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INFORMATION ABOUT NEWS, contact: Maureen McKinney Illinois Issues
University of Illinois at Springfield
PO Box 19243
Springfield, IL 62794-9243
217/206-6084
New
capital spending totals $3.2 billion Gov. Rod Blagojevich presented a fiscal year 2005 capital
budget that promises $3.2 billion in new money for roads, school
construction and other projects, but critics say the plan lacks
detail. The plan budgets $500 million for new school construction,
for instance, but the administration identified only two dozen
projects totaling less than $50 million. The $3.2 billion in new
capital spending Blagojevich proposed represents a 4.3 percent
decrease from the current fiscal year. With ongoing construction
projects announced in previous years factored in, the capital
budget totals $10.1 billion. Meanwhile, details on BlagojevichĂs
$500 million road construction program were not expected for at
least a week. MORE>>
Illinois
Issues March 24, 2004
Gov
questions boardĂs casino choice Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed a former deputy U.S. attorney
as special investigator to review the Illinois Gaming BoardĂs
decision to award a riverboat license for a Rosemont casino. Isle
of Capri put together a package of incentives, including $518
million upfront, that bested competing proposals from one firm
looking to locate in Des Plaines and another targeting Waukegan.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Blagojevich called
on gaming board officials to publicly explain why the plan to
build a tropical-themed casino in Rosemont was chosen to win the
stateĂs 10th riverboat license. The boardĂs decision countered
the staffĂs recommendation of the Des Plaines plan. MORE>>
Democrat state Sen. Barack Obama will face Republican political
newcomer Jack Ryan, a former investment banker turned teacher, in
his bid to move up to the U.S. Senate. Obama beat by a wide margin
his opposition, which included Comptroller Dan Hynes and multimillionaire
Blair Hull. Ryan defeated seven other candidates, including dairy
owner Jim Oberweis, state Sen. Steven Rauschenberger and paper company
president Andy McKenna Jr. To find out more about the two philosophically
divergent candidates, go to ELECTION 2004. Meanwhile,
Illinois put Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry over the
top with the number of delegates needed to ensure he would win the
partyĂs nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Boston
this summer.
Illinois
Issues March 18, 2004
People
in the news
Lincoln
academy laureates named Six Illinoisans have been selected to receive the state’s
highest honor: installation as Laureates of The Lincoln Academy
of Illinois. The 2004 Order of Lincoln Medal goes to Michael Becshloss,
David Broder, Harry Crisp II, George Ranney Jr., Studs Terkel
and Ernest Wish. For
more information: Lincoln academy laureates named>>
Illinois
Issues March 18, 2004
Obit Steven Owen Sargent, former director of the Illinois Municipal
League, died March 17. He was 76. Sargent worked for the government
relations association for 36 years.
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