“Hard times for Ill., but not for governor’s staff,” Daily Illini, July 6
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has handed out raises – some of more than 20 percent – to his staff while proclaiming a message of “shared sacrifice” and planning spending cuts of $1.4 billion because the state is awash in debt.
“State set records for failing finances in fiscal 2010, comptroller says,” State Journal-Register, July 7
The last budget year was a record-breaking one for Illinois finances, and all the records were bad.
Comptroller Dan Hynes’ office on Wednesday issued its final report for the 2010 fiscal year that ended June 30.
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The report covers the litany of revenue failures that have been part of the state’s financial meltdown for months.
“McGinty backs change in focus for plans on Olympian Drive near Urbana,” News-Gazette, July 8
Brendan McGinty, Democrat from county board district 9 in Urbana, said he was once in support of plans to extend Olympian Drive eastward from Champaign to U.S. 45, northeast of Urbana.
But now he would prefer to see Lincoln Avenue improved north of Urbana and have that road connect with a shorter Olympian Drive. Work to extend Olympian from Lincoln to U.S. 45 would be delayed, said McGinty, who was recently named chairman of the Champaign County Economic Development Corp. and is chair of the county board’s finance committee.
“Aide: Blagojevich hid in bathroom to avoid staff,” Pantagraph, July 8
Former budget director John Filan, Greenlee testified, had to chase after the governor to get him to discuss important items.
“He would hide in the bathroom, hide in the back room or leave early,” Greenlee said, adding that Blagojevich went to great lengths to avoid staffers whom he felt disagreed with him too often.
“Instructor of Catholicism at UI claims loss of job violates academic freedom,” News-Gazette, July 9
Kenneth Howell was told after the spring semester ended that he would no longer be teaching in the UI’s Department of Religion. The decision came after a student complained about a discussion of homosexuality in the class in which Howell taught that the Catholic Church believes homosexual acts are morally wrong.
Howell has been an adjunct lecturer in the department for nine years, during which he taught two courses, Introduction to Catholicism and Modern Catholic Thought. He was also director of the Institute of Catholic Thought, part of St. John’s Catholic Newman Center on campus and the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. Funding for his salary came from the Institute of Catholic Thought.
“Khachaturian leaving radio station after 26 years on the air in Champaign,” News-Gazette, July 7
CHAMPAIGN – Steve Khachaturian – known by his on-air name Stevie Jay – will end 26 years at WDWS-AM on Friday as he and his business partners await permission to buy four other radio stations in the area.
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Khachaturian joined with his brother, Jon, and local developer Clint Atkins to form SJ Broadcasting LLC. That company has agreed to buy FM stations WQQB, WGKC, WLFH and WEBX from current licensee RadioStar Inc. for $1 million, according to documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission.