Illinois Summary - 11/3/11

Tenured Faculty At SIU Carbondale On Strike

(Carbondale, IL)  --  Tenured faculty at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale are on strike.  Union leaders say university administrators aren't willing to negotiate or make concessions when it comes to drafting a contract for about 650 professors.  They've been working without a contract since June, 2010.  Three other unions are also in negotiations with school officials but haven't announced an official strike.  The strike will not interrupt schedules and students are still expected to report to class.

Superintendents Still Working Without Pay

(Springfield, IL)  --  Illinois' regional superintendents are still 12 votes shy of getting lawmakers to support a bill that releases funding for them to be paid.  The elected officials have been working for more than four months without

compensation.  Superintendent Bob Daibers says he's hopeful they'll muster up enough support by Monday night.  The issue will likely come up for a vote in the House on Tuesday.  Four superintendents have already resigned because of the lack of pay.

Cellini Lawyers To Appeal Conviction

(Chicago, IL)  --  Bill Cellini's attorney's say they're going to appeal the "guilty" verdict that could send their client to prison for 30 years.  The former Springfield power broker was convicted of extortion and aiding and abetting bribery.  He was convicted of trying to shake down a Hollywood producer for one and a half million dollars to shore up former governor Rod Blagojevich's campaign fund.  His lawyers say they're confident the convictions can be overturned.

Decatur Schools Receive Grant From Ag Business

(Decatur, IL)  --  The Decatur School District is getting a 300-thousand dollar donation from Ag giant Archer Daniels Midland.  The money will be used to purchase new computers and give students access to advanced technology.  Many of the schools in the area aren't meeting adequate yearly progress but officials say they're working to improve student performance on standardized tests.  They say the money from ADM will assist in their plan to increase student achievement.

Senator Jones Wants Repeal Of Cemetery Oversight Law

(Olney, IL)  --  State Senator John O. Jones is responding to the concerns of local cemetery officials who say that the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is abusing oversight authority.  The Mt. Vernon lawmaker wants a repeal of the 2010 law that was meant to address the fraudulent and criminal acts discovered at the Burr Oaks Cemetery in suburban Chicago two years ago.  Jones and many other downstate lawmakers say the IDFPR has imposed its own set of regulations, far from the original intent of the law.

Farmers In 77 Illinois Counties Will Receive Assistance

(Springfield, IL)  --  The U.S Department of Agriculture is stepping in to help Illinois farmers who suffered crop losses because of drought or excessive heat this year.  Farmers in 77 of the state's 102 counties may qualify for federal assistance which includes low-interest emergency loans.  The loans will help farmers refinance debt, cover production costs, and pay essential family living expenses.  Farmers who believe they may qualify for disaster assistance should contact their county Farm Service Agency.

Authorities Bust Nearly Twenty Unregistered Sex Offenders

(Alton, IL)  --  The U.S. Marshals are tightening the reins on sex offenders.  They're partnering with local law enforcement agencies to make sure the offenders are properly registered.  A recent sweep led by the Alton Police Department netted about 20 non-compliant sex offenders.  Each of them will face potential felony charges for failure to register as a sex offender.  More compliance checks will be conducted in the near future.

Daylight Savings Time This Weekend

(Newton, IL)  --  Don't forget to set your clocks back this Saturday night before you go to bed.  The time change will add an additional hour of daylight to the morning hours.  That means it will get darker earlier in the evening.  Officials say it's also a good time to change the batteries in smoke and heat detectors in homes, churches, and businesses.