Progress Illinois

Around The Horn

Progress Illinois — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:35:00 -0800

Below are our daily picks from the Illinois blogosphere and media at large:

Hard Labor
Chicago-based labor reporter Claire Bushey is launching a new blog at True/Slant. She explains the inspiration for the project in her first post.

Tamms Tour
As part of his 10-part reform plan for the Tamms Correctional Center, Illinois Department of Corrections Director Michael Randle opened the prison to the media this week. To compliment its reporting, the Belleville News-Democrat produced a short video of the tour.

No Legal Barrier
According to OpenLeft's Chris Bowers, there don't appear to be any legal barriers to using leftover Wall Street bailout money to fund a new jobs bill.

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The Early Bird: November 20, 2009

Progress Illinois — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:02:34 -0800

Cullerton: State Lawmakers Have No Gitmo Control
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) says the General Assembly has no formal control over the decision to relocate Guantanamo Bay detainees to an Illinois prison. While a committee could review the proposal, any vote would be advisory.

Illinois Unemployment Hits 26-Year High
The state's unemployment troubles just keeps growing, according to new data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Between September and October, the state's unemployment rate jumped from 10.5 to 11 percent, the highest level in 26 years.

Cook County Board Passes Budget With No Tax Increases
The Cook County Board last night passed a $3 billion budget for next year that holds the line on taxes. Approval came more quickly than in recent years, likely because all but one of the 17 commissioners is up for re-election in 2010.

Heath System Chief Worries About Tax Rollback
Meanwhile, Cook County Health and Hospitals System CEO William Foley warned that a partial rollback of Board President Todd Stroger's controversial sales tax hike could have "huge implications" on the development of the health system's strategic plan. Commissioner Larry Suffredin (D-Evanston) says the spending reduction will be accomplished through attrition.

RTA Approves Quinn's Emergency CTA Plan
The Regional Transportation Authority unanimously approved Gov. Pat Quinn's plan to borrow $166 million to prevent a CTA fare increase. Still, potential service cuts and more than 1,100 layoffs remain on the table.

Users Flood New State Hospital Ranking Site
On its first day of operation, a new website allowing patients to compare rankings of Illinois hospitals for a wide range of performance and cost measurements crashed twice because of high traffic.

Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user Michael Kappel.

Around The Horn

Progress Illinois — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:47:32 -0800

Below are our daily picks from the Illinois blogosphere and media at large:

A Kink In The Campaign
This week's Reader cover story examines the unorthodox primary race in Illinois' 40th District.

Life Support
At Huffington Post Chicago, Shawn Healy digs into a new study on civic engagement in Illinois.

What Happens Before 2014?
Curious which provisions in the Senate health care bill will take effect immediately if it's passed? Ezra Klein has you covered.

The Early Bird: November 19, 2009

Progress Illinois — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:57:21 -0800

Nursing Home Task Force Releases Recommendations
A task force investigating safety problems in Illinois nursing homes will meet today to unveil a plan to prevent the assaults, rapes, and murders that have plagued some facilities. Gov. Pat Quinn's senior health advisor, Michael Gelder, is recommending more housing for adults with mental illness, higher standards of nursing home care, and improved screening of potential residents.

State Launches Hospital Review Site
Today, the Illinois Department of Public Health will launch a consumer-friendly website that includes detailed information about how much Illinois hospitals charge for various procedures, how often they deliver recommended care, and how consumers rate their care.

Stroger Vows Eleventh-Hour Tax Veto
Cook County Board President Todd Stroger will wait until the final hour of Monday night's deadline to veto the repeal of his controversial sales tax increase. "I want to give the constituents time to talk to their commissioners," Stroger says of his strategy, which hinges on public pressure for upholding the tax.

Study: Hyatt Scores Low In Workplace Safety
A peer-reviewed study of 50 American hotels found that housekeepers who are engaged in a contract battle with Hyatt hotels are almost twice as likely to suffer on-the-job injuries as their Hilton counterparts. Hyatt also ranks fourth in safety among the top five national hospitality chains.

More Friends And Family Hiring Out Of City Hall
Mayor Daley has said that he'll ask a federal judge to end decades of court supervision over clout-heavy hiring because patronage is dead. However, the Tribune's latest investigation reveals that City Hall is covering a $1.3 million annual shadow payroll controlled by aldermen, which includes nearly a dozen people who appeared on the "clout list" that led to the federal conviction of Daley's former patronage chief.

Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user joelplutchak.

Around The Horn

Progress Illinois — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:38:35 -0800

Below are our daily picks from the Illinois blogosphere and media at large:

Homeless Baby Crying
Ryan J. Down, executive director of Illinois' second largest homeless shelter, ponders the daunting task of eradicating homelessness in America.

Inmate Care
Are prisoners' health care needs being met in Illinois? Mechanics' Sheila Burt reports on a recent panel discussion exploring that question.

What To Expect
The Wonk Room's Igor Volsky previews what provisions might be included in the merged Senate health care legislation, which Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) is scheduled to unveil late this afternoon.

The Early Bird: November 18, 2009

Progress Illinois — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:55:30 -0800

Cook Co. Board Votes To Scale Back Stroger Sales Tax Hike
By a vote of 12-5, the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted yesterday to reduce the county sales tax by half-a-cent, thereby halving President Todd Stroger's controversial sales tax hike. Stoger has vowed to veto the measure, but a recent change to state law means only 11 votes are required to override the president.

Striking Graduate Instructors Reach Deal With Administration
University of Illinois graduate students that recently went on strike from their teaching assistant jobs reached a tentative agreement with the school's administration yesterday. The union representing the instructors is set to hold a vote approving a new three-year contract that guarantees the continuation of tuition assistance and could return to work today.

Medical Examiner: Scott's Death A Suicide
Cook County Medical Examiner Nancy Jones said there is "no evidence" indicating Chicago school board president Michael Scott's death was anything but a suicide. Two police detectives present for the autopsy agreed with the suicide finding.

Burr Oak Cemetery Set To Reopen
Closed since July after four workers orchestrated an alleged grave-reselling scheme, Alsip's Burr Oak Cemetery will reopen to the public Thursday. During the first week, visitors may enter the cemetery only with a ticket issued by cemetery officials.

Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user thomas.merton.

Around The Horn

Progress Illinois — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:01:37 -0800

Below are our daily picks from the Illinois blogosphere and media at large:

Rose's Nomination
One of President Obama's U.S. attorney nominations in Northern Iowa is being criticized for her role in the Postville meatpacking plant controversy. The New York Times has the story.

Casting Its Lot
Matthew Blake reports on the town of Mattoon's "unwavering enthusiasm" as they strive to becoe the international testing ground for "clean coal technology."

Studs' File
Months after Chicago legend Studs Terkel passed away, his FBI file has been released publicly. It contains some interesting tidbits.

The Early Bird: November 17, 2009

Progress Illinois — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:58:52 -0800

Cross Threatens Legislative Block To Thomson Sale
House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) says he'll introduce legislation that would put to a vote Gov. Quinn's proposal to sell the Thomson correctional center to the federal government. Meanwhile, federal officials say that in addition to housing prisoners from the U.S. military facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the facility could become a site for conducting military trials of alleged terrorists.

U of I Grad Students Continue Strike
Graduate student instructors at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus will continue its strike today that shut down "several hundred" classes on Monday. The graduate students' union and administration have failed to reach a contract agreement, with the sole sticking point being tuition waivers.

Supreme Court Hears Ryan's Pension Plea
On Wednesday, the Illinois Supreme Court will hear imprisoned former Gov. George Ryan's case over whether he should be allowed to keep some part of his state pension.

Cook County Tackles Sales Tax Repeal, Again
Cook County Commissioners who favor repealing Board President Todd Stroger's controversial penny-on-the-dollar sales tax hike are convening an emergency meeting this morning for the sole purpose, they hope, of slashing the increase in half. With 11 board members ready to vote for the rollback, the measure should have enough support to withstand Stroger's promised veto.

Chicago Parking Ticket Revenue Plummets
Chicago's parking ticket revenues have fallen by nearly $1 million a month between May and August 2009, compared with the same time in 2008, marking another declining revenue source as the city struggles to fill a $520 million budget hole.

Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user pobrecito33.

Around The Horn

Progress Illinois — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:32 -0800

Below are our daily picks from the Illinois blogosphere and media at large:

Burdening The Poor
The debate in Springfield about an income tax hike should focus on reforming an outdated and highly regressive state tax code, writes Galesburg Register-Mail guest columnist Judy Guenseth.

Why Todd Stroger Is Hosed
The Reader's Mick Dumke thinks Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's refusal to show up for a candidate forum yesterday at DePaul University proves he can't win reelection.

The Lifeblood Of Undergrad Ed
Emily Shaw, a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, explains why she and every other graduate assistants at the school are going on strike.

The Early Bird: November 16, 2009

Progress Illinois — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:07:18 -0800

Report: Body Of School Board President Found
A body believed to be that of Chicago Board of Education president Michael Scott was found in the Chicago River near the Merchandise Mart this morning. Concerned about his whereabouts, his family had contacted police Sunday night to report he was missing.

Officials To Inspect Thomson Prison For Gitmo Inmates
Federal officials are scheduled to inspect the Thomson Correctional Center on Monday, the maximum-security state prison the White House has identified as one possible facility that could house transfers from the Guantanamo Bay military prison. Gov. Pat Quinn and Sen. Dick Durbin will outline proposals for the prison's future at three news conferences today.

Opponents Rip Absent Stroger At Dem Forum
Incumbent Todd Stroger failed to attend a Lincoln Park forum highlighting all four Democrats running for Cook County Board president and his opponents took advantage, arguing that his absence was symbolic of his weak leadership.

Graduate Students Go On Strike
After six hours of contract talks Saturday failed to yield an agreement, graduate student instructors at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign officially went on strike at 8 am this morning. Both sides agree that the only sticking point is the absence in the new contract of tuition waivers, which allow some graduate and teaching assistants to attend the school at reduced or no cost.

Union Leaders Criticize CTA Plans
Union officials on Sunday slammed the CTA on planned layoffs and service cuts, saying they are not willing to make concessions because there are unexplored ways to hold down expenditures without limiting rail and bus access.

Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user j.s. clark.