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City DPH Could Face CutsWith the City already staring down major cuts, the Department of Public Health could be adding to the cutbacks. The DPH could be forced to cut spending by 25 percent and layoff as many as 80 workers. The main culprit? The ongoing state budget crisis in Springfield right now. Dr. Terry Mason, DPH head, said yesterday at a press conference, “This is real. This is not something that is contrived. You cannot make bricks without straw and you cannot provide services without people. This political game which is being framed as an economic argument, but it’s a political game and it needs a political solution and it needs it now.” Other departments, such as the Department of Family and Support Services, also face double-digit cuts. [Chi-Town Daily News]
Giannoulias Connection To Clout List?The Chicago Tribune's investigation into the University of Illinois has now reached State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. Giannoulias' adviser Endy Zemenides allegedly helped get a student off the wait list and into school and in turn, a Greek Orthodox priest, a family friend of the student who had reached out to Zemenides, held a fundraiser for Giannoulias that earned over $120,000. Giannoulias is currently eyeballing a run at Sen. Roland Burris' senate seat. His campaign distanced Giannoulias from the student, saying he knew nothing of the request, and Giannoulias has not been connected to any other student on the list.
Six State Banks Fail, One In Chicago AreaIt was a bad day for Illinois banks yesterday as six banks across the state failed. According to the FDIC, the banks that failed were:
- Founders Bank, Worth, IL
- The Elizabeth State Bank, Elizabeth, IL
- The First National Bank of Danville, Danville, IL
- Rock River Bank, Oregon, IL
- The First State Bank of Winchester, Winchester, IL
- The John Warner Bank, Clinton, Illinois
Chicago-based PrivateBank took on the assets of Founders Bank,
according to Crain's, meaning all 11 area branches of Founders will reopen on Monday as PrivateBank Branches.
Concern Over Stolen Fireworks Around 5,000 pounds of "high-powered, commercial-grade fireworks" have gone missing in DuPage County and now authorities are worried whoever stole them may not be ready for the oomph of the explosives which are more powerful than the bottle rockets and low-grade shells that most people buy from stands and shoot off on Independence Day. Sgt. Jim Ruff, commander of the department's Hazardous Device Unit, put it succinctly when talking to the Sun-Times: "If one of these things goes off in your hand, you're probably going to die."
The sheriff's department recently helped dispose of a large quantity of commercial-grade fireworks illegally stored in southern DuPage County, though officials wouldn't disclose more information because the investigation is ongoing.
But authorities say at least 5,000 pounds of fireworks may have been removed from the stash -- and possibly sold or distributed in small quantities -- before police became aware of the supply.
Also of concern are the fuses which for these larger, more powerful shells, burn much faster than most small-time explosives: at a rate as fast as 100 feet per second. [Sun-Times]
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