Updated news from Illinois Public Media News, the top radio news team in Central Illinois http://will.illinois.edu/news en-us Copyright 2012 University of Illinois 2012-05-16T20:58:44-06:00 jackb@illinois.edu Jack Brighton no http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/champaign-council-allows-video-gaming/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/champaign-council-allows-video-gaming/#When:20:12:47Z Video gambling is now legal in the city of Champaign. The Champaign City Council voted 7 to 2 Tuesday night to amend the city’s ban on most gambling to make an exception for video gaming as authorized by the state. A spokesman for the Illinois Gaming Board says they expect to have legal video gaming operating in the state later this year. Legislation passed in 2009 allows for video gambling in bars, truck stops, and at fraternal and veterans organizations.  Local governments including Mahomet, Fisher, Bloomington, Decatur and Charleston have imposed local bans on the gaming machines—- although they’ll also lose out on the tax revenue they produce. Urbana, Danville, Mattoon and Gibson City are among the towns that specifically allow video gambling. The village board in Savoy will consider the issue next month. News, Local Wed, 16 May 2012 20:12:47 +0000 http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/illinois-may-allow-mini-horses-as-service-animals/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/illinois-may-allow-mini-horses-as-service-animals/#When:20:31:28Z Miniature horses trained as service animals may soon accompany Illinoisans with disabilities to school or the grocery store. A new measure approved by the Illinois Senate Tuesday adds miniature horses as approved service animals. Current law requires businesses and other public places to allow reasonable access and service to disabled people with trained guide dogs. Now small equestrian guides also would publicly assist their owners with vision, hearing, seizure alert, psychiatric, autism or other disabilities. But businesses may take into account the size and weight of the horse, whether the animal is controlled, housebroken or compromises safety requirements. The state Senate approved the measure by 40-11. The measure moves to the House. Miniature horses already are allowed as service animals by federal rules. (Photo by H.C. Williams/Flickr) News, Local Tue, 15 May 2012 20:31:28 +0000 http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/ed.-leaders-concerned-over-rising-student-loan-interests/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/ed.-leaders-concerned-over-rising-student-loan-interests/#When:20:18:33Z Student loan interest rates could double this summer unless Congress takes action. The looming deadline has education leaders worried about the possible impact.  The Stafford loan rate of nearly 3.5 percent has been stable for five years. That is because Congress set the rate during the height of the financial crisis to keep college more affordable. But come July, the interest rate could jump to nearly 7 percent. “Just about every job you can think of requires some sort of post secondary education at the community college, the trade school or industry certification,” said John White, a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the federal Education Department. “If the expense doubles or becomes a barrier, fewer and fewer youth and adults are going to be able to get the skills they need to advance in their job or career.” The House has already voted to extend the current lower interest rate, but there are still disagreements over how to pay for the difference. Republicans want more spending cuts while Democrats prefer bringing in higher revenue. White said it is also an economic issue for the country, as the U.S. needs skilled workers whether they go to college or vocational training. He said the higher cost of loans could force many young people to give up furthering their education.  News, Local Tue, 15 May 2012 20:18:33 +0000 http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/regional-superintendents-back-consolidation-bill/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/regional-superintendents-back-consolidation-bill/#When:19:20:36Z The Illinois Senate has approved a plan to consolidate some of Illinois’ Regional Offices of Education, and the plan has the support of the state’s regional superintendents. The legislation would eliminate nearly a quarter of the state’s 44 regional offices of education. They deal with truancy cases, administer GED programs and handle teacher certification. The cut is bigger than the regional superintendents had hoped, but he said he has reason to believe that he and his colleagues no longer face an existential threat. “I think the consensus is we understand that cuts need to be made. Not just with regional sups, but all types of other programs, from Medicaid to pension to budgets in all state agencies and local municipalities,” said Jeff Vose, the regional superintendent for Sangamon County. Based in Springfield, Vose’s region is populous enough that he says it won’t be merged. The elected regional school superintendents were thrust into the spotlight last year when Gov. Pat Quinn eliminated their state funding. They went months without pay, until a deal was cut to use local property taxes to pay their salaries. It remains to be seen whether that arrangement will continue.  The proposal passed the Senate without opposition and now goes to the House. News, Local Tue, 15 May 2012 19:20:36 +0000 http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/acting-indiana-chief-justice-picked-to-head-court/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/acting-indiana-chief-justice-picked-to-head-court/#When:17:32:05Z Indiana’s acting chief justice will take over the state Supreme Court’s top job. A state panel voted Tuesday to make Brent Dickson Indiana’s first new chief justice in 25 years. The 70-year-old Dickson is the longest-serving member of the five-member court and has been the acting chief justice since Randall Shepard retired in March. Dickson grew up in northwestern Indiana’s Hobart and was an attorney in Lafayette when Republican Gov. Robert Orr appointed him to the Supreme Court in 1986. Dickson will be leading a court in transition. It is expected this fall to get its third new justice in less than two years after no turnover for more than a decade. News, Local Tue, 15 May 2012 17:32:05 +0000 http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/dems-form-3rd-party-to-defeat-derrick-smith/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/dems-form-3rd-party-to-defeat-derrick-smith/#When:01:21:41Z Democratic officials have decided to form a third party in Chicago. They’re looking to run a candidate this fall against indicted state Rep. Derrick Smith. It’s called the 10th District Unity Party, but it is really a way for Democratic leaders from Chicago’s West Side to run a candidate against one of their own. Smith won the March primary, even though he’d been arrested on a federal bribery charge a week earlier. Some Democratic officials had supported Smith in the primary up until the end, favoring him over his challenger, former Republican Party official Tom Swiss. After Smith glided to a 77 percent to 23 percent victory, Dems as high as Gov. Pat Quinn called on him to resign. But Smith has vowed to fight the charges and keep working. So Secretary of State Jesse White and other party leaders opted to run a third party candidate. On a new website for the Unity Party, applicants can download a questionnaire. The Democrats want to make sure they don’t pick a flawed candidate, so they’re asking 10 pages of questions about tax liens, bankruptcy, divorces, and abuse of drugs and performance enhancing substances. A spokesperson said the group will interview candidates on Tuesday, May 22. White, as the Democratic committeeman from the 27th Ward, will lead the search committee. In a statement Monday, White said, “It is unfortunate that we have to do this, but the alternative is unacceptable.” A call to Smith’s attorney, Vic Henderson, was not immediately returned. The process of coalescing around a single candidate may not be a smooth one. West Side Democrats are a fragmented group, and tensions spiked during the March primary season as state Sen. Annazette Collins faced a tough primary challenge from formal mayoral candidate Patricia Van Pelt Watkins. Watkins won with White’s backing, while 28th Ward Ald. Jason Ervin is a supporter of Collins. “It’s possible [we won’t be able to agree on a consensus candidate], yes, it’s possible,” Ervin said Monday. “I believe that if we have a quality, qualified individual that we should be able to unite behind that individual. News, Local Tue, 15 May 2012 01:21:41 +0000 http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/quinn-mulls-executive-order-on-insurance-exchange/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/quinn-mulls-executive-order-on-insurance-exchange/#When:23:01:36Z A top adviser to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says the governor may use an executive order to establish a health insurance exchange that’s a key piece of President Barack Obama’s health care law. Quinn adviser Michael Gelder says the Legislature’s workload on Medicaid and pension reform makes it unlikely lawmakers will be able to pass legislation authorizing an insurance exchange during the current session. He says looming federal deadlines leave the Democratic governor with two choices: calling the Legislature back into special session or issuing an executive order. Republicans, however, say an executive order would be inappropriate, especially before the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. Only two other states — New York and Rhode Island — have established exchanges by executive order. News, Local Mon, 14 May 2012 23:01:36 +0000 http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/cokie-roberts-urges-political-involvement-during-commencement-address/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/cokie-roberts-urges-political-involvement-during-commencement-address/#When:17:01:33Z NPR Senior News Analyst Cokie Roberts was the featured speaker at one of two University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign commencement ceremonies Sunday. Roberts issued a specific challenge to this year’s U of I grads – she wants them to run for office. She noted how the divisive atmosphere in 21st century politics has discouraged many qualified candidates from running for office. She told graduates at the 104th U of I Commencement the country needs them to participate in order to ensure government institutions designed to make the country – and citizens’ lives – better, can succeed. “I think it’s up to you…you graduates of the class of 2012,” Roberts said. “You have to lead the way…not only in the field that you might have chosen, but also, I’d like you think about public service, including elective office, because we need your help to fix it.” In a second ceremony Sunday afternoon, longtime agribusiness broadcaster Orion Samuelson addressed graduates, and encouraged them to find a job they’d do for free, then do it so well someone will pay them for it. News, Local Mon, 14 May 2012 17:01:33 +0000 http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/u-of-i-spends-almost-6-million-on-search-firms/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/u-of-i-spends-almost-6-million-on-search-firms/#When:15:29:01Z The University of Illinois has spent almost $6 million on search firms over the last nine years to fill open positions as it increasingly turns to outside firms instead of relying on faculty search committees to find candidates. For example, The Champaign News-Gazette found that the university paid a search firm $190,000 when the law and business colleges needed new deans in 2008. The university then paid another firm $200,000 when the first search didn’t turn up a suitable candidate before picking internal employees for the jobs. U of I spokesman Tom Hardy says the university is a complex organization that needs to recruit the best talent. And Board of Trustees Chairman Christopher Kennedy says not using search firms would put the school at a “steep competitive disadvantage.” News, Local Mon, 14 May 2012 15:29:01 +0000 http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/gambling-bill-could-be-headed-for-debate-once-again/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/gambling-bill-could-be-headed-for-debate-once-again/#When:15:04:18Z This week could be an important one for those wanting to see the State of Illinois approve gambling expansion. The House could once again bring up for debate a bill that would open new casinos and place slot machines at racetracks, just as the current legislative session is scheduled to wrap up by month’s end. Gov. Pat Quinn has said he is opposed to slot machines at tracks and wants lawmakers to focus on other issues. But that is not stopping the bill’s House sponsor, Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) from trying once again, even though negotiations with the governor haven’t been fruitful. “The governor’s against it, but we think we want to save the 40,000 jobs in the agri-business industry. I think given the economy of the state of Illinois and the budget problems we have, I might be able to find the votes to pass the bill,” Lang said. “I feel strongly that the economic development and job creation that the bill creates is something that we ought to move forward.” Democrat Terry Link of Waukegan, the bill’s sponsor in the Senate, says a debate could begin by mid-week. The Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability concluded an expansion in gaming could generate $444 million in additional tax revenue each year if SB 1849 becomes law. Quinn’s spokeswoman Brooke Anderson says the governor isn’t focusing on gambling expansion. “We’re focused on the two largest challenges: pension and Medicaid. The governor laid out a strong framework on gaming. He said that any kind of expansion needs to be a smaller, more modest expansion than what was proposed last year. Something that has strong ethical safeguards and something that provides adequate revenue for education,” Anderson said. “The governor will take a look at what’s proposed.” (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) News, Local Mon, 14 May 2012 15:04:18 +0000