Press Releases/Announcements from local sources
Cable
ComChannel 17
Sorry about the schedule going up late this week... but face it, folks. Cablecom is not a fantasticly funded multinational media giant... just a group of your neighbors trying to do something good.
Public Information Sessions cancelled, will be rescheduled...
City
of WestChicago"Seasonal leaf collection continues in the City of West Chicago through November 25, 2006 on regularly scheduled garbage pick-up days."
"The exhibit is the first showing of this expressive body of work and will delight visitors with its strong representations of Smith's longing to retain family ties on both sides of the ocean."
"The West Chicago Police Department has announced that it has received a new $60,750 mini-grant for speed enforcement for the calendar year 2006/2007."
"Authorities took Dogra into custody after he pleaded guilty to aggravated drunken driving for a crash near West Chicago that killed his three passengers. Dogra, 26, of Wheaton, faces six to 28 years in prison when sentenced Dec. 27. He also is eligible for probation."
Sen
Durbin"He said recent incentives from lenders have included all-expenses paid trips, iPods and bonuses based on how much students borrow. “The first obligation of any college or university is to help its students, not the lenders,” Durbin said."
SpeakerHastert
"The report card looked at votes on body armor, death benefits, and expanding the military health care plan to include members of the National Guard and the Reserves. The group assigned lawmakers a grade for each time their votes matched what the group felt was in the best interest of veterans."
Going to the actual ratings
(
at java.org ) one finds:- Durbin = A-
- Obama = B+
- Dennis Hastert gets Illinois' ONLY F.
- John Kerry = B
Rather than John Kerry apologizing to the troops for how his words have been twisted, Dennis Hastert should apologize for how he and the Republican leadership have been voting. 98% of congressmen scored above Denny.
City
of WestChicago"The November 7th Plan Commission/Zoning Board meeting has been cancelled."
- Wendy's High School Heisman
- Student Stranger Encounter report
West
ChicagoHigh School
""Students will learn about the art of photography," states Miguel Arroyo, who is Welcome Center Director, Project Coordinator and a professional photographer. "They will learn about photography as a career and be able to use photography to tell the story of their lives and their cultures."
"Julia has kept more than busy during her time at CHS, participating in Basketball, Track and Field, Math Team, National Honors Society, the Powder Puff Committee, Peer Helping, and the Club Swim Team. She also swims on the Varsity Swim Team, coaches swim lessons for the West Chicago Sharks, and serves as a Certified Lifeguard for the Park District."
"Community High School's Parent Conferences will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2006, between 3:12 P.M. and 8:30 P.M. During those times our teachers, counselors, nurses, and social workers will be available to meet with you personally to discuss your child's progress, or other matters of concern to you."
"Republican candidate for governor Judy Baar Topinka said Sunday she hopes she can close the gap on Gov. Rod Blagojevich, despite a new poll that shows him with a nine-point lead. However, the poll bears bad news for booth candidates. While 58 percent of voters think unfavorably of Topinka, 57 percent don't like Blagojevich, either."
Key
races near even"A key pair of traditionally Republican suburban congressional seats are up for grabs, a new Daily Herald/ABC 7 Chicago poll shows — a threatening sign for House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s grip on power if the races turn out to be national barometers."
"Dogra was driving on Indian Knoll Road about 1 or 2 a.m. on May 25, 2005, when his car left the road and struck a tree, said Assistant State's Atty. Kevin Halverson. Killed in the accident were Marell Charan, 27, Esther Rao, 22, and Nirav Mehta, 27."
"Durbin knows that, which is why he flew back from an East Coast fundraising trip for U.S. Senate Democrats to spend a recent day at town hall meetings and hot dog dinners with Demuzio, who was appointed to fill her late husband's state Senate seat two years ago. When he heard that Republicans were going after the widow of his longtime friend, Durbin said, "I thought to myself, `The heck you will.'"
Sen
Durbin"Senator Dick Durbin says the Canadian National Railway came to an agreement with Amtrak last night, after it had announced a previous agreement was invalid. Marc Magliari with Amtrak says the company agreed to study the effects of passenger service on the Canadian freight trains that will share tracks in Illinois."
Sen.
Obama"“Honestly—tell you the truth—I really tried to get Bono this weekend,” Harkin told the crowd. “I settled for the second biggest rock star in America.” The crowd came to its feet cheering as a smiling Barack Obama rose."
John
Laesch(candidate for
US 14th)
"This afternoon in Sycamore at the Pumpkin Fest Parade, Laesch supporters marched down the street shouting "Vote for Change!" The entire parade route was filed with purple as Laesch signs could be seen everywhere proudly displayed by the local progressive patriots."
"Today, the Lee County Republicans took an advertisement in the local paper, the Dixon Telegraph. Somehow, the Republicans conveniently forgot to mention the third most powerful political figure in America, Dennis Hastert."
SpeakerHastert
Chris Britt, Springfield, IL -- The State Journal-Register
"Now, two weeks before the Nov. 7 midterm elections, the speaker is a symbol of the scandal — and, as such, a potential liability — for many of his endangered rank-and-file Republicans fighting to win re-election in a campaign environment favoring Democrats."
"It's obvious in the Hastert case that loose lips sink ships. It's just too bad he couldn't bite the bullet and take one for the team. But despite being stuck with not enough room to swing a cat, Hastert has rolled with the punches and everything seems to now be hunky dory on Capitol Hill."
[Speaker Hastert continues to use his government website to campaign against Rep Pelosi, who still is not campaigning in this district. - Bob]
GovernorBlagojevich
Tammy Duckworth"She served our country when called, and suffered severe injuries for her country, but now sees that the GOP leadership is refusing to recognize that the Iraq war is a disaster. Duckworth looks directly into the camera, and says: "I'm proud of my service in Iraq, and the sacrifice I made when our country called. But two years later, things are even worse.""
Sen Peter Roskam"The Illinois Democratic Network, or IllinoisDemNet as it calls itself on its Web site, is proud to be transporting campaigners from Chicago (and Evanston) to work for Democrats in congressional races from the Wisconsin line to as far south as Joliet."
"There is one commercial, though, that left me scratching my head. Peter Roskam, the Republican running in the 6th Congressional District, ends his latest spot with the tag line, "We need a change in Washington." Mind you, he is a Republican running to replace a Republican, Henry Hyde, who is retiring. And Washington is run by Republicans from the White House to the Senate to the House. What change does he have in mind?"
"The Republican mailings that accused Duckworth of supporting “immigration policies that would reward illegal aliens for sneaking across our borders” wound up in the hands of a local immigrants-rights group, which then sent them directly to the Chicago Sun-Times , gaining a platform to pressure the Republican candidate in that district, Peter Roskam, to renounce the mailings."
Gov.
wants minimum wage hike"Blagojevich said legislation would be introduced during next month's veto session to raise the minimum wage $1, to $7.50 an hour. "We will stay there as long as it takes to get it done; if that means goin' past the veto session, we'll do that too," said Blagojevich,"
Bush
takes on Democrats"Until the Indiana campaign stop, all of Bush's approximately 90 political events in the 2005-2006 election season were fundraisers with donors willing to pay a high price to see him. The rally was the president's first free appearance and came in the final stretch of an election that will determine whether Republicans retain their majorities in the House and Senate."
Taxing
bodies give money to political campaigns"The Illinois State Board of Elections lists more than a half dozen taxing bodies in DuPage, Will and suburban Cook counties as campaign contributors. In every local case, the money and in-kind donations went to Republican candidates."
“If people can experience history, they can understand its relevance,” Bombard said. “History is the bedrock on which we all build. If we don’t know what makes up our bedrock, we don’t know where to start.”
"Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, and Rep. Melissa Bean, a Democrat and the 8th District incumbent, have tried to shore up their immigration-enforcement credentials by calling for the deployment of thousands more border patrol agents."
Sen
Durbin"Senator Dick Durbin says he's ready to flex federal legislative muscle if there's no resolution by Monday to Amtrak's snagged expansion from Chicago to other parts of the state."
Sen.
Obama"Senator Barack Obama, D-Illinois, gave the keynote address at the Texas Book Festival in Austin Saturday morning."
"Obama, once a community organizer and civil rights attorney, spent many years fighting for the needs of the poor. In his current role as a US Senator, he focuses on bringing jobs and economic growths to Illinois. Obama understands the needs of the average American and has worked tirelessly to make sure they have access to the opportunities they need to succeed. "
SpeakerHastert
"The floor of Congress never was a place for the faint of heart, but after 1994, it became a very ugly place, indeed. Partisanship was on the rise after the 1994 mid-term elections and the installation of the first Republican-controlled Congress in four decades. Warfare now reigns supreme, and it is not a pretty picture. We now have one-party government, and the American people are witnessing the consequences of this. Party concerns and right-wing ideology have taken precedence over institutional concerns and responsibilities. Procedural processes, i.e., the body of normative policies and internal regulations that are intended to provide for a fair and open legislative process, were simply tossed out the window after 1994. The Republican Congress does not deliberate over legislation; instead, it essentially takes dictation from the White House and the Republican National Committee."
"Hastert has denied any Republican knew of the messages from Foley to former pages. His office has described only how Republicans handled an incident last fall involving "over friendly" e-mails to a former page from Louisiana. The time line that Hastert and his staff have given conflicts with the accounts of others."
"The investigation's quick pace had raised hopes among some Democrats that the committee could release its finding in the coming days, fulfilling a pledge from the committee's top Democrat, Rep. Howard Berman, Calif., that the probe would be wrapped up in "weeks, not months.""
[I think back to the Senate investigation of Pre-war intelligence. Phase I, which could not blame the administration occurred before an election. Phase II was postponed until after the election, when the argument became, "Why bother?' as it was never completed. - Bob]
John
Laesch(candidate for
US 14th)
"Though many see it as a David versus Goliath contest, political newcomer John Laesch, who is challenging Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert in the 14th Congressional district of Illinois, likes his chances."
Tammy Duckworth- Kansas City Star - MO
"The former Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot, who lost both legs when her aircraft was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, won the group's endorsement this fall after impressing endorsement committee members with her "passion and conviction, her life's experience in the military," said Ted Street, the group's [Illinois Fraternal Order of Police] president."
An
election waged on two fronts"On the other front, the former Yorkville school teacher faces unprecedented scrutiny in the media following a series of congressional scandals that have bolstered his Democratic opponent in the Nov. 7 election, former Navy intelligence analyst John Laesch of Newark... "My race against Nancy Pelosi is an ongoing thing," Hastert told The Beacon News editorial board this week."
[I don't know how Denny is polling in San Francisco, but it sounds here like the wheels are coming off his firetruck. - Bob]
SpeakerHastert
"President Bush’s tax cuts have taken about 10 million people off the income tax rolls, and the Department of Treasury estimates that if the[y] expire, roughly 5 million people will be pushed back on them."
[Dead people, people who have "expired:", should neither be forced to work nor taxed. - Bob]
"Two former House committee investigators who were examining Capitol Hill security upgrades said a senior aide to Speaker J. Dennis Hastert hindered their efforts before they were abruptly ordered to stop their probe last year. The former Appropriations Committee investigators said Ted Van Der Meid, Hastert’s chief counsel, resisted from the start the inquiry, which began with concerns about mismanagement of a secret security office and later probed allegations of bid-rigging and kickbacks from contractors to a Defense Department employee."
"The third annual congressional scorecard from the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy evaluates each member of the U.S. House and Senate based on their 2005 votes on select legislation of significance to current and aspiring middle-class Americans."
Most Ridiculous Moment? - Washington Post
John
Laesch(candidate for
US 14th)
"In an e-mail to his potent three-million name list of supporters, Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, taunted the speaker, under fire for being slow to act in the Mark Foley cyberspace page sex scandal."
"I think it is impossible for him not to have known what was going on. Several reps and aides have said 'We told Hastert's office and he didn't do anything,'" Laesch said. "I think it is disappointing that he steps in front of the camera and says the opposite."
"The questioning was set off when Mr. Cheney was interviewed Tuesday by Scott Hennen, a conservative radio talk show host in Fargo, N.D. “Would you agree that a dunk in water is a no-brainer if it can save lives?” Mr. Hennen asked. “Well, it’s a no-brainer for me,” Mr. Cheney replied. “But for a while there I was criticized as being the vice president for torture..."
- Board of Education special meeting
- Public Information Sessions
- FOCUS
Friday potpourri...
"Upon hearing their house at 241 E. Washington St. in West Chicago was the Grand Prize winner in the 20th annual "Chicago's Finest Painted Ladies" competition, homeowners Bob and Marcie Schulien were in somewhat of a state of shock. Accepting the special plaque and framed photograph of the home at the awards dinner celebration, held Oct. 19 in Chicago, Marcie said, "We are so honored and we thank family, friends, members of the historic commission and neighbors for their assistance in the project.""
"Audiences entering West Chicago Community High School’s auditorium for “Lute Song” may expect the usual fare of light-hearted comedy or love story. Instead, they will get a 15th century tragedy that deals with the heady issues of classism, sexism, feminism, family duty and national honor — all in the context of another culture that many of the actors know only through books."
"Daniel Clarke, 22, of 2417 Elm Road, pleaded guilty Thursday to misdemeanor battery. He was given probation. As part of the plea, he will not be able to possess any type of firearm or have any contact with the woman."
Hastert:
GOP will keep the HouseSpeaker
Hastert"Hastert addressed questions about a $2 million profit on land he sold near the Prairie Parkway after earmarking $207 million in federal transportation dollars for the project. He said he didn't have any information that wasn't available to the public and stated: "I bought property because I thought it was a good investment.""
"Hadessa A. Flora, 17, of Batavia, an outgoing junior at Wheaton Academy in West Chicago, was killed when her car hit the side of a large garbage truck at Illinois Highway 25 and Banbury Road in Kane County."
Hastert
aide meets Foley panel in private"An aide to House Speaker Dennis Hastert on Wednesday went before ethics investigators in private to explain how the office handled complaints about then-Rep. Mark Foley's behavior toward former pages."
Sen
Durbin"We are most appreciative of Senator Durbin's diligent effort to aid the students of our school district," said East St. Louis School District 189 Superintendent Theresa Saunders in a statement. "The grant will play a pivotal role in assisting our young people in fulfilling their vast potential."
"Amtrak and Canadian National Railway Co. have reached an agreement that will allow expanded passenger service across Illinois to begin next week as scheduled."
Sen.
Obama"Mr Obama’s political trajectory is reaching such giddy heights that his thoughts are already turning from the current elections to the presidential race in 2008. In a weekend interview he acknowledged that he had changed his mind and was now thinking about a bid for the White House."
"Senator Obama was the last of the three prime speakers to address the audience. He seemed awed by the sheer size of the rally. "What a crowd. I'm just excited to be back in Washington. Governor, thank you so much for welcoming us here."""
SpeakerHastert
"Hastert, R-Ill., hasn't been out campaigning for fellow Republicans this fall during the ethics investigation [of Republican pedophile Mark Foley], but Tennessee's 1st District is friendly territory. The district hasn't sent a Democrat to Congress since 1881."
"The fallout from Foleygate continues, with House Speaker Dennis Hastert appearing before the four-member panel investigating the Capitol Hill sex scandal. The Swamp has a clip of Denny's perp walk; he was only slightly more talkative when he made his exit several hours later."
[This is the only video I have seen on the web of Denny's trip to the Ethics Committee questioning. - Bob]
"Toomey was careful when talking about the political fate of House Speaker Dennis Hastert. "I don't want to make a prediction about Denny Hastert. As a general matter I will say this: I think Republicans are certainly likely to lose seats. After the election I will say I think there will be new faces at high levels of the House leadership," Toomey said."
"An HRC spokesperson confirmed to 365Gay.com that the employee had been fired for "misusing" the organization's computer system. The worker's involvement became known earlier this week and he was let go the same day. Copies of the emails sent by Foley were sent to several newspapers in the summer, but none of the papers, including the Miami Herald, picked up on them. After the emails were posted on stopsexpredators.blogspot.com ABC news began to probe into them. After ABC began running stories the rest of the media followed, resulting in both a criminal probe of Foley and a House ethics committee investigation."
John
Laesch(candidate for
US 14th)
"Hastert is under intense criticism for the handling of the congressional page scandal and the growing unpopularity of the war in Iraq. That's giving a little-known Democrat on the ticket more leverage as voters head to the polls."
[Notice the video off to the right. - Bob]
GovernorBlagojevich
"he 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 to sunset on Friday, October 27, 2006."
Tammy Duckworth"A poll taken in the Sixth Congressional District from October 23-24 by Bennett, Petts and Blumenthal found that Tammy Duckworth's campaign to change Congress has withstood millions of dollars in negative ads. The poll of 400 voters shows Duckworth holding a 44-43 percent lead over her opponent, Peter Roskam."
"The basis for Roskam's attack is this line from an Oct. 6th Daily Herald article: "Duckworth has said she’d consider raising the retirement age." Guess what? Turns out the paper misquoted her. The next day, as the Duckworth campaign notes, the Herald ran a correction, saying she'd only consider raising it for workers who are not yet paying into the system."
Sen PeterRoskam
""We are asking the Republican Congressional Committee to pull all these racist, cynical ads," said one activist at the news conference. The activists were surrounded by immigrants from many countries including Poland and Ireland, NBC5's Rob Elgas reported."
West
ChicagoHistorical Society
"The West Chicago Historical Society is presenting a talk about Pre-Civil War, Quilts: Hidden Codes to the Freedom of Slaves Through the Underground Railroad, presented by Dr. Clarice C. Boswell."
"That’s the same therapy Northern Illinois University has pledged to bring to West Chicago’s DuPage National Technology Park by 2011. It unveiled plans Wednesday to build a cancer treatment and research facility at the tech park."
"These are just two of the bone-chilling scenarios put together by West Chicago Park District staff as part of the 25th annual Spooky Trail. From 6 to 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, preschoolers will be invited to walk down the one-third of a mile that makes up the spooky trail at Reed-Keppler Park Nature Trail. Volunteers staffing the trail will take off masks so children aren’t too scared."
At
Home in West Chicago - Merle Burleigh- Humanitarian Service Project
- "Lute Song"
-
poetry reading at Gallery 200
-
St. Michael's United Church of Christ 100th Anniversary
"Celebrating his 20th year of dental practice in West Chicago, Dr. John Yancey said, "It almost seems like yesterday. As we have grown, so has the community." In 1986 Yancey, as a young dentist seeking a place to put his roots down for a solo family practice of general dentistry, found purchasing Dr. Francis Minor's practice the perfect fit. "He had been a dentist in the community for 33 years.""
"A positive growth in service projects for the needy causes the Humanitarian Service Project to move from West Chicago to a larger facility, 465 Randy Road in Carol Stream. "We just outgrew this space," said director Heather Bury."
Outsider
ads are Cat in the Hat of campaigns"The ad baldly distorted Roskam's objections to an anthology textbook that sparked controversy in DuPage County and around the nation in the early 1990s. His objections had nothing to do with Seuss, Wilder or King, and everything to do with writings that some parents felt glorified violence and the occult."
Outsider
ads are Cat in the Hat of campaigns"Candidates tend to say it's not when challenged on a particular commercial, as Roskam did Monday during a debate at WTTW-Ch. 11 when moderator Carol Marin asked if he were "comfortable with the tenor and tone" of a Republican Party spot that absurdly, even viciously distorted Duckworth's position on immigration reform."
SpeakerHastert
- Second
Ad - VoteVets
This group is targetting representatives who followed Hastert and the Republican leadership in repeatedly voting against veterans benefits.
- Stay The
Course - DNC
This ad takes Bush to task for flip flopping on his tag line, "Stay the Course."
John
Laesch(candidate for
US 14th)
"Here is a sneak peek of our second commercial that will be running on local TV stations soon in the Chicagoland TV Market. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to help fund our first commercial! Your contributions are still greatly appreciated as it will allow us to purchase more ad time for this second piece!"
Sen Peter Roskam""We need to recognize the consequences of failure. We cannot fail," Roskam said. Roskam said he unambiguously supports the Patriot Act and legislation that enables domestic surveillance."
"We've just come from a photo op with Chairman Hyde at the Marion Joy Rehabilitation Center, where the eighty-two year-old conservative icon, now confined to a wheelchair, pulled his former staffer close after the cameras had gone to offer some cheerful words of encouragement."
Tammy Duckworth"Sixth District Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth has now swept the endorsements of the area’s major newspapers, picking up the backing of the Chicago Sun-Times yesterday and the Pioneer Press today. In recent weeks, Duckworth had also won the endorsements of the Chicago Tribune and the Daily Herald."
WCPolice
Dept.
"Through the course of the investigation, Andrare was linked to spray-painting graffiti at Pioneer School as well as on 15 Motor Vehicles in three apartment complexes in West Chicago."
"The resolution rejects a November 2002 plan commission recommendation that proposed rezoning property along the thoroughfare to allow for commercial and retail projects. The move, however, was too late for several homeowners in the area who have since pursued annexation agreements with West Chicago under the condition that the city not change their residential zoning."
6th
District race heats up with stem cell debate "“We have the opportunity to save lives and create new lives,” Fox said during the rally in Wheaton. He added that 70 percent of Americans favor embryonic stem cell research as a means to treating diseases such as Parkinson’s and diabetes. “We need to claim this and say, yes, we have the technology and know-how. If America doesn’t do this — who will?” Roskam opposes embryonic stem cell research..."
"Asked if his character in “Family Ties” Alex P. Keaton would approve, Fox said yes. “It’s a nonpartisan problem that needs a bipartisan solution,” he said. “People on both sides of the aisle are in favor of it.” In fact, Fox said he’s supported lawmakers such as Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who favors the policy."
W.
Chicago getting NIU cancer center“I think this will have the biggest impact as an anchor, as a draw,” said West Chicago Mayor Michael Fortner, who is also an NIU physicist. “It will be a benefit to the whole region, and it’s a great addition to the city and park. It’s an exciting project.”
Church
coalition wants end to war“I was timid to say anything in the very early days of the war,” said Griebler, who was at a different church at that time. “I prayed for peace, but I didn’t want to ruffle any feathers.”
"Only five proton centers exist in the nation, said John Lewis, associate vice president for university outreach at NIU. The center, which is being funded with federal, state and private funds, is expected to open in 2011 in the DuPage National Technology Park in West Chicago."
Illionois
Senators“The Governor’s appeal is based on additional information provided by the State of Illinois and the City of Rockford that indicates that the damage to the private sector was of such severity and magnitude that effective recovery is beyond the capability of the State and local governments.”
SpeakerHastert
"But Hastert's appearance followed that of Reynolds, who has said he learned of Foley's inappropriate e-mails to the Louisiana teen last spring and discussed the matter with Hastert. Hastert has said he didn't recall that conversation. He has also assured conservative activist Paul Weyrich that Majority Leader John Boehner was wrong when Boehner said he and Hastert discussed Foley's problems last spring."
GovernorBlagojevich
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, creating jobs and providing services in communities all over our state. But for too long, complicated procurement rules and bureaucracy essentially excluded small businesses from opportunities to win business with the state."
Sen Peter Roskam"A father who lost his son during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks said he supports Republican Congressional candidate Peter Roskam's stance on the war on terror and shares Roskam's belief that the country needs to stay the course and complete the mission in Iraq."
"Roskam said he supports adult and umbilical cord stem cell research but has fought against embryonic stem cell research in the Illinois Senate. He conceded it's a difficult issue, "because one human life is cast aside for the benefit of another.""
Tammy Duckworth"Fox was in suburban Chicago for a rally with Democrat Tammy Duckworth and others with chronic or debilitating conditions to showcase their support for stem cell research. "We need brave, smart, energetic people to step up and lead right now," Fox told a cheering crowd of about 300 people."
"In the 6th District, the seat Henry Hyde has held for 32 years, we choose Tammy Duckworth. She may have drawn attention initially because she is a disabled Iraq war veteran who has spoken out against the war -- and who, though lacking political experience, was promoted by powerful Democrats over her seasoned primary opponent, Christine Cegelis. But Duckworth has grown as a candidate, demonstrating an increasingly impressive grasp of a wide range of issues."
City
of WestChicago"Ms. Bombard has nourished an appreciation for West Chicago's storied past through the administration of compelling exhibits like "Immigration: Building a Community," educational programs like Tales Tombstones Tell and special events like the Currier-Reed Lawn Party and Heritage Days, which capture the essence of the West Chicago experience."
Attendance Area Reassignments, new superintendent's message, and more...
"As part of their solar system curriculum, third-graders were wowed by meteorites that gravity tore out of Mars’ rings and were sent spinning through the universe — eventually crashing as flaming balls on the Earth’s surface and cooling for thousands of years."
"The Batavia city council’s public utilities committee voted Monday to spend $40,000 on a project to link its fiber-optic line with the DuPage National Technology Park in West Chicago."
"Duckworth accused Roskam of “backing off two weeks before the election” from his earlier rhetoric on the war to match President Bush’s recently evolving stance. Roskam previously has agreed with Bush’s plan to “stay the course” and stressed it’s important to “finish well” in Iraq. On Monday, Roskam found himself saying it was a mistake the U.S. didn’t go in with full force in Iraq. Last week, Roskam agreed with Duckworth’s call for quarterly status reports to Congress on Iraqi troop training."
"In November, voters will have a chance to select a state representative for the 95th District of the Illinois House of Representatives, where there is no incumbent. Republican Mike Fortner of West Chicago faces Democrat Dirk Enger of Winfield."
"Former President Bill Clinton helped raise about $800,000 for Democrats Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean at a lunchtime fundraiser attended by about 600 people, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman Jen Psaki said."
"The GOP doubts, coupled with widespread Democratic opposition to Bush's strategy, put intense pressure on the White House to do something differently. Bush has stopped saying he is staying the course because that suggested he was locked into a losing policy. Now Bush asserts that he is constantly switching tactics."
Clinton
delivers a boost"About 600 supporters attended the event, sponsored by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, that was expected to raise about $800,000 to be split three ways between Bean, Duckworth and the DCCC."
"In a day on the 6th Congressional District campaign trail that accentuated the two candidates' different strategies, Democrat Tammy Duckworth rallied with actor Michael J. Fox to push for federal funding for embryonic stem cell research while Republican Peter Roskam toured four towns to discuss local transportation needs."
"But after Democrat Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs while serving in the military in Iraq, said she agreed "absolutely" with Gen. Richard Dannatt, the British army chief who recently declared that the presence of coalition troops is making matters worse in Iraq, The Sunday Times wrote an admiring story about her campaign."
"About 300 people turned out in Wheaton to hear actor Michael J. Fox tout the congressional candidacy of Democrat Tammy Duckworth. Today's appearance by Fox ratcheted up the star power of the Duckworth campaign, in the west suburban 6th Congressional District. On Monday, former President Bill Clinton attended a fund-raiser for her in Chicago."
Sen
Durbin“We were notified last week that CN will no longer agree to allow one of the additional roundtrips to St. Louis via Joliet, is threatening to withhold access to the Carbondale route, and may seek to terminate all of the newly added trains in Illinois after just one year."
Sen.
Obama"While we do not doubt the integrity or the intelligence of the piece's author, Ken Silverstein, we feel that our side of the story was not fairly presented. Below are some misleading passages from the piece, and some facts we believe will help tell the full story."
"That was what Illinois Senator Barack Obama, currently on a book tour that may or may not segue into a run for the 2008 presidency, said to New Yorker editor David Remnick this afternoon at the American Magazine Conference, after Remnick asked Obama whether or not his admission of drug use in the book would become problematic if he does, if fact, run for president. "
SpeakerHastert
"And it makes sense, since Palmer seems to be the vortex of the leadership fibbing." [Last time I saw a face like that it had 12 points and dated does. Is this what Denny means by "The buck stops here"?- Bob]
"The House ethics committee questioned Speaker Dennis Hastert's top aide for more than six hours yesterday, as investigators tried to determine whether Hastert's office knew at least three years ago of Rep. Mark Foley's come-ons to male pages."
"The top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives went before investigators Tuesday in the Capitol Hill sex scandal that has rocked his party..."
"I answered every question they asked fully and to the best of my ability."
[This is absolutely the most misleading, irresponsible, partisan, extremist post I have ever seen at the Speaker's website. It is campaign flapdoodle. I think it borders on using government money (ie: the government website) for campaigning and if not illegal, it should be. - Bob]
GovernorBlagojevich
“Protecting Prairie Bluff Preserve means protecting water quality and habitats for threatened and endangered species. It also provides more recreational opportunities in Northeastern Illinois,”
“Lead poisoning can cause serious health and development problems in children, but it’s very preventable. We’re hoping, especially during this week, that people take a good look around their homes, daycare centers and schools for potential sources of lead poisoning, and eliminate them in order to protect our kids,”
Tammy Duckworth"Bush called the Democrats — including FDR and Truman — cowards who cut and run. Tell that to Tammy Duckworth running for representative in Illinois, a Democrat and against the war. She lost both legs in Iraq protecting Bush, his daughters and Cheney. She never ducked her duty, cut or ran."
West
ChicagoHigh School
"Community High School District 94 has received a $500 grant from the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program to support the school's Science Collection in the Learning Resource Center."
"Community High School is proud to rededicate Memorial Field in honor of and appreciation to the Men and Women of the Armed Forces who preserve the freedoms of our Nation.
Eighty-one D. 303 high school students named AP Scholars
Cable
ComChannel 17
"At a cost of more than $40,000, seven cameras that can identify the sound of gunshots — then zoom in on the shooter — will be placed in and around the West Chicago Metra station, Police Chief Stephen Kuhn said."
"But, Roskam said, “a child of faith should be able to pray in school and student-initiated types of activities are certainly appropriate.” Duckworth said he believes in separation of church and state but doesn’t object to allowing a moment of silence for students to quietly pray or reflect."
Sen
Durbin“I believe, as do many other Senators, that Mr. Stickler’s statements at his confirmation hearing are an insult to the 40 families who have lost miners in accidents this year, many of which could have been prevented. His statements are also deeply troubling to the thousands of miners who rely on MSHA to help keep them safe in a difficult and dangerous occupation that is vital to the American economy."
"Since this cut, Democrats have fought to keep education as a top priority. In April, our own Illinois Senator, Democrat Dick Durbin, introduced the Reverse the Raid on Student Aid Act of 2006 (RRSA Act). Durbin and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), who introduced similar legislation in the House, said their new bill reflects the kind of serious investment that America must make if it wants to ensure college access for all students and remain the world's economic leader."
Sen.
Obama"Senator Barack Obama, the first-term Illinois Democrat who has rapidly emerged this year as one of the most popular figures in his party, said today that he was considering running for the White House in 2008,"
SpeakerHastert
"The investigation of how the Republican leadership handled the issue has provoked turmoil and finger-pointing in Hastert's office, congressional sources say. Some of Hastert's principal aides have hired criminal defense lawyers to represent them during the investigation."
"Florida Republican Rep. Mark Foley (news, bio, voting record) made friends with a wide circle of teenaged House of Representatives pages, then singled out "hot" boys to write to, The Washington Post reported on Sunday."
“Fluctuating gas prices can place undue burdens on small business owners who may feel the pinch both in the shipping and purchasing of their goods."
-
Leak
of the National Intelligence Estimate
"“It is my hope that no one on the House Intelligence Committee chose to leak the National Intelligence Estimate for political gain." -
LaHood Admits He Was 'Playing Politics' When He Asked for Intel Staffer to
Be Suspended
"A Fox anchor asked, “So, it’s payback?” LaHood responded, “There are some of us on the other side who can equally play politics, and I’m not afraid to do it.”"
"The chief justice of Illinois’ Supreme Court says he’s been defamed. A reporter wants to keep his sources secret. Other high court justices want to keep their conversations secret. It’s a libel trial that may shape how the media and the judiciary behave."
Books,
immigration topic of 6 Dist. row"The national Democrats started airing a TV ad Tuesday critical of 6th Congressional District Republican Peter Roskam for what they say was his effort to keep schoolchildren from reading Dr. Seuss and Laura Ingalls Wilder. The first of $2.3 million in attack ads by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee comes as Democrat Tammy Duckworth is set to debut her own ad today featuring U.S. Sen. Barack Obama defending her position on illegal immigration."
"Win or lose, the stakes are high: If Whitney gets at least 5 percent of the vote Nov. 7, the Green Party automatically becomes an established party in Illinois. It would no longer face the hurdle of having to collect 25,000 signatures to qualify for the next ballot."
Governor's
race could come down to who is least unpopular"Polls show most voters feel Blagojevich has broken his promise to clean up state government. They also show even her fellow Republicans have deep doubts about Topinka. Those doubts mean this could be the year that a third-party candidate -- in this case, Rich Whitney of the Green Party -- gets 5 percent of the vote and qualifies his party for easy access to the ballot next time."
"Now that's a real interesting group that would come out and cover the 6th Congressional District," Roskam observed. "Al Jazeera has an interest in who wins in the 6th Congressional District? I'm telling ya, let's send them an answer, whaddya say?"
[Come on, Peter! This is a helluva charge to hurl at a disabled vet. - Bob]
Sen.
Obama"Democrats such as Senator Barack Obama of Illinois say the U.S. needs to press the Iraqis to take charge of their security. ``We need to be phasing down our troop levels,'' Obama said in an interview. The U.S. also should tell regional powers such as Iran and Syria to ``get involved'' in preventing a failure in Iraq, Obama said."
SpeakerHastert