Illinois Summary - 11/22/11

Public Meeting On USPS Closure

(Quincy, IL)  --  The US Postal Service is considering moving the Quincy Processing and Distribution Center.  It's part of an ongoing plan to reduce overhead and save money.  The new home for the facility will be just over the border in St. Louis if the plan goes through.  Both Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk are fighting to keep the center open.  There is a public meeting tonight at 6:30p.m. at the John Wood Community College.

MADD Recognizes Drunk Driving Efforts

(Springfield, IL) --  Illinois gets five out of five stars when it comes to keeping drunk drivers off the roads.  Mary Gall with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving says the state puts forth a team effort to keep the roads safe.  She cites a strong coalition with between MADD, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the

general assembly.   She says alcohol related traffic deaths have been on a steady decline since 2006.  That's when MADD kicked off its "Eliminate Drunk Drivers" campaign.

Danville Area Heating Assistance

(Danville, IL)  --  There's home heating assistance for people in the Danville area.  The East Central Illinois Community Action Agency is conducting its annual Power Blitz today.  Residents who meet 2011 poverty guidelines may qualify for payment assistance.  Applications are being accepted at the David Palmer Arena from 7 a.m until 2 p.m.  Those who plan to attend should bring proof of household income for at least the past month, a copy of their most recent energy bill, and social security cards for everyone living in the home.

Inmate Disciplined For Business Venture

(Tamms, IL)  --  An enterprising inmate at Tamms Correctional Center is in trouble for allegedly starting a business without approval. Prison guards intercepted a letter intended for Corey Fox which indicated his involvement in a business venture.  He was allegedly selling pro-life T-Shirts online.  That's against DOC rules and Fox has been disciplined.

Illinois Farmers Donate Free Groceries

(Peoria Heights, IL)  --  A Peoria Heights woman is getting free groceries for a year.  Jennifer Harris won a sweepstakes sponsored by Illinois Farm Families.  She received five thousand dollars to help her foot the tab for groceries for twelve months.  She says the prize money came just in time considering she has to feed her large family for the holidays.

Amped Up Patrol Over Weekend

(Springfield, IL)  --  Holiday travelers want to make sure they're following the rules of the road this weekend.  State police are ramping up their crews in order to reduce traffic fatalities and discourage distracted driving.  There will be more than 17-hundred seat belt enforcement zones and 40 roadside safety checks across the state.  More than 700 people were injured on Illinois roadways over Thanksgiving weekend in 2010.  Fifteen people were killed.

Health Officials Offer Food Safety Tips

(Springfield, IL)  --  The state's department of Public Health is offering a few common sense tips to keep you healthy during the holidays.  They're offering food safety guidelines to help protect against food borne illnesses.  For starters, they say cooks need to make sure the Thanksgiving turkey is completely thawed and cooked before it's eaten.  Be sure to keep all cooking utensils clean and away from raw meats and juices.  Health officials also recommend that leftovers be refrigerated immediately.  For more tips, check out www.idph.state.il.us.