The transparency test: How easy is it to track how county governments spend your tax dollars?

A great study of transparency at DuPage County.

Campaigne Piercy knows that counties aren't looking to add programs in down economic years. But she says this is transparency that can be accomplished easily.

"I think that's the general perception of that it's a big undertaking," she said. "Basically all they need to do is turn their board packets that they have every month into a PDF (a scanned copy of a paper print out). It takes five minutes."

Click on the following for more on this story:  The transparency test :: The Courier News :: Local News

McHenry County Board set to vote on gaming

The McHenry County Board will vote Tuesday on an ordinance to ban video gambling in unincorporated areas of the county.

County boards in Lake, Cook and DuPage counties have enacted bans….Lake in the Hills has approved legislation allowing the machines and setting local fees, and Johnsburg is mulling similar legislation, citing its proximity to Wisconsin, where video gambling is legal.

Click on the following for more details:  Northwest Herald | Board set to vote on gaming

Belvidere Assessors: Fair Union Negotiations or Game of Partisan Politics

This a repeat of a posting of November 7, 2009 and is being reposted as a convenience to readers of the Belvidere Daily Republican.  A recent article in the BDR mentioned my posting and commentary.

We all know that Diann Helnor (D) was elected Township Assessor by the narrowest of margins last April.  Before she even gets into office in January, her defeated opponent, Robert Falkenstein (R) has negotiated the  first ever union contract with his  assessors.  All these employees were selected and hired by Mr. Falkenstein over his many years holding this office.

What is this?  A sweet heart deal to old political appointees?  Mr. Falkenstein’s friends get a 3% raise while the other township employees get nothing.  And the township provides no additional money to the assessor’s office.

Is this a revenge move? Raise the wage bill so the only democrat holding office  in the township cannot properly run the office.

Can anything be done about this?

Source:  Boone County Journal, November 6, 2009, page 32.

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Better Business Bureau worries about census scams

Here are the questions being asked.

Census takers will ask the same 10 questions that appear on the mail-in form, including the number of people living in the home, whether the resident owns or rents the home and the name, gender, race, ethnicity and birth date of all the residents. Workers will never ask for Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers, Jackson said. They also do not solicit donations and do not contact anyone by e-mail.

Click on the following for more details:  Better Business Bureau worries about census scams | Daily Chronicle

Timing of Eid celebration poses difficult choice for Muslims

Day of Arafah - the final day of Hajj or annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca - and Eid al-Adha, the celebration marking its end Friday.

Eid al-Adha, or "festival of the sacrifice," commemorates the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at God's command, according to Muslim belief. The holiday is celebrated with prayers, gifts for children, distribution of meat to the needy and social gatherings.

Yet retailers like Best Buy, which came out with a Black Friday advertisement with the message "Happy Eid al-Adha," are likely counting on Muslims to do some of their

Daily Herald | Timing of Eid celebration poses difficult choice for Muslims

Rockford jobless rate highest of Illinois metro areas

 

the Illinois Department of Employment Security show unemployment was highest in the Rockford area at 15.7 percent. That’s up from 15.2 percent in September.

Click on the following for more details:   Rockford jobless rate highest of Illinois metro areas - Springfield, IL - The State Journal-Register

Chrysler extends Belvidere plant's holiday break

The last day of production for Chrysler’s Belvidere assembly plant is Dec. 18, according to its production schedule, and the plant won’t be running again until the week of Jan. 11.

The company has about 2,600 workers at the plant on two shifts, but the second shift is temporary and officials have not indicated how long it will last. The plant traditionally is closed for a week in December for Christmas, but the continued slow auto sales in the recession has most auto companies looking to cut costs.

Click on the following for more details:  Chrysler extends Belvidere plant's holiday break - - BusinessRockford.com

RockValleyCollege board seeks to fill vacancy

 

The length of the appointment to serve is approximately 15 months, until April 2011.

Materials must be received no later than Dec. 8

The Belvidere Daily Republican. - RVC board seeks to fill vacancy

Scrutinized Cook Co. Regional Office of Education closed

A Regional Superintendent may lose his  credentials.The office is responsible for services to 143 school districts and 400,000 students in suburban Cook County. One of its larger roles is to oversee teacher certifications and licensing.The office is so useless, it was eliminated altogether back in 1994 until a political deal was hatched in Springfield to bring it back to life. Now, the [Cook]County Board is calling on the state to eliminate the post again, while calling on investigators to look into possible criminal charges against Charles Flowers.

A few months after its Westchester office was raided by authorities, the new Broadview location of the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education has been closed until further notice.

The closure was initiated by the village of Broadview, said Illinois State Board of Education spokeswoman Mary Fergus, who said she believed there was a problem with the office's business license. Broadview officials couldn't be reached for comment.

The new location opened on Nov. 2. According to the Nov. 10 posting on the office's Web site, the office was experiencing technical difficulties due to the relocation. The indefinite closing occurred three days later.

The office, which has racked up $1 million in debt according to a state audit, helps teachers and bus drivers get required certificates.

In July, the Cook County State's Attorney's office filed suit against the office and its head, Superintendent Charles Flowers, to get back a $190,000 loan from the county to the office. Authorities said Flowers defrauded the county because he knew the office couldn't repay the loan and that he spent the agency funds for personal use.

State's Attorney's spokesman Andy Conklin said the lawsuit is still pending. While no criminal charges have been filed, an investigation is ongoing, he said. The State Teacher Certification Board is also seeking to revoke Flowers' teaching and administrative certificates

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Scrutinized Cook Co. Regional Office of Education closed

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DeKalb County housing sales decline

DeKalb bucked the national trend and had a sales decline compared to last year’s October numbers. 

The picture was less rosy in DeKalb County, were sales were more than 24 percent lower than in October 2008. There were 838 homes sold from January through October 2009, compared to 1,123 in the same time period last year.
"It's unfortunate. I thought it was going to be better," Heide said.

Click on the following for more details:  DeKalb County housing sales decline | Daily Chronicle

DuPage County passes no-thrills 2010 budget

 

County will not increase its tax levy or make cuts to programs and services. County employees don't have to worry about layoffs or benefit reductions, but most also won't be receiving an annual pay raise. Some workers, such as sheriff deputies, may get a small bump under current employment contracts.

plan marks a 6.1 percent decrease in spending from last year, with most of the savings coming from commodities and contracts. The county's cash reserves will continue to grow to about $45.6 million - a financial safety net at its highest level in more than a decade.

Leaders also dedicated $1 million in spending for nonprofit agencies, such as to area food pantries. The commitment is similar to one made this year, which marked a 50 percent increase.

 

Daily Herald | DuPage County passes no-thrills 2010 budget

Germany restores 1936 women's high jump record to Jewish winner

Gretel Bergmann (married name: Margaret Lambert)…

was on the German Olympic team from 1934 to 1936 but had gone to England at the age of 19 in search of schooling. She won the 1934 British High Jump Championships and had hoped to compete for Britain. But the Nazis learned of her success.
She said they forced her to jump for Germany, threatening her family even though Lambert figured the Nazis would never let her partake in the Olympics. It was a political stunt meant to appease the Americans.

Click on the following for more details on the story:  Germany restores 1936 women's high jump record to Jewish winner -- chicagotribune.com

UPDATE: Did Boone County pass a Budget? Some members of the county board have some questions.

I just visited the Administrator’s Office at the County Building.  No special meeting for Monday, November 30, 2009 has been scheduled.   So it appears that Ms. Glass and Mr. Dini’s concerns have not necessitated a review by the county board.

For more details on the question regarding legality of the actions occurring at the board meeting on November 20—go to:  http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2009/11/was-budget-passed-or-not.html

Schaumburg Sales Tax Rollback Effort Presents 1,250+ Signatures to Village Board

Old news but it tells us so much about the tax situation and municipal expenditures. 

Schaumburg –At the October 27^th, 2009 Schaumburg Village Board meeting the Schaumburg Freedom Coalition will present to Mayor Al Larson and the Village Trustees over 1,250 signatures from local residents in support of reducing Schaumburg’s home rule sales taxes which contribute to a 12% total bar and restaurant tax—the highest tax of its kind in the United States—and its 10% retail tax, which is second only to the City of Chicago.

The advisory petition seeks to reduce Schaumburg’s home rule sales tax 1 percentage point, and the home rule food & beverage tax 2 percentage points, resulting in a 9% retail sales tax for both …..

“Salaries are getting out of control in the Village. A recent Freedom of Information Act Request by the Schaumburg Freedom Coalition revealed that the number of Village employees making over $100,000 per year (not including health & retirement benefits) has grown from 30 in 2005 to 110 in 2008. Initially, when I confronted the Mayor, Village Board Meeting not a single Village official was even aware of the dramatic increase.

Click on the following for more details on this story:  Schaumburg Sales Tax Rollback Effort Presents 1,250+ Signatures to Village Board

Developer wants help to spiff up Gateway ::

But Aktipis [developer] now says he is doesn't have enough money to complete the revitalization, and has asked the Village Board to authorize the establishment of a special service area, or SSA.

Set over a 20-year period, the SSA would allow the developer to borrow up to $2.6 million. The project is slated to be completed in spring 2010. The SSA property tax would be paid by the tenants, which Aktipis pledges to work with by possibly lowering rent to offset the inflated tax bills.

The request comes on the heels of a drastic reduction in sales tax revenue, West Dundee's primary revenue stream over the years. While the village has cut dependence on sales tax in recent years -- from 60 percent down to 30 percent of its annual operating revenue

Click on the following for more details:  Developer wants help to spiff up Gateway :: The Courier News :: Local News

Hampshire will require most businesses to get annual license

 

every for-profit business must register with the village and pay a $15 annual fee. That process must be repeated every calendar year.

Village Administrator Eric Palm said the law's main goal is to keep track of what businesses are operating and the home addresses and phone numbers of their officers so that, if an emergency arises, police, firefighters or public works employees will know whom to notify and who has a key to let them in. Palm said the process also will alert village officials if someone is planning to open a business in a place that is not zoned for that type of activity.

Click on the following for more details:  Hampshire will require most businesses to get annual license :: The Courier News :: Local News

More than 18 percent of Illinois mortgages are underwater

Almost 410,000 Illinois mortgages, or 18.4 percent of home loans, were underwater in September, meaning homeowners owed more on their mortgages than their homes were worth.

On a national level, the mortgages on nearly 10.7 million homes, or 23 percent of properties, were considered underwater in September. An additional 2.3 million mortgages were in a near-negative equity position.

five states that accounted for 42 percent of all negative equity loans. They were Nevada, where 65 percent of loans were underwater; Arizona, 48 percent; Florida, 45 percent; Michigan, 37 percent; and California, 35 percent.

Click on the following for more details:  More than 18 percent of Illinois mortgages are underwater -- chicagotribune.com

Investigation reveals Chicago airport security flaws

This just does not seem like it could be true? 

the past two months, Fox flew multiple employees – male, female, black, white, Muslim – to different destinations around the country on different airlines. The only requirement: They were not allowed to bring a photo ID. No passport. No driver's license.
On every occasion, these Fox employees were allowed through security without a hitch as long as they showed that the name on their boarding pass matched the name on a couple of credit cards, according to Fox Chicago News.

By checking credit cards rather than a photo ID, TSA simply was following its own rules, which vaguely state that passengers without an acceptable ID will have to provide "information" to verify their identity, according to Fox Chicago News. The guidelines also state that these passengers "may be subjected to additional screening."
Only twice did a Fox employee have to go through additional screening, according to the Fox investigation

Click on the following for more details:  Investigation reveals Chicago airport security flaws | Daily Chronicle

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Vaccines on horizon for AIDS, Alzheimer’s, herpes

drug sales are forecast to rise by a third in five years, vaccine sales should double, from $19 billion last year to $39 billion in 2013, according to market research firm Kalorama Information. That’s five times the $8 billion in vaccine sales in 2004.

– Malaria. Tuberculosis. Alzheimer’s disease. AIDS. Pandemic flu. Genital herpes. Urinary tract infections. Grass allergies. Traveler’s diarrhea.

You name it, the pharmaceutical industry is working on a vaccine to prevent it.

Click on the following for more details:  Business Journal | Vaccines on horizon for AIDS, Alzheimer’s, herpes

Property-tax-less towns not ready to follow Schaumburg's lead

From Carol Stream to Oak Brook, to Gurnee, Vernon Hills, Campton Hills and Lily Lake, officials are facing the challenge of sustaining services as revenues drop, but so far have been able to weather the current economic storm without resorting to the property tax.

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Property-tax-less towns not ready to follow Schaumburg's lead

Where are we as far as employment?

With all the statistics available,  it is often difficult to determine just where local jobs are and where are they are no longer.   The following information is from the Rockford Area Economic Development Council and gives a good overview of the largest employers in the Winnebago/Boone County Area and how the numbers have changed.  The information is taken from:  http://www.rockfordil.com/demographics/employment-data

The largest 83 employers (over 100 employee size) have lost 14,942 jobs or a lost of 22% from the company’s peak employment over the last five years.  (See the last photocopy for these figures)

No blue Christmas for some workers (Fox Valley/Algonquin)

Retailers such as JCPenney, Toys R Us, Macy's and Sears around the Fox Valley are hiring seasonal help, as are Kohl's in South Elgin and Algonquin. Target and JCPenney, both in West Dundee, had ads recently on SnagAJob.com.

This year's job seasonal job market is better than last year….While hiring increases this season, the competition for those jobs are tougher this year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there are 6.1 job seekers per available job, according to the Economic Policy Institute, an independent, nonprofit think tank.

Click on the following for more details:  No blue Christmas for some workers :: The Courier News :: Local News

Plank Road Panther(s) still a mystery.

  A strange story about sightings in Elgin.

Nielsen admits similar reports have come in from many parts of the country. But why, the professor asks, has no one ever found one dead? "A variety of cougar called the Florida panther is the most endangered mammal in North America. Yet people find 15 of those dead every year in Florida."

What we need above all, Petersen notes, is a better photo or tissue sample. Or, best of all, would be the corpse, like the genuine cougar shot by a cop April 14 in a residential neighborhood in Chicago. Until we get that new evidence, as Petersen says sadly, "It remains a mystery."

Click on the following for more details:  Plank Road Panther(s) still a mystery :: The Courier News :: Local News

GM wants governments to help pay for Opel restructuring

on Monday asked European governments to help pay most of the €3.3 billion ($4.9 billion) it needs to restructure its struggling European operations.

refused to give details of the plan to cut some 20 to 25 percent of the company's car making capacity — that will likely shed thousands of jobs. He said he first wanted to talk to workers' representatives.

Germany appears reluctant to offer GM the €4.5 billion loan it had promised Magna — and has yet to pledge the company any more money.

Click on the following to read where other governments stand on the bailout:  Business Journal | GM wants governments to help pay for Opel restructuring

DeKalb County should be prepared

And even more so,  should Boone County. 

The decline in sales tax and income tax revenue is a result of unemployment, which reached 11 percent in Illinois last month. And many economists feel job recovery will lag behind as the broader economy recovers.
There's no doubt the economy will recover from the doldrums it's been in. Will it reach the same level as it did earlier this decade? Probably not. The reality is economic recovery will put us somewhere in the middle.
That's why the county board needs to be proactive in examining its expenses and searching for cuts. Revenues likely will not reach the same level they once were. Not anytime soon, anyway, and the board only has two years of "rainy day" money available to it.

Click on the following for more of this editorial:  Our View: County should be prepared | Daily Chronicle

Options for tax levy explored

Look what happens in cities with home-rule, such as DeKalb—six rates of tax levy are possible.

Eight tax scenarios have been laid out by city officials that range from keeping the status quo to nearly doubling last year’s tax levy.

first scenario – keeping the tax rate at $0.60 per $100 of owned property – the city would levy $3,924,000, a 1-percent increase over 2008.

The highest levy being considered is for $6,254,823, which would hike the tax rate to $0.96 per $100 EAV.
Under this scenario, the cost to the average homeowner of a $200,000 home is projected to be $640, or $240 more than at the $0.60 rate.

 

Click on the following for more details:  Options for tax levy explored | Daily Chronicle

IEPA warns of contaminated groundwater - Rockford, IL

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued a news release Friday stating that it has informed the city’s Public Works Department via certified mail that there has been a confirmed detection of trichloroethylene, or TCE, in the city’s groundwater and treated water supply.

TCE levels exceed 2.5 parts per billion, the level does not exceed the Class 1 groundwater quality standards for TCE or 5 ppb that both federal and state laws allows in drinking water.

Click on the following for more details:  IEPA warns of contaminated groundwater - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Officials optimistic sales tax skid is easing

Rockford’s sales tax revenue dipped 14.8 percent for August, and Winnebago County’s fell 12.3 percent, according to the latest figures from the Illinois Department of Revenue.
Revenues to local municipalities from the state was down 16.3 percent in July for the three-county region, the biggest year-over-year decline since the recession began in December 2007.

Click on the following for more details:  Officials optimistic sales tax skid is easing - - BusinessRockford.com

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Did Boone County pass a Budget? Some members of the county board have some questions.

Lead by Mr. Dini and Ms. Glass, four county board members  have requested a special meeting of the county board.  Below is the States Attorney’s view of the matter.

Office of the
State’s Attorney             
601 N. MAIN STREET  SUITE 302  BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS 61008-2609  (815) 544-0868                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Michelle J. Courier
Boone County State’s Attorney

To:    County Board Members, County Administrator, & County Clerk

From:    Michelle Courier, Boone County State’s Attorney

Date:     November 22, 2009

RE:    Special Meeting

On Friday, I was called to a meeting with County Board Members Anthony Dini and Terri Glass, who expressed their concern that the budget was not passed.   Following the meeting, in which I reviewed the official written minutes of our County Clerk and the tape of the vote, I opined that the budget was passed.  The basis for my opinion is Robert’s Rules of Order. 

The motion was originally introduced by Marshall Newhouse as an attempt at a compromise in order to get a budget passed.  He stated that the motion was an amendment to the budget.  The problem with his terminology is that the word “amendment” has a different connotation under Robert’s Rules of Order than merely compromising to get a budget passed.  A motion to amend in the technical sense is considered a secondary motion to a main motion on the floor.  However, there was no main motion on the floor as the motion to approve the budget had failed. 

Therefore, County Board Member Newhouse’s motion had to be made as a main motion.  I corrected the terminology to meet his intent by stating that the motion was to approve the budget as amended.    The Chair agreed and then put the question to the Board that the vote was on the budget, as amended.   The question was repeated for Cathy Ward, who acknowledges she understood the motion.  In fact, Anthony Dini is heard on the tape repeating that the vote was on the budget as amended.

The vote was taken, the Chair declared that the motion was passed, and the County Clerk recorded that the budget passed, as amended.  Pursuant to Robert’s Rules of Order, the exact wording the chair uses in putting the question to a vote is definitive, and the wording in the minutes should be the same.  If any County Board member felt the chair’s wording was erroneous, the time to have made a correction to the wording was prior to the vote.   

Based upon the above legal reasoning, I opined to Anthony Dini on Friday that there was no need for a special meeting.   On Saturday, I learned that, despite my legal opinion, Mr. Dini still wished to proceed with a special meeting. 

As legal advisor to the County Board, I cannot prohibit a special meeting from being called, but I will not condone it.  A special meeting would serve no purpose but to further waste county resources on a vote that was already taken.  Moreover, there is no procedure for allowing a “re-vote” or a “clarifying vote.”   If any County Board member had a question as to what they were voting on, they should have asked prior to voting.  Lastly, the calling of a special meeting could have severe legal consequences.  If the vote were called to approve the budget again, County Board Members could change their vote or County Board Members could fail to attend a special Board Meeting.  In either case, the County could be faced with a conflicting vote against the budget, which may require litigation.

Funding cuts shave programming at some libraries

more people are using libraries to avoid buying their own books and movies, and to keep entertainment spending in check.

"[We're] experiencing double-digit increases," said Kathryn Martens, director of the Crystal Lake Public Library, speaking about library use. "Many, many more people are turning to their public library for books, DVDs and access to computers."

Click on the following for more details:  Northwest Herald | Funding cuts shave programming at some libraries

Administration report favorable on takeover of Thomson Correctional Center

 

The Thomson prison has emerged as the leading site for a U.S. detention center to take Guantanamo detainees if that facility is shut down.

Click on the following:  Administration report favorable on takeover of Thomson Correctional Center -- chicagotribune.com

Former McHenry County Treasurer, Cal Skinner, tells our neighbors about the lost $1,000,000 of Boone County taxes

The following was blogged today on Cal’s McHenry County Blog:  http://mchenrycountyblog.com/

$1 Million and The Tax Collector Doesn’t Know Who It Belongs To

November 22, 2009 By: Cal Skinner Category: Bill Pysson, Boone County, Boone County Treasurer, Boone County Watchdog, County Collector, County Treasurer, Management Letter

Found this little item on “Boone County Watchdog.”

How would you like to be a Boone County resident and read in a county management letter accompanying the annual audit:

“We noted the Collector held over $1 million in savings as of January 2009, which was after the final distribution related to the 2007 tax levy.

“At that point in time, Collector’s accounts should be minimal as distributions have been made for the prior levy and amounts are not being collected on the upcoming levy.

“We suggest the Collector why these large balances exist and determine who this money belongs to, whether it is the County, other taxing bodies, or the state as unclaimed property.”

That’s from the management letter to the Boone County Board. It was dated July 14, 2009.

It was brought to my attention by former Cary resident Bill Pysson ’s
Boone County Watchdog

Illinois State GOP gets big $$$ promise from national party

 

The GOP appears to have its best opportunity in at least a decade here in 2010.  State Democrats have been divided since the indictment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and many observers consider the Democratic field for the U.S. Senate to be fairly weak.
  Illinois traditionally has been a donor state for the national GOP.  But, while talk is cheap, the prospect of embarrassing President Barack Obama in his home state indeed may well open wallets.

Greg Hinz Blog | Crain's Chicago Business

New Consensus Views Stimulus as Worthy Step

 the accumulation of hard data and real-life experience has allowed more dispassionate analysts to reach a consensus that the stimulus package, messy as it is, is working.

save or create” about 3.5 million jobs by the end of 2010 is roughly on track, though far more jobs are being saved than created, especially among states and cities using their money to avoid cutting teachers, police officers and other workers.

broad range of economists said the White House and Congress were right to structure the package as a mix of tax cuts and spending, rather than just tax cuts as Republicans prefer or just spending as many Democrats do.

Optimistic assumptions in turn contributed to producing a package that if anything is too small, analysts say.

Click on the following for the rest of this New York Times article:  New Consensus Views Stimulus as Worthy Step - NYTimes.com

Boone Sheriff's Department increases patrols

first of eight campaigns that targets drunken driving.

The extra patrols will run through Nov. 29.

Boone Sheriff's Department increases patrols - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Change of Subject: GOP now the Party of `Noooooooooo!'

Chicago Tribune criticizes the Republican Party.

lately, the "The Party of 'No' " seems to have become "The Party of 'Noooooooooo!' " -- a coalition of shameless cynics and true cowards who whip up and exploit fear of change and distrust of all things having to do with the government.

Click on the following for the entire Opinion article:  Change of Subject: GOP now the Party of `Noooooooooo!'

Manzullo defends 'savage religion' comment

The most commented story at this McHenry County newspaper. 

Comments (206 comments) | CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo said Tuesday that his comment that suspected terrorists imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay follow a "savage religion" has been misinterpreted.

Click on the following or at comments to read more:  Northwest Herald | Manzullo defends 'savage religion' comment

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Oprah Winfrey to End Her Talk Show - Media Decoder Blog - NYTimes.com

sun will set on the Oprah show as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011,”

will end her iconic daytime talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” in 2011 as she prepares to start a cable channel of her own.

Oprah Winfrey to End Her Talk Show - Media Decoder Blog - NYTimes.com

Ogle sheriff faces layoffs

Police Union and County maybe renegotiating in Oregon, IL .  Ogle county has a population of  51.032 (2000) 763 square miles versus Boone County’s 41,786 (2000) 282 square miles.

[Ogle County] approved a $11.7 million budget for the 2010 general fund, $1.8 million less than this year’s budget.

More than $1 million will come out of the five budgets managed by Ogle County Sheriff Greg Beitel, who oversees spending for the sheriff’s department, corrections, building and grounds, emergency communications, and the county’s Emergency Management Agency.

cutting 17 full-time and eight part-time positions. We may have to take patrol officers and put them in corrections. It’s not safe for the public, and it’s not safe for the officers.”

cuts, combined with $700,000 to be taken from the county reserves, mean the 2010 budget will balance without raising real estate taxes, County Administrator Meggon McKinley said.

“The committee worked hard to see that taxes did not increase,” she said.

The reserve fund had $4.5 million when the 2008 fiscal year ended Nov. 30. Dwindling revenues cut the fund to $1.5 million by June 30, before real estate taxes were paid.

Nonunion and some union employees agreed to the wage freezes. Members of the Fraternal Order of Police, who fall under the sheriff’s umbrella, did not. Departments in which employees agreed to the wage freezes will be protected from the layoffs.  FOP members have said they are willing to discuss the issue further, Beitel said.

We’ve got four patrol officers on duty now to cover more than 700 square miles and sometimes that’s not enough. The cuts will leave us with three and maybe only two on duty,”

saukvalley.com | Ogle sheriff faces layoffs

Ill. unemployment hits 11 percent: Associated Press Business

 

11 percent between September and October, bringing the rate to its highest mark since August 1983.

Click on the following for more details:  Ill. unemployment hits 11 percent: Associated Press Business News - MSN Money

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State Police release October statistics

district 16 troopers issued a total of 533 citations and 617 written warnings. Troopers also assisted 115 stranded motorists

Click on the following for more statistics:  The Belvidere Daily Republican. - State Police release October statistics

South Elgin retires K-9, may not replace

It costs quite a bit to get it started and get it going," as well as allowing the officer/handler an hour off each shift to cool the dog down, the chief said. "We are looking at it to see if it is worth it to the people of South Elgin to keep a program up that may not be cost-effective."

Click on the following for more details:  South Elgin retires K-9, may not replace it :: The Courier News :: Local News

Lisle latest town to ban video gambling

Lisle is a village of approximately 25,000 in DuPage County. 

village board didn't feel the tax revenue potential from video gaming machines in any way outweighed our concerns about the social consequences and adverse effects on quality of life gambling can have on a community," Mayor Joseph Broda said in a written statement.

Other DuPage County communities that have banned gambling include Addison, Bloomingdale, Glen Ellyn, Naperville, West Chicago, Wheaton, Winfield and Villa Park.

those that allow video gambling will receive 5 percent of each machine's profit

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Lisle latest town to ban video gambling

Gitmo divides Manzullo, Gaulrapp

 Gaulrapp [Democratic candidate for Congress] supports the move, noting that 340 international and domestic terrorists already are held in federal prisons in the U.S. Among them are those convicted in the first World Trade Center bombing, such as Ramzi Yousef, and Robert Reid, the shoe bomber.

Given the history of the federal prison system’s safe handling of such prisoners, Gaulrapp said, the rewards of job creation and economic growth outweigh any potential risks.

Click on the following for more details:  Northwest Herald | Gitmo divides Manzullo, Gaulrapp

Schaumburg businesses cautious to react to tax

The village currently has no municipal real estate tax. 

theirs will be the lowest municipal property tax around apart from Elk Grove Village's and insist Schaumburg's investment in business infrastructure remains second to none.

Though it's adding another layer of taxes to what property owners already pay, Schaumburg's portion will end up as only about 8 percent of the total paid to all taxing bodies, village Finance Director Doug Ellsworth said.

recommendation for a property tax that would bring in $23.7 million next year, helping fill an existing $17.6 million hole in the budget caused by dwindling sales taxes and other consumer-based fees.

Potential tax bill increase

Woodfield Shopping Center
$1.4 million

Schaumburg Corporate Center, 1501 Woodfield Road
$460,000

Zurich North American building, 1400 American Lane
$435,000

Woodfield Preserve Office, 10/20 Martingale Road
$373,000r

Motorola, Algonquin and Meacham roads
$356,000

Streets of Woodfield
$325,000

Hyatt Regency Woodfield, 1800 E. Golf Road
$160,000

IKEA, 1800 E. McConnor Pkwy.
$159,000

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Schaumburg businesses cautious to react to tax

FACT CHECK: Guantanamo detainees and U.S. prisons

Check out the arguments and the facts:

FACTS: Convicted terrorists already are held in U.S. prisons. Federal Bureau of Prisons director Harley Lappin said more than 340 international and domestic terrorists currently are incarcerated.

FACTS: Detainees would be overseen by the military and would not mingle with other federal inmates, said Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman Felicia Ponce

FACTS: The Department of Defense does not allow detainees to have visitors. Phil Carter, deputy assistant secretary of defense for detainee policy, said detainees' only visitors at Guantanamo Bay are attorneys, the Red Cross and diplomatic and law enforcement personnel.

FACTS:the bureau of prisons would employ about 800 to 900 people, including 250 to 300 people moved in from other facilities to quickly get the prison up and running. Carter said the defense department would have as many as 1,500 military, civilian and contractor personnel there. The majority would be military.

FACT CHECK: Guantanamo detainees and U.S. prisons | Daily Chronicle

Dekalb County budget approved

nearly $74 million Fiscal Year 2010 budget, which is a slight increase over the 2009 budget and doesn’t cut services or employees. It also has no tax increases, and property taxes are not expected to go up for the average homeowner.

The transfer of $1.64 million will clear out a fund that had been set up to save for a new jail.
The jail and courthouse expansions are now being paid for by selling bonds rather than saving a little at a time, the county board decided last month. However, the transferred amount will be restricted to building purposes within the general fund.

Click on the following for more details:  County budget approved | Daily Chronicle

Blog Count for the last 30 days: 861 visits; 462 separate visitors

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winning-bidders-to-turn-silverdome-into-soccer-stadium

 What an unbelievable price!

An unidentified Canadian real estate company was the winning bidder for the Silverdome, snatching it up for a mere fraction of its original value.

A Toronto-based family-owned company bid $583,000 for the under-used stadium on Monday, which is currently owned by the City of Pontiac, Mich.

Click on the following:  winning-bidders-to-turn-silverdome-into-soccer-stadium: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

The injunction filed Monday afternoon in Oakland Circuit Court was too late to stop the auction, according to Bloomfield Hills attorney H. Wallace Parker, who has headed the Silver Stallion Development Corporation. But it may be able to stop the sale of the Silverdome, which went for $583,000 Monday in a closed door auction between four top bidders.

See more details:  http://www.detnews.com/article/20091117/METRO/911170416/1411/METRO02

Blog Count for the last 30 days: 841 visits; 436 separate visitors

  

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Boone County receives bid of $181,900 for the farmland on Route 76

Eleanor Muck has bid $181,900 for the 30+ acres on Route 76.  On October 21 the Roads Subcommittee vote 0-5 to approve the bid.  On Wednesday the committee of the whole will consider the bid.

Ill. lawmaker apologizes for ’savage religion’ comment

 

In a statement, Manzullo said he was not referring generally to Islam, but to terrorists who “believe and practice a violent, anti-modernity version of Wahhabism in which they seek to impose a new caliphate, similar to the extent of the Ottoman Empire during the Middle Ages, and sharia law stretching from Indonesia to Europe.”

He said Islam is a “religion of peace” and that the vast majority of its adherents are “men and women of good will.”

He added: “Nevertheless, I apologize for any misunderstanding of my comments and I will endeavor in the future to clarify my remarks to make it absolutely clear that America is not opposed to Islam, but that we are fighting terrorists who believe in a savage, perverted, and violent form of Islam.”

Click on the following for more details:  Ill. lawmaker apologizes for ’savage religion’ comment | The Wire | STLtoday

Rep. Don Manzullo apologizes for 'savage religion' comment.

Chicago Tribune 'Breaking News' website reports:

Rep. Don Manzullo, who opposes the idea of moving terrorism suspects to Thomson Correctional Center in his northern Illinois district, issued a qualified apology today after a comment that critics viewed as insulting to Islam.

In an interview with television station WREX in Rockford that was aired Monday, the Illinois Republican said of terrorism suspects: "These are really, really mean people whose job it is to kill people, driven by some savage religion."

Click on the following for more details:  PSB: Progressive Illinois Politics:: Rep. Don Manzullo apologizes for 'savage religion' comment.

Illinois town prefers detainees over unemployment

“We need this to help our community, our communities around us and us are hurting big,” said Thomson Village President Jerry Hebeler after a private meeting with federal officials and community members.

Click on the following for more details:  Illinois town prefers detainees over unemployment - STLtoday.com

Officials learning about FOIA updates

Key changes to the Freedom of Information Act

- Shortens the time frame for governmental bodies to respond to public-records requests from seven business days to five. The amount of time for an extension also is cut to five days.

- Limits the instances when governments can reject records requests. Imposes fines of $2,500 to $5,000 on units of government that "willfully and intentionally" violate the FOIA and mandatory attorney's fees.

- Grants authority to the public access counselor in the Attorney General's Office to review whether certain records should be disclosed. That person also may issue binding opinions dealing with open government.

- Caps the amount that governments may charge for copying records. The first 50 pages in black and white will be free, and additional pages will cost a maximum of 15 cents a page. Charges cannot exceed actual costs.

- Requires a public body to provide records in an electronic format if requested and if feasible.

Other Questions which are answered: 

Q: Can a Freedom of Information request be denied if it is issued to the incorrect person within an organization?

Q: What if the Freedom of Information officer is on vacation?

Q: When does the clock start on the five-day timeline? What is a "business day" or "working day"?

Click on the following for more details:  Officials learning about FOIA updates - Peoria, IL - pjstar.com

State’s top court to hear case about George Ryan's pension

 

an appeals court ruled that Ryan could keep part of his state pension — as much as $65,000 a year — even though he was convicted of federal corruption charges from his time holding state office.

Previously, the state had ruled to deny Ryan his entire state pension.

Lisa Madigan’s office will oppose Ryan, arguing the decision of the state pension board that Ryan shouldn’t get any of his pension is correct.

Click on the following for more details:  State’s top court to hear case about George Ryan's pension

Illinois Legislator’s Pension

 

Our fine lawmakers get a pension after as few as four years in office. Their benefits as a share of salary rise as much as 5% per year of service — more than twice the rate earned by ordinary state workers. And since the General Assembly has its own retirement system, lawmakers don't have to share the loot with state police, university professors, health-care workers or prison guards.
   As a result, a lawmaker with 20 years on the job can retire at age 55 and get 85% of his or her final salary.

the House speaker and Senate president, minority leaders, deputy and assistant leaders, etc. — make as much as $95,312 a year.

Click on the following for more details:  Greg Hinz Blog | Crain's Chicago Business

Ron Wait opposed to Gitmo in Illinois

In reaction to Governor Quinn’s plan to sell the Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Illinois to the federal government for use as a prison and detention facility for terrorists, I have signed on to House Resolution 762 calling for the immediate halt of the negotiations. Just because Obama has failed to follow through on his campaign promise to close Guantanamo Bay does not mean we should bail him out and ship terrorists within 100 miles of Belvidere and Rockford . This is a completely irresponsible plan from Governor Quinn just to help out his buddies in Washington .

Thomson Correctional Center was built in 2001 as an adult male maximum-security facility with 1,600 cells and a separate 200-bed minimum-security unit. Currently, only the 200-bed minimum-security unit is open due to state budget constraints. The center was controversial during its construction due to the negative impact on the environment, especially being so close to the Mississippi River .

I am calling for the correctional facility to be used as a conventional 1,600-bed maximum-security prison as originally intended. I am also not opposed to the sale of the facility to the Federal Bureau of Prisons as long as it is used as a conventional 1,600-bed maximum-security prison as originally intended. A 1,600-bed prison fully operating would be wonderful for the local economy. Restructuring the prison as a federal detention center for up to 200 detainees will house far fewer prisoners and create much fewer jobs. Not only are we risking the safety of our citizens, we will be creating far fewer jobs than the Democrats are promising.

People have warned the Obama administration and the American people that the persons detained in Guantanamo have allies around the world who can be expected to respond to these detentions with an ongoing threat of homicidal violence that will stretch indefinitely into the future due to the culture of militant Islam.

Thank you so much for reading my E-Newsletter. I hope that Governor Quinn will come to his senses and abandon this plan to bring terrorists into our state. With your continued support, I am confident that we can accomplish these feats and address the issues that matter to us the most. Again, thank you and God bless.

 

Wonderful free service from Secretary of State

 

Beginning this month, the State of Illinois is offering a new service connected to your driver's license. You can click on the link below and add two emergency contacts to your license data. Therefore, if you are incapacitated in some way, your license can be scanned and the emergency contacts retrieved so your loved ones can be contacted.  It only takes two minutes to complete.

Please click on the following and follow the instruction:  http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/ecd/home.html

The following is taken  from that site.

Welcome to the Secretary of State's Emergency Contact Database

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This database allows Illinois instruction permit, driver's license and identification card holders to enter their emergency contact information into a voluntary, secure database. Starting in August 2009, in the event of a motor vehicle crash or other emergency situation where a person is unable to communicate directly, law enforcement may access this database to help them reach the person's designated emergency contacts.
If a person holds both an Illinois driver's license or permit and an Illinois identification card, the emergency contact information can be entered for both cards in one transaction. The information will only be associated with the record(s) selected by the participant.
Participants can add, modify, or delete their emergency contact information at any time by visiting this web page. Any modifications or deletions will overwrite all previously entered information. Previously entered emergency contact information will not be displayed, in order to ensure the privacy and security of the information. Participants can print the page containing their emergency contact information upon completion for their records.
Participants may select one or two persons as their emergency contacts, and are encouraged to share their participation with the emergency contacts they have chosen.
It is the responsibility of the holder of the driver's license, instruction permit, temporary visitor's driver's license and/or identification card to enter accurate data into the required fields, as well as to update contact data should any data change after initial enrollment in the emergency contact database. The Secretary of State assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the data entered by the holder of a driver's license (including commercial driver's license), instruction permit, temporary visitor's driver's license and/or identification card and disclaims any liability for damages, costs, and/or expenses, including, without limitation, consequential damages, arising or resulting from any inaccurate data or failure to update contact data.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions

Join The Emergency Contact Database

Stephenson County Sheriff delivers 29 layoff notices - Freeport, IL -

As of 2000, the population of Stephenson County was 48,979;  Boone County’s 2000 population was 41,786. 

sheriff delivered 29 layoff notices to employees in anticipation of the “worst-case scenario” of complying with spending levels in the county’s proposed 2009-2010 budget.

Currently, three deputies patrol the day shift each day and four patrol the night shift for the sheriff’s office. With the cuts, the numbers may be reduced to two on the day shift and possibly two on the night shift, Snyders said

Click on the following for more details:  Sheriff delivers 29 layoff notices - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

Chrysler pays late property taxes, interest - Rockford, IL

paid its nearly $1 million property taxes Friday, paving the way for the Boone County treasurer’s office to begin sending out payments to area taxing districts.

[States Attorney] Courier said her office filed a claim Nov. 2, in conjunction with Chrysler’s settlement agreement, seeking the full property tax payment and $30,000 in interest penalties.
“They pretty swiftly gave us the money,” she said. “We executed that Nov. 2, and we got the money on Friday. When you’re talking about $914,000, it’s pretty significant.”

Interest penalties totaled $53,051 as of last week, Newport said, but the county has only received $30,000 in interest which will be paid to the county’s general fund on Dec. 1.

Click on the following for more details:  Chrysler pays late property taxes, interest - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

One in seven Americans short of food | U.S. | Reuters

 

one in seven -- struggled to get enough to eat in 2008, the highest total in 14 years of a federal survey on "food insecurity," the U.S. government said Monday.

huge increase from the preceding year when 36.2 million people had trouble getting enough food and a third of them

The number of Americans receiving food stamp assistance soared above 36 million for the first time in August[2009], the eighth month in a row that enrollment set a record, the USDA said earlier this month.

One in seven Americans short of food | U.S. | Reuters

Work-Related Injuries Are Habitually Underreported, Report Says

 

The accountability office noted that the rate of workplace injuries — there were 4 million in 2007, including 5,600 fatalities — has declined fairly steadily since 1992, which OSHA attributed to improvements in workplace safety and the decline in the number of manufacturing jobs.

 

Work-Related Injuries Are Habitually Underreported, Report Says - NYTimes.com

CIT's bankruptcy raises new questions about bailout

Analysts expect more bailed-out firms to fail in the months ahead. Others may survive but will struggle to repay the government.

About $400 billion of federal investments remain in the corporate sector, much of it channeled through TARP. Critics of the program say losses were inevitable, in many cases

CIT's bankruptcy raises new questions about bailout - washingtonpost.com

Nordstrom clique shopping, Wal-Mart folks scrimping

Luxury chains like Nordstrom Inc. and Bloomingdale's say shoppers are spending again on items like shoes and dresses, but still shopping for lower prices and classic pieces that get a lot of use.

On the other hand, discounters like Wal-Mart are lowering prices even further to coax their less-well-off shoppers to keep spending. And it's not on anything glamorous. We're talking basics, like food and socks.

Wal-Mart has noted more pronounced swings in spending between paycheck cycles -- a sign that its customers have little extra to spend.

Click on the following for the full story:  Nordstrom clique shopping, Wal-Mart folks scrimping :: The Courier News :: Business

Gubernatorial candidates all agree pension system needs serious work - Quad Cities Online

Most of the candidates believe there have to be changes in benefits offered. For some, that means changing benefits offered within the defined benefit plans now in existence, creating a two-tiered system. A defined benefit plan guarantees a qualified participant a pension payment for life, based on a pre-determined formula.

For other candidates, it means elimination of a defined benefit plan and replacing it with a defined contribution plan, like the 401(k) plans common among private sector employers. The amount of the retirement benefit depends on how much a person saves. It is not guaranteed.

Click on the following to read  each candidate’s statement:  Gubernatorial candidates all agree pension system needs serious work - Quad Cities Online

Green development approved near Hampshire

Serosun Farms, a 410-acre conservation community that reinvents the rural lifestyle on the suburban fringe.

More than 300 acres - or 75 percent of the property - is designated open space, preserved farm and restored prairie, said John DeWald, principal for John DeWald and Associates. The 114 estate homes on one-acre plots will sit among an equestrian center, walking trails, fishing ponds and an organic farm. Sustainable elements of the community listed on the development's Web site include using wind and solar energy, waste recycling and reuse through composting and mulching, soil and water conservation, as well as organic farming practices that will provide food products for the community.

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Green development approved near Hampshire

Schaumburg's retail experience a barometer for region?

Not really—I guess. 

store vacancy rate, based on square footage, is now above 10 percent. While not a historic high, it has doubled in the last 31/2 years ago, Schaumburg's Community Development Director Christopher Huff said.

The bigger problem, say village officials and retailers themselves, is that remaining stores and restaurants are seeing fewer sales.

Schaumburg vacancies haven't reached a historic high, they are at their highest since the early '90s….retail market analyst at McMillan/Doolittle LLP in Chicago, said current store vacancy rates are generally 10 to 15 percent, though "super-regional" malls like Woodfield and areas like downtown Chicago are probably being hit the least.

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Schaumburg's retail experience a barometer for region

Representative Don Manzullo opposes moving Gitmo to Thomson Prison

 

“The terrorists remaining at Guantanamo Bay are dangerous and brutal killers, many of whom were involved in the attacks on our nation. As a matter of national security and public safety, I have consistently joined with a majority of my colleagues in fighting efforts to bring these terrorists onto our shores, and I adamantly oppose this plan to bring the terrorists to northwestern Illinois, where they could one day be released into our communities. Gitmo is set up to house these dangerous terrorists, and they should stay there.

“Part of the Administration’s proposal involves opening a separate maximum security federal prison at Thomson, and I have long encouraged the Administration to support that venture as long as it does not include the Guantanamo Bay detainees. Our residents in Carroll County and throughout northwestern Illinois desperately need jobs, and if there’s a need for a new federal prison to house domestic federal prisoners the Thomson facility would be ideal. But bringing the world’s most dangerous terrorists to northern Illinois would do more harm than good in the long run. Future job providers and residents would have serious reservations about locating in a region that’s home to the world’s most dangerous criminals and could be a target for future terrorist activity

Representative Don Manzullo

Health care for inmates in DeKalb County can be costly

personnel in the jail [in DeKalb county]  are ensuring that surfaces are cleaned regularly and taking the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of any germs or viruses. Signs in the cell blocks educate inmates about hand washing techniques and how to cough properly, said Klein, noting that she has a plan in mind if a H1N1 outbreak were to occur in the jail.
"If it were one person, we would isolate them and put them in a holding cell to keep them separate from everybody else," she said. "If we had multiple people who came down with the flu at one time, we would make one cell block for them. ... Right now, we're just acting like everybody has it. You keep things as clean as you can."

Click on the following for more details: Health care for inmates can be costly | Daily Chronicle

Group sues Daley over Obama correspondence -- Chicago 2016

 

spokeswoman for the city’s legal department, said the group failed to put a timeframe on its query. In addition, the request for correspondence from Chicago 2016 must be directed to the non-profit group, not city hall, she said.

Click on the following for more details:  Group sues Daley over Obama correspondence :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Chicago 2016

Week 44--H1N1

2009-2010 Influenza Season Week 44 ending November 7, 2009

All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.

Synopsis:

During week 44 (November 1-7, 2009), influenza activity decreased slightly in the U.S.

• 3,834 (30.1%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.
• All subtyped influenza A viruses being reported to CDC were 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses.
• The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold for the sixth consecutive week.
• Thirty-five influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported. Twenty-six of these deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, eight were associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was undetermined, and one was associated with an influenza B virus infection.
• The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 6.7% which is above the national baseline of 2.3%. All 10 regions reported ILI above region-specific baseline levels.
• Forty-six states reported geographically widespread influenza activity, Puerto Rico and four states reported regional influenza activity, the District of Columbia reported local influenza activity, Guam reported sporadic influenza activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands did not report.

National and Regional Summary of Select Surveillance Components

B
19 (0.5%)

During week 44, influenza B viruses co-circulated at low levels with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses. All subtyped influenza A viruses reported to CDC this week were 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses.

View WHO-NREVSS Regional Bar Charts| View Chart Data | View Full Screen

Pneumonia and Influenza Hospitalization and Death Tracking:

This new system was implemented on August 30, 2009, and replaces the weekly report of laboratory confirmed 2009 H1N1-related hospitalizations and deaths that began in April 2009. Jurisdictions can now report to CDC counts of hospitalizations and deaths resulting from all types or subtypes of influenza, not just those from 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. To allow jurisdictions to implement the new case definition, counts were reset to zero on August 30, 2009. From August 30 – November 7, 2009, 22,364 laboratory-confirmed influenza associated hospitalizations and 877 laboratory-confirmed influenza associated deaths were reported to CDC. CDC will continue to use its traditional surveillance systems to track the progress of the 2009-10 influenza season.

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Antigenic Characterization:

CDC has antigenically characterized one seasonal influenza A (H1N1), two influenza A (H3N2) and 320 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses collected since September 1, 2009.

One seasonal influenza A (H1N1) virus was tested and is related to the influenza A (H1N1) component of the 2009-10 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine (A/Brisbane/59/2007).

Both influenza A (H3N2) viruses tested showed reduced titers with antisera produced against A/Brisbane/10/2007, the 2009-2010 Northern Hemisphere influenza A (H3N2) vaccine component, and were antigenically related to A/Perth/16/2009, the WHO recommended influenza A (H3N2) component of the 2010 Southern Hemisphere vaccine formulation.

Three hundred and nineteen (99.7%) of 320 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses tested are related to the A/California/07/2009 (H1N1) reference virus selected by WHO as the 2009 H1N1 vaccine virus and one virus (0.3%) tested showed reduced titers with antisera produced against A/California/07/2009.

Annual influenza vaccination is expected to provide the best protection against those virus strains that are related to the vaccine strains, but limited to no protection may be expected when the vaccine and circulating virus strains are so different as to be from different lineages. Antigenic characterization of 2009 influenza A(H1N1) viruses indicates that these viruses are only distantly related antigenically and genetically to seasonal influenza A(H1N1) viruses, suggesting that little to no protection would be expected from vaccination with seasonal influenza vaccine. It is too early in the influenza season to determine if seasonal influenza viruses will circulate widely or how well the vaccine and circulating strains will match.

Antiviral Resistance:

Since September 1, 2009, 315 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus isolates have been tested for resistance to the neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir), and 761 2009 influenza A (H1N1) original clinical samples were tested for a single known mutation in the virus that confers oseltamivir resistance. In addition, one influenza A (H3N2) and 152 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus isolates have been tested for resistance to the adamantanes (amantadine and rimantadine). Additional laboratories perform antiviral testing and report their results to CDC. The results of antiviral resistance testing performed on these viruses are summarized in the table below.

Antiviral Resistance Testing Results on Samples Collected (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5832a3.htm).

Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance

During week 44, 7.7% of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to P&I. This percentage was above the epidemic threshold of 6.8% for week 44. Including week 44, P&I mortality has been above threshold for six consecutive weeks.

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Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality

Thirty-five influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported to CDC during week 44 (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas [2], California [8], Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan [2], Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio [2], Oklahoma [3], Tennessee [2], Texas [6], Utah, Virginia, and Washington). Twenty-six of these deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, eight were associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype is undetermined, and one was associated with an influenza B virus infection. These deaths occurred between March 15 and November 7, 2009.

Three deaths reported during week 44, including the death associated with influenza B virus infection, occurred during the 2008-09 season, bringing the total number of reported pediatric deaths occurring during that season to 127.

Since August 30, 2009, CDC has received 117 reports of influenza-associated pediatric deaths that occurred during the current influenza season (18 deaths in children less than 2 years old, 12 deaths in children 2-4 years old, 41 deaths in children 5-11 years old, and 46 deaths in children 12-17 years old). Ninety-eight (84%)of the 117 deaths were due to 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infections, and the remaining 19 were associated with influenza A virus for which the subtype is undetermined. A total of 156 deaths in children associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been reported to CDC.

Among the 117 deaths in children, 65 children had specimens collected for bacterial culture from normally sterile sites and 18 (27.7%) of the 65 were positive; Staphylococcus aureus was identified in eight (44.4%) of the 18 children. One S. aureus isolate was sensitive to methicillin, six were methicillin resistant, and one did not have sensitivity testing performed. Thirteen (72.2%) of the 18 children with bacterial coinfections were five years of age or older, and five (27.8%) of the 18 children were 12 years of age or older.

 

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Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations

Laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations are monitored using a population-based surveillance network that includes the 10 Emerging Infections Program (EIP) sites (CA, CO, CT, GA, MD, MN, NM, NY, OR and TN) and 6 new sites (IA, ID, MI, ND, OK and SD).

During September 1, 2009 – November 7, 2009, the following preliminary laboratory-confirmed overall influenza associated hospitalization rates were reported by EIP and the new sites (rates include influenza A, influenza B, and 2009 influenza A (H1N1)):

Rates [EIP (new sites)] for children aged 0-4 years and 5-17 years were 4.0 (8.1) and 2.0 (3.1) per 10,000, respectively. Rates [EIP (new sites)] for adults aged 18-49 years, 50-64 years, and ≥ 65 years were 1.5 (1.4), 1.7 (1.4) and 1.4 (1.3) per 10,000, respectively.

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Outpatient Illness Surveillance:

Nationwide during week 44, 6.7% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) were due to influenza-like illness (ILI). This percentage is above the national baseline of 2.3%.

View ILINet Regional Charts | View Chart Data | View Full Screen

On a regional level, the percentage of outpatient visits for ILI ranged from 4.2% to 8.8% during week 44, and decreased in nine of the 10 surveillance regions compared to the previous week. All 10 regions reported a proportion of outpatient visits for ILI above their region-specific baseline levels.

Geographic Spread of Influenza as Assessed by State and Territorial Epidemiologists:

The influenza activity reported by state and territorial epidemiologists indicates geographic spread of both seasonal influenza and 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses and does not measure the severity of influenza activity.

• During week 44, the following influenza activity was reported:
  • Widespread influenza activity was reported by 46 states (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming).
  • Regional influenza activity was reported by Puerto Rico and four states (Hawaii, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Texas).
  • Local influenza activity was reported by the District of Columbia.
  • Sporadic influenza activity was reported by Guam.
  • The U.S. Virgin Islands did not report.

Click on the following for more details on these CDC studies:  Flu Activity data in XML Format | View Full Screen