Illinois e-News Summaries week of 9/29/2008
category:Government and Politics posted:October 1st, 2008 |
10/03/08 - Honoring Illinois' Fallen |
| United States and Illinois flags at half-staff from Sunrise, Monday, October 6, 2008 until Sunset, Wednesday, October 8, 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, Monday, October 6, 2008 until Sunset, Wednesday, October 8, 2008. | |
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09/30/08 - First Lady Patricia Blagojevich announces October selection for Children’s Reading Club as The Witches |
| CHICAGO – First Lady Patricia Blagojevich today announced October’s selection for her Children’s Reading Club – The Witches by Roald Dahl. In this month’s selection meet a hero, a wise old grandmother, and the most gruesome, grotesque gang of witches imaginable! | |
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10/02/08 - Illinois EPA hosts Pharmaceutical Summit and Conference |
| Stakeholder groups work on ways of reducing pharmaceuticals and personal care products in drinking water | |
| SPRINGFIELD—As part of its overall efforts to ensure that citizen’s of Illinois continue to have high quality and safe sources of drinking water, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott Wednesday convened a Summit at the University of Illinois at Springfield to discuss ways to reduce the amounts of pharmaceuticals and personal care products being discharged into waters of the state that ultimately become a source of drinking water. | |
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10/02/08 - October designated as National Disability Employment Awareness Month |
| October has been designated as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The Department of Human Services has planned some events through the month of October related to the employment of people with disabilities in the State of Illinois. | |
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10/01/08 - Honoring Illinois' Fallen |
| United States and Illinois flags at half-staff immediately until Sunset, Friday, October 3, 2008. | |
| The Department of Central Management Services has received notice from Governor Blagojevich's Office to immediately fly the United States and Illinois flags at State occupied buildings at half-staff until Sunset, Friday, October 3, 2008. | |
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10/01/08 - Governor Blagojevich Proclaims Today Methamphetamine Awareness Day |
| As part of the state’s ongoing effort to combat one of the fastest-growing and most dangerous illegal drug trades in Illinois, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today proclaimed October 1 Methamphetamine Awareness Day in Illinois. The proclamation is in accordance with House Resolution 139, which provides that the Illinois State Police, along with the State Board of Education, Illinois Department of Public Health, and local law enforcement agencies and school districts, will promote an educational campaign warning of the dire consequences of meth use and production. | |
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09/30/08 - Blagojevich Administration Hosts States Looking to Deploy Photo Enforcement in Work Zones |
| IDOT and Illinois State Police Hold Workshop For States that Want to Improve Work Zone Safety | |
| As states around the country look to emulate Governor Rod R. Blagojevich’s Administration’s success in reducing highway work zone fatalities, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Illinois State Police (ISP) hosted a highway safety workshop for those who are considering following the lead of Illinois’ photo speed enforcement program. IDOT hosted the event at ISP’s District Chicago headquarters in Des Plaines on September 29 and today, September 30 at the request of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Six other states joined Illinois for the workshop including Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Tennessee and Washington. | |
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09/29/08 - Governor Blagojevich Urges Notification of Voting Rights to Illinoisans Displaced by Foreclosure |
| Letter sent to Illinois State Board of Elections, urges action and public notice to residents who have filed for a change of address | |
| In a push to make sure no citizen loses their vote in November, Governor Rod Blagojevich today urged the Illinois Board of Elections to seek out and notify eligible Illinoisans of their voting rights if they have lost their homes through foreclosure. According to the New York Times more than one million Americans have lost their homes through foreclosure in the last two years, and many of them are still registered to vote at the address of their previous home. | |
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09/29/08 - Blagojevich Administration Receives Over $2 Million to help Veterans Reintegrate into Communities |
| State agencies, local authorities and organizations to develop pilot in Cook and Rock Island counties to ease transition back to society | |
| Building on his commitment to help Illinois veterans transition back to into civilian life, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that the state was awarded more than $2 million dollars from the US Department of Health and Human Services to implement a pilot program in Cook and Rock Island counties to increase jail diversion services for veterans with mental illnesses. The Veterans Reintegration Initiative (VRI) will build on and create new partnerships among state agencies, local authorities, justice departments, community organizations and services providers to expand and define an infrastructure for intervention for veterans to prevent their involvement in the criminal justice system. | |
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09/26/08 - Governor Blagojevich Announces State of Illinois’ September “Veteran of the Month” |
| Ottawa man and lifelong Illinoisan honored for his outstanding dedication to Veterans and service to local community | |
| Ottawa resident and lifelong Illinoisan, Clifford Parker, was today named the State of Illinois’ September, 2008 “Veteran of the Month” by Governor Rod R. Blagojevich for his outstanding service to this nation, to his local community and to his fellow Veterans. | |
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09/26/08 - Governor Blagojevich Announces Illinois Innovation Talent Program |
| New program partners state, business and high schools to promote innovation-centered education | |
| Recognizing the need for students to become globally competitive, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced a public-private partnership to work with 23 Illinois high schools on a pilot project designed to promote innovation-centered education and to increase student achievement in math, science and engineering. Illinois Innovation Talent creates a unique learning environment where students work as teams alongside industry, government and community experts to solve real-world problems. | |
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09/25/08 - Governor Blagojevich Marks National Preparedness Month by Unveiling “Ready Illinois High School Challenge” |
| Public Service Announcement contest encourages high school students to promote personal disaster preparedness | |
| In commemoration of National Preparedness Month, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today unveiled a new initiative aimed at increasing personal preparedness for all types of disasters. The “Ready Illinois High School Challenge,” a public service announcement contest, encourages high school students to develop a 30-second script that addresses disaster preparedness measures and directs people to the state’s Ready Illinois website. The winning spot will be professionally produced and aired statewide on radio and/or TV as part of the state’s campaign to encourage people to prepare for natural and man-made disasters. | |
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09/25/08 - Governor Blagojevich Urges President Bush to Sign Federal Adoption and Foster Care Law |
| Bipartisan bill makes federal policy out of Illinois’ success by linking children to permanent, loving families | |
| Governor Rod R. Blagojevich sent a letter to President George W. Bush today urging him to sign the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. The legislation, passed by Congress this week and waiting for the President’s signature, establishes federal policy that replicates several programs proven successful by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). These programs include subsidized guardianship to support relatives as permanent caregivers, adoption assistance to bring stability to children’s lives, and the extension of federal funding to youth in foster care to age 21. | |
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09/25/08 - Blagojevich Administration Opens New Fire Station at Sparta Armory |
| $2.1 million project will modernize Illinois Army National Guard’s emergency response capabilities | |
| Leaders from Governor Rod R. Blagojevich’s administration today held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new fire station at the Sparta Armory that will house two Illinois Army National Guard fire fighting teams and their equipment. Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart, and Capital Development Board Executive Director Jim Riemer participated in the ceremony. | |
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09/25/08 - Blagojevich Administration Breaks Ground on Illinois National Guard’s Mt. Vernon Readiness Center |
| $23 million project will replace two existing armories and a leased facility | |
| Leaders from Governor Rod R. Blagojevich’s administration today broke ground on the new Mt. Vernon Readiness Center that will be home to units from the Illinois Army National Guard and Army Reserves. Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart, and Capital Development Board Executive Director Jim Riemer participated in the ceremony. | |
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09/24/08 - Governor Blagojevich Appoints New Member to Chicago Transit Board |
| Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today named Sheila Nix to the Chicago Transit Board, the governing arm of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Nix brings years of state and federal public policy experience to the position. Nix’s years in public service have more than adequately prepared her to serve on the Chicago Transit Board. As Illinois’ Deputy Governor from December 2006 to June 2008, Nix helped to create programs like the Seniors Ride Free Program and the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. | |
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09/24/08 - Governor Blagojevich asks President Bush for federal disaster declaration for seven counties hit by recent flooding |
| Federal disaster declaration would help people, businesses recover from flood | |
| Seeking to help residents in seven Illinois counties recover from recent severe flooding, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today asked President Bush to declare Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, LaSalle and Will counties major disaster areas. If approved, a federal disaster declaration would enable people and businesses affected by the floods to apply for grants and loans to help with flood losses. | |
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09/24/08 - Governor Blagojevich Names Kurt Friedenauer as Director of Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice |
| Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today named Kurt Friedenauer as the director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) to continue the department’s goal to help the state’s young offenders get on the right track. Friedenauer was named as acting director of IDJJ when the department was created in 2006. | |
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09/23/08 - Governor Blagojevich Issues State Disaster Declaration for Bureau, Kendall and Woodford Counties for Flooding |
| State assets, personnel available to help with recovery | |
| Three additional Illinois counties were declared state disaster areas Tuesday following severe flooding that closed roads, forced people from their homes and inundated houses and businesses. Governor Rod R. Blagojevich’s disaster declaration for Bureau, Kendall and Woodford counties makes available state assets and personnel that can help impacted communities recover from flooding caused by heavy rainfall last week. | |
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09/23/08 - Blagojevich Administration Successfully Collects Child Support from Parents Seeking Hunting and Fishing Licenses |
| Program’s First Year Contributes to Record FY08 Collections | |
| Denying the hunting and fishing licenses of deadbeat parents has proven to be an effective incentive to getting some parents in Illinois to pay child support, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced today. September marks one year since the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) teamed up with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to deny hunting and fishing licenses from parents who are not paying child support. In its first year, the program has resulted in approximately $263,506 of child support being collected for Illinois families. | |
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09/19/08 - Governor Blagojevich Thanks State Commission for Approving $100 Million Student Loan Deal |
| Trailblazing Partnership will Ensure 20,000 Students Can Get Low-Interest Loans | |
| Governor Rod R. Blagojevich thanked the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) today after they approved his trailblazing $100 million deal to provide 20,000 students low-interest loans, which he announced earlier this month. Eight Illinois-based credit unions will invest $100 million in securities issued by ISAC to finance low-interest, federally secured loans to Illinois students and their families. These Stafford loans will be easily available to Illinois students at a time when students living in other states have been hard-pressed to find willing lenders. | |
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09/27/08 - First Lady Patricia Blagojevich Walks to Raise Awareness about Potentially Life-Threatening Food Allergies to Save Children’s Lives |
| CHICAGO – Nationwide, some three million children suffer from food allergies, including one out of seventeen children under three years of age. Incredibly, of the 2.1 million school-aged children in Illinois, an estimated 93,000 of them are affected by food allergies. Due to these startling statistics, Lady Patricia Blagojevich put on her walking shoes today and participated in a three-mile walk through the Lincoln Park Community to increase awareness about the serious and even life-threatening reactions certain foods have on children. | |
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09/29/08 - Honoring Illinois' Fallen |
| United States and Illinois flags at half-staff from Sunrise, Thursday, October 2, 2008 until Sunset, Saturday, October 4, 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, October 2, 2008 until Sunset, Saturday, October 4, 2008. | |
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