Bethany, IL > Community Corner > Illinois e-News Summaries week of 5/12/08

Illinois e-News Summaries week of 5/12/08

category:Government and Politics posted:May 13th, 2008

05/13/08 - Putting life into old cemeteries
SPRINGFIELD – Preserving cemeteries will be the focus of a hands-on workshop, Cemetery Monument Care, scheduled for Saturday, May 17 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Grundy County community of Morris, Illinois.

05/12/08 - Illinois EPA begins proceedings against Water Treatment Plant Superintendent
Agency seeks to revoke certification of Princeton water supply operator
SPRINGFIELD – After admitting in court that he submitted falsified water sample results to the Illinois EPA for the Princeton Public Water Supply, the Agency began proceedings to revoke the Illinois Water Supply Operator’s Certificate for Michael Scott. The Certificate provides the holder the responsibility for ensuring that the public water supply is safe, through distribution operations, inspections and sampling protocols.

	05/12/08 - Chicago’s Juarez High School wins School of the Year Award during annual Illinois History Expo
SPRINGFIELD – Chicago’s Benito Juarez High School was named National History Day Illinois School of the Year during the annual Illinois History Expo held May 8 in Springfield.

	05/12/08 - LaGrange Park, Chicago and Downs students win Illinois Education Association Awards during annual Illinois History Expo
SPRINGFIELD – Students from LaGrange Park, Chicago and the McLean County community of Downs won awards from the Illinois Education Association during the annual Illinois History Expo held May 8 in Springfield.

	05/12/08 - Peace Officers Memorial Day
United States and Illinois flags at half-staff from sunrise, Thursday, May 15 until sunset, Thursday, May 15, 2008.
The Department of Central Management Services has received notice from Governor Blagojevich’s Office to fly the United States and Illinois flags at State occupied buildings at half-staff from sunrise, Thursday, May 15 until sunset, Thursday, May 15, 2008.

	05/12/08 - First Lady Patricia Blagojevich launches food allergy awareness effort to save children’s lives
“Ask Before You Eat” campaign educates families, schools and the food service industry to safeguard children from growing threat
CHICAGO – To kick off Food Allergy Awareness week, First Lady Patricia Blagojevich today launched “Ask Before You Eat,” a statewide education campaign designed to prevent unintentional and potentially-life threatening harm to children with food allergies. Nationwide, some 3 million children suffer from food allergies, including 1 out of 17 children under 3 years of age. Food allergy reactions in children can range from mild symptoms such as skin rashes to anaphylaxis, a sudden and severe response that can end in death.

	05/12/08 - Blagojevich Administration’s Operation Teen Safe Driving program launches driving clinics
Teen fatalities have declined sharply in 2008, since launch of effort to get teens involved in promoting safe driving
CHICAGO – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced that students from four winning schools in the state’s Operation Teen Safe Driving program are taking part today in Chicago in a safe-driving clinic put on by Ford, one of the sponsors of the program. Over the next eight days, students from 28 high schools around the state will receive behind-the-wheel instruction at driving skills training events in Chicago, Peoria and the Metro East area as part of Ford’s Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) teen safe driving program that is designed to reduce teen auto fatalities

	05/11/08 - Governor Blagojevich celebrates Mother’s Day at Wrigley Field, helping spread the word about the importance of breast cancer screening
In conjunction with ‘Project Pink’ at Wrigley Field, Governor raises awareness of expanded Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program for all uninsured women
CHICAGO – Standing outside of Wrigley Field with breast cancer patients and survivors from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich honored women this Mother’s Day by reminding them that routine breast cancer screenings can save lives. Before the game representatives from the Governor’s office distributed information on the recently expanded Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP), which makes sure all uninsured women who need access to potentially life-saving cancer screenings and treatment can get it.

	05/11/08 - Blagojevich administration launches Women’s Health Week in Illinois with Pin-A-Sister event on Mother’s Day
Health fairs, workshops, seminars, speakers and screenings held across the state to help improve women’s health
CHICAGO – To stress the importance of women getting routine breast and cervical cancer screenings, Deputy Governor Louanner Peters kicked-off Women’s Health Week in Illinois today by leading a Pin-A-Sister event at Fellowship Baptist Church. Women’s Health Week is a perfect time to focus on women’s health, including the importance of early detection, which all uninsured women now have access to through the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) expansion.

	05/09/08 - Blagojevich administration launches “Pink Potluck” campaign to highlight the importance of breast and cervical cancer screenings
Celebrate this Mother’s Day with information that could save her life
CHICAGO – Governor Blagojevich’s, “Pink Potluck” event was held today in Chicago to raise awareness about the importance of routine breast and cervical cancer screenings. “Pink Potlucks” are an opportunity for women to talk about the importance of early detection and to learn more about the Governor’s recently expanded Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP). Currently, all uninsured women are eligible for free screenings and low-cost treatment options through the IBCCP.

	05/09/08 - Governor Blagojevich urges Congressional leaders for immediate action on summer jobs program
Federal program would compliment Governor’s Community Investment Works program to reduce violence, create jobs for teens
CHICAGO – Three days after announcing his Community Investment Works program to curb violence and create more opportunities for youth, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich sent a letter today to Congressional leaders urging them to approve legislation that would fund summer jobs for youth nationwide. In April, Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington) and Rep. James Clyburn (D – South Carolina) introduced companion bills in the US Senate and House that would provide as much as $1 billion for communities across the country to implement a summer jobs program. The Governor calls for federal action as Chicago nears the end of one of the most violent school years in recent history.

	05/09/08 - Gov. Blagojevich announces launch of Web portal to keep patients in state programs safer
Secure Web portal now allows physicians treating Medicaid patients to view past prescriptions, immunizations and procedures
CHICAGO – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has launched an improved version of a secure Web portal that will keep patients safe and potentially save lives by reducing the risk of medical mix-ups. The Medical Electronic Data Interchange (MEDI) system will allow doctors treating Medicaid patients to view patient information that includes medication and immunization histories, previous lab orders, hospitalizations and other medical procedures. By providing more information to doctors, the program should decrease redundant care and reduce medical errors.

	05/09/08 - Gov. Blagojevich congratulates Illinois student qualifiers for National History Day competition
Students from schools in Aurora, Berwyn, Carbondale, Chicago, Des Plaines, Lincolnshire, Oak Park, Payson and Skokie were chosen during the annual Illinois History Expo held May 8 in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today congratulated junior and senior high school students from across Illinois who have qualified to compete in the National History Day competition to be held June 15 - 19 in College Park, Maryland. These students were chosen from more than 1,400 who competed in the Illinois History Expo held May 8 in Springfield.

	05/08/08 - Governor Blagojevich applauds Senate’s quick action on campus security legislation
Bill unanimously approved by full Senate just hours after passing Senate Higher Education Committee
SPRINGFIELD – Just hours after receiving unanimous approval from the Senate Higher Education Committee Thursday morning, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich applauded the full Senate for passing the Campus Security Enhancement Act. Senate Bill 2691 requires colleges and universities to develop and exercise emergency response and violence prevention programs. The bill now moves to the Illinois House of Representatives for consideration.

	05/08/08 - Gov. Blagojevich renames a portion of I-57 “Ken Gray Expressway” to honor long-time Congressman
Congressman’s dedication to southern Illinois helped build highways, hospitals and Rend Lake
FRANKLIN COUNTY – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today renamed a section of Interstate 57 in honor of longtime southern Illinois Congressman Kenneth J. Gray. From now on, I-57 between Mile Post 0, at the Illinois State Line to Mile Post 106, at the Marion/Jefferson County Line will be known as “Ken Gray Expressway.” Signs will be placed in each direction, signifying this honor for the influential former member of Congress, who represented southern Illinois for nearly a quarter of a century in Washington, D.C.

	05/08/08 - Gov. Blagojevich calls on Senate Appropriations Committee to commit to FutureGen in Mattoon
Governor sends letter to Senator Durbin summarizing state’s efforts to make landmark clean-coal project a reality in Mattoon Mattoon officials lead Save-Our-FutureGen effort of Capitol Hill on behalf of Central Illinois community and State of Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – As a U.S. Senate Committee hearing is underway on Capitol Hill, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich sent a letter to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) again making the case for why the landmark FutureGen clean coal project must move forward as originally planned in Mattoon, Illinois. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development will hold a hearing today on FutureGen. The Governor’s letter to Sen. Durbin highlights the critical need for this project and documents the state’s efforts to make the revolutionary project a reality, despite 11th hour attempts by the U.S. Department of Energy to abandon the project. Because the state was not invited as a witness, the Governor asked Senator Durbin to share this information with his colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

	05/07/08 - Governor Blagojevich and community leaders urge legislators to act quickly to enact Community Investment Works plan
Send letter to Illinois General Assembly encouraging immediate action to help stem youth violence
CHICAGO – The day after more than 70 community-based organizations joined Governor Rod R. Blagojevich in announcing Community Investment Works, ten well-respected youth advocates and the Governor sent a letter to lawmakers asking them to act swiftly to pass the new plan and help stem the tide of youth violence in Chicago and around Illinois. Community Investment Works is designed to address a range of factors contributing to youth violence, including the lack of employment opportunities, lack of safe social and recreational opportunities, and disengagement from their communities.

05/01/08 - Governor Blagojevich announces significant decline in teen driving fatalities; final winning schools for Operation Teen Safe Driving

SPRINGFIELD – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, Secretary of State Jesse White, the Governors Highway Safety Association, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Illinois State Police (ISP), Ford Motor Company Fund, The Allstate Foundation, and supporters of Operation Teen Safe Driving today announced the final round of winning schools to participate in the statewide safety initiative designed to educate teens about safe driving to save lives. This announcement comes as Illinois records a significant decline in teen fatalities in automobile crashes so far this year. From January 1st through April 15th, 22 teens (ages 16-19) lost their lives on Illinois roadways. During the same time period last year, there were 57 deaths.