Stephensen County Chairman: Economic development stays -

For the first two months of the year, the county’s revenues are down by 2 percent compared to what was budgeted….

. Some board members have suggested the county cut its $100,000 allocation to NIDA as a way to save money, but Blum said this would be disastrous for ongoing job creation efforts….By reducing its allocation to NIDA, county officials would be indicating to voters that they received the message to change how tax revenue is used, Kinney said.

approved a 2009-2010 general fund budget with a roughly $400,000 deficit late last year

Blum: Economic development stays - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

Mystery swirls around George W. Bush 'Miss me yet?' billboard - Yahoo! News

Play Video ABC News  – Bush Billboard Asks 'Miss Me Yet?'  

The ad was purchased by a group of small business owners who wish to remain anonymous

Click on the following for more details:  Mystery swirls around George W. Bush 'Miss me yet?' billboard - Yahoo! News

Feds may investigate Toyota Corolla power steering

This is an AP release regarding the same facts published in the Washington Post.

NHTSA says it will determine if a formal safety investigation is warranted. But agency officials also stress that it is standard procedure to review the tens of thousands of driver complaints they get every year on a wide range of vehicles.

Feds may investigate Toyota Corolla power steering - Chicago Breaking Business

Illinois bans cell phone usage in school zones

Illinois bans cell phone usage in school zones
Posted Belvidere Community Schools February 3, 2010 [http://www.district100.net/]

As of January 1, 2010, the State of Illinois banned the use of cell phones in school zones.  Senate Bill 72 titled "Vehicular Phone Use in School Zones" states:

"A person, regardless of age, may not use a wireless telephone at any time while operating a motor vehicle on a roadway in a school speed zone."

Please be mindful of the new law when you pick your children up from school or are simply traveling through a school speed zone.

Belvidere's sewer, water rates may go up - Rockford, IL

Next year a Belvidere resident should budget $298.80 for water and sewer that is (1.48 + 2.12) X 83

would pay $1.48 per hundred cubic feet for water and $2.12 for sewer, increases of 9 cents and 12 cents, respectively….

A typical household using 8,300 cubic feet a year of water and the same amount in sewer would pay an extra $17.43 a year: $7.47 for water, $9.96 for sewer, Director of Public Works Craig Lawler said.

Belvidere's sewer, water rates may go up - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

U.S. government looks at Toyota Corolla steering complaints

This may or may not be a problem.

The Transportation Department now says that it is looking into more than 80 complaints it has received from owners of the 2009-2010 Toyota Corolla about the vehicle's steering.

The Transportation Department has not launched a formal investigation into the Corolla steering, as it did last week with the Prius brakes. Instead, said spokeswoman Olivia Alair, the agency is reviewing the Corolla complaints "as we do with all complaints."

Also, understand this: Toyota is a massive automaker, at one point rivaling GM for U.S. sales. It is bound to get owner complaints simply because of the sheer number of vehicles it sells.

Click on the following for more details:  Economy Watch - U.S. government looks at Toyota Corolla steering complaints

State Farm says it warned NHTSA on Toyota in 2007

nation's largest auto insurer said Tuesday it alerted federal safety regulators in late 2007 about a rise in reports of unexpected acceleration in Toyota vehicles, the latest warning sign to emerge about the massive recall….State Farm said that it routinely tracks claim trend information and shares its data with NHTSA. "In the name of safety, we voluntarily and routinely communicate with the appropriate government agencies when we see a product-related claim trend,"

Click on the following for more details:  State Farm says it warned NHTSA on Toyota in 2007 - Yahoo! Finance