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In Decatur, Racial Discipline Gap Grows Like State
Story date: Sunday, November 22, 2009
The racial disparity in discipline at the Decatur School District has grown in the 10 years since mass protests over the expulsion of six black students for fighting.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson led marches in November 1999 and said punishment policies were not fair to all children.
An Associated Press review found the statewide racial gap in discipline has grown since then.
The AP’s study shows that black suspensions have increased 75 percent in the past ten years. White suspensions have fallen 5 percent.
The more serious penalty of expulsion has fallen disproportionately on blacks too.
Whites are expelled 16 percent more than they were a decade ago. Black expulsions have jumped 56 percent.
Decatur mirrors that trend.
Both white and black enrollment has fallen in recent years at Decatur.
Suspensions have dropped 34 percent for whites but risen 41 percent for blacks.
Expulsions rose to 77 four years ago before falling to 23 in the latest numbers. Twenty of those were blacks.
A school district spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Quinn Creates Illinois Public Health Advocate
Story date: Sunday, November 22, 2009
The State of Illinois has established a new office called Public Health Advocate.
The state already has a public health agency… but this role will go a step further… according to the Governor. He says the Advocate will improve health through education. The Advocate will also develop strategies for preventing and treating diseases…. Including asthma and diabetes. Governor Pat Quinn says another task will include making sure residents understand their health insurance options and their public health rights.
As health care has become the most expensive part of state government, Quinn says the Advocate will consider cost conscious measures.
While it’s likely you’ve not heard about the new office until now… it’s expected to become high profile in the future. The Public Health Advocate will work directly with local agencies… universities… schools and others.
The Governor used the occasion of American Diabetes month to create the office through an executive order.
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government • Illinois • healthBody Found Hanging From Tree in Danville
Story date: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Authorities in Danville are investigating the death of a man found hanging from a tree yesterday Sunday morning in the Logan Avenue area.
The man has been identified as 42 year old Howard Pollitt.
Police say a passerby reported Pollitt’s body handing from a tree near the CSX railroad tracks west of Logan Avenue.
Danville Public Safety Director Larry Thomason says their initial investigation leads them to believe no foul play was involved in Pollitt’s death. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
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Quinn: Burris admonishment ‘speaks for itself
Story date: Friday, November 20, 2009
Governor Pat Quinn says the public admonishment of U.S. Sen. Roland Burris by the Senate Ethics Committee ``speaks for
itself.’‘
Quinn on Friday said he had nothing to add to it.
The governor says he intends to work with Burris through the end of his term in 2011, especially to help veterans and their families.
Burris isn’t running for a full term after being appointed by disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The Ethics Committee didn’t recommend that Burris be punished, but it admonished him for making ``inconsistent, misleading or incomplete’’ statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment.
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government • Illinois • United States • politicsNew Law Nets More Federal Money for Hospital Care for Poor
Story date: Friday, November 20, 2009
A new law will help the state get more federal money to pay hospitals that care for the poor.
The state is expecting to get more than $1.1 billion from Washington because the federal government has temporarily increased its Medicaid reimbursement rate as part of the stimulus package.
The money will help the state pay Medicaid bills owed to hospitals and some other providers, including pharmacists.
Gov. Pat Quinn signed the bill Friday at Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Hospital.
State Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg of Evanston said the money can only be spent on health care and human services. It cannot be
diverted to other projects in the cash-strapped state.
Schoenberg said the money should start flowing early next year.
