By Anthony Brino | Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — With the clock ticking on the legislative session, ending Thursday, Illinois lawmakers began chipping away at the state’s big financial problems this week with a Medicaid spending reduction bill.

Lawmakers also approved reducing the number of regional offices of education in the state. Meanwhile, efforts to reform the state’s draconian eavesdropping law stalled, and a culprit was found for March’s primary ballot box problems.

Medicaid cuts, but with a catch

Cook County has its own separately funded Medicaid system.

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn said he’ll sign the legislation, although as part of a search for Medicaid funding, he wants to increase the state’s cigarette tax by a $1 a pack.

Illinois House OKs cutting the number of regional offices of education

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Week in review: Medicaid reform, eavesdropping limbo, respite for Rep. accused of bribery | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois smokers could soon have to cough up an extra dollar for a pack of cigarettes.

The backlog of overdue Medicaid bills was set to hit $21 billion by 2017.

“Our customers who purchase cigarettes will go to border communities, the Internet, or through illegal vendors. And when they cross the borders they will buy other ancillary items, costing us money and the state of Illinois money,” Fleischli said.

“For even those of us that represent long expanses of border areas … we have an obligation to stand and vote yes on this very necessary piece of legislation,” Sacia said.

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

IL House approves cigarette tax hike | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — Chairing a committee in the Illinois Legislature can be a boon or bust to lawmakers’ campaign war chests, depending on the committee and the chamber.

They determine “who gets taxed and who doesn’t get taxed, who gets funded and who doesn’t get funded,” said Redfield, author of “Money Counts: How Dollars Dominate Illinois Politics and What We Can Do About It.”

The numbers support Redfield’s assertion:

• Each chairman of the five House appropriations committees brought in $29,757.83 more than the average representative for every two-year election cycle since 2005-06, according to the campaign contribution database maintained by the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, a government watchdog. That’s a fundraising advantage of 25 percent.
• Each chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee since 2005-06 brought in an average of $147,161.36 more than the average senator for every two-year election cycle since 2005-06. That’s a fundraising advantage of 15 percent.

Redfield said donors are likely giving to committee chairmen not for a quid pro quo on a certain piece of legislation.

“It’s about access to power, getting meetings set up, getting a heads up on legislation, getting phone calls returned, all the things interest groups want,” Redfield said.

Smith attributed his impressive fundraising more to a competitive race rather than his chairmanship.

“My fundraising was a little bit different in that time period. It was a very expensive and costly campaign,” Smith said.

Miller consistently brought in more campaign contributions than his colleagues. During the 2005-06 election cycle, Miller raised $331,295, or $134,305 more than the average House member. But like Smith, Miller attributed much of his ability to raise cash to hard-fought elections early in his career that helped develop a broad fundraising base.

Still, having the title of chairman doesn’t hurt.

“Tenure and stature does increase with an approps chair,” Miller said. “Clearly with some chairmanships … you get a lot of interest from groups that are affected.”

The top donors are interest groups that give to committee chairmen who may have power over legislation the groups are interested in.

Redfield said that while committee chairmen tend to be more prodigious fundraisers than their colleagues, Illinois actually has a weak committee system compared with other states and the federal government.

Chairmen have “limited resources. It’s a much more (party) leader dominated General Assembly and therefore committee chairmen probably attract less money than (chairmen) in other states,” Redfield said.

Not all chairmanships translate into more money for lawmakers.

On the other bottom end of the spectrum are committees like the Senate and House Human Services committees:

• Each chairman of the Senate committee brought in an average of $145,953.27 less than their fellow senators for every two-year election cycle since 2005-06.
• Each chairman of House committee brought in an average of $83,001.60 less than their fellow representatives for every two-year election cycle since 2005-06.

Overall, House chairmen average more campaign contributions than the other representatives, while Senate chairmen average less than their fellow senators:

• Each chairman in the House pulled down about $39,445 more than non-chairmen representatives during every two-year election cycle since 2005-06, giving them a 24 percent advantage in fundraising.
• Each chairman in the Senate managed to raise 19.5 percent, or $52,328, less per two-year election cycle since 2005-06 than non-chairmen senators.

Redfield attributed this to staggered elections — only one third of the Senators are up for re-election every two years.

The current election cycle is slightly different than previous cycles.

All lawmakers are up for election this year because of the redistricting of legislative districts every 10 years. Any campaign advantage is a welcome one, and committee chairmen in both chambers are leading their colleagues in fundraising so far.  

Redfield said this isn’t surprising because many of the big-time donors prefer a name they know following the title “chair” rather than some new entity.

“Generally, it’s about protecting the status quo,” Redfield said.

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Exclusive: IL committee chairmen rake in campaign contributions | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

NORFOLK, VA—Janice W. Holland, 41, of Suffolk, Virginia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of health care fraud, 31 counts of making false statements relating to health care matters, one count of alteration of records, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli made the announcement after the indictment was unsealed following Holland’s arrest. If convicted, Holland faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for health care fraud, five years on each count for making false statements, 20 years for alteration of records, and two years on each count of aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment, Holland owned and operated A Caring Hand Home Health Care Services Inc., a business located in Suffolk that was authorized to provide respite care to Medicaid recipients. Respite care is designed to provide temporary, substitute care for a Medicaid recipient that is normally provided by the family or another unpaid primary caregiver of the recipient. These services are provided on a short-term basis because of the emergency absence or need for routine or periodic relief of the primary caregiver. Holland filed approximately 1,100 false and fraudulent claims with the Virginia Medicaid program, representing that respite care had been provided by her company to 30 Medicaid recipients, when in fact no such care had been provided. She filed these claims using, without authority, the recipients’ names, dates of birth, and Medicaid identification numbers As a result, Holland obtained health care benefit payments in the approximate amount of $700,000 to which she was not entitled. She also altered and falsified her office records to conceal and cover up her false billings.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Office of the Virginia Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Alan M. Salsbury is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.

Former Provider of Home Health Care Services Indicted for Medicaid Fraud | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

May 24, 2012

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Fitzgerald says it’s time to step down, rules out run for elected office | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Legislature passed the first half of a plan to rein in the skyrocketing costs of Medicaid on Thursday — with a catch.

Medicaid would lose $1.6 billion, or 12 percent, according to the bill’s sponsor in the House, state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago.

The cuts would let the state “continue to take care of the most vulnerable people in the state of Illinois and keep Medicaid afloat because right now I assure you that if we do nothing it will collapse,” Feigenholtz said.

But the cuts were contingent on the approval of two different pieces of legislation:

• One that ends the practice of rolling Medicaid costs over from year to year;
• Another that allows the Cook County Medicaid system to raise its income requirements for enrollees.

The latter has been a major point of partisan contention.

The Cook County Medicaid changes would move the requirement from 100 percent of the federal poverty level to 133 percent. That change would add at least 100,000 people, but it wouldn’t cost the state more, because Cook County, which encompasses Chicago, funds and administers its own Medicaid system.

The Legislature passed Cook County legislation Thursday. The Senate approved ending the practice of rolling over Medicaid costs, and the House is expected to take up the measure Friday.

While Medicaid rolls grow in Cook County, others will be kicked out of the system.

The legislation passed Thursday allows the state to contract with an outside company to compare myriad state and federal databases regarding income with the Medicaid rolls.

Anyone making 100 percent more than the federal poverty level is eligible for Medicaid. Currently, a person need only provide one pay stub to establish that eligibility, making it easy to scam the system, according to legislators working on the legislation.

With a stronger vetting process resulting in many people being removed from the system, the state will save $350 million annually, according to an Illinois House Republicans’ fact sheet.

“We have to save this program and save the lives of the people in it and do it the best way possible,” Bellock said.

Other areas of savings include:

• Eliminating the Illinois Cares Rx Program, a state-only prescription subsidy mainly for senior citizens, a savings of $72.2 million annually.
• Limiting prescriptions to four per month, unless prior authorization or special drug needs, a savings of $180 million annually.
• Implementing maximum co-pays for services, an average co-pay of $3.60, a savings of $44 million.

The legislation also cuts Medicaid reimbursement rates to hospitals and nursing homes by $240 million annually. Doctors, 20 safety-net hospitals serving poor communities and 51 hospitals serving rural areas will not see rate cuts.

Instead of deeper cuts, Quinn asked for a cigarette tax increase of $1 a pack, bringing the total state tax on a pack of cigarettes from 98 cents to $1.98.

That extra revenue would grow spending on Medicaid from $6.6 billion last year to at least $7.3 billion.

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Medicaid cuts come with catch | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The Houston FBI Bank Robbery Task Force is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the two men man who robbed the Woodforest Bank inside the Walmart at 13003 Tomball Parkway in Houston, Texas on May 23, 2012. Bank surveillance video captured photos of both men during the robbery. The photos can be viewed below. At approximately 9:50 a.m., the men entered the bank and approached the teller counter. One of the robbers jumped the counter, threatened tellers, and demanded cash. Both robbers gestured with their hands inside their clothing as if they were concealing weapons. No weapons were seen by the tellers. The men got some cash and exited the bank. No one was physically hurt during the robbery.

The first robber is described a black male in his late 20s, 6’3” tall, 180-200 pounds, with a light complexion. He wore a blue Detroit baseball cap, long-sleeved blue shirt, and jeans. The second robber is described as a black male in his late 20s, 5’11”–6’0” tall, with a darker complexion. He wore a dark blue baseball cap, white and red striped polo shirt, and sunglasses.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the charging and arrest of these robbers. If you have information about this case, please call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or the Houston Office of the FBI at 713-693-5000.

Suspects Sought in Connection with Woodforest Bank Branch Robbery | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

WHAT:

Hundreds of University of Chicago Medicine staff, faculty members, students, their family and friends will mobilize across Chicago’s South Side to tackle a host of community projects as part of the 10th annual Day of Service and Reflection (DOSAR). From cleaning and painting community spaces to weeding gardens and stocking food pantry shelves, volunteers will take on tasks large and small at more than 20 sites in the 10 neighborhoods that the medical campus serves. DOSAR has a decade-long legacy of fostering community engagement by bringing together resources to meet the needs of South Side neighborhoods.

WHEN:

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12, 2012

WHO:

More than 300 volunteers, including 12 from the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, are expected to participate in DOSAR. Organizers say DOSAR, the brainchild of First Lady Michelle Obama when she was an executive at the medical center, is one of the campus’ most anticipated annual events. The event attracts increasing number of participants each year, growing from 35 volunteers a decade ago to more than 200 last year.

“The University of Chicago Medicine’s Day of Service and Reflection is a critical event that will make a positive impact in our South Side community,” said Wendy DuBoe, chief executive officer at United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. “United Way is proud to leverage our network of volunteers to participate in this day of service.”

WHY:

Many nonprofit community service providers are facing greater economic challenges than ever before. The need for community cooperation is critical in meeting their missions. The University of Chicago Medicine has a longstanding tradition of community service. DOSAR is a part of the University of Chicago Medicine’s Urban Health Initiative, created to bring together medical and community partners to improve health and access to quality care for the South Side of Chicago.

WHERE:

Projects will take place at the following locations:

Brickyard Garden, 6121 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Community Garden, 65th Street and Woodlawn Ave.
All Faith Pavilion Nursing, 3500 S. Giles Ave.
Angelic Organics Learning Center, 6400 S. Kimbark Ave.
Eden Place Nature Center, 4417 S. Stewart Ave.
Gary Comer Youth Center, 7200 S. Ingleside Ave.
Henry’s Sober Living, 6634 S. Drexel Ave.
Park Shore East Elderly, 6250 S Harper Ave.
Prosperity House, 6620 South Evans Ave.
The Renaissance Collaborative, 3757 S. Wabash Ave.
Till Learning Garden, 6612 S. Champlain Ave.
Ronald McDonald House, 5444 S. Drexel Ave.
Rainbow Beach, E. 75th Street at Lake Michigan
Canaryville Little League, 455 W. 45th Place
Casa Kirk Apartments, 3248 East 92nd St.
Claretian Associates, 9108 S. Brandon Ave.
It Takes a Village Shelter, 544 W. 123rd St.
Namaste Charter School, 3737 S. Paulina St.
Vital Bridges Food Pantry, 151 West 75th St.

For more news from the University of Chicago Medicine, follow us on Twitter at @UChicagoMed, or visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/UChicagoMed, our research blog at sciencelife.uchospitals.edu, or our newsroom at uchospitals.edu/news.

UCH_030622 (2)

Annual Day of Service and Reflection Marks 10 Years of Giving to Community | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

May 22, 2012

When Lou Byrd opened Lou’s Barber Shop in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood in 1966, he was the first black business owner on the block.

“It was just me and five raggedy chairs,” he said. “But I had guts, know-how and prayer. It wasn’t much, but mama always said, ‘You can change things.’”

It seems she was right. Over his more than 40 years serving this community, Byrd’s business has thrived while the one constant, he says, has been change.

“I’ve seen people come and go,” Byrd said. “I’ve evolved with every new hair trend. I survived the last big recession, now I’m toughing it through this one. The South Side is a good place to be, but you’ve got to pay attention to the people.”

Those words couldn’t ring more true for organizers of a new photo project under way at the University of Chicago Medicine. Byrd is among the first South Siders to be photographed as part of a large-scale undertaking aimed at capturing people, places and scenes that uniquely represent the South Side of Chicago. The goal of the project, known as the South Side Photo Show, is to showcase the South Side that is rarely seen in the pages of a newspaper and to give a visual tribute to the neighborhoods that the hospital serves as it unveils its New Hospital Pavilion in January.

“I’ve been very pleased with many of the images we’ve collected so far,” said Cheryl Reed, director of strategic communications for the medical center, who is leading the project with social media specialist Matthew Wood. “We’re going beyond what people think they know about the South Side. We’re capturing a moment in life, including little oddities and surprises — stories that have potential to make a real connection with people.”

Photographers assigned to the project haven’t had to look far for inspiration. From Sunday church services and activities in parks, to birthday parties, iconic businesses, nighttime hangouts, schools and more, impromptu snapshots are archiving a slice of life for people who call the South Side home.

Organizers are now calling for members of the community to submit their own photos and ideas. If a submitted photo is selected for the show, the photographer will receive a cash stipend.

“Community engagement is what will truly make this project special,” Reed said. “We can’t capture the South Side from one lens. Everyone sees the community differently. We want people to tell us about the things, places and events they truly care about.”

The final collection, which will feature up to 60 images, will be displayed during several events leading up to the New Hospital Pavilion opening. There are plans for the photos to be shared more broadly via a traveling exhibit across the city. Ultimately, the vision may even include a coffee table-style photo book.

“The New Hospital Pavilion will be an incredible gift to this community,” Reed said. “The University of Chicago Medicine has always been a very proud member of the community and its strongest supporter. We’re thrilled to have found a meaningful way to celebrate who we are and the people we serve.”

While there have been many photo projects featuring Chicago, none has focused on life south of Roosevelt Road. Perceptions shaped by media reports often leave the area’s vibrant landscape, diversity and abundance of activities unnoted.

Byrd said he’s glad he was asked to take part in the show, and hopes people will take the hospital up on its offer to get involved.

“It’s a nice picture,” he said, “and I felt proud placing it among all the other pieces of history on these walls. I look forward to seeing the exhibit.”

Submit your photos

The University of Chicago Medicine welcomes contributions from the community for consideration in the South Side Photo Show. Email your photo submission and a few lines of caption information to Southsidephoto@uchospitals.edu. For more information, call 773-795-7652.

UCH_030754 (2)

Photo show taps community for images of life south of Roosevelt Road | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

GREENBELT, MD—Chief U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Nestor Gualteros, age 39, of Silver Spring, Maryland, today to five years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for transporting child pornography. Judge Chasanow ordered that upon his release from prison, Gualteros must register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Chief Maggie A. DeBoard of the Herndon, Virginia Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, from at least April 2009, Gualteros belonged to groups on a social networking site that was under investigation by law enforcement for the trafficking of child pornography. On August 3, 2010, Gualteros was interviewed by law enforcement and confessed to distributing and receiving child pornography, including images of prepubescent children, from his desktop computer at his place of employment in Herndon, Virginia. Gualteros also advised that he downloaded child pornography onto two flash drives that he kept hidden underneath his desk drawer at his place of employment. In December of 2009, Gualteros transported his work computer from his place of employment in Virginia to his residence in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he continued to view child pornography. The evidence showed that Gualteros distributed over 900 images to 15 different groups on the social networking site.

A forensic examination of Gualteros’ home computer revealed over 1,400 thumbnails, or previewed images, of child pornography. A search warrant was obtained to seize and search the digital media belonging to Gualteros. One flash drive contained over 11,000 images and seven videos of child pornography. One other flash drive contained over 12,000 images of child pornography. Gualteros’ place of employment in Virginia consented to a forensic review of his work computer which revealed over 800 images and three videos of child pornography.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI and Herndon Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney LisaMarie Freitas, who prosecuted the case.

Silver Spring Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Transporting Child Pornography from His Office in Virginia to His Home | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

DALLAS—Steven Ray Milam, 44, of Richardson, Texas, pleaded guilty this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renée Harris Toliver to one count of brandishing a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence in connection with a string of 11 bank robberies, six of those armed bank robberies, he admitted committing in Texas last year. Milam faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than 32 years, or more than life, in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay on September 17, 2012.

Milam was given the moniker “Handsome Guy Bandit” by the FBI because of the latex mask he wore when committing the robberies.

According to plea documents filed in the case, Milam admitted robbing the following banks:

• April 19, 2011: BBVA Compass Bank, 14852 Preston Road, Dallas

• May 2, 2011 Bank of America, 7300 North MacArthur Blvd., Irving, Texas

• May 13, 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, 17088 Preston Road, Dallas

• May 17, 2011 First National Bank, 1300 Preston Road, Plano, Texas

• June 11, 2011 American National Bank, 1101 E. Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas

• July 14, 2011 First Community Bank, 1755 North Collins Road, Richardson, Texas

• August 30, 2011 Patriot Bank, 9545 Katy Freeway, Hedwig Village, Texas

• September 12, 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, 5219 Richman Avenue, Houston, Texas

• September 29, 2011 Prosperity Bank, 5919 Forrest Lane, Dallas

• November 22, 2011 BB&T Bank, 11800 Preston Road, Dallas

• December 31, 2011 BBVA Compass Bank, 1401 Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas

During the last bank robbery, on December 31, 2011, Milam entered the bank wearing a mask, black frame glasses, a blue warm-up suit, a white ball cap, latex gloves, and was and holding a clear bag and carrying a black semi-automatic handgun. He approached the teller, displayed the gun and demanded money. He then forced the employees and customers into the vault at gun point and told the bank manager to empty the teller drawers, stating, “No dye packs or trackers. I’ll kill you if you put them in the bag.” Milam then forced the employees and customers into the bathroom, told them to count to 500, and said not contact the police.

Police officers intercepted Milam walking away from the bank after the robbery, and when they approached him in their vehicles, he pointed the gun at them. He fired one round at the officer’s squad car, hitting the driver’s side front windshield just above the inspection sticker, causing the glass to shatter over the officer’s head and shoulders. The officers retreated, and Milam shot two more times striking the driver’s door and the back left passenger door of the squad car. He fled on foot, discarding his gun, mask, keys, clothes, and money. He ran to his home in Richardson, packed clothes, and drove to Austin, spending that night in Austin.

The following day, while en route to Florida, he was spotted in Mississippi. Officers attempted to apprehend him, but Milam refused to pull over and a high-speed chase ensued. Milam almost struck several vehicles in the process of escaping and officers shut down portions of the highway in order to deploy road spikes. Milam took evasive maneuvers to avoid the spikes. As a last resort, the local Mississippi sheriff pulled up beside Milam and shot out his back tire, disabling his car and allowing law enforcement to take him into custody.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, in conjunction with the Richardson Police Department and the Dallas Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon McCarthy and Keith Robinson.

Handsome Guy Bandit Enters Guilty Pleas, Admits Robbing 11 Banks in Texas, and Now Faces Up to Life in Prison | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

By Anthony Brino | Illinois Statehouse News

Midwest sand has become increasingly vital to America’s booming oil and gas industry, used in the drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing. The proposed 80-acre sand mine could be worth around $600 million over 10 years, said Tony Giordano, president of the Missouri-based Mississippi Sand LLC.

But environmental groups say the project would bring air and noise pollution and truck traffic and could disrupt the stream systems that flow through the park. The sandstone that the company would mine is part of the same rock formation that outcrops along the Illinois River, forming dramatic waterfalls and drawing millions of visitors each year.

Giordano said the company will build a natural border around the site, near Route 71, before mining starts. As the company excavates the soil and rock above the sand, it will build hills around the site and plant native shrubs and trees.

“You will not see any other industrial users doing that,” said Giordano.

Jack Darin, director of the Sierra Club Illinois chapter, said his group is open to seeing what kinds of safeguards Mississippi Sands proposes in its permits.

But “I think there are places where it’s appropriate to mine sand,” he said. “Next to Starved Rock isn’t one of them.”

Giordano admitted to the anticipated truck traffic and the erosion and stormwater runoff that would occur when the sand is washed with water. But in a decade or more, the area will naturally fill with water and become a lake.

Giordano said the project will bring about 60 jobs and tax revenue for the local government.

Starved Rock State Park is about 80 miles southwest of Chicago in LaSalle County, where the county board approved the mine in January. 

The company is seeking permits from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Debating the risks and benefits of Starved Rock sand mine | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

FRESNO, CA—Michael Scott Cooper, 43, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to possession of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to the plea agreement, Cooper possessed images and videos depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Cooper possessed the child pornography on his computer, and many of the images depicted prepubescent minors.

Cooper was a teacher at Loudan Elementary School in Bakersfield. He was arrested on October 7, 2010. He has been out of custody on electronic monitoring with various restrictions, including access to children, computers, and the Internet. Cooper was immediately taken into the custody upon entry of his guilty plea today.

Cooper is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii on July 30, 2012. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or call the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and ask to speak with the PSC coordinator.

Bakersfield Teacher Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

May 21, 2012

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Group offers 59 ideas for cutting $2.7B in Medicaid | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

PITTSBURGH—David J. Hickton, United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, today issued the following statement regarding the federal charges pending against Kenneth Konias, Jr.:

“Today we announce that we are going to defer federal prosecution of Kenneth Konias until resolution of the prosecution of state charges by the Allegheny County District Attorney.

“The decision to withdraw the federal charges and allow the state’s case to proceed has been made after a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the crime. We have consulted with Michael Haines’ family and Garda in making this decision and have engaged in extensive discussions with the District Attorney, FBI, and other involved law enforcement. This decision is in the best interests of justice, the victims, and the community.

“Federal interest in this crime remains strong. The FBI has committed to continue its assistance in the ongoing investigation and prosecution in partnership with local law enforcement here, in Florida, and wherever else the ongoing investigation may lead.

“We will monitor the case closely as it proceeds through Pennsylvania’s Court of Common Pleas.

“As separate sovereigns, the state and federal cases are not mutually exclusive. We retain the ability to re-file the federal charges, as the law permits prosecution in state court, federal court, or both.”

Federal Prosecution to be Deferred in Fatal Robbery | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News

Still, the budget outline spends $16.9 billion on day-to-day state services such as the Illinois State Police, elementary and secondary education and Medicaid — about $600 million more than what the House is budgeting.

Quinn and others have called for constraining spending on Medicaid as the health care system’s costs have skyrocketed. The state’s overdue Medicaid bills are projected to hit $21 billion by 2017, if nothing is done.

Senate Democrats and Quinn can agree on finding savings in closing state facilities, but whether they agree on which facilities to close is still unknown, however. That’s still being debated, Steans said.

The only areas of state government the Democrats’ budget doesn’t cut to some degree are elementary and secondary education. That spending is held flat compared to last year.

Despite cuts to most areas of state government, the Democrats’ budget actually spends more than a revenue projection of $33.7, which the General Assembly came to by using a tactic called fund sweeps.

Fund sweeps works by taking unspent money in dedicated funds — such as the Cycle Rider Safety Training Fund, which is supposed to support classes on motorcycle safety — and using it for general spending. The Senate Democrats would use about $400 million in fund sweeps to pay down some of the state’s $8.5 billion overdue bills.

“There’s $8 billion sitting in multiple piggy banks, 500 piggy banks, at one time. We’re hoarding money in these little banks,” state Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, said at a news conference Friday.

Sullivan said the sweep would be a one-time expenditure to chip away at the mountain of overdue bills.

Murphy said the Senate Republicans wanted a budget based on revenue figures that don’t include the extra money the state is getting from the tax increase. 

“My hope is this is just an opening salvo,” Murphy said. “This will not get us on the path to reducing the tax increase. It will put us on the path, frankly, for needing another.”

Kelly Kraft, Quinn’s budget spokeswoman, said the Democrats’ budget is a good starting point, reflecting many of the governor’s ideas.

The Democrats said their budget could be introduced in legislative form as early as Monday.

Senate Democrats said Friday’s rollout wasn’t an attempt to jump in front of the House, which, last year, released its version of the budget first. That left the Senate scrambling to play catchup, and eventually settling on what was mostly a House-crafted budget.

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

IL Senate Dems come out with budget of their own | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

May 18, 2012

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Appeals court sides with Quinn on denying pay raises | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

May 17, 2012

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Study says cuts to home care lead to rising costs elsewhere | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

By Jayette Bolinski | Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ school chief this week sounded the alarm on possible cuts to the amount of money the state will give local schools during the coming fiscal year.

As of April, the backlog stood at $5.5 billion, according to the state’s comptroller.

“We can’t shortchange our schools anymore,” Chico said, noting that the state’s 868 school districts have seen a loss of $650 million during the past three years. A loss of another $258 million could lead to cuts to school programs, staff and the length of the school day, or possible tax hikes, he said.

“What you don’t do today with a teacher in a classroom to help a child succeed will pan out over time,” Chico said. “You’ll have people who are less prepared, have less of a skill level and will have a harder time getting a job, sustaining their families, paying taxes and keeping their communities strong.”

Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget proposal spared cuts to education and keeps funding levels the same as last year, Chico said.

He added that the House proposal caught local school officials off guard.

“Now it’s getting out there, and now we’re starting to hear back from people saying, ‘Wait a minute. No more cuts. We’re already doing a lot of cutting at our local level where we stemmed the tide. We don’t need this big surprise of funding cuts,’” Chico said.

“When we hear about additional money being taken away or additional expenses being placed on districts, we just don’t know where that money’s going to come from without cutting programs. It’s not like we also can just turn around get money elsewhere,” Sherman said, adding that Springfield’s school district is subject to tax caps.

The district, Sherman said, is cutting as much as it can, relying on fund balances and possibly even borrowing — all of which school officials expect to continue doing for the next two or three years.

“We’re already having one of the most difficult financial conversations we’ve ever had. Anything on top of that would make it really, really difficult,” he said.

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

IL school chief warns of possible cuts to general state aid for schools | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

May 16, 2012

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Feds give IL $32M to set up health exchange despite law’s uncertainty | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.