Illinois Briefs - 1/9/12

Republican State Senator Considers Independent Run

(Mount Vernon, IL)  --  State Senator John O. Jones may not be on the primary ballot in March but that doesn't mean he's out of the race.  The Mount Vernon Republican withdrew from the race after his petitions were successfully challenged, but he says this may be the perfect time to run as an Independent.  He wants voters in the 54th district to help him decide whether he should make that move.  He'll have to collect three-thousand signatures between March 27th and June 25th in order to have his name added to the ballot for the November election.

Topinka:  Bond Holders Will Be Paid

(Springfield, IL)  --  Illinois has the worst credit rating in the nation, but the state's comptroller wants bond holders to know they're going to be paid no matter what.  In fact, Judy Baar Topinka says the first payment the state makes each month is to its bond holders.  Topinka says she is opposed to additional

borrowing and urges lawmakers to deal with the state's six-billion-dollar backlog.  She says that means making additional spending cuts and working to improve the state's business climate.

Presidential Candidates Meet Petition Deadline

(Springfield, IL)  --  All five major Republican candidates met the deadline to get their name on the March 20th primary ballot.  Now begins the process of validating the signatures.  Opponents of each candidate can object to some of the names on the petitions in an attempt to keep them off of the ballot.  Democratic President Barack Obama also submitted petitions on Friday.

Aurora Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

(Aurora, IL)  --  An Aurora man is among four soldiers killed in Afghanistan last week.  Specialist Christopher Patterson was a combat engineer with an Indiana based National Guard unit.  Military officials say a bomb struck Patterson's vehicle as he cleared the road for a convoy to pass.  Patterson graduated from West Aurora High School in 2009.

University Of Illinois Chief of Staff Resigns

(Champaign, IL)  --  The University of Illinois is conducting an internal investigation against the former Chief of Staff for the university president.  Lisa Troyer allegedly sent anonymous e-mails to the Senate Council asking them not to issue a report on enrollment management.  Senate councils at the three campuses were divided on some enrollment policies and the e-mails allegedly asked them to abandon the idea of coming to a consensus. Troyer stepped down Friday, but she will keep her position as a psychology professor.