Monday, January 31, 2011

Man leaves jail for medical treatment

 

Rock County Sheriff Bob Spoden said his jail isn’t equipped to treat Anthony Darwin for testicular cancer and getting him the proper medical care could potentially cost the county hundreds of thousands of dollars

He turned himself in on Jan. 10. District Attorney David O’Leary said Darwin was looking for medical treatment for stage four testicular cancer and had no health insurance

Bates said it was likely taxpayers may still end up with the tab for Darwin’s treatment, since he may end up applying for state health insurance, but the judge still granted Darwin’s release on a signature bond. Darwin is due back in court today.

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

Jeff Anderson advertisement regarding bankruptcy of Archdiocese of Milwaukee

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Click on the photocopies to enlarge.

This is taken from:  http://abusedinwisconsin.com/default.aspx

Diesel Use in Gas Drilling Cited as Violation of Safe-Water Law - NYTimes.com

 

We learned that no oil and gas service companies have sought — and no state and federal regulators have issued — permits for diesel fuel use in hydraulic fracturing,” said Representative Henry A. Waxman of California and two other Democratic members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, in the letter. “This appears to be a violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act.”

Oil and gas companies acknowledged using diesel fuel in their fracking fluids, but they rejected the House Democrats’ assertion that it was illegal. They said that the E.P.A. had never properly developed rules and procedures to regulate the use of diesel in fracking, despite a clear grant of authority from Congress over the issue.

the investigators said that three of the largest oil and gas services companies — Halliburton, Schlumberger and BJ Services — signed an agreement with the E.P.A. in 2003 intended to curtail the use of diesel in fracking in certain shallow formations.

Two years later, when Congress amended the Safe Water Drinking Act to exclude regulation of hydraulic fracturing, it made an express exception that allowed regulation of diesel fuel used in fracking.

Click on the following for more details: Diesel Use in Gas Drilling Cited as Violation of Safe-Water Law - NYTimes.com

St. Paul attorney takes priest abuse fight to Europe | Minnesota Public Radio

After filing more than 1,500 lawsuits against alleged pedophile priests in the United States, St. Paul attorney Jeff Anderson is now setting his sights on Europe.

Anderson has opened a law office in London, taking him even closer to the gates of the Vatican.

Speaking from his office in St. Paul, the plaintiff's attorney, Patrick Noaker, said this case gets to the heart of his belief that the Catholic church has engaged in the "international trafficking" of priests who abuse kids.

"Priests who have been sexually abusive in other countries, are being, and have been, trafficked to and from the United States, in order to avoid justice, in order conceal their wrongs," he said.

Larger view

Attorney Jeff Anderson

Noaker is an attorney with Jeff Anderson's law firm, and Anderson, in London, joined in on the press conference by video

But the suit alleges officials with the Diocese of New Ulm knew of Markey's past, because the priest had already been suspended and received treatment as a sexual predator three times before coming to Minnesota.

The lawsuit also names as defendants a diocese in Ireland, and the treatment centers Markey attended, for allegedly keeping the public in the dark despite his risk to re-offend.

Markey was extradited last year from Indiana to Ireland to face charges of raping a boy in that country.

Click on the following for more details:  St. Paul attorney takes priest abuse fight to Europe | Minnesota Public Radio News

Attorney for Alleged Church Sex Abuse Victim Says Vatican Rejects Lawsuit - FoxNews.com

Larger view

St. Paul attorney Jeff Anderson, who frequently clashes with the Catholic hierarchy over abuse allegations, said in a Sunday news release that his office tried to serve the lawsuit naming Pope Benedict XVI and other high-ranking officials at the Vatican as defendants, but that it was returned via Federal Express.

U.S. federal judge in October asked the Vatican to cooperate in serving court papers to the pope and two other Vatican officials, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

The Vatican is not obliged to comply with such requests

Click on the following for more details:  Attorney for Alleged Church Sex Abuse Victim Says Vatican Rejects Lawsuit - FoxNews.com

WNIJ: Burzynski replacement (2011-01-31)

DeKalb County Treasurer, Christine Johnson

Christine Johnson, will fill the remainder of his term. Burzynski recommended Johnson when making his announcement last week

Click on the following for more details:  WNIJ: Burzynski replacement (2011-01-31)

Bankruptcy for states in question | Illinois Statehouse News

A number of “no Bankruptcy arguments are given with the following conclusion:

Prominent political leaders on both sides of the aisle have since come out against the plan. It seems to be losing steam and specific legislation has yet to be introduced in Congress.

Click on the following for more details:  Bankruptcy for states in question | Illinois Statehouse News

Public takes advantage of changes to open government laws

 

Instead of filing a lawsuit, members of the public can ask the Public Access Bureau in the Illinois Attorney General's Office to review withheld documents or meetings complaints, to make sure government bodies are not violating the Freedom of Information Act or the Open Meetings Act.

The Public Access Bureau dealt with 1,806 such appeals from the public and 159 from the media in 2010.

Click on the following for more details:  Public takes advantage of changes to open government laws

Attorney General Madigan wants high court to stay ruling on state's $31B construction plan | Government | Crain's Chicago Business

 

Madigan's office filed a motion to stay the judgment while the state prepares an appeal it plans to file by Feb. 14.

An appellate court ruled this week that the law raising taxes on liquor and candy and allowing video gambling is unconstitutional. Justices decreed it violates a rule against bills covering more than a single subject.

Click on the following for more details:  Attorney General Madigan wants high court to stay ruling on state's $31B construction plan | Government | Crain's Chicago Business

Wine Tasting Benefit: Belv/Boone Co Food Pantry

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Sunday, January 30, 2011

The Times's Dealings With Julian Assange - NYTimes.com

Interesting essay concerning NY Times collaboration with the UK’s Guardian on the Wikileaks project starting in 2008.

The New York Times

Bill Keller is the executive editor of The New York Times. This essay is adapted from his introduction to “Open Secrets: WikiLeaks, War and American Diplomacy: Complete and Expanded Coverage from The New York Times,” an ebook available for purchase at nytimes.com/opensecrets.

Click on the following to read this interesting article:  The Times's Dealings With Julian Assange - NYTimes.com

Boone County RE Trans 1-17-2011/1-21-2011

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Click on the above photocopy to enlarge.

Above was taken from The Belvidere Daily Republican Online:  http://www.belvideredailyrepublican.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5930:boone-county-real-estate-transactions-recorded-jan-17-21&catid=108:boone-county&Itemid=510

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Their Own Private Europe - NYTimes.com

Economist Krugman replies to Representative Ryan’s  dubious assertions about employment, health care” and its relationship to the Republican view of Europe

Mr. Ryan made highly dubious assertions about employment, health care and moreAmerican conservatives have long had their own private Europe of the imagination — a place of economic stagnation and terrible health care, a collapsing society groaning under the weight of Big Government. The fact that Europe isn’t actually like that — did you know that adults in their prime working years are more likely to be employed in Europe than they are in the United States? —

truth was that in 2006-2007 Ireland was running a budget surplus, and had one of the lowest debt levels in the advanced world. So what went wrong? The answer is: out-of-control banks….

balanced budgets won’t protect you from crisis if you don’t effectively regulate your banks — a point made in the newly released report of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, which concludes that “30 years of deregulation and reliance on self-regulation” helped create our own catastrophe

Click on the following for Mr. Krugman’s editorial:  Their Own Private Europe - NYTimes.com

Irish firm's plans on track for Boone County wind farm - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

More information on the wind project.

Representatives from the Dublin-based Mainstream Renewable Power met Jan. 19 with Boone County officials to speak about their plans for development in the county’s northeast corner. However, research has been under way since 2009.
The company hopes to locate 100 wind turbines on upward of 12,000 acres, and it’s prepared to begin the permitting process in 2012, if not sooner, said Matt Boss of Mainstream Renewable Power.

 

Click on the following for more details:  Irish firm's plans on track for Boone County wind farm - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Friday, January 28, 2011

Jeb Bush, Newt Gingrich: Allow states to declare bankruptcy - latimes.com

Better off bankruptjeb bush

States should have the option of bankruptcy protection to deal with their budget crises.

    First, as with municipal bankruptcy, it would have to be completely voluntary. This means that neither the federal government nor state creditors could push an unwilling state into bankruptcy

    Second, as with municipal bankruptcy, a new bankruptcy law would allow states in default or in danger of default to reorganize their finances free from their union contractual obligations…The new law could also allow states an opportunity to reform their bloated, broken and underfunded pension systems for current and future workers.

    Third, the new law should allow for the restructuring of a state's debt and other contractual obligations.

    Fourth, the federal judge reviewing the state's reorganization plan would have the power only to accept the plan as permissible under the federal bankruptcy law, or reject it as inconsistent with that law.

    Fifth, the new law should provide for triggering mechanisms to initiate the bankruptcy process that respect the sovereignty of the people of a state.

Click on the following for more details:  Jeb Bush, Newt Gingrich: Allow states to declare bankruptcy - latimes.com

Former tax preparer accused of stealing $400,000 from clients | The Rock River Times

The law doesn't apply to some

former Boone County income tax preparer faces federal fraud charges for allegedly bilking clients and the government out of approximately $400,000.

Mario Carrillo, 42, was charged this week with 20 counts, including submitting false income tax claims, ….owner of You and Me Tax Service, used his business address, 128 N. State St., Belvidere mail fraud and wire fraud.

alleges Carrillo, from 2004 to 2009, prepared various sets of tax returns for several clients. One set of paperwork indicated clients would receive a small return. Clients were under the impression Carrillo filed their returns with the IRS.

However, Carrillo, according to investigators, did not file actual taxes, but sent false returns to the government and pocketed the inflated refund checks.

Click on the following for more details:  Former tax preparer accused of stealing $400,000 from clients | The Rock River Times

Gov. Jerry Brown Stops California Agencies From Buying New Cars - NYTimes.com

There is a lot of wasteful spending on cars that aren’t even driven,” Mr. Brown said. “And we can’t afford to spend taxpayer money on new cars while California faces such a massive deficit.”

turn in some 48,000 cellphones paid for by the government, saying it would save the state at least $20 million.

Brown said he also wanted to sell off about 5,500 state-owned passenger cars and trucks that are not used for public health or safety.

Click on the following for more details:  Gov. Jerry Brown Stops California Agencies From Buying New Cars - NYTimes.com

Wisconsin firm plans aluminum plant in Illinois | Chicago Breaking Business

 

Gov. Pat Quinn says the American Aluminum Extrusion Co., an aluminum extruder and fabricator based in Beloit, Wis., is investing $7.5 million to open a plant in the Winnebago County town of Roscoe. Quinn says the plant is expected to employ 130 people.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is administering the state’s $748,000 business investment package in the facility.

Click on the following for more details:  Click on the following for more details:  Wisconsin firm plans aluminum plant in Illinois | Chicago Breaking Business

Northwest Herald | End pensions for legislators

After four years in office, legislators get 12 percent of their final salary at age 62, 27 percent of their final salary after eight years starting at age 55, 40 percent after 12 years, with 5 percent increases each additional year, maxing out at 85 percent after 20 years. They also get 3 percent cost-of-living raises on their pensions and don’t pay the state income taxes they just raised 67 percent.

Click on the following for the rest of the NW Herald editorial:  Northwest Herald | End pensions for legislators

Letters prove that the Vatican tried to cover up child abuse | National Secular Society

It should be noted that this publication and its publisher are considered anti-religious by many.  I have underlined some key statements in the  two letters from Vatican authorities.   All the comments belong to the National Secular Society.

The letters make clear that the Vatican, and the Pope’s personal representatives, put protection of the Church before the protection of children. It instructed bishops in two different parts of the world not to report known abusers to the police or release files.

We reproduce these letters in their entirety below so that you can make up your own mind about them:

Apostolic Nunciature In Ireland

N. 808/97

Dublin, 31 January 1997

Strictly Confidential

Your Excellency,

The Congregation for the Clergy has attentively studied the complex question of sexual abuse of minors by clerics and the document entitled “Child Sexual Abuse: Framework for a Church Response”, published by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Advisory Committee.

The Congregation wishes to emphasize the need for this document to conform to the canonical norms presently in force.

The text, however, contains “procedures and dispositions which appear contrary to canonical discipline and which, if applied, could invalidate the acts of the same Bishops who are attempting to put a stop to these problems. If such procedures were to be followed by the Bishops and there were cases of eventual hierarchical recourse lodged at the Holy See, the results could be highly embarrassing and detrimental to those same Diocesan authorities.

In particular, the situation of ‘mandatory reporting’ gives rise to serious reservations of both a moral and a canonical nature”.

Since the policies on sexual abuse in the English speaking world exhibit many of the same characteristics and procedures, the Congregation is involved in a global study of them. At the appropriate time, with the collaboration of the interested Episcopal Conferences and in dialogue with them, the Congregation will not be remiss in establishing some concrete directives with regard to these Policies.

To: the Members of the Irish Episcopal Conference – their Dioceses.

For these reasons and because the abovementioned text is not an official document of the Episcopal Conference but merely a study document, I am directed to inform the individual Bishops of Ireland of the preoccupations of the Congregation in its regard, underlining that in the sad cases of accusations of sexual abuse by clerics, the procedures established by the Code of Canon Law must be meticulously followed under pain of invalidity of the acts involved if the priest so punished were to make hierarchical recourse against his Bishop.

Asking you to kindly let me know of the safe receipt of this letter and with the assurance of my cordial regard, I am [sic]

Yours sincerely in Christ,

+Luciano Storero
Apostolic Nuncio

SACRA CONGRIGAZIONE
Roma, January 31 1984
PER IL CLERO

PROT. 172621/1

(Citare questo numero nella riposta)

Most Rev. Manuel D. Moreno, D.D.
Bishop of Tucson
192 South Stone Avenue
P.O. Box 31 Tucson,
Arizona 85702-0031

Your Excellency:

This Sacred Congregation wishes to respond to your questions relating to the case of the Reverend [redacted] a priest of your Diocese.

To the first question ("was the proper procedure followed, i.e. due process, in the case") we would reply in the negative. On the basis of the documentation sent to us, it would seem clear that Father should have removed from his pastorate immediately upon completion of the process outlined in n.20 of the Motu Proprio 'Ecclesiae Sanctae', of 1966. The signed testimonies about his drunkennes, outrageo[us] language, liberties with womes, etc, are too numerous and convincingly articulate to leave any dount that Father's ministry is both harmful and inefficacious and should, therefor[e] have been terminated long ago.

Nor was there any need for engaging in the so called "due process" procedures. Indeed, an Ordinary is not free to leave to the decision of any group of arbitrators such matters as the continuation or removal of pastors. The "due process" procedures have to do with challenges made against the decree of an Ordinary or the rules of a diocesan administrator, and never are they to supplant procedures established by and for the Church universal.

Bishop Moreno Page Two Jan. 31 1984

To the second question ("Should we allow or disallow civil lawyers from obtaining Father's personnel records from our Chancery files") we reply that under no condition whatever ought the afore-mentioned files be surrendered to any lawyer or judge whatsoever. In addition, we suggest that both the office of the Apostolic Delegate and the legal department of the United States Catholic Conference be informed of the request for Father [redacted]'s files so that all may begin preparing whatever resistance to this request may be necessary.

The files of a Bishop concerning his priests are altogether private; their forced acquisition by civil authority would be an intolerable attack upon the free exercise of religion in the United States; and we have no doubt that both Federal courts and public opinion would sustain us in this position.

[Margin note in handwriting: Who knows? I will not be so sure!]

Your Excellency should therefore make known immediately and with clarity that no priest's files will be sent to any lawyer or judge whatever. Clarity in this matter may be enough to move the good Catholic people whom Father [redacted] is suing from further pressing their demand.

We should be clear and resolute, for failure in this regard might initiate a movement toward a most unfavorable precedent in law and -no less importantly -'frighten and upset not a few priests whose files are perhaps less than flattering.

With sentiments of cordial esteem and every best wish, I remain

Faithfully in Christ

[Handwritten, said to be
Silvio Angelo Pio Cardinal Oddi Prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy]


Click on the following to read the complete commentary of the National Secular Society as well as locate photocopies of the original sourcesLetters prove that the Vatican tried to cover up child abuse | National Secular Society

Thursday, January 27, 2011

State Rep. Franks: Take away new lawmakers’ pensions - DailyHerald.com

Rep. Jack Franks, a Marengo Democrat, wants to take the chances for state pensions away from all future lawmakers.

Franks has filed legislation that would keep all members of the Illinois General Assembly taking office in 2013 and after out of the state pension system in an effort to save money.

Franks acknowledges doing so wouldn’t make a huge difference to the state’s huge budget problems, but he said it’s important to cut where possible.

State Rep. Franks: Take away new lawmakers’ pensions - DailyHerald.com

FactChecking the GOP Response | FactCheck.org

Analysis

Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin gave the official Republican response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address on Jan. 25. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota also gave a response speech that night to Tea Party Express activists. We found factual issues with both of their remarks.

Not So ‘All-Time’ After All

Ryan was off the mark with his claims about "all-time" highs and lows in the size and distrust of government:

Ryan, Jan. 25: When government takes on too many tasks, it usually doesn’t do any of them very well. It’s no coincidence that trust in government is at an all-time low now that the size of government is at an all-time high.

Ryan spokesman Kevin Seifert said that the congressman was measuring size of government by spending as a percentage of gross domestic product. In that case, Ryan’s "all-time high" claim is off by more than 60 years.

According to historical tables from the Office of Management and Budget, federal spending as a percent of GDP was 24.7 percent in 2009, and estimated to reach 25.4 percent in 2010. Neither of those figures even comes close to the real "all-time high" figure of 43.6 percent in 1943 and 1944.

Ryan was closer with his claim about public skepticism of government, but still not quite right.

Only 22 percent of those surveyed said they trusted the federal government "almost always or most of the time," according to an April 2010 poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press — the source for Ryan’s claim. That’s indeed "among the lowest measures in half a century," the report noted. But the Pew report highlighted other polls conducted over the years — by other organizations — with slightly lower percentages. Case in point, polls conducted by CBS News and the New York Times in October 2008, and by Gallup in June 1994, found that just 17 percent of respondents said they trusted the government most or all of the time.

Ryan’s suggestion that the level of government trust and size of government are somehow connected was also undercut somewhat by Pew’s research. "The current survey and previous research have found that there is no single factor that drives general public distrust in government," the report said.

Stimulating Falsehoods

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus program, was a target for both Ryan and Bachmann. Ryan repeated a claim that we already debunked about the increase in domestic spending under Obama.

Ryan: The facts are clear: Since taking office, President Obama has signed into law spending increases of nearly 25 percent for domestic government agencies — an 84 percent increase when you include the failed stimulus.

It’s true that domestic spending has increased, but not nearly as much as Ryan claims. As we’ve written before, the 84 percent figure is the result of a flawed analysis by the Republican staff of the House Budget Committee.

The partisan Republican report claimed that “domestic discretionary spending” increased 84 percent from 2008 to 2010 when including the stimulus. But the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office issued a report this month that shows (on table E-7) that domestic discretionary spending rose from $485.1 billion in 2008 to $614.2 billion in 2010, an increase of $129.1 billion or 27 percent. The CBO figures include all discretionary spending, including stimulus funds in 2009 and 2010.

Also, Ryan said the stimulus "failed to deliver on its promise to create jobs." As we wrote during the midterm elections, it’s just wrong to say that the stimulus didn’t create jobs. Ryan can say — as Bachmann did — that the program failed to keep unemployment at 8 percent, as projected in a January 2009 report by the administration when it was lobbying for the bill. But the nonpartisan CBO says the stimulus increased employment by between 1.4 million and 3.6 million people in the third quarter of 2010, compared with what would have happened without it.

Click on the following for more details:  FactChecking the GOP Response | FactCheck.org

To fact check the President’s Address to Congress, click on the following:  http://factcheck.org/2011/01/factchecking-obamas-address/

Bankruptcy for states in question | Daily Chronicle

Interesting legal argument.

But there are constitutional hurdles that would be hard to overcome, said Douglas Baird, a law professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  “A state may contract debt but, typically speaking, you can’t go to an Illinois court and sue the state of Illinois to collect the debt, and you can’t go to federal court to sue a state and collect the debt because states have what’s called sovereign immunity,” Baird said.

If you’re immune from suit, then you don’t need bankruptcy because your creditors can jump up and down but they’re not going to be able to do anything because they can’t seize your assets or do stuff like that anyway,” he said.
This immunity makes bankruptcy for states unnecessary, according to opponents of the plan

Click on the following for more details:  Bankruptcy for states in question | Daily Chronicle

Crystal Lake: YMCA seeks bankruptcy protection

YMCA of McHenry County, located at 701 Manor Road, blamed increased competition, pending lawsuits, higher insurance costs, and a decline in membership for forcing it to seek bankruptcy protection. The group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday in the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.

YMCA of McHenry County is named as a defendant in two lawsuits from the Camp Algonquin drowning deaths.

Jimmy Avant, 18; Melvin Choice Jr., 17; and Adrian Jones, 16, all of Chicago, died Nov. 14, 2008, after sneaking out of their cabins at Camp Algonquin and taking paddle boats onto the Fox River. The paddle boats' drain plugs had been removed for the winter, and they sank, investigators said.

Choice's mother, Virginia Choice, later filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court accusing retreat organizer VisionQuest Association, the YMCA of McHenry County, and the victims' school, North Lawndale College Prep High School, of negligence. The lawsuit sought more than $800,000 in damages. Avant's family filed a similar lawsuit.
Thomas Pakenas, a Chicago attorney who a represents Virginia Choice, said the bankruptcy filing shouldn't affect his client's lawsuit.

Click on the following for more details:  Northwest Herald | YMCA seeks bankruptcy protection

Vatican told bishops to cover up sex abuse

This article is from 2003 but still very searchable—I found it on a “Bing Search” as the last entry on Page 1 of a search on “Vatican cover up” that received 11.5 million results.

The Observer [ a publication of The Guardian, UK]  has obtained a 40-year-old confidential document from the secret Vatican archive which lawyers are calling a 'blueprint for deception and concealment'. One British lawyer acting for Church child abuse victims has described it as 'explosive'.

The 69-page Latin document bearing the seal of Pope John XXIII was sent to every bishop in the world. The instructions outline a policy of 'strictest' secrecy in dealing with allegations of sexual abuse and threatens those who speak out with excommunication.

…document, which has been confirmed as genuine by the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, is called 'Crimine solicitationies', which translates as 'instruction on proceeding in cases of solicitation'.

It focuses on sexual abuse initiated as part of the confessional relationship between a priest and a member of his congregation. But the instructions also cover what it calls the 'worst crime', described as an obscene act perpetrated by a cleric with 'youths of either sex or with brute animals (bestiality)'.

Bishops are instructed to pursue these cases 'in the most secretive way... restrained by a perpetual silence... and everyone... is to observe the strictest secret which is commonly regarded as a secret of the Holy Office... under the penalty of excommunication'.

Click on the following to read this 2003 News Release:  BREAKING NEWS! Vatican Cover Up

The actual translated 1962 document is available from the above site or may be obtained directly by clicking on the following:  http://www.remnantofgod.org/criminals.pdf

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

FactChecking Obama’s Address | FactCheck.org

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Summary

We found no outright false factual claims in Obama’s State of the Union address, but we did note some that were arguable, and some promises that may prove unrealistic.

  • He called his Race to the Top initiative “the most meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation.” That’s debatable. Some independent experts say Bush’s No Child Left Behind program had a greater impact.
  • The president set a goal of generating 80 percent of the nation’s electricity from “clean” sources by 2035. That’s ambitious. The first large-scale “clean coal” plant has yet to begin operation. And Obama counts nuclear energy as a “clean” source, despite the unresolved waste issue.
  • He set a goal of giving 80 percent of the U.S. population access to high-speed rail in the next 25 years. But the U.S. only has one high-speed rail line in operation now.
  • He said his new health care law will slow rising health care costs. But the office of Medicare’s chief actuary estimates the law won’t have much impact on costs, and there will be a slight rise in total spending as more people gain coverage under the law.
  • He said “exports are up” since he set a goal of doubling them in five years, which is true. But the rise so far falls short of the pace required to meet his goal.

On other factual matters we found the president’s statements to be accurate, or reasonably so. He said the U.S. subjects businesses to “one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world,” which is borne out by the Word Bank and other studies. He said U.S. engineers gave the nation’s infrastructure a grade of “D,” which is true. That rating was issued by the American Society of Civil Engineers. And he said U.S. workers are unexcelled in productivity, which is true according to one ranking and nearly true by other measures.

Click on the following for more details:  FactChecking Obama’s Address | FactCheck.org

A Short History of MIG/DEWANE Landfill: Where are We?

The following history of the site as an EPA site is taken from the internet:  http://www.epa.gov/region5superfund/npl/illinois/ILD980497788.htm

The yellow highlighting has been provided for your convenience. 

CURRENT STATUS:  See page 3—Based upon a consent decree in January 2006 gas wells and groundwater monitoring has been completed.  In late 2010 additional ground water monitoring is scheduled.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

MIG EPA 1

MIG 2

MIG 3

MIG 4

MIG/DEWANE Landfill Concerns

The following information is available form the US EPA at:  http://cfpub.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.contams&id=0500551

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

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Remember:  MIG stands for “Money in Garbage”

Zoning Board approves Kelley Road Farms request - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

A major source of contention is a 60-plus-foot-wide driveway Tortorici and Nelson share with neighbor Steve Sextonson, his wife and other easement holders.

The unincorporated Caledonia Township couple want to use their homegrown vegetables and other ingredients to create sauces and other recipes in their FDA-approved kitchen to sell items online, in small boutique retail outlets and at their private dinners at 722 Kelly Road to be attended by no more than 30 guests.

a result of concerns building in recent weeks, the Belvidere-Boone County Planning staff added restrictions into the special use which would restrict the couple to hosting two parties a week, between the hours of 7 and 11 p.m. and with low lighting, if any, for a guest parking area. There are a total of 15 restrictions, including an operating season for the onsite dinners.

Click on the following for more details:   Zoning Board approves Kelley Road Farms request - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

The following additional information regarding Kelley Farms was taken website of  Angelic Organics  :http://www.learngrowconnect.org/taxonomy/term/50

Kelley Road Farms

Website:

http://www.kelleyroadfarms.com

Contact Name:

Preferred name: Tom Tortorici

Contact Phone:

773-262-0783

Best Time To Call:

773 262-0783

Contact Email:

tom@t2designinc.com

At Kelley Road Farms, we are looking to produce a quality, higher-end, gourmet food product line for distribution in retail outlets and restaurants wanting to carry or use a locally-grown and produced product. The key signature ingredients to our products will be grown ourselves. We also hope to partner with other growers to provide specific ingredients, ie. herbs, root vegetables, etc. We will do this all in a bio-dynamic way without the use of chemicals or pesticides. Every attempt will be made to ensure that our practices are as sustainable as possible.

Training & Employment Opportunities:

1st year trainee opportunity

Address:

722 Kelley Road
Caledonia, Illinois 61011 United States

Informal Day Visits:

Yes

Additional Information Regarding Day Visits:

Will need advanced notification to make sure someone is there & dogs are stowed.

Directions:

722 Kelley Road, Caledonia IL between Beloit and Caledonia Roads

Sen. Brad Burzynski to retire - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Burzynski, 55, gave no particular reason for his retirement except that “it’s time and I want to move on to other things in my life.”

Burzynski recommended longtime DeKalb County Treasurer Christine J. Johnson as someone he would like to replace him, but Burzynski has no say in that decision.

Click on the following for more details:  Sen. Brad Burzynski to retire - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Galesburg Clinic Pharmacy might close - Galesburg, IL - The Register-Mail

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OSF spokesman Jon McKee said the health care group had offered to compensate Hy-Vee for the loss of revenue if the pharmacy stopped selling oral contraceptives.
McKee said Hy-Vee’s corporate office had not responded to attempts to negotiate a new agreement that would keep the pharmacy open.
The real issue is that Hy-Vee needs to step up for community and let us know what their preferences are,” he said. “We would love to keep the pharmacy open.”
A letter of termination was sent to Hy-Vee last November but McKee said the supermarket chain has not responded.
The pharmacy has been open for 36 years. It’s not clear if jobs would be lost as a result of the pharmacy closing. Hy-Vee may offer to relocate staff.

Click on the following for more details:  Galesburg Clinic Pharmacy might close - Galesburg, IL - The Register-Mail

OSF pharmacy in Galesburg closing because of religious beliefs

GALESBURG — A Galesburg clinic will soon lose its pharmacy in a dispute over the sale of contraceptives.
A health care group owned by the Sisters of The Third Order of St. Francis, or OSF, took over the Galesburg Clinic last fall. OSF follows Catholic teachings and won't allow the sale of contraceptives.
The pharmacy is run by the Hy-Vee grocery chain. Employees say they've been told the business will close March 4.

Click on the following for more detailsOSF pharmacy closing over birth control dispute - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Egypt's protests, told by #Jan25 - Monitor.com

The scope of the protests is "unprecedented," says former Monitor Cairo correspondent Dan Murphy. The success of Tunisia’s protests made the difference, indicating to Egyptians that maybe their protests could have some results this time around.

The Egyptian government appears to have shut down Twitter, though Egyptians still accessed the site using proxies or simply by calling friends outside the country and having them tweet for them.

Videos posted on Youtube and similar sites showed protesters tearing down the many posters of President Mubarak throughout Cairo and the rest of the country.

Searching "protests in Egypt" turned up more than 1,000 photos on Flickr. Dozens of videos were uploaded to Youtube. Facebook remained unblocked while Twitter became more limited, and events, pages and groups filled with a steady stream of updates.

Click on the following for more details; it appears that CS Monitor is constantly updating here and on related sites:  Egypt's protests, told by #Jan25 - CSMonitor.com

Franks plans to bring back sales tax holiday

State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, issued the following news release about a bill he filed in Springfield:

Motivated by the need to help Illinois families make ends meet during these harsh economic times, State Rep. Jack D. Franks (D-Woodstock) introduced legislation Monday that will implement an annual sales tax holiday on back-to-school items.

House Bill 258 is an extension of Illinois’ 2010 sales tax holiday trial, which Franks helped pass. The measure would implement a 10-day sales tax holiday in Illinois on clothing and school supplies each year. The holiday does not make merchandise tax-free, but does significantly reduce the sales tax rate to just 1.25% throughout the state.

Click on the following for more details:  Northwest Herald | The Bulletin Board

McHenry County Referendum could let residents elect County Board chairman

 

… staff Monday to prepare a resolution for a binding referendum on the 2012 ballot. If put before the voters and approved, the chairman would be chosen by the voters rather than the 24-member board.

State law allows counties with fewer than 450,000 people to either elect the chairman as a County Board member or elect the chairman without having been first elected to the board. A chairman elected independent of the board has a four-year term under state law, while a chairman who is also a board member is elected to a two-year term.

If the referendum is put forward and approved, it would not mean that the County Board would attain home rule status, as is allowed under the Illinois Constitution. In order to become a home rule county, which would give county government expanded taxing and regulating power, voters would have to expressly approve it and approve electing a full-time county executive.

Cook County is the only Illinois county with home rule status – Will County has an executive form of government, but without home rule power.

Click on the following for more details:  Northwest Herald | Referendum could let residents elect County Board chairman

Belvidere Schools Hosts Mobile Food Pantry

 

This one-day only event will take place on Thursday, January 27 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Boone County Center.

There will be no charge to recipients and no ID is required. Individuals are asked to bring bags, laundry baskets, or boxes to carry their food.

Food will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

There will be no charge to recipients and no ID is required. Individuals are asked to bring bags, laundry baskets, or boxes to carry their food.

Food will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

Click on the following for more details:  Belvidere Schools Hosts Mobile Food Pantry

Boone County to conduct count of area homeless - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

anyone living in emergency shelters, transitional housing or places not meant for habitation is considered homeless.
If you know someone who is homeless, contact one of these Belvidere agencies from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in order to fill out a survey: Belvidere Police Department, 615 N. Main, 815-544-9626; RAMP, 530 S. State, Suite 103, 815-544-8404; Janet Wattles Center, 475 Southtowne Drive, 815-544-4849; or United Way, inside the YMCA, 220 W. Locust, 815-544-3144.

For more information on the PIT count or the Boone County Homeless Project, contact Danice Loveridge at 815-509-9445 or office.bchp@gmail.com

Click on the following for more details:  Boone County to conduct count of area homeless - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Kirk: Bankruptcy Should Be Option For States « CBS Chicago

Mark Kirk

WASHINGTON Freshman U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) says bankruptcy should be considered as an option for some states – such as Illinois – looking to get out from under crushing debt.

As WBBM Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, some on Capitol Hill are looking for ways to allow the states to get bankruptcy protection from pension debt and other obligations.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports

Click on the following for more details:  Kirk: Bankruptcy Should Be Option For States « CBS Chicago

Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission - The New York Times

commission casts a wide net of blame, faulting the administrations of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, the Federal Reserve and other regulators for permitting a calamitous concoction: shoddy mortgage lending, the excessive packaging and sale of loans to investors and risky bets on securities backed by the loans.

Of the 10 commission members, only the 6 appointed by Democrats endorsed the final report. Three Republican members have prepared a dissent; a fourth Republican, Peter J. Wallison, a former Treasury official and White House counsel to President Ronald Reagan, has written a dissent, calling government policies to promote homeownership the primary culprit for the crisis.

report seems aimed at shaping future debate over the crisis. “The greatest tragedy would be to accept the refrain that no one could have seen this coming and thus nothing could have been done,” the panel wrote in the report’s conclusions. “If we accept this notion, it will happen again

Click on the following for more details:  Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission - The New York Times

And remember Thursday is the first day for the real report.

Taco Bell Meat: Chain Sued Over 36% Beef Content In 'Taco Meat Filling' [Updated]

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The meat mixture sold by Taco Bell restaurants contains binders and extenders and does not meet the minimum requirements set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be labeled as "beef," according to the legal complaint.

The class-action lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in the Central District of California by the Montgomery law firm Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles.

Attorney Dee Miles said attorneys had Taco Bell's "meat mixture" tested and found it contained less that 35 percent beef.

[Taco Bell’s response: ]

At Taco Bell, we buy our beef from the same trusted brands you find in the supermarket, like Tyson Foods. We start with 100 percent USDA-inspected beef. Then we simmer it in our proprietary blend of seasonings and spices to give our seasoned beef its signature Taco Bell taste and texture. We are proud of the quality of our beef and identify all the seasoning and spice ingredients on our website. Unfortunately, the lawyers in this case elected to sue first and ask questions later -- and got their "facts" absolutely wrong. We plan to take legal action for the false statements being made about our food."

Greg Creed
President and Chief Concept Officer
Taco Bell Corp.

Taco Bell Meat: Chain Sued Over 36% Beef Content In 'Taco Meat Filling' [Updated]

Did the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s Audit give the public warning of its January 2011 bankruptcy?

Archdiocese of Milwaukee

The following information is taken from the CPA audit available at the Archdiocese’s website:  http://www.archmil.org/ArchMil/Resources/FIN/ArchdioceseFY2010FS.pdf

YES—The cover letter to the Archbishop stated quite clearly in the last paragraph—…“due to uncertainties with the lawsuit, it is at least reasonably possible that management’s view of the outcome will change in the near future.”  That paragraph refers the reader to Note #8 which is below.

 

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

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Archdiocese of Milwaukee pension plans underfunded - JSOnline

Archdiocese of Milwaukee

employees' pension plans are underfunded, confirming one of the fears expressed by Catholic Church employees since the archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Jan. 4.

affects only archdiocese employees and retirees - not those of schools, parishes or other participating employers. He attributed the shortfall to poor investment performance.

Milwaukee Archdiocese's plans are not covered by ERISA, the landmark 1974 Employee Retirement Income Security Act meant to protect workers' pensions.

in the public portion of the meeting that he anticipated six major creditor groups, including the victims and pension plan participants.

Diocese of Wilmington, where documents released as part of its bankruptcy revealed a dramatically underfunded pension plan. Also, in Wilmington, the court ruled that millions of dollars in pension funds in a joint investment account would become part of the diocese's estate.

Click on he following for more details:  Archdiocese of Milwaukee pension plans underfunded - JSOnline

Catholic church to pay $1 million to settle abuse lawsuit -

 

Archdiocese of San Antonio would pay the man, who is now 19, $946,000 to settle his lawsuit against the church.

Former priest John Fiala is charged with plying the unidentified boy in his parish in rural southwest Texas with booze and giving him a car in an attempt to 'groom' the boy for sexual abuse in 2007 and 2008, according to court documents.

He allegedly sexually abused the boy on several occasions on church property, frequently threatening to kill the youngster if he told anybody about the abuse, and once pointing a gun at the teen, the documents say.

after his ordination into the priesthood in Nebraska, Fiala moved to Texas with a clean recommendation. This was even though a teenager in the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska had complained of Fiala making a sexual advance in 2002, three years before he moved to Texas.

Click on the following for more details:  Catholic church to pay $1 million to settle abuse lawsuit - Yahoo! News

Traffic jam: The 10 most congested cities in America

 

In 2009, the average American driver spent 34 hours stuck in rush-hour traffic and lost out on $808 because of it, says a new study. Check out the 10 worst cities for drivers during peak hours (6 to 10 a.m., and 3 to 7 p.m.), as ranked by the 2010 Urban Mobility Report from Texas A&M University.

- Aaron Couch, Staff Writer

In May 2005, traffic slows to a crawl in Silver Spring, Md., on the outer loop of the Washington Beltway, a roadway encircling Washington, DC, known for its traffic jams. (Andy Nelson/The Christian Science Monitor/FILE)

1. Chicago / Washington, D.C. (tie)

Yearly delay: 70 hours

Cost per driver: $1,738 (Chicago), $1,555 (Washington, D.C.)

Chicago and Washington, D.C., each benefits from a strong public transportation system, so their congestion problem, while the worst in the country, would be even more awful without it.

Without public transportation in cities across the US, the amount of extra congestion would have cost an additional 785 million hours in time delays and $19 billion worth of fuel, the report estimates.

See the other eight by clicking  here.

1240 & 1350–WMMB: State bankruptcy law may be in the works

 

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Washington lawmakers are working behind the scenes to develop a way to let states declare bankruptcy and get out from under large debts, political insiders say.

Municipalities can declare bankruptcy protection, but states cannot, The New York Times reported.

Bankruptcy lawyers who have been consulted by Congressional aides said some members of Congress fear it is only a matter of time before a state seeks a bailout.

Bankruptcy could also allow a state alter contractual promises to retirees and could provide an alternative to a no-strings bailout, the report said.

Besides potentially hurting retirees, bankruptcy for states could damage bond markets.

"All of a sudden, there's a whole new risk factor," said Paul S. Maco, who was head of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of Municipal Securities during the Clinton administration.

No potential state bankruptcy bill has been formulated and no members of Congress have come forward as a sponsor, but Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, asked Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke about the possibility of a hearing this month, the Times said.

Critics of a state bankruptcy law say it could give governors and others more leverage in bargaining with unionized public workers.

"They are readying a massive assault on us," said Charles M. Loveless, legislative director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. "We're taking this very seriously."

1240 & 1350 - WMMB

10 Economic Benchmarks for the State of the Union and GOP Response

Interesting article from The Huffington Report—quite different from the Tea Party view.

 

1. The federal government isn't a runaway fiscal monster.

2011-01-25-FedtaxespctGDP.png

2. Main Street and Wall Street aren't "in this together."

3. The bankers who created this crisis are doing great.

4. Taxes for the wealthy are historically low.

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5. Income inequality is rising, and the rich are richer than ever.

6. Corporations have never had it so good.

7. We're in a jobs depression.

8. People with jobs are hurting too.

9. Young people are being lost to unemployment

10. The housing situation? Don't even ask.

Click on the following for all of the story:  Richard (RJ) Eskow: Reality Checks: 10 Economic Benchmarks for the State of the Union and GOP Response

U.S. Home Prices Slump Again, Hitting New Lows - NYTimes.com

long-predicted double-dip in housing has begun, with cities across the country falling to their lowest point in many years, data released Tuesday showed.

“A double-dip could be confirmed before spring,” the chairman of S.&P.’s index committee, David M. Blitzer, said.

Eight of the 20 cities in the index fell to new lows for this cycle, including Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Portland, Ore.; Miami, Seattle; and Tampa, Fla. Only a handful of places — essentially California and Washington — saw prices rise.

Prices in Atlanta and Chicago fell more than 7 percent, exceeding even the drops in the perennially troubled Detroit and Las Vegas.

Click on the following for more details:  U.S. Home Prices Slump Again, Hitting New Lows - NYTimes.com

Daily Chronicle’s View: Long overdue pension reform has new chance

 

General Assembly in 2010 capped pension benefits for newly hired public employees and elected officials who began their employment Jan. 1 and after. Their benefits can be calculated based on a maximum salary of $106,800, with percentage increases the lesser of half the rate of inflation or 3 percent. Retirement age was increased from 60 to 67.
Franks’ bill [House Bill 146] would impose the same caps and annual pension increase formula on all employees served by the five state-funded pension systems and the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.

Click on the following to read all of the opinion:  Our View: Long overdue pension reform has new chance | Daily Chronicle

DeKalb votes to eliminate residency requirement | Daily Chronicle

DeKalb’s public works director, planning and economic development director, assistant city manager and city attorney do not need to live within city limits. The chiefs of the police and fire departments, as well as the city manager, would still need to live in the city.

“We’re really facing serious times and serious changes here,” said Mayor Kris Povlsen, who said he supported the measure. “Changing with the times is not easy. … We also need to realize that not everyone is going to be happy as we change with the times.”

Click on the following for more details:  DeKalb votes to eliminate residency requirement | Daily Chronicle

Fidder fills open Boone County Board District 1 seat

 

Fidder is a Capron resident and certified residential appraiser working with Advantage Appraisal.

Some board members voiced concern over the process used to appoint Fidder to the position. Fidder was one of five Boone County residents who expressed interest in the seat. Among those vying for the spot was Brad Stark, who ran as an Independent candidate for a county board position in last November’s election.

Those interested were brought before county board members earlier this month to answer a series of questions.

“I don’t want to put them through an interrogation and make it an uncomfortable process,” Walberg said prior to the meeting earlier this month.

Members were not allowed to ask their own questions. Instead, vice board chairman Anthony Dini asked each interested person the same questions.

“My concern isn’t for the person being appointed, but for the process,” Board Member Pat Mattison said.

Click on the following for more of this BDR story:  Fidder fills open Boone County Board District 1 seat

US Corporate Tax Reform Must Come at a Price

Great article regarding what is wrong with the current corporate tax .

    1. Reduction in the Corporate Tax Rate is a Necessity

    2. Severe Budget Pressures Suggest Revenue-Neutral Corporate Reform

    3. The Current Corporate Tax Favors Some Business Sectors over Others

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    4. International Tax Rules Favor Foreign Over Domestic Job Creation

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Click on the following for more details:  tax.com: Corporate Tax Reform Must Come at a Price

Monday, January 24, 2011

Boone County is in labor negotiations with Sheriff Deputies and Corrections Unions

I thought it would be good to see how much the county is presently paying to the individuals involved.

Here is what the Deputies received in the last contract through binding arbitration with a federal moderator.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

deputy contract  salary schedule

Here is what that translates into individual wages for the FY 2010 year ending December 2010.

Deputies 2010 pay

Note:  Total overtime ($177,519) is 8.2% of the total $2,163,742 total.

The entire Sheriff’s contract for FY 2008-2010 is available at:  http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2010/09/what-will-sheriff-deputies-and-county_28.html

Below are the FY 2010 wages for Corrections.  The total regular pay and total overtime numbers for each individual is correct however the individual’s “Total Pay & Overtime” were not calculated correctly in many cases and therefore were deleted.  The Grand Totals are correct.  Total overtime is ($133,498) is  7.6  % of the total $1,746,875.

Correction Pay 2010

Progress with proposed wind turbine project in Boone County - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

BBOONE COUNTY (WREX)- People like Deb and Ben Doetch agreed to let Mainstream Renewable Power Company put a wind turbine on their property.

"We've got to do something in the country besides oil. I know that we've got to start exploring other things and I think wind is a good resource," says Deb.

Dozens of landowners in Leroy Township did the same

The state has developed specific formulas for determining the tax revenue that would come from these turbines. There would be tax revenue from a least four or five taxing districts that would benefit from this,"says Boone County Board Member, Marshall Newhouse.

Enlarge this picture

Click on the following to see the whole story:  http://www.wrex.com/Global/story.asp?S=13899945

How are Wind Turbines Taxed in Illinois?

The following is taken from:  http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=IL25F&re=1&ee=1

Click on the photocopy to enlarge: 

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