Illinois Summary - 10/04/11

Arbitrator Says State Facility Closures Violate Union Contract

(Springfield, IL)  --  An arbitrator says the state of Illinois is in clear violation of the collective bargaining agreement it has with unions.  According to the agreement, Governor Quinn promised not to shut down state facilities or lay off union workers before the contract ends on June 30th of 2012.  AFSCME Council 31 executive director Henry Bayer says Quinn should rescind the plan to shut down seven state facilities and lay off more than 19-hundred workers.  He says Quinn's plan will have a devastating impact on the communities where the facilities are located.  Quinn has said the contract was moot because lawmakers didn't provide enough money in the budget to keep the facilities running.  Bayer says the contract is not contingent on appropriations.

Jury Selection Continues In Cellini Trial

(Springfield, IL)  --  Jury selection continues today in the state's case against Bill Cellini.  Cellini is accused of shaking down a Hollywood producer for a campaign contribution of more than a million dollars for former governor Rod

Blagojevich.  Judge James Zagel questioned eight potential jurors yesterday.  One woman said she was familiar with the case against Cellini because she reads the "Chicago Sun-Times" from cover to cover every day.  Jury selection is expected to take up to three weeks.  Meanwhile, sentencing for two people close to the case has been delayed.  Blagojevich's sentence was originally scheduled for this Thursday but has been pushed back indefinitely and Tony Rezko's sentencing has been moved from October 21st to November 22nd.

Thousands Of Pounds Of Pork Headed To State's Food Banks

(Springfield, IL)  --  Federal and state cuts have had a hard impact on the state's food banks but members of the Illinois agriculture are stepping up to help.  The Illinois Pork Producers Association teamed up with the Illinois Corn Marketing Board and the Illinois Soybean Association and donated 34-thousand pounds of pork to eight food banks across the state.  That will put meals in front of at least 136-thousand people who may be struggling to make ends meet.  Tracy Smith with Feeding Illinois says the donation comes at a critical time for food banks.  She says they've seen an unprecedented increase in the number of people seeking food assistance in the past year.

Old Cell Phones Help Victims Of Domestic Abuse

(Springfield, IL)  --  Illinois residents are encouraged to donate their old cell phones, batteries, and accessories to help victims of domestic abuse.  Bins are set up for the HopeLine phone drive all week at the state Capitol in Springfield and the Thompson Center in Chicago.  For each phone donated, Verizon Wireless is giving ten dollars to help fund a new virtual legal clinic for survivors of domestic abuse.  Vickie Smith with the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Abuse says your old phone can be the lifeline that someone needs in a desperate situation.

Waterfowl Hunting For Youths Opens This Month

(Springfield, IL)  --  It's waterfowl hunting season for minors in Illinois.  Hunters under age 15 can go out for geese, ducks, mergansers, and other waterfowl for the next two months.  They must have a valid hunting license and they're required to register with the Harvest Information Program.  The young hunters must also be accompanied by an adult over age 18.  The adult is not allowed to hunt while accompanying the youth.  

Sorento School Receives Blue Ribbon Award

(Sorento, IL)  --  A small school in Sorento, Illinois is making a big mark in education.  Sorento Elementary School is one of three downstate schools to be named as a Blue ribbon School.  Only 304 were selected throughout the entire U.S.  Principal Bill Carpenter tells the "Alton Telegraph" the award gives the community a great sense of pride.  There are only 189 students in the school, which only serves students from third to eighth grades.  Their scores in math and reading were both over 90-percent on standardized tests last year, and that was enough to put them in the running for the honor.  The school will be recognized nationally on November 14th in Washington, D.C.