Tag: Illinois

Car Shows in DeKalb Saturday, May 18th

May. 16 no comments

The 2nd Annual Lincoln Highway Car Show will be held in Franklin Grove on Saturday, May 18th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is not too late to register on site for $12! Find the Website here and the registration form as a PDF.

Lincoln Highway Car Show Trophy, for the Saturday, May 18th, 2013 event

Lincoln Highway Car Show Trophy, for the Saturday, May 18th, 2013 event

Also, there will be a Lincoln Highway 100th Birthday Bash Car Show in DeKalb on the same day in DeKalb in the Frank Van Buer Plaza parking lot beginning at 6:00 p.m. The parking lot is across from the Egyptian Theatre on the corner of Locust Street and North 2nd Street, in the 200 block of Locust. The parking lot will be reserved beginning at 4:00 p.m. Registration for the 100th Birthday Bash Car Show will be free! The audience attending the Switchback / MahaRa concert at the Egyptian Theatre at 7:30 p.m. will choose the winning entries! The winners will be announced on stage, immediately following the music.

carshow3KraftModelAThe DeKalb Car Show is timed so that everyone can participate in both! There will be plenty of time to travel from Franklin Grove to DeKalb and stop for dinner!

Cars,trucks, and motorcycles of all years are welcome. Because Carl Fisher, the mastermind behind the Lincoln Highway, got his start racing, repairing, and selling bicycles, those are welcome, too! Click here for the DeKalb Car Show Registration Form. Registration for the DeKalb Car Show is free and on site.

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Pritchards Perspective 5/13/13

May. 15 no comments

Observations and comments about state government by State Representative Robert W. Pritchard.

May 13, 2013

In this issue:

· deksycfirefighters-springfieldUnanticipated Revenues Pay Bills, Allow Continued Over Spending

· Senate Passes Second Pension Reform Bill; House Considers Cost Shift

· DeKalb/Sycamore Fire Fighters Attend Ceremony in Springfield

· House Considers Gaming Bill; Use of Revenue

· Anti-Business Bills Continue to Pass in the House

· Encourage Your Friends to Attend These Free Seminars

· Japanese Consul General Talks About Jobs

· Illinois Recovers $38 Million in Unemployment Checks

· A Tribute Worth Remembering

Read more →

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Governor Quinn Announces $15.3 Million for Local Parks and Open Space Projects

May. 14 no comments

openspacelandlogoGovernor Pat Quinn yesterday announced a $15.3 million investment in local park projects across Illinois. As part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to ensure that no child is left inside, the projects are funded through the state’s Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development program (OSLAD). The initiative is designed to expand outdoor recreation and open space in communities across Illinois.

“Whether you are in a big city or small town, local parks let families across Illinois enjoy nature and spend time together,” Governor Quinn said. “These projects improve parks throughout the state and expand green space in dozens of communities, creating jobs and making our state a better place to live and work.”

The 45 projects announced today include picnic shelters and playgrounds, ball fields and trails, as well as wetland enhancements, prairie restoration and bioswales within local parks. In some instances, funding will enable communities to purchase land to be used for future green space.

“Local park districts and forest preserve districts, and outdoor recreation agencies are our partners in offering families and children places to help make sure we achieve our goal of leaving no child inside in Illinois,” said IDNR Director Marc Miller. “The investment of these funds for park projects has the added benefit of supporting and creating jobs in cities and towns across the state.”

The OSLAD program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is funded through the Real Estate Transfer Tax, which is part of every property sale in Illinois. Grant recipients are responsible for contributing at least half of the total project cost. The $15.3 million awarded statewide this year, combined with the grantees’ matching funds, will result in more than $30.6 million of local park development projects and land acquisition in Illinois. .

The OSLAD program began in 1986 and, not including today’s announced projects, has provided approximately $362.5 million for 1,596 local park projects in Illinois.

A list of this year’s OSLAD grant recipients and project descriptions is below.

Read more →

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Creston Featured in Lincoln Highway Presentation

May. 12 no comments

creston-muralLyle Headon of Headon’s Fine Meats and Catering in Creston and an avid historian will be giving a talk about the Lincoln Highway in Creston at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 18th at 6:00 p.m. The talk sponsored by the Illinois Chapter of the Lincoln Highway Association is free and open to the public. The original route of the Lincoln Highway in Creston takes a winding route, with twists and turns. Creston was also the site of a special public drinking fountain along the Lincoln Highway. The talk will be outdoors by the two murals and the gazebo in downtown Creston, near 103 S. Main St. Bring your camera! There will be several photo opportunities. In case of rain, the location will be inside the Creston Opera House, at 204 S. Main Street.

This free event in Creston is part of a two-day celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Lincoln Highway, the first coast-to-coast route across the United States on improved roads. Other events include the May 18th 7:30 p.m. Lincoln Highway Birthday Bash concert at the Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb featuring Switchback, MahaRa, and Colleen’s School of Clogging and Celtic Dance, and a free Car Show in the Van Buer Plaza across from the Theatre just prior to the concert. For information about other events, please see: illinoislincolnhighwayassociation.org.

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Pritchard’s Perspective on State Politics 5/6/13

May. 06 1 comment

Observations and comments about state government by State Representative Robert W. Pritchard.

May 6, 2013

News from the State House

News from the State House

In this issue:

· General Assembly Begins Final Month of Spring Session

· Dueling Pension Bills: Leaders Grow Impatient with Progress

· Attorney General Receives Extension on Concealed Carry

· Bills Filed to Reduce Welfare Fraud

· Flood Assessments Underway; Federal Disaster Declaration Possible

· Legislators Push for Vote on Fracking Bill

· Schools Transitioning to New Learning Standards

· Community Colleges Discuss Successes at Capitol

· Governor Rejects Bill to Pay for Smart Grid Technology

· $mart with Money Week Comes to DeKalb County

General Assembly Begins Final Month of Spring Session

May tends to be a very busy and exciting month in Springfield, as members of the House and Senate strive to complete their work in time for a May 31 adjournment. This Friday is the deadline for House committee action on Senate bills and then hundreds of bills will be debated on the House floor. Similar activity on House bills is taking place across the rotunda in the Senate chamber.

Among the major issues awaiting action by the Senate are pension reform, gambling expansion, medical marijuana and same-sex marriage. Negotiations continue on drafting legislation for concealed carry, fracking and telecommunication law modernization.

Meanwhile the Appropriation Committees are busy behind closed doors crafting a budget for FY14. While state revenue is expected to increase more than $1.2 billion next year, over spending this year combined with pressures for increased spending next year make the task of creating a balanced budget very difficult. Prayers were raised for legislator wisdom and courage during the National Day of Prayer ceremonies across the state last Thursday, however your continued prayers are critical at this time.

Dueling Pension Bills: Leaders Grow Impatient with Progress

Within hours of Senate President John Cullerton announcing progress toward an “agreed” pension reform bill, House Speaker Mike Madigan passed his own version of pension reform in the House saying we have debated this issue long enough. The Senate may decide Monday whether to approve SB1 as amended or continue negotiations.

I have been urging for negotiations with all the parties to the pension issue for over a year and, like Speaker Madigan, am frustrated with the progress. However, I feel a negotiated bill is the best way to a fair, constitutional solution for all parties. Read more →

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$38 Million Recovered from Unemployment Cheats’ Tax Returns

May. 01 no comments

Anti-Fraud Effort Boosts Business Climate, Illinois Economy; Some Individuals Could Face Prosecution

ideslogoCHICAGO – Illinois recovered nearly $38 million from unemployment cheats and others who wrongfully collected unemployment insurance benefits, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) said today. The initiatives to fight fraud, increase tax fairness and reduce costs for businesses are part of Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to improve the state’s climate for job creation and strengthen the Illinois economy.

“Cheating the unemployment insurance program cannot be tolerated because it harms the honest workers and the good employers across our state,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “We are prosecuting fraud. We are clawing back the money. Every dollar we recover helps to lower business taxes so owners can use that money to invest in more employees and help grow our local and state economies.”

IDES confiscated federal and state tax returns from individuals who refused to repay the debt or refused a repayment plan. Funds were recovered from 22,000 individuals between January and April. Recovering the dollars and fighting waste, fraud and abuse enhances the Illinois business climate by helping to lower payroll taxes employers pay to fund unemployment insurance payments.

This is the second year that IDES can garnish federal tax returns following bi-partisan reforms enacted in 2011. In 2012, IDES recovered $44 million from 21,500 individuals, bringing the two-year total to $82.4 million from 43,652 people.

Protecting the integrity of the Trust Fund is paramount. Money that pays for unemployment insurance benefits comes from a business payroll tax. The Trust Fund’s balance is among the factors considered when determining the payroll tax amount. The lower the Fund balance, the higher the payroll tax.

In the 22 months since Governor Quinn appointed Rowell and his overwhelming bi-partisan Senate confirmation, anti-fraud and Trust Fund integrity initiatives have saved taxpayers more than $200 million. These programs include garnishing federal tax returns of unemployment cheats; checking unemployment rolls against prison logs; strengthening the anti-fraud unit with attorneys from Attorney General Lisa Madigan; creating a new-hire directory to more quickly identify fraud; and holding business leaders personally liable for misstating their company’s obligations.

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Friday is Genoa’s Red Hat Day

Apr. 24 no comments

redhatdayYou are invited to Genoa’s 5th Annual Red Hat Day – A Taste of Spring, this Friday, April 26, 2013 from 9am – 3pm. Spring is blooming gardens, fresh foods and pretty clothes. You’ll find all the best of Spring at Red Hat Day in downtown Genoa.

From 9 – 10 a.m.: Have breakfast together at Genoa Café! ($5/person). 10-10:30 a.m.: Red Hat Parade down Main Street; prizes for best Spring theme hat and group from furthest away. 10:30-3 p.m. Shopping, cooking demos, spring garden talk, spring fashions. Have lunch at any of Genoa’s great restaurants. Be sure to stop by the bake sale to pick out a treat to take home.

Please RSVP to genoamainstreet@atcyber.net or call 815 784-6961 to let them know how many to expect and if you will be joining them for breakfast. The Genoa Gentlemen can’t wait to see you and are ready to be ‘at your service’. Red Hat Day is brought to you by Genoa Main Street, Inc. and the merchants of downtown Genoa.

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Pritchard’s Perspective 4/22/13

Apr. 22 no comments

Observations and comments about state government by State Representative Robert W. Pritchard.

April 22, 2013

In this issue:

· Governor’s Designation May Help Recovery

· Appropriations Hearings End; Budget Crafting Begins

· Deadline Passes with Hundreds of House Bills Moving to Senate

· Privatization of Workers Compensation Program Progressing

· Health Care Providers Revise Care Model; Attempt to Reduce Costs

· Five-Year Transportation Construction Program Unveiled

· Compost Reforms Passed

· District Libraries Receive “Back to Books” Grants

Governor’s Designation May Help Recovery

With the ongoing flooding issues across the state, the governor has declared 42 counties as disaster areas including DeKalb, Kane, Winnebago, McHenry and LaSalle. The gubernatorial proclamation of disaster aids the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in coordinating state resources to support local governments in disaster response and recovery operations.

The Red Cross has opened 17 shelters throughout the state, including one at St John’s Lutheran Church in Sycamore. That city’s Evergreen Village mobile home park was again evacuated as homes received considerable water damage. The county has been working for many years to secure the federal and state funding necessary to move residents to new locations and close the park. The two state agencies involved in the remediation at my urging have sent a letter assuring the county that the balance of the necessary funding will be available. County staff will be asking the county board in the next few weeks for authority to begin relocating residents.

The water level in flooded areas and fields in my district are receding but the Fox River continues to rise. Please continue to support the Red Cross and offer your prayers for those impacted.

Appropriation Hearings End; Budget Crafting Begins

peters-pritchard-sosnowskiThe five Illinois House Appropriation Committees have completed their hearings where funded agencies and providers describe their outcomes from last year and funding needs for the coming year. Northern Illinois University testified last week and Representative Sosnowski and I visited with retiring President John Peters (center) before his last budget presentation.

I serve on two of the appropriation committees—Higher Education, and Elementary and Secondary Education where I am the Republican spokes-person. The committees will be going line-by-line through their budget when legislators return to Springfield April 30. The Speaker has given each committee an allocation that is one-percent less than last year. They will have to manage $822 million in new wages from labor contracts and additional expenses including home health care for seniors.

My colleagues and I have raised objections that this level of appropriation is unsustainable without pension cost reductions, further Medicaid reforms and continuing the income tax increase beyond 2015. Illinois is headed for its own fiscal cliff at full speed and the majority party seems content.

Read more →

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Pritchard’s Perspective 4/15/13

Apr. 16 no comments

Observations and comments about state government by State Representative Robert W. Pritchard.

April 15, 2013

In this issue:

· Hundreds of Bills Considered as Deadline Approaches

· House Votes to Abolish Lt. Governor Position

· State Sells Construction Bonds; Receives Favorable Rate

· Refocusing Pension Discussions

· Early Results from Medicaid Audit Show Widespread Ineligibility

· Lobbying Increases Over Medical Use of Marijuana

· Early Childhood Advocates Discuss Outcomes

· Earth Day Celebrated Across the Globe on April 22

Hundreds of Bills Considered as Deadline Approaches

Activity in the House intensified and session days ran longer last week as members try to have their bills passed before the April 19 House Bill action deadline. A few of the more interesting bills that were passed by the House last week include:

· HB1225: Requires that all athletes, coaches, trainers and referees watch a video about cardiac arrest and how to best respond to that type of emergency. The video will deal with hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillators.

· SB1515: Implements portions of a new state labor contract regarding retiree health insurance. It requires Central Management Services to create a group health insurance program for Medicare-eligible retirees, and also establishes a $500 per month incentive for certain annuitants to opt out of the group insurance plan (to save money for the state).

· HB961: Requires the Illinois Department of Revenue to deposit the local share of state income tax revenue directly into the Local Government Distributive Fund rather than the General Revenue Fund. By requiring timely and direct deposits, local units of government will receive their funds faster.

· HB772: Requires that people between 18 and 20 years of age, who have not participated in a driver education class must take an online driver education course before obtaining a driver’s license. A growing number of license applicants have not taken any formal driving instruction perhaps due to school scheduling conflicts or fees that may run into the hundreds of dollars.

· HB1441: Requires that members of the General Assembly take 12 furlough days during the next fiscal year, and freezes pay levels and travel reimbursement rates. This is the fifth year the legislature has tried to set an example of shared sacrifice by cutting its costs. Meanwhile the Governor just negotiated a labor contract with state workers that awarded a 2 percent pay increase and no furlough days which increase state expenditures by $50 million.

· HB1868: Allows for a provisional vocation teaching license in Illinois. The bill is in response to a shortage of vocational teachers and is supported by employers who are having trouble finding qualified applicants for manufacturing jobs.

· HB983: Protects taxpayers from property tax hikes that exceed the legal limit in cases where municipalities sell alternative revenue bonds to fund capital improvements. These bonds are typically tied to an identified revenue source, but if the revenue source comes up short, taxpayers end up repaying the debt through property-tax increases.

· HB2250: Bans teens under the age of 18 from purchasing or using electronic cigarettes. This is a growing problem for school-aged children who mistakenly believe that electronic cigarettes do not pose a health risk.

· HB3009: Strengthens laws against gang recruitment in that police don’t have to prove that physical force or coercion was used in recruiting gang members.

· SB1894: Increases the Senior Homestead Exemption by $1000 beginning in calendar year 2014. If this becomes law, senior citizens will receive a $5000 reduction in their home equalized assessed value.

Read more →

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Lincoln Highway 100th Anniversary Bash!

Apr. 15 1 comment

switchback-may18Lincoln Highway, the first improved transcontinental highway in the U.S. forever changed the way Americans saw their country. The first Seedling Mile of this historic highway was laid right here in Illinois, near Malta. 2013 marks the  historic 100th Anniversary of the Lincoln Highway.  The National Lincoln Highway Association will be holding a unique tour of America’s first paved transcontinental road in June to celebrate this occasion.

The Illinois Chapter of the Lincoln Highway Association will have its own Centennial Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, May 18th and 19th, with a series of events to fit any taste. Attend both days or choose from events throughout either day. There will be an Illinois Lincoln Highway Car Tour and 100th Birthday Bash held right here in DeKalb County at the Egyptian Theatre, on Saturday, May 18th.

Join in the 1913 Style Road Tour, from Fulton to Creston. Stop by the Second Annual Lincoln Highway Car Show in Franklin Grove, attend a dinner and presentation at the historic Creston Opera House and top off your Saturday with a special Lincoln Highway-themed concert featuring the music of Switchback, with special guests, MahaRa. Tickets for the Birthday Bash at the Egyptian are $17-23 and are on sale now.

The 1913 Style Road Tour, continues on Sunday, from DeKalb to Frankfort, Illinois. There will be stops on Sunday at the Joliet Area Historical Museum and the Frankfort Park District for book talks by Cynthia Ogorek, author of “The Lincoln Highway Around Chicago” and Matthew Lutz, author of “The Boys in Chicago Heights”. Register for the weekend Car Tour here.

Do not miss this once-in-a-lifetime event celebrating 100 years of the Lincoln Highway in Illinois. These two days offer something for everyone, and we’re lucky enough to be right in the middle of it! Click here to visit the Illinois Lincoln Highway Association’s website to learn more.

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Governor Quinn Joins Nationwide Effort to Recognize Impact of National Service

Apr. 11 no comments

Illinois #1 in the Nation for Most “Cities of Service” and #1 Among the Nation’s 10 Largest States for Volunteer Rate

volunteersGovernor Pat Quinn today saluted the efforts of more than 600 mayors across the country for the first-ever Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service. This action is part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to strengthen communities across Illinois. This commemorative day is a nationwide bipartisan effort to highlight the impact of national service in tackling municipal problems.

“Service to others is the rent we pay on God’s earth,” Governor Quinn said. “AmeriCorps members, Senior Corps participants and all other national service volunteers have a positive and lasting impact, making Illinois a better place to live. Illinois is grateful for the dedication and sacrifice of these individuals who represent Americans at their best.”

Thanks to the Governor’s Serve Illinois Commission and its many partners across the state, Illinois continues to be a leader in service. According to the latest Volunteering and Civic Life in America (VCLA) report, Illinois has the highest volunteer rate—27.2% of residents—among the nation’s 10 largest states.

“Illinoisans possess a deep-seated ethic of service,” Brandon Bodor, executive director of the Serve Illinois Commission said. “Across ages, abilities, backgrounds and interests, volunteerism makes us more resilient as individuals, as communities and as a state. The benefits of service are more than just social – last year’s Illinois volunteerism was valued at over $8 billion.”

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Governor Quinn Launches Cyber Challenge

Apr. 01 no comments

Competition Connects Veterans and Students with Careers in Cybersecurity

cyberacesGovernor Pat Quinn today was joined by the Cyber Aces Foundation to announce the Illinois Governor’s Cyber Challenge, a statewide competition that will fill mission-critical jobs in the emerging cybersecurity workforce. The announcement is part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to increase public safety and help Illinois residents find employment. The Cyber Challenge is designed to provide a pathway of learning and workforce training for Veterans and students.

“As technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, the threat to our nation’s cybersecurity continues to grow,” Governor Quinn said. “Connecting our highly-skilled Veterans and students with these 21st century jobs is a solid way to increase national security and create another pathway to employment.”

Illinois is one of the first states to hold a Cyber Challenge. Federal officials are quickly expanding cybersecurity forces to counter evolving threats from abroad. For example, the Defense Department’s Cyber Command plans to increase its workforce to 4,000, up from 900. Private sector opportunities in cybersecurity are also rapidly expanding. Currently, cybersecurity careers are the second-fastest growing positions in information technology (IT). They also are among the most secure and the highest salaried in the IT field.

The Cyber Aces Foundation is utilizing Governors’ Cyber Challenges across the country to help identify individuals will the necessary skill set for cybersecurity jobs in order to help meet the growing demand for the profession.

“Similar to our shortage of fighter pilots at the start of World War II, we now have a critical shortage of skilled cyber defenders,” Cyber Aces Founder Alan Paller said. “And like the pilot training programs of that era, Cyber Aces initiatives, such as the Illinois State Championship, are how we will create the specialists we need.”

Read more →

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