Illinois Briefs - 11/16/12

Officials Warn Of IL Falling Off Financial Cliff

(Undated)  --  Illinois officials say the state could lose more than one-billion-dollars unless President Obama and Congress find a way to prevent future tax hikes and budget cuts.  Officials say that combination would result in the so-called "fiscal cliff," a scenario which the Illinois Department of Revenue says "looks really bleak" for the state.  The revenue department says the state could lose that much money because automatic federal tax increases will result in less money for people to spend and less tax revenue for the state.  Yesterday an aide for Governor Quinn gave the House a plan to borrow money to help defray more than eight-billion dollars in overdue bills which the state owes.

Female Firefighter Mauled By Dog She Just Adopted

(Big Rock, IL)  --  An Illinois firefighter is dead after being mauled by her recently-adopted family dog.  Authorities in Kane County say 44-year-old Dawn Brown, who worked full-time with Bristol-Kendall fire, was bitten in the neck by the family's 150-pound mastiff.  Brown and her husband had recently taken in the dog from another family.         

High-Speed Rail Service In IL Leaps Hurdle

(Springfield, IL)  --  High-speed railway service through the state of Illinois is one step closer to reality.  The federal government has approved the latest draft of an environmental impact study for a train that would link Chicago and St. Louis.  The study looked at the impact on the corridor that runs through Dwight, Pontiac, Normal, Bloomington and Lincoln.  Early estimates have the project costing four-billion dollars.

Tourism Could See Boost Thanks To 'Lincoln' Flick

(Springfield, IL)  --  Illinois tourism officials hope the state can make an honest buck off a new movie about President Abraham Lincoln.  In Springfield, the Lincoln Library and Museum is offering discounts on admission when accompanied by a movie stub from Steven Spielberg's new film "Lincoln" which opens nationwide this weekend.  Lincoln impersonators have been hired by the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to make appearances at Springfield movie theaters.  Officials say they hope the film attracts people to Illinois where Lincoln lived and is buried.