company can’t do anything with the exposed part of the structure, but that the employees working in the east side of the building at NDK American are unaffected by the damage.

Click on the following for more details:  NDK still not fully operational year after explosion

Boone County Board keeps Bob Walberg as chairman - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

Terri Glass, Ken Freeman and Pat Mattison were “no” votes as they didn’t list Walberg on their paper ballots,

Click on the following for more details:  Boone County Board keeps Bob Walberg as chairman - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star