Illinois Summary - 9/14/11

Adopted Adults Will Soon Have Access To Original Birth Certificates

(Springfield, IL)  --  Adults who are adopted will soon have an opportunity to learn more about their own history.  Starting November 15th, they'll be able to receive a copy of their original birth certificate.  In most cases, the original birth certificate will list the first and last names of one or both of the birth parents.  Birth parents who want to keep their identities confidential can fill out a Birth Parent Preference Form which can be obtained from the Illinois Department of Public Health.  That form has to be filled out and turned in by November 15th, otherwise there's no guarantee the identity will be sealed.  The birth parents who choose to remain confidential do have the option, however, of providing valuable medical information to the child.  They can do that by submitting the information to the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange.  For more information, contact the Illinois Adoption Registry at 877-323-5299.

AgXperience Starts Today In East Moline

(East Moline, IL)  --  Farmers in the Quad Cities are teaming up to help teachers with lessons on agriculture.  Over 14-hundred elementary students in the Quad Cities will attend the "AgXperience" at the Rock Island County fairgrounds this week.  There will be exhibits for students to learn about a wide range of topics, including where their food and fuel comes from.  Students will also spend 90-minutes at the John Deere Pavilion in Moline and learn about the history of Deere and the company's impact on agriculture.  Over 100 volunteers are involved in the project.

Lawmakers Hold "Be A Wise Consumer" Seminar

(Lincoln, IL)  --  Two state lawmakers are teaming up to help citizens in Logan County keep better tabs on their personal finances.  Senators Larry Bomke and Bill Brady will host the "Be A Wise Consumer" seminar today at 9 a.m. in Lincoln.  It's free and open to anyone who wants to get tips on how to budget on a fixed income, how to protect retirement savings, and how to protect against consumer scams.  The event is being held at the Oasis Senior Center.

Illinois Getting Federal Grant For Drug Treatment Programs

(Chicago, IL)  --  Illinois is getting a federal grant to provide substance abuse treatment programs for adult and juvenile inmates.  The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority says more than 694-thousand dollars is headed to the state.  The money will help pay for residential, jail-based, and aftercare drug treatment programs in a correctional setting.  Officials say research shows that drug treatment in a prison setting coupled with aftercare upon release can lower a person's chances of returning to jail or prison.  Additional funding will support programs for incarcerated women at Dwight Correctional Center and programs for youth at the Illinois Youth Centers in Warrenville, Joliet, and Harrisburg.

Illinois Film Industry Booming

(Chicago, IL)  --  Governor Quinn got a behind-the-scenes look at the "Superman, Man of Steel" movie that's filming in Chicago.  He calls the film a great example of how film and television productions are boosting the Illinois economy.  Last year, more than eight-thousand people were put to work thanks to the industry but those jobs aren't confined to the city of Chicago.  In fact, the "Man of Steel" began production in late July in and around Plano, where the city was transformed into Clark Kent's hometown of Smallville.  Governor Quinn says the Illinois film industry saw a record 161-million dollars in spending in 2010 and it's on track to exceed that number this year.