Possible bridge teardown threatens Boone County emergency response - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

This story was also a local feature on Channel 13 news.

Community members say officials should have better notified them about removal plans for the bridge. Even though the daily traffic count on the bridge is low, it is a critical access point for emergency responders trying to reach some Spring Township residents fast.

Outgoing Spring Township Supervisor Jaclyn Falkenstein said in the municipal’s annual $500,000 budget, there is $84,000 in the joint-bridge account.

“The township doesn’t have the resources to pay for this bridge,” she said.

Read the entire story by clicking on the following:  Possible bridge teardown threatens Boone County emergency response - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Emerald Ash Borer workshop May 29 in Belvidere - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

Extension educators will explain the history, life cycle and control options for emerald ash borer, and explain how to save your ash tree.

Cost: $5 per person; registration is required

Click on the following for more details:  Emerald Ash Borer workshop May 29 in Belvidere - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Election officials to recount Belvidere mayor votes - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

Mark Sanderson has asked for a recount after losing the Belvidere mayoral race to Mike Chamberlain by six votes.
Sanderson requested a discovery recount Thursday. He asked the Boone County clerk’s office to review precincts 9, 13, 14 and 15.

Boone County Clerk Mary Steurer said there is a slim chance that the recount will show a different outcome.

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Capron Elementary School to have first county soup kitchen | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

A point in time survey on Feb. 23 showed 177 homeless people in the county, with the biggest percentage in Capron.

The plan is to have the first soup kitchen in operation at Capron Elementary the first Tuesday after the 2012-13 school year ends. It would be open from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays to start, with the possibility of adding Saturdays at some point in the future.

After learning about the availability of Capron Elementary, Loveridge checked with Linda Clark, executive director of the Belvidere/Boone County Food Pantry, about providing some of the groceries. She immediately agreed to help.

Click on the following for more details:  Capron Elementary School to have first county soup kitchen | Belvidere Daily Republican

Health Department’s fees for non-profits generate more debate | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

Cox went on by saying, “Bill Pysson, I don’t understand him at all.” He was referring to the county board member who was in the audience and who has said he, too, opposes the increase.

Then Cox turned to health board member Ron Wait, who’s also on the county board, and said, “I hope you will vote for it.”

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S.B. 1738 hides video gambling information from the public | The Rock River Times

S.B. 1738 hides video gambling information from the public

For many years, organized crime profited from illegal video gambling machine operations in Illinois. The chairman of the Gaming Board said it was “almost impossible” to keep the mob out of video gambling. That is why transparency is needed now that the video gambling machines are legal.

Currently, monthly video gambling reports are issued and posted on the Illinois Gaming Board’s website. The reports list the names of each establishment, amount of money gambled, amount won, net wagering activity, state and municipality’s share of taxes.

S.B. 1738 prohibits the board from disseminating information relating to video gambling that is specific to individual licensed locations, and only allows information that is aggregated based on the municipality or county.

It is important for the public to see how much money is being gambled and lost at each establishment. For example, gamblers have lost more than $400,000 in five months on five video gambling machines in the Road Ranger truck stop near Camp Butler in Springfield, Ill.

Why would video gambling interests want to hide this information from the public? Without this transparency, we are concerned that money laundering and organized crime will gain a foothold in video gambling. Riverboat casinos must reveal monthly financial information, and so should video gambling establishments.

Establishments are getting 35 percent of the revenue from video gambling (municipalities get 5 percent), and these funds could pay for security measures. Video gambling establishments need to take responsibility to safeguard the funds in their establishments, such as making daily or twice-a-day deposits, contracting with an armored car for delivery to banks, installing surveillance equipment, or hiring security staff.

Lawmakers should not change the law to prevent the public from knowing how much money is LOST and how much profit video gambling interests are making at each location. We call upon the governor, attorney general and legislators to safeguard the public and oppose S.B. 1738 to suppress video gambling information.

Anita Bedell, Executive Director
Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems
Springfield, Ill.

From the April 24-30, 2013, issue

The above is taken from:  S.B. 1738 hides video gambling information from the public | The Rock River Times

Justice Department appeals morning-after case - Yahoo! News

 

The Obama administration on Wednesday appealed a federal judge's order to lift all age limits on who can buy morning-after birth control pills without a prescription.

In appealing the ruling, the administration recommitted itself to a position Obama took during his re-election campaign that younger teens shouldn't have unabated access to emergency contraceptives, despite the insistence by physicians groups and much of his Democratic base that the pill should be readily available.

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