Illinois Summary 6/30/11

End Of Fiscal Year Is Today

(Springfield, IL) -- It's the last day of the fiscal year and Illinois still has billions of dollars in unpaid debt. Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka earlier reported that the state would end with an eight-billion dollar debt if lawmakers didn't make deep cuts in the budget. They sliced nearly three-billion from Quinn's proposed budget and passed a gaming bill to generate more money. Quinn has yet to sign either.

No Green Cards For Foreigners In Same-Sex Relationships

(Springfield, IL) -- Foreigners looking to get a green card won't get so lucky if they're in a same-sex relationship. The couples have many of the same rights as married couples in Illinois but their rights don't always cross state lines. And, Bernard Cherkasov with Equality Illinois says the civil union benefits are also unrecognized by the federal government. That means the couples can't file joint tax returns and a foreign partner can't gain citizenship by becoming involved in a civil union.

Governor Quinn Jumps On Social Media Bandwagon

(Springfield, IL) -- Governor Quinn is using social media to connect with the people of Illinois. Quinn's office announced the Governor will tweet his own messages and get voter feedback on the social media site. Illinois residents can follow Governor Quinn by going to twitter.com/GovernorQuinn. People can also see pictures and videos of the governor's events on Flickr. Quinn says he's utilizing the technology as a way of making Illinois government more transparent and accountable.

Jacksonville Boil Order Still In Effect

(Jacksonville, IL) -- Clean water is being pumped into the distribution system in Jacksonville but a boil order is still in effect. Mechanical problems at the water treatment plant have delayed the process of normalizing the water. Residents should use bottled water for drinking, cooking, hand washing, and tooth brushing. The boil order and water restriction will remain in place until next week.

Twilight Parade Update Given

(Springfield, IL) -- Time is running out for those interested in participating in the Twilight Parade and Marching Band Competition at the state fair. The deadline to enter is July 8th. Applications are available online at illinoisstatefair.info. Each applicant must submit a description and a picture or drawing of their entry. A complete list of judging criteria and parade rules are also on the website.