Illinois public bodies fail to post required info online | The Rock River Times

 

…only 73 percent posted notice of upcoming meetings, a mere 57 percent posted proposed agendas, and less than half, 48 percent, complied with the law by posting approved meeting minutes….

Key takeaways include the following:

• Posting of this information (meeting notices, agendas and approved minutes) to local government websites is a legal requirement. Failure to do so should be considered a violation of the Open Meetings Act.

• A surprisingly low number of the public bodies surveyed actually maintain a website. The survey showed that of the 756 public bodies surveyed, only 385 have websites (51 percent).

• Municipality Compliance: Only 65 percent are complying with the website notice provision. Notably, municipalities were not very good at posting agendas as compliance with timely posting of an agenda was 54 percent. Timely website posting of approved meeting minutes dropped to a 38 percent compliance rate.

• Township Compliance: Township compliance levels were also low with only 61 percent of those with a website complying with posting notice, 46 percent complying with posting an agenda and 38 percent complying with posting approved meeting minutes.

• County Compliance: Arguably, the worst performing of the public bodies surveyed. Just 39 percent of counties with websites complied with posting notice, 33 percent posting an agenda, and 33 percent for posting approved meeting minutes.

• School District Compliance: The majority, 89 percent, of school districts posted timely notice. However, timely posting of an agenda was poorer, 69 percent overall. The numbers for timely posting of approved meeting minutes was poorer still at 62 percent.

Click on the following to read all of the story:  Illinois public bodies fail to post required info online | The Rock River Times

Hospitals temporarily restricting visitors to limit spread of flu | The Rock River Times

 

In light of the high number of influenza cases in the Rock River Region, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Rockford Health System and SwedishAmerican Health System are restricting the age of visitors to their facilities per recommendations from Illinois Department of Public Health.

The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends hospitals implement all of the comprehensive influenza prevention and control recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during times of increased incidence of influenza-like illness in the community.

Effective immediately, and until further notice, hospital visitors will be limited to those individuals 18 years of age and older. In addition, it is strongly recommended that anyone showing flu-like symptoms refrain from visiting patients in the hospital. All treatment services are still available to all patients.

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  Hospitals temporarily restricting visitors to limit spread of flu | The Rock River Times

Belvidere police release traffic enforcement results - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

BELVIDERE — Belvidere police officers conducted 76 traffic stops that resulted in 100 tickets or arrests as part of its Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program.

The department received grant funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation to hire off-duty officers from Nov. 17-30 for the two-week traffic enforcement campaign, Police Chief Jan Noble said in a news release.

Citations and arrests included: 57 seat belt, 10 child seat, 12 uninsured, and five equipment violations, two driving on a suspended, revoked or without a license, three for moving violations, eight for using an electronic device/cell phone, and one ticket each was issued for speeding, driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol content over the legal limit of .08 percent.

Belvidere police will continue to increase traffic patrols throughout the holiday season. Motorists are encouraged to slow down, “buckle up” and refrain from distracted driving.

Belvidere police release traffic enforcement results - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Workforce Connection Plans another Job Fair January 29 in Belvidere

How far have oil prices fallen?

 

Illinois economic index shows growth - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the university said Monday that its Flash Index was at 106.6 in November. Any reading over 100 indicates economic growth and the index has been in the 106-107 range since February.

Institute economist Fred Giertz (GERTZ) also pointed to strong improvement in the state’s unemployment rate as a sign the economy is growing. The jobless rate was 6.6 percent in October. That’s down from 9.1 percent a year earlier.

The institute releases the Flash Index every month. It uses corporate earnings, consumer spending and personal income to track Illinois’ economy.

Click on following for reference:  Illinois economic index shows growth - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Theft in Circuit Clerk’s Office Finally Coming to Trial

Donna Osoria’s Plea Hearing is scheduled for Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 1:30

Donna Osoria, a former employee of the Clerk of the  Boone County Circuit Court, was charged with stealing county funds in 2012.  The case is now finally coming to a close.  A hearing regarding the plea  will be heard in Judge Tobin’s courtroom at 1:30PM, Thursday.  Plea bargaining  may end the case before the scheduled bench trial on December 8.

 

 

The above is taken from:  http://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_history.jsp?court=IL004015J&ocl=IL004015J,2012CF187,IL004015JL2012CF187D1

 

Original Press Coverage:

Boone County Employee Arrested

By: Meghan Dwyer

BOONE COUNTY (WIFR) -- A woman who has worked for the Boone County government for more than a decade, is accused of stealing more than $10,000 from the circuit clerk's office.
56-year-old Donna Osoria is being charged with one count of theft and one count of official misconduct. The Boone County State's Attorney says she has been out of a job since June 22.

Osoria had been a deputy clerk for twelve years. She was arrested Tuesday night at her home in Belvidere and is being held on a $50,000 bond in the Boone County Jail. The State's Attorney says she's confident Osoria acted alone and no other employees broke the law, but officials are not saying exactly how much money was stolen, just that it was more than $10,000 and less than $100,000.

"Obviously these are serious charges. Theft charges are always serious but including the theft charge, we do have the official misconduct charge as well because she was a deputy circuit clerk at the time that this occurred," said Michelle Courier, the Boone County State's Attorney.

The State's Attorney isn't releasing any details on whether there was an audit done office-wide, or if someone came forward with information. Unlike the Rita Crundwell case, the Dixon comptroller who is accused of stealing millions, this case is not a Federal one, so she didn't transfer any money across state lines.

Court documents say Osoria allegedly started stealing money in March of 2010 and kept stealing it until this June. The State's Attorney will not say whether she was fired or she quit.

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BOONE COUNTY (WIFR) -- Boone County State’s Attorney, Michelle J. Courier, announced that Donna Osoria, 56, of Belvidere, has been charged with one count of Theft and one count of Official Misconduct. The charges against Osoria allege that between March 15, 2010 and June 22, 2012, Osoria, while employed with the Boone County Circuit Clerk, committed a theft by taking in excess of $10,000 but not in excess of $100,000 of United States currency from the Boone County Circuit Clerk’s Office.

The Theft charge is a Class 1 felony and is punishable by 4 to 15 years in the Department of Corrections. The Official Misconduct charge is a Class 3 felony and is punishable by 2 to 5 years in the Department of Corrections.

Osoria is in custody, and her bond is set at $50,000.