Canadian government could be toppled by opposition on Friday - The Washington Post

Canada’s three opposition parties said Wednesday they planned to topple the conservative government in a vote of no confidence in Parliament on Friday and trigger the country’s fourth election in seven years

allegations — supported Monday by a Parliamentary committee — that [Prime Minister] Harper has acted in contempt of Parliament by failing to disclose the full financial details of his tougher crime legislation, corporate tax cuts and plans to purchase stealth fighter jets.

Opinion polls expect Harper’s Conservative Party to win, but not outright, meaning he will continue to govern with a minority in Parliament, dependent on opposition votes to stay afloat.

Click on the following for more details:  Canadian government could be toppled by opposition on Friday - The Washington Post

School Cuts Raise Doubts Among Some GOP Voters - NYTimes.com

 

He's trying to balance the budget on the backs of teachers," Feest said. "It took so long to get our schools where they are, and they're going to cut it down in, what, two years? It's not right."

projected $3.6 billion budget deficit, Walker has sought to eliminate collective-bargaining rights for most public employees, including teachers

His two-year spending plan includes an 8 percent cut in aid to schools — about $835 million. And he wants to require districts to reduce their property-tax authority by an average of $550 per pupil

High school math teacher Ronn Blaha, 41 …”did not anticipate that he considered education a frivolity."

School Cuts Raise Doubts Among Some GOP Voters - NYTimes.com

Cal Skinner’s estimate of McHenry County’s cost for States Attorney Bianchi’s trials

The county taxpayers are easily on the hook for over $500,000 at this point, probably closer to $600,000, and that doesn’t count the second set of indictments Tonigan and McQueen have filed that involve “nephews” whose relationship both Bianchi and his Chief investigator Ron Salgado say are nonexistent or, at best, tenuous, that is, not what you or I would call a nephew.

Click on the following for more detail’s on Cal’s estimate:  |http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2011/03/24/county-on-hook-for-bianchi-synek-legal-fees/

Pactiv Closes its Doors in Belvidere

BELVIDERE (WIFR) -- A local manufacturer closes its doors after decades in business. Business reps for the company called Pactiv in Belvidere say it's parent company, Reynolds, is moving business to Ohio. The plant employs about 50 people. Workers say they were notified last Friday. Some have already stopped working.

One tells 23 News she plans to go back to school and get a job outside of the manufacturing field. She says her other former co-workers are still shocked by the news.The company will officially shut its doors in June.

Click on the following to view the video:  Pactiv Closes its Doors in Belvidere

McHenry state's atty. acquitted on all charges - chicagotribune.com

judge has abruptly acquitted McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi of charges that he directed his staff to do political work on taxpayer time.
In a stunning development, Judge Joseph McGraw made his ruling without Bianchi’s team even having to put on their defense.

Click on the following for more details:  McHenry state's atty. acquitted on all charges - chicagotribune.com

The cost to McHenry County taxpayers could be $400,000.  See the following from Cal Skinner—investigations alone costs $250,ooo up to the week before the trial:  http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2011/03/23/total-bill-for-special-prosecutors-investigating-firm-225000/

Supporters of Belvidere Firemen leaflet the city

The following leaflet has been found the last several days on the front doors of many homes in Belvidere.  The leaflet was apparently distributed by Belvidere Professional Firefighter Local 1569.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

 

Stateline Bridges in Disrepair

Is it reassuring that the Boone County Board lowered the bridge tax levy for FY 2011 and sent the money to the general fund?

total 94 bridges were deemed "structurally deficient" in the five county area by using a scale of 10 to judge three main components. At the top of the list?

In Winnebago County it was Montague Road over Mill Creek. In Stephenson, Old Illinois 26 over Richland Creek. Poplar Grove Road over the Kishwaukee River in Boone. Ogle County's West Grove Road over Elkhorn Creek. And in Lee Illinois Route 26 over a drainage ditch.

Click on the following for more details: Stateline Bridges in Disrepair