Illinois Summary - 7/20/11

Arbitrator:  State Workers Are Entitled To Pay Raises

(Springfield, IL)  --  State workers are entitled to a two-percent pay hike despite the fact that the General Assembly did not budget money for the increases.  That is what state Arbitrator Edwin Benn said yesterday regarding the unionized Illinois workers.  He said Illinois broke its contract with American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 when it cancelled the planned pay raises before the state's new fiscal year started July 1st.  He ordered that the pay hikes be brought back going back to all the checks given since the start of the fiscal year.

The Obama Administration Says 'No' To Illinois On Medicaid Reform

(Springfield, IL)  --  The Obama administration is saying "no" to Illinois' reforms in Medicaid coverage.  The reforms call for more scrutiny in determining who is eligible for the program to make sure people don't abuse the system.  The federal government denied the reforms because states are not allowed to be more strict than the federal Affordable Care Act signed by the President last year.

Recorders Ready To Help Attorney General Investigate 'Robosigning'

(Springfield, IL)  --  A dozen county recorders from around the state are prepared to help state Attorney General Lisa Madigan look into incidents of "robosigning."  That is when mortgage company workers do not read documents they sign and use false signatures on documents.  Recorders said Monday they are ready to cooperate any way they can because the fraudulent plots can put the land recordation system at risk and hurt individual residents' property rights.  In a letter to Madigan the recorders said they could help the attorney general discover information and they have at least thousands of documents to help her.

Teen Jobs Program Is Winding Down For Summer

(Champaign, IL)  --  It is the last week where teens are working as part of the summer youth employment program in Champaign.  The school district and city partnered to help high school students work for ten weeks, paying them minimum wage, and reviewing their progress.  A grant of almost 200-thousand dollars from the city paid for the jobs.  Officials hope the program can continue next year.

Downtown Decatur Is Getting Major Upgrade

(Decatur, IL)  --  Downtown Decatur is going to get a makeover.  Work is going to start soon on a 14-million-dollar facelift.  The main goal is to enhance the streetscape, reduce many one-way streets and add trees and planters.  Many say the biggest upgrade will be more parking.