State budgets get adrenaline shot from Clunkers

Edmunds.com estimated that the average clunker sales price was $26,321, meaning roughly $18 billion worth of new vehicles were sold under the program. Multiplied by the average combined state and local sales tax of 7.5 percent, the total tax bill amounts to a loose estimate of $1.36 billion.

"Has the pool been drained as a result of this program for the next couple of months? That is the question," he said.

Click on the following for more details:  State budgets get adrenaline shot from Clunkers - Yahoo! News

Leaders weigh pros, cons of 2 Amtrak routes

How much is the federal and state government willing to spend on this train to Dubuque? 

Federal stimulus money could fund the primary route, from Chicago through Genoa and Rockford to Dubuque, Iowa. But money earmarked for rail upgrades in the state capital plan could then be used for the stretch that goes through Belvidere. That route would use the same tracks between Rockford and Dubuque

Belvidere Mayor Fred Brereton is pessimistic that both lines would be upgraded

Click on the following for more of the story:  Leaders weigh pros, cons of 2 Amtrak routes - - BusinessRockford.com

CVS, Walgreen have spot flu-vaccine shortages as demand surges

Five vaccine suppliers -- Sanofi, London-based AstraZeneca Plc and GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Basel, Switzerland-based Novartis AG and CSL Ltd. of Australia -- are making 114 million seasonal- flu doses, and 251 million swine flu doses for the U.S., according to the Health and Human Services Department.

Click on the following:  Daily Herald | CVS, Walgreen have spot flu-vaccine shortages as demand surges