City to create 'Tech Corps' for laid-off professionals

 

Using $20 million from the “human infrastructure fund” created with proceeds from the $1.15 billion deal that privatized Chicago parking meters, the city expects to serve as many as 10,500 unemployed professionals.

In exchange for a $450 weekly stipend, they will be put to work for 30 hours a week in six-month jobs that benefit Chicago residents — either in the city, the public schools or non-profits. They will also receive 18 hours of technology training each week needed to reinvent themselves in the high-tech world.

City to create 'Tech Corps' for laid-off professionals :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: City Hall

Will video gambling falter? Don't bet on it

proposals introduced by state Rep. Jack Franks to either repeal the law or allow voters to have a say about it on February's primary ballot.

Lake County Board members Tuesday joined those from Cook and DuPage counties in outlawing the machines in unincorporated regions.

Supporters, including bar owners and machine makers, say the gambling devices are already in a number of places illegally and it is better than hiking taxes.

Illinois Gaming Board members say that without more money and manpower they can't come up with rules to vet bar owners and vendors or devise a way to keep organized crime out of the business. The board will need several million dollars upfront alone to buy a computer system to monitor the 45,000 or more machines 24/7.

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Will video gambling falter? Don't bet on it

Warrenville poised to reject video gambling

In Warrenville, there are 22 establishments that would be eligible to host video gambling, officials said. If all those locations had the maximum of five machines, it could generate up to $220,000 a year for the city.

The state will receive 25 percent, while establishment owners and the terminal operators evenly split the rest

The city council's public safety and legislative committee needed only five minutes Monday night to recommend the full council adopt a local law prohibiting the machines.

Daily Herald | Warrenville poised to reject video gambling

USS New York, built with World Trade Center steel, sets sail for its namesake city

 

A Navy assault ship built with tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center towers began its journey to New York on Tuesday

The New York is 684 feet long and can carry up to 800 Marines. It has a flight deck that can handle helicopters and the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

Click on the following for the rest of the story:  USS New York, built with World Trade Center steel, sets sail for its namesake city | StarTribune.com

Roselle residents speak out on video gambling

Six local residents attended the meeting, with four decrying the gambling machines and two supporting the measure's revenue benefits.

Roselle has 16 establishments with liquor licenses that each would be eligible for five machines.

Village President Gayle Smolinski said a more realistic revenue projection is $40,000 to $80,000 per year, since it is unlikely all 16 businesses would opt for five machines.

they hoped Roselle could create an ordinance exempting veterans' groups from a video gambling ban, since they already are permitted to have pull tab gambling in their posts.

Daily Herald | Roselle residents speak out on video gambling

Nobel jury defends Obama decision

they had expected the decision to generate both surprise and criticism.

Jagland singled out Obama's efforts to heal the divide between the West and the Muslim world and scale down a Bush-era proposal for an anti-missile shield in Europe

AP Newsbreak: Nobel jury defends Obama decision - Yahoo! News

Investment losses pose crisis for public pensions

A very scary report-- 

Within 15 years, public systems on average will have less half the money they need to pay pension benefits, according to an analysis by Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Other analysts say funding levels could hit that level within a decade.

: If they shy away from riskier investments, they would be settling for lower returns that leave future shortfalls unaddressed. But by aggressively pursuing the higher rates of return they need, pension funds increase the chances they will be burned again by investment bets gone bad.

Click on the following for more details:  Northwest Herald | Investment losses pose crisis for public pensions

McHenry County Committee to discuss video gambling referendum

Thirty-four establishments in unincorporated McHenry County have licenses to serve liquor and therefore would qualify to have the machines,

Governments have until Nov. 30 to pass a resolution for a binding question on the Feb. 2 ballot, according to Illinois State Board of Elections guidelines. 

The committee on Wednesday intends to recommend approval of a resolution that would put a referendum on the Feb. 2 primary ballot asking whether to allow video gambling in bars and restaurants in unincorporated areas.

Northwest Herald | Committee to discuss video gambling referendum

Suburbs Out of Water by 2015 - Chicago Breaking News

This need to be researched more—there are already some shortages in Eastern McHenry County. 

• WFLD

Chicago - A new study says several Chicago suburbs may face a major water crisis by the year 2015.

Researchers at the University of Illinois say water supplies won't be able to keep up with the growth taking place in cities like Aurora and Joliet.

The aquifers which feed those suburbs won't go dry, but pumping water from them will become very expensive.

Researchers say those communities should begin conservation measures now to hold off the problem

Suburbs Out of Water by 2015 - Chicago Breaking News

Kane property taxes are high, but not as high as others

Boone County was not listed in The Tax Foundation’s work.

Kane County dropped a rank in Illinois and two spots in the national ranking from 28th among counties nationwide compared to taxes paid in 2007.
However, the median tax bill in the county actually rose 7.2 percent from the $4,697 median tax bill paid in 2007.

Lake County again ranked at the top of the list in Illinois and 18th nationally, as taxpayers there paid a median tax bill of $6,153 in 2008. Statewide, Lake was followed by Kendall County ($5,563 median property tax bill, 23rd nationally), DuPage County ($5,371, 25th) and McHenry County ($5,136, 28th).

The Chronicle | Kane property taxes are high, but not as high as others