Illinois Briefs - 1/29/13

Quinn Sending Pizza To Troops

(Chicago, IL)  --  Troops serving overseas will get a Chicago-style treat, just in time for the Super Bowl.  Governor Quinn is teaming up with DHS and Pizzas for Patriots to send 21-thousand pizzas to the men and women who are serving the country.  The big game is this Sunday.  The Baltimore Ravens will square off against the San Francisco 49'ers.

Governor Ryan Being Released From Prison

(Chicago, IL)  --  Former Governor George Ryan is getting out of jail this week.  He'll be headed to the Salvation Army half-way house in Chicago to finish the last five and a half months of his sentence.  He's been locked up for six years, after being convicted of corruption.  He's expected to make the transition sometime between today and tomorrow.

Lawmaker Wants Illegal Immigrants Fingerprinted Before Driving

(Springfield, IL)  --  State Representative Jim Durkin supported the law which allows illegal immigrants to drive legally, but he says it doesn't go far enough.  He plans to introduce a bill which would require the immigrants to be fingerprinted when they apply for a temporary license.  Durkin says the measure will reduce the odds of immigrants stealing

someone else's identity to drive.  Plus, he says it will help determine if the applicant has a criminal history.

Ground Beef Linked To Salmonella Poisoning

(Springfield, IL)  --  Be careful before eating your hamburger rare.  State officials say at least two people in Illinois have been hospitalized after eating raw ground beef.  The meat was contaminated with salmonella.  Public Health officials say your meat should be cooked to 160-degrees before consumption.   Meat from two Michigan based companies has been recalled.

U-I Receiving Major 100M Donation

(Champaign, IL)  --  The University of Illinois' engineering school will soon receive the largest single donation in school history.  The institution announced yesterday its College of Engineering will be receiving a 100-million-dollar donation from the Grainger Foundation in Lake Forest.  The donation will be made in the name of U-I graduate William W. Grainger.  The school says the funds will pay for scholarships and salaries of dozens of new faculty.