Politics and Government

Friday, November 20, 2009

County board rejects bid to end health agencies' accord

URBANA – Champaign County Board members on Thursday night rejected a resolution, 12-10, that would have terminated a management agreement between the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the Champaign County Board of Health.

The vote means that the two agencies will not face a one-year deadline to negotiate a new agreement.

Senate ethics panel admonishes Burris

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate ethics committee on Friday admonished Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., for making "inconsistent, misleading or incomplete" statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the seat once held by Barack Obama. The committee didn't recommend any punishment.

Soil cleanup proposed at 7 Chanute sites

RANTOUL – The Air Force has proposed removing 6 inches or more of soil from seven separate sites on the old Chanute Air Force Base property as a way of cleaning up the property and making it available for redevelopment.

The proposal is part of a plan to remove environmental hazards on the 2,174-acre former military base by 2016. It was made public Thursday at a quarterly meeting of the base's restoration advisory board.

Probe targets discrepancies at animal shelter

DANVILLE – The Vermilion County Sheriff's Department is looking into some discrepancies at the Vermilion County Animal Regulation Department and Shelter following the firing of director Pete Smith.

Vermilion County Board Chairman Jim McMahon suspended Smith with pay in late October. But on Monday, McMahon fired Smith, who has been director of the animal regulation department since 2007, when he was made interim director to fill in for the previous director, Shane Boyer. He was later made the permanent director.

White House at odds with bishops over abortion

WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House is on a collision course with Catholic bishops in an intractable dispute over abortion that could blow up the fragile political coalition behind President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

A top Obama administration official on Thursday praised the new Senate health care bill's attempt to find a compromise on abortion coverage – even as an official of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said Sen. Harry Reid's bill is the worst he's seen so far on the divisive issue.

Free clinics tied to health care debate

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – A nonprofit group's campaign to hold free medical clinics for the uninsured in three states is turning into a not-so-subtle jab at moderate Democrats to support their party's efforts to reform health care.

More than 800 people have signed up for free care Saturday at a downtown convention center in Little Rock at an event organized by the National Association of Free Clinics – the Virginia-based association's second free event in the past month under a campaign promoted by MSNBC's Keith Olbermann.

6 world powers meet about Iran nuclear program

BRUSSELS (AP) – Representatives of six world powers on Friday were considering measures against Iran for its refusal to halt nuclear enrichment activities, as the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency warned Tehran not to miss the opportunity to resolve the dispute.

The European Union said senior diplomats from the U.N. Security Council's five permanent members plus Germany took part in talks in Brussels. They come a day after President Barack Obama said the six nations will develop a package of serious new punitive measures in coming weeks. He did not give details.

8 militants killed in reported U.S. strike

MIR ALI, Pakistan (AP) – A suspected U.S. missile strike killed at least eight militants Friday in northwestern Pakistan, officials said, the second attack this week in an area believed to hold many insurgents who fled from an army offensive elsewhere in the Afghan border region.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told visiting CIA director Leon Panetta that any new U.S. strategy for Afghanistan must take into account Pakistan's concerns, especially fears that more troops could push militants across the border into Pakistan, according to a statement by Gilani.

Suicide bomber kills 16 in Afghanistan

KABUL (AP) – A suicide bomber killed 16 people and wounded at least 23 others Friday in a busy city square in western Afghanistan, while near Kabul a powerful former warlord narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, officials said.

The attacks came a day after Afghan President Hamid Karzai took the oath of office for a second term amid escalating violence across the country. Karzai said he has put national reconciliation with Taliban insurgents at the top of his agenda.

Millions of children still face poverty, abuse, disease

NEW DELHI (AP) – Arun Kumar was born to disabled parents, beaten by his grandparents, ran away from home, got a job in a garment factory and had all his savings stolen by the police.

He was only 11.

Area update

Sidney board goes to bat for sewer referendum

SIDNEY – With just over two months until voters decide the fate of a proposed $10.2 million sanitary sewer system, Sidney officials continue to try to garner public support for the project.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Rental assistance available in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN – Rental assistance is available for a limited number of homeless or low-income Champaign residents.

Using the City of Champaign's HOME funds, a federal grant of $90,000, the Champaign County Regional Plan Commission will give grants to people who enroll in a program to significantly improve household self-sufficiency within two years.

Danville teachers' contract talks may soon begin anew

DANVILLE – Though Danville teachers and other school staff finally have a new 1-year contract, board members said it won't be long before the two sides will have to start working on a new agreement, and they would like to see representatives come together soon to start talking about issues.

Safe Haven members may move later today

CHAMPAIGN – Safe Haven, the self-governing homeless "tent community" that temporarily camped at a church parish center, is expected to move into new quarters starting today at Restoration Urban Ministries in Champaign.

Champaign County Board to vote on budget

URBANA – Champaign County Board members are scheduled to vote Thursday night on the county's $123.83 million budget for the fiscal year that begins Dec. 1.

Several Danville aldermen favor new cuts plus utility tax

DANVILLE – Although Mayor Scott Eisenhauer traded a proposed utility tax for more than $400,000 in city cuts, according to his latest three-year financial plan, several aldermen still support a utility tax as long as there is a cap and it's accompanied with cuts and property tax relief.

Alderman Bill Gilbert said he was in favor of the utility tax before Tuesday night's city council meeting, when Eisenhauer pulled the proposed 2 percent tax on natural gas and 2 percent tax on water and announced $420,000 in city cuts would be coming instead.

Senate girds for historic debate on health bill

WASHINGTON (AP) – After months of maneuvering, the Senate stands at the brink of a historic battle over health care with President Barack Obama and his allies on one side and Republicans, outnumbered but unflinching, on the other.

"Now it's America's turn, and this will not be a short debate," Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, warned after Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled long-awaited legislation Wednesday night to extend coverage to 30 million more Americans and force insurance companies to take all comers.

Afghan president sworn in to 2nd 5-year term

KABUL (AP) – Afghanistan will control its own security within five years and prosecute corrupt officials, President Hamid Karzai pledged Thursday in an inauguration speech made under intense pressure to shed the cronyism and graft that marked his government's first term.

As Karzai vowed to make the country safe from an increasingly violent Taliban insurgency, two U.S. service members died in a bomb attack and a suicide bomber killed 10 civilians in the south.

Obama says U.S., allies discussing Iran sanctions

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – Showing impatience with Iranian foot-dragging, President Barack Obama said Thursday that the U.S. and its allies are discussing possible new penalties against Iran for defying international attempts to halt its contested nuclear program.

Obama's warning came after Iran rejected a compromise proposal to ship its low-enriched uranium abroad so that it could not be further enriched to make weapons. Talk of fresh sanctions also showed that Obama is preparing for the next phase should Iran fail to meet his year-end deadline for progress in negotiations.

U.S. panel warns of rampant Chinese spying

WASHINGTON (AP) – A U.S. congressional advisory panel said Thursday that Chinese spies are aggressively stealing American secrets to use in building Beijing's military and economic strength.

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission also said in its annual report to lawmakers that Beijing is building a navy that could block the U.S. military from getting to the region if fighting should break out between China and Taiwan, the self-governing island off China's southeastern coast that China claims as its own.

China holding, mistreating U.S. geologist

BEIJING (AP) – Sometime into his long detention by China's feared state security agents, American geologist Xue Feng had something to show U.S. consular officials on their monthly visit. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing the burns where his interrogators pressed lit cigarettes into his arm.

Xue also had something to say: He wanted his previously unpublicized detention made public in hopes that the outcry would win his release.

Task force doctor stands by mammogram advice

WASHINGTON (AP) – A member of the independent panel whose new mammogram recommendations have led to confusion defended the task force's report, saying Thursday that it was based on the most up-to-date, accurate information available.

Dr. Timothy Wilt, a member of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, stuck by its recommendation that most women don't need mammograms in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50. The American Cancer Society's long-standing position has been that women should get annual cancer-screening mammograms starting at age 40.

January deadline nears, but no one wants Gitmo detainees

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – President Barack Obama is now confirming what many have long suspected: He will miss his January deadline to close the Guantanamo prison – partly because he cannot persuade other nations to take the detainees.

Prisoners like Walid Abu Hijazi. The 29-year-old Palestinian is nearing his eighth year at Guantanamo even though the U.S. approved his release in February 2008. No one else has been willing to allow him, or dozens of others, into their territory.

Negligence ruling over Katrina may cost government

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The federal government could be vulnerable to billions of dollars in claims after a judge ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers' failure to properly maintain a navigation channel led to massive flooding in Hurricane Katrina.

U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval on Wednesday awarded seven plaintiffs $720,000, but the government could eventually be forced to pay much more. The ruling should give more than 100,000 other individuals, businesses and government entities a better shot at claiming damages.

Quinn, Hynes trade barbs during debates

CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes disagreed over the best way to raise the state income tax but agreed on their support for a government-run health insurance program during two debates Wednesday between the rival Democratic candidates for governor.

The men traded verbal jabs, with Hynes saying Quinn's tax proposal would "crush the middle class" and Quinn calling Hynes' tax plan "a blank piece of paper" that wouldn't come to fruition soon enough to help the state's finances.

19 killed in courthouse bombing in Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) – A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a courthouse in northwestern Pakistan on Thursday, killing 19 people in the latest attack in an onslaught by Islamist militants retaliating against an army offensive near the Afghan border.

The bombing was the seventh militant strike in less than two weeks in and around Peshawar, the largest city in the northwest. The attacks have killed more than 80 people.

Russian court extends moratorium on death penalty

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) – Russia's Constitutional Court effectively outlawed the death penalty Thursday, saying a moratorium on capital punishment should remain in force until the nation fully bans executions.

Constitutional Court chief Valery Zorkin said Russia must extend the moratorium on executions until it ratifies a European convention banning the death penalty.

Experts say radical measures won't stop swine flu

LONDON (AP) – Health experts say extraordinary measures against swine flu – most notably quarantines imposed by China, where entire planeloads of passengers were isolated if one traveler had symptoms – have failed to contain the disease.

Despite initially declaring success, Beijing now acknowledges its swine flu outbreak is much larger than official numbers show.

World powers weigh how to punish Iran for nukes

BRUSSELS (AP) – The United States and five other world powers will meet Friday in Brussels to discuss what measures can be taken to punish Tehran for its refusal to halt its nuclear enrichment program.

The meeting will include the U.N. Security Council's permanent members – Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S. – plus Germany, an EU official said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to disclose details.

Champaign, Urbana park districts approve tax levies

Property tax revenues will increase for the Urbana and Champaign park districts.

Thanks to voter approval in April – raising the overall maximum tax rate from 69.5 cents to about 84.5 cents per $100 of assessed value – the Urbana Park District will collect about $900,000 more in taxes in 2010.

Poll finds support for curbs on malpractice lawsuits

WASHINGTON (AP) – Most Americans want Congress to deal with malpractice lawsuits driving up the cost of medical care, says an Associated Press poll.

Yet Democrats are reluctant to press forward on an issue that would upset a valuable political constituency – trial lawyers – even if President Barack Obama says he's open to changes.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Aldermen OK yard-waste program, higher golf fees

DANVILLE – Aldermen unanimously approved a biweekly yard-waste program Tuesday night that requires an increase in some fees and toters for residents who want yard waste to be picked up in the months between special collection periods in the spring and the fall.

Aldermen also approved increasing annual golf fees at Harrison Park Golf Course and defeated a tentative contract with the bargaining unit representing the Danville fire department's command officers.

Tentative deal between UI, GEO ends two-day strike

URBANA – Graduate students are expected return to teaching duties today after the University of Illinois and the Graduate Employees' Organization reached a tentative contract agreement on Tuesday.

 

The three-year agreement, which is retroactive to August 2009, addresses the last major sticking point – tuition waivers.

Estimated property-tax levy for Champaign approved

CHAMPAIGN – City property tax rates for Champaign homeowners are expected to be about the same, based on an estimated property tax levy approved by Champaign City Council members Tuesday night.

The ordinance approved unanimously by council members calls for a tax levy of $21.045 million, based on estimated equalized assessed value of $1.626 billion. That would result in a property tax rate of $1.29 per $100 of assessed value.

Latest Danville budget plan drops utility tax, adds cuts

DANVILLE – Mayor Scott Eisenhauer unveiled another three-year financial plan Tuesday night that eliminates the proposed utility tax and replaces it with $420,000 in cuts to be determined by city administrators in the budget process early next year.

Maersk Alabama repels second pirate attack

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday for the second time in seven months, though private guards on board the U.S.-flagged ship repelled the attack with gunfire and a high-decibel noise device.

A U.S. surveillance plane was monitoring the ship as it continued to its destination on the Kenyan coast, while a pirate said that the captain of a ship hijacked Monday with 28 North Korean crew members on board had died of wounds.

Obama predicts conviction for professed 9/11 mastermind

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama predicted that professed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will be convicted, as Attorney General Eric Holder defended putting him through the U.S. civilian legal system.

In one of a series of TV interviews during his trip to Asia, Obama said those offended by the legal privileges given to Mohammed by virtue of getting a civilian trial rather than a military tribunal won't find it "offensive at all when he's convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him."

Small firms scrapping, scaling back health plans

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Faced with high health insurance costs, a North Carolina brokerage passed the buck on to its employees, a Texas public relations firm switched from group insurance to stipends, and a Missouri travel agency let its workers walk away instead paying for insurance.

Across the country, businesses already strapped by the economy to turn a profit are sacrificing or scaling back employee health insurance plans because of their escalating costs. The crunch has particularly socked smaller employers, who have become a centerpiece in the debate over how to overhaul the nation's health care system.

Critics say U.N. food summit ends with 'crumbs'

ROME (AP) – The head of a U.N. food agency expressed regret Wednesday that an anti-hunger summit failed to result in precise promises of funding, and critics said the meeting had only thrown crumbs to the world's 1 billion people without enough to eat.

The three-day summit at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization headquarters in Rome ended with little new headway in efforts for a new strategy to help farmers in poor countries produce enough to feed their people.

Afghans awaiting Karzai, Obama decisions

KABUL (AP) – Its protracted presidential election has finally been decided, but Afghanistan is on hold.

President Barack Obama hasn't said how many troops he'll send. Speculation abounds about whether Afghan President Hamid Karzai will assemble a Cabinet of reformers or political friends. It's unclear whether humanitarian work will be curtailed by the U.N.'s decision to relocate several hundred workers out of the country after five staffers were killed in an attack.

Afghan capital braces for Karzai inauguration

KABUL (AP) – Security forces increased patrols on some streets in the Afghan capital and blocked others entirely Wednesday, bracing for possible militant attacks during the inauguration ceremony that will cement President Hamid Karzai's tumultuous re-election victory.

Karzai will be sworn in Thursday for his second five-year term, with many in the international community hoping he will introduce solid reforms and pave the way for a Cabinet house-cleaning to rid the administration of corrupt officials.

Germany to extend Afghan mission another year

BERLIN (AP) – Germany will extend its mission in Afghanistan for another year, the government said Wednesday, despite the growing unpopularity of the war at home.

The decision, to be announced later in the day, requires parliamentary approval, and that is expected before the current mandate expires in Dec. 13. Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition enjoys a comfortable majority in parliament.

British judge: Gitmo evidence can be kept secret

LONDON (AP) – British spies can keep some evidence secret from former Guantanamo prisoners who are suing the government for alleged complicity in their detention, a British judge ruled Wednesday, the first volley in a legal battle to expose what role Britain played in the men's imprisonment.

Seven ex-Guantanamo inmates allege they were tortured or abused at the U.S. prison camp and elsewhere – and that the British government contributed to their torment. Their civil suit seeking damages from the spy agencies MI5 and MI6 and other government bodies has yet to come to trial, but the government won a preliminary victory by securing the right to keep selected pieces of information from the men and their lawyers.

Iraq's Sunni vice president vetoes part of election law

BAGHDAD (AP) – Iraq's Sunni Arab vice president vetoed part of a key election law Wednesday, a move that could delay national polls slated for January even as the top U.S. commander in Iraq says the timetable for American troop drawdown is on track.

The veto, slammed by Iraq's Shiite prime minister as a threat to democracy, will most likely delay the vote since parliament must now discuss Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi's demands and take a vote on them, a process that could take days or even weeks given the legislature's fractious nature and its track record.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Officials prefer status quo on video gambling

CHAMPAIGN – The leaders of the three biggest municipal governments in Champaign County say they aren't happy with the choices they have regarding a new statewide law to allow video gambling.

But as the law is written, Champaign, Urbana and Champaign County will have to decide sometime in 2010 whether to allow video gambling or ban it within their jurisdictions. Already, 39 cities and counties in Illinois have voted not to permit legal video gambling.

10 appointed to Champaign schools equity committee

CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign school board named 10 community members Monday night to a new equity committee for the district.

The board chose the committee members from 32 applicants.

The Education Equity Excellence committee was created as part of the district's settlement of its consent decree. It is to be a diverse group that will help to foster a climate of equal opportunity, and is supposed to review data in areas such as academic achievement, special education, attendance, discipline and graduation rates.

Foreign demand rises for long-term U.S. assets

WASHINGTON (AP) – Foreign demand for long-term U.S. financial assets rose in September as China and other countries boosted their holdings of Treasury securities.

Continued strong foreign demand for U.S. debt is critical to financing America's soaring budget deficits and keeping American interest rates low enough to support a recovery from the recession.

Johnson doesn't want terror suspects in U.S.

CHAMPAIGN – U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, intends to co-sponsor legislation that would prohibit using federal money to move terrorism suspects to the state prison in Thomson in northwestern Illinois, his spokesman said Monday.

Johnson will be an original co-sponsor of legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, that would essentially block moving terrorism suspects from the Guantanamo Bay encampment in Cuba to Illinois, according to spokesman Phil Bloomer.

Danville teachers' union ratifies proposed contract

DANVILLE – Danville teachers and other staff are closer to working under a new 1-year contract.

Danville Education Association members "overwhelmingly" ratified a proposed contract on Monday afternoon, union President Robin Twidwell said. The proposal now goes before school board members on Wednesday night.

$8.07 million property tax levy approved for Urbana

URBANA – Without any debate, the Urbana City Council on Monday night approved an $8.07 million property tax levy for next year and also OK'd a package of increases in fines for various ordinance violations.

The council approved the property tax levy, 5-1, with only Alderwoman Heather Stevenson voting no. The levy is aimed at bringing in about 7.5 percent more in property tax revenue while maintaining a property tax rate of $1.29 per $100 of assessed valuation. That is the same municipal tax rate as the city of Champaign's.

U.S-China summit yields vow of cooperation but few deals

BEIJING (AP) – President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao promised a determined, joint effort to tackle climate change, nuclear disarmament and other global troubles yet emerged from their first full-blown summit Tuesday with scant progress beyond goodwill.

After two hours of talks and a separate meeting over dinner the night before, the presidents spoke of moving beyond the divisiveness over human rights, trade and military tensions that have bedeviled relations in past decades.

Business foes of health care revamp ramp up effort

WASHINGTON (AP) – Business foes of health care overhaul legislation are outspending supporters at a rate of 2-to-1 for TV ads as they grow increasingly nervous over a final bill.

Led by the giant U.S. Chamber of Commerce, opponents of the Democratic health care drive have spent $24 million on TV commercials over the past month to $12 million spent by labor unions and other backers. That's an abrupt reversal from the vast spending advantage supporters enjoyed most of this year, according to Evan Tracey, president of Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks political ads.

Tobacco execs quickly found tax loophole

WASHINGTON (AP) – With a simple marketing twist, tobacco companies are avoiding hundreds of millions of dollars a year in taxes by exploiting a loophole in President Barack Obama's child health law.

Obama and Congress increased taxes on tobacco products earlier this year to pay for expanded children's health insurance, but tobacco for roll-your-own cigarettes saw a disproportionate leap, from $1.10 to $24.78 per pound. Some predicted the tax would kill the roll-your-own industry, which had offered a cheaper alternative to packaged cigarettes.

Poll: Americans favor taxing rich to pay for health bill

WASHINGTON (AP) – When it comes to paying for a health care overhaul, Americans see just one way to go: Tax the rich.

That finding from a new Associated Press poll will be welcome news for House Democrats, who proposed doing just that in their sweeping remake of the U.S. medical system, which passed earlier this month and would extend coverage to millions of uninsured Americans.

Military planning policy review after shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Army is preparing to do an internal investigation to examine whether it missed warning signs about the alleged shooter in the Fort Hood rampage, but top Pentagon officials may want a broader review of lessons from the tragedy.

Though it's still undecided who would do such a review and exactly what it would include, officials are working to make an announcement on it soon, a senior defense official said Tuesday on condition of anonymity because plans are still fluid.

Sarah Palin coy about 2012 run, but door is open

NEW YORK (AP) – Sarah Palin said in an interview broadcast Tuesday that a 2012 presidential bid is "not on my radar," but wouldn't rule out playing some role in the next presidential election.

"My ambition, if you will, my desire is to help our country in whatever role that may be, and I cannot predict what that will be, what doors will be open in the year 2012," she told Barbara Walters.

Iran says U.N. watchdog has cleared nuclear program

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iran's nuclear envoy denied Tuesday that the U.N. inspectors tour of its recently revealed uranium enrichment site has turned up any evidence that the Islamic republic is seeking nuclear weapons.

While the International Atomic Energy Agency report offered no estimate of the facility's capacity, analysts familiar with the agency's work said it appeared to be capable of producing enough material for a warhead but too little for a civilian reactor.

Afghan official: Attack underscores Taliban threat

KABUL (AP) – The deaths of 14 civilians in a rocket attack presumably aimed at military officials and local leaders underscores the inability of NATO to successfully defeat the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan, an official said Tuesday.

Monday's attack in Tagab missed the meeting but the rockets hit in the crowded market area, killing 14 Afghan civilians and wounding dozens more, said Afghan Gen. Paikan Zamaray. His tally adds two more deaths than previously reported.

Watchdog group: Afghanistan, Iraq among world's most corrupt

BERLIN (AP) – Afghanistan and Iraq, countries that receive billions of dollars a year in international support, are among the world's most corrupt nations, a watchdog group said in a report released Tuesday.

Lawless Somalia remained the world's most corrupt country, followed by Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan and Iraq, Transparency International said in its annual Corruption Perceptions Index.

Iraq's Kurds threaten to boycott elections

SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq (AP) – Kurdish political leaders threatened Tuesday to boycott January's national elections unless Kurdish areas receive more seats in parliament, throwing into doubt the vote which could determine how quickly U.S. troops can go home.

Just a week ago, legislators and observers were celebrating the passage of a key election law needed to carry out the national polls. But the new Kurdish demands coupled with a veto threat earlier in the week by the country's Sunni vice president could derail the vote.

$10,000 cap on utility tax sweetens proposal

DANVILLE – Danville city officials have added a $10,000 cap to the proposed tax on natural gas and water, but some still fear the impact on businesses and industry.

Reynolds determined to challenge Frerichs

DANVILLE – One way or another, says Danville Republican Al Reynolds, he intends to run for the state Senate seat held by Sen. Mike Frerichs, D-Champaign.

Reynolds last week filed a statement of organization with the State Board of Elections, declaring that he wants to be the Republican candidate for the 52nd District Senate seat. He is beginning the race, the statement said, with no campaign funds.

Property-tax levy OK'd in Georgetown

GEORGETOWN – City officials adopted a $146,286 property-tax levy for the upcoming fiscal year on Monday, a $7,000 increase from the current levy.

City Treasurer Sherry Serd said the new levy was about 5 percent higher than the current one, which is a fairly common level of increase.

Danville officials propose cap on water, natural gas tax

DANVILLE – Danville city officials have added a $10,000 cap to the proposed tax on natural gas and water, but some still fear the impact on businesses and industry.

Vicki Haugen, president of the local economic development office, Vermilion Advantage, said capping it at $10,000 per customer per year helps, but there's still concern.

Some Danville students get extra hand with reading

DANVILLE – Some Danville elementary schools are using a new resource to improve student achievement, particularly in reading.

It's a special group of teachers who have stepped into a new role. Their job is to evaluate student learning using a variety of measures.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Officials to inspect Illinois prison for Gitmo inmates

THOMSON (AP) – Federal officials are due to arrive in rural northwest Illinois to inspect a prison that could be bought by the federal government and used to house Guantanamo Bay detainees.

Officials from the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Defense are expected Monday at the Thomson Correctional Center. It's about 150 miles west of Chicago.

Tuition waivers the main sticking point in UI, GEO talks

Representatives from the union representing graduate and teaching assistants at the University of Illinois dispute a claim by the university that their demands concerning tuition-waiver security are an "11th hour" proposal.

"Our original proposal on April 21 included a request for tuition-waiver security," said Graduate Employees Organization spokesman Peter Campbell. "Most of the press releases the GEO has released include requests for tuition-waiver security. This is not an 11th-hour proposal."

UI spokeswoman to students: Go to class, if possible

University of Illinois spokeswoman Robin Kaler said several UI instructors have moved their Monday classes to new locations as a result of the GEO strike.

"Students should still go to all their classes on Monday unless their instructor has moved their class to an alternate location because they don't want to cross the picket lines," Kaler said. "If you go to a class and find no teacher there, let the department head know and they will help you out."

Tax levy, annexation on Champaign council's agenda

CHAMPAIGN – Plans to extend Fourth Street south of St. Mary's Road and to annex another portion of the University of Illinois Research Park will be considered by Champaign City Council members Tuesday.

The council meeting is set for 7 p.m. at the Champaign City Building, 102 N. Neil St., C. Formal adoption of the city's annual property-tax levy is on the agenda.

Gift only covers 25% of Virginia's renovation project

CHAMPAIGN – Even with Michael Carragher's $1 million gift to the Virginia Theatre restoration fund, the Champaign Parks Foundation estimates it will need $3 million more to complete the entire renovation project.

Mr. Carragher's gift will be spent mainly to remodel the front lobby and concession area. The bids for that work will be let after the first of the year, and the work will begin in mid-June and last through October.

Some options for recycling remain viable in Vermilion

Alan and Carla Pollman of rural Georgetown have had a pile of recyclables just sitting beside their garbage for a while.

"I just don't have the heart to put it in the garbage," said Carla Pollman, who had been taking recycling to the now-closed county recycling site in Georgetown. "We had finally gotten good at it and then they took the bins away."

Carla Pollman said not separating out the plastic, glass and paperboard from their trash has increased their garbage stream by three bags a week.

Obama tells China: Uncensored society is healthy

BEIJING (AP) – President Barack Obama pointedly nudged China on Monday to stop censoring Internet access, offering an animated defense of the tool that helped him win the White House and suggesting Beijing need not fear a little criticism.

The president's message during a town hall-style meeting with university students in Shanghai, China's commercial hub, focused on one of the trickiest issues separating China's communist government and the United States – human rights.

Radical imam says he didn't pressure Hasan

WASHINGTON (AP) – A radical Muslim cleric with suspected links to al-Qaida considered himself a confidant of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the Army psychiatrist accused in the Fort Hood shootings, The Washington Post reported Monday.

But the cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki, insisted in an interview with a Yemeni journalist contacted by the Post that he did not pressure Hasan to harm Americans. Al-Awlaki is a former imam at a Falls Church, Va., mosque where Hasan and his family occasionally worshipped.

Census data: Small U.S. cities lose luster in downturn

WASHINGTON (AP) – America's small cities are losing some of their traditional appeal to upwardly mobile families seeking wholesome neighborhoods, a stable economy and affordable living.

A review of newly released census data shows, for example, that cities of between 20,000 and 50,000 residents have lagged behind their larger counterparts in attracting higher-educated residents in this decade.

Poll: Fine print in health care worries Americans

WASHINGTON (AP) – What's it going to cost me?

Americans are worried about the fine print in the health care overhaul, an Associated Press poll says, and those concerns are creating new challenges for President Barack Obama as he tries to overcome doubts in Congress.

13 bullet-riddled bodies found west of Baghdad

BAGHDAD (AP) – Gunmen wearing Iraqi army uniforms abducted and killed at least 13 people in a village west of Baghdad, in what some described as revenge against Sunnis who helped fight al-Qaida, Iraqi officials said Monday.

The exact motive for the attack was unclear, but it could be a case of insurgents killing locals allied to the central government or an internal struggle among the region's fractious tribes.

Bombing at Pakistani police station kills 4

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) – A pickup truck laden with explosives blew up outside a police station in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, killing four people in an area that has become the focal point for militant retaliation against an army offensive along the nearby Afghan border.

The explosion destroyed several shops and homes and damaged the station and a nearby mosque in the town of Badh Ber, which lies close to a Pakistani air force base as well as the major northwestern city of Peshawar. Thirty other people were wounded.

U.N. says once-secret Iran facility to start in 2011

VIENNA (AP) – A senior official said Monday that the U.N nuclear agency believes Iran plans to start enriching uranium at a previously secret facility in 2011.

The official said the International Atomic Energy Agency also believes that the site near the holy city of Qom will be able to house 3,000 uranium-enriching centrifuges.

12 Afghans dead in attack targeting French general

TAGAB VALLEY, Afghanistan (AP) – Insurgents fired two rockets Monday into a crowded market northeast of Kabul where the head of French forces in Afghanistan was holding a meeting with tribal elders. The attack killed 12 Afghan civilians and wounded at least another 38, the French military said.

Lt. Col. Lionel, who can only be identified by his first name in accordance with French military policy, witnessed the attack in the town of Tagab in Kapisa province and said the target had been the meeting, known as a shura, where Brig. Gen. Marcel Druart was discussing with tribal elders a major French offensive in the Tagab Valley the previous day.

Afghan government plans anti-corruption squad

KABUL (AP) – Afghan officials announced a new anti-corruption unit and major crime fighting force Monday amid stiff international pressure to clean up the government following a fraud-tainted presidential election.

The Afghan government has been dogged by corruption for years and this is the third formal launch of a unit promising to rein in rampant graft and bribery. But Afghan government officials told reporters this attempt has a better chance because of a real desire to succeed and strong international backing. This one also comes amid threats from world leaders who are hedging their commitments of aid and troops on the ability of Afghan President Hamid Karzai to battle corruption.

Britain apologizes over youths shipped to Australia

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued a historic apology Monday to thousands of impoverished British children shipped to Australia with the promise of a better life. But his govermnment ruled out paying compensation for the abuse and neglect that many suffered.

The British government has estimated 150,000 British children may have been shipped abroad between 1618 and 1967, most from the late 19th century onward. After 1920, most of the children went to Australia through programs run by the government, religious groups and children's charities.

Food summit rebuffs U.N. funding appeal

ROME (AP) – Pope Benedict XVI decried the worsening plight of the world's 1 billion hungry on Monday as a United Nations food summit rallied around a strategy of more help to farmers in poor nations but rebuffed a U.N. appeal to commit billions to the plan.

In a show of broad consensus, some 60 heads of state and dozens of ministers from other nations pledged to substantially increase aid to agriculture in developing nations to help them become more self-sufficient in food production.

Urbana's pool-planning panel ready to dive right in

URBANA – Swim enthusiasts in Urbana can help the Urbana Park District plunge into planning for a new aquatic center.

Tony Clements, who retired as director of recreation at the University of Illinois, will lead the introductory planning meeting set for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Phillips Recreation Center, 505 W. Stoughton St., U.

Teacher, staff contracts in Danville nearing approval

DANVILLE – Danville teachers and other school district staff could be working under a new contract next week.

Danville Education Association representatives plan to take proposed contracts – one for teachers and teaching assistants, and another for secretaries and learning resource clerks – to their membership at a meeting today.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Expert's straight talk on taxes unpopular but accurate

Listening to a presentation from Ralph Martire, the executive director of the Chicago-based Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, is almost painful.

It's not that Martire is a poor speaker. He's actually entertaining, a policy wonk with a penchant for shtick. But his message about Illinois' worsening financial outlook is so ugly and depressing. Such as:

Saturday, November 14, 2009

FutureGen group says project costs have dropped

MATTOON – Members of the Coles Together group promoting the proposed $2.4 billion FutureGen clean coal power plant said Friday they remain optimistic that the federal Department of Energy will green-light the project early next year.

"I feel positive about the progress that we've made this year. I feel good about our chances in January, but I'm not going to assume anything until it's done," said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Community center on Urbana council agenda

URBANA – A community center for southeast Urbana will be a topic of discussion Monday by the Urbana City Council.

Alderman Dennis Roberts, D-5, will present his ideas, which include using the former Tri-Star Marketing building at Washington Street and Philo Road. The council meeting is set for 7 p.m. Monday at the council chambers, 400 S. Vine St., U.

Tim Johnson honored for efforts to combat diabetes

U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, is to be honored Saturday night with the first-ever Global Achievement Award from the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.

The award will be presented by Shannon Allen, the wife of Boston Celtics star Ray Allen whose son Walker has juvenile diabetes. The Allens are board members of the Joslin Center.

AREA UPDATE

Savoy's 'old town' drainage to be discussed

SAVOY – The village of Savoy will be scheduling a public meeting to be held within the next six weeks about the "old town" drainage project.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Critics, supporters of video gaming speak out on issue

URBANA – Opponents of video gaming in Champaign County said Thursday night it would create social problems, while backers said it is essential to supporting a $31 billion construction program in the state.

About 100 people attended a joint study session at the University of Illinois' Beckman Center for members of the Champaign County Board and Urbana and Champaign city councils. Only two members of the Champaign council – Mayor Jerry Schweighart and Council Member Karen Foster – attended the session. Five of seven Urbana council members and eight of 27 county board members were in attendance.

No Danville inmates going free early

DANVILLE – No inmates from the Danville Correctional Center will go free under an early prisoner release program that aims to save the financially strapped state money.

The Illinois Department of Corrections will release about 1,000 prisoners in the coming weeks – a move that Gov. Pat Quinn says could save the state about $5 million. The first group of 62 were released on Tuesday.

Loss blamed on one-time costs

URBANA – As has often been the case in recent months, the Champaign County Board's nursing home board of directors Thursday got some good news mixed with bad news from nursing home manager Michael Scavotto.

Although the facility suffered a $178,000 loss in September – after finishing July and August in the black – Scavotto said he believes that the September balance sheet was an anomaly and that October's report, still unavailable, would be better.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Cities, county to discuss video gaming

URBANA – The Champaign and Urbana city councils along with the Champaign County Board will hold a joint study session Thursday evening to examine the issue of legalized video gaming.

Champaign County District 1 candidate withdraws

MAHOMET – Gary Maxwell, one of three Republican candidates for the Champaign County Board in District 1, has withdrawn from the race and endorsed the other challenger, 48-year-old Stephanie Holderfield.

His decision means that incumbent Chris Doenitz, 48, of rural Mahomet, and Holderfield will compete for one seat in the Feb. 2 Republican primary election in the county board district that includes the northwest quadrant of the county.

Golf-course tax support tees off Danville aldermen

DANVILLE – As city administrators and aldermen struggle with the city's financial woes, a debate has resurfaced over the city-operated Harrison Park Golf Course, as one alderman continues to argue that the public course should not receive any hotel-motel tax revenue.

Alderman Rickey Williams raised the issue at Tuesday night's public works committee meeting, when city officials proposed raising fees at the golf course on West Voorhees Street in Danville.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Champaign police chief calls for policy on Taser use

CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign Police Department may not own any Tasers, but it still needs a policy on their use by police officers from other departments who help respond to incidents within the city, according to Police Chief R.T. Finney.

Finney and other police officials answered questions about the city's new use-of-force policy at a city council study session on Tuesday night.

Students ensure military service doesn't go unnoticed

MAHOMET – Veterans Day sounds more like Thanksgiving this year.

For the third year, Lincoln Trail School in Mahomet has donated food, toiletries and other gifts to Toys for Troops, a care package for overseas soldiers founded by Laura Stewart of Champaign.

Chronic criminal nuisance ordinance issue not dead

URBANA – Opponents of a proposed chronic criminal nuisance ordinance for the city of Urbana left Monday night's city council study session thinking they had killed the proposal.

When they left the meeting around 9:30 p.m., the council had just voted, 4-3, to "table indefinitely" the controversial measure.

Not enough support for curbside recycling in Danville

DANVILLE – The city will not be pursuing a curbside recycling program.

Public Works Director Doug Ah- rens said the city did not get enough surveys from residents who would support paying for a service.

Mayor pitches three-year plan to fix Danville finances

DANVILLE – Mayor Scott Eisenhauer promoted a three-year revenue proposal to aldermen Tuesday night that includes a new utility tax on natural gas and water, an increase in the rental-registration fee, an increase in the property-tax levy, an increase in some city employees' health insurance contribution and a 1 percent increase in the sales tax with a subsequent 1 percent decrease in the food and beverage tax.

That would give the city the additional revenue to avoid a projected $1.7 million deficit next year. And, Eisenhauer said, it would build back the city's almost depleted financial reserve to more than $1 million in three years and would not require any other revenue increases in that same time while maintaining the city's current level of services.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Plans to fine landlords for allowing nuisance activity tabled

URBANA – Action on a controversial measure aimed at possibly levying fines on property owners who permit criminal nuisance activity has been tabled by the Urbana City Council in a 4-3 vote.

Members had been scheduled to discuss the proposal at Monday's study session, but Alderman David Gehrig said at the start of the meeting that, because of concerns voiced by many groups, the measure "is going back into the oven for redrafting."

Republican county board candidate pulls out of race

MAHOMET — Gary Maxwell, one of three Republican candidates for the Champaign County Board in District 1, has withdrawn from the race and endorsed the other challenger, 48-year-old Stephanie Holderfield.

U.S. Rep. Johnson rejects both parties' efforts

URBANA – U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, is the only Republican member of the U.S. House to vote against both the Democratic health care bill that passed Saturday and a GOP-sponsored amendment that fell far short.

The five-term Republican had signalled for months his opposition to the Democratic-sponsored legislation, but his vote against the Republican measure – which failed 176-258 – was more of a surprise.

Monday, November 9, 2009

UI, GEO headed for showdown

URBANA — The University of Illinois’ graduate teaching and research assistants could be going on strike for the first time.

80 from area haven't collected undelivered tax refunds

About 80 area residents are due tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service that the U.S. Postal Service has been unable to deliver.

That includes 21 people in Champaign, 15 people in Urbana and seven people in Danville, as well as many in smaller communities in East Central Illinois.

Text of email from UI provost's office regarding GEO

The GEO membership has voted to authorize its strike committee to call a strike at any time. The GEO made a formal press release today. Unofficial reports indicate that the strike would begin on Monday, November 16, 2009. Although we continue to believe that a strike is not in the best interests of either the GEO or the University, we recognize the GEO's legal right to take a strike action.

Text of the GEO's news release on UI negotiations

Here is the text of the Graduate Employees' Organization news release on the results of its strike authorization vote.

Champaign City Council to review use-of-force policy

CHAMPAIGN – City council members Tuesday night will spend an entire meeting reviewing the Champaign Police Department's use-of-force policy.

The study session will begin at 7 p.m. at the Champaign City Building, 102 N. Neil St., C.

Champaign cuts hours at post office in Campustown

CHAMPAIGN – Hours at the Station "A" post office at 302 E. Green St., C, will be reduced Dec. 1 to reflect traffic patterns, Champaign Postmaster Morrie Smith said.

Beginning Dec. 1, the office will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Current hours are 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays, so the reduction means the office will open one hour later and close a half-hour earlier than it does now.

Long-range transportation plan takes green approach

With $2 billion in funds, transportation over next 25 years expected to be environmentally friendly

A long-range transportation plan for the Champaign-Urbana area anticipates more than $2 billion in funding over the next 25 years.

Power Blitz set for Nov. 17 in Georgetown Township

GEORGETOWN — Georgetown Township will hold a South County Power Blitz from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 17 at its 1805 N. Main St. faciltity.

Applicants need to bring Social Security cards for everyone in their household, proof of household income for 30 days and a current power and gas bill. To be eligible, income must follow set guidelines.

Danville residents awaiting budget, property-tax plans

DANVILLE – Kevin and Paula Ziegler love their house on Logan Avenue directly across from Lincoln Park.

"Being across the street from the park had an impact on our purchase here," Kevin Ziegler said. "We love living right across from the park. We often sit on our porch and listen to things going on in the park."

Danville YMCA kindergarten basketball league to start

DANVILLE – The Danville Family YMCA will start kindergarten basketball Nov. 21 for children ages 5 and 6.

A half-hour practice is held at 10 a.m. on Saturday mornings with a half-hour game following practice. The co-ed league focu- ses on learning to play the game. Each child will receive a T-shirt and participation trophy.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Champaign police group members defend its usefulness

CHAMPAIGN – Members of a group who have been working with Champaign police to improve community relations say that now, with emotions stirred by a fatal shooting, is not the time for their resignations or dissolution as a group, contrary to some calls for that.

Some city council meetings have been packed after the Oct. 9 fatal shooting of 15-year-old Kiwane Carrington. Many of the speakers have criticized the city's handling of the incident.

New UI trustees chairman didn't exactly have write stuff

One thing is pretty clear. There's no way Christopher Kennedy could have been appointed to the University of Illinois board of trustees based solely on the application he submitted to Gov. Pat Quinn.

Politics – and the cachet of the Kennedy name and the fundraising connections it presents – had to have been a much bigger factor because Kennedy's application is so painfully weak.

Police, firefighters take to gridiron in fundraiser game

CHAMPAIGN – Champaign police Detective Joe Johnston was smarting Saturday night from the drubbing that his team of police officers took from firefighters on the football field earlier in the day.

"Chief Finney did say I'm done. I've lost my defensive coordinator job and I'm going to midnights," joked Johnston, who sported a houndstooth hat in the style of Bear Bryant and chomped a cigar for his role as coach of the police officers.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Ex-health district director indicted on 7 counts

URBANA – The former executive director of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District has been indicted by a Champaign County grand jury on seven felony counts stemming from his behavior while in office in 2006 and 2007.

State's Attorney Julia Rietz was attending a conference Friday and could not be reached for comment, but Champaign police detective Pat Kelly, who has investigated Vito Palazzolo for more than two years, said Rietz planned to make a statement Monday about the charges against Palazzolo, 53, who was fired in August 2007.

Committee calls for new discussions between health agencies

URBANA – An ongoing dispute over budgets, services and priorities threatens to end the 11-year relationship between the Champaign County Board of Health and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.

A county board committee voted Wednesday to approve a "notice of termination" of the agreement between the two health agencies. The notice, which will go to the full county board later this month, does not mean an immediate split between the agencies, only that they have 12 months to negotiate a new intergovernmental agreement.

Urbana council discussing wide range of topics at meeting

Property tax levy, higher fines for some ordinance violations among issues on agenda

URBANA – City council members Monday night face an agenda loaded with potentially controversial items, including an increase in the property tax levy, higher fines for dozens of ordinance violations, a proposed ordinance regarding chronic criminal nuisance properties, an update on the city's civilian police review board and a presentation on a possible storm water utility fee.

Ex-Iroquois County clerk gets 60 days in jail

WATSEKA – Former Iroquois County Clerk Mark Henrichs must pay back $17,500 to the county in addition to serving a 60-day jail sentence and 30 months of probation, as ordered by Judge William Schmidt during a sentencing hearing Friday afternoon in Iroquois County Circuit Court.

Henrichs was ordered to report to the county jail in Watseka by 9 a.m. Wednesday. He will be eligible for "day-to-day good conduct credit," Schmidt said, which means he could end up serving only 30 days.

McKenna offers ideas to fix budget

CHAMPAIGN – Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy McKenna said Friday that he's prepared to be a one-term governor if that's what it takes to clean up Illinois' financial and economic problems.

McKenna, of Chicago, is one of seven GOP candidates for governor in the Feb. 2 primary election. He also is the former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Delinquent taxpayer list posted on Web site

SPRINGFIELD – Six area businesses and individuals are among 100 identified by the state Department of Revenue as collectively owing the state at least $6.3 million in delinquent taxes.

The 100 are not among the biggest scofflaws, said Susan Hofer, a spokeswoman for the department.

House Dems push for votes on health bill

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Democrats are scrambling to secure enough support to pass President Barack Obama's historic health overhaul initiative, working to soothe last-minute concerns from rank-and-file Democrats ahead of a make-or-break vote.

Voting is set for Saturday on the 10-year, $1.2 trillion legislation that embraces Obama's goals of extending health coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and putting tough new restrictions on insurance companies.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Urbana critics wary of proposed Carle merger

URBANA – Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing said she can't fully support a proposed merger of Carle Foundation Hospital and Carle Clinic until she's certain it won't heap an unfair burden on local taxpayers. And it's not enough for Carle to promise Urbana and other local governments that it will make payments in lieu of taxes on clinic properties that could one day become tax-exempt.

Consent decree over for Champaign schools

CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign school district's consent decree is officially over, and now it will be up to the district and the community to ensure Champaign's black students receive an equitable education, without any oversight by the court.

Four Danville budget plans look far ahead

DANVILLE – Aldermen and city officials have focused much of their budget brainstorming in recent weeks on next year's $1.7 million deficit and $700,000 increase in the city's property-tax levy.

A Woman's Place shelter in dire financial straits

UPDATE at 3:51 p.m.:

CHAMPAIGN — The United Way of Champaign County is providing an emergency payment of $18,000 to A Woman’s Fund to allow the organization to remain in operation.

Frerichs giving energy bill a push in committee

A bill aimed at making alternative energy resources into a local revenue source isn't exactly sailing, but supporters are hoping for a brighter future.

State Sen. Michael Frerichs, D-Champaign, is a co-sponsor and organized a hearing last week in Champaign for the Renewable Energy Production District Act. The bill, HB3646, sponsored by Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, in the House, is now in the Senate Energy Committee.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

State budget crisis endangers A Woman's Place

URBANA – A Woman's Place could become the latest casualty of the state budget crisis.

The county's only shelter for victims of domestic violence is down to a skeleton staff of six and may have to close if it doesn't get a past-due state payment soon, officials said Thursday.

State shortfall may spell furloughs at UI

URBANA – The University of Illinois has so far seen only $400,000 of $317 million it is owed by the state, leading to a virtual hiring freeze and the possibility of furloughs.

Property-tax levy put at $20 million in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN – A tax levy intended to maintain a property-tax rate for the city of Champaign was presented to council members Tuesday in a public hearing.

Finance Director Richard Schnuer said the formal adoption of the levy will come in December.

Expect flood of campaign ads in January

Get ready for wall-to-wall political advertising on Illinois radio and television stations in January. The unusual number of people running for seven statewide offices this winter – 60 candidates – guarantees at least that the normally slow post-Christmas advertising market should be pretty hot. That will apply even if some of the candidates drop out, as expected, between now and the Feb. 2 primary election.

It also guarantees a lot of democracy in a compacted campaign season.

Danville man comes up short on signatures

DANVILLE – Al Reynolds didn't collect quite enough signatures to qualify to run for state Senate in the 52nd District, he said Tuesday, but he still hopes to be the Republican candidate to oppose Sen. Mike Frerichs, D-Champaign, next fall.

Danville aldermen call for deeper budget cuts

DANVILLE – City officials presented aldermen with four financial scenarios Tuesday night – each with a different mix of cuts and tax increases.

Catlin board approves tax levy

CATLIN – Village officials approved a $145,729 tax levy for the upcoming fiscal year on Tuesday.

Mayor Clay Woodard said the new levy is about 4.9 percent higher than the current, $138,803 tax levy. He said the village board usually increases the levy by less than 5 percent each year, and that he did not anticipate a large local tax increase in the near future.

Local veterans to speak about Iraq, Afghanistan

CHAMPAIGN – "Memories of War – Iraq & Afghanistan" is the topic of a panel discussion involving local veterans.

Panelists include Sgt. Bryan Abbott, Gunnery Sgt. Shawn Johnston, Staff Sgt. Katie Maglia, 2nd Lt. Shannon Potts and Staff Sgt. John Robinson.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Urbana council OKs higher fines for parking offenders

URBANA – Repeat parking violators in Urbana will face increasingly expensive fines.

Urbana City Council aldermen, on a vote of 7-1, with Heather Stevenson, R-6, opposed, approved the higher rates at a meeting Monday night. Fines will go up with repeat offenses.

Governor's deputy chief of staff quits amid investigation

SPRINGFIELD – A rural Paris woman who has been an assistant to Gov. Pat Quinn for six years has suddenly resigned from her position as Quinn's deputy chief of staff.

Carolyn Brown Hodge, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, resigned from the governor's staff Friday night upon reports that the state's Office of the Executive Inspector General had confiscated her computer to determine whether she was doing political work on state time.

Consensus on how to fix Danville budget elusive

DANVILLE – Aldermen studied more closely on Monday several ways of trying to eliminate a projected $1.7 million budget deficit next year, including increasing the rental registration fee, changing employee health insurance benefits, creating a utility tax and increasing the city's sales tax in conjunction with property tax relief.

No Democrats file for Champaign's countywide races

URBANA – Champaign County Democrats don't have candidates for any of four countywide seats up for election next year, but they have three candidates for two seats in one county board district and four candidates for two spots in another.

At the close of the candidate filing period on Monday, only Republican incumbents had filed for county clerk (Mark Shelden), sheriff (Dan Walsh), county treasurer (Dan Welch) and regional superintendent of schools (Jane Quinlan). But Democratic Party officials can fill the positions on the Nov. 2, 2010, ballot by slating candidates, so long as they do it by April 2.

Vermilion primary will have three contested races

DANVILLE – There will be three contested local races in the Feb. 2 primary election.

Three Republicans are vying for two seats in District 3 of the Vermilion County Board, and five Democrats are vying for two seats in District 5.

Johnson: Health care bill not a bipartisan measure

CERRO GORDO – Americans will come to regret the day their Congress approved a national health care program, U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson predicted Monday night.

The five-term Urbana Republican spoke to a small group of about 30 people at the Cerro Gordo High School gymnasium. It was his 15th town hall meeting in the 15th Congressional District this year, and nearly all of the hourlong session was devoted to the upcoming health care vote.

New Georgetown City Council member takes his seat

GEORGETOWN – City officials seated Adam Hart on the city council on Monday, filling the chair left vacant by Alderman Gary LaMar's resignation.

Hart, 28, said he lived on the city's southwest side and works for Hart Construction of nearby Olivet. He said he had no previous political experience, but was approached by Alderman Tom Seilhymer about serving on the city council.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Hike in parking fines on Urbana council's agenda

URBANA – City council members Monday night will consider increases in parking fines aimed at raising $100,000 a year for Urbana's cash-strapped budget.

The council will meet at 7 p.m. at the Urbana City Council chambers, 400 S. Vine St., U.

The only other item on the agenda requiring council action is the appointment of Kim L. Smith, an architect with Smith/Burgett Architects of Urbana, to the Urbana Historic Preservation Commission.

Champaign council to review apartment building plans

CHAMPAIGN – City council members will review plans for an eight-story apartment building at Green and Fourth streets, consider a project to improve a portion of North Mattis Avenue and review an engineering contract for the eventual demolition of the Meadow Gold building in north Champaign.

The council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Champaign City Building, 102 N. Neil St.

Danville officials examining ways to deal with expenses

DANVILLE – City officials have heard the plea many times in recent weeks from private citizens and aldermen: Don't increase property taxes.

But the city faces a problem.

The expenses paid by property tax dollars will increase next year, and the city has no control over the majority of those rising costs.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Carle clinic/hospital merger: The sale -- and the tax

URBANA – The chief executives of Carle Clinic and Carle Foundation Hospital know it's bound to be a touchy subject when they start talking about a merger that could one day take a big chunk of Carle property out of the local tax base.

And, for anyone wondering about how big a financial hit the cities, the schools, the parks and other taxing districts would take if Carle Clinic properties one day become tax-exempt, here's the deal:

Good thing C-U forefathers knew to go green

One hundred years ago, the Champaign Chamber of Commerce developed its own subdivision and, smart and forward-looking men they were, made sure that there was land for public use. The chamber of commerce donated eight lots to be used for a future public school.

They knew that close-by schools and parks would be an asset to a community and a neighborhood, not just in the early 1900s but 100 years later.

Sketches at exhibit honor Illinois' fallen heroes

studied the pencil drawing of his only son.

"I used to call him my war baby," said the Champaign police officer from Fisher, explaining that his son was born when the elder Kimme served in the Air Force.

Danville alderman to run for Black's seat

Veteran Danville Alderman Michael Puhr on Friday filed petitions to run as a Democrat for state representative in the 104th House District.

For now, Puhr has no Democratic Party opposition. One Republican, former Catlin Mayor Chad Hays, also has filed to run in the district that includes almost all of Vermilion County and much of eastern Champaign County. The filing period for the Feb. 2 primary election ends Monday.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Auto dealership bill sent to governor

SPRINGFIELD – In six legislative days, state Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, and allies managed to pass and send to the governor's desk a bill aimed at helping auto dealers who lost their franchises in auto manufacturers' bankruptcy.

"I'm just thrilled," said Danville auto dealer Gary Knight, owner and president of Carmack Car Capitol and a former Jeep and Chrysler dealer. "It's a process that started with Bill Black, and we had to do it in a hurry. But everything fell into place.

Friday, October 30, 2009

$20 million loan announced for C-U sanitary expansion

CHAMPAIGN – The Urbana and Champaign Sanitary District is getting a $20 million interest-free loan from the state to pay for environmental projects to improve the wastewater system.

DePauw student decides not to run for House seat

DANVILLE – A 21-year-old Danville man has decided against running for state representative in the 104th House District, which includes most of Vermilion County and much of eastern Champaign County.

Jacob Lane, a student at DePauw University, said Thursday that he will not run for the seat held by retiring state Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville. Lane's decision apparently leaves only former Catlin Mayor Chad Hays as a Republican contender in the 104th District. So far there is no Democratic candidate for the seat.

Board willing to try collaborative parkland method

CHAMPAIGN – Champaign parks officials and local developers apparently will continue to agree to disagree about a method to provide new park space in the city's growth areas.

A joint meeting Wednesday night between the Champaign City Council and the park district board highlighted the continuing rift between the park board, which wants a mandatory land dedication law for residential developments, and developers, who favor what has been termed a "mandatory collaboration."

Vermilion animal shelter director suspended

DANVILLE - The director of the Vermilion County Animal Shelter has been suspended indefinitely, according to Vermilion County Board Chairman Jim McMahon.

McMahon declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the suspension of director Pete Smith, stating that it's a confidential personnel matter.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Vermilion animal shelter director suspended

DANVILLE – The director of the Vermilion County Animal Shelter has been suspended indefinitely with pay, according to Vermilion County Board Chairman Jim McMahon.

McMahon declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the suspension of director Pete Smith, stating that it's a confidential personnel matter.

General: German troops OK in calling for airstrike

BERLIN (AP) – A top German general said Thursday that a NATO investigation of an airstrike against a pair of hijacked Afghan tanker trucks showed the attack was appropriate even though it led to civilian casualties.

Gen. Wolfgang Schneiderhan, who is the general inspector of the German army, also said that the exact death toll could no longer be confirmed.

U.S., Russia working on hurdles in nuclear treaty

MOSCOW (AP) – Russia and the United States are scrambling to address disagreements over a new nuclear arms reduction treaty with little over a month left until the existing agreement between the Cold War adversaries expires.

Despite the narrowing timeframe, both sides expressed optimism at the end of a day of negotiations Thursday between U.S. National Security Advisor James Jones and Russia's foreign minister and National Security Council head.

Westville water-system changes under review

WESTVILLE – Village officials said Tuesday that they are considering some major changes to the water system for the neighboring village of Belgium, which may include taking over ownership of its entire water system.

The village of Belgium is adjacent to the north border of Westville. Westville Village Board member Bill Cottrell said that although the ownership of the water mains in Belgium is in question – apparently neither village has documentation to prove which one owns the infrastructure – Westville has provided Belgium with water and maintained the water mains for years.

State attorney general chides Danville panel

DANVILLE – The Illinois Attorney General's Office has found the city of Danville in violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act for action taken at a public works committee meeting in April.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

H1N1 vaccine plans change; T'boro vaccinations Thursday

CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District will begin H1N1 vaccinations Thursday at Thomasboro Grade School, district Administrator Julie Pryde said.

The public health district will then set up vaccination clinics in the two year-round Champaign schools that are in session Friday, Kenwood and Barkstall elementary schools. Plans to offer vaccinations at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Urbana on Friday were canceled because there wasn't enough time for the school to get ready, Pryde said.

Residents urge Champaign council to fix drainage woes

CHAMPAIGN – On another of night of drizzle and rain in Champaign, residents plagued with flooding problems urged council members to work on solutions.

In a study session Tuesday, city staff recommended that the city borrow money to finance the Second Street Reach of the Boneyard Creek. The staff also asked council members for guidance on funding for other storm water drainage improvements.

Urbana's financial picture goes from abundant to bleak

You'd think that Urbana officials might be feeling a little humbled after discovering, later than just about everyone else, that there's an awful recession out there.

Five months ago, Mayor Laurel Prussing and her supporters were boasting that somehow Urbana was an island of great prosperity in an ocean of economic turbulence.

Danville council tries to brainstorm budget fixes

DANVILLE – Facing a $1.5 million deficit next year, Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer challenged aldermen Tuesday night to decide what services the city should no longer provide, and if all are essential, then what revenues should be created or increased.

Eisenhauer said the city is beyond the point of making cuts within services and departments, showing during a budget presentation that the city has eliminated 58 employee positions in the last five years. The bulk of those personnel cuts came earlier this year, when about 24 positions were cut to balance the budget for the current fiscal year.

Johnson schedules town hall Monday in Cerro Gordo

CERRO GORDO – U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, will hold a town hall meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Cerro Gordo High School gymnasium.

It will be the latest in a series of more than a dozen town hall meetings the congressman has held since July. Other sessions have been held in Danville, Rantoul, Villa Grove, Gibson City, Champaign, Normal and other communities in the 15th Congressional District.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Middle school students stand up for recycling

OAKWOOD – About 20 Oakwood Junior High students were going door to door Monday afternoon, asking residents if they want recycling and would pay a couple dollars for it.

Area hopefuls file papers to run in primary election

Republican voters in northwest Champaign County apparently will have an unusual three-way race for a single county board seat in the Feb. 2 primary election.

On the first day of candidacy filing Monday, two Mahomet residents entered petitions to run against incumbent District 1 board member Chris Doenitz, 48, a rural Mahomet resident who last summer was ordered to get anger-management counseling after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge. Doenitz was charged after he slapped another man in the face during a confrontation at the Anderson's grain elevator in rural Champaign.

Vermilion hopefuls file papers to run in primary

DANVILLE – There will be at least one contested race in next year's primary election.

Three Republicans filed papers to run for the two District 3 seats on the Vermilion County Board on Monday, the first day candidates could file.

Urbana council endorses parking-fine increase

URBANA – Parking fines will likely increase in Urbana, but downtown shoppers will get a "courtesy ticket" for first-time parking violations under a plan being considered by the city council.

Council members, meeting as a committee of the whole Monday, unanimously approved forwarding the plan to the regular council meeting next week with a recommendation for approval.

Danville residents have time to comment on recycling proposal

DANVILLE – Residents in Danville have until Saturday to express their opinion to city officials about whether they would like a curbside recycling program.

Danville reiterates leaf-burning rules

DANVILLE – The city is reminding residents that it closely regulates leaf burning.

Larry Thomason, director of public safety, says the Danville Fire Division will enforce the leaf-burning ordinance if someone is found in violation. Possible fines range from $150 to $1,000 for each offense.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Candidates begin filing for February primary

Republicans will have a three-way race for county board in District 1 in northwest Champaign County in the Feb. 2 primary election.

With candidate filings beginning Monday morning, incumbent Chris Doenitz of rural Mahomet brought his candidacy petitions Monday morning to the Champaign County clerk's office, as did challengers Stephanie Holderfield and Gary Maxwell, both of Mahomet.

Soldier killed in Afghanistan back home in Rantoul

The Rantoul community welcomed Sgt. Christopher Rudzinski home Sunday.

Sgt. Rudzinski, 28, who served in the Army, died Oct. 16 from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while on patrol near Kandahar, Afghanistan.

It marked his fourth deployment to an area of conflict. He previously had served one tour of duty in Kosovo and two in Iraq. Sgt. Rudzinski was assigned to a military police brigade based at Fort Stewart, Ga.

Champaign council to discuss next 5 years of finances

CHAMPAIGN – Champaign Finance Director Richard Schnuer said the near-term future looks good for city finances but the long-term is more uncertain.

Champaign council members will discuss a five-year financial forecast at a study session at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the council chambers, 102 N. Neil St., C.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Herman: 'It's good to have the ambiguity resolved'

Chancellor Richard Herman, who announced his resignation last week, will spend his last day in office Monday. He sat down with The News-Gazette's Julie Wurth on Friday to talk about his decision to resign, his accomplishments and regrets over the past decade as provost and chancellor, the upheaval caused by the "Category I" admissions scandal, and the school's future. Excerpts follow. For the complete version, please click here.

Slain soldier returning to Rantoul this morning

People who want to pay their respects to Army Sgt. Christopher Rudzinski of Rantoul, killed in Afghanistan earlier this month, may want to stand along the route that will be taken to get his body to Rantoul this morning.

Lux Memorial Chapel director Leslie Lux said the military aircraft bringing his body from Dover Air Force Base is scheduled to arrive at Willard Airport in Savoy at 10 a.m. today. Sgt. Rudzinski's father and brother flew to Delaware to accompany him back, she said.

Scramble for county board, statehouse seats to begin

Although there have been a number of announcements by candidates for statewide races, including U.S. Senate and governor, there hasn't been much news on the local front.

That should change Monday, when filing for the Feb. 2 party primary elections begins.

Champaign in no rush to set up police review board

CHAMPAIGN – The fatal shooting of a Champaign teen when police answered a burglary call this month has sparked renewed calls for a citizen police review board. But city council members are not inclined to reopen that issue now, saying that there are other priorities.

A police review board was among demands from an overflow crowd Tuesday night at the Champaign council meeting.

Champaign council willing to wait for state police report

CHAMPAIGN – City council members say they want to wait for an Illinois State Police report on the investigation of a fatal shooting before deciding where to go from there.

Most said last Tuesday's emotional public comments affected them, but they need facts about the incident before taking action involving the police.

UI's annual faculty meeting will have new roster at top

URBANA – Monday's annual meeting of the University of Illinois faculty may require a lineup card.

Normally the session hosted by the campus senate is a chance for professors to question the president and chancellor, and sometimes the provost, on all manner of issues.

Outgoing UI chancellor opens up on his thoughts, views

Chancellor Richard Herman, who announced his resignation last week, will spend his last day in office Monday. He sat down with The News-Gazette Friday to talk about his decision to resign, his accomplishments and regrets over the past decade as provost and chancellor, the upheaval caused by the "Category I" admissions scandal, and the school's future.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Champaign council to review 'use of force' policies

CHAMPAIGN – The city of Champaign has scheduled a city council study session for Nov. 10 to review the police department's recently revised "use of force" policies.

Meanwhile, in response to questions at last Tuesday's council meeting about the police department's "use of deadly force" procedures, the department released a statement Friday claiming the local policy "is taken directly" from Illinois law.

Paxton among 30 DCFS offices set to close

PAXTON – The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is closing 30 of its offices across the state, including one in Paxton, as a cost-cutting measure that DCFS officials stressed would have no impact on the services the department provides.

Parking-fine increase on Urbana council's agenda

URBANA – Parking violators in Urbana may face stiffer fines.

Urbana City Council members Monday will discuss a proposal to bring Urbana's fines in line with those in Champaign and at the University of Illinois. It also would raise about $100,000 in revenue. The council meeting is set for 7 p.m. at 400 S. Vine St.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Delays in E. Church Street project boost engineers' bill

SAVOY – Because of delays with the reconstruction of East Church Street in Savoy, ESI Engineers has had to work more on the project than originally anticipated.

As a result, ESI asked for payment in addition to its original agreement with the village. The original agreement called for about $140,000 for the engineering portion of the project. The actual reconstruction of the street is estimated to cost approximately $480,000. About $150,000 of that will come from the state and the remainder will be taken out of the motor fuel tax fund. The village board approved extra payment for ESI in the amount of $10,928.

Entryway work under way at Vermilion County annex

But there's no walkway leading up to it, and city hasn't decided what to do

DANVILLE – A crew with McDowell Builders has knocked a hole through the 2-foot-thick brick wall on the back side of the Vermilion County Courthouse Annex to make way for a new public entrance.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Carle Foundation Hospital offers to buy Carle Clinic

URBANA – Carle Foundation Hospital has offered to purchase Carle Clinic and its subsidiary, Health Alliance Medical Plans, for $250 million, according to documents filed with the state this week.

Champaign County Nursing Home rates will rise

URBANA – A 3 percent increase in room and service rates will go into effect at the Champaign County Nursing Home, effective Dec. 1, the county board decided Tuesday night.

Daily skilled care and long-term care rates will increase from $150 to $155.

Funds or no funds, Lincoln Hall renovation fete is on

URBANA – University of Illinois officials are planning to celebrate the beginning of the restoration of Lincoln Hall on Friday – even though the long-anticipated project is still without a primary funding source.

Election officials deliver Afghan runoff ballots

KABUL (AP) – Election authorities began delivering ballots with U.N. assistance across Afghanistan on Thursday, as hurried preparations for the Nov. 7 runoff in the insurgency-plagued nation's presidential election got under way.

International election monitors called on authorities to avert the widespread fraud that marred the first round of voting in August. Scores of election staff accused of misconduct have been axed, and new personnel need to be hired.

Changes in Catlin wastewater pipe OK'd

CATLIN – Village officials voted Tuesday to have some changes made to a 20-foot-long vertical pipe at the wastewater plant.

Currently, the 6-inch-wide pipe runs along a concrete wall, then turns at a right angle and tapers to 4 inches in diameter to connect with a wastewater pump that has a 4-inch port.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Speakers chide police at Champaign council meeting

CHAMPAIGN – Dozens of voices cried for changes by the Champaign City Council on Tuesday night in the wake of the Oct. 9 fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy.

Study session to focus on use-of-force policy

CHAMPAIGN – Council members will have a study session to review the Champaign police department's policy governing use of force.

Council member Michael La Due, District 2, told audience members late Tuesday after hearing comments from citizens about the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Kiwane Carrington that six council members signed a city form requesting the study session.

Officials say resignation was right move for UI

URBANA – An admissions scandal, years in the making, had many expecting Richard Herman to resign as chancellor since last month, when Urbana's faculty-student senate voted to recommend that both he and the president of the University of Illinois step down.

The Sept. 14 resolution, approved 98-55, called for an orderly transition. Less than two weeks later, on Sept. 23, UI President B. Joseph White obliged by exiting first.

Safe Haven's new home in works

CHAMPAIGN – Volunteers will begin cleanup this weekend at some vacant apartments at Restoration Urban Ministries in advance of renovations to make room for members of a local "tent community."

Safe Haven, a self-governing group of homeless people who lived in tents and then at local churches, will move from St. Mary Catholic Church in Champaign to Restoration Urban Ministries, 1213 Parkland Court, C.

City OKs adjusted budget for 2009-10

GEORGETOWN – City officials adjusted their 2009-10 budget on Monday to better reflect their projected incomes and expenses.

The Georgetown City Council approved a 2009-10 budget in the spring, but the city's auditor recommended amending the whole budget after revising some projected revenues and changing some expenditures.