Illinois Summary - 7/27/11

Quinn Says He Supports President Obama On Debt Ceiling

(Springfield, IL)  --  Governor Quinn says he's behind President Obama when it comes to raising the debt ceiling.  He calls Republicans a quote, "group of extremists" who are taking the economy in the wrong direction.  Quinn says Obama has a balanced approach to building the economy.  He urges Illinoisans to get behind the president and place a phone call to their Congressman, asking for a compromise on raising the debt ceiling.

Quinn Summons Lawmakers Back To Work

(Springfield, IL)  --  A federal court says a new Illinois law violates collective bargaining rights for workers at Chicago's McCormick Place.  But Governor Quinn says that's not going to slow him down.  He's summoned lawmakers back to Springfield on September 13th to finetune the law.  He'd like to see a compromise with all of the stakeholders, including unions and convention contractors.  He says a quote "exhibitors' bill of rights" should be implemented in the law to protect customers.  He'd also like to see an auditing system of costs imposed by the facility put in place.  It's a jobs emergency, Quinn says, that can't wait for a court's decision.

More Than 200 Illinois Post Offices On List To Close

(Springfield, IL)  --  More than 200 Illinois post offices are on the possible chopping block as the postal service looks to save money.  According to the USPS, it's not a done deal yet.  They're conducting studies across the state to determine which of the offices should be closed.  Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says a physical post office is no longer necessary for customers to take care of their postal needs.  He says many of them are taking care of their needs online, on their smart phones, or at their local shopping centers.  Donahoe says the Postal Service of the future will be quote, "smaller, leaner and more competitive."

Two Sterling Girls Electrocuted In Corn Field

(Sterling, IL)  --  An Illinois farming company is stepping up to cover funeral costs for two teenage Sterling girls.  Jade Garza and Hannah Kendall were tasseling corn for the Monsanto Corporation when they were electrocuted on Monday.  A spokesperson for the company says they will cover all the costs incurred for those who were injured and for the two deceased.  The incident is being thoroughly investigated by local authorities and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Blind People Rally For Equal Pay

(Springfield, IL)  --  Illinois' disabled community is speaking up about workplace equality.  Blind workers held a rally outside U.S. Senator Mark Kirk's office yesterday, protesting a provision in the Workforce Reinvestment Act.  The provision allows employers to pay them less than the federal minimum wage.  Bill Reif, a rally participant, says blind people have the same expenses as everyone else.  He says the workers just wanted to be treated with the same dignity as other workers.  A U.S. Senate committee is expected reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act next week.

Doctor Urges Men To Take Better Care Of Themselves

(Springfield, IL)  --  A doctor at the Southern Illinois School of Medicine is urging men to take better care of themselves.  Dr. Ruth Slotttag says men generally live shorter lives than women because they don't get physical check-ups and screenings on a regular basis.  Her colleague, Dr. Harald Lausen, says weight control is the biggest issue for men and it leads to other issues like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  Those are both factors which could cause heart disease.  Dr. Lausen says some diseases could be prevented if men didn't put off seeing a doctor.  He says men should see a doctor regularly and keep tabs on their blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.