* Editorial…
Illinoisans might have trouble following Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s proclamation to observe National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month by “encouraging those struggling with substance abuse to seek treatment.”
That’s because the governor is “celebrating” by cutting the legs out from under those who provide such treatment.
His statewide budget cuts chopped $55 million out of the substance abuse treatment system - that’s $55 million out of $200 million devoted to non-Medicaid substance-abuse treatment programs.
Factor in the $55 million in federal matching funds that will be lost if this goes through and the impact is truly devastating.
* State aims to recover $1 mil. Loop Lab School grant
A private school that mistakenly was awarded a $1 million grant by Gov. Blagojevich’s administration is being banned from opening its doors to students because of a wave of building code violations, Chicago buildings officials said today. […]
The state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity “intends to recover the full grant amount,” said Lucio Guerrero, a spokesman for Gov. Blagojevich. The school, Guerrero said, has until Friday to resolve several problems the department has found with the grant. If those aren’t resolved, “DCEO will proceed to formal grant recovery.”
* New fumble for governor’s million-dollar giveaway
“Wow. I’m disappointed. I’ll look into it,” Blagojevich told a Tribune reporter. “I don’t know a lot about that, but thank you.”
* 11th Congressional Candidate Debate
…the Kankakee County Farm Bureau has posted the following videos from their forum/debate with candidates in the 11th Congressional District. This portion seems to be asking the candidates’ positions on foreign trade agreements.
* Sneed…
Here today, gone tomorrow? Antoine Members, the African-American Republican who is running against U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, was crazy about being a Republican on Tuesday but is now thinking about leaving the party!
• • Translation: He feels his trip to the Republican National Convention has been unsuccessful because he can’t get the GOPers to cough up the campaign cash.
• • To wit: “I’ve been thinking about pulling out and running as an Independent,” said Members. “I talked to top Illinois party leaders here, but I’m not getting any funding promises. I love the principles of the Republican Party, but the brand has been destroyed by George Bush. I’ll make a decision when I return to Chicago,” Members told Sneed.
* New GOP leader wants to ‘clean up’ Illinois
* State Republicans bash Blagojevich…
“She has an 80-percent approval rating in her state,” U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) said of Palin. “Can you imagine the state we would have if we had a governor with an 80 percent approval rating rather than an 8 percent approval rating?”
* CBS 2…
“Anyone that has an 80 percent favorable rating in a state, I don’t think means that they’re considered a kook. They do their job,” said Ill. Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford).
* Rasmussen…
However, in Alaska, the 44-year old Governor and hockey mom earns good or excellent ratings from 64% of voters statewide.
* Smoking bans lead to litter problem
* Cook County Board Approves Vendor Database
* Coming soon to the Web: Cook County Board meetings
* Former city plumbing inspector admits lying in bribery probe
Eric Reyes, 41, admitted to U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle that he knowingly made false statements. He could be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison at a hearing scheduled for Novembe
* Cook County Board President Todd Stroger says patronage is over, but hiring monitor begs to differ
* Cook Co. considers $3.2 million hiring settlement
* Jesse Jackson hospitalized for stomach pains